Live Well Newsletter | March 2024
Healthy Eating Habits
March is National Nutrition Month, making it an appropriate time to reevaluate your eating habits. Use the following tips to improve your diet:
Plan meals ahead of time to ensure you are meeting all five food groups.
Avoid fatty foods that are high in calories; instead, opt for foods rich in protein, vitamins and nutrients.
Drink water instead of sugary beverages.
Eat home-cooked meals as much as possible because they typically have fewer calories and more appropriate portions than restaurants.
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
Understand Your Kidney Health
March is National Kidney Month, making it an appropriate time to implement healthy habits that can reduce the development of kidney disease. Kidneys play a vital role in your body by filtering your blood to remove waste and extra water, making hormones that produce red blood cells, promoting bone health and regulating blood pressure.
Tips for Promoting Kidney Health
Use the following tips to promote kidney health:
Get tested. Get screened for kidney damage or disease. This can allow you to keep help track of your kidney health and prevent damage in the future.
Reduce over-the-counter drug usage. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like borophene, can cause kidney damage if dosages are not correctly managed.
Exercise regularly. Exercising can lower your blood pressure and boost heart health, which contributes to preventing kidney damage. Try to be active for at least 30 minutes each day.
Maintain a healthy diet. Studies reveal that eating whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to keep kidneys healthy. A plant-based diet may also help prevent and treat kidney disease.
Drink plenty of fluids. Water helps flush toxins and sodium from your kidneys. It’s recommended that men should drink approximately 124 fluid ounces each day, and women need about 92 fluid ounces.
Contact your doctor for more information about kidney health and warning signs of kidney disease.
Spring Driving Tips
Safe driving is a crucial responsibility that impacts your well-being and the safety of everyone on the road. It involves recognizing and mitigating common driving hazards during each season. Spring presents its own set of challenges for drivers.
Keep these tips in mind while driving in spring:
Watch out for potholes. Potholes that may have developed during winter can be difficult to see. Try to avoid swerving dramatically, and instead, brake gently and navigate them with caution.
Expect spring showers. Rain can create slippery road conditions. Make sure you are increasing your following distance, using your headlights and reducing your speed during heavy spring rains.
Look out for wildlife. Animal activity tends to increase in spring. If you see an animal close to or on the road, slow down or prepare to stop. Be alert, especially at dusk and in rural areas where animals are more active.
Check your tires. Changing temperatures can impact your tire pressure. Check your tires to ensure you have proper inflation.
Prepare for sun glare. Longer days can mean more sunlight, which can be hazardous while driving. Keep a pair of polarized sunglasses in your vehicle and use sun visors when needed.
Change Your Clocks, Check Your Batteries
States across the country will be changing their clocks forward on March 10 for daylight saving time. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) encourages homeowners to use this as a reminder to change their home’s smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries. A working smoke alarm is critical to home fire safety. It may also be a good time to contact your homeowners insurance provider to make sure your policy is up to date to provide coverage in case of a fire.
This newsletter is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical purposes. © 2024 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.