Category Archives: Body

For years, researchers have documented the healthful benefits of red wine. It has been a staple in human diets for thousands of years. Wine was first fermented around 6,000 b.c. in the Georgia region between Europe and Asia. Wine was known to have healthful benefits. Red Wine was known to be

healthful then, and substantial scientific evidence is proof that we should include red wine in our diets. With its warm and robust flavor, red wine is has several health benefits from fighting fat to fighting ovarian cancer.

Benefits of Red Wine

Fights Memory Loss: The resveratrol in red wine helps to protect the brain against Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dementia and Alzheimer’s prevention is especially important to Dogwood Forest of Gainesville.

Longevity: Not only does the resveratrol found in red wine help to protect against Alzheimer’s and dementia, … Read more...

 

Diabetes is on the rise. According to the Center for Disease Control, nearly 26 million Americans are diabetic with an estimated 79 million with per-diabetes. Several studies have been conducted to determine the reason for the epidemic. Most studies suggest that there are a few distinct factors that contribute to developing diabetes:

Overweight: People who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes because additional fatty tissue increases the the chances of resistance to insulin. Age: The risk seems to rise as we get older. This can be attributed to weight gain with age or less cell functionality. Stress: The body does not often respond well to stress. One result of stress can be weight gain, which can raise the risk of stress. Lack of exercise: Studies have shown that a regular exercise regime can… Read more...

Have you ever danced so much that you worked up a sweat? I’m sure many of us have, and its definitely a good thing.  While we are having fun moving and grooving, we are actually exercising. Dancing is an excellent way to work out because it is typically free and engages the entire body. And many seniors are enjoying this fun way to break a sweat. Yes, dancing for exercise is not just for the young, but also the young at heart!

Dance exercise programs have been around for some time now. I recall “Sweating to the Oldies” with the animated and zealous red head Richard Simmons. It was a absolute craze in the 80’s. Now ZUMBA, the Latin flavored dancing program, is taking fitness classes by storm.  Zumba is aerobic dance exercise that incorporates both resistance and interval training. … Read more...

According to the Florida Department of Health, the median cost of a non-fatal fall related hospitalization was $39,782 with an average stay of 4 days. Falls can be detrimental to the health of older adults and  extremely costly in the long run. Fall risk are important at Dogwood Forest Assisted Living in Alpharetta, Ga. We design our communities with the safety of our residents in mind.  We consider ergonomics when selecting the furniture for our communities. The needs of aging adults are taken into total consideration because a  fall can be the start of a slow decline. Although we know that many seniors prefer to live in the homes they’ve lived in for years, their home could be hazardous if proper precautions are not considered.

Why falls are dangerous for seniors

Older adults are at risk of falls that can … Read more...

What are great on waffles and pancakes and great in yogurt and smoothies? Ahhh..blueberries. I love those plump little berries. There is something about the surprise you get when you chop down on one with anticipation of its sweet or tart juice. These little blue berries are great and great for you, and I try to incorporate them in my diet regularly like many of the residents at Dogwood Forest Assisted Living in Gainesville, Ga.

In recent years, blueberries have become one of the many “it” fruits. But for good reason that scientific evidence can back up. Blueberries are  high in antioxidants which of course fights cancer causing free radicals.  They are great for the nervous system, and recent studies have shown they help to improve memory. That’s right, there is a mighty big punch packed in these tiny … Read more...

Hydration is key to sustain healthy balance in the body. After all, water makes up roughly 90%  of our total body weight. The recommend dose of hydration is around 2 liters per day. However, we lose water every day through excretion of sweat, breathing and expelling waste. So, in order to get the recommended dosage we must take in beverage through the foods we eat such as fruits and vegetables and the other fluids we ingest such as tea, fruit juice, and coffee. However, the best way to replenish your body and reward it for working hard for you is ensuring you get plenty of water. Yes, old faithful H2O will seriously help your body be the best it can be.

Importance of Water to the Human Body

Water is the most nutrient of any substance found in the human … Read more...

Most of us recall our parents telling us to drink our milk when we were kids. My mother in particular had to trick me into drinking it by adding a little chocolate because I hated the taste of milk alone. Oddly enough, I love milk now in its original form. Our parents knew the importance of milk. It was rich in calcium and helped our bones to grow strong. Without it, our bones would become brittle and weak. However, there is also an important vitamin found in milk… vitamin D.

Since the 30s, milk had been fortified with the D vitamin to help combat the issue of rickets that were plaguing children in the first half of the 20th century. The practice has continued although rickets is no longer huge a epidemic. Vitamin D is essential to children’s bone health. … Read more...

Tomorrow is the first day of spring, and today’s pollen count has already shattered the previous record set in 1999 with  8,164.  Needless to say, it may be a tough allergy season.  Our residents suffer with allergies too. Dogwood Forest of Dunwoody Assisted Living in Dunwoody, Ga. has already taken measures to keep the community’s patio areas pollen free this year, and it is still winter!  Itchy eyes, runny noses, sore throats, and coughing fits may leave allergy sufferers to conclude they are simply allergic to spring!

Atlanta and Pollen

Atlanta is appropriately titled the “City of Trees” due to the beautiful canopy of trees that covers large portions of the city. But allergy sufferers may not care for the “City of Trees” in the spring months because the pollen the trees produce leaves them in total misery.  It is … Read more...