The people at the HomeChoice Network in North Carolina have offered this advice to use. It makes sense no matter where you live!

September in North Carolina is routinely one of the hottest months of the year. Many people forget that dehydration is still possible – even in September! The most effective prevention for heat related illnesses is to keep hydrated. Adequate consumption of water is the most effective defense against heat stroke related problems. In seniors this is especially important. The suggestions listed below are simple to follow and will keep you hydrated during the remainder of the Sandhills’ hottest month of the year.

1. Drink fluids with each meal and snack and throughout the day.
2. Keep a bottle of water within reach. The faucet may be close at hand but how many times do you actually get up to fill your glass?
3. When you travel - by car, plane or train - always carry a bottle of water with you.
4. If you don’t like drinking plain water, add a splash of white grape juice, cranberry juice or black currant concentrate. Or, try a glass of sparking mineral with a slice of lemon.
5. If you deprive your body of fluids because you don’t like the taste of tap water, buy a water pitcher with an activated carbon filter. Always keep a full pitcher in the fridge. (And don’t forget to replace the filter periodically!)
6. Use a water bottle when you exercise. Drink 4oz – 6oz of fluid every 15 minutes.
7. If your physical activity lasts longer than one hour, hydrate with a sports drink such as Gatorade, All Sport or PowerAde.
8. If you drink fruit juice, choose only unsweetened varieties that don’t have sugar added.
9. Keep your coffee intake to a minimum. Ideally aim for no more than two cups per day. Replace unnecessary coffee (and soft drinks) with herbal tea, black tea or green tea. You get much less caffeine, and in the case of black and green teas, plenty of health enhancing antioxidants.
10. Limit your intake of alcoholic beverages to no more than seven per week (women) or nine per week (men). When you drink, drink a glass of water after each alcoholic beverage you’ve consumed.

This health tip is brought to you by the HomeChoice Network, a senior-care service in the Sandhills North Carolina communites of Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen, Whispering Pines and others. We serve all of Moore County.

http://www.hchoicenet.com/ten-easy-tips-for-adequate-hydration/

Make sure your food supply comes from the shortest distance possible.  The more you eat organic food that is locally grown and produced, the less energy and resources are required to feed you.  As a recent article in Wired Magazine reminds us, organic food isn’t just Farmer John.  It’s also the “biggies” in agribusiness that make organic food and then ship it thousands of miles so you can buy it at your local grocery store…as Wired so eloquently states, “Refrigerator trucks belching carbon-dioxide.”

This is one reason why farmer’s markets are the best idea since sliced (whole wheat) bread.  Spending money at farmer’s markets tells the farmer to continue to put their land to good use and keep growing healthy food for the local population.  Food that comes from a nearby farm is going to taste a lot fresher and better than food that has traveled hundreds or thousands of miles.  You can also feel good because you are supporting the local economy. 

Patronizing farmer’s markets and buying local and seasonal food sends a powerful message not only to small, nearby farmers, but also to the entire food manufacturing industry.  You are one person and you have the power.  Every dollar you spend on organic, local, seasonal, fair trade, non-GMO food grown using sustainable practices, communicates to the food producing industry what kind of product is in demand. 

To locate farmer’s markets, food co-ops, restaurants, bakeries, and personal chefs that provide local, sustainable, and organic food, go to eatwellguide.org and enter your zip code for a complete listing by category.   If farmer’s markets or nearby fruit stands don’t exist where you live, read labels carefully at the grocery store to determine where the organic products you purchase have been produced and opt for those that have traveled the shortest distance.  Excerpt from The List: Sixteen Simple Habits for a Smaller You (and a Healthier Planet). Copyright 2008, Kami Gray http://blog.thelistbykamigray.com/

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I stated, “That’s good because 32% is a high enough percentage, but it doesn’t mean that those kids are healthy as excess weight is not the only indicator of good heath.” What I MEANT to say was a child’s weight being in the normal range is not the only indicator of good health.

http://blog.thelistbykamigray.com/

Gregory A Smith has been crusading to help stop addiction to prescription narcotics. His practice began with the intention of helping patients with chronic pain issues. However, the epidemic of over-prescribed patients has challenged Dr. Smith to change his focus to helping patients deal with prescription narcotics addiction.

http://www.stopprescriptionaddiction.com

Learn smart smile care for the whole family on this easy to read and understand oral health resource. Healthy happy smiles are so easy to achieve. Stop in for a visit and pick up some great oral care tips.

www.oralhealthforall.com

Katherine Keates, RDH
Dental Hygienist

This is in response to a post titled: Childhood Obesity posted on June 2nd, 2008 by Web Admin.

http://healthblogs.org/2008/06/02/childhood-obesity/

The post stated that, “A report published in the May 28 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that the epidemic may have leveled off during the past eight years.” The post’s author suggested that, “It could mean that a certain percentage of the population of US children is simply immune to obesity. That’s one of my extremely non-scientific guesses, and was not suggested by any of the research.”

I think that’s a real possibility. I too have no scientific research to back up my conclusions, but as a parent for nearly 19 years, I have seen many children (some with obese parents) that eat nothing but fast food, packaged food, and foods containing high fructose corn syrup and trans fats…all items that can contribute to weight gain. Some of these kids simply “can’t” get fat. That’s good because 32% is a high enough percentage, but it doesn’t mean that those kids are healthy as excess weight is not the only indicator of good heath.

In terms of obesity statistics, it would be far more exciting news if the levels were dropping rather just leveling off. I agree it’s a start, but we need to continue educating parents, grandparents, teachers, and kids themselves about the dangers of becoming obese. We need to face facts and offer children a real solution to becoming the healthy young person they were born to be.

www.thelistbykamigray.com

www.blog.thelistbykamigray.com

The folks from the Nursing Online Education Database web site wanted to let us know about some information which will be helpful for parents who are looking for information to help their overweight child stay healthy.
“50 Tips for Helping Your Overweight Child Stay Healthy”
(http://noedb.org/library/features/50_tips_helping_overweight_child_stay_healthy).

theweekdaily.com — The scientific consensus has long been that they are not —though recently, some troubling research has led to new doubts.

Read more about it at The Week Daily.

Signature Auto Solutions in Pittsboro, North Carolina has come to the rescue of a local resident in need. We want to thank them for their help. After learning that a local woman with breast cancer was concerned about how she was going to get to her daily radiation for six weeks which will start in three weeks, co-owner Chad made a fuel efficient used car available for her use. This act of kindness will allow her to worry about more important things than how she’s going to afford gas for her own older SUV.

Now we’re looking for donations of gas cards and money for other expenses. This woman has already had months of chemo and two surgeries. Once the radiation is complete, she’ll be able to get back to her job and life as she knew it before.