SKIN CARE ESSENTIALS AT ANY AGE
Essentials:
Chemical exfoliant: uses enzymes or acids to loosen and dissolve dead cells/ debris from skin
Physical exfoliant: uses textured surface or abrasive substance, like a washcloth, loofah or brush, or products with small particles, that physically scrub away dead skin cells
Antioxidants
Dry skin- TYPE of skin
**skin can be dry AND dehydrated!
A New You in ’22: Self-care During COVID with Dr. Jennifer Ashton
We are focusing on wellness all this week…how do we deal with the emotional and psychological fatigue we’re all feeling from this pandemic? The focus on mental health and wellness has taken the forefront in this phase of the pandemic. Now, at this point in time, numbers suggest that even more people are dealing with anxiety and depression.
Speaking of stress, along with vulnerability to COVID, what advice do you have about keeping our health defenses up? The best way is to eat well, (minimize added sugar or processed foods), get enough rest and regular exercise.
And as far as anxiety, many say their worst fear is another complete lockdown…how likely is that? No one has a crystal ball, but very unlikely because the negative consequences of a lockdown (to our economy, to our society and to our health) are significant. Just remember that we have numerous tools now that we didn’t have back then!
What do you suggest for those who are worried that someday soon masks will no longer be required anywhere…even when traveling? No one knows when that may happen. It will end when officials feel our metrics are stable, our population is not at risk. But remember, you still have the choice to use a mask anytime if it helps you feel more comfortable.
Tonight you have an ABC News Special…24 Months That Changed the World, along with Robin Roberts. Tell us what we can expect…It explores how COVID-19 disrupted and created lasting change across all aspects of human life. On the cusp of the disease claiming 1 million lives in the United States and with over 6 million lives lost globally, the special reports on the victims and their families and how the pandemic intensified a mental health crisis.
Part of the special’s focus is the toll the pandemic has taken on healthcare workers and the entire healthcare system… Workers in hospitals say they have a diminished workforce. They have seen coworkers die of COVID, burnout is at all-time high…and no end is in sight.
There’s been so much loss over these two years…are there any silver linings we can hold onto? YES!!!! We have realized how much we need to be together and how resilient we are, how creative and innovative we can be, how much we can accomplish if we work together.
Give us the latest on booster shots… Another booster just approved by FDA.
What about kids…are COVID numbers going down? Yes, but less kids getting vaccinated.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton’s ABC News Special, “24 Months That Changed the World” airs on a special edition of “20/20,” airs tonight at 10pm on ABC and the next day on Hulu.
HOW YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR RISK OF DIABETES WITH DR. JOHN WHYTE
Medical experts call it a U.S. epidemic, and its numbers are on the rise. More than 34 million Americans have type 2 diabetes – that’s one out of every ten, and 88 million have pre-diabetes. Many more are unaware that they do. More than 1.5 million people are diagnosed in the US every year, and deaths are on the rise. There’s the potential for 1 in 3 Americans to have diabetes if we don’t turn things around. But we can because type 2 diabetes is primarily a disease caused by lifestyle.
In addition to adopting a healthy diet, and minimizing sugary drinks, alcohol, and processed foods (which can include a lot of added sugar), Dr. Whyte looks at some new approaches and busts through some myths, including:
Why it’s worth learning to like kefir, sauerkraut, and Greek yogurt:
The largest concentration of microbes resides in the gut, where they have a direct impact on blood sugar levels, inflammation, body fat, and insulin sensitivity. Fermented foods can promote a healthy gut, along with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
o All carbohydrates turn to sugar. But there are good carbs and carbs. The ones I suggest you avoid
since they tend to spike your blood sugar include:
Foods that people think are healthy but have a high glycemic index:
Foods with a high glycemic index that people think are healthy include rice cakes, most crackers, most packaged breakfast cereals, instant oatmeal, white rice, whole wheat bread and California sushi rolls. They are like eating a sugar cube.
Gluten free diets can have a high glycemic index. Gluten-free processed foods, such as breads, cookies and pasta, are typically even higher GI than wheat-based versions of the same food. And most processed gluten free foods have less fiber than foods with gluten.
The need to manage stress and get quality sleep most nights:
Lack of sleep and too much stress messes with hormone levels and can promote increases in blood sugar.
Gut health: It’s all about the gut nowadays. All the different microbes play a direct role in blood sugar levels. Some work with us to control insulin release while others wreak havoc on metabolism, possibly even causing prediabetes. When bad bacteria slip past our gut’s protective barrier, they cause inflammation, affecting numerous hormone levels including cortisol. It turns out that many people with diabetes tend to have lower levels of beneficial microbes in their gut. This is one reason why we need to eat a lot of fiber in our diet – our gut bugs love fiber. When our gut bugs get hungry they tend to eat at the gut lining, causing “leaky gut”, leading to inflammation and a host of other issues, and making it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar levels.
The truth about exercise: Some exercise is not better than nothing.
It isn’t enough to do 15 minutes of walking twice a week. To reverse diabetes, you need to hustle through your workouts, burn a sweat, and exercise for 150 minutes per week (30 minutes a day)
Supplements can make a difference. Some supplements can help; others don’t.
The supplements that are advertised as “cures” aren’t, and most supplements don’t help, but there are a few that do, such as chromium and alpha-lipoic acid, which can improve glucose levels and insulin sensitivity.
A plant-based, vegetarian, and intermittent fasting diet can be a good idea, but they’re not essential. Stress and insomnia are problems that need solving.
Lack of sleep and too much stress messes with hormone levels and can promote increases in blood sugar, particularly for women.
