Recent Blog Posts

  Rhubarb: Delicious, Nutritious ... and for More Than Just Pie!   Most people only think about rhubarb in terms of pies, crisps or crumbles, but there is much more to rhubarb than dessert. This hardy, sour plant (rhubarb isn't exactly a fruit or a vegetable -- it's the stem of a perennial plant) originated in Eastern Europe where it was enjoyed by the Germanics and has been used for medicinal purposes by the Chinese since 2700 B.C., according to the Washington Rhubarb Growers Association. Once it's planted, rhubarb will come back year after year for a decade or more. Rhubarb, which once grew along the banks of the ancient Volga River, literally means "barbarians of the Volga River," and is also another word for a serious disagreement. But there's no need to fret over this unique edible plant ... it's healthy, tasty and incredibly easy to cook with (and grow!). Rhubarb: The Nutritional Up and Comer When it comes to health, rhubarb can spar with the best of them, rivaling blueberries and pomegranates for sheer nutrient power. In the [...]

  The Surprising Nutrition Content of 10 Very Common Foods   After gobbling up more than your fair share of a "bloomin' onion," devouring an entire jumbo tub of movie theater popcorn or wolfing down more than one bowl of pastel-colored marshmallow sugar-puff cereal, most people would rather not know what was really in it. The calories, the fat, the sodium ... who really wants to know? Sometimes, looks can be deceiving. Check out the restaurant salad above that has 58 grams of fat (that's nearly 90 percent of what you're supposed to have in an entire day!). In reality, probably not many. Still, there is that voice in your head that's telling you otherwise. "You should be good. Know what you're getting yourself into," it says. Perhaps that's why most Americans (a whopping 80 percent, according to an AP-Ipsos poll) say they do, in fact, check the nutrition panel on foods. (Ironically, 44 percent also admit that even though they check the panel, they'll buy the food regardless of what it says.) But whether it's out of curiosity, a [...]

  America's Consumption of Added Fats and Sugars Continues: How to Avoid it In the 35 years between 1970 and 2005, Americans began eating 63 percent more added fats and 19 percent more sugar and sweeteners. Also during this time, Americans got fatter. It's official: Americans are STILL eating too many fats and sugars. Between 1976 and 1980, 47 percent of the U.S. population was either overweight or obese, but between 2003 and 2004, this percentage increased to nearly 67 percent. Now, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture -- the Dietary Assessment of Major Trends in the US Food Consumption -- it's been confirmed: Americans' diets are still poor. Specifically, the report found that Americans are failing to even meet the dietary recommendations put out by the federal government. Among the problems that the report highlighted were: Average intake of added sugars and sweeteners is over the recommended levels Consumption of refined grains is too high Americans are not eating enough whole grains Added fats and oils from processed foods and cooking are making up [...]

  Stress Now Proven to Cause Weight Gain in Women: Five Key Stress-Reduction Tips   Stress is as much a part of American culture as a cheeseburger and fries ... and it can be just as risky to your health. Even if you aren't facing any major troubles, just going about your daily routine -- getting the kids ready for school, driving to the office, trying to hook up phone service, etc. - can expose you to loads of it. Stress is more than just a nuisance -- it can lead to physical health symptoms including suppressing the immune system and increasing your risk of heart disease. At the least, stress is a nuisance and just plain doesn't feel good. It can manifest in a number of different ways. You may: Feel distracted or anxious Worry excessively Feel nervous Be tired or irritable Gain weight That's right -- just being stressed out can cause you to gain weight, according to the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. "Under stress, people conserve more fat, and we think that may be [...]

  Back Pain: The Nine Most Common Sources of It and Natural Steps to Remedy It   Back pain is extremely common, with four out of five adults facing it at least once during their lives, according to the Mayo Clinic. Most back pain is caused by overusing, straining or injuring the muscles and ligaments in your back -- while doing routine, everyday things! And a nationwide phone survey of over 1,200 Americans, sponsored by Stanford University Medical Center, ABC News and USA Today, found that back pain was the most common type of pain reported (followed by knee and shoulder pain, joint pain and headaches). Because your back is part of your body's core muscles, and is necessary for nearly every movement you make, it's also very vulnerable to injury. In fact, most back pain is caused by overusing, straining or injuring the muscles, ligaments and disks that support your spine. Back pain, therefore, commonly results from: Poor posture Sitting at a desk all day Lifting something heavy improperly A sudden, awkward movement (such as from sneezing) Sleeping on [...]

  A New Year, a New YOU: How to Make 2016 Your Best Year Yet Around the first of the year, you begin to hear a lot about self-improvement, self-empowerment and how to actually achieve all of those New Year’s resolutions you’ve made. Most of it probably goes in one ear and right out the other, and your New Year begins to look a whole lot like years gone by. How to Replace New Year’s Resolutions with Actionable Intentions and Actions In the paragraphs that follow, you’ll learn ways to set realistic goals and achieve desired outcomes that “you will achieve” by being in the moment everyday with what you want to do, will do, and that you then do -- to achieve exactly what you want to in your life journey starting now … today! If you ever begin to doubt your ability to succeed, remember the story of Cliff Young. This year, let’s say you really want to make some changes, whatever they may be. You are ready to position yourself for continuous success -- physically, mentally, career-wise [...]