News

What Do You Know About Hernias?

| Graceful Health
Ronald Vallario

By Dr. Ron Vallario, Grace Cottage Family Health

June is National Hernia Awareness Month, and also Men’s Health Month. How much do you know about hernias? Are they dangerous? Do they happen to women as well as men? For answers to these questions, read on.

Hernia is a general term describing a bulge of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening in a body wall that normally contains it.

Although hernias can occur at various places in the body, this column will discuss abdominal wall hernias, named based on their location.

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Healthy Fast Food — Smoothies

| Graceful Health

By Cheryl Shaw, Grace Cottage Hospital Health Coach

Who doesn’t love a smoothie? They’re easy to make, so they can give a new, healthy meaning to the words “fast food” – if you choose good ingredients.

You probably already know how to make a smoothie: just chop up the larger ingredients, throw everything into a blender, and turn it on. Super easy.

Here is a list of my top favorite smoothie ingredients to inspire you. Organic options are always best, but do what you can. Mix them up and have fun creating!

Start with a Base: Here are some healthy ideas: Nut or seed milk (almond, hemp, cashew), unsweetened coconut water, unsweetened plain yogurt or kefir (if you tolerate dairy; good for probiotics/cultures!), a little coconut milk mixed with water, cooled green tea, or pure water and ice.

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Grace Cottage Family Health and Hospital

| Videos
Grace Cottage Video

Grace Cottage, in Townshend, VT, is a community-based hospital and family health center. The 19-bed hospital is for acute and rehabilitative care. It is equipped with a 24/7/365 emergency department, a palliative care suite, full lab and imaging services. The 12 practitioners at the family health center offer primary care, pediatrics, and mental health care. Out-patient rehabilitative services include physical and occupational therapy. There is also a full-service public pharmacy on-site.

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Running is a Gift for Life

| Graceful Health

By Amby Burfoot

Question: Why run?

Answer: Walking and running are inherent human abilities–I call them “gifts.” Every physically unchallenged baby is born with the ability to flex the knees forward and back. That is, to walk and then to run. When we move in this way, we stay lean, fit, and healthy. When we sit too much, we grow round and unhealthy. Fifty years ago, science focused on the heart-health benefits of running, which have since been proven in thousands of medical studies. For the last decade, the most exciting research has investigated the mind benefits–low depression rates, and low Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline. Healthy body, healthy mind: It’s a good combination.

Q: If running is so healthy, why are runners always getting injured?

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