December 1-7 is National Handwashing Awareness Week – an important reminder about washing our hands thoroughly and often – especially during cold and flu season. Keeping your hands clean is one of the best ways to keep germs away and prevent illnesses. Here are some tips to help develop good hand washing habits.  

Dr. Brian Nguyen, a pediatrician Dignity Health Medical Foundation - Woodland and Davis, has several tips to help keep kids with allergies safe during Halloween.

First, if your child has a severe food allergy, talk to your pediatrician or allergist about trick-or-treating, and be aware of your child's limitations. This doesn't mean your child has to miss out on the fun, by any means! In fact, healthy parents are implementing a shift away from the importance of candy on Halloween. Remember to discuss with your children all the other reasons Halloween is fun (you get to dress up, play games, be with friends, etc.).

When was the last time you had your hearing tested? The American Academy of Audiology and The Academy of Doctors of Audiology, along with many researchers and specialists, are now urging anyone age 50 and older to have annual hearing tests as part of a healthy person physical. Just as all of us are used to having our eyes tested, we should have our ears tested, too!

When was your last tetanus shot? Knowing the causes and signs of tetanus, as well as the appropriate cadence for vaccinations, can help you prevent this painful and potentially fatal condition. Dr. John Martinez, urgent care physician with Dignity Health Medical Foundation in Woodland, shares four things adults should know about tetanus. 

Dr. Harshit Shah is an endocrinologist with Dignity Health Medical Group in Bakersfield and is passionate about advising patients on the best diets to manage conditions like diabetes. 

Based on the evidence, I recommend a whole food, plant-based diet, which is low in fat, and high in minimally processed and whole foods, for a healthy living. These days, nutrition labels and food labels can be very confusing, so I'd like to share some tips!

1. Focus on Foods Without Labels
It is a great goal to try to only eat foods that do not require labels. You want your refrigerator and pantry to be full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy nuts, and legumes. Most of these items can be purchased without packaging (unless the package just functions to hold single ingredient like beans), which is another plus!