FEATURED ARTICLES

• prevent Alzheimer's disease
• Alzheimers disease
• Alzheimers awareness

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

Every September, Alzheimer’s Awareness is celebrated worldwide, and World Alzheimer’s Day takes place every year on September 21.

Understanding Alzheimer’s is important because Alzheimer’s disease is the “most common form of dementia, affecting about 6 percent of people 65 and older.”

In this two-part article, we will talk about this disease in depth and give you some ways to get involved in this important awareness event.

First some facts and figures associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. Dementia is an umbrella term for a collection of symptoms that are caused by disorders affecting the brain and impacting memory, thinking, behavior and emotion, like Alzheimer’s. Symptoms include loss of memory, difficulty in finding the right words or understanding what people are saying, difficulty in performing previously routine tasks, and personality and mood changes.

Important facts about Alzheimer’s are:

1. ​It's a killer

About one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia — more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.​

1. ​Deaths are increasing

​Since 2000, deaths from Alzheimer's disease have increased by more than 120 percent.

1. Alzheimer's will affect more and more Americans

​If current projections are accurate, by the year 2050, the number of Americans suffering from Alzheimer's disease will reach nearly 14 million.

1. ​Women are most likely to be affected

​Statistics show that about two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer's disease are women.

1. ​Hispanics are more susceptible

Statistics also show that ​Hispanics are about one-and-a-half times as likely to have Alzheimer's disease (or other dementias) as older, white, non-Hispanics.

(Continued in part II…)

• Squat Challenge
• Benefits of squat exercises
• Squat exercises

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

It’s the start of a new month and that means a new monthly challenge. Because we love alliteration, how about the Squat’n September Challenge? 

This 30-day challenge will have you squatting your way through the month of September.

Day 1: 50 squats

Day 2: 55 squats

Day 3: 60 squats

Day 4: REST

Day 5: 70 squats

Day 6: 75 squats

Day 7: 80 squats

Day 8: REST

Day 9: 100 squats

Day 10: 105 squats

Day 11: 110 squats

Day 12: REST

Day 13: 130 squats

Day 14: 135 squats

Day 15: 140 squats

Day 16: REST

Day 17: 150 squats

Day 18: 155 squats

Day 19: 160 squats

Day 20: REST

Day 21: 180 squats

Day 22: 185 squats

Day 23: 190 squats

Day 24: REST

Day 25: 220 squats

Day 26: 225 squats

Day 27: 230 squats

Day 28: REST

Day 29: 240 squats

Day 30: 250 squats

• Health benefits of Magnesium
• Benefits of Magnesium

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

A recent study shows that magnesium deficiency has become rampant lately – almost 80% of Americans do not get enough of this precious mineral.

Experts say that magnesium is just as important as calcium and iron because it improves muscle functioning, supports the immune system, and plays a major role in heart health. 

To increase your magnesium intake try adding these foods to your diet: 

• Boiled spinach
• Pumpkin seeds
• Nuts like cashews, almonds, and peanuts
• Black beans and peas
• Fish
• Prunes

• Bath versus shower
• Health benefits of baths
• Health benefits of shower

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

It’s the age-old debate – bath or shower? Who doesn’t love a nice, hot soak in the tub to unwind? Or how about those steamy, relaxing showers? But which one is healthier? And why? 

First, we focus on the shower. Besides being timesaving and more efficient, here are some other benefits of taking a shower.

• Reduces tension and improves circulation.
• Gets rid of headaches and helps with sore muscles.
• Massages your skin as the water falls.
• Great for cleaning the body. 

Now for the cons of taking a shower. 

• You must stand (most likely).
• Relies on water pressure.
• Your bathroom becomes a steam room. 

And now let’s take a look at the benefits of taking a bath.

• Helps treat skin conditions like eczema.
• Can improve sleep.
• Good for muscle and joint protection and relief.
• Helps regulate blood pressure.
• May improve breathing.

And the cons of taking a bath.

• Might not be clean (or as clean as a shower).
• Can affect the body’s pH levels.
• Strips the body of natural oils. 

So, who is the winner? Either way it comes down to hygiene. Both baths and showers have pros and cons, so it often comes down to a matter of preference and time.  As long as you are getting yourself clean, you are doing good for your body.

Happy Washing!

• healthy diet
• Health benefits of sweet potatoes
• Health sweet potatoes

Details

Written by Lisa Jillanza

• Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene and vitamin C.
• The nutrients in sweet potatoes are also anti-inflammatory, which means that besides being great tasting, sweet potatoes can help reduce the severity of conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
• In addition, sweet potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6.

Recipe: Golden Sweet Potato Brownies 

1 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

2 cups peeled and finely shredded sweet potatoes

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

2 tablespoons milk

Preheat the oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir into the batter just until blended. Fold in the shredded yam. Spread the batter evenly in the greased baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. Mix together the confectioners' sugar, butter and milk until smooth. Spread over the brownies while they are still warm.

Recipe: Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries 

6 sweet potatoes cut into French fries

2 tablespoons canola oil

3 tablespoons taco seasoning mix

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper 

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

In a plastic bag, combine the sweet potatoes, canola oil, taco seasoning, and cayenne pepper. Close and shake the bag until the fries are evenly coated. Spread the fries out in a single layer on two large baking sheets.

Bake for 30 minutes, or until crispy and brown on one side. Turn the fries over using a spatula, and cook for another 30 minutes, or until they are all crispy on the outside and tender inside. Thinner fries may not take as long.