How to Maintain a Healthy and Safe July 4th

As a veteran journalist, I believe it's important to disseminate information so with the help of some experts at Kansas State University, here are some tips to make this Fourth of July safer for the whole family:

* Before putting that hamburger or steak on the grill, K-State's J. Scott Smith, professor of food chemistry, recommends rubbing a little rosemary extract on the meat. Research by Smith has shown that rosemary can help stop the carcinogenic compounds known as heterocyclic amines, or HCAs, from forming in meat cooked over high temperatures. Rosemary extract has a light aroma, so Smith said your burger won't end up with the minty taste of the herb when used in its whole form. Rosemary extract also works on poultry, pork and fish.

* If topping grilled burgers with fresh tomato and lettuce or serving a fruit or vegetable salad at your backyard barbecue, K-State's Douglas Powell recommends finding out all you can about how your fresh produce was grown before purchasing it. "Fresh fruits and vegetables are the most significant sources of foodborne illness today in the U.S.," said Powell, an associate professor and scientific director of the International Food Safety Network. "Because fresh produce is not cooked, anything that comes into contact with it is a possible source of contamination." Wash water, irrigation water, manure in soil, even contact with animals or humans, can introduce dangerous microorganisms onto fresh produce. Powell recommends asking produce suppliers -- whether you buy your fruits and veggies from the supermarket or the farmer's market -- about their food safety measures, including if they test wash water and irrigation water for bacteria, the type of soil amendments they use and if employees and staff have been trained about proper hand washing.

* Fireworks are a Fourth of July tradition, but if you plan on watching them up close or even shooting them off in your yard, use earplugs, recommends Robert Garcia, an audiologist at the K-State Speech and Hearing Center. Depending on how close you are to them, fireworks can be loud enough to damage your hearing, Garcia said. "An easy way to protect your hearing is to use disposable earplugs available at drug stores and retailers like Wal-Mart," he said. "They are specially designed to appropriately filter noise, while cotton balls or tissues or not. The earplugs are an effective way to protect hearing, especially for kids who will be shooting fireworks."

* If your dog is a scaredy-cat when it comes to the loud noises and bright colors produced by fireworks, the best place for your canine may be indoors and inside a kennel or dog crate, according to veterinarian Susan Nelson, assistant professor of clinical sciences at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine. "Many dogs feel safer in the confines of their crate. Plus, being indoors helps decrease the chance of your pet being injured from fireworks or running away because of fear," Nelson said. If your canine companion needs additional relief, Nelson recommends checking with your veterinarian about medications or other options that help decrease your pet's anxiety level.

How to Get Rid of Baby Boomer Blubber

Are you a victim of baby boomer blubber? That's the pudge that hangs around or OVER your midriff section. It's the cellulite on your thighs that looks like cooked oatmeal. It's also the sagging that causes your breasts and stomach to become better acquainted.

As we age, our metabolism starts to slow down and it gets harder to get a handle on weight management. Even though some of us eat less, the pounds just keep on coming. That's baby boomer blubber. Want to know how to get rid of baby boomer blubber? Don't ask me because I'm still working on mine but I will introduce you to a 40-something-year-old man who got rid of his. Two years ago, he weighed 387 pounds. He wasn't happy with his weight and neither were his doctors. Find out how this Pittsburgh Steelers fan lost over half of his weight in a two-year period. He will be my special guest on the next edition of Passions, Monday, February 11. You will be inspired by what you hear!

Listen to Passions: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/passions

One Size DOES NOT Fit All

Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you can’t get a sexually transmitted disease. As a matter of fact, more than ten percent of all new U.S. AIDS cases are now in people over the age of 50. In the last few years, new AIDS cases rose faster in middle-aged and older people than in people under the age of 40.

In older women, sexual activity has been the most common cause of HIV infection, followed by infection from a blood transfusion before 1985. Women and men are equally responsible for protecting themselves before engaging in sexual intimacy.

The problem is some older men feel condoms are not for them. On top of that, some health professionals say they are regularly confronted by men's complaints that condoms do not fit, or that they are uncomfortable. Correct condom use is critical for preventing unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmissible infections (STI), yet an Indiana University study found that study participants who reported problems with the fit and feel of condoms were also among those who reported the highest rates of condoms breaking and slipping.

Although condoms remain one of the most effective means of preventing both unintended pregnancies and sexually transmissible infections (STI) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV. Ensuring that men and women use condoms consistently and correctly, however, is often a challenge. In addition, discussing penis size or condom issues with a healthcare practitioner can be challenging for many men.

One size DOES NOT Fit All: In the Indiana University study, a substantial number of men reported a variety of problems with the fit and feel of condoms. Specifically, 21 percent reported that condoms felt too tight; 18 percent reported that condoms felt too short; 10 percent reported that condoms felt too loose; and 7 percent reported that condoms felt too long.

So what is the answer? Viagra advertisers need to stop encouraging the former Woodstock- free love baby boomer generation to get it on and, perhaps, work with condom manufacturers to get it right.

"Enjoy Your Menopause" without Hot Flashes!

Did you know there are certain foods that can trigger hot flashes during menopause?

Hot and spicy foods, caffeinated beverages, excess sugar, dairy products and alcohol can trigger hot flashes and even make them more intense. Here are some tips on how to keep hot flashes to a minimum:

Eat a nutritious diet low in saturated fat. This will help reduce cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Experts recommend that you keep your fat intake to 25 percent or less of the total calories you consume. Substitute olive or coconut oil for hydrogenated oils and most vegetable oils.

Add Soy Foods To Your Diet:

Increase your intake of soy-containing foods, including tofu as well as flax (linseed) oil. Eat a plant based diet, emphasizing plenty of fresh, preferably organic vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fruit.

Increase Your Calcium Intake:

While the decrease in bone mass accelerates at menopause, it begins around age 35. After 35, women lose 1 percent of their bone mass per year. So be sure to consume enough calcium. 1,000 milligrams of Calcium a day for premenopausal women and 1,500 milligrams for postmenopausal women is what my gynecologist recommends.

Drink Plenty of Water:

Drink plenty of water about eight glasses a day. Drinking plenty of fluids is important, especially after exercising. Being property hydrated helps keep body temperature in check.

September is Menopause Awareness Month. Enjoy your Menopause! Be sure to stop by and take my Menopause Quiz at www.enjoyyourmenopause.com.

An Anorexic Baby Boomer Diva? Never!

I used to be a size 0. That’s when I was a cart-wheeling, straddle-jumping, booty-shaking teenage cheerleader. These days I’m a size “nunya.” What’s that, you ask? It’s better known as the “nunya business---don’t ask me again” figure. It’s a size Ann Taylor needs to pay close attention to if she’s going to seriously market to baby boomer women.

While doing my morning walk/run on the Duke University cross-country trail today, I resigned myself to the fact that some of these extra pounds I’ve packed on over the last 10 years are NEVER going to come off. My doctor told me it is important to keep in mind that this weight gain is normal and to be expected. Studies have shown that about 90% of menopausal women gain some weight between the ages of 35 and 55. But you may not necessarily have to blame yourself for this newly acquired weight - research now shows that weight gain during menopause is caused by shifts in your hormones, not greedy eating.

So you know what? I can accept that fact as long as I feel good about who I am on the inside and I feel great! Furthermore, I do believe it’s alright for a baby boomer diva to have some meat on her bones because it’s how you work what you’re workin’ with that counts!

Menopause: An Equal Opportunity Annoyer

All of my life I’ve faced some type of discrimination. Either I wasn’t the right sex, race, or age; or in some cases I was shunned because I chose to be a working mother.

But here I am today, proud to say that as a woman going through menopause, I am not being discriminated against. Menopause is an equal opportunity annoyer. Now I know someone is reading this and saying, “Menopause does discriminate because MEN don’t experience it.” But I’m here to tell you that men have their own midlife issues and while they may not be identical to what I experience as a woman, they’re going through their own version of menopause.

September is Menopause Awareness Month---a time when we should educate ourselves on the facts surrounding the subject.

According to the National Women’s Health Resource Center, age at menopause is not influenced by race, height, the number of children a woman has had or whether she took oral contraceptives for birth control.

Some women go through menopause before age 51 and some experience it a bit later. Early menopause is defined as occurring at any age younger than age 40. Early menopause can occur naturally, but premature menopausal symptoms may signal an underlying condition, so it is important to discuss any symptoms with your health care professional.

What does influence the time of menopause? Genetics are a key factor. The age at which your mother stopped her periods may be similar to when you stop your menstrual periods. And women who smoke cigarettes experience menopause two years earlier, on average, than nonsmoking women.

The good thing to know is Menopause is controllable with good nutrition, exercise and a healthy, positive mental attitude. So “Enjoy Your Menopause!” And I hope to see you in Daytona Beach in March.

Menopause Awareness Month

September has been designated as Menopause Awareness Month. According to the American Menopause Foundation (www.americanmenopause.org), more than 1,500 American women reach menopause every day.

Why is it important to have menopause awareness? Because the same thing that causes periods to stop also causes menopausal symptoms in two out of three menopausal women. The ovaries stop producing estrogen, potentially causing hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and decreased libido. Regardless of whether or not a woman has menopausal symptoms, the decrease in natural estrogen production increases a woman's risk for several conditions including heart disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.


On a Lighter Note:

Midlife is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless.

In Midlife the memory starts to go. In fact the only thing most of us can retain is water

ENJOY YOUR MENOPAUSE!

Menopause is NOT the End of the World

For those of you who have not yet read Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age, I thought now would be a great time to share with you what you're missing. The book deals with serious issues from a humorous point of view.

Chapter One deals with the symtoms associated with menopause. I'm here to tell you that menopause isn't the end of your world. It should be regarded as the beginning of a new chapter in your life.

"Have the seven dwarfs of menopause come knocking at your door yet? If you’re not sure, please allow me to make the introductions. There’s Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful, Bitchy, Itchy, Sleepy, and All Dried Up. They don’t all show up at once, but you can rest assured they will come in, sometimes unannounced, and definitely uninvited, and, yes, they will wear out their welcome! These little menaces to society bring night sweats, headaches, fatigue, forgetfulness, muscle and joint pain, urinary incontinence, heart palpitations, anxiety, depression, yeast infections, and vaginal dryness into our lives.

According to my gynecologist, over time we may even start to lose our desire for sex. I don’t know how you feel about that, but I surely hope it doesn’t happen to me—because I’d hate to think I wasted the best years of my sex life on my ex!"

OK, there's a little snippet for you. The book is available on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Tips for Keeping Your Cool this Summer

Exercise is what keeps a baby boomer diva looking like a DIVA. Working out regularly plays a key role in maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle.

Even if you don’t have a membership to a health club, you can still get a good workout in by doing it outdoors. Here are some tips to help my fellow baby boomer divas keep it cool while exercising:

1) Workout either first thing in the morning or later in the evening when the sun is starting to do down.

2) Stop and rest as needed if exercising in the heat makes breathing difficult. Some people like to carry bottled water. You should drink plenty of water before and after you exercise. STAY AWAY from drinks with caffeine because they can cause you to lose fluids.

3) Pay attention to your body. Be on the lookout for signs of a heat-related illness such as dizziness, nausea, severe headache or light-headedness.

4) Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothing. You may want to look cute but look good and comfortable instead of wearing something too tight and feeling miserable.

5) If rain catches you by surprise, alter your game plan by walking in the mall or exercise along with a fitness video at home.

Finally, enjoy the company of a fellow diva while you exercise. Here’s to your good health!

To Drink or Not to Drink

How many times have you seen someone order a fast food meal, loaded with calories, and then turn around and order a diet drink? Maybe you've even done it yourself. What is the point of the diet drink? Is it to fulfill a craving for the "taste" of a soda? Why is it so hard to order a cup of water?

Our drinking habits can be just as bad as out eating habits.

I'm sure you've heard it before----alcohol, no matter what form it comes in---packs on the calories. Coupled with the bloating that never seems to go away, you also have a tendency to eat more when you drink alcohol.

Studies may say a little red wine is good for your heart but a "little" wine every day can add up and before you know it, that "little" dress that used to fit you so nicely will become a tight squeeze.

The same goes for soda. It is loaded with sugar and let's not mention all of the damage it could do to your insides over time. I'm personally not going to drink something I know can remove acid or corrosion off of a car battery.

There is nothing better than water...and when you add a freshly squeezed lemon, you've got yourself a real treat. I recommend you go to this website and read up on the benefits of water and you just might not want to drink soda again: http://www.watercure.com

One more thing...if you're going out for a night on the town, eat something first and try sipping not gulping down your favorite drink....even if someone else is buying.

Eating at Your Desk

Unhealthy Habit #3


When I worked in TV news, I made it a habit of sitting at my desk and eating because I didn't want to miss any "breaking news." Sometimes I felt guilty about going to the bathroom because there were no news scanners in there and I needed to know what was going on 24/7.

Where did my fat spread? To my stomach, hips and behind because I wasn't moving around after I ate. If you do choose to eat at your desk, it is imperative that you find some time during the day (or evening) to exercise--if it's nothing more than a walk. But if you continue to take in more than you burn off that only equates into FAT.

Also, studies have shown that if you eat at your desk or on your living room sofa or even in your bed for that matter---you're inclined to eat more because there's no designated time or reason for you to get up from that spot. How many times have you ever sat in front of your TV and ate a whole bag of chips (or at least HALF of the bag) or pigged out on ice cream right out of the carton?
When you designate your kitchen as the place you will sit and eat, you're less likely to overeat.

Going to a restaurant for the all you can eat buffet, however, is another story!