Quick Facts

Smells like relaxation:
A bath scented with lavender or vanilla may calm you down before bed.

Skip exercising before bed, an over the counter sleep aid, like Tylenol pm, is ok, occasionally. And, always see your Doctor if insomnia is a perpetual problem.

Did You Know??

Honey, a special remedy?
Yes, it seems according to a four-week randomized, controlled trial manuka honey was put to the test against hydrogel dressing as to their efficacy for desloughing chronic venous leg ulcers. As is often the case, the wounds were breeding grounds for various pathogens.

During the treatment, the honey not only worked as a desloughing agent but also wiped out MRSA from 70% of the wounds, whereas the hydrogel managed to work in just 16% of the cases. As an additional perk, manuka honey significantly reduced wound pain after one week.

The trick to the honey is that its hydrogen peroxide decomposes much more slowly than what’s in standard honey. This special honey is made from the manuka bush, only found in New Zealand.

*Information from 2008 RN, article from Journal of Wound Care, 17(6), 241-247.

 

Healthy Habits...Weight Control

Our expert says: Think small—small plates, small forks, small bites. This kind of protein control will keep you from shoveling in food without thinking. Start with a (small) plate that’s one-half vegetables, one-quarter protein, and one-quarter carbs. If there are two or three fattening items you adore, add to your plate an amount you can eat in two normal-size bites. Letting yourself enjoy a small “treat”, can actually turn off the craving. Stick with this “two-bite” strategy and you won’t blow your diet!

*According to Health.com, November 2008.

Next Meeting

Healthy Hearts Club will meet Thursday, November 20th, @ 6pm, in the Rural Health Center. Program will be “Healthy Holiday Meals”, presented by Melinda Monier, Registered Dietician, Dr. John Warner Hospital. Please join us for this mouth watering event.

 

Healthy-up Cookies

Add ground flaxseeds ( try 1 tablespoon) to batter for more fiber. Experiment with different natural, healthy sweeteners, like honey and agave syrup instead of sugar. You can also try this in other recipes that call for plain granulated sugar. Try raisins and cinnamon, blueberries, dried cranberries, slivered almonds, or orange extract in place of walnuts and chocolate chips.