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

Eat green bananas: Why unripe bananas are better for you than ripe

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

green bananasI’ve always preferred the taste and texture of green bananas; my husband likes bananas best when they have brown spots all over.

So when we split a banana on our breakfast granola or oatmeal, one of us is usually happy. 😂

But recently I’ve learned that green bananas are actually better for us, or at least better for our gut health.

That’s because the ratio of healthy fiber and unhealthy … read on

5 tips to prevent kidney stones

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

prevent kidney stonesKidney stones are more common in the summer

The kidneys’ job is to filter and clean our blood. They need to be well hydrated to do that!

That’s why summer heat and dehydration are big risk factors for developing kidney stones.

Related post: 10 tips to prevent heat exhaustion

What are other common risk factors?

  • Age (more common as we get older)
  • Gender (more common in men)
  • Genetics (if close
… read on

The health benefits of coffee (you can drink more than you think!)

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

health benefits of coffeeEnjoy that morning cup of coffee

I’ve been a coffee drinker my entire adult life.

A couple cups of coffee in the morning make me more alert and ready to start the day.

And I enjoy hanging out in coffee shops and inhaling the fragrance of freshly-ground beans.

Over the years there have been many small studies showing coffee in moderation can be good for you.

Yay! ☕😍

More recently … read on

One problem, one visit: When your free annual exam isn’t free

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

one problem one visitI got caught in a very common healthcare trap, and it could have cost me over $200.

I went in for my “free” annual exam that health insurance plans must cover as part of Obamacare’s preventive health benefits.

Typically, these exams—also known as Adult Wellness Visits (AWV)—are opportunities for the physician to tick a lot of boxes about your health habits (smoking, drinking, sex, etc.) and schedule you for a … read on

What are flesh-eating bacteria? (and why you shouldn’t worry too much)

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

flesh-eating bacteriaEvery day for the last week I’ve seen a new report of someone dying or losing a limb due to “flesh-eating bacteria.”

Is there an epidemic? Should we panic?

No.

Flesh-eating bacteria are bacteria that cause a serious—and deadly—disease called necrotizing fasciitis.

But even though necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a really, really bad disease, it’s also really, really rare.

The news media like to pick up these stories because … read on

A low-salt diet is best

Frugal Nurse Posted on by

a low-salt diet is bestA healthy diet shouldn’t be confusing

There are a lot of fad diets out there, and even more nutritional supplements being marketed to improve health.

It can be confusing to know what to eat, what to avoid, and whether supplements are good for us or not.

A new study, however, suggests that the best diet is relatively simple: Eat everything, but aim for a lower-than-average salt intake. And skip … read on