Are tart cherry supplements worth the price?

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

tart cherry supplementsI just ran across another article in a health magazine touting the benefits of tart cherry supplements or juice.

This particular article suggested tart cherries “significantly” reduced systolic blood pressure (the upper number). The author also wrote that tart cherries were linked to arthritis relief and exercise recovery.

Are they? Or are you better off saving your money?

What the research shows

For inflammation, arthritis and exercise recovery

Tart cherries … read on

7 vaccinations adults should get (or make sure you’ve had)

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

7 vaccinations adults should getKids recently started another School Year. Most parents, I hope, made sure their children’s vaccinations were up to date.

But adults need vaccinations, too. So it’s a great time for all parents—and all adults—to double check that you’ve had the recommended vaccinations for your age group.

Here is a list of 7 vaccinations adults should get, or at least talk to a care provider about.

1. Seasonal flu shot

A … read on

Green spaces boost health, mood, and memory

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

green spaces boost healthI’m lucky to live in a city nicknamed the Emerald City because of its abundance of evergreen trees and other greenery.

Year after year, Seattle is included in the top 10 healthiest cities in America.

Coincidence? No. A mild climate and lots of opportunities for urban hiking, kayaking, and biking keep us active. But I read more and more studies that associate green spaces with better overall health.

And … read on

Save money on over-the-counter acne treatments

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

over-the-counter acne treatmentsI think one of the easiest ways to save healthcare dollars is at the drugstore (including online stores).

There are so many over-the-counter products for every mundane ailment, and it can get really expensive if you buy and toss items until you find what works.

Information is power! Know the ingredients that work best for your problem, and then find the products with the best price.

Acne is such a … read on

The vaccination debate: A doctor’s commentary

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

August is National Immunization Awareness Month.

I’m very much pro-vaccines, and I’ve written many posts on the topic. I’ll link to some at the bottom of the post.

But first I want to share this video of one of my favorite medical vloggers, Doctor Mike, as he comments on the debate between pro-vaxxers and anti-vaxxers on YouTube’s Middle Ground series.

What I like … read on

Melatonin: Not a sleeping pill for children

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

melatonin not a sleeping pill for childrenA few days ago I heard a commercial on the radio advertising gummy sleeping pills for kids. The gummies were lauded as containing a mix of soothing herbs and a “safe” dose of melatonin.

There is so much wrong with that ad, I don’t know where to start!

I actually posted about this topic several years ago, so I decided it was time to update the post. Perhaps the American … read on

7 anti-inflammatory foods you should be eating

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

anti-inflammatory foodsOK, this title is a little misleading. I don’t think we should eat these foods just for their alleged anti-inflammatory properties.

Inflammation, after all, is part of a healthy body’s healing process. It’s what helps us fight infection and heal wounds.

The real culprit to poor health is chronic inflammation, which has been associated with all kinds of diseases including diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular disease, allergies, and cancer.… read on

Insomnia? Try Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

cognitive behavioral therapy for insomniaSo many Americans, myself included, struggle to get a good night’s sleep.

Sometimes sleep problems are transient. Illness, a new baby, shift work, anxiety, grief, or many other life events can cause us to lose sleep.

But if the occasional night of wakefulness turns into weeks or months of sleepless misery, that’s insomnia. Insomnia is a physical condition that should be taken seriously and treated with the help of a … read on

All eggs are healthy (save your money)

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

all eggs are healthyI was flipping pages in a health magazine recently and ran across an ad for Eggland’s Best nutrient-fortified eggs.

The ad claims these eggs are superior because they “have more of the delicious, farm-fresh taste you and your family love,” plus “6 times more vitamin D, 10 times more vitamin E, and 25% less saturated fat than ordinary eggs.”

Are these statements true? And if they are, is the … read on

Mindful walking: An easy exercise to decrease stress and boost your mood

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

mindful walkingBeating stress is one of the basic tenets of good health, especially emotional health.

What is one of the most simple, low-cost, and effective stress busters?

Mindful walking.

And it’s drug-free, too!

Unlike power walking that increases cardiac fitness and helps us bag those 10,000 daily steps, mindful walking (aka walking meditation) sharpens our ability to stay in the moment. It encourages us to ignore—for just a few minutes every … read on