A version of this post originally appeared on LiveWellNewYork.com.Winter in New York City often means unpleasant weather, like snow and freezing rain—common culprits of slippery sidewalks, streets and stairs. Snow also can block visibility of curbs, curb cuts, sidewalk cracks and other elements that may affect how you walk about.
Falling on an outstretched hand is the most common way people fracture their wrists. During poor weather, one of the best things you can do to prevent a wrist fracture is to follow the fall prevention tips below:
• In anticipation of poor weather, stock up on household staples ahead of time.
• If poor weather has already begun, order food and household items to be delivered to you.
• Travel outside during daytime hours. More light means increased visibility and increased pedestrian presence.
• Wear sensible footwear. Don appropriate shoes, such as boots, with good support and tread. Avoid heels and open-toed shoes.
• Use handrails and ramps whenever possible. This is especially important for people who have difficulty navigating stairs during the best of weather.
• Take well-travelled streets. Walking on heavily travelled streets is safer, because traffic will have decreased snow accumulation, and if you do fall, an increased pedestrian presence means there will be other people around to assist you and call for help.
Pre-med education is fundamentally flawed. This is something that the Medical Education community has known and written about for decades but has never acted upon. There are three critical problems:
More than 100 years ago, Abraham Flexner reformed medical education throughout the nation. He was considered visionary and is responsible for establishing what we currently consider to be the gold standard for how medicine is taught, both in medical school and in preparing for medical school. Since then, medicine and science have changed more rapidly than any other field, with the possible exception of information technology. Yet educators at both the college and medical school levels have failed to refresh his vision and align the physician training with society’s needs. We’ve also perpetuated the notion that everyone has to be taught the same requirements in lockstep, with little room for flexible, individualized, and self-directed learning.
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If a trip to Greece, Spain or Southern Italy is not in your near future, you can still benefit from a Mediterranean-inspired diet and lifestyle! There is no one “Mediterranean” diet, rather there are some common dietary patterns seen among people who live in the countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. And, there is some evidence that people from the Mediterranean region live longer and have a lower incidence of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Here’s how to eat “Mediterranean” style:
* Build your meals around plant sources of protein such as grain, lentils, beans, chickpeas, nuts, seeds and vegetables.
* A few times each week, select fish, such as tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel, herring and sardines.
* Eat less poultry, eggs and cheese.
* Limit red meat and avoid processed meat.
* Prepare food simply with herbs and olive or canola oil without adding salt.
* Enjoy eating olives, which provide heart-healthy monounsaturated fat. Drizzle olive oil over vegetables, salad and on whole grain bread.
* Do not fry food.
* Include fresh fruit as part of every meal and as a snack. Snack on a handful of unsalted nuts or hummus with fresh vegetables.
* Consider, if you are medically able to consume alcohol safely, red wine in moderation (which generally means up to 5 ounces a day).
* Manage your weight through eating appropriate portions of food.
* Lastly, embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle, which includes physical activity, leisurely dining and lots of quality time with family and friends.
If you’re interested in healthy eating, you might want to read about foods that can help reduce the risk of cancer.
Michele Weisberger is a Registered Dietician and Nutritionist for Cancer Supportive Services at Beth Israel Medical Center.