Time spent among lakes and trees 😄🤩 Co.Cavan
11 Ways To Curb Your Drinking @HarvardHealth #heartaware
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There are many health benefits related to abstaining from alcohol. If you’re looking to cut back or stop drinking altogether, here are 11 tips that can help. #HarvardHealth
Are you concerned about your alcohol intake? Maybe you feel that you’re drinking too much or too often. Perhaps it’s a habit you’d like to better control.
It’s always wise to check with your doctor — she should be able to help you decide whether it is best for you to cut back or to abstain. People who are dependent on alcohol, or have other medical or mental health problems, should stop drinking completely.
But many people may benefit simply by cutting back. If your doctor suggests that you curb your drinking, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) suggests that the following steps may be helpful:
- Put it in writing. Making a list of the reasons to curtail your drinking — such as feeling healthier, sleeping better, or improving your relationships — can motivate you.
- Set a drinking goal. Set a limit on how much you will drink. You should keep your drinking below the recommended guidelines: no more than one standard drink per day for women and for men ages 65 and older, and no more than two standard drinks per day for men under 65. These limits may be too high for people who have certain medical conditions or for some older adults. Your doctor can help you determine what’s right for you.
- Keep a diary of your drinking. For three to four weeks, keep track of every time you have a drink. Include information about what and how much you drank as well as where you were. Compare this to your goal. If you’re having trouble sticking to your goal, discuss it with your doctor or another health professional.
- Don’t keep alcohol in your house. Having no alcohol at home can help limit your drinking.
- Drink slowly. Sip your drink. Drink soda, water, or juice after having an alcoholic beverage. Never drink on an empty stomach.
- Choose alcohol-free days. Decide not to drink a day or two each week. You may want to abstain for a week or a month to see how you feel physically and emotionally without alcohol in your life. Taking a break from alcohol can be a good way to start drinking less.
- Watch for peer pressure. Practice ways to say no politely. You do not have to drink just because others are, and you shouldn’t feel obligated to accept every drink you’re offered. Stay away from people who encourage you to drink.
- Keep busy. Take a walk, play sports, go out to eat, or catch a movie. When you’re at home, pick up a new hobby or revisit an old one. Painting, board games, playing a musical instrument, woodworking — these and other activities are great alternatives to drinking.
- Ask for support. Cutting down on your drinking may not always be easy. Let friends and family members know that you need their support. Your doctor, counselor, or therapist may also be able to offer help.
- Guard against temptation. Steer clear of people and places that make you want to drink. If you associate drinking with certain events, such as holidays or vacations, develop a plan for managing them in advance. Monitor your feelings. When you’re worried, lonely, or angry, you may be tempted to reach for a drink. Try to cultivate new, healthy ways to cope with stress.
- Be persistent. Most people who successfully cut down or stop drinking altogether do so only after several attempts. You’ll probably have setbacks, but don’t let them keep you from reaching your long-term goal. There’s really no final endpoint, as the process usually requires ongoing effort.
“What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?”
A.A.Milne@A_AMilne·2h
“What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?”
Pooh had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey WAS a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called. ~A.A.Milne
Blackrock Health starting drone delivery for medical supplies
Blackrock Health, Blackrock Clinic, through a partnership with healthcare technology company Medtronic and medical drone delivery partners Apian and Wing, will begin receiving medical supplies via drone delivery in the coming days.
The partnership has been designed to trial faster, more reliable, and sustainable medical logistics – supporting patients as they receive the care they need, sooner. Medical drone deliveries have the potential to create more efficient healthcare systems, with less wastage of medical supplies, and more space for patient-facing care facilities as providers receive what they need, when they need it. The program will run over the next several months.
“At Blackrock Health, innovation is at the core of what we do, and this partnership is a prime example of the opportunities that exist when integrating technology into healthcare industry, with an added benefit of supporting our commitment to sustainability,” shared Dr. Caroline Whelan, CEO of Blackrock Health “We are excited by the possibilities that come with this drone delivery service, and hope to expand this beyond receiving medical supplies, by extending use to other services in time between our hospitals.”
Currently, hospitals depend on road vehicles to transport medical supplies to hospitals or healthcare centres, but urban locations experience frequent delays due to congestion, as well as associated higher carbon emissions. Wing’s drones, which are being used in this programme, are lightweight and electric, and can make quicker, more reliable deliveries than traditional modes of transport, as seen in its more than 350,000 commercial deliveries across the globe. They will fly more direct routes and at speeds up to approximately 100 km per hour, avoiding the traffic congestion on Dublin’s roads.
To learn more about the partnership, visit Apian’s and Wing’s newsrooms
Recipe: Blueberry-Walnut Pancakes #ClevelandClinic
Grain-free, sugar-free and dairy-free
Do you miss seeing a stack of pancakes on the brunch table? Now you don’t have to. These grain-free, sugar-free, dairy-free pancakes are the perfect guilt-free treat. They’re easy to make, and the whole family will love them. Yum!
Ingredients
3 large omega-3 eggs
¾ cup almond milk
½ tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup coconut flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of sea salt
¼ cup roughly chopped walnuts
coconut oil, for greasing the skillet (about ¼ cup)
1 pint fresh blueberries
½ cup arrowroot
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and then add the almond milk, lemon juice, and vanilla. Whisk until well-blended. In a separate bowl, mix together the coconut flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt and arrowroot. Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, ¼ cup at a time, while continuously whisking. Once combined, gently fold in the walnuts.
- Grease a large skillet and place over medium heat. Once the skillet is hot, use a ladle to pour 3-inch pancakes onto the skillet. Cook until bubbles appear, then flip. The pancake should cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes. Repeat with rest of the batter. Add a tablespoon or more of coconut oil to the hot griddle, as needed.
- Make a blueberry sauce by simmering the blueberries in a small saucepan with 2 tablespoons of water for 10 minutes before serving.
- To serve, place 3 pancakes on a plate and top each stack with the blueberry sauce.
Nutritional information (per serving)
Makes 2-3 servings.
Calories 423
Total Fat 19 g
Protein 12 g
Fiber 14 g
Sugar 14 g
Sodium 416 mg
— Recipe courtesy of Mark Hyman, MD
Tired of plain fruit? Add some tang with this yogurt dressing. This dish is not only colorful, bright and fun, but also high in potassium, an important nutrient! @ClevelandClinic
Recipe: Pineapple Yogurt Fruit Salad
Make fruit more fun for kids — and adults!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon sugar free lemonade drink powder mix
- 1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 15-ounce can of pineapple tidbits, in juice, drained
- 1 medium granny smith or other green apple, cut into small chunks
- 1 cup red grapes, each cut in half
- 2 medium bananas, sliced into coin shapes
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- Combine lemonade powder mix and yogurt in medium bowl.
- Add all fruit and stir until well-combined.
- Sprinkle cinnamon on top.
- Refrigerate. Serve chilled.
Nutrition information (per serving)
Makes 6 servings
Calories: 140
Fat: 0 g
Saturated fat: 0 g
Sodium: 15 mg
Protein: 4 g
Carbohydrates: 32 g
Sugars: 24 g
Dietary fiber: 3 g
A delicious Greek appetizer with our healthier twist! @ClevelandClinic #spanakopitas
This savory Greek appetizer is usually made with a lot of butter and a lot of feta cheese, which is delicious, but not really heart-healthy. Our just-as-delicious recipe offers a lighter, heart-healthier alternative!
Ingredients
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 1 small onion, minced
- One 10-ounce package frozen, chopped spinach
- 1/3 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
- 1/4 cup 1% cottage cheese
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- Freshly ground pepper
- 1 tablespoon egg substitute
- 5 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
- Refrigerated butter-flavored cooking spray
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.
- Coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray. Add the onion and spinach; saute over medium-high heat until the spinach is thawed and the onion begins to wilt, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir frequently to break up clumps of spinach. Add the feta and cottage cheese along with the nutmeg, dill, pepper and egg substitute; mix well. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes.
- Cut the phyllo dough into four lengthwise strips, covering the dough you’re not using with a damp tea towel so it doesn’t dry out. Coat each strip with the butter-flavored spray. Place a tablespoon of spinach mix on top of a strip of dough and fold over to make a triangle; continue folding over as if folding a flag. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat, using all the remaining phyllo and filling. Coat each triangle with the butter-flavored spray. Bake for about 20 minutes, until browned. Serve warm.
Nutrition information (per serving)
Makes 20 pieces (10 servings/2 pieces serving)
Calories: 50
Total fat: 1.5 g
Protein: 3 g
Carbohydrate: 7 g
Dietary fiber: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 180 mg
Potassium: 60 mg
— Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook (© 2007 Broadway Books).
Strong, Healthy Bones @ClevelandClinic #bonetherapy
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Generally, anything that’s good for your overall health will be good for your bones, too. Being proactive about your bone health is key to making them solid and strong for the long haul. These strategies in particular can help prevent low bone density and bone loss, the longer you focus on them. 
Pets help raise their owners’ fitness levels, improve blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and boost overall happiness and well-being.😀🤩😜 @American_Heart
The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all. @WHO
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1ynKOlrpYWWGR
The health of mothers and babies is the foundation of healthy families and communities, helping ensure hopeful futures for us all.
World Health Day, celebrated on 7 April 2025, will kick off a year-long campaign on maternal and newborn health. The campaign, titled Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritize women’s longer-term health and well-being.
WHO and partners will also share useful information to support healthy pregnancies and births, and better postnatal health.
Visit the World Health Day 2025 campaign page
Helping every woman and baby survive and thrive
This task is critical. Tragically, based on currently published estimates, close to 300 000 women lose their life due to pregnancy or childbirth each year, while over 2 million babies die in their first month of life and around 2 million more are stillborn. That’s roughly 1 preventable death every 7 seconds.
Based on current trends, a staggering 4 out of 5 countries are off track to meet targets for improving maternal survival by 2030. 1 in 3 will fail to meet targets for reducing newborn deaths.
Listening to women and supporting families
Women and families everywhere need high quality care that supports them physically and emotionally, before, during and after birth.
Health systems must evolve to manage the many health issues that impact maternal and newborn health. These not only include direct obstetric complications but also mental health conditions, noncommunicable diseases and family planning.
Additionally, women and families should be supported by laws and policies that safeguard their health and rights.
Campaign goals
- To raise awareness about gaps in maternal and newborn survival and the need to prioritize women’s longer-term well-being.
- To advocate for effective investments that improve the health of women and babies.
- To encourage collective action to support parents as well as health professionals who provide critical care.
- To provide useful health information relating to pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
Get involved
Here’s what you can do to support the campaign:
- Spread awareness: share information about the campaign using #HopefulFutures and #HealthForAll.
- Participate: attend our global events to learn more about what it will take to end maternal and newborn mortality.
- Donate: contribute to the WHO Foundation which supports WHO’s work to protect mothers and babies in countries around the world.
- Share your lived experiences: share your own experiences or stories of pregnancy and birth and thank those who provide quality care.
Healthaware 