Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1304527
Now partnering with Dignity Health for Santa Cruz County, Canopy Health helps members identify, understand, and access the best care wherever they live, work, and play. To find out more about the Canopy Health network contact your local Medicare broker or join one of the virtual Medicare meetings in your area. to Quality Care dignityhealth.org/medicare A Fresh Approach 831-462-6257 Sponsored by Dominican Hospital. A Dignity Health Member Lic. #440708773 3400 Paul Sweet Road • Santa Cruz, CA 95065 www.dominicanoaks.com "Dominican Oaks has been great about making sure there are plenty of safe, small group activities that our parents can attend safely in their community. My sister and I laugh at the idea that they have more going on than we do as we shelter in place at home! It is very reassuring for us to know that they are safe, having fun and well taken care of " – Cathi Hill & Susan House ""he family has been very happy with how Dominican Oaks has handled the COVID pandemic... It has not been easy for anyone, but knowing Mom is in a safe place and away from the virus has meant everything to our family. ank you Dominican Oaks for your commitment to the safety of all your residents, especially Mom!" – Gizelle Sipin Feel your best starting with your stomach Innovative fitness programs for seniors It is important to stay active and eat healthy foods in an effort to promote fit- ness and well-being. This is especially true for seniors, many of whom lead increas- ingly sedentary life- styles as they age. The American Heart Association says adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate exer- cise per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, and a Harvard University study says that exer- cise can be an insur- ance policy for heart health. Today's seniors have more fitness op- tions at their disposal than ever before. SilverSneakers® is the leading commu- nity fitness program for older adults in the United States. Sil- verSneakers® mem- bers can participate in specially curated programs at partic- ipating gyms and community centers across the nation. According to the organization, there are more participat- ing fitness locations available than there are Starbucks® cof- fee establishments. Classes are fit for everyone, no mat- ter their experience level. Those concerned about gym costs may find that Silver- Sneakers® already is included in their Medicare Advantage plan for no addition- al cost. Plus, there is access to healthy living discounts from participating busi- nesses. Canada has be- gun to develop its own senior-centric fitness programs. The Healthy, Safe and Strong group exercise program is an introduction to safe exercises avail- able for adults age 60 and older in the province of Ontar- io. The program can help develop better stamina, maintain or improve balance and increase strength and endurance. Stronge- rU Senior Fitness is a relatively new pro- gram of pre-choreo- graphed group fitness offering instruction in four program types: cardio, strength train- ing, stretching, and circuit training. The program addresses a need in Canada for quality and consistent senior fitness pro- graming. As studies show that engaging in physical activity is the most effective way for ag- ing men and women to stay healthy, more adults may be com- pelled to join fitness groups that cater to the 50-and-over market. Did you know that the key to personal health may begin in the core of the body? Doctors and researchers are learning more and more about how the immune system and other functions of the body are tied to microscopic players housed in the stom- ach and intestines. Improving this digestive environ- ment can benefit the body in various ways. Understanding probiotics Bodily bacteria outnumber body cells by 10 to one, offers the health and wellness re- source Healthline. Most of the bac- teria in the body are harmless, and many of them in the gut actually are linked to numerous health benefits, such as weight loss, enhanced immune function, reduced risk of disease, and improved digestion. Unfortunately, bad bacteria also vie for space in the gut. If the good bacte- ria and yeasts, or probiotics, are not in abundance to push out the bad bacteria, like sal- monella and E. coli, those bad bugs can proliferate, caus- ing problems. It is essential to keep an abundance of probiotics available to stay healthy and maintain the "good vs. bad" balance in the gut. Getting probiotics While the body can be healthy with- out the addition of probiotics, having more can be bene- ficial. The Cleveland Clinic says that food and supplements containing probiot- ics assist the good bacteria already present in your gut. When a course of antibiotics wipes out both good and bad bacteria, for example, probiot- ic-rich foods and supplements can more readily re- place what's lost. Dietary sources of probiotics in- clude some yogurts, cheeses, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, kimchi, pickles, and beverages like kom- bucha, a fermented tea. Getting pro- biotics from foods is the most natural way to supplement good gut bacteria, as the foods meld with the probiotics in ways that doctors may never understand to deliver the most ben- efits. The downside is it's impossible to measure just how many probi- otics can be acquired from foods. That is what makes supplementation so handy. Capsules and tablets are loaded with a variety of different ac- tive bacteria and yeast cultures to aid the di- gestive system in mea- surable ratios. Some tout anywhere from one to 30 billion active colo- ny-forming units (CFUs) per serving. Side effects Probiotics are gener- ally healthy for people to consume in amounts found in foods, advises the Mayo Clinic. Most healthy adults can safely add foods or di- etary supplements that contain probiotics to their diets. Introducing probiotics may cause temporary and mild flat- ulence, discomfort and bloating. Probiotics can be yet another tool to improve overall health at any age, but especially for adults looking to mini- mize illness risk. Yogurt is a dietary source of probiotics, healthy bacteria and yeasts that may improve overall health.