Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare | Health Scene | Fall 2018

Staying well FALL 2018 3 Do I really need antibiotics? SAY YES TO ANTIBIOTICS when needed for certain infections caused by bacteria . SAY NO TO ANTIBIOTICS for viruses such as colds and flu, or runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow or green. Antibiotics also won’t help for some common bacterial infections , including most cases of bronchitis, many sinus infections, and some ear infections. To learn more about antibiotic prescribing and use, visit www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use . Antibiotics are only needed for treating certain infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics do not work on viruses. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention TAKE YOUR BEST SHOT AT STAYING WELL For more information or to schedule your vaccination, contact your provider today! Influenza can be MISERABLE & DEADLY. Nearly EVERYONE 6 months or older should get a yearly flu vaccine. Flu viruses CHANGE from year to year. To stay protected, you need a flu vaccine EVERY YEAR. ✔ Vaccinate! ✔ Don’t wait. ✔ Don’t hesitate. It takes 2 WEEKS for the flu vaccine to be fully effective. Go ahead. Have your cake and eat it, too— without guilt. Baked goodies do have a place in a healthy diet. That’s if you sneak in these tweaks for better-for-you treats. And no, you won’t be sacrificing flavor. Get stingy with sugar. Try reducing the amount of sugar in a recipe by one- quarter to one-third. Chances are, you won’t notice the difference. Be fussy about flour. In most recipes you can use fiber-rich whole-wheat flour in place of all-purpose flour. You might also experiment with almond flour, which works well for crusts. It adds nutrients and a big burst of flavor. Make over muffins and quick breads. You can usually cut saturated fat and calories by trading applesauce for the oil in recipes. Dial down dairy fat. Stick to low-fat milk, yogurt and buttermilk—not the full-fat versions. Grease pans with nonstick cooking oil, not butter. And consider swapping cream-cheese frosting, which is loaded with saturated fat and low in nutrients, for a protein-rich frosting made from Greek yogurt. Add good stuff. Boost nutrients by adding shredded or pureed apples, carrots or bananas to recipes. Scale back. For calorie control, keep portion sizes modest.That’s easier if you cut brownies and sheet cakes, for instance, into 2-inch squares and dish out cookie dough in 1-tablespoon scoops. Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Heart Association Healthy doesn’t have to be boring 3 4 5 2 1 6 Flu season alert with these baking ideas