Pain Fighting Foods

Eat healthy...Most of us have heard this our entire lives. One reason to make the effort, believe it or not, is to prevent pain. Instead of reaching for that piece of leftover chocolate cake in the fridge, move your hand to the left and grab the red grapes! Some of these healthy foods pack as much pain-fighting power as ibuprofen. Cheers to a new and holistic approach to pain management!

Here are some foods that may be worth including into your diet:

Red Grapes--This popular fruit contains resveratrol, a powerful compound that blocks the enzymes that contribute to tissue degeneration. The evidence: In lab experiments at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, resveratrol protected against the kind of cartilage damage that causes back pain.

Ginger--Almost two-thirds of patients with chronic knee pain reported less soreness upon standing after taking a ginger extract, according to a six-week study from the University of Miami.

Soy-- An Oklahoma State University study found that consuming 40 grams of soy protein daily for three months slashed patients' use of pain medication for osteoarthritis in half.

Cherries--High amounts of antioxidants called anthocyanins are the key to cherries' pain-fighting power. In a U.S. Department of Agriculture study, participants who ate 45 Bing cherries a day for 28 days reduced their inflammation levels significantly.

Coffee/ Caffeine- University of Georgia researchers showed that moderate doses of caffeine (equivalent to two cups of joe) reduced post-workout pain by almost 50 percent.

Fish—Eating fish 2-3 times per week can help tame the pain or inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, migraines, and some autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease.

To learn more about these highly beneficial foods visit: http://www.aarp.org/food/diet-nutrition/info-03-2011/pain-fighting-foods

Easy Living News:

Recently, we had a photo contest on our Facebook Fan Page. Facebook users posted their photos of their favorite senior on our wall. The photo that received the most “likes” won a $100 VISA gift card.

A BIG congratulations to our winner-- Amber Stickney! Thanks to everyone who participated and shared your wonderful photos!

Helpful practices for people that are at risk for Alzheimers

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease. There are practices that can help: slow the progression, manage behavioral problems, and support family members and other caregivers.
The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) has put together a list of some practices that may be worth incorporating into your daily routine, especially if you have a family history of dementia. Talk to your doctor about these practices, as every individual is unique.

• Consume a low-fat diet.
• Eat cold-water fish 2 to 3 times per week.
• Reduce your intake of linoleic acid found in margarine, butter, & dairy
• Eat plenty of darkly colored fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins
• Maintain a normal blood pressure.
• Stay mentally and socially active throughout your life.

For more information regarding Alzheimer ’s Disease visit-- http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000760all.htm

Lifestyle Management Solutions

We are pleased to announce a new service offering, "Lifestyle Management Solutions" available this coming summer.

Now, with the assistance of Easy Living Services and its partner network, clients can take advantage of services designed to save time and reduce stress.

Let’s Talk…Having the Conversation about Senior Driving

Discussing a senior’s continuing ability to drive safely is right up there with religion and politics as topics to avoid at dinner time. On the one side, seniors value independence and driving is the ultimate get away that represents freedom. On the other hand, traffic fatalities involving older drivers are startling and families are right to be concerned. "On the basis of estimated annual travel, the fatality rate for drivers 85 and over is nine times as high as the rate for drivers 25 through 69 years old."

A Harvard publication summarizes that it's not hard to figure out why driving becomes more dangerous with age. The passing years often bring physical limitations, such as waning vision, poor hearing, trouble craning your neck to get a good look over your shoulder, or difficulty moving your foot swiftly from accelerator to brake. Cognitive changes such as slightly slower reaction times or increased difficulty in juggling all the sensory input at a busy intersection can also affect your driving. Neurological problems caused by Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and, in some cases, diabetes can impair driving skills even more seriously.

Will discussing a senior’s driving make a difference? One study shows that of the older adults surveyed who reported that someone had talked to them about their driving, more than half said they listened to and followed the suggestions of others. Here are some pointers for initiating the difficult conversation:

• Speak in a confidential environment
• Be sure the speaker is someone the elder trusts
• Create a united front with the family
• Consider the personalities involved and who has been most successful in the past at handling difficult topics with the elder
• Try to avoid issuing an ultimatum
• Consider persons other than spouses and adult children to deliver the message

In the same survey mentioned above, 10% of older respondents said they would choose a close friend to initiate the driving conversation. If your elder has a police officer friend, this person might have considerable credibility.

Key things to get started are first to observe the older driver, be sure to have a recent health exam to rule out any preventable barriers to sight, hearing, or reaction time, and investigate transportation alternatives so that there are some answers along with any necessary new constraints.

Lastly, as you support your elder through a difficult transition, remember that the message may need to be repeated. Each time, share genuine safety concerns and genuine caring, and your message will get through.

Find additional resources on the topic of older driver safety at www.aarp.org.

Content Source: aarp.com

Sensational Seniors Photo Contest

Click the here to visit our Facebook page to enter!

CPR--A Lifesaving Action

When a person has a sudden heart attack, their survival greatly depends on immediate help. Getting CPR from someone nearby is essential. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a heart attack at home, work or in a public location get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That’s why the American Heart Association has simplified things. They have created a multimedia campaign called “The Hands Only CPR”.

The Hands Only CPR Campaign

The American Heart Association is joining with the Ad Council for this national multimedia PSA campaign in an effort to increase awareness of and confidence in giving Hands-Only CPR.The goal of the campaign is to introduce Hands-Only CPR, a simplified method of CPR that requires NO mouth-to-mouth breathing, and to educate and encourage bystanders to take action when they see an adult suddenly collapse.

The Steps are Simple…

1. Call 911

2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives

The campaign’s tagline is “hands can do incredible things but nothing compares to using them to help save a life.” To watch Hands-Only CRP in action Check out this video .

Promote Brain Power & Memory

Did you know that you can be proactive in promoting brain power and memory? Yes…it’s true! The human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself. Even in old age, it can grow new neurons.

Here are some tips to help you boost your brain power:

Exercise

Treating your body well can enhance your ability to process and recall information. Physical exercise increases oxygen to your brain and reduces the risk for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Exercise may also enhance the effects of helpful brain chemicals and protect brain cells.

Sleep

When you’re sleep deprived, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking skills are compromised. Research shows that sleep is necessary for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.

Friends & Fun

Studies have shown that a life that’s full of friends and fun comes with cognitive benefits. So next time you need a good reason to have a party think of this healthy tip!

Meditation

Studies show that meditation helps improve many different types of conditions, including depression, anxiety, chronic pain, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Meditation also can improve focus, concentration, creativity, and learning and reasoning skills.

Brain-boosting foods

Just as the body needs fuel, so does the brain. You probably already know that a diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and “healthy” fats will provide lots of health benefits, but such a diet can also improve memory.

For more great tips visit www.helpguide.org