HEALTH
NYC
past the
Omicron
peak
BY ROBERT
POZARYCKI
The previous projections
that Governor
Kathy Hochul and
health experts made about
the current COVID-19 crisis
appear to be coming true:
the Omicron-fueled surge in
cases in New York is starting
to ebb as sharply as it rose
around Christmas time.
The latest data from the
New York City Health Department
still shows “very
high transmission” of COVID
19 across the city, with
thousands of new cases being
detected each day. But
the number of infections and
hospitalizations related to
COVID-19 are begin to decrease,
signaling that the Five
Boroughs are moving past
the peak of the pandemic’s
biggest wave.
Progress could be seen
in the 7-day positivity rates
across the Five boroughs. Fifty
two areas reported 30%
or higher COVID-19 positivity
between Jan. 5-11, but
no areas of the city has rates
exceeding 40%. But during
the previous week, Dec. 29,
2021-Jan. 4, 2022, the city
had 23 areas of the city with
40% or higher rates.
The citywide 7-day positivity
rate, as of Jan. 14, was
27.65%, down from 32.59%
on Jan. 4.
Another encouraging sign
is the plummeting citywide
transmission rate, which
tracks the spread of the virus
citywide. It remains very
high, at 1,974.72 cases per
100,000 people, as of Jan.
11, but that’s way down from
transmission rate reported
three days earlier, which was
3,098.35 on Jan. 8.
The number of new COVID
19 cases fell from 36,901
on Jan. 8 to 23,518 on Jan.
11, while the 7-day hospitalization
rate plummeted from
939 on Jan. 8 to just 597 on
Jan. 11.
Improving health habits
Five easy ways to make your positive wellness changes last
The last year and a half has
been a strong reminder of
the importance of good
health. Statistics show that 73%
of Americans consider their
health and wellness a priority
and are reevaluating their own
lifestyle habits. In a recent survey
of 13,000 people, (including
2,000 Americans), commissioned
by Herbalife Nutrition
and The Council for Responsible
Nutrition (CRN), 89% of
respondents globally reported
they are taking steps to improve
their health.
As a result of the changes
people have made, more than
half of those surveyed said
they are now able to exercise
longer without feeling winded,
and 48% have gone down a
size or notch in their belt.
Wondering what you can
do to make a lasting change
in your overall wellness? Here
are fi ve ways you can start
improving your health habits
today, with insight from Dr.
Kent Bradley, chief health and
nutrition offi cer at Herbalife
Nutrition:
1. Eat with nutrition
in mind
Improving health habits often
starts in the kitchen, but maybe
you need a few ideas to inspire
you. Learning new recipes is
easier than ever, with options
just a keyword search away.
There are hundreds of websites
and instructional videos that offer
great tutorials, and you can
fi nd recipes for virtually any
ingredient to suit any taste or
diet, whether it’s paleo, vegetarian
or vegan, taking the work
out of discovering delicious and
healthy new dishes.
2. Skip the junk food
Along with eating healthy
foods, it’s also important to
cut down on, or remove, junk
food from your diet. It’s easy
to reach for that bag of chips
or fi nd yourself in line at the
drive-through when you haven’t
planned a healthy, delicious and
fi lling meal at home. Successful
meal prepping begins by making
a list before you go shopping.
This allows you to be thoughtful
and intentional about what you
purchase at the grocery store.
avoiding takeout.
3. Take vitamins or
supplements
Taking a daily supplement
can help ensure your nutrient
intake is complete. Supplements
can help fi ll nutritional gaps
year-round and some support
your immunity. Supplements
can also support other areas of
wellbeing, whether you’re looking
for a pre-workout boost
to help you reach for that next
personal record, interested in
getting enough protein to repair
your muscles after a session of
heavy lifting or just looking to
maintain overall wellness. And
according to the survey results,
many respondents plan to incorporate
more vitamins and
supplements into their diet and
69% said they feel knowledgeable
about the health benefi ts
those can offer.
4. Exercise more
Starting a new fi tness routine
can be a little daunting, but
there are apps that can support
PHOTO VIA GETTY IMAGES
you no matter your current fi tness
level. Free streaming sites
like HerbalifeNutritionFitness.
com can provide workouts and
tips to help keep your training
fun and safe so you can avoid
injuries and stay consistent.
Consider joining a local, outdoor
running or walking group.
Not only will you meet new
people but working out with
friends or like-minded people
will help keep you accountable
and on track to meet your
goals. Whatever you do, choose
an activity you enjoy and you’ll
be more likely to stick to it.
5. Prioritize sleep
Your sleep schedule plays a
big role in weight maintenance
and mental alertness. A lack of
sleep can lead to an increase
in appetite, which can quickly
derail your wellness goals. On
the fl ip side, getting the proper
amount of sleep, which experts
defi ne as between 7-9 hours a
night, can increase your metabolism,
helping to burn off extra
calories throughout the day.
Courtesy BPT
10 January 20, 2022 Schneps Media