(Family Features) Staying healthy can be a challenge, especially for those living with diabetes. Everyone can have conflicts finding the right balance of partaking in healthy habits, such as exercise, eating well and even keeping your teeth and gums clean. From stress to self-care, life can be up and down when you’re living with diabetes. These seven tips from Dr. Natalie Strand, the winner of season 17 of “The Amazing Race” who lives with diabetes herself, can help you stay healthy and lead a balanced life while managing your diabetes. Communicate with your care team. Make sure you connect with your nurse educator, endocrinologist and dietician. Reach out to them with your questions as they

(BPT) - If you’re looking to improve your heart health, each day is all about making a choice that moves you in the right direction. You’d rather stay in with a big bowl of ice cream. But maybe today, you could click off the TV set and take a walk with a friend. It’s easy to see why heart health is a pressing concern. One in three adults live with one or more types of cardiovascular disease, according a review published in the journal Circulation. Over time, changes in the heart and blood vessels can lead to a host of devastating problems, including heart attack, heart failure and stroke. On top of that, lifestyle factors, such as poor diet and a lack of physical activity, lead to one in fiv

(BPT) - Daydreaming of spring is something everyone does during the coldest days of winter — even pests. The promise of warmer weather on the horizon is also a boon for the numerous species of pests that inhabit your area, and when the temperature perks up, many of those pests come out of hiding and start looking towards your home for food and shelter. Protecting your home and property from seasonal intruders is a year-long job, but your task could be simpler if proper preparations are made in advance of spring’s first bloom. To help you do just that, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) offers these tips for keeping your property pest-free this year: * Identify the threats. To st

(BPT) - Seasonal allergens are a popular scapegoat for a multitude of reactions: sniffling, sneezing and itchy eyes. During the summer months, pollen - one of the most common allergens - is floating around, even visibly so in some places. Researchers approximate that some 50 million in the U.S. alone believe themselves to be victims of seasonal allergies, and spring to be the season that most affects them. But the idea that we’re more exposed to allergens during one time of year versus another is something of a myth, as the most common allergens are actually found indoors. Pollen is indeed lowest in wintertime, and this is especially true in colder climates. But we’re exposed to allergens th

A beautiful lawn is an asset to any garden, but it’s often one of the first casualties of a lack of time. If you don’t pay it enough attention, it can quickly become overgrown, ugly, and out of control. However, the good news is that keeping on top of your lawn’s maintenance will keep the overall amount of work needed to a minimum; little and often is the key once a lawn is healthy and established. Assess what you have to work with There’s an old joke about a city-dweller in the country asking a farmer for directions, only to be told “Well, I wouldn’t want to start from here.” Humorous or not, this is an important point to consider when beginning your quest for the perfect lawn: should you g

Many people love blueberries, and for good reason. The colorful berries, dripping with flavor and stain-your-lips juiciness, have a mouthwatering balance of sweetness and tart, plus they're chock full of valuable nutrients. Blueberries are packed with powerful antioxidants that help your immune system fight colds, infections, and even reduce the risk of some forms of cancer. They're also full Vitamin C, which boosts your immune system and helps repair skin damage, and they offer a healthy dose of fiber and vital nutrients like magnesium, iron, and potassium. Multiple studies have connected eating blueberries to reduced risk of heart disease, as well as diminished effects of dementia in

A good body scrub is a real treat for the senses. Its ingredients impart benefits for your skin while the abrasive particles gently slough off dead cells to reveal a softer, smoother you. And if it smells good, too, you can indulge in an aromatherapy session at the same time! There are a plethora of body scrubs to choose from in the stores, but why not make your own? Not only do you get to control what goes in them, but you’ll also save money because you probably already own the base ingredients. It only takes two things to make a simple scrub: an abrasive and oil. Here are a few examples of each: • Common abrasives -- sugar, table salt, Epsom salts, ground coffee • Common oils --

Puppies and kittens may be irresistibly cute and cuddly, but there’s a huge amount to be said for adopting an older pet rather than taking on a juvenile. After all, millions of fully grown animals are placed in shelters across the country every year, and giving one a home could literally be a lifesaver. Here are seven excellent reasons to seriously consider visiting a local shelter if you’re looking for a new animal companion. Vaccination and Medical History Most senior pets will already have had all their necessary vaccinations, and will also usually have a medical history of some sort that you can check for problems. It may seem counter-intuitive, but an older pet can often cost much less

Filing a tax return is a responsibility that all wage earners share. Today, more people than ever before file their taxes using online software or traditional tax forms. While filing taxes on your own may be more affordable, there are several reasons why you should still consider going to an accountant to have your taxes filed at the end of the year. 1) Knowledge of Tax Code The main reason you should hire an accountant to file your taxes is that the account has an incredible knowledge of the current tax code. The tax code in the United States is continually changing with additions and subtractions taken place every year. That means that you may suddenly qualify for a deduction or credit tha

(BPT) - Technology, science and research are offering a personalization powerhouse at our fingertips, including products made specifically for us delivered to our doorsteps. We wear personal fitness trackers to track our steps, sleep and heart rates. Personal trainers design fitness routines made just for us. We understand that our family history, lifestyle choices and even genetics are predictive of our health needs and this information is integrated into our health care plans. But with all of this personalization, nutritional supplement options still deliver the same cookie-cutter solutions. According to New Nutrition Business and its report “10 Key Trends in Food, Nutrition and Hea

Nothing makes a clean house seem dirty faster than funky smells. It doesn’t matter how much your countertops sparkle if a guest walks in and smells leftovers lingering from three nights ago. If your kitchen is by all appearances clean, yet there seems to be some hidden smell wafting about, there’s a good chance your garbage disposal is the culprit. So what do you do when your garbage disposal smells less than fresh? 1. Prevention is the First Step Although the name implies that you can throw anything you want down the drain, you want to be cautious with the choices you make. Some foods will have a long lasting smell that is harder to get rid of. While others may wreak havoc on the mechanical

​Quickly on the heels of the 20th anniversary of 1997’s blockbuster hit “Titanic,” Biltmore will launch a new exhibition, Glamour on Board: Fashion from Titanic the Movie. The exhibition offers dazzling attire worn by actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, and many others from the film’s large cast. Staged throughout Biltmore House, the exhibition is open now and runs through May 13, 2018. With these costumes, guests will have perfect examples of the luxurious wardrobes favored by transatlantic travelers like George and Edith Vanderbilt in the early 1900s. Award-winning designs in America’s Largest Home This is the first large-scale exhibition of fashions from Titanic, which won a record

No matter what your age, you rely on your memory in countless ways every single day. At work, you rely on your memory to do your job more efficiently and avoid costly mistakes. At home, you rely on your memory as you prepare your favorite recipes and have fun with your family. When you have fun, you rely on your memories as you pursue your favorite hobbies and relax with your loved ones. Over time, you may notice that your memory has begun to slip and the things you once remembered easily are a bit harder to grasp. Some degree of age-related memory loss is perfectly normal, but that does not mean you have to take it lying down. There are a few simple things you can do every day to keep your

Just like people, true wellness in pets means more than the absence of disease. It includes numerous physical, social, and emotional factors. As a pet owner, you can do the following things to provide your dog or cat with a long, healthy life in a stimulating and loving environment: 1. Your pet needs protection from parasites all year long, even if you live in a cold climate. Fleas, ticks, heartworm, and other pests can make life miserable for your dog or cat and can even be fatal in severe cases. Talk to your veterinarian about whether a collar, pill, spray, shampoo, or a combination of these products would be the best form of parasite control. 2. Bring your pet in for a preventive ca

Have you ever glanced at a wine menu and felt overwhelmed by the vast selection of wines? Wine tasting can seem like a pretentious and complex process, but it doesn’t have to be. Below is a step-by-step guide to tasting so you can understand and appreciate your wine. 1. Admire Wine should be admired from start to finish, and it starts with appreciating its color, viscosity, and transparency. Unlike other beverages, it’s one of the few drinks that comes in a wide range of colors, from the lightest gold to the richest plum. Its color alone can indicate which type of wine you’re drinking. • Hold the glass up to the light. Is it clear and bubbly? Does it emit a soft glow? Is it thick and opa

If you’ve ever watched the bananas in your fruit bowl overripen by the day, promising yourself you’ll make banana bread, until you finally give in and toss them in the compost, then this is the post for you. Read on for five quick, delicious and (mostly) healthy ways to use up your bananas. The best part? None of them resemble banana bread! 1. Chop into oatmeal Soft bananas make the perfect natural sweetener for a steaming bowl of oatmeal. Immediately after adding the oats to the boiling water, throw in thinly sliced banana - it’s as easy as that. Beware that bananas hold their heat, so allow the mixture to cool for at least five minutes after cooking. 2. Puree and freeze for banana “ice c

These 20 foods can calm your stress and help you get through the day. Yogurt There is a link between what goes on in your gut and your mental health. One study showed that probiotics actually decreased anxiety in mice. Yogurt is full of living probiotics that can bring your gut back into balance. Cashews If you’re feeling down, reach for a handful of cashews. These little nuts contain plenty of zinc which is helpful in fighting depression. Avocados A deficiency in folic acid can send your mood plummeting. Eat folate-rich avocados for a healthy balance. Kale Carotenoids are pigments found in many of the plants we eat, and they are also great for regulating emotional health. Kale has plenty

(BPT) - A recent study by the Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College suggests an alarming state of awareness about retirement readiness: Of surveyed households, 33 percent realize they are not well prepared, 19 percent are not well prepared but don’t know it, and 24 percent are well prepared but don’t know it. For the Americans at risk of not being able to maintain an adequate retirement lifestyle, it’s critical to take action. For the households that are well prepared and don’t know it, they risk sacrificing a comfortable retirement. Understanding the behaviors associated with good retirement planning, in turn, can help you get a better sense of where you stand. Consider the