Seven Ways to Protect Hearing

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October is National Protect Your Hearing Month. The purpose is to raise awareness about noise induced hearing loss.

Hearing loss caused by high noise levels is permanent. And yet, four out of five Americans don’t protect their ears at sporting or entertainment venues. And half of us listen to music turned up too loud.

Check out these seven ways to protect hearing and lessen the risk of damage.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing title meme

How Loud is Too Loud?

Over time, exposure to loud noises, whether at work or listening to music or attending concerts, causes hearing loss.

How loud is too loud?

If you can’t talk to someone six feet away, without shouting, it’s too noisy. Sound is measured in decibels. Normal conversation registers at 60 decibels, a whisper at 30. Noise over 80 decibels (dB), over prolonged time, causes damage. When noise goes over 120 dB it can cause immediate harm.

The inner ear contains 16,000 hair cells that allow the brain to detect sound. When they become damaged, they can’t grow back, and hearing diminishes.

More than 40 million adults, aged 20 to 69, suffer from noise induced hearing loss. That makes loss of hearing the third most common health condition.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing ear
Seven Ways to Protect Hearing – learn how to prevent hearing loss.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing

Learn how to prevent hearing loss, due to noise and other causes. It’s especially important that we teach our youth and young adults how to protect their ears and hearing.

Use Hearing Protection

Approximately 15% of adults experience noise induced hearing loss due to excessively loud work or entertainment environments.

In the workplace, machinery, airplanes, lawnmowers, chainsaws or any other loud noise that causes you to shout over it to be heard, is causing damage.

Clubs and concerts play music at dangerously loud levels, around the 120 dB level .

Earplugs provide an easy way to protect ears and hearing in these situations. You can even have them custom fitted by a hearing specialist. Musicians’ earplugs filter out excessive noise while still allowing conversation and music to enter.

According to the World Health Organization, 1.1 billion teens and young adults are at risk for noise induced hearing loss due to unsafe use of audio equipment.

When listening to music use headphones rather than earbuds. While convenient to use and easy to tote, earbuds rest too close to the eardrums and can cause damage. They increase a sound’s volume by six to nine decibels.

Use the 60/60 rule when listening to music via headphones. Listen to music through headphones at 60% of the volume, for no more than 60 minutes a day.

And when riding in an enclosed vehicle, or listening to music anywhere without headphones, simply turn the volume down.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing headphones
Seven Ways to Protect Hearing – use headphones rather than earbuds

Allow Ears to Recover

After prolonged exposure to loud sounds, give the ears a break. During a concert or at work where loud noises occur, step away into a quieter place for five to ten minutes as often as possible. The ears need the rest.

Remove headphones after an hour of listening to music, to give the ears a break as well.

Researchers discovered it takes 16 hours of quiet for the ears to recover after a loud concert or a night out in a noisy location.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing take a break
Seven Ways to Protect Hearing – give ears a break

Keep Ears Dry

Excess moisture in the ear canals creates bacterial growth. This causes swimmer’s ear or ear infections, which can impact hearing.

Gently towel dry around ears after showering, bathing or swimming, blotting away moisture. If water enters the ear canal, tip head to the side and tug on earlobe to help remove fluid.

Swimmer’s earplugs prevent water from entering the ears and keep ear canals dry.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing dry
Seven Ways to Protect Hearing – keep ear canals dry

Don’t Use Cotton Tipped Swabs

There’s an old saying that goes, “Don’t put anything bigger than your elbow in your ear”. It’s very common to use cotton tipped swabs to clean the ears and remove wax. However, experts advise against the practice.

It’s normal and even desirable to have a bit of wax in the ears. The ears are naturally self cleaning and the wax prevents dust and particles from entering the ear canal. The wax eventually moves out of the ear on its own.

Plus inserting anything into the ear may damage the ear drum and harm hearing.

For excess wax, gently clean around the ear canal with a damp washcloth. Or try over the counter ear wax removal solutions that softens the wax so that it flows out. Doctors can remove excessive wax during an office appointment as well.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing swabs
Don’t use cotton tipped swabs in the ears.

Be Careful with Certain Medications

Some over the counter medications can contribute to hearing loss. Non steroidal anti-inflammatories, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen can impact hearing in a negative way. Don’t over medicate with these drugs. And discuss all medications, including over the counter ones, with your doctor. He or she can advise about possible side effects.

 

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing limit meds
Seven Ways to Protect Hearing – limit certain meds

Exercise

Moving the body is good for the ears. Cardio exercise, such as running, jogging, walking or cycling, pumps blood to all parts of the body, including the ears. That oxygen rich blood helps the ear’s internal parts to work well and stay healthy.

If cycling, protect the head with a helmet. A head injury can affect hearing. And if you listen to music while walking, running or jogging, keep volume low so it doesn’t distract you or cover the sounds of approaching traffic.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing exercise
Exercise such as walking is one of seven ways to protect hearing.

Manage Stress

Both stress and anxiety can cause temporary and permanent tinnitus or ringing in the ears. Chronic stress puts the body in fight or flight mode, which causes adrenaline levels to elevate and stay that way.

Stress strains the nerves, restricts blood flow and affects many systems in the body. And that stress is thought to affect the inner ear, contributing to tinnitus.

Try relaxation techniques to lower and manage stress. Spend time in nature, practice yoga or meditation, do deep breathing exercises. And eat a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables.

Seven Ways to Protect Hearing destress
Seven Ways to Protect Hearing – manage stress

How Are You Protecting Your Hearing?

I’ve protected my hearing throughout my life. However, I’ve also had tinnitus since childhood. I often wonder if my fears as a child created stress that contributed to the ringing in my ears. It’s also possible I willed my ears to ring, to cover any bump in the night sounds.

Changing my diet to a plant based one lessened the ringing tremendously although I still hear it when all other noise dies away.

I hope these seven practices help prevent loss or further hearing loss for others. Diminished hearing can contribute to depression, anxiety, isolation and even dementia. It’s worth turning the music volume down a bit or standing at the back of a venue away from the speakers, to protect hearing.

How is your hearing?

Wearing headphones
Wearing headphones during my first pod cast.

Hearing Helps from Amazon:

 


If you want the BEST headphones, try these!

 


 

Journey With Healthy Me is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.

I am not a medical practitioner. I study health and wellness related topics and share experiences from my own personal healing journey.

 

 

 

 

Best Vegan Chili Recipes

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October is National Chili Month. What a perfect meal to enjoy on cool fall evenings. Chili is a spicy tomato based stew. It contains a blend of beans, seasonings, onions,  garlic, peppers and typically, meat. However, I’ve discovered that plant based chilis are just as flavorful, warming and satisfying as those with meat.

This month, or any time this fall or winter, create one of these best vegan chili recipes, all without meat.

Best Vegan Chili Recipes title meme

Best Vegan Chili Recipes

Look through this round up of plant based chili recipes and choose one or try them all. Click on the underlined titles for links to ingredient lists and instructions.

Quick Bean Chili

This quick bean chili comes together in minutes. It’s perfect for an evening after a full and busy day. Having recipes available that can provide a hot meal in a few minutes lessens the likelihood of grabbing fast food on the way home.

This recipe comes together quickly due to using canned goods, instead of dried beans. I like to use great northern beans, however any canned beans works. This is a moderately spicy chili. Adjust the heat level by adding or reducing the cayenne pepper. Use a small vegetable chopper to make quick work of prepping veggies.

Best Vegan Chili Recipes quick
Best Vegan Chili Recipes – quick bean chili

Four Bean Vegan Chili

I created this recipe shortly after becoming plant based. My dad used to make an amazing chili and this recipe is inspired by his, minus the ground beef.

The simple to make, hearty chili comes together in minutes, and uses easily found ingredients. I used organic, and non GMO, canned goods from the grocery store, with fresh veggies such as onion, green bell pepper and garlic.

Best Vegan Chili Recipes four bean
Best Vegan Chili Recipes – four bean

Spicy Lentil Chili

Lentils make a wonderful substitute for beans in this delicious chili. They are inexpensive, easy to prepare and packed with protein. The recipe includes vegetable stock. Make your own with veggie scraps HERE.

Best Vegan Chili Recipes lentil
Best Vegan Chili Recipes – spicy lentil

Instant Pot Vegan Chili

This Instant Pot Vegan Chili, from Choosing Chia, is loaded with protein, vegetables, and savory spices! It’s made with two types of beans, and uses a secret trick to create the perfect chili texture.

Best Vegan Chili Recipes instant pot
Best Vegan Chili Recipes – instant pot. Photo from Choosing Chia.

Vegan Black Bean Chili

From Midwest Foodie Blog, this chili is loaded with more than 50% of required daily fiber per serving and filled with fresh Mexican flavors. This chili fills you up and fuels you through a busy day!

Best Vegan Chili Recipes black bean
Best Vegan Chili Recipes – black bean. Photo from Midwest Foodie Blog.

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili

This slow cooker vegan chili recipe, from Happy Kitchen Rocks, delights the taste buds. It’s not only wholesome but delicious and easy to make. Try this vegan twist on a classic comfort food for the chilly days ahead.

Best Vegan Chili Recipes slow cooker
Best Vegan Chili Recipes – slow cooker, Photo from Happy Kitchen Rocks

Do You Have a Favorite Chili Recipe?

I hope you found new chili recipes to try in this round up! As the temperatures dip this month, it’s the perfect season for stirring up a big pot of chili.

Do you have a favorite chili recipe? Share it with me in the comments below!

Kitchen Helps from Amazon:

 


Journey With Healthy Me is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

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October 14 is National Dessert Day. This unique holiday celebrates indulging in the sweets. For many people, dessert is the best part of the meal. Over the years, sweet after dinner treats transformed from simple candied fruits and nuts to more elaborate concoctions. Today anything from store bought cookies to made from scratch pastries to a fancy mousse tower qualifies as dessert.

To participate in this special day, celebrants are encouraged to enjoy a sweet treat.

I decided to seize the opportunity to make a vegan, gluten free treat that didn’t require a lot of prep time.

I found this delightfully simple dessert on Pinterest. Check out the original recipe HERE. With a couple of slight alterations, I made these easy no bake peanut butter chocolate bars in minutes.

Check out my contribution to National Dessert Day!

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars title meme

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

This quick and easy recipe is perfect for an occasional snack. Using just six ingredients, these bars are vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free and dairy free. And the ingredients are common, in my kitchen. I typically have them on hand.

The peanut butter base combines pure maple syrup, gluten free flour, vanilla and creamy peanut butter. I use a sugar free peanut butter, Crazy Richard’s 100% Peanuts. It’s found in the jelly section at Wal-Mart and health conscious grocery stores.

Any gluten free flour will work. I normally use gluten free oat flour. However, I happened to have on hand a one-for-one gluten free flour so I used that. This brand is Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour gluten free. A cup of this four replaces a cup of regular flour.

And pure maple syrup makes an excellent substitute for sugar. Tonight I used the Natural Grocer’s house brand.

The topping is unsweetened cocoa powder, coconut oil and pure maple syrup.

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars mixing
Two bowls and six ingredients for easy no bake peanut butter chocolate bars.
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

Vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free and dairy free simple dessert.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 12 bars

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter I used no sugar added
  • 1 cup gluten free flour such as oat
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla

Chocolate Topping

  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted

Instructions
 

  • Line a square pan with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl combine peanut butter, gluten free flour, pure maple syrup and vanilla, stirring until smooth. Press into prepared pan.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together cocoa powder, pure maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Pour topping over peanut butter base, smoothing with a knife.
  • Chill in freezer for 15 minutes to set. Score and cut with a knife. Store left overs in a covered container in the refrigerator. Makes 12 - 16 bars.
Keyword Bars, Chocolate, Gluten Free, No Bake, Peanut Butter, Vegan
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars ready to go into the freezer.

The Taste Test

These bars took 10 minutes to prep. I popped them into the freezer and then prepared dinner. So easy!

After dinner, while a cup of peppermint tea steeped, I cut bars to sample. This simple recipe yields a delicious dessert, perfect with my cup of hot tea.

The bars have the consistency of fudge and they are just as rich. One bar satisfies completely. I enjoyed celebrating National Dessert Day with a wonderful treat that does not include guilt or unwanted foods.

I don’t indulge in dessert often. When I do, this is exactly what I want, a simple treat without sugar, dairy, gluten and eggs.

I won’t wait until next October and National Dessert Day, to make these easy no bake peanut butter chocolate bars again!

Do you have a favorite dessert?

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars tea time
Easy no bake peanut butter bars perfectly complement a cup of peppermint tea.

Try These Other Vegan Desserts:

Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Raw Wild Blueberry Pie

Vegan Gingerbread


 

Journey With Healthy Me is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging

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October 5 – 11, 2020 is designated as Active Aging Week this year. Celebrating the benefits of active living at any age, Active Aging Week showcases the capabilities of older adults as fully participating members of society.

Initiated in 2003 by the International Council on Active Aging, this week long celebration shows that adults age 50 and over can live fully in all areas of life. Active Aging Week promotes wellness activities and exercise plus healthier, more robust lifestyles.

This initiative is dear to me as the purpose of Journey With Healthy Me is to encourage others to experience health at every age. We do not need to consider ourselves shelved when we pass that 50 year mark. As we enter this golden season, our quality of life is greatly dependent on our daily health practices and our attitudes about aging.

At age 62, I’ve discovered that health and well being are very possible during my “senior” years. In fact, I feel more healthy than I have in many years.

Take a look at these seven ways to practice active aging, in recognition of this week AND to increase quality of life and overall wellness.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging title meme

It’s Never Too Late to Improve Health

Four plus years ago, I embraced a plant based lifestyle, primary for health reasons. The results were so astounding that my mother and Greg decided to join me in eating a different way.

At the time, in my late 50s, I’d experienced decades of chronic, constant inflammation and pain along with a host of other disorders. My mother also dealt with a variety of moderate to severe health issues while Greg suffered from minor to moderate ailments. We all discovered that it is never too late to improve health and wellness.

I went from using a cane and facing the prospect of requiring a wheelchair to becoming pain and inflammation free and walking unassisted. Mom and Greg experienced improvements in all of their health conditions. The lesson we learned is that changes in diet and activities bring about huge changes in the body.

Practicing active aging goes beyond exercise. It is a proactive way of living and in reality, a way of life.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging have fun
Who says adults over age 50 can’t have fun? Last year’s Halloween party.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging

Incorporate these practices into your life to create a healthier quality of life.

Engage With Others

It is important to connect frequently with others, especially as we age. Older adults who socialize enjoy better health and quality of life. Lack of connection with others can cause sleep disorders, raised blood pressure and increase the chance of premature death. Loneliness and isolation may bring on depression and anxiety. During this year of social distancing it is even more vital that older adults connect with loved ones and friends via phone calls, zoom meetings and messaging.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging engage
Seven ways to practice active aging – engage. When you can’t be close, stay connected in other ways. My sister and I with Mom.

Eat a Nutrient Rich Diet & Maintain a Healthy Weight

People require fewer calories as they age, however, they need more nutrients. Increase those nutrients by adding more fruits and veggies to the diet. Doing so helps prevent diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.

A highly nutritious diet also maintains a healthy weight which lessens the risk for disability later in life. Obesity worsens arthritis and raises the risks of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and sleep related breathing disorders.

As part of a healthy lifestyle, limit alcohol, processed foods and sugar (which increases inflammation). And don’t smoke. Smoking damages the lungs and increases the risks for heart disease, strokes and various forms of cancer.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging eat healthy
Eating healthy to maintain weight is one of seven ways to practice active aging.

Have a Positive Attitude About Aging

A Yale University study found that older adults who had positive attitudes about aging lived seven and a half years longer than those with negative attitudes. That’s a significant number of additional years to enjoy life! Rejecting negative stereotypes and beliefs, such as “As I get older, I am less useful” has a great impact on quality of life and longevity.

“Our study carries two messages,” the authors of the study said. “The discouraging one is that negative self perceptions can diminish life expectancy; the encouraging one is that positive self perceptions can prolong life expectancy.”

Older adults with positive attitudes are also 50% less likely to develop dementia.

Practice shifting negative beliefs about aging. Create positive affirmations to repeat daily such as, “I am enjoying life.” Or say “I am healthy and active.” and “I am grateful for my good health.”

If we say often enough, “I’m getting old and useless” then we believe it as truth. And the body listens to what the minds repetitively says.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging positive attitude
Seven ways to practice active aging – positive attitude. My sister and I enjoying life in London, England.

Active Lifestyle

According to a study shared in 2017, exercise and moving the body, for 30 minutes five days a week, reduces premature death by 25%. Choose from walking, yoga, stretching, gentle aerobics, dancing, household chores or gardening. Sports such as golf, swimming and tennis are excellent as well as long as joints are healthy and moving freely. And actively playing with grandchildren counts!

Exercise helps older adults maintain strength and mobility and lessens the risk of injuries. It also improves mood.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging exercise
Seven ways to practice active aging – exercise for 30 minutes a day

Get Enough Sleep

Older adults may not require as much sleep as they did when younger. However, the quality of sleep becomes important. Many seniors experience restless sleep or may wake up and find it difficult to go back to sleep. Sleep deprivation is linked to cardiovascular disease, inflammation and decreased immunity. Plus it causes fatigue.

Most experts agree that seven to nine hours of sleep is optimal. More importantly, regularly established sleep patterns are associated with longer life and greater well being.

Try creating bedtime routines that prepare the body for sleep such as limiting electronics, taking a warm bath, listening to soothing music, sleeping in a dark room and lowering the thermostat.

And napping for an hour in the afternoon improves memory and the ability to think clearly, while boosting energy. Don’t feel guilty for taking a nap! Shift that attitude and think of it as a reboot for the brain and body.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging sleep
Seven ways to practice active aging – sleep. Sometimes a nap sneaks up on you! Catching a nap on the train to London.

Manage Stress

Chronic stress results in higher risks for cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance and decreased immune function. And stress accelerates cellular aging, creating inflammation throughout the body. Additionally, it decreases the ability to think clearly and lessens enjoyment of life.

Common causes of stress for older adults include financial strain, relationship difficulties, work related issues and care giving pressures. To reduce chronic stress improve sleep habits, exercise, eat a nutrient rich diet, meditate and try relaxation techniques. Keep a journal and use writing as a way to explore causes of stress and identify patterns. And finally, avoid people who stress you out and situations that increase anxiety. If the news creates stress, stop listening to the news.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging relax
Manage stress with relaxation and other techniques. My favorite way to relax…afternoon tea time.

Keep Learning

This is my favorite active aging practice. Experiencing and learning new things stimulates the brain. And that mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise. Daily learning and trying new things sharpens the mind, boosts memory and concentration and lowers the risk of dementia. Plus, in my experience, it’s a fun way to engage with life and find tremendous enjoyment.

Learn a new language, hobby or skill. Travel to places you’ve never visited before, even if it’s in your own city. Create a new recipe. Listen to a new genre of music. Truly, the possibilities for new experiences are endless.

Last year, at ages 61 and 79 respectively, my mother and I did our first ever photo shoot for a national magazine! What a fun first experience for both of us.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging - try new things
Seven ways to practice active aging – try new things.

What Practices Will You Include?

Getting older doesn’t have to be a negative experience. These seven ways to practice active aging offer steps toward being healthy at EVERY age.

I am enjoying these beautiful years with health, energy and a passion for living life to the fullest as my most authentic self. One of my greatest joys, beyond spending time with my family, is continuing to learn and grow as I explore the world and try new experiences.

I’m not slowing down anytime soon.

Seven Ways to Practice Active Aging travel

Practice Active Aging with These Amazon Finds:

 


Journey With Healthy Me is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate program provides a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, all at no extra cost to you.

 

I am not a medical practitioner. I study health and wellness related topics and share experiences from my own personal healing journey.