by Kristi Jain | Aug 28, 2024 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog is kind of fun. It asks and answers a few of those head scratching questions that perhaps you always wondered about. If you are anything like me, I have good intentions of looking something up then forget, or sometimes the question is too embarrassing to ask. Let’s see if we can answer a few of those head scratchers today.
OLD WIVES TALES
My former mother in law more than a quarter century ago used to give me advice. Some I gratefully took, and others I questioned. She advised if I rubbed fireplace ashes into my children’s chicken pox, they would disappear or if I put sliced potatoes on a feverish forehead, the fever would dissipate. Thanks, but no thanks.
WHAT’S UP DOC?
How many times were we told to eat our carrots because they are good for our eyesight? Each time the folks served carrots, right? Maybe the parental units were right. The fact is that carrots are rich in beta-carotene which the body utilizes to produce Vitamin A. Carrots are good for lowering cholesterol levels and yes, for improving vision. Vitamin A helps the eye convert light to a signal to the brain allowing you to see better in low light.
PLEASE PASS THE CRANBERRIES
Have you also heard that cranberry juice is good for a urinary tract infection? WebMD says that cranberries don’t work for everyone and they don’t treat the UTIs that you already have. They do make urine more acidic, which is less friendly to bacteria like Escherichia coli (E. coli) that are usually to blame. If you suspect a UTI, consult your provider pronto!
SPEAKING OF URINE…
Here is a subject that nobody wants to discuss. Have you ever wondered why asparagus makes your urine smell funky? I looked it up and ww.aurorahealthcare.org gets down to the truth of the matter. The culprit of the funky smell appears to be asparagusic acid. This is a compound high in sulfur and abundant in asparagus. When your body breaks down asparagusic acid, it releases volatile components that are responsible for the dreadful smell of asparagus urine. Sometimes as quickly at 10 minutes! So, there you have it. You’re welcome.
GOUT ANYONE?
Hopefully you aren’t one of the lucky ones that suffers from gout. If you are, my condolences. It is a painful, crippling condition. Those affected know that cherry juice is sometimes recommended. Does it really help? I read that cherry juice lowers uric acid. That is the culprit of gout. Both the lowering of uric acid and the increase in antioxidants may help lessen the number of gout attacks. Also recommended are copious amounts of water, milk and interesting enough, coffee.
CHAT WITH YOUR PROVIDER
Before you make any dietary changes, be sure to chat with your provider. Perhaps dietary changes will suffice, and sometime good old-fashioned medicine may be in order.
HDD
I’m afraid that HDD can’t help much with poor eyesight, UTI’s, gout or funky urine. We can help with all of your diagnostic ultrasound needs. Call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Aug 27, 2024 | Uncategorized
This week’s blog is going to give you something to think about. All you have to do is open your computer or turn on the TV to hear about the latest health craze. For a nominal fee plus shipping and handling, you too can drink this potion or use this product to be thinner, stronger, younger and healthier. Yea, right. So what are we supposed to believe?
COPPER
Let me start by saying I love copper. I think it is beautiful and have collected quite a few great pieces. Just this morning, I ran across an article describing the health benefits of drinking from copper vessel. I do know that no self-respecting human would serve a Moscow mule in anything other than a copper mug! It never occurred to me to use them for drinking other things or simply for display purposes. Allow me to share what I read about these versatile little vessels.
Article #1
The initial article I read made drinking from a copper vessel sound like the answer to anything that ails you. Copper is an essential trace mineral that is vital to human health. Our ancestors used to store water in containers made of copper. Copper from a container leaches into water and helps in purification. Other benefits include…
- Aids in digestive performance
- Aids in weight loss
- Helps wounds heal faster
- Slows down ageing
- Helps maintain heart health and beats hypertension
- Mitigates the risk of cancer
- Protects you from infections
- Regulates the working of the thyroid gland
- Beats arthritis and inflamed joints
- Boosts skin health and melanin production
- Beats anemia
- Kills bacteria
- Stimulates your brain
- Beats arthritis and inflamed joints
With all the above stated benefits, why doesn’t everyone drink from a copper mug? It makes no sense not to, until I read article # 2.
NOT SO FAST
Dr. Michael Lynch, medical director for the Pittsburgh Poison Center believes that drinking from a copper mug is neither healthy nor unhealthy. Copper plays an important role in overall health and many of these overblown claims about copper cups seem to originate from what’s known about the mineral. Copper helps brain function, but that doesn’t mean drinking from a copper cup will have the same benefit. Most people get plenty of copper from our diets which is 900 micrograms a day. A word of caution, copper is a heavy metal and there is a danger of ingesting too much!
EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY
If you don’t own copper mugs, my condolences. Try eating foods rich in copper like mushrooms, cashews, almonds, beef liver (no thank you), legumes, whole grains and oysters. There is also copper jewelry as well as a copper sleeve that I just purchased to see if it helps with my tendinitis.
HDD
HDD is concerned for your health and well-being, hence the health-related articles I share with you. Sometimes they are interesting and beneficial to you and sometimes not. I am certainly willing to try the copper mug theory and see what happens. We can’t help you with your copper absorption but we can help with your diagnostic ultrasound needs. Call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Aug 27, 2024 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog is a repeat from many years ago and comes to you courtesy of John Jain. Although I have had plenty of time to write, authoring so many blogs over the years sometimes results in my river of inspiration running dry. John was kind enough to pinch hit for me today. Read on and enjoy his pearls of wisdom for the day!
MORNING WALK
Kristi asked me if I wanted to go for a walk this morning. There are mornings when we lazy around and enjoy our coffee a little longer than usual. Not today. When I bolted out of bed and started to put on my walking attire, she said “That was a no hesitation kind of move Jain!” This is a quote from Hamish Patterson. In case you are wondering who that is, allow me to explain.
TRUSTY RUSTIES
Recently a friend introduced me to You-Tuber Hamish Patterson. This guy looks like a middle-aged southern California surfer dude with long sun-bleached hair. He demonstrates how to give himself a “bowl cut” in just over six minutes. He does this shirtless, with a toddler fidgeting in his lap. He uses an old pair of rusty scissors from the tool shed affectionately known as his “trusty rusties.” In a no hesitation kind of move, he chops a semi-straight line across his bangs then proceeds to finish the with the aid of his carburetor mirror and completed the entire bowl cut for over 2 million You-tube viewers. If you haven’t seen it, may I recommend you indulge yourself in a 6-minute no brainer. It’s funny.
GET IT DONE
In the months since I first saw this video, my mantra has become “It’s a no hesitation kind of move.” I’ve heard this concept before in other terms. Nike said it in the eighties with the slogan “Just Do It!” In her motivational speeches, Mel Robbins says “Countdown 5-4-3-2-1 blast off.” Her premise is it takes only 5 seconds for the brain to come up with myriad reasons not to do something. Moral of the story, there is no time like the present. Just get it done.
NO HESITATION
Life occurs in cycles. For example, you can watch the same movie or read a book more than once and get something new out the experience each time. You receive the message at a time in your life when it is pertinent, and you realize you’ve heard same message many times in the past but your understanding was limited until that pivotal illuminating moment.
NEXT TIME
Next time don’t overthink or hesitate. Often it only takes only a few minutes to get something done. Doing this enables you to enjoy the satisfaction of having a completed your “to do list” as well as being able to relish your evenings in a much more satisfying manner. If you diagnostic ultrasound is recommended by your provider, call us at 505-350-3397. It’s a no hesitation kind of move!
by Kristi Jain | Aug 21, 2024 | Uncategorized
Thanks for dropping by to read this week’s blog. I appreciate each one of you who have taken the time to respond. With the exception of literally 1 person in the last 6 years, every other response I’ve received has been positive. For that I am grateful. I don’t claim to be the repository of all knowledge. I simply research and do my best for a 500 word weekly blog.
BLANK
As I sit at the keyboard today, I find I have a touch of writers block until an idea popped into my head. Today’s blog has to do with ego. Mine gets a bit of a lift from your kind feedback and admittedly got a little bruised when I had a critic. We all have an ego. Some are huge and some small. Ego is always best when kept in check.
MR WEBSTER…
EGO-noun. An inflated feeling of pride in your superiority to others. Your consciousness of your own identity. Your sense of self-worth, pride or self-importance.
BOTTOMLESS PIT
When you notice someone has a big ego, they are normally thought to be full of themselves. You’ve met them…those bottomless pits of need with an insatiable thirst for validation. They tend to brag ad nauseum. Exhausting is one way to describe time spent with these gems.
DICHOTOMY
Recently we socialized with a couple of different circles of friends. In one instance, our time was spent with “him” regaling us with his prowess in so many different arenas. He must always reign victorious. He is a nice guy and is the personification of a large ego. In contrast, the other gentleman (and I do mean gentleman) was completely opposite. He was mild mannered and genuinely interested in what you had to say. We enjoyed a conversation as opposed to a soliloquy. He brought little to no attention to himself, albeit he is an exceptional athlete.
BALANCE
There is room for everyone. This is an abundant universe. We are all good at something. A little competition is not always a bad thing. As the matter of fact, a little competition can act as a motivator and inspire personal growth. Don’t let insecurities muddy the waters.
HDD
Is High Desert Doppler the very best when it comes to diagnostic ultrasound? We like to think so. This is not an ego driven statement. It is simply the truth. We invite you to judge for yourself. Can you get an ultrasound elsewhere? Of course you can. There are many choices when it comes to ultrasound. A little competition translates into better service and quality, which continually motivates us. Competition promotes excellence. We strive for excellence. If you and your healthcare provider determine diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Aug 14, 2024 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog discusses the idea of fun. I don’t believe there is a soul among us who doesn’t love to have fun. I haven’t heard it in a while but there is an old saying that “Blondes have more fun.” It could be true. I wouldn’t know because I am a brunette. Do highlights count? No matter what your hair color is, do you like to have fun?
MARILYN
When I mention the name Marilyn Monroe, your mind immediately goes to the platinum bombshell with the infectious smile. Her image was always captured having fun. What was her secret? Was she having so much fun because she was beautiful, rich and famous? Although who wouldn’t want to be any of those things, there is more to fun than what meets the eye.
HEALTHY
This morning’s You Tube video inspired me. It talked about healthy content people whose relationships and activities are meaningful. It suggested that healthy people are more fun. Is this true? The question is, are you any fun, but more importantly, are you healthy?
MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The characteristics of healthy people are physical, mental and emotional. Some mental and emotional characteristics include someone who is self-aware, is an effective communicator, deals with stress effectively, is flexible, adaptable, respectful, empathetic, competent and is able to bounce back from adversity.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Here are some physical characteristics you might consider. Is your weight in the expected range, do you have good posture, do you have healthy skin and a steady heartbeat? Are you flexible, do you have a reasonable amount of endurance and strength, do you breathe easily, are your eyes clear, do you keep your vices under control and do you sleep well? Of course, coming from good genetic stock is doesn’t hurt.
HEALTHY PEOPLE ARE NO FUN
Wrong! Healthy people are a bunch of fun. They enjoy days filled with activities and energy that a healthy body allows. It should come as no surprise that healthy people treat themselves. Imagine a life that eliminates an occasional indulgence. No thanks! Pizza and beer sometimes happen. Life isn’t always fun without a little excess.
TREATS
Treats don’t always have to involve forbidden food and a skipped workout. How about a massage, a mani-pedi, a drive to the mountains or a good book? A happy, healthy life involves enjoying the experience, whatever it may be. Allow yourself to have fun.
OPTIMAL HEALTH
If you are in constant pain, have ailments or afflictions, it is harder to have fun. Been there done that. If you find yourself in the above-mentioned category, to the degree that you are able, try to unlock the power of good food, supplements, meditation, prayer, positivity and a hopeful outlook. Healthy people think, practice and behave differently. Observe the habits of healthy happy people. Emulate and adopt some of these behaviors in an effort to achieve optimal health. If HDD can be of assistance in the diagnosis on the road to optimal health, call us at 505-350-3397.
by Kristi Jain | Aug 7, 2024 | Uncategorized
Today’s blog centers around the idea of expiration. Let’s face facts. Everything in existence will eventually expire. Everything from a food item, medication, a job, a contract, and although tough to think about, the people we love as well as ourselves, will all one day expire. What exactly is that date of expiration?
EEEOOOWWW
Recently John and I returned home from a short trip. After unpacking, I opened the fridge to see what the dinner possibilities were. Eeeooowww! I nearly passed out from the stench emitting from the fridge. After opening every container, I discovered leftover fried rice has a shorter shelf life than I recall. Who knew?
EXPIRED FOOD
After doing a little research, I found out the expiration date or “sell by” date (which incidentally is a guideline for stores to switch their inventory) on any given food items are actually just guidelines. Like everything else, there are exceptions to every rule. Most food is perfectly good past their expiration date. It is suggested that perhaps we should stop wasting so much food simply due to an expiration date. Check your items carefully. I read that the FDA says that food is not necessarily dangerous past their “sell by” date or their “best used by” date. It is merely a suggestion.
WHAT ABOUT MEDICINE?
Interestingly, I read that medication can still be taken even after its expiration date. I did some research and found the FDA added expiration dates back in 1979 to be 1-5 years beyond the date of manufacture. Taking it before the date of expiration guarantees 100% potency. I confess to taking medication past the expiration date and am alive to tell about it. Taking medication beyond the expiration date, (if stored in a cool dry place) is thought to not be unsafe and only slightly less effective. Consider there is probably a change in chemical composition that could prove dangerous. Heed what the FDA has to say then decide if you should take Advil from the jumbo jug you bought at Costco 10 years ago!
THINGS THAT DO EXPIRE
Your body changes daily. As the matter of fact, I read that by the time you finish reading this sentence, 50 million of your cells will have died and been replaced by others. Why are fat cells so stubborn? If you were given a glowing report of good health in the past, don’t assume that is true for all time. That report will change and expire. Even those with the best of intentions who try to be health conscious, eat reasonably well, and exercise may not be granted good health from one year to the next. There is a reason yearly physical exams are recommended.
HDD
It is important to have your overall health monitored and have those exams and testing done to be on the safe side. Early detection saves lives. Remember that diagnostic ultrasound can detect things that lie beneath the surface. If ultrasound is indicated call at 505-363-8489.
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