FEATURED ARTICLES

• Caregiver burnout
• Caregiver coping

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

For several years now, we have seen a “role-reversal” where many adults are finding themselves in the role of caregiver for their aging parents and/or siblings. Oftentimes caregivers are so busy caring for others that they forget to care for themselves or their immediate families.

Experts refer to this condition as “caregiver burnout.” The symptoms of caregiver burnout mirror the symptoms of depression and stress, but they may also include:

• Withdrawal from friends and family.
• Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy.
• Changes in appetite, weight, or both.
• Getting sick more often.
• Using alcohol or sleep medication too often.
• Feeling blue, cranky, or hopeless.

But what causes caregiver burnout? Besides neglecting themselves, burnout can also be caused by:

• Role confusion – if you have been a caregiver for a long time, you can forget how to be a parent, spouse, or friend.
• Lack of control – you may feel like you lack the skills, money, or resources that your loved one needs.
• Unreasonable demands – you may take on too much, mainly because you are the taking on the task alone.
• Unrealistic expectations – you may expect your care to have a positive effect on your loved one, when in fact it might not.

While caregiver burnout is the harsh reality for so many, all is not lost. You can reverse the burnout you feel simply by knowing your limits, asking for help, setting realistic goals, and most importantly taking time for yourself.

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

• Cranberries contain high amounts of vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They also include only 45 calories per cup.
• Cranberry's juice can be used for the prevention of urinary tract infections and bacterial adhesion in the stomach.
• The same bacteria preventing ability of the cranberry juice can avert the formation of plaque, which leads to fewer cavities. 

 Recipe: Easy Cranberry Bread 

• 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange rind
• 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon, rind of
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 3/4 cups cranberries, chopped 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda into a large bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture is crumbly. Add egg, finely grated orange peel, lemon peel, and orange juice all at once; carefully stir until the mixture is evenly moist. Fold in cranberries. Spoon and spread evenly into a greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack. 

Recipe: Cranberry Sauce 

• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries
• Optional: Pecans, orange zest, raisins, currants, blueberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice. 

Place the cranberries in a colander and rinse them. Pick out and discard any damaged or bruised cranberries. Put the water and sugar in a medium saucepan on high heat and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve the sugar.  Add the cranberries to the pot and return to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until most of the cranberries have burst.  Once the cranberries have burst you can leave the cranberry sauce as is or dress it up with other ingredients. We like to mix in a half a cup of chopped pecans with a few strips of orange zest. Some people like adding raisins or currants, or even blueberries for added sweetness. You can also add holiday spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, or allspice. Remove the pot from heat. Let cool completely at room temperature, then transfer to a bowl to chill in the refrigerator.

• Health fits of walking
• Health benets of hiking

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

In 2018, more than 111 million people chose walking as their aerobic activity of choice and in 2020, hiking enticed 57.8 million Americans to hit the trail, a number that dramatically increased since 2014.

Both activities are low-risk ways to get your exercise in (especially during a pandemic) and keep you moving!

But is walking better than hiking? Or is hiking better than walking? Here a couple things to keep in mind when choosing to lace up your sneakers or hiking boots.

Walking is typically done outside in an urban or suburban flat area (or indoors on a treadmill or at a mall), while hiking is done in the outdoors along natural terrain, with elevation changes.

Both walking and hiking can help you to manage cholesterol and blood pressure. They are both great for improving heart and lung performance, and they both can help you lose weight.

If you want to burn more calories, hiking is your better option. While you can burn approximately 100 calories per mile walking, you can burn approximately 500 calories per mile hiking while wearing a heavy backpack going over arduous terrain.

If you are looking for an inexpensive workout, then walking wins this one. You can walk for free anywhere; while you might have to drive further distances to hike and wear hiking boots and use other hiking gear for peak performance.

Whether you choose to take a hike or take a walk, both activities are great ways to get your exercise, clear your mind and take a breath of fresh air!

• Holiday stress
• Handling stress
• Coping with stress

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Thanksgiving may be behind us, but we are still entering the major holiday season… or the major stress season for some. The holidays are stressful for many during a normal year, but couple that with a global pandemic, shipping delays, shortages, and inflation, many people may be finding it hard to cope this year.

So how can you better deal with your holiday stress?

Experts suggest the following:

• Talk with your family and find out what holiday traditions mean the most to them and focus on those activities and not ALL of the holiday activities.
• Make a holiday schedule and invite your family members to help you keep on that schedule.
• Make it a proactive event to find out what worked and what didn’t from year to year.

• Weight loss diets
• Food for weight loss

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Written by Lisa Jillanza

Eating seasonal foods can help you meet your weight loss goals by encouraging variety in your diet and increasing the level of nutrients you get throughout the day—and the fall season brings a unique list of foods to try.

Here are some of the best fall foods that you can eat to help you lose weight:

Winter squash – winter squash like butternut, acorn, and spaghetti squash are perfect additions to your fall meals. Plus, with fiber and nutrients, these squashes offer a lower-calorie alternative to other carbohydrates.

Apples – apples are a great weight-loss food for the fall because they are naturally sweet and high in fiber. Fiber helps you to stay full faster and longer, helping you to manage your portions.

Oatmeal – the benefits are many with tons of fiber, nutrients, and prebiotic properties, oatmeal is one of the best fall foods for weight loss.

Canned pumpkin – canned pumpkin is not only delicious, but it’s extremely low in calories and sodium and has 4 grams of fiber and 1 gram of protein per serving.

Want to try a delicious smoothie that uses canned pumpkin and helps you sneak in some extra nutrients. Try this one out!

• 1 scoop plant-based vanilla protein powder
• 1/4 cup frozen banana
• 1/2 cup frozen pineapple
• 1/2 cup frozen peach slices
• 1/4 cup pumpkin purée
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 5 ice cubes

Put it all in a blender. Blend and enjoy!