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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 30, 2019)
10A — THE OBSERVER MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2019 Losing weight after menopause The benefits of the flu vaccine Menopause is a time of change in a woman’s life. Much as the start of men- struation is accompanied by great fluc- tuations in hormones that can cause different symptoms, so, too, is the end of menstruation. During menopause, many women ex- perience weight gain and have trouble shedding pounds. Researchers are not quite sure why women gain weight dur- ing menopause. However, the health and wellness site Healthline advises that both elevated and low levels of estrogen can lead to increased fat storage. This is compounded by a loss of muscle mass that occurs due to age, hormonal changes and decreased physical activity. According to JoAnn Pinkerton, MD, executive director of the North Ameri- can Menopause Society, most women will gain about five pounds during the menopause transition. Women who do not gain weight may notice that fat is being repositioned around their mid- sections. Other factors also may con- tribute to this weight gain.. Losing weight during the meno- pause transition can be challenging, but it is not impossible. • Cut down on calories. Post-meno- pausal women can cut back on calories because they likely do not need as much as they did when they were younger. Eating may be out of habit, not necessity. • Increase exercise. While mature A healthy lifestyle in- cludes many dif- ferent compo- nents. Diet and exercise are ar- guably the two most significant elements of a healthy lifestyle, but being healthy and avoiding illness involves more than just eating right and get- ting off the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that the flu vaccine couch. Preventive prevents millions of illnesses and flu-related doctor visits every year. care can be criti- cal to long-term health. A healthy tal stay is often considerable, and diet and routine exercise can help workers who value their vacation lower risk for various ailments, in- and personal time will almost cer- cluding heart disease and diabetes. tainly lament having to use some of But what about preventing more rou- that time at home nursing the flu. By tine conditions, including the flu? getting the flu shot, anyone can The Centers for Disease Control and greatly reduce their risk of spending Prevention notes that the flu vaccine their time and hard-earned money prevents millions of illnesses and flu- recovering from the flu. • The flu shot can help prevent related doctor visits every year. De- serious medical events. A 2013 meta- spite the effectiveness of the flu vac- cine, some people still don’t get one analysis of various studies that was each year. But a look at some of the published in the Journal of the Amer- many benefits of being vaccinated ican Medical Association found that against the flu might compel such the influenza vaccine was associated men and women to change their with a lower risk of major adverse minds and get their flu shots this cardiovascular events among people with heart disease. In addition, the year. • The flu shot keeps you from get- CDC notes that previous studies ting the flu. While it’s common sense have found that the flu vaccination to note that the flu keeps people from has been associated with reduced getting the flu, just how effective the hospitalizations among people with flu vaccination can be might open the diabetes and chronic lung disease. • The flu shot can protect chil- eyes of even the most ardent flu shot dren. Humans’ immune systems ma- proponents. According to the CDC, in ture as they grow, and the flu vaccine seasons when the flu vaccine viruses can be an invaluable ally to children matched circulating strains, the vac- cine has been shown to reduce the as their immune systems are still risk of having to go to the doctor by as evolving. A 2014 study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases much as 60 percent. • The flu shot can save you money found that children who were fully and vacation time. The CDC esti- vaccinated were between 74 and 82 mated that 48.8 million people got percent less likely to be admitted to sick with the flu during the 2017-18 pediatric intensive care units than flu season. In addition, the CDC esti- unvaccinated children. The flu is a formidable foe. But an mates that the flu caused workers to annual flu shot can bolster every- miss approximately 17 million work- one’s chances of beating or even days and led to more than 950,000 hospitalizations. The cost of a hospi- avoiding the flu. Gingerbread makes the perfect holiday treat The holiday season is synonymous with many things, including family gatherings, shopping, elaborate lighting dis- plays, and Santa Claus. For foodies, this time of year is the perfect oppor- tunity to indulge one’s love of baked goods. Between office parties and gatherings with fam- ily and friends, it’s hard to avoid baked treats come the holiday season. Perhaps no baked good is more closely linked to the holidays than ginger- bread, an indulgence many people enjoy only around Christmastime. Holiday hosts or those who want to bring a des- sert to their next holiday gathering can whip up this recipe for “Sticky Chocolate Gingerbread” from Maxine Clark’s “Chocolate: Deliciously Indulgent Recipes for Chocolate Lovers” (Ry- land, Peters & Small). Sticky Chocolate Gingerbread Makes an 8-inch cake 2 1⁄3 cups dark molasses 6 ounces dark choco- late (60 to 70 percent cocoa oval cake pan solids), grated 1 3⁄4 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 5 ounces whole pieces preserved stem ginger, drained and roughly chopped 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened 1⁄2 cup plus 2 table- spoons dark brown sugar, sifted (to remove lumps) 2 medium eggs, beaten 1⁄2 teaspoon baking soda 2 tablespoons milk, warmed A pinch of salt Extra-large crystallized ginger pieces, to scatter A deep 8-inch square cake pan or 8 x 6 x 3-inch Preheat the oven to 325 F. Grease and line the base and sides of the cake pan with nonstick parchment paper. Put the molasses in a pan and heat gently until hot, but do not allow it to boil. Remove the pan from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until melted. Sift the flour, ground ginger and salt together in a bowl. Add the stem ginger and toss it around in the flour until every piece is coated. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, then the molasses and chocolate mixture and finally the flour mixture. Dissolve the baking soda in the milk and gradually beat this into the batter. Pour into the prepared cake pan, scatter with the crystallized ginger, if using, and bake for 45 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 F and bake for another 30 min- utes. (If using the oval pan, cook for about 45 minutes at the higher temperature, then about one hour at the lower temperature, as it will be deeper.) A metal skewer inserted into the center should come out clean. Let cool for five minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool completely. When cold, store in an airtight container for at least a couple of days to mature and become sticky. Don’t worry if it sinks a bit in the middle — this is nor- mal. M any people have been asking if preplanned funeral arrangements are transferable from one funeral home to another. The simple answer is yes, they are. And the process is easy. women may not have the endurance of younger women, they can make up for it by scheduling shorter, more frequent exercise sessions. The general recom- mendation is 30 minutes of moderate- intensity exercise most days per week. But this can be split up into different sessions per day. Incorporate resis- tance training to help combat muscle mass lost from aging. The more muscle one has, the more calories burned, even at rest. • Cut out sweetened beverages and desserts. Cutting back on sugary items can trigger weight loss. Researcher Bethany Barone Gibbs, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, noted that participants in a school-sponsored weight-loss study who were able to de- crease their consumption of desserts and sugar-sweetened beverages tended to have more success losing weight and keeping it off than those who did not. • Talk about medications. Speak with a doctor about medications, some of which can contribute to weight gain. Many women are prescribed antide- pressants in midlife to combat, among other things, symptoms of menopause. Side effects of such medications can in- clude weight gain. Women gaining weight during menopause can discuss their concerns with their doctors, trainers and dieti- cians and work toward healthy goals for postmenopausal weight loss. Call Loveland Funeral Chapel today, and let us take care of the details for you. and Union County’s Crematory 1508 Fourth St. 541-963-5022 CONFUSED? About Medicare? B D C WE CAN HELP F CALL Y TODA A y| fÄz | Å {z} y{} y| }} } }{} Office: 541-437-3691 Fax: 541-437-3691 Cell: 541-786-4282 77 N 8th Ave, Suite A Elgin, OR 97827 Embrace happy moments. For help with ALL your Medicare Coverage options Our award-winning memory care provides professional and compassionate care for your loved one, so you can focus on embracing the joy in the moments together. LOCALLY! 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