Think Eating Processed Food Is No Big Deal? The Effect It May Have On Your Immune System May Change Your Mind

Many Americans are now forced to assess their health and face the fact that it might be a good idea to finally get rid of excess weight and address metabolic issues. Being overweight or obese and/or having issues such as diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are conditions that can wreak havoc on the immune system by promoting chronic inflammation and other problems.

Don’t Let Muscle Cramps Cramp Your Workout Style

It’s so discouraging to be in the middle of a really good workout, or, in my case, during a golf game, and get derailed by a muscle cramp. Also called muscle spasms or a ‘Charley/Charlie horse’ (when occurring in the legs), muscle cramps are defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as sudden and involuntary contractions or spasms in one or more of your muscles. That sounds about right! To some, muscle cramps may just be a nuisance, but I believe that anything that interferes with you being physically active (which is such a key pillar to good health and wellness) must be addressed. And, of course, muscle cramps are uncomfortable!

Confused About COVID-19 Vaccines? This May Help.

If you’re confused about the different COVID-19 vaccines currently available (there are three as of now), as well as those in the pipeline, you are not alone. With the flood of information about the vaccines – some accurate and some not – it is only natural to wonder if they are safe, if they work, if one is better than another or whether you should wait for “the best.” You also may not be sure about how they work or what the difference is between “efficacy” and “effectiveness” when it comes to protecting you and your loved ones from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 disease. And if you’re like me, you probably want to know what you can do to stay healthy before you get vaccinated and whether there is anything you can do to maximize the vaccine’s protection.

Do Antinutrients Get a Bad Rap?

The latest foods to find themselves portrayed as dietary “villains” are those that contain what are known as antinutrients. The word itself is almost enough to make any health-minded person run in the other direction avoid them at all costs. After all, by definition antinutrients are compounds found in plant and animal foods that inhibit our bodies’ ability to absorb these and other foods’ various nutrients.

Despite Global Efforts to Eradicate it, Tuberculosis is Still a Leading Cause of Death

While public health measures and modern medicine have greatly reduced the incidence and mortality rates of TB, the disease still kills between 1.5 and 2 million people around the world ever year. To give you some perspective, this is about the same number of people who have died from Covid-19 disease over the past year.

Be Proactive About Parkinson’s Disease With These 2 Vitamins

The brain is the most complex organ of the human body. Weighing three pounds, the brain has about 100 billion neurons (nerve cells). Without our brains, we could not walk, talk, eat, breathe, control our heart rate and so much more. I cannot express enough how important it is to be proactive about brain health. Some medical research suggests that we slowly start to lose some of our cognitive skills at the ripe old age of 27!

Don’t Like The Cold? Wait Until You Try Cold Weather Exercise

2021 is in full swing. Of course, many of us have that very common New Year resolution: lose some weight and get in shape. If you are feeling discouraged because so many gyms across the country are still closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, I have some good news for you. A recent study found evidence which suggests that exercising in cold weather could burn more fat.

Be Proactive About Lyme Disease

You may already know that lyme disease comes from a tick bite. It can cause very uncomfortable symptoms, including fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash. If left untreated, and it often does because the afflicted may not realize that they were bit by a tick or confuse their symptoms for other conditions, lyme disease can spread to the joints, heart and nervous system.

Credible Research Continues to Demonstrate Whole-Body Cryotherapy Benefits

It is often difficult to separate fact from hype about the benefits of the latest “medical miracle,” and especially when it may be endorsed by celebrities. This is very true for cryotherapy – and specifically whole body cryotherapy (WBC) – which boasts a wide variety of well-known adherents. Many people swear it helps with everything from reducing muscle pain after strenuous workouts, firming sagging skin, losing weight and getting a mood boost.

Test Your Heart Health In Less Than 2 Minutes & Be Proactive About Preventing Heart Disease

I will always advocate for the importance of getting routine medical check-ups and examinations from competent medical professionals. But I also believe we should do our part when we can to test ourselves at home. For example, while many of us may have our blood pressure checked at the doctor’s office, we can still practice at-home blood pressure monitoring.

Why We Have to Stop Saying “Eat Like That While You Can”

“Eat like that while you can,” is what older adults usually tell adolescents and teenagers when they stuff their faces with junk foods. While it may be true that a cheeseburger with a side of fries and soda may not cause a young person to gain weight as easily as an older person, processed and ultra-processed foods can still cause damage to the heart and overall health.

Think Your Toddler is Too Young To Play Organized Sports? This May Change Your Mind

My son Kyle, a millennial, shared his story about growing up. He suggested that if he had participated in organized sports during his adolescence, he may have gotten into less trouble and had more confidence as a young adult. But as a mom, my focus was on keeping him healthy and active and while I emphasized sports in general, frankly I did not focus much on the need to get him involved in organized sports.