Kimmy was dramatically overweight at 3st 4lbs (Picture: Caters News)

Kimmy the 16-year-old beagle was once a stray who ate out of rubbish bins.

When she was adopted by Caitlin Brink, 27, from South Carolina, Kimmy quickly got used to her more luxurious lifestyle and became more than a little lazy.

The dog piled on the pounds, eventually weighing in at a whopping 3st 4lbs.

Kimmy was so tubby she couldnt jump on the sofa, scratch her belly, or even lick herself.

She had a huge appetite and had no shame in barking at people until they gave her treats.

Caitlin initially thought the excess fat was cute, but as Kimmy kept having to be carried on her daily walks, she realised it was time to make a change.

Caitlin said: I will admit I was ignorant to how harmful the excess weight was to her at the time.

I thought she was such a cute little chunk.

Initially, I spoilt her with treats and more treats until I started to actually note how she wasnt really living a quality life.

Thats when I realised obesity isnt cute.

Caitlin started taking Kimmy out for longer walks, but this made little difference.

Caitlin said: We used to live on the third floor of our apartment complex and she couldnt even make it two floors before needing a break.

During a walk, she could manage ten feet of following her nose and then struggling to pant in the first patch of shade she could waddle to.

She couldnt be a dog and it was devastating to see.

I then realised exercise wasnt the most important part of her transformation. I had to look to her diet and caloric intake.

First, Kimmys portions were limited, but it took over a year for her to drop 7lbs.

When Caitlin discovere the raw diet, everything changed.

She said: I discovered a raw diet and have never looked back.

We saw results within the first week.

Feeding raw is not for every dog, but Kimmy thrives.

It was a lot of hard work in the beginning as we had to measuring out her meals and make sure it had all the right supplements and nutrients to be balanced.

We even bought her her own chest freezer to keep her meals fresh and so we could stock up on meat and organs.

Meals consist of 80% protein, 5% liver, 5% other secreting organ and 10% bone balanced over three days.

Fruits and vegetables, eggs and the occasional non-raw treats are added as needed and supplements to ensure she received all her needed nutrients.

Kimmy now weighs a healthy 1st 2lbs and is absolutely thriving.

Her coat became shinier, better breath, her teeth health improved as the bone meals helped naturally scrape off years of tarter build up, Caitlin said.

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Her energy levels were like none seen before and finding the diet that best suited her gave me a new dog.

The raw diet has ultimately saved her life.

She has maintained a healthy weight and has a lot of energy to continue to follow her nose and get into all sorts of trouble.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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60 Minutes revisits a group of men and women over 90 who are helping scientists discover how to live a longer, healthier life. A follow-up report airs this Sunday.

If there are secrets to living a longer and healthier life, Dr. Claudia Kawas is searching for them.

60 Minutes first met Dr. Kawas, a neurologist and professor at the University of California Irvine, in 2014 when Lesley Stahl interviewed her for a story titled "90+."

Dr. Kawas and her team run a major study of aging California residents who began providing information about their diet, exercise, vitamins, and activities in 1981.

"I really believe that when we learn things from the 90-year-olds, they're going to be helping the 60 and 70-year-olds, not just how to become 90-year-olds, but how to do it with style and as good a function as possible," Dr. Kawas told 60 Minutes in 2014.

The multi-million dollar study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, discovered several factors that were associated with longer life. The study found moderate alcohol consumption of up to two drinks a day led to a 10% to 15% reduced risk of death compared to non-drinkers. It also revealed a caffeine intake equivalent to one to three cups of coffee a day was better than more, or none.

Sid Shero was 92 when Stahl last interviewed him. Scans of Shero's brain revealed the presence of amyloid plaques, the physical markers of Alzheimer's disease, but the World War II veteran was cognitively unaffected and our 60 Minutes team even found him driving around in a convertible.

This summer, Shero turned 99, and Stahl interviewed him once again, along with the other living participants from the original story.

The follow-up report airs this Sunday on 60 Minutes.

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Today's Essential Corona Virus Reads:

Ridgefield Wellness Coach and Personal Trainer Greg Herzog believes that we have a Major Healthcare Crisis on our hands.

Everyone is talking about Healthcare, but its also about you doing your part too IN DEFENSE OF FITNESS and taking personal responsibility.

What we need right now is a National Campaign to get in shape and get healthy, Feel better about ourselves and survive.. Its no longer about vanity. Its not too late to change!

There has been no emphasis on diet, exercise, or health, it's just figure it out yourself.

Shame on the media and government in not emphasizing how important diet and exercise are. Covid19 has now made it an issue.

Why couldn't they have gotten behind a campaign Get healthy so the virus doesn't kill you challenge.

Dr. Fauci, The Surgeon General and The CDC do not mention the one thing people could do; lose weight and get in shape.

So many lives could have been saved if the medical community took this on as a campaign. You need to do something now. Its your chance to change your life.

We need to stop glamorizing gluttony. Diabetes is not a theory. It is a life and death issue today. Stop with the body positivity. This is fundamental as to who lives or dies; being overweight is not a good thing, out of shape even worse. With Covid19 you are twice as likely to have poor outcome if your Obese.

One study found that the risk of death for people with a BMI of 35-40 increases by 40 percent and with a BMI over 40 percent, the risk goes up by 90 percent compared to those not living with obesity.

Even being mildly obese increase the chance of landing in the ICU by 5x. Our food, diet and lack of fitness is killing too many of us. Poor diet and lack of fitness is the leading cause of mortality. According to a NYT article. Countries with the lowest rate of obesity have had the least Covid19 deaths, our world ranking is 42. We had 40K deaths from obesity in August alone.

Obesity is already killing us slowly, mix it with Covid19 and its lethal; it kills you fast.

Obesity is linked to Diabetes, Heart Disease, Cancer, Eyesight Problems, Memory Loss, Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, Depression, Immunity Issues and Gastrointestinal conditions, not to mention Covid19. This is science, not just my opinion.

Why do we have so many preexisting conditions? Fat. Europe is not like this. We weren't always like this before. We have been conditioned to fail at a very young age with no emphasis on proper diet and exercise. Its only wear a mask, wash your hands, keep your distance. Nothing about exercise, diet, inflammation, health, or your immunity.

The good news is Its not too late.

Greg Herzog is a Celebrity Trainer and Owner of OSTEOPATHIC FITNESS in Downtown Ridgefield, Author of the Fifteen Minute Executive Stress Relief Program, published by Putnam. Voted as one of the Top 50 Trainers in U.S. Greg has over two decades experience in the field of Health and Fitness.

For more info go to https://www.osteopathicfitness.com

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A nutritional diet maximizes the benefits of exercise and improves working memory, according to a new study from Abbott. In collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Lab and the University of Illinois, researchers found a direct link between nutrition and physical and cognitive performance.

The physical and mental health benefits of exercise are well known, but this study demonstrates how optimal nutrition can help boost brain function as well, said lead study author Dr. Chris Zwilling. We are excited by the results because they provide critical insights into how simple dietary changes can make a big difference in helping people be as efficient and productive as possible in todays world.

The investigation was focused on 148 active-duty men and women in the U.S. Air Force, who were divided into two groups. All of the study participants engaged in the same exercise training program five days a week. One group was given a high-protein nutritional drink which contained lutein, omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids, vitamin D, and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB).

The nutritional supplement was found to induce statistically significant changes compared to exercise alone. The participants who were given the nutritional drinks showed an 11-percent boost in working memory, including improvements in problem solving and information processing.

The individuals who received supplements became faster and more accurate in their reaction times and increased their muscle mass by more than two pounds. In addition, they lowered their resting heart rate by 8 percent, which is a sign of increased cardiovascular fitness.

Study co-author Dr. Matthew Kuchan said that Abbott has been researching the impact of nutrition on brain function for more than a decade. These results confirm that by combining the right nutrition and exercise, people who are facing high-pressure situations can stay sharp physically and mentally when they need it most.

Healthy adults can prime their bodies and brains to work more efficiently by incorporating exercise with a nutritional diet. The experts shared the following recommendations: consume foods rich in protein to help build muscle after a workout; support memory and multi-tasking by getting enough DHA an omega-3 fatty acid in your diet; and boost your working memory by consuming more lutein, which can be found in egg yolks, dark leafy greens, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables like bell peppers, avocados, carrots, corn, and tomatoes.

It is clear that nutrition is a critical component for developing and maintaining the physical and cognitive performance of the men and women in the U.S. Air Force, said Dr. Adam Strang, the studys lead investigator with the Air Force Research Laboratory. This research confirms that a nutritional supplement with the right nutrients can support and facilitate those improvements when paired with balanced exercise training. We hope to use this knowledge now and, in the future, to better prepare them for the complex and diverse mission sets they are facing.

The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

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If youre in your 40s and still want to look good, Pooja Banga, Nutritionist & director at Cultivating Health is here to help you out! Check it out

Having a perfectly healthy body is the dream of many women, especially at age of 40. At the age of 40, your body is not that active that it used yo be at your 20's. If you think it's impossible to look fit and healthy at the age of 40, then you are wrong. You can have a perfect body with some healthy tips.

1. Eat breakfast

Don't miss your breakfast. Eating breakfast is essential as our body metabolism slows down 2% each decade. Eating at the beginning of the day works with your metabolism which is at its peak in morning and fuels activity. Also, women who eat breakfast lose more weight and maintain their loss more efficiently compared with those on a low-carb diet who can put the weight back on after just in few months.

2. Exercise!

Although it is difficult to lose weight or to sustain weight post 40, it's not impossible and problems like joint pain, back pain etc should not prevent you from starting exercise. Any kind of exercise can be designed for you and your body. A 30 minutes workout gives your metabolism the kick start it needs. There is no need to join a gym. A simple squats for thighs and stomach crunches will help to strengthen your bones, maintaining balance and also avoid injury, that becomes more important when you getting older.

3. Take calcium and vitamin D

It is important to maintain strong bones in order to give them a boost with vitamin D and calcium. Foods such as salmon and milk are rich in vitamin D and calcium. You can also have supplements, if necessary.

4. Manage your stress

For a woman, holding down a job as well as looking after a family, it's not easy. Stress can result in unhealthy changes in the body like lower libido, increased blood pressure and faster cell death. This can cause ageing faster. Hence meditation and you can help to deal with stress and pressure. Also, in order to maintain a healthy heartbeat, breathe in through your nose for four beats and out for eight at least twice a day or anytime you feel stressed.

5. Eat protein to boost your mood and brain

If you are prone to low moods, increase the intake of protein in your diet. Eating foods rich in protein boosts levels of mood-lifting cells in the brain, that can help to deal with depression and poor memory.

Foods like eggs, fish and quinoa are rich sources of protein. They help in increasing serotonin production in the brain and boost your mood.

6. Avoid junk food

Avoid eating packed and junk food as they are rich in fats and sugar. They can be troublesome to your body. Eat healthy fruits and vegetables. Also, go for seasonal fresh foods as they are healthy.

7. Catch up with friends

Make sure you hang out with your friends. It not only relaxes you but boost self-esteem and reduce stress as well. A good social life means less risk of heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

8. Schedule health checks

This is the period when health checks really necessary. Essential checks such as an eye test, mammogram, blood pressure, thyroid, cholesterol and cervical smear in order to keep your body healthy and fit.

Inputs by:Pooja Banga, Nutritionist & director at Cultivating Health

Also Read:Boost your immune system with THESE 5 healthy juice recipes shared by Nutritionist Arooshi Aggarwal

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More than 54 million U.S. adults have arthritis, and the condition is more common in women than men.

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

While most people with arthritis experience some kind of joint pain and stiffness, the condition can look quite different from person to person. In fact, there are more than 100 types of arthritis, all of which can make everyday activities challenging.

Here, you'll find practical recommendations for preventing and living with arthritis, including science-backed diet, exercise and lifestyle tips aimed at improving your joint health.

Osteoarthritis most commonly occurs in the hands, knees and hips.

Image Credit: SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Science Photo Library/GettyImages

Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults have been diagnosed with arthritis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is marked by pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints caused by inflammation.

This inflammation occurs for different reasons and in different areas of the body, which separates one type of arthritis from another. The most common form is osteoarthritis, or "wear and tear" arthritis, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), which results when the cartilage at the ends of bones wears away due to either injury or repeated use.

The second most common type is rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks its own tissues, per the NLM. It can affect any joint and other organs of the body, too, but it's most often seen in the wrists and fingers.

Then there's juvenile arthritis, a type that occurs in children, which isn't very well understood but seems to be linked to a problem with the immune system, per the CDC.

Low-impact exercise like biking is a great way to keep your joints healthy.

Image Credit: ViktorCap/iStock/GettyImages

Some risk factors for arthritis, like carrying certain genes, are outside of our control. But others like smoking are what's called modifiable, meaning you can lower your risk by changing your behavior.

Your weight, diet choices, exercise regimen, posture and even your dental hygiene fall into the modifiable category. Establishing good habits in these areas can reduce your odds of developing arthritis as well as improve your overall joint health and protect your bones as you age.

Certain foods may lessen the inflammation that comes with arthritis.

Image Credit: Theerawan Bangpran/iStock/GettyImages

There is no cure for arthritis, unfortunately. Instead, the goal for those with the condition is to control symptoms as best they can.

"Improving one's arthritis pain can and will be a lifelong journey," Maria Kyriacou, MD, a primary care sports medicine physician at Miami Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute in South Florida, tells LIVESTRONG.com. "There will be both good and bad days. However, the goal is to minimize the frequency of your bad days."

Beyond over-the-counter and prescription medications, managing stress, getting daily physical activity and trying alternative therapies like massage can make a big difference for some people when it comes to taming arthritis pain and stiffness.

Discover seven strategies that can help ease arthritis aches and make everyday activities more manageable.

An arthritis diet follows the same principles as an overall healthy diet, like packing in fruits and veggies.

Image Credit: AlenaPaulus/E+/GettyImages

Some people with arthritis might find symptom relief by changing what they eat. That's because arthritis is caused by inflammation, and some foods have the ability to help tamp down this "fire" in the body.

"At the root of the pathology of arthritis is chronic and unchecked inflammation," says Liz Wyosnick, RDN, dietitian and owner of Equilibriyum in Seattle, Washington. "Diet can absolutely impact arthritis by either exacerbating inflammatory symptoms or by quieting inflammation."

The Mediterranean diet is often cited as a good diet for arthritis, since it focuses on anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, veggies and fatty fish like salmon. The diet has been linked to many other benefits, too, including better weight control and heart health.

When you do them regularly, simple exercises like stretching can aid in alleviating joint pain and stiffness.

Image Credit: kali9/E+/GettyImages

Although the aches and pains that often come with arthritis can make exercise feel like the last thing you want to do, a regular workout routine can reduce pain, improve joint function and boost the quality of life of people with arthritis, according to the CDC.

If you're new to working out, you'll want to start slow and be prepared for some soreness. But don't let that deter you find a way to move that you truly enjoy, and stick with it, even if it's just for a few minutes each day.

"Any exercise for somebody with arthritis who's sedentary is going to be helpful," says Brian Andonian, MD, a rheumatologist and assistant professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine. "Every little bit adds up."

To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 infections, it is best to call your doctor before leaving the house if you are experiencing a high fever, shortness of breath or another, more serious symptom.

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Living With Arthritis: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment - LIVESTRONG.COM

A few key changes in diet and lifestyle can help a person lower their cholesterol naturally with time. There is no instant fix, but some people may notice changes in a matter of weeks.

In some cases, a person may need medication to help lower their cholesterol or control other risk factors.

However, even if a person is taking medication, it is still important for them to make changes to help improve their cholesterol levels and reduce their risk of side effects.

In the body, the liver makes cholesterol, which is a waxy substance. Cholesterol molecules circulate in the blood.

The liver makes all the cholesterol that the body needs, so a person does not need to consume cholesterol in their diet.

Cholesterol itself is not bad. Blood cholesterol plays an important role in helping build cells.

Other sources of cholesterol come from the diet. Dietary cholesterol is present only in foods derived from animals, such as meat and fat-rich dairy products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that experts recommend eating as little dietary cholesterol as possible.

This is because adding more dietary sources of cholesterol adds more of this compound to the body and bloodstream, which increases a persons cholesterol levels.

When measuring cholesterol levels, doctors will assess four markers in a persons blood:

Doctors will use all of these numbers within the context of a persons overall health and other risk factors to determine their risk of heart disease and stroke.

High cholesterol plays a role in worsening heart health.

As more cholesterol circulates in the blood, it may be harder for the heart to pump this blood properly. This cholesterol can also contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries, raising the risk of atherosclerosis.

High cholesterol puts a person at risk of heart disease, as well as heart attack and stroke.

A person looking to lower their cholesterol levels quickly can follow a few basic health principles.

These include getting regular exercise and focusing on a diet rich in plant foods and low in refined foods and some types of fats.

Cholesterol has a lot to do with what a person eats. For that reason, a healthful diet is one of the first things that doctors recommend for people who want to lower their cholesterol quickly.

The following dietary changes may help a person reduce their cholesterol as quickly as possible.

Trans fats lower the levels of beneficial cholesterol and raise the levels of unhealthful cholesterol.

Some dietary trans fats occur naturally in foods such as milk and meat products.

Other trans fats come from manufacturing processes. Food companies create them by adding hydrogen to certain fats to make them more solid.

Possible sources of trans fats include meat and dairy products, packaged hydrogenated oils, and fried foods from fast-food restaurants.

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and may not be healthful in large amounts.

Eating large amounts of saturated fat raises levels of LDL cholesterol. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommend limiting saturated fat intake to 56% of daily calories.

Sources of saturated fat include meat and dairy products, such as cheese, butter, and milk, as well as vegetable oils, such as palm and coconut oil.

A cholesterol-lowering diet involves eating a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and seeds.

Adding a variety of plant foods to the diet helps ensure that the body gets the various nutrients and vitamins it needs to operate properly.

Plant foods are also free of cholesterol, so they will not contribute to cholesterol levels in the body.

In addition, plant foods contain nutrients that may reduce other risk factors for heart disease, such as antioxidants and some types of fiber.

Plants are the only source of fiber in the diet. Fiber is an important factor for digestive health, which may also affect other risk factors, such as high cholesterol.

The AHA estimate that a diet high in fiber alone can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 10%.

Eating more plant foods will naturally increase fiber intake. People who need extra fiber may consider taking a fiber supplement to help them reach their daily needs.

Introducing variety into the diet may help people manage some risk factors for heart disease.

Many people get their protein mainly from animal sources. However, it may help for them to include plant protein sources in their diet too.

A number of vegetable foods that contain substantial amounts of protein include:

Adding plant-based proteins to the diet can help the body meet its protein needs without adding cholesterol.

It is best to avoid refined food whenever possible.

Refined and packaged foods tend to have ingredients that make them shelf-stable while also giving them a desirable flavor.

These foods often include ingredients that a person should avoid when they are looking to reduce their cholesterol.

Among the ingredients to avoid are refined grains, added trans and saturated fats, and added sugars.

Several lifestyle factors can affect a persons cholesterol levels. Some people may find that making certain changes to their lifestyle helps lower their cholesterol.

Exercise plays a key role in cardiovascular health and healthful cholesterol levels.

The AHA note that just 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week helps reduce cholesterol and other risk factors, such as high blood pressure.

To achieve this, a person needs to do a 30-minute activity that gets the heart rate up on 5 days of the week. These activities may include:

Smoking affects many aspects of good health. For people with high cholesterol, smoking decreases the levels of beneficial cholesterol in the body.

A study published in Biomarker Research found that people who quit smoking had a rapid increase in their HDL cholesterol. This is an important sign of overall cholesterol health.

Reaching or maintaining a moderate weight may also lower disease risk factors in people with obesity. It may help people lower their levels of LDL cholesterol and raise their levels of HDL cholesterol.

The AHA note that a weight loss of 10% of a persons total body weight can help improve their cholesterol numbers.

Medications are an important tool for those who have dangerously high cholesterol levels and may be at risk of an event such as heart failure or stroke.

Statins are the standard medication for most people. Statin drugs reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attack or stroke from high cholesterol.

Depending on a persons individual risk factors, doctors may recommend other drugs, such as:

Even with medication, it is still important to focus on making dietary and lifestyle changes to lower cholesterol.

High cholesterol is a risk factor for serious events, such as heart failure and stroke.

A person can make a number of dietary and lifestyle changes to help lower their cholesterol as quickly as possible.

These changes include eating a varied diet rich in plants, avoiding saturated and trans fats, and getting regular exercise.

People who have severely high cholesterol may require medications to keep their cholesterol in check.

However, they should still prioritize making dietary and lifestyle changes to promote healthful cholesterol levels.

A person should work with a doctor to decide on the right plan of action for them and make lasting changes to keep their cholesterol down.

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Get moving and stay motivated this fall. (Getty Images)

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The days are getting shorter, the temperature is getting cooler, and for many of us, our motivation to stay healthy and active throughout the fall and winter may slowly be starting to wane.

Just because youre spending more time inside, that doesnt mean that you can let your wellness routines fall by the wayside. As we all know, physical and mental health are two sides of the same coin, and staying on top of both aspects is the key to maintaining your best health this season.

To get the lowdown on staying active whatever the weather, we chatted with celebrity trainer and nutrition expert Harley Pasternak. Ahead, he shares some of his top tips to get moving without sacrificing your mental health this season.

Celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak shared his top health and wellness tips for fall. (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images for Fitbit)

If youre looking to increase the amount of physical activity youre getting, particularly if youre finding yourself at home more than ever before, it can be tempting to dive headfirst into a new fitness regime. Instead of making drastic changes all at once though, Pasternak recommends making incremental changes to your daily routine that will allow your body to adjust slowly.

ALSO SEE: Amazon's top-rated standing desks will make working from home so much easier and they start at just $40

If youre doing 4,000 steps a day, telling someone to do 12,000 steps a day is just too big of a change too quickly, he told Yahoo Lifestyle Canada.

Pick one body part a day, each day of the week and [perform] one exercise for that body part. Lets say Monday is lunges and Tuesday is plank, and so on. I think something as simple as that, then building on that by finding two exercises a day is fantastic.

Living in times of uncertainty as many of us are right now can wreak havoc on your mental health and stress levels, but Pasternak recommends focusing your attention on the things that you can control in order to regain a sense of balance.

More than ever its important to focus on what you do have control over, he explained. Being in touch with your stress score, understanding what stress you feel, owning it. I think its really important to be in touch with it.

Like getting active, tracking your mental health can benefit by adding small moments of mindfulness to your day. Studies have shown that a mindfulness meditation practice not only helps reduce stress levels, but also correlated with decreased gray-matter density in the amygdala, which plays an important role in anxiety and stress.

Story continues

Diet, exercise and sleep are key to maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Image courtesy of Fitbit.

Pasternak is a firm advocate of the importance of daily habits in our overall health and wellness, particularly when it comes to diet, exercise, and sleep.

Its interesting to see how exercise, food and sleep can all have an impact on our stress levels, he noted. We know that being physically active is tied to a better overall mental health state, both as a form of catharsis stress release but also the neurotransmitters that are created from moving your body.

ALSO SEE: Rebel Wilson just stepped out in a pair of $108 leggings from Hollywood's favourite activewear brand

Incorporating some of Pasternaks favourite healthy habits, like avoiding refined sugar in our diets, not drinking caffeine and alcohol before bed, and unplugging from our devices not only helps improve the quality of our sleep, but can also help improve our overall feeling of wellbeing.

New technology like the Fitbit Sense Smartwatch can help you stay on top of your wellness goals too, whether thats losing weight, decreasing your stress levels, or getting more sleep. Its built-in sleep, stress and activity tracking goes above and beyond outdated step-counters, and provides you with the data you need in order to make changes.

Pasternak is a fan of the Fitbit Sense Smartwatch when working with clients and monitoring their progress over time.

If I see a client is sleeping poorly or has a lot of restlessness throughout the night, or is not getting enough deep sleep, we can take a look back, he added. The data is so helpful for us to understand if the client is experiencing stress or poor sleep. If so, [we] take a look at their actions or inactions the day prior to see what might have contributed to that, and how we can change that moving forward.

Available now in two shades, you can shop the new Fitbit Sense for $429.

Fitbit Sense Smartwatch. Image courtesy of Fitbit.

SHOP IT: $429, available at Fitbit, Amazon, Sport Chek, Best Buy

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The devastation, the number of cases, the lack of containment of the COVID-19 virus reads like a horror or at best sci-fi movie.The COVID-19 virus is a member of the corona virus family and has proven more contagious and deadly than many of its other family members such as the SARS and MERS viruses.

The corona viruses are a group of RNA viruses that, in addition to affecting humans, can also affect birds and animals.For example, it can cause pigs or cows to develop diarrhea and has been shown to cause brain and liver infections in mice.Its most famous family member, the rhinovirus, causes the common cold, and although contagious is typically not deadly.

They get their name because of the characteristic club-shaped spikes that project from the surface similar to a crown.While its spherical shape might fool you into thinking it is bigger than it is, the COVID-19 virus varies between 60 and 120 nanometers(nm) in size. Thats 1/1000th of a single strand of hair!

Thankfully, although it can sometimes affect the hair causing hair loss, hair loss is not one of its most common presentations.Instead, we are accustomed to the virus presenting with fevers, fatigue, decreased smell, decreased oxygen levels, GI distress, chills, extremity swelling, etc.

For the most part, treatment is supportive with hydration, rest, controlling fevers in isolation.If symptoms are not improving after a day or two or if a high fever is not responding to acetaminophen, then please make contact with your primary care clinic or the emergency room.

Here are seven habits that can decrease your risk:

1. Believe the COVID-19 virus does exist! The virus not only exists but is lethal!It affects persons without regard to economic status, skin color, ethnicity, religion, fitness level or age, although people who are younger and in better physical condition tend to have less morbidity.

To clarify, I believe and most research shows that the main reason for people of color being so greatly affected by the coronavirus with worse outcomes than expected is related to disparity in health care and economic disparity.What this means is that it is less likely for a person of color to have an established relationship with a care provider or have access to care. Therefore chronic diseases are not being appropriately treated if at all, so when an illness strikes, persons of color may not fare as expected.

In addition, without an established relationship with the primary care clinic, their ability to get in and be seen except in an emergency room is significantly less. Transportation to get care may also be a compromising issue.

Certainly, any language barriers, multigenerational households, not having co-pays easily accessible, not understanding how to navigate and advocate for their medical care, all these factors increase the likelihood that a person of color will have a less ideal outcome when exposed to the coronavirus.

2. Physical distancing: The six feet U While we have missed the embrace and company of loved ones and friends, it is important to minimize direct contact or get within 6-8 feet of people who are not in your household.Outdoor activities do help to fill the void of connection, and each day I am grateful that people desire human contact.

Remember, though, that staying six feet apart ideally should be a U.That is, when approaching a stranger, go out to the side of them when youre at least six feet in front of them and stay to the side of them until you have passed them by six feet.Increase the physical distancing when someone is running or biking in your path.

Doing the six feet U should help to decrease the amount of respiratory droplets that are shared.Even when outdoors it is a good idea to put your mask on when a stranger is approaching in addition to doing the 6 feet U.

3. Wear a mask Wearing a mask indoors is a state rule for Minnesota and many other states.It seems unthinkable that it has met with such resistance given that for years we have all been educated to sneeze into our arms to minimize spreading germs infecting others!

Think of the mask as a covered elbow upping the effectiveness of trying to cover your cough.If you are wearing a cloth reusable mask, it is important to wash it regularly depending on your exposure.You can also sanitize it by wiping it down with a sanitizing cloth or hand sanitizer or lemon rind.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a cloth mask is an acceptable face-covering in the event of personal protection equipment shortage and should be made of at least three layers, ideally cotton, a filter, and outer surface fabric that is water-resistant.Ideally, purchasing a mask with the filter built-in leads to more compliance, as having to purchase and change filters adds another roadblock to compliance.

Mask fit and adjustability are crucial for protection, with ideally the mask having adjustable inter-loop straps to improve filtration and comfort.

4.Wash more than your hands Rightfully so, there is a lot of emphasis placed on washing your hands, as people will touch surfaces, their faces, eat, and in other ways transfer potential virus from objects or other body parts to themselves.Washing with hand sanitizer or soap and water for 20 seconds is felt to be effective in reducing the amount of potential virus on the hands.

However, recall it is a respiratory virus and is most infectious when inhaled. Therefore similarly washing the nose with a saline spray will help to decrease the concentration of potential virus that may be in the nasal passages.

The hair in the nose as well as the mucus does attempt to trap the majority of pathogens and dust, and our use of saline sprays further helps our natural trapping mechanism by removing and diluting the amount of viral load.As an ear, nose and throat specialist, I believe that people should wash their nasal passages with a saline solution at least twice a day and when with any suspected exposure, as well as when coming off an airplane.

5. Leave your shoes at the door The bottom of your shoes can transmit many infections or pathogens that people may expectorate or spit out and you may or may not witness.Therefore, it is a great idea to leave shoes that you wear outdoors near the door to avoid bringing trouble into your home.

6.Keep pets clean Clean your pets nose, mouth, paws and bottom on returning from a walk for the same reasons stated above. Your pets are close to the ground, and while they may not become ill, their body parts, including nose and mouth, contact the pavement or ground where there has been expectorated secretions, increasing the chances of transfer to you.Wiping them down with a sanitary wipe on returning from a walk will be helpful in decreasing this potential route of transmission.

7. The basics: sleep, diet, exercise These are the basics in helping to keep your bodies in tip-top shape to defend itself should it become ill.Therefore it is important to get seven or more hours of sleep, eat a balanced diet that may need to be supplemented with multivitamins, and exercise routine to help bodies deal with the challenges and stress of any infection.

Visit the CDC website or my website,www.maskpromd.com,for more details on masks.

Dr. Inell Rosario is a board-certified ENT and sleep physician practicing at Andros ENT & Sleep Center in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. She has many times been recognized as a Top Doctor and Best Doctor in various Minnesota magazines and can be reached atdrrosario@androsent-sleep.comor 651-888-7800.

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Doing the six feet U, and other helpful COVID habits - MSR News Online

For all types, if you're struggling to lose weight, I often recommend omitting both gluten and dairy, as these foods can be inflammatory.

Anti-inflammatory foods are also important for promoting hormone balance and digestive function, especially for Warriors, Anchors, and Trailblazers. Begin by omitting sensitivities and incorporating more anti-inflammatory foods and spices, such as turmeric, ginger, blueberries, pineapple, and celery.

Protein is key for Anchors to support adrenal function, while Protector types may want to limit their intake of red meat in favor of more easily digested proteins.

You'll want to omit sugar, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol if you're a type who struggles with Candida overgrowth, most commonly Anchors and Protectors. This type of yeast overgrowth can cause bloating, fatigue, joint pain, and weight gainbut it's often a latent infection overlooked at most doctors' visits.

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Struggling To Lose Weight? This MD Says Knowing Your "Weight Loss Type" Will Help - mindbodygreen.com