To bolster your immune system, start with the basics, as always: Stay well- hydrated, keep a regular schedule that allows for 8 hours of sleep each night, and eat a healthy diet. If you want to occasionally have a treat, that’s fine. Just don’t make a regular habit of sugary, fried, or processed foods. Then...
Category: Dr. Kane’s Articles
Digestive distress can have many causes. The food you eat travels through a complex 30-foot-long winding tube. Enzymes are secreted, and small muscles move things along mostly without needing your cooperation. However, there are many simple ways that you can improve your digestive process, which is what turns food and drink into the agents of...
A reader emailed me this question: I want to take better care of myself, but I’m having trouble committing. Any tips for creating a good routine? Here was my reply. Thanks for sparking a good column topic! Intention is key. That’s the best place to start. You said “routine,” which may sound less-than-exciting; but, honestly,...
Supplements are different than over-the-counter medicines because medicine is given to change the physiologic workings of the body (suppress cough, decrease mucus, dampen inflammation), whereas supplements are typically given to enhance the normal functioning of the body, or to promote the optimal expression of body and mind. Here are the four basic types of supplements,...
Staying strong as we age will not only be useful (hauling groceries, keeping our home clean, enjoying recreational activities) but also serve to elevate our mood. When it comes to muscle mass, the old adage “use it or lose it” definitely applies. Lifting weights is a proven method for building and maintaining both muscle mass...
Most of us seniors have grown into adulthood “knowing” that total cholesterol levels over 200 “cause” premature death from cardiovascular disease. Like most medical facts, the truth is complex, nuanced and dependent on multiple variables. It is intuitively obvious that cardiovascular disease is more complex than the number 200. I hope we can agree on...
Stomach acid blockers are some of the most popular medicines on the market. You can get them over-the-counter (OTC) in supermarkets, drug stores, gas stations, Costco, Amazon, you name it. They range in strength from Tums (basically just calcium plus sugar) to Protonix. The milder medicines (Tums, Rolaid, Alka Seltzer) bind up acid which is...
If you wear glasses (or contacts) try to minimize their use to times when you need sharp vision. Naturally, when you are reading or doing other precision work, or driving, please do wear your corrective eyewear. But if you’re just lounging around at home and can manage to bathe, cook, garden, play a game etc...
There are many health benefits to getting leaner, going well beyond fitting more comfortably in your clothes. It is important to savor food, take time to cook nice meals and especially take time to chew and enjoy every mouthful. Food is so yummy, and relatively abundant compared to early days in Alaska where most pioneers,...
Is your “lifestyle” correlated to your health? Although the intuitively obvious answer is a resounding YES! very little credence is given in the standard of care to the powerful impact of your day to day choices on your wellbeing. It’s not just about living longer folks. It’s about living longer with energy, grace, and satisfaction....