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An Essential (Oil) Conversation
What are Essential Oils?
The scented liquid taken from certain plants using steam or pressure. Essential oils contain the natural chemicals that give the plant its “essence” (specific odor and flavor). Essential oils are used in perfumes, food flavorings, medicine, and aromatherapy. source: Definition of essential oil – NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms – National Cancer Institute
In previous posts I have introduced the idea of using essential oils as a complementary method to assist us in coping with mind, body, and spirit care. Essential oils are not intended to replace any medications we require for our health. Rather, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is used as a way to enhance, not replace, our self-care regimen.
Stress is known to cause pain in the neck, shoulders, and back. Stress also causes insomnia and headaches. How do you manage these issues? Do you take a pain pill for your body? Do you take a pain pill for your headache(s)? How many times a day? How Anxiety Can Create Aches and Pains (calmclinic.com)
In some countries, essential oils are regulated and used as a methodology for helping patients enhance their relief with health issues: An example, is Canada where Essential Oils are regulated as Natural Health Products. These products require the approval of Health Canada (FDA in the USA) approval before going to market.
Reference for COVID-19
This month I am at my wits end to assist in any way providing guidelines for the Coronavirus. The first link will take you to the government website. New announcements about Telehealth services for senior citizens is important. You can contact your doctor’s office for guidelines on how it works.
In addition, I received two reference pdf books about COVID-19 from a family member, and I think it is worth sharing. It provides guidelines for how to care for yourself, as was understood at the time it was written. Click the links for more information.
Government Websites:
https://www.hrsa.gov/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
For Handbook Reference:
Corona Ebook.pdf
CoronaVirus Slide for kids.pdf
Take a look. I hope it is helpful.
Wishing you wellness.
Judith
Are Fish Oil Supplements Doing the Right Thing?
On your recent visit to the doctor, did you have a conversation about those Fish Oil supplements you’ve been taking to help with the cholesterol issues you have? No? Well, neither did I. It pays to actually keep up with the latest news on this health stuff. It is true that eating fish has health benefits. However, until recently, it was thought that fish based 
supplements are also a good thing to take for this.
- In the future, you may want to think about who is coming to dinner with you.
- Supplements for cholesterol issues usually contain Omega-3 fatty acids (polyunsaturated oils). Omega-3 fatty acids are also available by eating fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel.
- It is suggested that people who eat these types of fish two or more times a week may have fewer issues with heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths.
- Some of the benefits of eating fatty fish 2 or 3 times a week are: lower heart rate and blood pressure; and improved function of blood vessels, for example.
Now it turns out that those studies, which were done 15 years ago, and reported that fish oils/fish eaters, could lower the risk of heart disease, may not be the only studies to consider. It may be some other factors/characteristics; for example, eating less meat, healthier lifestyles etc., could be contributory factors as well.
Continue reading
Healthy Eyes & Eye Care
When is the last time you visited your Eye Doctor? Whom did you see? Was it your Optometrist, Ophthalmologist, or Optician? Do you know that senior citizens should have their eyes checked yearly?
I saw my Optometrist (OD) recently. Optometrists provide eye care and vision care services; they are not required to attend medical school. The majority complete an undergraduate degree, then they attend a specialized training program to obtain an optometry degree (OD). Source: http://glassescrafter.com/information/MD-vs-OD-vs-DO.html
- When my OD finished the complete eye examination she indicated on my chart how my prescription had changed. Afterwards, I saw the optician who reviewed the prescription and helped me with fitting and choosing eyeglasses. Not all opticians require a license. The licensing requirement varies by state. In some states, opticians must complete an opticianry training program and be licensed. Source: http://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-doctor/choose.htm
I’ve used theratears for my dry eye problem. My OD advised new research suggests that using Fish Oil or FlaxSeed helps with tear film – the liquid consisting of lipids, water, and mucin that coats the outer surface of the eye, lubricating it. Source: Tear Film.
Refresh Optive Advanced can also help to lubricate your eyes.
Click the source below to find out how you can use flaxseed oil or fish oil to help with dry eyes 🙂
♥ Flaxseed oil and fish oil contain important dietary fatty acids that have multiple health benefits, including prevention or treatment of dry eyes. Other benefits include a lower risk of heart disease and a reduction of chronic inflammation that can lead to a variety of serious diseases, including cancer and stroke. Chronic inflammation also has been indicated as an underlying cause of osteoarthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. Source: Flaxseed Oil and Fish Oil for Dry Eyes
Last Word
Visit your Optometrist and your Optician. Get your eyes checked at least once a year, every year – especially if you are a senior citizen.
In February, KQED proudly celebrates… a special Black History Month programming lineup on KQED Public Television. Click the link for more information. Source: February 2017 – Black History Month | On Q Insider | Heritage Months | About KQED
Embracing Aging Beauty
Have you embraced the aging beauty you’ve become yet? Or, have you been hiding under the covers of ‘ I wish I looked the way I did when I was younger‘?
When we are consistently wishing for another time, another “age”, we miss out on our beautiful present moments. I love what Helen Mirren had to say about aging:
“The best thing about being over 70 is being over 70,” Mirren says in an interview with AARP The Magazine for its December/January Issue. “Certainly when I was 45, the idea of being 70 was like ‘Arghhh!’ but you only have two options in life: Die young or get old. There is nothing else. Source: Cele|bitchy | Helen Mirren: ‘You have two options in life: Die young or get old’”
So why don’t you choose the option of embracing that you’re still alive, and you are an aging beauty?
Cindy Joseph, Baby Boomer/ senior citizen, had a flourishing modeling career during her youth, and is a ‘pro-age’ advocate for the beauty that is inherent in us all, who still models. I agree with Cindy that beauty blossoms at every age.
Cindy’s Boom! beauty products are designed to show our aging beauty with a natural touch. Her company makes the products with ingredients, which are organic, olive oil, honey. 
Her customers are so satisfied with her advice and products that they take ‘selfies’ of themselves and post their beauty on her website! Click the pictures on this post to read the various stories and information at Cindy Joseph’s website.
Stay Beautiful!
Sharp brain health
I must admit, the aging process is a little intimidating. Sometimes, when you least expect it, a body part, that was ok in the morning, all of a sudden is hurting later on that same day. It’s that ‘wake-up call’, which then becomes a part of your daily life (chronic pain, osetoarthritis, knee pains and the like).
Is your memory is ‘slipping’ ? You can’t recall where you put an item down, or why you came upstair? Needless to say, it’s an adjustment. Nevertheless, willy-nilly these changes are all part of an ongoing aging process. That’s why I want to share with you a tool, which AARP has available for seniors and those approaching ‘senior-hood’. It’s called the ‘Staying Sharp Brain Health Assessment’.
Why don’t you take a ‘Leap’ and try it out by clicking the link below.
- Better Brain Health Starts Here. Subscribe and take the Brain Health Assessment to get your Brain Health Score and a detailed report that will provide insight into how your brain works and how your lifestyle supports important cognitive functions like memory and focus. Then, get started on your personalized recommendations for fun ways to create simple habits that can help you improve and maintain brain health over time.
Source: AARP Staying Sharp Brain Health Assessment
Osteoporosis & Men
What Is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis, which means “porous bones,” is a condition that causes bones to gradually thin and weaken, leaving them susceptible to fractures. About 2 million fractures occur each year due to osteoporosis. Source: What is Osteoporosis? – WebMD
Oftentimes, when we hear or read about Osteoporosis we connect this condition to women who can experience bone loss during menopause. However, in a recent New York Times article it states: Men experience about half as many osteoporotic fractures as women. But when a man breaks his hip because of osteoporosis, he is more likely than a woman similarly afflicted to be permanently disabled and twice as likely to die within a year. Source: Men Get Osteoporosis, Too – The New York Times
Below is a summary of some key issues that should be addressed and focused on by men:
- Men with prior incidents, where bones were broken, can be at risk for oseoporotic fracture, and should have their bones checked. Every man over 70 should have a bone density test.
- Osteoporosis should no longer be considered a disease solely of women. Men can also lose bone as they age. For example, almost 30 percent of all hip fractures occur in men.
- Being underweight, smoking, and the number of alcoholic drinks per day are common risk factors for osteoporotic fractures in men.
- Medications, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease are some of the issues that increase risk.
- There is a tool (FRAX) developed by the World Health Organization, which can evaluate risk of an osteoporotic fracture.
- Calcium, vitamin D, exercise with weight-bearing and resistance, in addition to non smoking can all help to keep osteoporosis from becoming harmful.
Take a moment to read the full article for detailed information.
Exercising Living Senior
A lot of what I’ve read recently about the aging process brings me to the conclusion that the road to the ‘fountain of youth’ goes through the city of exercise. That is to say, the more we exercise, the more we will keep our bodies ‘in tune’, ‘well-oiled’ for a healthful and independent future . Easy enough right?
Suppose you have physical limitations? The answer is: ‘where there is a will, there is a way.’ And, to help us with our ‘will’ the Department of Aging has suggested certain exercises for us to do while sitting, or standing. There is no health club cost required. Listed below are some of the disabilities, which regular exercise can help you with.
- arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, balance problems, and trouble walking.
- Benefits: increased energy, lower cholesterol, prevent weight gain, bone strength, enhance mental well-being.
What’s the difference between Physical Activity and Exercise? Both terms refer to the voluntary movements you do that burn calories.
- Physical activities are activities that get your body moving such as gardening, walking the dog, raking leaves, and taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Exercise is a form of physical activity that is specifically planned, structured, and repetitive such as weight training, tai chi, or an aerobics class
Click here to order the book: https://order.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/order/bk004
By picking up this book and looking through it, you’ve taken an important first step toward good health. Source: Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging | National Institute on Aging
Once you get started you will not want to stop! Let’s get physical 🙂 !
Sharing Seniorhood Info!
For many of us retiring to a new lifestyle is not an easy transition. Yes, you hear all the suggestions about ‘having something to do‘, but how do you get started? What are some of the first steps towards this new life experience?
First things, first … What will be the income you can rely on? How will your healthcare be handled? How do you sign-up for medicare and when?
What advice do the experts give about the best time to retire? Are you still healthy? Are you working because you really don’t know what else to do? Should you transition to a part-time job, or do you need a part-time job? The truth is, these answers are different for each person. Below are links that I found on the www that may help you in creating a plan for yourself. It’s amazing what the social security offices have made available for us to decide. Just click the Source links to get further details.
Applying for Retirement Benefits
- Social Security offers an online retirement application that you can complete in as little as 15 minutes. It’s so easy. Better yet, you can apply from the comfort of your home or office at a time most convenient for you. There’s no need to drive to a local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative. Source: Retirement Benefits
If you are waiting to retire until you are 70 years of age, below is a sample chart of how your income will increase based on a social security benefit of $1000.00 per month.
- Let’s say your full retirement age for Social Security benefits is 66, and your monthly benefit at that age is $1,000. Here’s what your monthly benefit would be, starting at different ages:
* Age 62 = $750 * Age 63 = $800 * Age 64 = $866 * Age 65 = $933 * Age 66 = $1,000
* Age 67 = $1,080 * Age 68 = $1,160 * Age 69 = $1,240 * Age 70 = $1,320
Source: The Best Age for YOU to Retire | Social Security Matters
So what’s the maximum amount of retirement income you can receive?
Your maximum social security retirement benefit depends upon the age you retire. If you retire at full retirement age (FRA) in 2016 the maximum benefit is $2,639. If you retire at the age of 70 in 2016, your maximum benefit is $3,576. However, if you retire at the age of 62 in 2016, your maximum benefit would be $2,102. Source: What is the maximum I can receive from my Social Security retirement benefit? | Investopedia
Note: This website has great suggestions for Retirement Planning. Click the Topics picture. 
