A simple way to look at sugar

Natural sugar is found in many nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables, and grains. Refined “bad” sugar is added to many unhealthy food products like sweetened beverages, desserts, breakfast cereals, and fruit-flavored yogurt. Added sugars are also present in soup, tomato sauce, and condiments like ketchup, relish, barbecue sauce, and salad dressing. To curb sugar intake, read food labels carefully, noting the amounts of added sugar, and choose products with less than 10 grams per serving.

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Are you headed for a fall?

People often don’t realize they are at high risk for falling until after they’ve taken a tumble. Studies have shown that maintaining optimal core and postural strength, good balance, and flexibility in the calves and hips are the best ways to prevent falls. At-home tests can help highlight weaknesses in these three areas that can then be addressed with a personal trainer or physical therapist.

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Try this: Different probiotics

Yogurt is a popular source for probiotics, the “good” live bacteria a person’s diet needs to counterbalance harmful bacteria in the gut. But there are other choices available, such as kefir, kimchi, kombucha, miso, and tempeh.

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Pay attention to concentration

Decreased concentration is often a normal part of aging as the brain’s ability to function efficiently gradually declines. People who struggle with concentration when performing tasks can try strategies like avoiding multitasking, taking scheduled breaks, and removing distractions. Other lifestyle behaviors may also affect concentration and should be examined, such as sleep, medication, and caffeine intake. Activities like meditating, reading, and learning a new skill also can help improve mental focus.

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Get a leg up on deep-vein thrombosis

Leg pain may be caused by deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Left untreated, the clot may break off, travel to the lungs, and cause blockage in a lung artery, known as pulmonary embolism (PE), which can be life threatening. Diagnosis of DVT and PE may include a review of symptoms, a D-dimer blood test, a leg ultrasound, or a chest CT scan. Both conditions are most often treated with direct-acting oral anticoagulants.

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Navigating “male menopause”

During midlife and later, men often experience a lower energy level, sour mood, and decline in sex drive. These changes have been tagged with the term “male menopause.” A low testosterone level may be a factor. Lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, increasing exercise, and following healthy sleep patterns, can help raise low levels. Another option is testosterone replacement therapy, but men need to weigh the possible benefits versus the risks.

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