Health Briefs TV Encourages Readers to Change Their MIND

What is the MIND diet and how can it prevent the onset on Alzheimer’s disease? Health Briefs TV reviews the plan and how it can be beneficial to everyone.

MIND stands for Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay diet. It combines the best of two popular and very effective diets: the Mediterranean and DASH diets in its efforts to reduce the chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease and other mind-affected conditions.

The MIND diet recommends patients eat from five specific food groups, and avoid eating from 5 others. To gain the most benefit from this plan, people should consume:

Green leafy vegetables:  Think spinach, lettuce, kale, broccoli and greens at least two to four times per week. They contain vitamins A and C and other nutrients which benefit brain health.

Nuts: five small servings per week are recommended. Nuts contain healthy fats and fiber, and antioxidants to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Berries: Blueberries are also full of vitamins and antioxidants. They are easy to find year round and easy to eat. Strawberries are also good.

Beans and whole grains: Both of these groups include food which is healthful, low fat and full of fiber which are all recommended to main overall goo health. The Health Briefs TV show notes that three servings per week of each is also recommended.

Fish, which is a major part of the Mediterranean diet, is also a part of the MIND diet. Fish high in the omega-3 fats are especially good. Buy enjoy it once a week.

Eating for improved brain function is essential for anyone, and more so for those aged 40 and up. Alzheimer’s is a disease which many people at different ages. Stack the cards in your favor with a healthy diet every day. Always consult your doctor before beginning any diet or change in lifestyle.

Health Briefs TV Offers Tip to Rid Home of Allergies

Twenty percent of the US population suffers from allergies. And our homes are one of the most common places where allergens can ruin a good night’s rest or a day’s worth of family fun. Health Briefs TV shares some tips to get rid of allergies in the home.

Bathrooms – Use a mold and mildew killing cleaner on all hard surfaces such as shower floors and bathroom walls. Turn the ventilator fan on every time someone uses the shower and leave it on for 15 minutes after getting out of the shower to suck moisture from the air. Wipe the spaces around sinks and toilets once a week to prevent mold buildup.

Living, family and other rooms – Get rid of plug-in air fresheners which can emit VOCs and exasperate allergies. When dusting furniture, use a spray that collects and hold the particles. Vacuum the furniture to get rid of pet hair and dander.

Bedrooms – Wash bed linens in hot water and dry on hot once a week to thoroughly wash out mites and other irritants. The Health Briefs TV show suggests purchasing allergy-proof pillow covers.

Other places – Search high and low for drips from pipes, fridges and freezers and washers. Even a small drip can make a dry spot a moldy spot in time.

Ban mold, mildew, dust mites and other irritants from the home every day and week with these easy to do chores. No one wants to spend the spring and summer months sneezing, wiping watery eyes or runny noses. 

Health Briefs TV Explains Why Everyone Needs a Power Nap

There is nothing like a power nap to refresh energy and boost brain power.  Health Briefs TV explains why we all need one of these.

Short naps are 30 to 45 minutes long and are most beneficial for memory retention and recall, according to researchers in Germany. The study involved two groups of people: a control group and a group of participants that took a power nap. Those who took the power nap were found to perform better than the control group when remembering work pairs during a performance test. Results such as these can be useful for college students and others who rely on information learned.

Power naps are beneficial to everyone. A short 20 to 30 minute nap refreshes a tired mind, boosts energy and increases stamina for the rest of the day and evening. The Health Briefs TV show suggests taking one on hot days when the sun is at its highest. Workers might want to use half of a one hour lunch break to grab a power rest.  Napping was once thought of for infants, small children and the very elderly. But the German study results prove that a power nap helps everyone retain more information, and endure a long day. For best results: close the office door, turn the lights off and set an alarm to go off in 20 to 30 minutes. Use a jacket or sweater for a pillow and stretch out at the desk or on the floor. Just be sure to get up when the alarm rings. 

Health Briefs TV and How to Get Ahead of Spring Allergies

Even though the first day of spring is here, the spring allergy season has already begun. Health Briefs TV offers advice on how to get ahead of spring allergies.

Spring has sprung and so have the allergen counts in the air. People who suffer from allergies can attest to the watery, itchy eyes, skin rashes, stuffed noses and continual sneezing and how bothersome it is. Those who have already been tested for allergies can take over the counter medicine to combat some of the symptoms. March is a good month to renew prescriptions for allergy season. Be sure to notify the pharmacy about when to auto re-fill the prescription.  In the meantime, try a non-drowsy antihistamines to lessen sneezing, runny noses, and watery eyes. Nasal decongestants and eye drops for allergy sufferers are also good OTC choices. A board-certified allergist can give people a test to determine what they are allergic too. Also, the FDA just approved a new drug –a tablet—that acts like an allergy shot. Call your allergist of physician to learn more about that.

Other ways to get ahead of spring allergies: switch to a HEPA filter for air conditioners, take a shower before bed to wash way any pollen stuck the hair and body, and wash pollen-laden clothing as soon as possible. As always, if allergy symptoms become worse, call the doctor. A reminder from the Health Briefs TV show to keep all medicine out of reach of small children and pets.

Health Briefs TV Checks into the Sleep Business

Sleep. It can be elusive, fleeting, abundant, and is often interrupted.  And it is can also be big business. Health Briefs TV take a peek at the sleep business.

Did you get a good night’s rest? How many full hours of sleep did you get? Was your sleep interrupted by children, pets or smart phones buzzing with the arrival of incoming messages? These are all things that can interrupt and disrupt sleep every night. For insomniacs, this can be a rest killer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that up to 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders. We spend extraordinary amounts of money on new mattresses, pillows, sleep aids, and even sleep spas to determine what’s keeping us from decent rest.  Sleep-related products are a $32 billion dollar industry, and include an incredible amount of products and remedies to help the sleep-deprived close their eyes and rest soundly.  The Health Briefs TV show counters that there are better ways to ease into sleep and rest well, and are free. Exercise, even moderate exercise such as a good after dinner walk, can be relaxing and help you distress to sleep better. Hit the sack at the same time every night. Turn the TV off and move smart phone and other digital devices away from bed side tables. A shower right before bed helps wash away stress and can ease you into a restful state.  

Sleep is big business because people spend a great deal of money to get the elusive rest they need. Always try the free ways first, though, and put that money someplace else. Like into a vacation.

Health Briefs TV Examines How to Choose the Best Hospital

Hospitals are graded on several categories and by several different organizations. Health Briefs TV reviews how to find the best one.

The hospitals people choose has much to do about where their surgeon or specialist practices than the grades they get. If the best doctor for the medical need is affiliated with a specific medical center then that is where one will usually go. There have been more than 100 mergers and acquisitions in the medical care field since 2012. How does this affect the rating the hospital gets?

Basically, the patient or someone in their family might want to ask others they know about the facility and its services. Patients can ask the doctor if there is any other medical center they are affiliated with since some medical professionals are affiliated with more than one. One can also go online and search for reviews for the hospital. Often, this is best place for the most honest information about rooms, nursing care, food and services for the medical facility someone is about be admitted to. The Health Briefs TV show also knows that there are a few organizations which grade hospitals. But until they all agree on a standardized format, the inquiring patient may find different scores.  Patients with questions about specific health care institutions should address to them their medical care professionals. 

Health Briefs TV Examines the Low FODMAP Diet for People with IBS

Print and use as a grocery list

People who are affected by irritable bowel syndrome may find some relief from the Low FODMAP diet. But what is it? Health Briefs TV examines how this diet can spell relief for people with IBS.

FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharide and polyols. These are types of carbs which are difficult to digest and become fermented by bacteria which can cause bloating and discomfort. Nutritionists and doctors can guide someone with IBS on this diet.  Most of the people who are put on this plan report that it works better than a gluten-free diet.

Carbohydrates can be present in different forms in foods. They differ from being a long-chain carb, such as a starch, to simple sugars. These are usually well-digested. Fiber and resistant starch are long-chain carbs which are resistant to digestion. They are also important for stool formation.  An Australian group found through their research that short-chain carbs, or FODMAPs, can spell gastrointestinal trouble for some people who live with irritable bowel syndrome. When the FODMAPs are reduced in the diet, there are less IBS symptoms. The Health Briefs TV show also notes that this type of dietary change can be tailored to an individual’s lifestyle and eating habits. Those diagnosed with Celiac disease might want to discuss this plan with their doctor.

Why We Need the Turn the Volume Down from Health Briefs TV

Turn the volume down

Nothing sounds better than listening to a favorite song with ear buds or head phones on. Keep in mind though that we don’t have to amp up the volume.

The World Health Organization estimates that 1 billion people could possibly lose their hearing and most of those between the ages of 12 and 35. This is mostly due to cranking the volume up with ear buds in the ears or head phone use.  Forty percent of the above are likely to lose experience some level of hearing loss due to being in venues where the decibel levels are very high, such as concerts. And hearing loss is forever.

Below are some steps to prevent premature hearing loss:

Curtail listening to loud music from ear buds or head phones to no more than one hour per day.

Don’t spend more than eight hours per day in a job where the inside noise decibel is more than 85 decibels. These jobs are usually in bars, nightclubs or sporting venues.

Turn the TV volume to a reasonable listening level.

Watch children and teens to be sure they are not blasting music or games in their ears with buds or head phones. Headphones can be cranked up to 110 decibels.

The Health Briefs TV show reminds readers that hearing loss is permanent. There are no quick fixes. And hearing aid devices, no matter what the cost, do not restore hearing one hundred percent. In fact, hearing aids amplify ALL sound including background noise. Protect the ears always.