Cold Symptoms Reduced, Thanks To Canada

The equivalent of the FDA in Canada has approved Cold-fx, a ginseng-derived product that "helps reduce the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms by building the immune system."

Taken according to instructions, this product has significantly helped during the cold season.

Ask your doctor before taking this medication especially if you are using blood thinners because ginseng may act as an anti-coagulant.

For more on alternative medicine, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Seniors Need To Stay Warm When It's Cold Out

A drop in temperature might not concern younger people but for an older adult, it can bring on the onset of hypothermia, a condition that causes the body's temperature to drop to 96 degrees or lower. Underlying medical conditions and inactivity can cause diminished reaction to cold.

Hypothermia is serious and should be attended to immediately. Symptoms include slowed or slurred speech, sleepiness or confusion, shivering or stiffness in arms and legs, poor control over body movements, or a weak pulse.

This is what you can do to prevent hypothermia in the elderly:

1. Keep the home at 68-70 degrees.

2. Layer clothes including long underwear. Wear warm socks and slippers and keep a toasty blanket close at hand. Wear a hat or cap, mittens or gloves and a scarf outdoors.

3. Make sure that your medications don't increase your risk.

For more about hypothermia and other first aids, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

A Life Crisis Can Take Many Forms: Tools To Help During a Crisis

When you're in the midst of a crisis, it is difficult to think clearly and make rational decisions. That's why it is important to have the right tools to help you get where you want to be.

A life crisis can take many forms.

You might be dealing with a long-term illness or disability.

Or your marriage might have ended.

You might have joined the ranks of the unemployed.

Or you might be suffering the devastating loss of a spouse.

Sometimes the crisis happens so quickly that you have little time to prepare.

That's when you can thank AARP for its well-thought-out escape plans. Use them. They really help. I know.

For more on stress management or grief, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Taming The Open Sky: Some Seniors Go The Limit In Sports

I often watch hang-gliders take off from the park's high plateau and float above me. My mind drifts to the possibility of my attempting this sport. Why is it, then, that the only picture I can conjure up is a stack of my bones (similar to twigs on a campfire)?

I reflect back to my high school drill team days. They went left. I went right. They went forward and I marched backward. I felt like one of the 3 Stooges providing comic relief to anyone who forfeited a snack or bath room break to watch the half-time show.

I continued this tradition in college where I audited a jazz dance class. To my delight the elderly instructor asked me to demonstrate a move for the dance majors ONCE.

It boggles my mind that I produced a high level gymnast and an athletically talented kindergartner.

Some Seniors (not me) are testing their limits. They're enjoying the challenges or competition of sports.

For more on senior sports, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Danger In Your Pantry Or Medicine Cabinet: Seniors Ignore Expiration Dates

Guess what? Moms aren't perfect. But my mom has a "tragic flaw."

Little was more fun than our family's rivalry over finding the oldest foodstuff or medication in mom's pantry or medicine cabinet. As soon as we'd arrive at her house, we'd scramble towards our treasure (barely greeting the anxiously awaiting mom/grandma!) robustly declaring a victory when we'd find a bulging (unsafe), non-dated item or a well-expired antibiotic.

Mom thinks that dates are scams by companies to make the consumer buy more. To a degree she's correct. According to a medical newsletter expiration dates do not mean that the medicine is not effective. In fact, many are safe well beyond the printed date--so long as they are stored correctly--in a cool, dry, dark place--which means not in pockets, cars, or bathrooms.

For more on Health and Wellness Safety, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Play it safe with your medicine.

For Women Only: Undergarment Essentials

I was getting ready to leave for a party when Car-Man stopped me.

"Honey, you look great but I don't like the panty-lines."

Been there, done that. I should have known when I dipped into the drawer and selected the first pair that my fingers pinched.

So today I searched the web and found Tomima Edmark's "Underwear After 50: 9 Essential Pieces."

This is what she maintains should be in our wardrobe:

1. A biker pant shapewear piece to smooth us out

2. A shaping camisole (I didn't even know there was such a thing!) to remove bumps and lumps on our back and sides

3. A seamless cup bra to go with t-shirts

4. A fun, black, lacy bra for when you want to feel sexy

5. A well-supported strapless bra for...whenever

6. A front-closure or racerback bra for sleeveless garments

7. Bikini-style panties (I was surprised here but Edmark insists they are most flattering)

8. A comfortable thong (ditto above)

9. Boy shorts that are comfortable, smooth, and oh yes, comes far enough down on the leg so you (or Car-Man) don't see panty-lines.

Stay away from white bras. Nude is best.

For more on women's clothes, visit 50somethinginfo.com

The Case Of The Missing Struedel: Boomer And Senior Hoard Goodies

This is one of my favorite times of year because our dear friends, Mario and Virginia, celebrate each anniversary in our town and we always have dessert and the customary annual catch-up conversation together. Virginia gives us the absolute best biscotti (ever). This time I told her that I'm not going to let my Mom know about it because she'd swipe it all.

"Do as I say, Not as I do" was never more applicable than with my Mom.

Mom always says you need to share. But just today she told me about the time she bought some struedel at a bazaar and broke her hard and fast rule.

Years ago she was in Victoria, B.C., where she sampled some struedel lovingly baked by a congregant. Mom bought all 8 bags, leaving nothing for any other prospective customer. As Mom said, "The struedel was baked just the way Mama used to make it."

This morning Mom fessed up that she ate every single piece of struedel in those 8 bags, "not sharing a single crumb with anyone else!" She also revealed that she has proof of the incident--because it all went to and still remains on her tuchas (rear end).

So I guess I get my "hoarding" instinct honestly. All that See's candy given to me by my library students and secretly stored in the dining room drawer also made its way to my backside.