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- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLots of things can affect your mood. The types of foods you eat are no exception. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is important to your general health, as well as your mental and emotional health. So can you eat your way to a better mood? Research suggests eating the following foods just might help: Strawberries This delicious berry is high in vitamin C, which has immune- and mood-boosting power. Research shows the antioxidants in these berries can decrease symptoms of depression. Oats Oats are an effective mood booster. Oats contain selenium which provides additional mood-boosting properties by regulating the function of the thyroid gland. Almonds and Walnuts These nuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, proven to ward off depression. Research shows many nuts can decrease dopamine levels in the brain, leading to a calm, balanced feeling. A serving a day can help with focus, memory and alertness. Spinach This dark leafy green is filled with folic acid, magnesium and other antioxidants linked to good moods. Magnesium helps with the production of serotonin, which is a natural chemical in your body responsible for feelings of wellbeing and happiness. Greek Yogurt Greek yogurt is an excellent source of dairy, rich in protein and vitamin D. Eating protein can raise levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, two mood boosting neurotransmitters (or chemical messengers) in your brain. Greek yogurt also contains probiotics which can help with digestion. Dark Chocolate Dark chocolate can have positive effects on brain endorphins, which bring feelings of pleasure. Dark chocolate covered almonds, for instance, sound like a scrumptious, mood-boosting option! Asparagus This vegetable is a great source of tryptophan, which plays a role in the production of serotonin. Serotonin can affect things like your mood, digestion and sleep. Asparagus also contains a high level of folate, a natural vitamin proven to ward off depression. Research shows up to 50 percent of people who suffer from depression have low folate levels. Preparing a delicious and satisfying meal comes first—it’s an important step in getting the intended mood-boosting benefits. Try to incorporate a variety of foods you like along with some new ones that are known to boost your mood. Here is a quick and easy smoothie recipe to improve your mood in a tasty fashion. Ingredients: ½ cup oats 5 walnuts 1 banana ¼ cup blueberries 1 ½ cups skim milk (or nut milk, if you’re intolerant) Instructions: Add all ingredients into your blender and blend until smooth. Enjoy! Authors By Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford, nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published March 6, 2017. Last updated Jan. 31, 2019.
- Allergies, TelehealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCoughing. Sneezing. Scratchy throat. Watery eyes. It must be allergy season! If you’re among the nearly one in ten Americans who experience seasonal allergies, you need no further explanation: You’re familiar with the bothersome symptoms that can leave you feeling miserable for days, weeks or even months at a time. But help may be closer than you think with telemedicine. What are the benefits of telemedicine? Visiting your doctor virtually (by phone, video or online chat) can save you time and make getting medical care easier. If you have transportation issues, for example, or are short on time, a telemedicine visit is a great option because you don’t even have to leave your home to receive care. When is telemedicine the right choice? Receiving virtual care for allergies may be the right option for you if: You are in the state of Maryland You are over the age of 13 You want to request a prescription or refill an allergy relief medication You have questions for your doctor about your allergy medicine You’ve developed a new non-emergency allergy symptom You’re experiencing a non-emergency side effect to allergy medication You’re scheduling a routine follow-up that you’ve already discussed with your doctor If you’re experiencing an emergency including difficulty breathing, severe allergic reaction, or chest pain, call 9-1-1 right away. What should I have ready? In advance of your appointment, make sure you have: A link to your virtual appointment, and the correct software and applications downloaded or open A list of medication you are taking or have taken recently A secure and reliable internet or Wi-Fi connection During your appointment, your doctor may ask you to describe or show your symptoms. It can be helpful to take pictures of affected areas in advance. Your doctor may also ask you about your family health history, so have an idea ahead of time of what (if any) health conditions your close family members have had. Before your visit, write down any questions you want to ask your doctor. Here are a few examples: Do I need to change my prescription or over-the-counter treatment? Do I need to schedule a follow-up? When? How soon should I expect to feel better? Having all these items in place can your doctor help you feel better, faster. When is in-person care needed? Virtual care is a great option, but it’s not the only option. At times, you may need to see your doctor face-to-face. Your doctor may need to perform an annual physical, for example, or a skin test for allergies. The same holds true if you have a long-term or more serious condition, such as asthma. Make sure to monitor your symptoms carefully, and talk to your doctor about your options. Help at your fingertips Your options for convenient care have grown over the past few years, making getting help for medical conditions like seasonal allergies easier than ever before. Don’t suffer a day longer than you have to: Give virtual care a try.
- Behavioral Health, WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou’ve probably heard about the nationwide debate on the safety of food dyes. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed phasing out artificial food dyes by 2027. It has left parents with many questions. The hard truth? If you’ve noticed your child building up nervous energy or getting cranky after a bright red candy or neon-yellow sports drink, it’s likely a reaction to the dyes. In fact, studies have shown kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be more sensitive to food dye compared to other children. But here’s the good news: Increasing awareness of how your kids respond to dyes, along with ideas for limiting exposure to them, can go a long way toward keeping your family healthy. What are food dyes? Food dyes are chemicals added to foods and drinks to enhance their color. You’ll often find them in candy, cereal, sodas, sports drinks, fruit snacks and even healthier foods like yogurt. In the United States, the most common food dyes include: Red 3 Red 40 Yellow 5 Yellow 6 Green 3 Blue 1 Blue 2 These dyes are usually made in a lab using synthetic materials such as petroleum. They don’t provide the body with any nutrients; they are there solely to make foods and beverages more visually appealing. How do food dyes affect behavior? Food dyes can affect a person at every age and stage of life, but they seem to affect growing children most significantly. According to researchers, there’s a strong connection between food dyes and behavior problems like hyperactivity. This means your children may have trouble sitting still, focusing on tasks or staying calm after eating foods with dye. It’s important to remember though, that all children are unique and react in different ways. Some feel fine after; others are more sensitive; and some have an actual allergy to dyes. For this reason, it’s important to pay attention to any changes in your child’s behavior after eating or drinking foods with dyes. How do dyes affect the body? The link between food dyes and health is still being explored. But scientists suspect that food dyes affect several physiological functions, including brain function, hormone levels and the immune response. Children who are sensitive to food dyes may experience bothersome symptoms like: Anxiety Headache Hyperactivity Irritability Itchy rash Trouble focusing Some recent research also suggests that certain dyes can disrupt the balance in your child’s gut and cause inflammation, which is the body’s way of reacting to something it dislikes. Over time, this can make it harder to maintain good health. Children who are allergic to food dyes will experience more severe—and sometimes life-threatening—symptoms like: Breathing trouble Dizziness or fainting Feelings of impending doom Hives Low blood pressure Sudden and debilitating headache Swelling in the face, lips, tongue or throat Tightness in the chest If your child has mild reactions to food dyes, it’s important to talk with a doctor right away. A skilled care team can help you pinpoint the cause of your child’s symptoms and create a plan to help manage them. Your doctor may also connect you to an allergist for specialty care if needed. More severe and concerning reactions may point to a dye allergy. Seek emergency care right away or call 911 if your child has severe swelling, trouble breathing, faints or has chest pain. What can we do about it? Fortunately, you can take steps to protect your family. Start by: Increasing your awareness about food dyes and how your child responds. Planning meals and snacks around dye-free foods, such as fruits, veggies, eggs, oatmeal and other unprocessed foods. Reading labels on packaged foods and drinks to eliminate ingredients like Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1. Talking to your child’s school about offering snacks that don’t have artificial dyes. Trying dye-free brands of their favorite foods. Many companies are using natural colors like beet juice, turmeric or carrots. We’re in this together Food should help us feel good, both inside and out. If your child experiences symptoms after eating or drinking, and you suspect dyes may be the culprit, our team is here to help. Our dietitians can help you identify which foods work best for your family and support you in making informed, nourishing choices. If you’re concerned that food dyes may be affecting mental health or behavior, our behavioral health specialists can help you understand, manage and prevent related challenges. Authors Colleen Kiley, MS, RD, is a lead diabetes educator for Luminis Health Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists. To make an appointment, please call 443-481-6700.
- Pregnancy & Birth, Women's Health, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnnapolis, MD – At a celebratory ceremony attended by community leaders, clinicians, and advocates, Luminis Health unveiled its new TeamBirth program today at Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. The event marked an advancement in perinatal care, aimed at improving birth outcomes and reducing infant mortality across Maryland. With this launch, Luminis Health becomes the first health system in the state to implement this proven model of care.TeamBirth is an evidence-based initiative that promotes transparency and teamwork in perinatal care. At its core is a simple yet powerful tool: a planning board in each birthing room that allows patients, nurses, midwives, and physicians to align on care plans, share updates, and make decisions together. While aspects of this communication already occur, TeamBirth introduces greater consistency, clarity, and accountability. It enhances existing care practices by standardizing communication and fostering a shared approach, empowering teams to deliver safer, more respectful, and continuously improving care tailored to each patient’s needs. “TeamBirth is about making sure every patient has a voice during one of the most critical and joyous moments of their life,” said Dr. Monica Jones, system chair of Luminis Health Women’s and Children’s Service Line. “By fostering open communication and shared decision-making, we are adding another layer of safety and empowerment to the childbirth experience. Our teams are committed to delivering exceptional quality patient-centered care, while advancing birth equity for everyone who seeks our services.”Despite advances in modern medicine, the U.S. continues to face alarming rates of maternal and infant mortality overall. Luminis Health has taken significant steps in recent years to address the maternal health crisis and reduce disparities in care, including:Requiring implicit bias education and training for all maternal care staffImplementing strategies to reduce C-Section ratesEncouraging the use of doulas and nurse midwives to provide continuous, culturally responsive support during laborLaunched CenteringPregnancy® programs in both Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties to improve prenatal care through group-based education and support“At Luminis Health, we believe that by using evidence-based programs and listening to the people and communities we serve, we can end the maternal health crisis,” said Tori Bayless, CEO of Luminis Health. “Eliminating maternal and infant mortality is one of the bold goals outlined in our Vision 2030 strategic plan, and our teams remain dedicated to expanding access at every level of care.” Today’s event featured remarks from Luminis Health executive and clinical leaders and patient advocates, a demonstration of the TeamBirth toolkit, and opportunities for attendees to engage with members of the labor and delivery team. The announcement took place in the Rebecca M. Clatanoff Pavilion, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Since 1995, the Thomas J. Frank Family Birth Center has been a trusted space for families, where more than 145,000 babies have been born, making it one of the busiest birth centers in Maryland and a special part of the community. The TeamBirth program is fully funded through the generosity of long-time supporters of the hospital. “We are deeply grateful to our generous donors whose support makes innovative programs like TeamBirth possible,” said Sherry Perkins, president of Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. “Their gifts directly enhances the quality of care we provide and help us better serve the families in our community—a community we’ve proudly served as a trusted place of care for more than 120 years.” Luminis Health also plans to implement the TeamBirth model at Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham when it adds inpatient obstetric services. Scheduled to open in 2028, the new women’s health center is expected to deliver approximately 2,000 babies a year once fully operational.Implemented by Unravel Healthcare, TeamBirth was developed by Ariadne Labs, a joint center for health systems innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, MA.
- WellnessGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYour health should be a top priority, and having a primary care provider (PCP) can make a big difference. Think of your PCP as your go-to health partner—someone who helps you stay well, manage ongoing issues and connect you with specialists when needed. Still, many people avoid going to the doctor. Whether it’s due to fear, discomfort or simply a busy schedule, it’s easy to let routine care slip through the cracks. But delaying care can lead to missed opportunities to catch issues early and stay on top of your health. Studies show that having a PCP is essential to staying healthy. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, people who have a PCP tend to manage chronic conditions better, spend less on healthcare and feel more satisfied with their care overall. Whether your PCP is a doctor, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, they can help with most of your healthcare needs. Why Regular Visits to a PCP Matter Having a PCP isn’t just about convenience—it can lead to better health outcomes, including: Better Prevention: Each year, about 70% of adults with a PCP receive their flu shot, compared to just 42% of those without one. This simple action can be lifesaving, as the flu causes an estimated 12,000 to 51,000 deaths each year in the United States. Early Detection: The more your PCP knows about you and your health, the easier it is to catch issues early, when they’re easiest to treat. For instance, regular blood pressure checks can spot hypertension before it leads to heart disease. Lower Hospitalization Risk: Studies have shown that those with a PCP are less likely to be hospitalized for chronic conditions, like diabetes, asthma or heart disease, thanks to ongoing support and care. The Extra Perks Consistent Care: Seeing the same provider over time helps build trust and makes it easier to talk openly and feel truly understood. Better Communication: Over time, you’ll feel more at ease sharing your concerns and following their advice. Improved Health Outcomes: Regular care from a PCP is linked to lower death rates and better chronic disease management. Cost Savings: Preventive care, like checkups and vaccines, can help you avoid costly ER visits or hospital stays down the road. Ready to Take Charge of Your Health? Seeing a PCP regularly is one of the best things you can do for yourself. But the truth is, checkups are easy to put off. According to Prince George’s County Health Department data, only 83% of county residents have a regular PCP, below the statewide average of 87%. That means thousands are missing out on consistent, preventive care. Life gets busy, and healthcare often takes a backseat until something feels urgent. That’s why having trusted care nearby is so important—it helps make your health a priority before problems arise. Right now, 42% of Prince George’s County residents travel outside the county for care. Luminis Health is working to change that by recently opening primary care practices in District Heights and Greenbelt—making it easier to get the care you need, closer to home. This matters more than ever. Prince George’s County has higher-than-average rates of Type 2 diabetes, with many cases going undiagnosed. Early detection by a primary care provider is key to effectively managing this condition, leading to better long-term health. Let us be your health’s best ally. At Luminis Health, we’re here to be your partner in wellbeing, helping you reach your goals and build a healthier future for you and your family. Your health journey starts here—and having a primary care provider by your side makes all the difference. Find a PCP at Luminis.Health/PrimaryCare or call 301-927-0088 to schedule an appointment. Authors Layne Lesnau, is a Luminis Health nurse practitioner and practices in Prince George’s County.