Medicaid cuts may threaten care for nursing home and elder-care residents
MARIETTA, Ga. — Traversing the halls of his nursing home in a wheelchair, Owen Allen listened to a visiting guitarist play 'Sweet Caroline,' then chipped away at a thousand-piece puzzle in the sunroom.
Since muscular dystrophy struck and his legs started giving out, the 64-year-old Atlanta native relies on Medicaid to keep him in the 130-bed home where staff help him pull weights to regain his strength.
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Adding This One Berry to Your Breakfast Slashes LDL Cholesterol, According to Cardiologists
Adding This One Berry to Your Breakfast Slashes LDL Cholesterol, According to Cardiologists originally appeared on Parade. By now, you probably know the basics of a heart-healthydiet: lots of vegetables, plenty of fruit, some whole grains, healthy fats and a bit of lean meat or fish, with minimal processed foods and limited amounts of trans fats, cholesterol and said, while all fruit is good for you (unless, obviously, you have allergies to any of them!), not all fruits are created equal, nutritionally speaking. There's one specific berry variety that really warms the hearts of cardiologists for its LDL cholesterol-lowering benefits. What is it and why is it so fabulous, particularly for breakfast? Read on to find out.🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊 This is one time when having the blues is a good thing."As a cardiologist, I regularly recommend blueberries to my patients as part of a heart-healthy diet," , director of cardiology at John F. Kennedy University Medical Center in New Jersey, tells Parade. "These small but mighty berries are nutritional powerhouses packed with anthocyanins, the compounds that give them their deep blue color. Research consistently shows that people who consume blueberries regularly have improved cardiovascular outcomes. For patients with elevated LDL levels, I often suggest incorporating a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries into their daily routine as part of a comprehensive approach to cholesterol management." "Clinical studies indicate that regular blueberry consumption can lead to modest improvements in total cholesterol levels," Dr. Feingold continues. "More importantly, blueberries appear to help optimize the ratio between good HDL cholesterol and harmful LDL cholesterol. The anti-inflammatory properties of blueberries also play a role, as chronic inflammation can negatively affect cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular health. The research on blueberries and LDL cholesterol is particularly encouraging. Several well-designed studies have shown that consuming blueberries regularly can lead to meaningful reductions in LDL cholesterol levels, typically in the range of 5% to 15% when consumed as part of a balanced diet."Dr. Feingold isn't alone in his love for blueberries. , board-certified internist, cardiologist, interventional cardiologist and professor of cardiology at New York Medical College, gives more insight into how they may reduce LDL "The fiber in blueberries helps the body eliminate (or not absorb) certain cholesterol, leading to reduced circulating levels," he says. "One randomized placebo-controlled study showed that six months of blueberry consumption improved 'good' cholesterol, known as HDL cholesterol, and improved blood vessel relaxation."Similar studies have so far indicated improvements in HDL ("good") cholesterol, which in some ways is more powerful than reducing the bad cholesterol of LDL, Dr. Naidu continues. "Nonetheless, as HDL rises, LDL is increasingly cleared and thus LDL, or 'bad,' cholesterol may also be reduced. Increasing HDL is very difficult to do with medications alone, which is a good reason to supplement with fruits that may do this, such as blueberries." That said, no food is miraculous, so don't think you can sub these tasty morsels for medication that your cardiologist or physicians prescribe to you. "Particularly in those at great cardiovascular risk or with metabolic syndrome, consistent intake of blueberries usually helps the body's lipid profile—especially when combined with a diet low in refined sweets and saturated fats," , cardiologist and founder of Manhattan Cardiology and co-founder of LabFinder, advises. "It has been established that blueberries can reduce oxidized LDL. They may also assist in modifying the form of LDL particles, which helps to reduce the likelihood that these particles may develop atherosclerosis. Still, it's important to clear the common belief that 'natural foods' could replace medications, including statins."Related: Let's be clear: No matter when you eat blueberries, you'll see health benefits. However, noshing on them for your first meal of the day may be even better than snacking on them later on."While blueberries are beneficial any time of day, there are several reasons why morning consumption with breakfast may be optimal," Dr. Feingold says. "First, starting the day with antioxidant-rich foods helps establish a foundation of cardiovascular protection that can last throughout the day. More practically, having blueberries with breakfast often means pairing them with other heart-healthy foods like oatmeal, Greek yogurt or whole grain cereals. This combination enhances the absorption of nutrients and provides sustained energy release, helping to stabilize blood sugar levels throughout the morning. Additionally, many people find it easier to maintain consistent healthy habits when they're incorporated into morning routines."Dr. Feingold adds, "The fiber in blueberries helps slow the absorption of other breakfast foods, preventing rapid spikes in blood glucose that can stress the cardiovascular system."Related: Lower LDL cholesterol isn't the only punch these bad boys pack when it comes to cardiovascular benefits. Blueberries benefit basically your entire body, not just your heart, no matter when you consume them."The most important factor is consistency. Whether you enjoy blueberries at breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or in an evening smoothie, the key is making them a regular part of your diet," Dr. Feingold says. "The cardiovascular benefits come from sustained, long-term consumption rather than the specific timing of when you eat them."Related: Antioxidants are good for fighting cellular aging and inflammation and are particularly beneficial to brain health. Cardiologists we spoke to specifically pointed to the anthocyanins in blueberries as bringing serious antioxidant benefits that you may not find in other berry varieties."Antioxidants help prevent LDL cholesterol from becoming oxidized," Dr. Feingold says. "Oxidized LDL is particularly dangerous because it's more likely to form plaques in arterial walls. By reducing both the quantity of LDL cholesterol and preventing its oxidation, blueberries provide a double benefit for cardiovascular protection.""The antioxidants in blueberries help reduce inflammation throughout the cardiovascular system," he Dr. Naidu explains that some studies have shown blueberries improve nitric oxide production, which can, in turn, boost brain and vascular health and potentially prevent stroke."Nitric oxide is a naturally occurring relaxant of blood vessels, and this function may underlie the overall heart and brain health benefits seen in patients," he notes. "In addition to lowering blood pressure, nitric oxide makes the blood vessels resistant to plaque buildup and blockage development.""Studies have demonstrated that regular blueberry consumption can improve blood vessel function, reduce arterial stiffness and support healthy blood pressure levels," Dr. Feingold tells Parade. "For my patients looking to make simple dietary changes that benefit their heart, adding a serving of blueberries daily is one of the easiest recommendations I can make."Related: If part of your heart health journey involves weight loss, blueberries are a great choice to add to your diet: Dr. Naidu points out that not only are they rich in fiber, which will keep you feeling fuller for longer, but a full cup of blueberries is only about 80 calories. Up Next:Dr. Aaron Feingold, MD Dr. Srihari S. Naidu, MD, FACC, FAHA, FSCAI Dr. Robert Segal, MD Adding This One Berry to Your Breakfast Slashes LDL Cholesterol, According to Cardiologists first appeared on Parade on Jun 6, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
38 minutes ago
- Forbes
How Campus Counseling Centers Can Increase Capacity With Little Money
Broken piggy bank getty Some might believe that increasing the capacity of campus counseling centers to better serve students requires a large financial investment. This perception might seem daunting, especially in light of a 2025 report by Inside Higher Ed describing significant budget cuts at multiple colleges. However, below are five possible ways to increase the capacity of campus counseling centers with little money. A 2022 report by the American Medical Association defined scope of practice as the range of activities that health professionals are authorized, trained and prepared to perform. Health professionals develop a scope of care statement to inform the public about the services they provide. This makes it efficient for when the public is searching for a provider and prevents providers from absorbing into their practice clients with concerns beyond the scope of care. It might be tempting to believe that campus counseling centers should have an unlimited scope of care, and many centers don't provide a concise scope of care statement. However, this goes against best practices. Scope of care statements which summarize the services and limitations of counseling centers are needed. In addition, all staff counselors need to operate under the stated scope of care. When different staff counselors provide different scopes of care to different students, this reduces capacity because stakeholders might expect services that cannot be regularly provided. A indicated by a 2023 report from the Center of Collegiate Mental Health, counseling centers gave 56% of all appointments to 20% of clients. Many of these clients were likely those with high clinical needs who were absorb into their counseling centers' normal operations. As discussed in a 2024 report on using an absorption model to treat students with high needs is often ineffective. It's likely more effective to arrange specialized services for these students, and there are several ways to do this. As discussed in the report on some centers have partnered with treatment centers to bring high level services onto campus. Others might develop memorandums of understanding with off-campus providers to facilitate referrals. Regardless, counseling centers should avoid an absorption model unless they have high capacity and decide to intentionally utilize this model. It's important to note that third-party telehealth vendors may or may not be able to treat students with high clinical needs. Some schools might financially invest into a third-party vendor thinking that more online counselors will automatically increase capacity (and without thinking about scope of care). However, if the counseling center is spending the majority of sessions on high needs students, then a more effective, and often less expensive approach, might be to arrange specialized services for this group of students. A discussed in a 2022 report by Inside Higher Ed, many current counseling center's clients have previously received services from the center. It's not surprising that, without after-care services, many students with episodic symptoms will return to the center and need additional services. There are several ways to provide after-care services. Some centers might provide individualized self-management plans upon termination of counseling. As discussed in the report by Inside Higher Ed, other centers might expand the principles within the field of substance use disorders and promote a mindset of recovery and peer support for those who've completed counseling. The report by Inside Higher Ed also discussed how many staff counselors experience high levels of burnout. Because counselors with high levels of burnout might be less efficient, counseling centers should address sources of high burnout. For some counselors, serving on crisis/on-call rotations is a high source of burnout; however, other staff members might enjoy this work more than carrying a caseload. Thus, realigning staff duties to accommodate these preferences might be helpful. Other options include flex-scheduling, pre-determined caseload sizes, reducing outside committee assignments, and regular team building and self-care activities. Many counseling centers have a robust mental health outreach program, but sometimes these programs are similar to those provided by a campus health promotion office. For large campuses, redundant programing is often needed, and there may be times in which saturating a campus with an outreach initiative is warranted. However, if a counseling center is struggling with capacity, and the campus has an active health promotion office, then it might be helpful for the health promotion office to take the lead in conducting outreaches. It's possible that other campus partners can also meet certain sub-clinical needs better than the counseling center. For example, a student success office might be better equipped to address concerns related to procrastination and time management. Likewise, a student activities office might be better equipped to address homesickness. Few, if any, campus partners can provide the clinical services that the counseling center provides. Thus, avoiding redundant services is often a key to increasing capacity.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
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These 2 Foods May Help Lower Your Chronic Disease Risk, New Study Says
Reviewed by Dietitian Annie Nguyen, M.A., RDA new study suggests that eating a cup of black beans or chickpeas each day offers protective health benefits. The black bean group had lower inflammation, while the chickpea group had lower cholesterol. Both black beans and chickpeas are good sources of plant-based protein and if the key to a healthier heart and improved metabolic health was sitting in your pantry all along? A new study shines a spotlight on the humble black bean and chickpea, both affordable and versatile staples, as potential gamechangers for reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Researchers have discovered that regularly eating just a cup of beans a day may offer significant benefits, and the results were shared this week at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Orlando, Florida. Let's unpack what they found. To determine how certain foods may impact health outcomes, a total of 72 adults with prediabetes participated and were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was instructed to consume one of three daily options for 12 weeks: 1 cup of black beans, 1 cup of chickpeas or 1 cup of rice as a control. Researchers allowed participants to remain in their regular home environments, referred to as "free-living conditions," rather than keeping them in a controlled laboratory setting. By allowing participants to maintain their normal lifestyles while incorporating the assigned food into their everyday meals, the study aimed to imitate realistic dietary practices. To measure the effects of these dietary changes, researchers used a variety of health markers. Blood samples were collected at the start of the study, midway at six weeks, and again at the conclusion of the 12 weeks. These samples were analyzed to track significant biochemical changes, including cholesterol levels, inflammation markers and glucose metabolism. Additionally, glucose tolerance tests were performed at the beginning and the end of the study to further evaluate insulin response and blood sugar control. Over the 12-week study period, researchers observed notable improvements in markers of heart and metabolic health among participants who consumed either black beans or chickpeas daily. For the chickpea group, total cholesterol levels decreased significantly by nearly 15 milligrams per deciliter, dropping from an average of 200.4 mg/dL to 185.8 mg/dL. This reduction is significant, as high cholesterol is a major factor contributing to heart disease. Meanwhile, participants who incorporated black beans into their diet saw significant reductions in inflammation, as evidenced by lower levels of the pro-inflammatory marker interleukin-6. These findings highlight how even simple dietary changes like swapping in nutrient-dense foods such as beans and chickpeas can have measurable health outcomes. Interestingly, while both chickpeas and black beans showed benefits in cholesterol and inflammation markers, the study did not find significant differences in glucose metabolism or blood sugar levels across any of the groups by the end of the study. Despite this, researchers stress the importance of legumes as a versatile, affordable, and accessible food option capable of supporting overall health, particularly for individuals at risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. It is important to acknowledge this study's limitations. First, the study's relatively small sample size of 72 participants may not fully represent the broader population, making it necessary to conduct larger studies to confirm these findings. Additionally, the study focused specifically on individuals with prediabetes, which means that the results may not directly apply to other populations or those without metabolic risks. Another consideration is the short duration of the study: 12 weeks may not capture the long-term effects of integrating chickpeas or black beans into the diet. Lastly, while improvements in cholesterol and inflammation markers were noted, the lack of significant changes in glucose metabolism highlights that bean consumption alone may not address all aspects of metabolic health. Finally, it is important to note that this data was not published in a peer-reviewed journal. While the findings provide valuable insights, the lack of peer review underscores the need for cautious interpretation and further validation by the scientific community. These findings have real-life implications for anyone looking to improve their heart and metabolic health through simple dietary changes. Beans and chickpeas, which are affordable and widely available, can be seamlessly incorporated into everyday meals to help support health, especially for people with pre-diabetes. Both of these legumes also offer satisfying protein and fiber in every bite, making them a budget-friendly way to stretch your meals—especially soups and pastas—and enjoy a filling lunch or dinner. Here are some simple ways you can include black beans and chickpeas in your day: Add them to salads. Toss black beans or chickpeas into your salads for added protein and texture. Blend them into dips. Create homemade hummus using chickpeas or a black bean dip as a healthy snack option. Use them in soups or stews. Black beans and chickpeas are perfect additions to soups, stews, and chilis. Try our Black Bean Soup for a satisfying recipe. Add them to grain bowls. Incorporate them with quinoa, rice, or other grains alongside roasted vegetables for a balanced meal. Use them in wraps or tacos. Fill tortillas or wraps with spiced black beans or chickpeas for a quick and delicious option—we love our Black Bean-Avocado Wrap for an easy lunch you can even take on the go. Bake them into snacks. Roast chickpeas with spices for a crunchy snack or use black beans in brownies for a nutritious twist on dessert. A new, non-peer-reviewed study suggests that eating black beans and chickpeas offers health benefits that can help protect you from chronic disease. In particular, black beans may reduce chronic inflammation and chickpeas may be helpful for lower cholesterol. The results of this study serve as a that small, intentional dietary changes can have a meaningful impact on overall health. Incorporating nutrient-dense foods like black beans and chickpeas into your meals not only supports heart health and reduces inflammation but also underscores the importance of affordable and accessible solutions to combat chronic diseases—no complicated or fancy diet required! Combining these dietary shifts with other practices like regular exercise, sufficient sleep, and stress management could further amplify their benefits. Read the original article on EATINGWELL
