COVID ’n kids
Thank you to the families of Charlotte who are staying safe and simplifying their lives in order to protect friends and neighbors. Here is a rundown of the role of children and adolescents in the pandemic.
Vermont COVID-19 ongoing response
The ubiquitous news regarding the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to pervade our consciousness. The Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Emergency Management, and the various health care providers around the state continue to take steps to monitor the situation and adopt a coordinated response.
Senior Center News – March 19, 2020
Spring is just an idea in these parts, and my neighbors still have their snow shovels next to their front doors. But it will come, that is for sure – just not as soon as we may like. In the last issue, the quotes were about mystery. And now we are living in a mystery – of a different sort, unfortunately. The fog of uncertainty makes this health crisis even harder to weather.
Who benefits from regular exercise? Everyone, young and old
We all know that exercise is good for us, and if you’re like most people, you’ve probably made a New Year’s resolution to do more of it. Unfortunately, this is one of the most challenging resolutions for most of us to keep.
Can light physical activity improve our health?
The health benefits of regularly performing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are well researched and acknowledged, but what about the impact of light physical activity on our well-being? Does daily movement, such as doing the dishes, gardening and short duration walking, have any sizable influence on our health?
Planning a trip? Remember, germs fly for free
My wife and I had just settled into our seats for a flight from Burlington. She had the window and I the aisle.
A tree’s second act
Somewhere encoded into our DNA is an appreciation for forests with evenly spaced, uniformly sized trees and a completely bare understory. If you identify with that idyllic vision, you’re not the only one; most landowners I meet picture healthy forests in that way.
Lift weight to lose weight
It’s officially resolution season, and once again weight loss can be assumed to be one of the most common goals of the new year. If trying to work toward your ideal body weight is in your sights for 2019, then consider an alternative to some of the methods you may have tried in the past.
There’s more to your core
When you stop and consider your core, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you are like most people you probably thought of your belly and abdominal muscles. Popular culture tends to emphasize the chiseled “six pack” as its crowning definition, but this is just one piece of a greater whole.
Anaerobic and aerobic exercise demystified
Have you ever been caught in a sudden rain squall without an umbrella, made a mad dash to your car and found that you were suddenly out of breath? That’s an example of anaerobic exercise, as is jumping, lifting weights and running hills. Anaerobic means without oxygen, and this type of activity means your muscles need more energy than can be supplied by burning fat.
Are you a skillful eater?
Do you take the time to make meals and ensure that you are making healthy food choices the majority of the time? Do you accept your love of food and enjoy eating? Do you eat in a mindful manner and pay attention to when you are satiated? If you answered yes, then you are a skillful eater.
Carbs are not the bad guy. Really!
Carbs get a bad rap these days. Carbohydrates are our energy source. Not all carbs are created equally. When you eat whole grain carbohydrates, such as bulgur, brown rice, quinoa and kasha (also known as buckwheat groats), you stay satisfied much longer because whole grains take longer to break down in the body and thus provide energy longer.
Observations of the last decade
Julia Child wrote her last cookbook at 87 years old. Frank Wright worked until he was 91. Robert Marchand set a new world record for his age group in bicycling nearly 17 miles in one hour when he was 102 years old. I am unsure if the above leaves me encouraged or discouraged.
Add this to your worry agenda: Recreational water use
How about this as a conversation starter or pick up line: When was the last time you peed while swimming? We’ve all likely done it, but who will admit it? According to a recent report from the Water Quality Council, 27 percent of adults surveyed (likely a major underestimate) admitted having urinated in a swimming pool.
The varieties of hunger
There are many reasons we reach for food and not just for hunger. Feeling hungry can range from genuine hunger to intense cravings. We tend to give into our cravings when we have not consumed real meals, especially breakfast. If you keep some healthy snacks in your desk or nearby, you are less like to scarf down the donuts that you really do not want and eat only because they are convenient.
Looking for new motivation to exercise?
Your Netflix account gets more viewing than the beautiful outdoors? Even though you have read all the research and know that aerobic exercise can lower your cholesterol, decrease your blood pressure, improve your appearance and stave off depression, you look for every excuse in the book for why you can’t exercise?
Go ahead, get ready for the great outdoors! But carefully.
As we close the door on mud season and approach our state’s beautiful spring and summer months, many Vermonters are switching from indoor exercise to outdoor activities.
Fit At Any Age – H20 is your friend
Did you know that you can survive almost a month without food but only a few days without water? Without sufficient water in the body physical performance can suffer. It’s especially important to stay hydrated during times of intense heat. We are sure to experience some hot days soon, so be sure to keep a water bottle handy.
Health Matters – The role of exercise and dance in managing Parkinson’s disease
According to the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA), approximately one million Americans are presently living with Parkinson’s disease and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. Although there is currently no cure, a growing body of research suggests that exercise may play an important role in managing and reducing the common symptoms of this disease.
Into the woods – Resilience
When trying to manage for healthy forests, you must first consider how to gauge forest health. After all, if we don’t know what condition we’re shooting for, it’s hard to know when we’re headed in the right direction. Is a healthy forest, one filled with trees growing quickly and efficiently? Or one without disease? Does it include high-quality wildlife habitat, or should forest health be measured solely on the condition of trees?