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While Covid accentuated poor heath conditions in some, they were prevalent long before Covid.

The Good News: Physical activity can positively affect over 30 chronic conditions, making it the best deterrent of chronic disease in primary and secondary prevention.

Health Statistics for adults in the U.S.

50-60% have at least one chronic disease; 25-40% have two or more.
Almost 40% are clinically obese.
Hypertension affects over 100 million.
Over 30 million have Type 2 diabetes.
Osteoarthritis affects over 30 million. It’s thought everyone over 60 has at least 1 joint affected.
Cardiovascular disease is responsible for almost 1 in every 4 deaths.

What is MedFit Care?

MedFit Care is a telehealth company offering medically necessary exercise prescriptions for consumers and patients nationwide.

A MedFit Care physician will write a medically necessary exercise prescription that can be used to pay for your MedFit Care fitness professional, who understands your unique needs and can work with you to improve your health and quality of life. With your prescription in hand, you are now able to use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Health Savings Account (HSA), or your own funds as a medical expense tax deduction, to pay for the services of a qualified medical fitness specialist.

If you, a family member, or friend has health issues of concern, call our New Orleans Healing Center location at 504-754-1101 or stop by the New Orleans Healing Center to discuss your options.

Non-melanoma skin cancer is a very common cancer in the United States, with more than 5 million people diagnosed each year. Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are non-melanoma skin cancers, are the most common types of skin cancer. Non-melanoma skin cancers rarely spread to other parts of the body.

1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer by the age of 70.
More than 2 people die of skin cancer in the U.S. every hour.
Having 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk for melanoma.
When detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99 percent.

Melanoma:

Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer. It is more likely to invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body than the more common forms of skin cancer.

Melanoma is more common in men than women and among individuals of fair complexion. Unusual moles, exposure to natural sunlight or artificial sunlight (such as from tanning beds) over long periods of time, and health history can affect the risk of melanoma – American Association for Cancer Research.

The American Cancer Society’s estimates for melanoma in the United States for 2024 are:

About 100,640 new melanomas will be diagnosed (about 59,170 in men and 41,470 in women).
About 8,290 people are expected to die of melanoma (about 5,430 men and 2,860 women).

Less Common Skin Cancers:

1) Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer that develops in sun-exposed skin areas and has a high likelihood of spreading to other body parts.2) Skin lymphoma, also called Cutaneous lymphoma, is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that starts in the skin.3) Kaposi sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in lymph or blood vessel cells and tends to appear in the mouth and as lesions on the skin, but may also develop in the lungs, liver and digestive tract.4) Skin adnexal tumors are tumors that start in hair follicles or skin glands.5) Sarcomas are soft tissue tumors that can begin in deep skin tissue.

Things that put you at higher risk for getting skin cancer are called risk factors. The main risk factor for developing skin cancer is exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from:

1) Sunlight2) Tanning beds3) Sun lamps

Other factors that may contribute to developing skin cancer include:

– Having a history of severe, blistering sunburns- Having many, or unusual, moles- Being a blond or redhead, having fair skin that easily freckles or sunburns- Exposure to large amounts of toxic substances such as paraffin oil, coal tar and arsenic compounds- Family history of skin cancer- Previously being diagnosed with skin cancer- Being older, male- Having a weakened immune system- Having a rare inherited condition called xeroderma pigmentosum– People with darker complexions have a much lower risk of most types of skin cancer. When they do develop melanoma, people with darker skin types are much more likely to have rare types of melanoma such as acral lentiginous melanoma, an aggressive type affecting the palms of the hands, soles of the feet and nail bed. Melanoma can also develop in non-sun-exposed area such as the membranes of the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and female genital tract. The most important warning sign of skin cancer is a new spot on the skin, especially if that spot changes shape, color or size. Another potential symptom is a spot that looks different from all the others on your skin (known as the “ugly duckling sign”).

Other signs include:

– Red or pink patches with shiny, pearly-white raised edges- Non-healing open sores that bleed or develop a crust- Red scaly patches of skin that may bleed- Wart-like growths with crusted surfaces- Hard, waxy skin lumps with visible blood cells- A newly itchy, tender or painful sore

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is essential for building cell membranes and producing hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids that aid in digestion. However, having too much cholesterol, particularly low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Here's a breakdown of the two main types of cholesterol:

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Cholesterol:
- Often referred to as "bad" cholesterol.
- LDL cholesterol can build up on the walls of your arteries, forming plaque that can narrow and clog arteries, leading to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) Cholesterol:
- Referred to as "good" cholesterol.
- HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries by transporting it to the liver, where it can be broken down and eliminated from the body. This process helps protect against heart disease.

In summary, high levels of LDL cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease, while high levels of HDL cholesterol can help reduce that risk by removing excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. It's important to maintain a balance between these two types of cholesterol for optimal heart health.

Exercise and Cholesterol

Regular exercise can have a significant impact on cholesterol levels and overall heart health. Here's how exercise influences cholesterol:

Raises HDL Cholesterol: Physical activity, especially aerobic exercise like brisk walking, running, swimming, or cycling, can increase the levels of HDL (good) cholesterol in the blood. This helps remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream, reducing the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries.
Lowers LDL Cholesterol: Exercise can also lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol. It does this by increasing the size of the particles that carry LDL cholesterol in the blood, which makes them less likely to contribute to plaque formation in the arteries. Additionally, regular physical activity can stimulate the liver to remove LDL cholesterol from the blood.
Aids in Weight Management: Regular exercise helps with weight loss and weight management, which can indirectly improve cholesterol levels. Being overweight or obese is associated with higher LDL cholesterol and lower HDL cholesterol levels. Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight or achieve weight loss, which in turn can improve cholesterol profiles.
Improves Overall Heart Health: Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, improves circulation, and reduces inflammation throughout the body. These benefits can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are often associated with high cholesterol levels.
Reduces Triglycerides: Triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood that can increase the risk of heart disease when levels are too high. Regular exercise helps lower triglyceride levels, further improving heart health.

To reap the benefits of exercise on cholesterol levels, it's recommended to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic activity for at least 150 minutes per week, or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity for at least 75 minutes per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities on two or more days per week. However, even small amounts of physical activity can provide health benefits, so finding activities you enjoy and incorporating them into your routine is key.

More than 40% of adults with arthritis do not receive counseling from their health care providers on the benefits of physical activity for arthritis management.

-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Arthritis can lead to severe joint pain and may limit your normal activities, but there are several ways you can reduce arthritis pain without medication. Research has shown being physically active is one of the best ways to treat arthritis.

Physical activity can help your arthritis by:

Reducing pain
Improving range of motion and function
Increasing energy
Improving mood
Supporting weight management
Preventing or improving other conditions like diabetes and heart disease.

PWM-2524959_Oct10_Infograph_LowImpactArthtritis-1536x1024.jpg

How much activity should you aim for? Try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week - like brisk walking. This can be broken up into smaller segments such as 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Even if you can’t reach this goal, staying as active as you can is good for your health. Remember, any amount of physical activity is better than none!

What kinds of activities should you do? You should choose physical activities that are gentle on your body and joints to reduce the risk of injury. These activities can include:

Brisk walking
Yoga
Gardening
Dancing
Swimming

Explore physical activity programs in your community that are designed to reduce arthritis symptoms and teach you how to safely increase your activity level. Many of these programs are free or low-cost and available at local YMCAs, parks, and recreation or community centers. Learn more about Arthritis-Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions (AAEBIs) here.

Remember, your doctor is a reliable source of information about physical activity. If you have concerns or questions, talk to your doctor about the right level of activity for your abilities and health goals. For more tips on staying active, go to the CDC website.

Ready to Transform? (3 Steps!)

Would you like to be thinner? Have better habits? And feel more positive about life?

You may think that change is hard, that it takes time. But it really doesn’t have to be.

I believe that lasting change happens in an instant.

Sure, this goes against mainstream belief. Most believe that change has to be a struggle. They expect to try and fail numerous times before ultimately losing or succeeding.

For example, how many people do you know who struggle with their weight? These are people who want to make a healthy change by getting in shape, but the change never seems to happen.

What is the biggest part of your life that you want to change? Do you have inches to lose? Do you have preventable diabetes? Do you have a pair of skinny jeans that you want to fit into? Or maybe you have an unreached goal completely unrelated to fitness.

What specifically is keeping you from making this change in your life?

According to professional speaker and author, Tony Robbins, it’s the preparation for change that takes times. In the end there’s a single instant when the change occurs.

Use these 3 steps to instantly create a lasting change and a reinvented you.

Step #1 to Reinvent Yourself: Believe that something in your life must change.

Do you kinda want to get into shape, or do you absolutely have to lose the weight? Does dropping a few pounds sound nice, or is living another day in your current body simply unbearable? In order to reinvent yourself, you must believe wholeheartedly that things must change.

Step #2 to Reinvent Yourself: Believe that you must change it.

It is vital that you take full responsibility in making the change rather than assigning responsibility elsewhere. Sure, others may help you, but in the end you are the one who is going to make it happen. You have to want this change enough to make it your personal mission—no one else can do it for you.

Step #3 to Reinvent Yourself: Believe that you can change it.

Don’t let past failures get you down. The truth is that you are capable of amazing things when you put your mind to it. Believe that you are able to lose weight or to make any other positive change in your life.

Why do most people fail to make change stick? They rely on willpower. This works for awhile, but you’ll soon revert back to what’s comfortable. The solution?

Change what you are comfortable with. People are motivated by two things: 1) to avoid pain and 2) to gain pleasure. When you want to change a behavior pattern the key is to associate pain with the behavior that you don’t want and pleasure with the behavior that you do want.

You know that you want to lose weight and that to do so you need to quit eating comfort food late at night. You also know that you need to start exercising on a regular basis. Up until this point your brain is trained to associate pleasure with eating comfort food late at night and to associate pain with exercise.

It’s time to retrain your brain to feel good about exercise and to feel bad about eating late at night. Think about all of the negative things about being overweight and connect these unpleasant thoughts to your late night snack. Now think about all of the wonderful things about being in shape and connect these pleasant thoughts to exercise.

You are capable of making big changes in your life. Start by contacting me for your no obligation fitness consultation.

Remember, change happens in an instant.

Are you ready to transform your lifestyle and body? Call or email me today to get started.

3 Ingredient 5-Min Frozen Yogurt

Here’s an insanely delicious recipe for Protein Frozen Yogurt that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters! It’s hard to believe that it contains such wholesome, protein-packed ingredient to help fuel your fitness results, considering how delicious it tastes.

You could certainly make this recipe using whatever vanilla protein powder you have on hand, though do know that the quality of the protein will have an effect on the flavor of your frozen yogurt. Use one that’s really tasty!

In order to get the most out of the supplements that you use, make sure to get the highest quality without fillers or artificial sweeteners.

What you need
Serves 4

2 cups Non-Fat Plain Greek Yogurt (or dairy-free yogurt)
10 ounces frozen strawberries
2 scoops Vanilla Protein Powder

Instructions

1. Divide the Greek yogurt into 2 ziplock bags and store in the freezer overnight, or for a minimum of an hour.

2. Remove the yogurt from the freezer and, while it's still in the bags, break into pieces. If it's really solid then place in the fridge for 10 minutes and then break it into pieces.

3. Place the frozen strawberries in a food processor and pulse to chop. Add the protein powder and frozen yogurt and blend until creamy.

4. Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh strawberries and enjoy!

Nutrition
One serving equals: 138 calories, 0g fat, 95mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 7g sugar and 23g protein.

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