A Tangled Web: Navigating Health Information on the Internet

     Did you know that you are a member of a group that makes up 61% of all adults in the U.S. and is growing every day? That’s right, you are what the Pew Internet and American Life Project calls an “e-patient.” What is an e-patient? Well, simply put, an e-patient is anyone who looks to the Internet as a source for health information.

     The web is a great resource for just about any subject you can think of, health included. However, the sad fact is that for every web page that offers high quality, reliable information, there are quite a few more that are…less than reliable. For that reason I thought it might be a good idea to discuss how to pick out the good from the bad. The following tips will help you do just that. Don’t think they apply only to health resources, feel free to use them for any website you come across.

Preparing for your Bundle of Joy

Finding out that you are going to be a parent can be the most exciting and the scariest moment of a person’s life. For many first-time parents, preparing for a newborn may seem overwhelming. If you find yourself in this situation, fear not! Here is some basic advice to help prospective parents prepare for their new addition.

Essentials
Below is a very basic list of products you will need to care for your newborn. These are just a few of the bare necessities and by no means represent everything you will need.

Preparing for the Unexpected: Creating a First-Aid Kit

A first-aid kit is an essential part of any home. It provides the supplies to help stop a bad situation from getting worse. It is important to think about what you need on hand in case a dish breaks and someone steps on a sliver, or a pocket knife is closed incorrectly and slices a finger, or a bee stings you. You never know what life could throw your way, and a first aid kit is a good way to be prepared. I talked with Kelly Llewellyn, RN, and EMS Administrative Specialist at Meritus Medical Center, and checked out the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website for emergency preparedness, to figure out what you really need in your first aid kit.

So, what should be in your emergency kit? FEMA recommends these items:

Diet vs. Regular Soda: Pick Your Poison

In New York City, restaurants, delis, and movie theaters may soon stop serving large cups of soda and other sugary drinks. A proposed ban would limit the sale of sugary bottled or fountain drinks to no more than 16 ounces per serving. Not included in the ban are diet soda and any drink that contains a good portion of juice or milk. This hype might make you think, should I switch from regular soda to diet soda? Regardless of where you live, here are some things to keep in mind before grabbing your next soft drink.

The Dentist

     For some, those two simple words are enough to induce panic, fear, and anxiety. Thoughts of drills, needles, and root canals begin swirling in our heads. This “dental fear” is an issue suffered by people all over the world.

     For those who do suffer from dental fear, I bring good news! If you follow five simple and easy steps suggested by the American Dental Association (ADA), you can begin to put your fear of the dentist aside. These steps can be performed in the comfort of your own home and will lead you to improved dental hygiene. Not only that, but they will also result in quicker and more enjoyable dental visits. No, they won’t allow you to forgo dental visits altogether, but they will make going to the dentist a breeze!

Keeping Food Real

     My mom grew up on a Wisconsin farm and ate what the farm produced—no potato chips, snack cakes, or Uncle Ben’s rice. Back then, Mom was eating “from the earth”—her food was free of artificial dyes, transfats, and high-fructose corn syrup. Now, people like Bill Clinton and Ozzy Osbourne are adopting that retro approach to eating. It’s called a plant-based diet.

     In the strictest sense, a plant-based diet is a vegetarian lifestyle. I’m not promoting dinners without meat, but moving closer to first-generation food—my Mom’s way of life—sounds right, not just trendy. So what does a plant-based diet look like? It’s largely made up of fruits, veggies, nuts, and legumes (beans). Meat is low on the ladder and packaged foods are passé. Here’s how can you get closer to a plant-based diet:

Delicious Summer Dessert: Wild Berry Parfait

This summer, try making this fresh and healthy dessert for your next get-together!