HEALTH & WELLNESS S P E C I A L S E C T I O N
Kids’
Health
• Stop the spread of germs – Sanitizing frequently touched surfaces (door
handles, sinks, countertops) and handwashing can help combat the spread
of germs to other family members. Providing sick children with a comfy
space to recover, away from other children, can help prevent contamination
of highly trafficked areas of the home.
• Stay moisturized in dry weather – Try limiting bath time and make sure
the water isn’t too hot. Follow your bathtime routine with an ointment or
cream, instead of lotion. Most lotions have added ingredients, including
fragrances and alcohols, which can cause skin irritation. Opt for something
as simple as petroleum jelly or a mineral oil to lock in moisture throughout
the day.
• Keep up with vitamin D – Vitamin D helps the body take in calcium and
build strong bones as well as fight infection, and plays a role in heart health.
But, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a majority of the
population is vitamin D deficient. Wintertime can bring on less outdoor play
(meaning less exposure to sunlight) and most don’t receive enough vitamin
D through diet alone. Talk to your child’s health care provider for proper
supplement dosage amounts.
• Keep moving – Bundle up to go outside and sled ride or go for a walk.
Blowing bubbles isn’t just for the summertime, and if it’s cold enough,
they will freeze! You can also set up activities inside the house to keep kids
occupied, or look to your local community center for fun indoor activities.
• Stay hydrated – According to a study published by Medicine and Science in
Sports and Exercise, exposure to cold temperatures can lessen your body’s
response to thirst. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and make
children more susceptible to illness. Serve warm drinks such as soup broths
or warm cider after being in the cold, and always have water available.
• Dress in layers – Babies and children should be dressed in one more layer
of clothing than an adult. Packing on too many additional layers can cause
sweating, making your child colder! Start with a moisture-wicking base
layer, followed by wool, down, or fleece and a water/wind-resistant outer
layer for optimal warmth.
• Get some Zzs – An adequate amount of sleep is important for everyone,
especially when you’re sick. Offer quiet activities such as books, puzzles,
coloring, or a movie to allow for some much-needed downtime. Encourage
naps when possible to increase resting time.
• Skip sharing (food and drinks) – Encourage your kids to wash their hands
before lunch to limit germs spreading to food. Also, remind your children
to keep their hands from touching their face and the faces of
others.
• Elbow trick – Teach kids to turn
their heads to sneeze or cough
into a tissue or into their elbow to
limit the spread of germs.
• Know when outdoor play is
safe. Green Zone: 30 degrees or
higher – Safe to play outside with
layers, but come inside to warm
up every 40 minutes. Yellow
Zone: 20-30 degrees – Take caution
to monitor children for signs of
shivering and come inside every
20-30 minutes. Red Zone:
Below 20 degrees – Stay
inside!
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Heart Health
We are all aware that it is important to eat
healthy and stay fit for heart health. A diet
rich in plant foods and low in processed food
and animal products lends itself to a happy
heart. Paired with cardiovascular exercise,
you’ve got it made for a healthy body. But
have you ever thought of staying positive as
a way to keep your heart healthy? A research
study at the University of Illinois shows that
people with optimistic attitudes have higher
odds of having ideal cardiovascular health
when compared to pessimistic people. The
study analyzed “the mental health, levels of
optimism, and physical health of 5,100 adults
ranging from 45 to 84 years of age. Heart
health scores—based on American Heart
Association-approved metrics, including
blood pressure and body mass index—
increased right alongside optimism levels.”
So when you’re feeling down, remember that
staying positive affects more than just your
day, so keep your head up and your heart
happy.
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – A chronic
digestive disease, GERD is defined as experiencing acid
reflux and heartburn at least twice a week. It affects 20
percent of Americans and can cause persistent bad breath,
tooth erosion, nausea, and pain in the chest or upper
abdomen, or it can make swallowing and breathing hard to
do.
• Hemorrhoids – Hemorrhoids are inflamed blood vessels
found at the end of your digestive tract. Often painful and
itchy, they are caused by chronic constipation, diarrhea, or a
lack of fiber in your diet. Seventy-five percent of Americans
over the age of 45 suffer from hemorrhoids. Staying
hydrated, eating more fiber, or over-the-counter creams may
provide relief from hemorrhoids.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) – Affecting 15 percent
of Americans, IBS is characterized by stomach pain
or discomfort at least three times a month for several
months. Symptoms vary widely with IBS, making it hard
to determine the exact cause. Treatment focuses mostly
on diet, eliminating common trigger foods such as dairy,
alcohol, caffeine, artificial sweeteners and beans. Doctors
also recommend a diet high in fiber and consumption of
probiotics found in yogurt.
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Digestion
Digestive issues affect all of us at one
time or another. From upset stomach,
gas, and heartburn, to constipation and
diarrhea, digestive problems are painful and
embarrassing. Some of the most common are:
• Food Intolerance – Often confused with
food allergy, food intolerance likely allows
you to eat a small amount of an offending
food without any issues (while a food
allergy could be life-threatening). Causes
of intolerance include celiac disease,
sensitivity to food additives, food toxins,
and absence of an enzyme needed to fully
digest a food.
Skin
Most likely, if you are unhealthy on the inside, it will show
on the outside. Your skin often mirrors your body’s true overall
health, so a healthy diet, exercise, and drinking lots of water
will do wonders. But keep in mind: there are other ways to
make your skin shine bright!
• Wear sunscreen.
• Get a full night’s sleep.
• Exfoliate to shrink pores.
• Hydrate your face, neck, and chest.
Offer expires 12/31/2018
Continued on page 23 >
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WINTER 2018
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