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Quick tips on preventing West Nile Virus this summer

Summer in New Mexico means rain, and rain means mosquitoes. Unfortunately, mosquitoes aren’t just an annoyance: they can also carry disease, such as West Nile virus.

The Albuquerque Health Department recently confirmed that there have been mosquitoes in our area that have tested positive for West Nile virus. While the virus does not produce symptoms in most people, some people will develop a fever, headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash.

World Breastfeeding Week is August 1-7

Every year in the first week of August, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) organizes World Breastfeeding Week, which seeks to bring awareness to the importance of how women and families can make breastfeeding and work function together. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2015 is “Breastfeeding and Work: Let’s Make it Work!”

To help mark the occasion, Lovelace Health System has tips to help working mothers plan their return to work or school after the birth of their child with breastfeeding in mind.

While pregnant:

Container Gardens Offer Scalable Gardening for Beginners

Gardening can be easier said than done. There are many factors to consider when growing your own produce – climate, soil, planting season, watering, drainage, harvest time, and pests. And then do you have adequate space and the time to maintain a garden? For those who would like to tip-toe into gardening, without the commitment of half of the backyard, or most of your evenings and weekends spent pruning, container gardens are a great option.

Health benefits of chocolate - six questions with Teresa Anderson, CDE, our resident dietician

Chocolate. Who doesn’t love chocolate? We want it in our breakfast, our lunch, our snacks, our vending machines and after dinner. It’s a staple of almost any holiday, birthday celebration, or just because you wanted chocolate. We are taught from an early age that chocolate isn’t good for us, but have you heard that chocolate candy may not be completely bad for our health after all. We decided to get to the bottom of the predicament by going to Teresa Anderson, our resident Dietician CDE, for the truth about chocolate.

Is chocolate good for you?

Sunblock: Why We Need it and What to Look For.

Going to the pool or doing yard work this summer? Maybe you’re just planning on a road trip with the top down, or you’re taking your dog for an afternoon stroll. Whatever it is you’re doing, don’t start without your sunscreen. Nobody likes a nasty sunburn, but there are more reasons to use sunblock than just to prevent sunburn.

Four Heart-Healthy Reasons for Having a Dog.

Dog owners all know why we love dogs. We love when they wag their tails when we come home, or when they roll on their back and politely wait for their belly to be rubbed. Dogs can really make a house a home. But what we might not know is that dogs can also be good for our well-being, especially our heart. 

30 Minutes of Daily Walking Can Change Your Life!

We all know that we should be exercising more, but do we know why and how to get motivated? A good place to start is by realizing that effective exercise does not have to be an intense regimen like Rocky Balboa training to fight Apollo Creed! Exercise can be very effective even if it’s just 30 minutes of casual walking.

Want To Feel Healthier? Drink More Water & Less Soda

Sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks and energy drinks may be  keeping us from drinking enough water.

Sugary drinks are the fourth highest source of caloric intake in adults in the US, according to Teresa Anderson, a registered dietician & nutritionist,  and certified diabetes educator for Lovelace Medical Group.

Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital Partners with Ability Connection New Mexico

Last Saturday, Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital joined 100 walkers at El Oso Grande Park at Ability Connection New Mexico’s (ACNM) fourth annual Ability Walk. The Ability Walk is an hour long walk that celebrates the achievements of children and adults with disabilities. A supporter of ACNM’s fundraising initiatives, Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital is now working with ACNM to bring the Enabling Communication program to their patients.

Diabetes and nutrition - not a one-size-fits-all approach

March is National Nutrition Month and Lovelace Medical Group dietitian Teresa Anderson, RDN, LDN, CDE explains why this is an important time to take stock of your dietary needs, especially when living with diabetes. “Nutrition plays a vital role in helping or hurting your diabetes management,” explains Anderson. “Firstit is vital we consume ‘high-value’ foods – foods that are loaded with nutrients.