Weekly Gravy « Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

SATURDAY, Oct. 12, 2019Fall can be a challenging time of the year for kids with asthma, an expert says. “Although asthma can flare up for a number of reasons, a lot of people with allergies also have asthma, and asthma can be triggered by allergies. So the fall is a tough time for asthmatic sufferers,” said Dr. Gaurav Kumar, a pediatrician at LifeBridge Health in Baltimore. While many kids do well with their asthma during the summer, problems often accompany the return to school. “You go from taking these outdoor summer vacations to now being in a classroom again,” Kumar explained. “So now you’re in contact with people in closed spaces. And of course, what happens is germs are more likely to spread that way. So you could get colds from friends who have colds, and then that becomes a trigger for asthma.” Parents need to make sure their child’s asthma is under control. If a child stopped taking preventive asthma medications regularly during the summer, they should resume daily use now, Kumar advised. Children with asthma should have checkups at least once a year, and in some cases as often as three or four times a year. “An asthma checkup is an opportunity for us to reassess how the year has gone and to make plans in anticipation of what might happen,” Kumar said… read on >

(HealthDay News) — More than 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in 2017 alone, says the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. To stay safer on the road, the agency encourages motorcyclists to: Practice operating your motorcycle before taking it into traffic. Check your motorcycle’s tire pressure, tread depth, breaks, lights and fluid levels before riding. Wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards and proper body protection. Obey traffic lights, signs, speed limits and lane markings. Stay alcohol- and drug -ree.

Chemotherapy can be hard on the heart, but an individualized exercise program may mitigate some of that damage, new research suggests. Heart problems are a common side effect in patients with cancer because cancer treatments can impair heart function and structure or accelerate development of heart disease, especially when patients have risk factors such as high blood pressure, according to the authors. They also noted that heart disease and cancer often share the same risk factors, and that cancer patients are often advised to have a healthy diet, quit smoking, control their weight, and exercise. The review paper, published online Oct. 6 in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, emphasizes the importance of each patient having an individual exercise plan that takes into account personal history, cancer treatment, response to exercise and personal preferences. The researchers advised that exercise should start as soon as possible after cancer diagnosis, even before starting treatment such as chemotherapy. “Cancer patients are often less active than adults without cancer,” said study author Dr. Flavio D’Ascenzi, a cardiologist from the University of Siena in Italy. “However, exercise is essential for patients diagnosed with cancer who are under treatment, irrespective of the type of treatment. “Endurance training is more effective for improving cardiovascular performance and reducing inflammation, but resistance training may be a better starting point for frail cancer patients,” he… read on >

The most common misconception about weight training is that it adds bulky muscle mass, a fear of some women. While elite male lifters can — and want to — get very developed, for most people the result is simply well-toned muscles. Other benefits are increased mobility, more support for your joints and the ability to stay self-sufficient into your late years. As an added bonus, having more muscle can also help you with your weight goal. That’s because the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolic rate and the more calories you burn. Add a calorie cut into the mix and you’ll lose weight. Muscle is denser than fat and it also takes up less room. That’s why you can look leaner yet actually weigh more than someone without muscle definition. To make the most of strength training, lift heavier weights than you think you’re able to. Yes, challenge yourself, staying within safe limits. You don’t want to try to lift a weight you can barely pick up off the weight rack, but most people underestimate the amount they can handle or fail to progress to heavier weights, according to the American Council on Exercise, and that limits the effectiveness of strength training. Keep in mind, too, that you don’t have to spend hours in the gym. All you need are 20 to 30… read on >

There’s a healthy new twist in the farm-to-table movement: Getting farm-fresh food to school lunchrooms and even having students grow their own crops as part of learning. Colorado was a pioneer in passing the “Farm-to-School Healthy Kids Act” in 2010. The move was designed to increase the use of local farm and ranch products in school food service programs to both improve childhood nutrition and strengthen the state’s agricultural economy. Today, a handful of other states have similar programs. Some schools also have added programs for growing food to their curriculum. An example is in place at Community School 55 in New York’s South Bronx, thanks to the Green Bronx Machine. Educator Stephen Ritz founded the nonprofit as an after-school alternative program for high schoolers. It’s fully integrated into the core curriculum from kindergarten through high school. Students have grown tens of thousands of pounds of vegetables that go from classroom-to-community. Ritz turned an underutilized library into the National Health, Wellness and Learning Center, considered the nation’s first career technical education elementary school. The program features a year-round, indoor vertical farm that grows crops regardless of the weather, and a food processing and training kitchen with solar and alternative energy generators. It has served as a model for schools in many areas of the country. You can learn more at greenbronxmachine.org. National organizations are also… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, is a medical condition that happens when a person sweats more than necessary. People with hyperhidrosis sweat when the body does not need cooling, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Many people with hyperhidrosis sweat from their palms, feet, underarms or head. The condition can interfere with daily activities, and cause unsightly sweat marks. Treatment options range from antiperspirants to Botox injections to prescription medicine.

If you’re Hispanic and missing out on needed sleep, a new study suggests that could make you more prone to memory problems and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. “This finding is particularly important because Hispanics have a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared with non-Hispanic whites,” said study leader Dr. Alberto Ramos. He is a sleep expert and associate professor of neurology at the University of Miami. For the study, the researchers assessed the brain function of more than 5,200 Hispanics, aged 45 to 75, in Chicago, Miami, San Diego and New York City at the start of the study, and again seven years later. “We observed that prolonged periods of sleep and chronic insomnia symptoms led to declines in memory, executive function and processing speed. Those measures can precede the development of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease,” Ramos explained in a university news release. The study also included measures of sleep apnea, which has been linked to memory and thinking problems. “No previous studies used data from a representative sample of U.S. Hispanic/Latinos for these multiple types of sleep disturbances,” Ramos said. The findings should help make doctors aware that sleep problems may be connected with mental decline, particularly in Hispanics, according to Ramos. “We may also be able to identify at-risk patients who may benefit from early intervention to prevent or reduce the… read on >

Looking for a simple yet delicious way to enjoy whole grains? Start with nutritious, easy-to-cook barley, a great swap for processed grains like white rice. When shopping, choose hulled barley instead of pearl. Hulled barley retains more of the outer bran layer with its fiber and nutrients. Pearl parley has had most of the bran layer “polished” off. Hearty barley is a staple in Europe. In the United States, it’s often used as an ingredient in soups and stews, but there’s no reason to relegate it to those dishes. To cook barley for a fast breakfast or side dish, for every two servings, use a half-cup barley to a cup and a half of water. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the grains are tender and most of the water has evaporated. Top with cinnamon in the morning or herbs for dinner — it’s that versatile. But don’t stop there. Try this twist on traditional risotto for a one-pot meal. Mushroom Barley “Risotto” 1 cup dry hulled barley 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 red onion, minced 3 garlic cloves 5 ounces mushrooms, such as button or crimini, sliced 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped 2 teaspoons thyme leaves, chopped Place the barley in a… read on >

Sore from a workout? You don’t have to reach for pain relief medicine when ice or heat will help. But when should you go cold and when should you go warm? Ice is the go-to therapy when an injury first happens. It can stop the swelling of a sprained ankle, for instance, and numb the pain. The traditional approach is 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off at first. You might step this down to 20 minutes every two or three hours on the second and third days. If you have a long-term injury, icing the area for 10 to 20 minutes after a workout can be soothing. Ice options include a plastic bag of crushed ice, a reusable ice pack or even a bag of peas that can be refrozen for use again — label it so no one eats them. Whatever you use, always place a thin towel between the ice and your skin to prevent skin damage. Once the swelling of an injury is gone, you can switch to heat. Heat eases discomfort and promotes healing. With a chronic condition like arthritis, it can soothe achy joints and lessen your pain. You can follow the same type of schedule you would when icing. Just as you don’t want to freeze your skin with ice, you don’t want to burn it with heat. So… read on >

Weekly Gravy

Look Good – Feel Good – Feed Good

A little about: Weekly Gravy

All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

A Parent’s Guide to Managing Kids’ Asthma During the Fall

A Parent’s Guide to Managing Kids’ Asthma During the Fall

Health Tip: Practicing Motorcycle Safety

Exercise Might Guard Against Heart Damage of Chemo

The Surprising Benefits of Weight Training

Farm-to-Table Movement Goes to School

Health Tip: Understanding Excessive Sweating

Lack of Sleep May Cause Thinking Declines in Hispanics

Barley: A Tasty Alternative to Rice

Pain Relief: When to Use Cold, When to Use Heat