Recent Blog Posts

  15 Tips to Avoid Overeating This Holiday Season If you've already been enjoying slightly more than your share of eggnog, stuffing and Christmas cookies, you can take comfort in the fact that the average American only gains about one pound from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Make room in your diet for holiday treats you love by passing up those you don't. But don't let that fool you. Gaining one pound each year adds up, and in fact may be a major contributor to becoming obese later in life. "These findings suggest that developing ways to avoid holiday weight gain may be extremely important for preventing obesity and the diseases associated with it," said National Institute of Child Health and Human Development director Duane Alexander, M.D. This holiday season could be the one where you defy the odds and put on no pounds at all or (gasp) even lose a few. And don't worry -- it's not about denying yourself. In fact, the tips below are all [...]

  Artificial Colors: Is the Secret Shame of the Food Industry Harming Your Children? Artificial colors are among the most questionable food additives there are, yet despite their potential health risks they’re added to countless food products ranging from candy and soda to breakfast cereal and sausage. Numerous studies have linked artificial food colors with hyperactivity and behavior problems in children. Decades ago in 1955, it was deemed safe for people to ingest 12 mg food dye per day. By 2007, that amount had reached 59 mg per person, per day, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -- a level nearly five times greater than initially was approved and the number continues to increase. At the heart of the debate is concern that the artificial dyes cause behavioral problems and hyperactivity in children, a suspicion that emerged back in 1970. Around that time Dr. Ben Feingold, an allergist in San Francisco, reported that his patients improved when their diets were changed to avoid artificial food coloring. “Numerous controlled studies conducted over the next three decades in the [...]

  How to Make This a Joyful Holiday Even for those Feeling Lonely, Depressed or Emotionally Overwhelmed   Even though the holidays are supposed to be a joyous time of year as you celebrate with family and friends, they have the tendency to elicit feelings of depression, loneliness and despair, leading to bouts of depression and a sense of feeling utterly overwhelmed by expectations. The holidays aren’t always merry and bright … keep reading to find out how to stay joyful this year even if you’re feeling stressed to the max. And it seems everywhere you turn you hear on the news or read in the newspaper stories about the poor state of the economy -- only compounding feelings of desperation. By changing your outlook on the holidays and practicing gratefulness for the people in your life and your health -- along with finding ways to give back -- you can start embracing the holiday season once again with open arms. It’s amazing how showing your love, consideration and serving others changes your perspective during times of hardship and stress [...]

  Holiday Dangers for Those Who Struggle With Binge Eating  and Compulsive Overeating Roasted turkey with homemade stuffing, maple-glazed ham, cheesy potato casseroles, pumpkin pie and other calorie-laden desserts made from scratch represent a sense of comfort and with that comes the temptation to eat in excess. The holiday feasting and indulging starts on Thanksgiving and continues on through New Year's Day, a time when resolutions are made -- and most center on getting back in shape. For those who struggle with compulsive overeating, one plate of comfort food can trigger cravings for a 24-hour overeating binge. Along with looking forward to spending time with family and loved ones over the holidays comes an equal share of stress and anxiety that often set off triggers that cause us to overeat. Some people may be able to stop after a slice of mom’s homemade apple pie, but for others who suffer from binge eating disorders, a condition in which people cannot control the amount of food they eat, the one piece of pie sets off a chain reaction of needing more [...]

  10 Studies on How Vitamin E Saves Your Life from the Inside Out Most people have heard of vitamin E, and you probably also know that it acts as a powerful antioxidant in your body, helping to ward off free radical damage. What you may not know, however, is just how far-reaching this vitamin’s effect on your health may be … and that there’s a good chance you are not getting enough -- or the right kinds -- from dietary sources alone. Spinach, Swiss chard, mustard greens and other leafy greens are excellent sources of dietary vitamin E … but the only way to get the whole spectrum of “E” benefits is through supplementation. Vitamin E: 10 Ways This Miraculous  “Unique” Vitamin Can Help You 1. Prevent Respiratory Infections A study in elderly nursing home residents recently found that vitamin E supplementation may help prevent respiratory tract infections. 2. Reduce Your Risk of Dementia Patients with higher intakes of vitamin E had a 25 percent lower risk of developing dementia, compared with patients with the lowest vitamin E intakes, [...]

  The Benefits and Risks of Saunas   Saunas are a popular attraction in hotels, spas and health clubs around the United States and world. Enthusiasts say there is little that can pamper your body and soul like a trip to the sauna, which is traditionally a wooden room infused with dry heat that can get as high as 185° F. Saunas may help to detoxify your body of impurities while promoting a sense of calm and well-being. It is the intense dry heat that is said to open your pores and purify your body of toxins while prompting the release of endorphins, your body's natural pain relievers. This same heat, however, may pose a hidden danger to certain people. Seven Healthy Reasons to Use a Sauna There is no question that saunas prompt real changes in your body functions. Within minutes, for instance, your skin temperature can reach about 104° F, and your pulse rate can climb by 30 percent. This causes your heart to double the amount of blood it pumps each minute. You can also expect to [...]