Ladies Only

The arrival of warmer weather is not just a time for moms to plan fun activities to keep children busy outdoors, it is also a good time to pamper ourselves.  The warmer seasons are perfect times to follow up on heath care matters that you may have been neglecting.  Postponing doctors’ visits, these can have a long-term impact on your health. You and your physician may miss early signs of cancer and other illnesses.   Make a list of heath care related task (dental, OB-GYN, Family Doctor, Podiatrist, etc) that you have postponed during the winter months and check them off as each is completed.  If stress is one of your concerns, call your favorite masseuse to schedule a needed massage.

It is well known that annual trips to the OB-GYN for well-woman examinations are no picnics in the park given the cold tables, stirrups, and paper gowns that open in the back.  However, skipping your OB-GYN appointment could mean missing early signs of cervical or uterine cancers. If possible, discuss with your physician when you will need a mammogram and how to perform breast self-examinations to check for any lumps.  If you think you may have found a lump in your breasts, you need to seek medical care as soon as possible.

If you have postponed seeing your family phycian for so long that you may not recognize him if he introduced himself, then you need to make an appointment for a routine check-up.  Seeing your family physician may save you from debilitating effects of chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.  For example, a woman suffering from headaches while reading may buy a pair of reading glasses and take some Ibuprofen to relieve the headache.  The ibuprofen may relieve that headache; however, she should see her family physician to find out if other diagnosis such as hypertension and elevated triglycerides are not contributing to her headaches. Both diagnoses can lead to strokes or heart attacks. 

This is a good time to work on your diet and exercise routines.  Start by adding more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet and reduce the amount of caffeinated and sugary drinks from your daily intake.  Avoid fries and other high fat processed foods.  If you hibernated during the winter months, see your doctor before starting a workout plan.  You may have to start slowly by walking a mile a day at the local park.

Talk with your health care provider about your health, diet, and exercise before you start your plan.  You and your physician will be able to create a diet and exercise plan tailored to your needs. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult a health care provider for advice regarding any specific medical condition.

Smart and Healthy Grocery Shopping

At the grocery store, it is tempting to focus on special deals such as buy one get one free cereal deals. These deals can distract you from buying products based on their nutritional benefits for yourself and your family. It is important to save money on weekly shopping trips without sacrificing the health of your family. Make smarter grocery shopping choices by following these tips.

Try to spend more time shopping for fresh products and buy only minimal purchases from the dry food aisles and frozen food sections of the store. Buy fresh by focusing on shopping in the produce department and the meat department. If it would help, create a grocery list that starts with visiting the produce aisle.  In general, you will also want to skip the deli department because many of the foods that you could buy in this area are processed just like dry foods and frozen foods.

Plan your meals. For example, buy enough fresh meat, not frozen, by counting the number of dinners that you need to cook for the week, and then buy meat accordingly. In addition, if you need to, buy larger packages and cuts of meat and then split them up into smaller portions and freeze for later in the week.

Also, try to buy organic as much as your budget will allow.  Organic fresh fruits and vegetables are not just empty calorie products like lettuce and cabbage; they are also potatoes, carrots, apples, oranges, bananas, beets, onions, peppers, and so forth.