Irish soda bread might be one of Ireland's most famous foods, but the technique -- leavening bread with soda instead of yeast -- is probably even more American than apple pie. Native Americans prepared the first quick breads with pearl ash, a potash-derived natural soda that reacted with mild acids like sour milk or honey to release carbon dioxide bubbles.Irish soda bread … [Read more...] about Classic Irish soda bread comforts the soul
Hospital-at-home: Lower costs, improved outcomes
Patients with certain conditions may have a new care option that allows them to bypass longer inpatient stays and receive higher levels of care at home. Hospital-at-home, or HaH, is growing in the U.S. as demand increases for inpatient beds and health systems look for ways to control costs, according to Healthcare Finance. While the concept has been studied and utilized to some … [Read more...] about Hospital-at-home: Lower costs, improved outcomes
Ten things you should know about kidney health
March is National Kidney Month, a time to learn more about kidney health and encourage people to make kidney-friendly choices. Keep reading for ten things to know about kidney health and kidney disease. 1. The kidneys remove waste and excess fluid and maintain the water, salt, and mineral balance in your blood. Healthy kidneys filter about half a cup of blood each … [Read more...] about Ten things you should know about kidney health
Dig in and get fit with gardening
There's nothing like digging, hoeing and planting to build muscle and lower blood pressure. If you think gardening is for weaklings, try toting those big bags of mulch. While spending a couple of hours in the gym can quickly become tedious, the same time spent in the garden will keep you entirely entertained and burn about 340 calories an hour in the process (based on a … [Read more...] about Dig in and get fit with gardening
Make your back stronger this spring
Though sudden back pain can occur after a twist or a sneeze, most back injuries are caused by years of mistreatment before that final, painful injury.Stresses such as poor posture, faulty body mechanics, obesity, emotional tension and lack of fitness over the long term are the cause. With these modern problems, it's not surprising that back pain is the number one complaint … [Read more...] about Make your back stronger this spring