Wellness / Nutrition Archives - Community Healthcare Network

What you eat can affect the health of your teeth and gums. Eating poorly can lead to cavities and gum disease. A diet rich in calcium, fiber, and lean protein can help keep your teeth strong and healthy. A balanced diet equals a healthy smile!

To protect your teeth, limit foods that can cause your teeth to weaken. It’s best to limit foods and drinks high in sugars or starches and that are easily caught in your teeth, such as:

Soda
Juice
Candy
Cookies
Pastries
Sugary cereals
Crackers
Chips

Include more of these foods and drinks for healthy teeth and gums:

Cheese, milk, and yogurt are high in calcium, which helps build strong bones and teeth. Cheese and milk also have casein, which strengthens your teeth’s protective coating, called enamel. Yogurt has probiotics, which protect against gun disease, cavities, and bad breath.
Water is the best drink, especially water treated with fluoride, which protects your teeth from cavities.
Fruits and vegetables have fiber, which helps clean your teeth and makes more saliva. Saliva helps neutralize the acid that weakens teeth.
Nuts and seeds have phosphorus, a mineral that protects your teeth.
Lean meat and fatty fish makes you chew and produce saliva, which neutralizes acid. Fatty fish are also a good source of phosphorus to protect your teeth’s enamel.

With fall nearing us on the horizon, this is a time of year when it feels right to start new routines and habits.
It might be a good time to re-focus on healthy lunches and snacking for you and your family too! We know figuring out a variety of meals and snacks can be hard, and there are lots of factors to eating too: hunger, boredom, portion sizes, timing, convenience, and much more.

Use these tips to help guide you to a balanced rhythm for lunches and snacks:

 Eat when you feel hungry, not when you feel bored. Put away your work/phone for a few minutes while you eat to avoid mindless eating. When you’re not paying attention to how much you’re eating, it’s very easy to overeat.
Get creative with meal and snack time. Make them interesting and fun! Try to include crunchy and chewy foods for variety (see ideas attached).
Prepare and portion out your snacks and meals at home. Bring lunch and snacks with you each day. Preparing beforehand will help you avoid reaching for junk food when you feel hungry…. and it saves A LOT of money too!
Make your snacks and meals with protein to avoid a blood sugar spike and crash.

Try these simple, low-calorie snacks to give you some energy on the go:

- Celery with peanut butter
- Carrots with hummus
- Cherry tomatoes with string cheese
- Peanut butter and apple slices
- Pita pocket with light cream cheese, sliced cucumbers and tomatoes
- Nutty energy mix: mix 1 cup of low-sugar/high-fiber cereal, ½ cup unsalted nuts, and ¼ cup of raisins. Or try unsalted sunflower seeds, almonds, & dried apricots.

You can also try our nutritionist-approved Lunch and snack Planner.

Print the grid and snack/meal suggestions to plan what to bring for lunch/snacks from home during the work week.
This makes a great activity to do with kids for back-to-school too!

Your first space is where you live, your second space is where you work or go to school, and your third space can be any location that doesn’t fall into the first two categories.

Third spaces play an important role in helping us build individual and collective identities outside the home and workplace. A third space is where you relax in public, encounter familiar faces, make new connections, and experience new sights/sounds. This facilitates leisure time – creating a sense of well-being and positivity while also helping to combat depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and increase our resiliency. Spending time unstructured provides a valuable break from the sometimes unrelenting nature of our schedules. Some guidelines for a third space include:

Neutral ground (no obligation to be there)
Easy to get to – ideally by foot or a short transit
Encourages “public relaxation”
Does not have a cost to attend
Allows you to move and convers freely
Somewhere you can frequent
A leveling effect (no emphasis on individual status)

Some third space examples are:

Coffee shops
Parks / Pools
Public libraries / Bookstores / Book Club
Churches / Community Centers
Gyms / Studios / Running Clubs
Barber Shop / Salon
Front stoop/ Porches
Markets or Village Square
Fantasy Football Leagues
Dog park / H.S. Track
Can also be a space for “solitude without loneliness” – like a theater or yoga

How to find your third space:

It may take some courage and experimentation but finding local third spaces that resonate with you is well worth it. Perhaps slow down to chat with your neighbors on the block. Join a group to learn a new hobby or reconnect with an old one. Find a place to volunteer or attend a faith-based community gathering. Take your next project to your local café and work from there. Please know that while virtual community building is tied to some psychological benefits, research shows it does not yet match the positive impact on wellbeing demonstrated by developing in-person communities. And finding an in-person third space is especially important for remote workers, whose second space is already primarily virtual.

Bonus Idea To Try: start a summer tradition of Friday-night picnic dinners in the park. Pick a green space destination to meet up with family or friends after work on Friday, pick up some picnic foods, drinks, and reusable plates/utensils + a blanket = feels like jumping right into your weekend while enjoying the benefits of longer summer evenings before sunset.

By: CHN Nutritionist Keshia Okorie. Reviewed by Dr. Alexander Nmoma

Our feet form the foundation for our whole body. The foods we eat can help support healthy feet with every step that we take.

Build a solid foundation: Protein, vitamins A,C,D, & E, and minerals calcium, magnesium, and zinc keep our muscles, tissue, and bones healthy. This can help prevent issues like broken bones and sprains.

To support bone and tissue health include:

Carrot, sweet potato, spinach, or beef liver for vitamin A.
Fatty fish, egg yolk, mushrooms (UV exposed), fortified cereals, and fortified milk for vitamin D.
Broccoli, potatoes, and citrus fruits for vitamin C.
Avocado, oils, nuts, and seeds for vitamin E.
Dark leafy greens, dairy, and fortified plant milks for calcium.
Green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, and whole grains for magnesium.
Oysters, red meat, poultry, or lentils for zinc.

Reduce inflammation:

Including antioxidant-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds helps reduce inflammation from issues like plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and gout. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish and flaxseeds also help.

Support blood flow for healthy nerves:

Support blood flow with water and vitamin E, and include vitamin B12 (from meat, fish, dairy, or fortified foods) and iron (from meat, fish, or beans) for healthy nerves.

Hydration for healthy skin and joints:

Drinking water helps prevent dehydration which can lead to dry skin, cracked heels, and foot cramps. Drink enough water to keep skin moisturized and joints lubricated.

Epsom Salt Foot Soak

Try a Magnesium-rich Epsom salt foot soak to promote relaxation and soothe tired, achy feet

Items Needed:

Bathtub or large bowl
1/2 cup Epsom salt
Warm water
A few drops of diluted essential oil such as lavender or eucalyptus
Lotion
Towel

Instructions:

Fill a bathtub or bowl with enough warm water to cover your feet.
Scoop 1/2 cup of Epsom salt into the warm water.
Soak feet for 30-60 minutes.
Dry feet (top, bottom, in between toes) and moisturize feet (no lotion in between toes)
Repeat up to 2 times per week

Check out these summer foot care tips from the CHN Podiatry Team.

By: CHN Wellness Team

It’s the season to get some extra Vitamin D with time spent outside in the sunshine! That being said, we know some people start feeling anxious about this time of year when thinking about “showing more skin”. So this blog post is about Body Positivity, and what exactly that means.

Body image is the thoughts, feelings, attitudes and beliefs we have about our bodies and how we look. Our views are often formed by our families, friends, communities, and media (like TV, magazines, Instagram and TikTok). People with negative body image are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, poor self-esteem, social isolation and avoid seeking medical care.

Body positivity encourages people to love the body they have now, without worrying about body standards. It encourages people to feel beautiful and love their bodies regardless of shape, size, color, gender, or ability.

Body neutrality can be helpful if it feels difficult to love your body. This allows for an appreciation and acceptance of what our body can do, regardless of how it looks. Body acceptance allows individuals to acknowledge that there may be things they feel conflicted about or don’t always love, and at the same time promotes the importance of respect and care for bodies no matter what.

When concerns about your body and appearance come first, you often end up putting your mental health second.

Reframe how you talk to yourself to protect your-peace of mind with these strategies:

Practice gratitude for what your body does for you daily. For example “I’m grateful my legs allow me to walk my dog” or “I love that my arms let me hug my kids”.
Curate your social media by following accounts that feel supportive and inclusive of bodies like yours. When you are scrolling what makes you feel good or bad? Unfollow or mute accounts that bring any negativity.
Connect with your body by doing activities that you enjoy (like dancing, biking, yoga, frisbee). Pamper yourself and eat in a way that nourishes your body while still allowing for pleasure and joy from food.
Engage in positive affirmations to combat negativity. Try: “My body works hard and deserves kindness”, “I am proud of my body and myself”, “I am worthy, confident and strong” or come up with your own!
Ditch diet culture which often values weight, shape, and size over health and well-being. Diets often sell the idea that there is an ‘ideal’ body shape and size, and that achieving this is the key to happiness. Instead focus on health goals that are not tied to your physical appearance.
Make yourself comfortable by choosing clothes that fit well and make you feel good in your body.
Cut out negative self-talk. When you feel yourself being critical of your body, ask yourself “Would I talk this way to my best friend?” and treat yourself with that same respect and compassion.
Know your worth – you are so much more than how you look! Create a list of people you admire who have contributed to your life, your community or the world – was their value to society based on their appearance? Nope!

Remember that bad days are normal and okay – We won’t feel great about our bodies every single day. Try to work through these sticky feelings by accepting them. Try self-talk: “I’m not feeling good about myself today. But I know I am worthy. I know I’m a great friend/partner, and that’s based on me, not on what I look like”. Your body’s appearance doesn’t determine your worth!

By: CHN Nutrinionist Miriam Van Harn

Eating the right foods before and after exercise can have a big impact on how you feel during your workout. Our bodies need nutrients before, during, and after exercise to help us perform our best. A nutritionist can help you make an eating plan to help you reach your exercise goals.

Before: The foods you eat before your workout give your body the strength it needs to exercise.

Eat a balanced meal 2-3 hours before your workout, or a carb-packed snack, like 1/2 PBJ sandwich, 1-2 hours before your workout.

During:

Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
If you are lifting weights or exercising lightly, you do not need to eat during your workout.
If you are running, swimming, or biking for more than an hour, you can eat a small, carb-packed snack, like a handful of pretzels or a large banana, after 30 minutes to keep your strength up.

After: The foods you eat after your workout give your body what it needs to heal from exercise.

Eat a balanced meal or protein-packed snack, like Greek yogurt with granola and berries, within 2 hours of ending your workout.
Keep drinking water to keep yourself hydrated.

Try to make energy bites, they are a great carb-packed snack to eat before your workout. To make these a protein-packed snack, add your favorite protein powder!

By: CHN Nutritionist Melissa Olson

If you or someone you know has Inflammatory Bowel Disease like Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or chronic acid reflux, read on for some tips that really work for symptom relief:

Eat Anti-Inflammatory Foods to help calm irritation in the stomach or gut:

Olive Oil
Avocado
Omega-3 foods like walnuts, wild fish, ground flaxseed, or an omega-3 supplement
Turmeric – see recipe below for example to use it in cooking

If you have a flare-up of symptoms like diarrhea, severe bloating, pain, or sour stomach, eat easy-to-digest foods for gut rest:

Try clear liquids for a day: Jell-o, popsicles, soup broth, herbal teas, or clear juice.
Then, move to soothing foods for about a week or until symptoms get better: daily yogurt or kefir, oatmeal, tofu, quinoa, soups, applesauce, rice, and soft-cooked vegetables.
Avoid coffee and other caffeinated drinks during this time as it further stimulates your gut.

Focus on Self-Care. Stress and anxiety can worsen digestive issues and acid reflux. Try to:

Make sleep a priority.
Decrease stress with gentle exercise like Yoga, Tai Chi, and Qi Gong, massage, or meditation.
Drink plenty of water and limit alcohol.

Try this tasty way to enhance the flavor of quinoa while supporting your digestion.

May is National Menstrual Health Awareness Month. It’s all about spreading the word for easy access to menstrual products, learning more about periods, and breaking the silence around menstruation and menstrual hygiene.

Q: What are normal symptoms during a menstrual cycle?
A: It is normal to feel breast tenderness, fatigue, acne, headache, cramps, food cravings, mood changes, and crying spells.

Q: When should someone reach out to a Healthcare Provider?
A: Reach out to your provider when you feel heavy or painful periods, missed periods or really painful cramps. Minor stress and sadness are normal during your cycle but talk to your provider if symptoms remain or get worse.

Q: What are some other concerns?
Body image: Changes in body shape and weight and menstrual-related bloating are normal but can change the way you feel about your body. Seeing certain images on social media can worsen those feelings. Try not to compare yourself to anyone you see online. Take a break from social media when it stirs these feelings.

Embarrassment or discomfort: Some may feel shame talking about menstrual issues with parents, peers, or providers. This discomfort can lead to delays to get help. That’s why it is important to connect with a health educator.

Health educators can educate you and patients about:

best genital hygiene practices during menstrual cycles.
how to use different menstrual products.
building comfort around talking about menstruation in a healthy, shame-free way.

Reach out to your health educator about menstruation or refer someone who could use the support!

DIY: Warm Compress Sock Recipe

Turning a lonely sock into a warm compress is a creative and eco-friendly idea! This simple DIY project not only gives a new purpose to an otherwise thrown out item but also offers a safe way to manage pain at home. It’s a great example of how we can re-use everyday items for our well-being.

What you’ll need:

1 Sock
1.5 cups of any kind of uncooked rice
Dried lavender or chamomile for scent (optional)
Microwave

How to make:

Use a clean, thick sock for better heat retention. Make sure there are no holes.
Fill the sock with uncooked rice. Rice retains heat well and conforms to your body.
For added benefits, mix in dried lavender or chamomile for a soothing scent.
Tie the open end of the sock with a knot or a string.
Microwave the sock for about 1 minute. Do not overheat as it can burn the skin. If it’s too hot, just wait a few minutes to let it cool down before using.
Place the warm sock on the painful area—like your neck, shoulders, or abdomen. It’s perfect for easing muscles, menstrual cramps, or simply warming up.

Tips to maximize benefits:

Keep the compress on for about 15-20 minutes. The heat helps increase blood flow and relax muscles.
The sock compress can be reused multiple times. Clean and dry it before each use.
Never use a hot compress on an open wound or swollen areas.
You can add essential oils to the rice for aromatherapy benefits. A few drops of lavender, peppermint, or eucalyptus oil can enhance relaxation and pain relief.

By: CHN Wellness Team

Do you ever feel annoyed that a long day is over, but you still haven’t had one minute just for you? So then you decide to stay up a little later to spend some “me-time” mindlessly scrolling your phone, but before you know it, it’s way past your bedtime and then you wake up exhausted the next day? If this sounds familiar, you may be a “revenge bedtime procrastinator,” delaying sleep to carve out time for yourself.

To help break this cycle, ask yourself what would make you feel more fulfilled during the day – whether it’s exercising, sitting with a book, or just zoning out for a bit. Also, are there any obligations you can outsource, share, or ditch? Think of going to bed on time not as a punishment but as a treat for Future You.

Bedtime procrastination is also heavily associated with smartphone use. But your phone isn’t the problem – it’s the content that is designed to keep you engaged, even addicted. If you can’t bear to put your phone down, try setting your phone to grey mode at the time you want to go to bed. Or choose a different kind of media that is “portion-controlled” – indulge in one show, listen to one podcast, or read a chapter of a book or magazine article (but no binge-watching or multitasking, ie. TV and scrolling at the same time).

Additionally, try adding more self-care to your day to not cram it all before bed:

Keep a consistent wake and sleep time: Waking and going to bed within the same 1-hour window each day is super important. As soon as you wake, seek natural light which helps your body regulate its sleep/wake cycles. Occasionally you may want to stay up late. If you do, get up the next morning at your usual time or within 2 hours of it (especially on the weekend). It’s better to be a little sleep-deprived than to be wired Sunday night which can keep you up and throw off your Monday morning and the rest of the week.
Use your lunch break for “me-time”: Pick a destination to walk to, like a park to sit in the sun, a local shop for a cup of tea, the library to find your next book or a bookstore to browse the shelves.
Choose evening beverages wisely: Limit to one alcoholic drink no later than 3 hours before bed, and stay away from caffeine close to bedtime – both of these contribute to waking up during the night. Opt for herbal teas instead, which are coffeine-free and can promote relaxation.
Eat dinner at least 2 hours before bed: If you are hungry before bed, try snacking on something with fiber and protein like nuts, yogurt, or hummus with crackers and drink a full glass of water.

Adapt your daytime routine to what works for you: Some people operate best in the morning, some between 9am-5pm, and others are night owls. Depending on where you fall, you can try moving your morning workout to the evening when you need a boost. Or if you get grumpy in the afternoon, try a quick walk/deep breathing break. If you need more time to ease awake in the AM, consider moving your shower time to the evening.

Remember, you deserve “me-time”…. and you deserve a good night’s rest too!

By: CHN Nutrition Team

Here’s a question: How old is your heart? That seems like an easy question to answer: It’s as old as you are! But when it comes to the health of your heart, the answer might not be so simple.

Risk factors for heart disease may take a toll on your heart over time — making it “older” than you are. Making heart–healthy changes now may help undo some of that damage — and help turn back the clock on your heart health.

1. If you smoke or use tobacco, quit. This is a tough one. But it’s doable! And it’s one of the best ways to lower your risk for heart disease. Make an appointment with your primary care physician (PCP). Ask about medicines and other strategies that may help you quit.

2. Enjoy heart–healthy foods. Fill your plate with fruits, veggies, and fiber-rich whole grains. Foods like fish, nuts, low-fat dairy products, skinless poultry, and lean meats may also be on the menu. Cut back on foods that are high in sodium, saturated fat, and trans fats. Make a meal plan for this week. It’s easier to make better choices when you have heart–healthy ingredients on hand — and a plan to use them.

3. Keep moving. Regular exercise boosts your heart’s fitness and health. Most healthy adults should aim for at least 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. Add strength exercises on two or more days a week. Does that sound like too much for your busy schedule? Think of short sessions. Break it up into blocks of at least 10 minutes — and squeeze them in when you can. Make an exercise appointment on your calendar or set a reminder on your smartphone. Then treat it like you would any other important meeting.

4. Manage high-risk conditions. Do you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes? If so, work with your doctor on a treatment plan. Make sure you take your medications as directed — and get the checkups recommended for you. If you sometimes forget your meds, try setting a daily alarm on your watch or smartphone. Or try a “days of the week” pillbox to help you remember.

5. Rethink your drink. Too much alcohol may raise blood pressure. So moderation is key.

6. Tame your tension. Long-term stress may damage your blood vessels. Stress may also affect your risk for heart disease and stroke by triggering unhealthy coping strategies. Write out a list of healthy coping strategies (ie. call someone you trust to vent, take a walk, do a yoga video, etc) and turn to it for coping ideas when you are feeling stressed.

7. Catch some ZZZ’s. Too little sleep may be tough on your ticker. Most adults should get seven to eight hours a night. Some people may need more. Trouble drifting off? Put away your digital devices well before you turn in. And do something relaxing instead — such as reading a book or taking a bath.

If making the heart–healthy lifestyle changes above seems overwhelming, keep this in mind: even minutes matter. So pick one change at a time — and start small. Over time, you can build on your success.