Delicious and Healthy Herbed Cornbread Stuffing Recipe

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Xavia Malcolm

Full Herbed Cornbread Healthy Recipe courtesy of www.eatingwell.com

CORNBREAD

1 1/2 cups cornmeal

1 cup white-whole wheat flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk

1/2 cup low-fat milk

2 large eggs

1 large egg white

3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

3 tablespoons canola oil

STUFFING

8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), divided

1 1/4 cups chopped celery

1 1/4 cups chopped shallots

2 sweet-tart apples, such as Jonagold, peeled and chopped

3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh sage

1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or turkey stock

3 tablespoons finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning

1/4 teaspoon salt

Ground pepper to taste

PREPARATION

To prepare cornbread: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl. Whisk buttermilk, milk, eggs, egg whites, melted butter and oil in a medium bowl until well combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix just until blended.

Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. If time allows, let stand, uncovered at room temperature, before preparing the stuffing.

To prepare stuffing: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, shallots and apples; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, crumble cornbread into medium pieces in a large bowl.

Add sage and thyme to the pan; cook, stirring, for 1 minute more. Scrape the mixture into the bowl and toss to combine with the cornbread.

Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons butter. Add to the stuffing mixture along broth, parsley, Old Bay, salt and pepper. Scrape into the prepared baking dish and cover with foil.

Bake the stuffing for 30 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until lightly brown, 20 to 25 minutes more.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

Posted on November 26, 2014 by Andrew Rubin

November is Diabetes Awareness Month and a good time to find out if you are at risk. With 30 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes and an additional 86 million at risk, there is a possibility that you either have it, are at risk for it, or know someone who has been diagnosed.

Risk factors for diabetes include having a family history of the disease, obesity, living a sedentary life style and having heart disease. Africn Americans, Hispanics, Asian and Native Americans are also at higher risk. Signs and symptoms include blurry vision, sudden change in weight, frequent urination, feeling thirsty all the time and fatigue. People who are at risk should start having annual assessments starting at age 45.

Diabetes is a disease that leads to elevated blood sugar. Either the body doesn’t produce enough of the hormone, insulin, that helps the cells absorb glucose (type I diabetes) or the body produces insulin and the cells don’t recognize it (type II diabetes).Type I diabetes affects children most frequently and can’t be prevented so it must be treated with medication. Type II diabetes, also known as adult onset, is not always preventable but it can sometimes be delayed or controlled by diet and exercise.

The key to successfully managing diabetes and preventing secondary complications is to control blood sugar levels. Type I diabetes is treated by taking insulin injections on a daily basis. Type II diabetes can be treated by taking medication. These medications can either be administered in tablet form or in more severe cases by taking tablets and insulin injections.

People at risk should speak to their physician about being tested for diabetes. If you would like to make an appointment with a physician at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718-206-7001.

Do You Have a Carbon Monoxide Alarm in Your Home?

Posted on November 21, 2014 by Michael Hinck

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can happen at any time of the year, but the danger is greatest during the winter months when furnaces and other heating units are used more frequently.

It is the number one cause of poisoning deaths in the United Sates and is called the invisible killer, because you cannot see or smell it. This poisonous gas can come from a variety of sources and quickly incapacitate and kill its victims.

Since CO is colorless, tasteless and odorless (unlike smoke from a fire), detection and prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning in a home environment is impossible without a warning device, such as a carbon monoxide detector. While about 95 percent of U.S. homes report having at least one working smoke alarm, only 42 percent report having a working CO alarm. CO alarms can alert you and your family to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide inside your home before it is too late.

Proper placement of a CO detector is important. If you are installing only one in your home, it is recommended that you place it near the bedrooms, where it can wake you if you are asleep. Like smoke detectors, the batteries in CO detectors should be checked annually and they should be tested every month.

If your detector goes off, immediately leave your home and get fresh air. Call 911 before re-entering your home.

Is Your Child Being Bullied?

Posted on November 19, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Bullying occurs when an individual or group possesses an imbalance of power, either from a physical or social status perspective, over another person or group. While bullying is prevalent among all age groups, it has become a serious cause for concern among children.

The National Bullying Prevention Center defines bullying as behavior that hurts or harms another person physically or emotionally. Those being bullied often have difficulty stopping the behavior directed at them and struggle to defend themselves.

Statistics have shown that at least 28 percent of students, ages 12-18, reported being bullied at school during the year. Additionally, 7.2 % of students admit to not going to school due to personal safety concerns. Many fear the physical and verbal aggression of their peers, and many more attend school in a state of anxiety and depression.

Many children will not tell parents they are being bullied until the situation escalates, but there a few changes in their behavior that can alert you. Signs that your child may be a victim of bullying include refusing to speak about their day at school,not wanting to go to school, unexplained marks and bruises, asking for more lunch money, complaining of frequent headaches and stomach aches,sudden loss of friends and frequent nightmares.

“Bullying has profound effects on children. For some, it affects them for life. Psychological responses can range from depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder to severe reactive rage leading to the victim being the perpetrator of cruelty to others. In some instances, children have responded to bullying and cyber-bullying by committing suicide,” states Dr. Seeth Vivek, Chairman of Psychiatry at Jamaica Hospital.

If you find that your child is being bullied, you will need to document the dates, times and places of the action. If the bullying is taking place on school grounds, call the school and schedule a face to face meeting with a teacher or principal. If not on school grounds, notify the police.

Most schools have adopted an anti-bullying policy. Obtain a copy to determine if the bully violated school law. Bullying is best handled when you work together, with the proper authorities.

After notification, be sure to follow up with your child, and the school, to make sure that the bullying has stopped.

The Life You Save…

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Joann Ariola

According to the American College of Surgeons half of all deaths in the United States involve alcohol. Traumas, caused by alcohol related incidents, are the most tragic because they can be avoided.

Almost 30 people in the United States die every day in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This amounts to one death every 51 minutes.

These statistics make it imperative to have a safety plan in place before the consumption of alcohol begins. Some recommended precautions are:

Know your limit and plan ahead

Eat food before and while you drink
Beware of unfamiliar drinks
Appoint a designated driver
Respect the rights of individuals who do not want to drink
Space your drinks
Avoid drinking games
Avoid combining alcohol with other drugs
DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE

With the holiday season quickly approaching and statistics showing that 90% of all drunk driving happens after drinking with family, friends and co-workers, making use of these tips will help you be able to incorporate safety into your plans.

Can Consuming Too Much Sugar Cause Obesity?

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Xavia Malcolm

The rising consumption of sugar, specifically in the form of fructose is believed to be a contributor to obesity. Fructose unlike Glucose is not produced by the body. This molecule is not a natural part of human metabolism and very few cells utilize fructose. One of the few cells to metabolize fructose is in the liver, which turns it into fat.

A diet high in fructose can cause leptin resistance. Leptin is a hormone that tells your brain how much fat your body should store. When we consume food, some of this food gets stored in the fat cells. If there is a resistance of leptin; your body will not get the signal that your fat cells are full, causing you to eat more. Excess fructose can also cause insulin resistance. The higher the insulin levels in the body, is the higher the increase of deposition of fat into the fat cells.

Sugar can be addictive to some individuals, especially those who are predisposed to addiction. Studies show that sugar can amplify reward-seeking behavior. When we consume a lot of sugar a large amount of dopamine is released to the brain. Dopamine plays a major role in addictive behavior and encourages the individual to eat more.

Simply consuming less sugar is one of the best approaches to improving your health and regulating weight gain. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day for men is 37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons and for women is 25 grams or 6 teaspoons. You can take steps in reducing your intake by cutting down on processed foods, eating less sweets, drinking less sugary beverages such as soda and supplementing refined sugar with honey, molasses or other natural sweeteners.

Consult a physician to assess your diet and to create a plan to help you regulate your weight. To schedule an appointment with a Family Medicine physician at Jamaica Hospital, please call 718 206 6942.

Can You Dream Your Depression Away?

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Joann Ariola

It has been proven that depressed people dream up to three times as much as non-depressed people. They are unable to get negative thoughts off their mind. If you are suffering with depression, dreaming may be a way for you to control those negative thoughts and ruminations that keep you worried and awake.

Although some researchers believe that dreams are no more than a byproduct of sleep, many think that dreams are important for memory consolidation or conflict resolution. There have been studies to suggest that dreams may help with mood regulation, which, in turn, can help a depressed person.

The latest scientific studies on the understanding of dreams have taught us that we dream for specific biological and psychological purposes. According to the website Clinical-Depression.co.uk, emotionally arousing ruminations which are unfulfilled at sleep onset (i.e. the concern is still a worry) get ‘dreamed out’ metaphorically during dreaming. This is done to leave the ‘higher brain’ (neo-cortex) free for dealing with the next day’s events. If a depressed person wakes up every time they show a rapid eye movement, the symptoms of clinical depression can lift.

If you are experiencing the symptoms of depression and would like to seek help, call the Department of Psychiatry at The Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at 718-206-7160 for an appointment and consultation.

Asthma Medication and Pregnancy

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Joann Ariola

Often times, pregnant woman living with asthma are reluctant to take their asthma medication fearing the medication will be harmful to their baby.

The contrary is true. According to mayoclinic.org, asthma during pregnancy can post health risks for you and your baby.

If you’re effectively treating your asthma and it’s well controlled during pregnancy, there’s little or no risk of asthma-related complications. However, severe or poorly controlled asthma during pregnancy might increase the risk of various problems, including:

Oxygen deprivation for the baby
Morning sickness
Vaginal bleeding
High blood pressure and protein in the urine after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Restricted fetal growth
Complicated labor
Need for a C-section
Premature birth
In extreme cases, the baby’s life might be in jeopardy

Prescribed asthma medication, such as asthma inhalers or allergy shots during pregnancy is strongly recommended since the non-medication alternative is much more likely to harm both yourself and your baby.

Studies regarding the safe use of asthma inhalers and allergy shots, during pregnancy, have shown positive results. With proper treatment the risk of asthma attacks can decrease and your lung function can improve.

In the majority of cases, you and your baby can look forward to a good outcome, so long as you follow your doctor’s instructions. It is very important to monitor your asthma during your pregnancy. At the first signs of breathing difficulty, call your doctor.

By following your doctor’s recommendations, you and your child can look forward to a healthy pregnancy and birth.

If you are pregnant and have asthma, you can schedule an appointment with the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Women’s Health Center at 718-291-3276.

Is There Medicinal Power in Herbs – Bay Leaf

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Joann Ariola

There are many benefits of drinking bay leaf tea. Some of the most widely known benefits are:

1. Bay leaves are a rich source of vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Also regular inclusion of bay leaves in meals promotes general health.

2. They have been proven to be useful in the treatment of migraines.

3. Bay Leaf contains enzymes that help to breakdown proteins and digest food faster, helping to calm indigestion.

Recipe for Bay Leaf

16 oz water
3 bay leaves
Juice of 1 large or 2 smaller lemons

Place ingredients, together, in a pot and bring to a boil.
Drink, after it cools down

A hot cup of bay leaf tea can be very comforting. The aromatic fragrance that the leaves release is calming and the essence of the spiced tea makes bay leaf tea delicious.

What Are Advance Directives?

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Michael Hinck

Advance directives are legal documents that allow you to spell out your decisions about end-of-life care ahead of time. They give you a way to tell your wishes to family, friends, and health care professionals and to avoid confusion later on.

A living will tells which treatments you want if you are dying or permanently unconscious. You can accept or refuse medical care. You might want to include instructions on:

• The use of dialysis and breathing machines

• If you want to be resuscitated if your breathing or heartbeat stops

• Tube feeding

• Organ or tissue donation

A durable power of attorney for health care is a document that names your health care proxy. Your proxy is someone you trust to make health decisions for you if you are unable to do so.

The Office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management is responsible for all patient-related questions and concerns regarding advance directives. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To contact the Office of Legal Affairs, call (718) 206-6858.