health blog Archives | Carson Tahoe Health

3 Easy Ways to Grow a Garden in Northern Nevada

Physical activity and mental stimulation can be found as close as your own backyard. Think you can’t grow a garden in Northern Nevada, given our dry climate? Think again! Kim Mason, a registered dietician at Carson Tahoe Health, explains the following easier-than-you-might-think options to grow a garden that lasts all year long!   Option 1 – Grow a “Container Garden” You don’t need a plot of land to grow fresh vegetables. Many vegetables lend themselves well to container gardening. With some thought to selecting bush or dwarf varieties, almost any vegetable can be adapted to growing in a pot. even if you want your favorite full-size variety, if you give it a large enough pot and plenty of soil and …


6 Tips to Keep Your Feet Healthy

Healthy feet are important for feeling good and staying active. So if you neglect your feet, that can lead to unnecessary pain and other foot problems. Fortunately, it’s easy to keep your feet healthy. Use these tips to keep yourself active and your feet pain-free, brought to you by Carson Tahoe Health Podiatrist, Dr. Keith Card: 1. Practice good foot care. Check your feet regularly, or have a member of your family check them if you are unable to see the bottom of your feet.  A mirror on the floor my assist you if no one is available to help. 2. It is important to keep blood circulating to and from your feet as much as possible. Do this by …


Family Fun: Can You Dig It?

If you’ve been looking for an active, creative way to spend time with your kids or grandchildren, planting a vegetable garden is an ideal spring and summer project rich with teachable moments, exploration, and adventure—right in your own backyard. Don’t have a yard? Don’t worry. Many veggies and herbs can be grown in pots, small planters, or large containers—anywhere they can soak up the sun—be it on a deck, patio, or windowsills throughout the house. No matter if you’re growing tomatoes, flowers, or lifelong memories, gardening is an easy way to enrich the lives of every member of your family by learning how to bring “yard to table.” Studies show children who help plant and care for homegrown vegetables at …


Making Smoothies that are Flavorful AND Nutritious

Nancy Horn, owner of Dish Cafe and Catering and writer for the RGJ’s “Dish it Up” series, asked Carson Tahoe Health’s Registered Dietician, Kim Mason, for a nutritional analysis of one of her favorite smoothie recipes. Some of Nancy’s favorite smoothie ingredients include a bit of milk (especially almond milk), summer berries and fresh mint. Protein powder also is essential. These days, many folks are taking some of their meals in liquid form and in a rainbow of colors. These drinks are everywhere, displayed across the glossy pages of magazines, discussed in health food forums online, riding shotgun in cup holders, seen in the hurried hands of people scurrying to work, or pulled out at lunchtime to be sipped while …


How Fit Are You? A Fitness Test for Adults

You owe it to yourself to make fitness a priority. Physical fitness can help prevent more than 40 chronic diseases including potential killers such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and even cancer. But how do you know whether you’re fit? Your overall fitness is a measure of four physical abilities — endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility — and body composition or body mass index (BMI). BMI tracks height and weight only while a body composition test, which calculates your fat and lean muscle mass, is an excellent indicator of overall fitness. For a more hands-on approach, try these five fitness tests to see how you stack up. 1. Endurance and Cardiovascular Fitness Tests Your endurance level reflects the health …