What do ice cream, tofu and sardines all have in common? They’re high in calcium and could be used to prevent osteoporosis, or aid those who already have it.

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, and we thought we would take a moment to talk a little bit about how diet can help in the prevention and treatment of the disease.

Almost everyone knows that calcium is good for the bones, but most people think of milk and cheese when they think of high-calcium foods. In fact, there’s a number of items you could include in your diet that are good for your bones. Below are a few suggestions for your daily meals that are packed with calcium:

Breakfast:

• Yogurt mixed with almonds and oranges, with a cup of soy milk on the side
• Oatmeal mixed with dried figs and a cup of orange juice on the side
• Cheerios (they’re not just heart-healthy—they’re bone healthy as well!)

Lunch:

• Spinach salad with sesame seeds, almonds, slices of oranges and canned salmon
• Collard green and black-eyed pea soup
• A sandwich covered with a black-eyed pea spread instead of mayo

Dinner

• Penne pasta with spinach and white beans
• Sardine pizza—no, really! The sardines are high in calcium, and the cheese on the pizza is excellent for bone health
• Caramelized tofu with Brussel sprouts—the whole recipe can be found here.

At Brevard Medical Equipment, we’re all about helping those who are living with osteoporosis. We carry a number of products in our online catalog that can increase your mobility, as well as a resource center to explain a number of terms related to osteoporosis.

Prehypertension is a condition in which one’s blood pressure becomes slightly elevated. It is a precursor to full hypertension, and it is our body’s warning sign that we need to take action to lower our blood pressure. Allowing prehypertension to worsen can increase your risk for heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Brevard Medical wants you to be aware of the dangers of this condition and suggest some methods for preventing it.

Prehypertension doesn’t always cause clear symptoms. In fact, blood pressure readings are the only foolproof way to detect it. You should see your doctor at least once every two years to have your blood pressure checked, though it is suggested that you get a checkup more often if you have a family history of hypertension or heart disease.

As with many conditions, there are certain things you can do now to prevent your chance of developing hypertension. Here are some popular suggestions:

Limit alcohol – If you choose to drink alcohol, be sure to do so in moderation. One to two drinks a day is the recommended amount for healthy adults.

Maintain a healthy weight – Losing just 5 pounds can lower your blood pressure and help prevent prehypertension. Talk with your doctor about what your healthy weight should be and commit to small lifestyle changes to aid in weight loss.

Increase physical activity – Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy weight. If you aren’t used to exercise, start slow, increasing to at least 30 minutes of activity a day. Walking is one of the best and easiest options!

Limit your salt intake – You don’t need to cut out salt completely, but if you reduce it a little bit at each meal, you won’t even notice the loss. Make a habit of checking labels and avoid foods high in sodium such as soups, frozen meals and bread.

Brevard Medical wants to help you prevent the issues that could lead to life-altering problems down the road. For more information about leading a healthy lifestyle, keep up with our blog!

This week marks National Volunteer Week! This week-long celebration was established in 1974 to honor the ordinary people who do extraordinary things with their time and service. Many of us volunteer with local organizations and most of us have benefited from the acts of a generous volunteer. Brevard Medical Equipment supports volunteering efforts of all kinds! Check out these five awesome benefits of volunteering.

1. Volunteering can help improve your physical well-being. The social interaction that occurs while volunteering can lower your heart rate and blood pressure. It can also increase the feel-good chemicals in your brain, called endorphins, and boost your immune system.
2. Volunteering is beneficial to both the giver and the receiver. Often times the person who offers their time feels like they receive more value than the person they helped!
3. Volunteering can fight off stress and illness. Socializing with new people and discovering new skills are great for the mind as well as the body. Social connections are priceless.
4. Volunteering boosts your self-esteem and self-worth. Choosing to help others without expecting a reward makes us feel good about ourselves, whether we are shown direct appreciation or not.
5. Volunteering can help you live better and longer. The sense of purpose and positive interactions you develop with people greatly contribute to the benefits.

If you think that you can’t volunteer because of age or physical limitations, think again! Many communities offer programs that are designed to give senior citizens the opportunities to volunteer.

April 12-18 is National Volunteer Week, and Brevard Medical Equipment wants to say a big “thank you” to all of the volunteers out there for your help and generosity. If you are a volunteer, we appreciate you! And, as always, if the team at Brevard Medical Equipment can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 321-453-3370.

As 2014 is coming to a close, we are thankful for all of our valued customers that keep our business running strong.  As we close out the year we like to take a look back at some of the things that made 2014 a good year before we look at what may make 2015 a great year.

We believe we have been able to deliver some great content and articles to you through our blog in 2014. Here is a rundown of what we considered to be the three best posts, in no particular order, of the year.

1. 8 Ways to Enjoy Recovering from Surgery

While people have surgery year round, it is a little more disappointing to have it done during nice weather like we usually see at the end of the second quarter.  This article discusses some great ways to pass the time while you’re laid up that range from fun to productive.

2. Cruise Carefree: Rent Medical Equipment for Your Vacation
   During the fourth quarter, we saw the likes of Halloween, Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, and now the Christmas season. The post that stuck out to us the most was our post on rental equipment while on vacation.  This article discussed some of the rental equipment options that we have available for our customers.
3. 8 Genius Ways to Use Ice Cube Trays
   Third quarter saw the end of the summer months, and so we figured we would end it with a bang. In this article, we decided to have a little fun and give you some creative and useful tips on things you can use your ice cube trays for.  These things ranged from supplementing drinks or meals to using them to clean your garbage disposal.

As we get closer to the New Year, we thank you for making 2014 a great year and look forward to serving you in 2015.  If you have any questions, or anything that we can help you with, feel free to call us at 321-453-3370, or visit us on the web at http://www.brevardmedicalequip.com/.  From all of us here at Brevard Medical Equipment, have a safe and happy New Year.  See you next year!

We are officially in the middle of the holiday season, and this season is full of food, family, friends, and fun.  However, with all of those things also, for most people, comes an increase in travel.  For people with mobility issues, travel can be an inconvenience or just plain difficult.  There are a number of things that can be done to help ease the pain of traveling that range from ensuring proper posture in the car/on the plane, to bringing a specialized travel pillow with you on your journey.

Posture in the car:

Posture is incredibly important in everyday life, from sitting down at your desk to sleeping and traveling.  How you sit can have a dramatic effect on your joints and muscles, especially in your lower back/hips.

While in the car on your journey, make sure that you are sitting up straight rather than slouching.  Slouching can cause your lower back muscles to support your weight versus your hips.  The solution to this would be to ensure that you are sitting with good posture in the car/on the plane.  This can be done by making sure your bottom is all the way back as far as it goes into the seat.

If you don’t have a lumbar support product, rolling up a bath towel and placing it just above your hips between your back and the seat works as well.  This helps to provide that extra support and comfort while traveling, while also encouraging better posture.

Posture while you sleep:                          

Another thing that can typically throw off your system is sleeping on an unfamiliar surface.  A lot of individuals find it more difficult to sleep when they travel because they do not have their familiar mattress or pillows.  One way to avoid this is to travel with a memory foam travel pillow.  These pillows are effective at keeping your neck and head in better alignment while you sleep, and thus help to avoid some additional pains from the unfamiliar surface.

How Brevard Medical can help:

Here at Brevard Medical, we carry a wide range of products that can aid in your daily life.  Like the products listed above, we have a range of other mobility-related products and resources for you to choose from that you can search through in our online catalog.  Let us know what we can to do help.  From all of us here at Brevard Medical, we hope you have a Merry Christmas and a great holiday season!