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    Nutrition and COPD: What You Need to Know (Part 1)

    Posted on: March 25th, 2015 by BrevardBlogger No Comments
    Learn more about the connection between nutrition and living with COPD.

    Learn more about the connection between nutrition and living with COPD.

    Nutrition and COPD: What You Need to Know (Part 1)

     

    Often, when we consider nutritional choices, we weigh outcomes like our overall health, our weight, and our waistline. But did you know that for those living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, nutritional choices can actually affect their breathing efficiency and comfort?

     

    Food fuels our bodies, similarly to how gasoline fuels our cars, and so the food that we choose directly impacts the energy that we have and the way that we feel. In this two-part blog post, Brevard Medical Equipment explores the connection between nutrition and COPD.

     

    Simply put, the food that we eat and the oxygen that we inhale are converted into energy and waste products (such as carbon dioxide) during a process called metabolization. That energy is used for all of our activities – walking, talking, sleeping, and breathing.

     

    For those living with COPD, breathing requires more energy than it does for a person living without the condition. In fact, for those individuals, the muscles used in breathing can require 10 times the number of calories to do their jobs! It seems obvious, then, that for people living with COPD, food choices are incredibly important.

     

    In addition to giving you the energy you need, good food choices can help you maintain a healthy body weight. If you are living with COPD, being overweight can require your heart and lungs to work harder, which, in turn, makes breathing more difficult. In contrast, being underweight can open the door to fatigue, weakness, and lowered immune response. Talk with your doctor to determine your ideal weight and to decide how many calories you should be consuming each day to maintain that weight.

     

    Stayed tuned for part two of our blog post, where we’ll share some specific suggestions for foods to include and avoid in your diet, along with some nutritional tips that you might never have heard! Brevard Medical Equipment cares about your health, and we’re excited to share this information with you. And, as always, if we can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to give our medical equipment experts a call at 321-453-3370!

     

     

    Celebrating American Heart Health Month with Heart-Healthy Foods – Part 2

    Posted on: February 13th, 2014 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

    February is American Heart Health Month at Brevard Medical Equipment.  Having a strong, healthy heart is the key to a long and healthy life. One of the main ways to a healthy heart can be waiting in the refrigerator or pantry right now. Here are some of the best foods you can eat for heart health.

    Oatmeal

    Oatmeal has been associated with healthy hearts for a long time and for good reason.  Oatmeal is full of fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium and folate. Having a big bowl of oatmeal can lo
    wer levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and help keep arteries clean. Plus the fiber fills us up and keeps the body running smoothly.

    There are many types of oatmeal to choose from like the higher-in-fiber coarse or steel-cut oats which are healthier than the instant varieties. Add fruit to your oatmeal for even more benefits.

    Walnuts

    Walnuts, along with almonds and macadamia nuts, are full of omega-3 fatty acids and mono- and polyunsaturated fat. These types of nuts are great sources of fiber too. Try to avoid the sugar, salt and chocolate covered variety of these nuts.

    Berries

    There are many berries that are “berry” good for you. The darker the color, the better they are for you. Choose blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or strawberries as a snack and enjoy the benefits that include anti-inflammatory properties and you can reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer. All berries are great for vascular health.

    Beans and legumes

    Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and soluble fiber, beans are great for your heart and the rest of you, too. Try adding more lentils, chickpeas, black beans and kidney beans to the foods you already enjoy like salads and soups.

    Spinach

    Popeye was right!  Spinach is great for the body and heart. Spinach can help keep your heart healthy because it’s loaded with lutein, folate, potassium, and fiber.  If you aren’t a fan of cooked spinach, try adding it to sandwiches and salads with your lettuce.

    Brevard Medical Equipment is your source for walkers and wheelchairs for everyday use and cruise rentals.

     

    Celebrating American Heart Health Month with Heart-Healthy Foods

    Posted on: February 11th, 2014 by BrevardBlogger No Comments

    February is American Heart Health Month at Brevard Medical Equipment.  Having a strong, healthy heart is the key to a long and healthy life. One of the main ways to a healthy heart can be waiting in the refrigerator or pantry right now. Here are some of the best foods you can eat for heart health.

    Salmon

    Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids; the kind that is good for the heart. Salmon has been found to reduce blood pressure and prevent the blood from clotting. Salmon is also rich in carotenoid astaxanthin, a very powerful antioxidant.  Try to eat two servings of this super fish per week, and you may cut your heart attack risk by up to one-third.  Other heart healthy fish include mackerel, tuna, herring, and sardines.

    Avocado

    It’s not just for guacamole anymore! The avocado is packed with monounsaturated fat. These new and trendy super foods can help lower your LDL (bad cholesterol) levels while raising the amount of HDL (the good) cholesterol in your body. They also allow for the absorption of beta-carotene and lycopene.

    Chopped or sliced, you can add avocado to almost anything!

    Olive Oil

    Cook with olive oil, especially virgin and extra virgin olive oils. People in the Mediterranean part of the world have known about this secret for years, but it was slow to get to this country.  Relatively few people from that area died of heart disease. Olive oil is full of monounsaturated fats and it lowers bad LDL cholesterol and reduces your risk of developing heart disease. If you watch any TV cooking shows, you will see the cooks always use olive oil.

    Healthy hearts mean healthier lives and healthier lives mean happier and longer lives. Brevard Medical Equipment wants all of our customers to live life to the fullest. See us for CPAP supplies, wheelchairs and other supplies to use when you are home or traveling. We have more to learn about heart-healthy foods in our next blog.

     

    Keeping Women’s Hearts Berry Healthy

    Posted on: February 26th, 2013 by BrevardBlogger 35 Comments

    A new study shows that eating berries can offer women a healthy benefit for their heart. The study involved 94,000 women who completed questionnaires that tracked their diets and eating habits. The study lasted for 18 years and the questionnaire was answered by the participants every four.

    Strawberries have been shown to help clear the plaque in the arteries and heart of women.

    In the course of the study, 405 participants had heart attacks. Researchers looked at the data collected about the participants’ diets and discovered that those who ate blueberries and strawberries the most were 32% less likely to suffer a heart attack compared to the participants who ate berries once a month or less. The women who ate three or more servings (one cup = one serving) per week decreased their risk for heart attacks by one-third.

    Those women who rarely ate blueberries and strawberries still ate a diet rich in other fruits and vegetables. Although they maintained a healthy diet, the absence of blueberries and strawberries resulted in an unchanged level of heart health.

    Why Blueberries and Strawberries?

    Many fruits and vegetables, such as grapes, wines, eggplants and blackberries contain compounds called flavonoids. Blueberries and strawberries also contain flavonoids, but they also include anthocyanins, unique to these two berries, which widen arteries and reduce plaque buildup, a main cause of heart attacks.

    Other Berry Benefits

    Besides flavonoids, berries are also packed with other nutrients including:

    • Vitamin C
    • Potassium
    • Folate

    Additionally, regularly eating berries produces a slower mental decline with age and assists with weight loss.

    Though the focus of this blog is on women, this is not to say that men are not affected by the health benefits of berries. All berries provide the nutrients that benefit the body, whether male or female. There are still many studies being conducted to better understand the health potential that berries have to the human body, but it is fairly evident that it packs a load of beneficial compounds.

    The associates at Brevard Medical Equipment understand the importance of maintaining a healthy heart. If you’re looking for other healthy food or lifestyle ideas, stop in and speak with us or contact us through our online contact form.