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Staying Young
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They say "you're as old as you feel." If that's true, you can be young and feel old. Or you can be old but feel young. What makes the difference? Learn how to lift your spirits and maximize your health!

Talk It Out - When struggling with clinical depression, many people feel the only solution is medication. However, research has found that talk therapy can sometimes be just as effective as medication. Talk therapy with a trained professional tends to bring...

Anxiety Walkathon - A recent study by the University of Southern Mississippi reports that exercising for 20-minute stints several times daily can lower sensitivity to anxious feelings.

Guarding the Temple - Lately, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the temple. My body temple, that is. I think the reason for this is that I’ve been spending some extra time in private Bible study and prayer, and as an unexpected result...

The Perfect Size - I stand in front of the closet, discouraged again. The one pair of pants that actually fit me are already in the dirty clothes hamper. What will I wear today? Will I ever lose weight?

The Silent Disease - Following recent blood tests my doctor informed me that I was borderline diabetic. I was somewhat surprised because I maintain a good diet, am only 10 lbs. overweight, and I do exercise. The other day I happened upon a helpful article in...

Green is Best - Vegetarians eat healthier diets, suffer much less heart disease and cancer, and live longer. A plant-based diet is not only good for people, it is also better for animals and for the environment. It may also be good for the economy.

Needed - Vitamin D - When I went in for my annual physical my doctor ordered a vitamin D test along with my usual blood work. I’d never had my vitamin D level checked, so I was surprised when the test showed that I was deficient.

About-Face - I have often encountered individuals hospitalized in order to undergo amputations for fingers, toes, feet and even legs due to complications arising from their diabetes.

Baby Ear Infections - Parents know the wisdom of putting their babies to sleep on their backs as a way to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Now new research has found that sending them off to dreamland face up may prevent other problems.

Mind Control - Usually the topic of mind control deals with scenarios of one person controlling another through what we might call mind games. But there is a very healthy form of mind control, and that is the control that we take of our own thinking.

Walk It Out - After I gave birth to my son, I failed to get back into a regular exercise routine. I made a lot of excuses by noting that I had too many things I needed and wanted to get done. I started to notice that I felt tired all the...

Belted Is Good - I am a seatbelt fanatic. If I am in a car I use the seatbelts. If the seatbelt does not work, I take another car. If I am driving a car, it does not get out of park until everyone in it has their seatbelt fastened.

What's the Rush? - Scientists determined that adults who eat slowly, to the point of feeling satisfied, are far less likely to be overweight than those who rush through meals and end up “stuffed.”

Wow They're Wonderful - They have been around since time immemorial. In fact, many people believe that the apple in the Garden of Eden associated with Adam and Eve’s fall from Divine favor was, in fact, a pomegranate.

An Earth Friendly Diet - Most Americans enjoy ample amounts of food. Record numbers of overweight citizens pay tribute to overflowing shelves at grocery stores, fast food and five-star restaurants.

Born To Be - I was running around my cousin’s living room, carrying my one-year-old baby cousin while chasing after my three-year-old, not-so-baby, can-actually-run-pretty-fast cousin. My back was killing me—my one-year-old cousin is not a...

You Choose - One time, I was called to pray for a patient in the hospital. This man was experiencing a rather severe intestinal problem, so as I entered his room, I expected him to ask for a prayer of healing.

Changing Your Mind - When I was a teenager driving in downtown Seattle with some friends, we got lost. After making several turns to find the restaurant that eluded us, I suggested to my friend Scott that he make a right turn onto a certain street.

Skinny Casual Fridays - People have an eight percent increase in physical activity in workdays when they wear casual clothing versus those days when they wear conventional business attire.

Ice-Cold Lycopene - Lycopene is a carotenoid and pigment that gives fruits and vegetables their red color. Researchers now say that it can keep you “in the pink” as well.

Habitude - Habitude, what is it? Most of the time when we speak of habits, we use the term negatively such as; “It’s his/her habit to always be late.” Yet, first is attitude. Habit plus attitude equals habitude.

Skin Cancer - There are many things to look forward to doing in the sun: gardening, swimming, boating, hiking, picnics…. And one important thing to watch out for: skin cancer.

Paying It Forward - You can find information on the Internet about how to do almost anything. But I must admit to being pleasantly surprised at finding practical steps and tips for the “pay it forward” concept popularized by Catherine Ryan Hyde’s book...

Exercise! - Well, I did it again. Another week has passed without following through on my one-hundredth commitment to daily exercise. I’m well aware of the benefits and importance of a faithful exercise program. I do get some exercise from...

Eustress or Distress - Stress, is there anyone who enjoys it? Sometimes, stress complicates life. At other times, stress helps us get things done. The second semester of my freshman year in college, I had three tests and two projects all due at the beginning...

An Apple a Day - An apple a day keeps the doctor away. How many times have we heard our mothers remind us to eat fruits and veggies in order to keep ourselves in good shape? God gave us a variety of foods to enjoy as a way to maintain our...

Blessings in Disguise - Blessings come in many varieties. Some blessings are easy to spot. Like a sunny, calm spring day with perky birds warbling nothing but good news. Or a quiet evening spent in the company of loved ones just talking about nothing in...

(Don't) Pass the Salt - Salt is so common and so innocent-looking as it sits in shakers in nearly every kitchen in America. Yet the consumption of excess sodium may be causing as much health havoc as trans fat, sugar or food additives.

Defeat Discouragement - Times of discouragement come to everyone. Discouragement can mean a sense of despair, feelings of hopelessness, or deep disappointment. Suffering from discouragement is not a sin and does not mean we...

Breathe Stress Away - Try this little exercise to relieve your stress. Focus your thoughts on a spot just below your navel. Breathe into that spot, filling your abdomen with air from the bottom up.

Strong Bones for Kids - Want your kids to have stronger bones? Then tell them to go jump—or run, skip, or play.

Feel Sad? Exercise! - A recent University of Florida study showed that those who tend to be more negative or apprehensive can benefit from exercise.

The Forever Decision - We were shocked at the sad news. A few years ago a young adult in our church committed suicide. People are always shocked. You hear whispers like: “I can’t believe it!” “Why would he do something like that?”

Flavor + Protection - The herbs and spices are derived from different parts of plants such as bark, leaves, seeds, rhizomes, buds, stems, roots, and fruit. The culinary herbs and spices not only provide a unique aromatic quality to food...

Check-up Time - Wrong thinking generally leads to negative attitudes. Wrong thinking and negative attitudes undeniably affect our health as well as our happiness.

Chocolate: Healthy? - It sometimes seems like everything that tastes good is bad for you. Well, here is some good news. Chocolate not only tastes good, but according to a recent German study, eating it may be good for your health. Seriously.

Embracing Spring! - It happened! It really happened! Spring came. I know it always will, but this year I was beginning to have my doubts. The snow is gone, the grass is green, trees are budding, and the local soft serve ice cream shop is open!

A Cut Above - There I sat staring at my weekend home project list. There were things on the list I enjoyed doing (mowing the lawn) and things I didn’t enjoy so much (cleaning the garage). I naturally wanted to focus on things I enjoyed (building a...

Heart Healthy Women - Most women don’t spend much time thinking about heart disease. But the Mayo Clinic is trying to change that by making women of all ages aware.

Sunshiny Days - To help prevent skin cancer, be sure to avoid too much exposure to UV light. Keep in mind the phrase “Slip, Slop, Slap, and Wrap...

Flat Tires - On any given day you see them – people young and old, male and female, students and professionals, broken down on the side of the road.

The Benefits of Fruit - A 60-year study of 3,878 men and women living in rural and urban areas of England and Scotland found that participants who consumed more fruit as children had less cancer later in life.

Step by Step - I have a friend who is slowly killing himself. He sits around all day watching the television. He eats mostly junk food. He is addicted to prescription drugs. And he is grossly overweight. When I visit him we talk about his health.

The Shrinking Brain - The more alcohol you drink, the smaller your brain volume becomes, according to research. As we age, brain volume decreases (and white matter lesions increase), but drinking accelerates the process.

Golden Eggs - I’ve killed the goose in my life many times. Have you? I’ve expended time and energy to get quick results in my work and relationships. Sometimes I’ve gotten great short-term results (or so it seemed). But in the long run, I’ve killed the goose.

Death by Depression - For years we’ve heard how smoking can lead to all kinds of ailments and even death. Now, a new study claims that depression raises your risk of death exactly the same amount that smoking does.

Stress and Distress - Everybody has stress factors. That’s part of life. It’s feelings of distress (a negative reaction to stress factors) that threaten good health. Unmanaged stress is the most common cause of ill health in the civilized world.

You Can Quit! - It‘s reported that former Senator Obama told his wife he would quit smoking if she would let him run for president. He did run and he did win, but it’s common knowledge he still struggles with the habit.

Go With the Grain - The value of grains in the diet has been overshadowed by all of the attention given to the health-promoting properties of fruit and vegetables.

Simplify! - Although it is usually easier said than done, simplifying our lives can be a real stress-buster. And who doesn’t need to bust a little stress? Perhaps I’ve watched too many episodes of The Waltons, but it appears that in past times, life...

Don't Just Sit There - Can watching television shorten your life? According to one recent study it just might. The Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia concluded a study on the effect that watching television for long...

Bringing Back Naptime - If you’re an adult you probably remember hating naptime when you were a kid. You may have fought it with everything in you because naptime meant missing out on something exciting. But recent research shows that naptime may be making...

Bitterness Problem - Caution! Your spiritual, emotional, and physical health could be at risk. I am acquainted with a pastor experiencing significant growth. There was a problem, however, that plagued him for weeks and sometimes even months.

Move More, Eat Less - In my pre-parenting life, I needed no theory on weight loss or the prevention of weight gain. I spent my considerable free time training for triathlons, which meant copious amounts of swimming, biking, and running each week.

Less is More - Want to live longer? Then eat less. Learn how eating less food can actually promote your health!

Not What - Just How - We hear plenty these days about what to eat (and not eat) but very little about how to eat. Eating is more than a necessary “pit stop.” It is an experience that adds enjoyment and value to life. According to eating expert Ellyn...

A Bran New You - A European study that followed the lives of over 1000 men for forty years revealed that eating fiber adds years to your life, and improves health, as well. For every additional 10 grams of fiber consumed daily a man reduced his risk of...

Food for Thought - People usually think of "food for thought" as pertaining to ideas or wisdom. But there is certainly value in thinking of "food for thought" in a literal way. Certain foods truly do produce better brain function, and thus, clearer thought...

Water For Life - The stressful buzz of the holidays is now slowly disappearing, and you have finally had time to focus on your New Year’s resolutions. I hope you have added “Drink more water every day” to your list.

Blood Brothers - My youngest son, Ben is now an adult. He looks for ways to pay back the debts he incurred growing up—to relatives, teachers, and adult leaders who gave him a hand. He wants to pay this debt forward, helping others.

Stuffy Nose Culprit - Your chronic stuffy nose could be the result of something other than a high pollen count.

Hearts and Vitamin E - A new randomized study within the broader Women’s Health Study (WHS) discovered that women 65 and over, who included a supplement of 600 international units of vitamin E in their diets...

February Slump - Although February is the shortest month of the year, it mysteriously seems to be the longest. Actually, for those of us who live in cold areas, it's not mysterious at all. The truth is, by the time February comes around, winter...

Winter on the Road - You don’t have to be a meteorologist to recognize that this winter is already off to a frigid start. Sub-zero temperatures and copious amounts of blowing and drifting snow dominated weather reports all across the United...

Expensive Cigars - According to Reuters news agency, the world's most expensive cigar cost $440 each and can only be purchased in boxes of 40. At that price they had better taste good.

Obesity and Cancer - If your New Year’s resolution is to lose excess weight, you’ve made a good choice. Possibly a life-saving choice. Researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research released a report last November which states...

Are You SAD? - Depression affects about 15 to 20 million Americans a year. The colder, shorter days of winter trigger seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a state of depression that lasts for weeks.

Post-Holiday Blues - We had some family friends stop by for a visit during the week between Christmas and New Years. Staring longingly at our lighted Christmas tree the dad said, “I always get kind of blue after the holidays. You know, when it’s all over...

You're Not Alone - As you take your long winter nap, be aware that you might not be sleeping solo.

Those Nine Things - If you’re thinking about New Year’s resolutions, you may be wondering why some people always seem to accomplish their goals while other people keep making the same mistakes over and over. Christian psychologist and...

God's To Do List - One of the things I find more and more frustrating is being able to “keep up.” I'm confident that I'm not alone either. All it takes is a look out the window or down the hall at work or sometimes even across the aisle at church to see...

Eat Carbs Lose Weight - Forget low-carbohydrate fad diets. Total vegetarians who put no limits on carb-rich pastas, beans, breads, rice, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are more likely to lose weight than those who minimize their carb intake.

Running Red Lights - Today, I ran 15 red lights and at every intersection I received the blessing of the cops! In fact, the police were out in full force, riding their cycles, white helmets upon their heads.

Impact of Happiness - Happy people may pass their cheer on to people they will never even meet. A 20-year study revealed that happy people boost the mood of friends, and consequently those friends pass the good mood on to other friends.

Back in the Swim - While in fourth grade, I tried to impress my friends by diving off the diving board at our favorite pool. The resulting blast of bubbles nearly sent the bottom half of my purple velour swimming suit to the drains.

Killer Advertisements - For every $1 allocated in 2008 to fund state tobacco control programs...

A Healthy Holiday! - It may seem like the month of December is out to get you. There are no fewer than nine “food” holidays in December – ranging from National Brownie Day (Dec. 8) to National Eggnog Day (Dec. 24). Everywhere you turn in December...

Happy Holidays? - There are many factors that can trigger the holiday blues: financial stress, the loss of a loved one, being far from family and friends, having unrealistic expectations, and an over-loaded schedule are just a few.

Unhealthy Economy - Financial worries are taking a toll on the physical and emotional health of Americans. According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, 80 percent of respondents said the troubled economy has ramped up...

In God's Hands? - Quit your job and see how long it takes you to find affordable health insurance. I never gave it a thought when I walked away from my job in December. How hard could it be?

Ditch the Soda - Drinking even one diet soda or regular soft drink a day can increase your chances by 50 percent...

Too Many Sweets - As a child I binged on sweets – deserts after every meal, candy and soda pop in between and ice cream and cookies before bed. I was a skinny kid so nobody thought much about it.

Feed a Cold - Try these simple ideas for boosting your immune system during the coming cold and flu season: Eat plenty of antioxidant-packed produce. Reduce sugary treats, refined and processed foods.

Keep a Healthy Brain - Twenty people out of 100 experience some form of depression during their lifetime. With this high prevalence, we need to better understand this often misunderstood disease. Low levels of essential chemicals necessary for brain...

Premature Deaths... - Eighty percent of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease and strokes can be prevented by...

Oranges in Winter - As I look out my window here this clear but cool winter morning here in Los Angeles, I can't help but see the abundant oranges and lemons which are hanging off the two citrus trees which are in our yard.

Walk the Dog - I have a confession. Despite being happily married to my wife for over 30 years, I have a red-haired, blue-eyed girlfriend who adores me. My wife does not worry because my “girl,” Dixie, has four legs and stands about thirty...

Smoking Smarties - They were a treat when I was a kid. On road trips to see Granny we’d stop at gas stations and buy little rolls of Smarties candy to dissolve in our mouths and help pass the time. And of course, my siblings and I were always...

College Dorm Hazards - A recent TODAY article discussed 9 hidden health hazards found in college dorms. The article also gave precautions to these hazards from Lisette LeCorgne, a nurse practitioner at the University of Arizona Campus...

Chocolate Cravings - A new study shows that taking a brisk walk can cut down the urge to eat chocolate...

Good Night Sleep Tight - One of the most important elements of maintaining good health, getting an adequate amount of quality sleep, is a problem for many people in today’s hectic world. In a recent survey 67 percent of Americans reported experiencing...

Bee Smart - As a child and a teenager competing on summer swim teams, our coach would often hand us “honey sticks” to consume before the big race. This practice harkens back to the ancient Olympic Games when athletes ate special...

H2O: Bottled or Tap? - A recent study found bottled water does not necessarily contain fewer contaminants than tap water...

Stress Busters - Perusing the Funk and Wagnall’s Standard College Dictionary, Copyright, 1963, I came upon the word stress. Of the seven definitions offered for this noun, it was not until number six that “emotional or...

Fighting Infertility - Many of the risk factors for infertility are the same for both men and women...

A Merry Heart - Turns out that King Solomon was right when he said in Proverbs 17:22: “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” According to a series of studies from the U.S. and Europe...

Autumn Joy! - I'm not sure when Autumn officially begins according to the calendar, but here in Iowa, it has arrived and it is splendid. This year, I have determined not to detract anything from Autumn by the fact that it is followed by...

Win - Win - The last two generations of American mothers have returned in varying degrees to the age-old practice of breast feeding their babies. The 1970’s exodus from the bottle to the breast, was fueled by the hippie movement which...

Age-Defying? - It all started in the cereal aisle. There was a terrific sale on cereal, ten different types being sold for 50% off. With the price of cereal being what it is these days, I could not pass up on that deal. It wasn’t until I got home that I realized I...

Healthiest City - The healthiest city in the nation appears to be Burlington, Vermont, where an amazing 92 percent of people say they are in good or great health.

Diet Soda - I was standing in a grocery store checkout line visiting with a well-known preventative medicine doctor. Wanting to be health-minded, I had chosen a diet soda to drink. “See?” I said to him. “I’m choosing diet soda because there’s no...

Still Burning Bright - In an auspicious location at the Livermore Fire Department in Central California, a four-watt, hand blown, carbon filament, common light bulb hangs from the ceiling. What is not so common is the fact that this bulb has been...

Media Mayhem - TV, music, movies, video games, and the Internet may negatively affect the health of children and teens, according to an unprecedented review of nearly 30 years of research.

Healing Strategies - Every human being possesses an amazing capacity to bounce back from illness and injury – under the right conditions. The following strategies for healing come from the book Super Healing by Dr. Julie Silver, assistant...

Listening to the Oldies - Our local radio station plays all “oldies.” In this case, the oldies are songs from the 70's. Other stations refer to the “oldies” as songs that came from the 50's. Then there are those that refer to a special selection of songs as...

Hawk Walk - Harry Lee McGinnis has marched his way through all 50 U.S. States, as well as seven continents. Asia, Africa and South America have all been explored and experienced, at ground level, by this 81-year-old wanderer known as “the Hawk.”

Not Too Sweet, Please - You come home tired and hungry, and what’s the first thing you want to pop into your mouth? Salad? Fresh fruits or vegetables? For the sake of your health, those would be great choices. But if you’re more likely to reach for the...

Say a Little Prayer - Did you know there are two types of prayer? Intercessory prayer, in which you talk to God to tell or ask for something, is what many people think of when they think of prayer. In meditative or contemplative prayer, your goal...

Distress the Culprit - Stress can make you older than you actually are. A recent study of women who experienced prolonged stress revealed changes in chromosomes within their cells that added the equivalent of 10 years or more to their biological age.

Energy Drinks - If you’re around teenagers often, you’ve probably seen many carrying an energy drink in one hand. Unlike coffee or sodas, energy drinks include a heavy dose of caffeine and sugar, in addition to other ingredients such as...

Smoke and Mirrors - Several days after high school graduation, I landed a job at an upscale department store in our city’s only mall. Throughout the summer I often chatted with the store manager, a good looking man in his mid thirty’s.

DASH It All! - Are you looking to improve your health through diet? DASH it all. DASH is an acronym that stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It is one way to reduce...

Forgive and Forget - There’s a simple, one sentence verse found in Isaiah 43:18 that offers sound advice: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” The Message Bible says it this way: “Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old...

Function Follows Form - A new study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society confirms that one of the secrets to healthy aging is a physically active lifestyle. This study suggests that the benefits of exercise go beyond weight...

All About Choices - Born Canadian in 1961, Mike was part of a migratory family who eventually settled in a suburb of Vancouver. At the age of 15, he landed his first acting job playing a 10-year-old kid in a Canadian sit-com.

Greek Diet Works - The Greek or Mediterranean diet seems to be a heart-healthy eating plan. Its elements represent the food folks in the Mediterranean basin have been eating since Biblical times – limited amounts of red meat, little to no...

Third-Hand Smoke - When I was a kid no one seemed concerned about the hazards of smoking. There wasn’t a second thought if someone lit up in a restaurant, store, or even a home. But then we learned that smoking carried the risk of lung...

Facing Our Fears - ESPN announced recently that Tony Kornheiser, broadcast announcer for Monday Night Football, is being replaced. After holding down this lucrative position for three years, Kornheiser admitted the reason for his...

A Balanced View - According to numerous local sources, Cathedral Rock is the most photographed and famous scene in Sedona, Ariz. If you’ve been privileged to travel to Red Rock Country, you know that wherever you might cast your gaze...

Safeguard Sack Time - Hit the sack to help avoid hypertension. A recent study shows a relationship between short sleep duration and high blood pressure. Researchers analyzed data on 4,810 participants—ages 32 to 59—over 10 years. Those who got...

RX for Problems - “The best cure for your own problems is to involve yourself in helping others with theirs.” That's what my mom always told me. She has credibility in saying it, too. She is a very altruistic person and is always...

Laughter Study - New research suggests that, much like exercise, scheduling humor into your day could be beneficial to your health. Loma Linda University researchers have demonstrated that the simple anticipation of a...

Summer Nuisances - I absolutely love summer, and everything about it. Except for sunburns. And insect bites. And ticks. These can interfere with a summer vacation or relaxing time at home. Recently, I found a website called eMedicineHealth1 that...

Stress is Needed - "Do we need stress in our lives?" That was a question I got from one of my high school female students back in the mid 90s. The question was posted after we'd been studying Human Behavior for almost a week and how humans react to...

Go Nuts - When “fat-free” was the smart choice, nuts didn’t get much respect. These days they’re winning kudos as a health food. Favorable ingredients include fiber, protein, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, selenium...

Pet Smart - At the Shibuya Train Station in Tokyo, Japan, there stands a bronze statue dedicated to Hachiko, “man’s best friend.” A college professor, Hidesamura Ueno, brought the dog, an Akita breed, to Tokyo in 1924. The faithful...

Life Throws a Curve - Michael Gates Gill, 63 years old, was a high-flying, six-figure-earning advertising executive. He had created huge campaigns for companies like Christian Dior and Ford and lived an even bigger life, with luxury automobiles, lavish...

Wheat Germ - Although diminutive in size, the lowly wheat germ is full of fiber and is one of the most nutrient-packed foods available. “Wheat germ contains a gold mine of essential nutrients...

Talking to Self - Many of us hold beliefs about ourselves and our potential that might even be incorrect if looked at logically. These beliefs came to us primarily in the form of words we heard coming from our parents, teachers, friends, and even...

Eat Less Live Longer - Aging is no longer the immutable process it was once thought to be. Genes that extend our life span have been identified, and we are now learning what lifestyle habits switch on these genes and how we can best protect our...

Punching the Clock - Last October, at an annual chaplain’s retreat, a group of us sat around a table munching on salad and sharing our views on world events. Obama had not yet been elected, so the presidency was still up for grabs. But even bigger...

Dangerous Hidden Fat - The more time you spend in the car, on the couch, or at the computer, the more fat you invite into your abdominal home. Visceral fat, the fat underneath your stomach muscles, pumps out hormones such as leptin, adiponectin

H1N1 Virus - When a flu outbreak was first detected in Mexico City in mid-March, locals thought it was just a late flu season. But when the disease quickly surged, the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization discovered these...

Ultimate Rest - Although I now struggle a bit with eating healthy, not too long ago I was a bona-fide health nut. I carefully watched what I ate and when I ate it.

Food Safety at Home - While surveys show that most people feel confidant about food safety in their home, millions suffer from food-borne illnesses each year. Being savvy at food safety is important for everybody, but especially for pregnant...

Don't Just Sit There - Standing appears to be better for your health than sitting. Marc Hamilton and a team at the University of Missouri-Columbia found the recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day was not enough to counteract health...

Free Bird - Last weekend I met a man whose aunt just succumbed to liver cancer. As we sat around her kitchen table, the nephew reminisced about the lady and her life.

No Link with Autism - In February 2009 there was good news for parents wishing to protect their children from measles. Two different sources confirmed that no link exists between the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine and an increased risk...

Bone Up - A study at Pennsylvania State University showed that omega-3 fatty acids from plant sources promote bone formation and inhibit bone loss. Twenty-three adult participants were on three different diets with varying ratios of...

Rainbow in My Cart - What do you typically think about as you cruise the produce section? I think about completing my shopping list. I hunt out sale items and zero in on the best deals. I look for bumps and bruises and freshness. Then I try...

Building Tomorrow - Several years ago, my only brother succumbed to an untimely death at the age of 52. After receiving the unwelcome news, my daughter and I numbly made the six hour drive through California’s central valley to his home.

Kitchen Tricks - Here are some amazing tricks that you can use in your kitchen to help you live a healthier life.

Soymilk Conversion - I was raised in dairy country in Northern California. The Clover creamery was just two blocks from my house.

Falling Off the Wagon - When someone who is trying to quit smoking gives in to a cigarette and another and another, we might call that falling off the wagon, right? Just as we would for someone who has an alcoholic beverage after having given it up...

Nutrition on a Budget - With current downtrends in the economy, many people are looking for ways to stretch their food dollars without sacrificing nutrition. You can stay on a budget and still eat healthy foods by several different means. One way is...

The Number 7 - What do gum, bottled water and the seven deadly sins of the world have in common? For entrepreneur Tyler Merrick they combine to create the business he founded and named Project 7. His company is part business and part...

Gym Germs - Regular trips to the gym for exercise can boost health and fitness, but if you don’t guard yourself against germs, you might leave with a nasty infection.

Colon Care - When the month of March roles around, most people think of Spring Break, blooming tulips and daffodils, warmer weather and more sunshine. But something else happens in March—it’s National Colon Cancer Awareness Month.

The Good Oil - Olives and their oil have been used since biblical times. But their popularity in modern society surged after it was found that it’s possible to eat a high-fat diet and still have a low risk of heart disease, so long as you use the...

Resolutions to Results - Every January gyms and health clubs are filled with new members vowing to make this the year they will stick with their resolutions of exercising regularly and losing weight. But by the time February rolls around many of...

The Choice - She and I are members of the same women's gym. While the primary purpose of this place is to exercise, the gym also offers the opportunity to share joys and concerns with other women. For all too many this place is where lonely...

Gift of Life - Usually I don’t mind waiting. But recently, when I had to wait for medical tests results, I did mind. Along with a routine yearly check up, my doctor felt it important to test me for the same type of cancer that took my...

Talk About Depression - The disheveled-looking student spoke softly, with head down and shoulders slumped forward. “When I wake up in the morning, I don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to talk to anyone. I just want to stay in bed all day.

Seasonal Fruit - It is common for people to experience slumps, even depression, during certain times of the year. Winter particularly seems to bring on these lows, and it has been shown that many women experience a measure of depression...

Are You Listening? - Attentive listening benefits the physical and psychological health of both listeners and speaker. “We feel important when someone takes the time to hear us out,” says Rebecca Shafir, a communications expert.

The Bigger Canvas - You won’t find a “sermon on the mount” devoted to the benefits of a healthy lifestyle anywhere in Scripture. There is no wellness list in the Bible, a list that admonishes us to get eight hours of sleep a night, eat...

Sunny Relief Valve - Sunshine is essential for low blood pressure. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey followed the health and dietary habits of 12,644 adults over a period of six years.

Embracing Pressure - In preparation for Super Bowl XLIII, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner said, “I embrace the opportunity to have pressure. Pressure is a privilege.” Warner should know. In addition to going to Super Bowl XLIII with the...

Winter Exercise Tips - When we’re in the throes of winter and the weather outside is frightful, many people just want to “hibernate.” But certified personal trainer Lynn Bode reminds us that hibernating is for bears. As humans we need to stay...

Dieting...NOT! - If your goal is to lose weight and keep it off, diets just don’t work, according to an analysis conducted at UCLA. Traci Mann, Ph.D., an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, and colleagues analyzed 31...

Why Plan Meals? - If you are a busy person like me, you simply can't afford not to plan meals. A little culinary forethought each week can save you time and money and benefit your health and waistline.

Food for Thought - More than 72 million adults in the United States are obese, increasing their risk of many chronic diseases. Millions are trying to lose weight on popular diets, but Sari Greaves, R. D., a dietitian at New York-Presbyterian...

Informed Immunization - A parent’s first responsibility is their children’s life and health. That responsibility is simpler today than it was a century ago. Hazards remain. We still caution our kids to look before crossing a street, and to be wary...

Regarding Vitamin D - We’ve heard a lot about vitamin D in the news lately. It seems it’s more important than we may have thought, and many of us are not getting enough of it. Why is vitamin D so important, how much do we really need and where do...

Wear Red Day - As women we give from our hearts on a daily basis. We give to our husbands and kids; to our parents and siblings; to our church and kids’ school; and to our friends and coworkers. Giving from the heart is a wonderful...

Groundhog Day - Well, February is at hand. Already. Those New Year’s resolutions you made? History. The gym was too crowded. You quit smoking, though, for two whole weeks. As for that diet? Well, you were good for almost three...

Eat Your Beans! - If you’re anything like me at the beginning of a new year, the list of foods I vow not to eat pretty much dwarfs my list of acceptable edibles. Of course, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but that’s the way it often feels as I...

Xocolatl - Chocolate is one of the most popular flavors in the world today. It is a common item in holiday treats, and is a popular gift on Valentine’s Day. While chocolate tastes so good, could it also be possible that it is good for you?

Winter's SADness - There once was a queen who was normally compassionate and kind, but each winter, she fell into a deep melancholy. She would cry for no reason, and she couldn’t eat or sleep. She summoned her wisest advisors to...

Winter Workout - Try these exercises at home when wintry weather keeps you indoors.

Are You Ready? - With the increase in frequency of natural disasters many people are planning ahead for what they will do in case of an emergency. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security there are three basic steps to preparing for...

The Rules - Begin the new year, and your journey to a greatly improved you, by faithfully following these four proven and universal health rules:

Good Medicine - This past month, my husband and I had the opportunity to volunteer at a “Walk for ALS” fundraiser as a project for one of his nursing classes. As we helped set up tables, hand out T-shirts to the walkers, and collect people’s...

Cold, Cold Heart - You may be at greater risk for heart disease if you tend to be competitive and argumentative. In a recent study published in Psychosomatic Medicine, 300 older couples were asked to rate their spouses on an antagonism...

Fatigue and Memory - Did you ever study yourself into exhaustion for an important test only to fail it when you finally took it? Worse, when you got the test back, you discovered that you must have spectacularly misremembered key facts.

It's Tough Losing - January often means New Year’s resolutions. We plan to make lifestyle changes that will improve our health. Some may need to do some damage control after stepping over the line during the holiday season. So you set a goal to...

Walk, Walk, Walk! - Let’s face it, finding time to exercise is tough. Yet exercise appears to be the magic bullet for better health. It also helps us live longer and more productive lives. Fortunately, being fit doesn’t have to mean spending...

Hot Winter Breakfasts - Getting up on a cold winter’s morning is much easier when you have a warming and energizing breakfast to look forward to. With a little forward planning, this can be relatively easy to make and supply leftovers ready for...

Sweet Danger - In a 10-week study, 13 out of 23 volunteers were assigned to get 25 percent of their calories by drinking high fructose corn syrup-sweetened beverages. The others received an identical percentage of calories from...

Warming Winter Soups - Warm up this winter with a hearty soup and prevent stacking on the pounds! Three ways soups can help. Save Time. Soups are meals in a pot, and there are less dishes to wash afterward. Make them in bulk and serve leftovers the next day.

Living Green - Being environmentally consciousness is the trend these days. Fortunately, many people are realizing the disastrous effects of ignoring our environment and living wastefully, and they’re doing something about it.

Belly Fat - “He had a broad face and a little round belly, that shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself....”

Thanksgiving Every Day - Imagine that you are watching television, tuning out the commercials, when something suddenly catches your attention, a new product claiming all kinds of amazing, too-good-to-be-true benefits. Absolutely guaranteed to

Living by Choice - Researchers of the Framingham Heart Study tracked the health of almost 8,000 men and women free of heart disease at age 50 to their deaths or age 95. In the group of participants who didn’t smoke, weren’t overweight, and...

Beautiful Breakfasts - You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But maybe you just don’t have time for it…or you don’t feel hungry in the morning. If you’re not currently much of a breakfast person it may help to...

God Bless You - When I was in the sixth grade, my teacher warned us about taking medicine rashly. She taught us to consider waiting a bit to see if medicine was really needed. We also spent some time talking about things one could try...

Give us this day . . . - Before I start any meal, I always say a prayer, thanking God for my food. It seems like a little thing. Some of my friends are amused by my habit. It is not a trivial activity, however brief my words. Food is one of God’s...

Are You at Risk? - Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of five closely related cardiovascular risk factors. Each is dangerous, but when they occur together, the overall risk is greater than the sum of its parts. The presence of any three is...

Healthy Holidays - The holiday season may give you a gift you that you just don’t want: weight gain. Several new studies show that the average weight gain between Thanksgiving and New Years is one pound, much less than the 5-10 pounds previously...

A Friend a Day - You’ve heard the old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Now there’s evidence to suggest that a good friendship does the same thing. Results of a nine year study of 7,000 people conducted by Harvard researchers...

Royal Beans - Beans are often dismissed as peasant food. But for your heart and circulatory system, they’re fit for royalty. Eating beans regularly can lower cholesterol, lover the risk of having a heart attack, and influence blood sugar.

Salt Under Pressure - Two of the world’s leading salt experts pooled the results of 10 studies on kids ages 8 to 16 and three studies on infants. Cutting sodium by an average of 42 percent for four weeks in children, and 54 percent for 20 weeks in...

Brain Sleep Work - Very few people will argue about the necessity of sleep. We all have felt that "sleepy" feeling and have thankfully retired to a "good night’s sleep." As we awaken in the morning, we hope to feel rested and energized.

Lasting Finish - Medical research shows that regular churchgoers live longer and are healthier than those that skip church. This is not a new discovery. In 1971, Johns Hopkins released the results of a study examining the residents of...

Fall Fitness - Autumn is the perfect time to cultivate a new outdoors fitness plan paired with healthy eating habits, according to Tracey Shaffer, a dietician from Blue Springs, Missouri. “Fall is a great time to discover the outdoors...

From Bean to Beverage - Plain, chocolate or vanilla? Regular or low-fat? Sweetened or unsweetened, with or without omega-3? Powder or liquid? What’s you choice? It’s available in mainstream grocery stores everywhere. Sales of soy beverages are...

Count Your Blessings - Keeping a daily gratitude journal for just two to three weeks has been shown to improve mental health and general well-being in organ-transplant recipients. Recording thankful thoughts also increases energy, enthusiasm...

Grapes for Life - Alcohol is bad for you. It can harm your memory. Drinking increases your risk of liver disease and oral cancers. Alcohol raises blood pressure and increases the risk of strokes. Drinking during pregnancy can harm the...

Walking with Poles - If walking is your exercise of choice, here’s a way to make your exercise more vigorous and varied—walking with poles. Nordic walking is like cross-country skiing. You maintain a basic marching rhythm: swinging your right...

Fertility Diet - A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology indicates that the majority of infertility cases caused by ovulation problems may be prevented by adopting simple dietary and lifestyle practices.

Help with Depression - Depression is a very difficult and varied condition. That's why it is difficult for one person to speak for another regarding how to manage it. If you, like I, have experienced depression, you know how to relate to...

Oral Exam - Oral cancer is a killer. Over 7500 people in the United States will die from it this year. Two-thirds will be men, and one-third women. Famous victims include Babe Ruth, Humphrey Bogart, and Lana Turner.

Doctor in the House? - We are all subject to suffering in this world. But there are some wonderful little secrets from nature that can help keep us young and strong longer. Nature's secrets are really nature's doctors. Let's take a look at how...

More Nutty News - The news about nuts is exciting and growing! Multiple studies have shown that diets containing nuts significantly reduce the blood levels of total cholesterol and “bad” (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.

Satan's Allergy - I love autumn! It’s my favorite time of the year. The air is just crisp enough to keep my energy level up, and yet not cool enough for a jacket yet. And the colors are also beautiful!

A Wild Ride - His body slammed into the beach like a rag doll being thrown into a backyard sandbox. His limp form was still for a split second but then it was quickly picked up again and violently rocketed into the side of a nearby building.

Kids and Vegetables - Many parents complain they can’t get their kids to eat vegetables, often giving up after the first few tries. But teaching your kids to develop a love for vegetables is one of the best gifts you can give them, since it will be...

Obesity and Cancer - According to a 2006 survey by the American Cancer Society, 83 percent of Americans realize that being overweight boosts their odds of a heart attack and 57 percent know that obesity raises their risk of diabetes. Yet only 17...

Bare Feet - We are fortunate these days to have so much helpful information regarding how to stay and feel young through avenues of diet and exercise. If we are wise, we will put this knowledge to practical use. I mean, who doesn’t...

Writing in the Sky - Each season has its own beauty and rewards, but autumn has become my favorite time of the year. Each autumn nature takes a bow before it relinquishes its blazing beauty to winter, and it warms my heart with its radiance and...

Keep Looking Up - Dr. Billy Graham once told the story of a man who became lost in the Great Smoky Mountains. This man had been born and raised in the mountains, and he thought this could never happen to him. But it had, and now he was...

Farmer's Market - When I was growing up, we had fresh food on the table all summer long. My mom kept colorful fruit for us to munch on and included a lot of vegetables in her cooking. She watched for the latest sales and with our help, grew a...

Better Breakfasts - If you’re looking to maintain a healthy weight, rather than skipping the morning meal, studies show it’s better to eat a low-fat breakfast that emphasizes whole grains and fiber.

Mushroom Benefit - If you are one of those who enjoy going into the woods to pick your own mushrooms, be careful what you collect as identifying safe mushrooms can be a challenge. While there are more than 14,000 mushroom varieties, only about...

Young at Mind - You've heard about staying young at heart, and that's good. But what about staying young at mind? Recently, I took a group of young children on a field trip to the fire department. I thought I knew everything about fire...

Eat to Beat Cancer - Most cancers are lifestyle-induced and therefore highly preventable! Around one-third of cancers are linked to diet, and another third are caused by smoking. This means that most people have it in their own hands to lead a...

Saving Your Strength - Once you turn 40 you start losing muscle. And that means more than just having difficulty carrying your groceries, golf bag or grand children as you age. According to Miriam Nelson of Tufts University in Boston, muscle loss slows...

Winning the Cold War - Warding off the sniffles isn’t easy. But following these simple precautions may help you steer clear of those nasty viruses that make you cough and sneeze.

Cauliflower Vs. Cancer - According to Andrea Klausner, M.S., R.D., cauliflower is much more than what Mark Twain called “a cabbage with a college education.”

Mother Daughter Link - Studies have long linked a mother’s and daughter’s food preferences. Mom’s unhealthy eating habits and poor body image can negatively impact her daughter’s perspective on eating and weight. According to Lona Sandon, a...

Forever Young - As a middle-ager, I can't help being reminded from time to time that I'm not turning out to be an exception to the aging process after all. Bummer! Like when I step out of bed and catch a glimpse of prehistoric man in the mirror.

Secrets Of Simplicity - Do you dread dealing with the chaotic contents of your closet, your checkbook or your appointment calendar? Have you often found yourself asking, Why does my life have to be so complicated? In her new book 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life...

Mastectomy Preparation - No woman wants to face the fact that a mastectomy might be the only solution to possibly curing an ongoing growing breast tumor. I remember the moment my doctor presented this option to me quite vividly. It was a moment...

Really Live It Up - A wealthy Texan went to his attorney one day to prepare his last will and testament. One of the things he wanted when he died was to be buried in the most expensive, latest model, fully-equipped gold Cadillac.

Obesity and Diabetes - A new study confirms the role of obesity in the risk of diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compiled national health survey data from 1997 to 2003 examining trends of diagnosed diabetes among U.S....

You're It! - How long has it been since you played a good game of hide-and-seek? I'm not talking about finding a comfy hiding place and camping out there until the other players get tired of the game and you're off the hook. I'm talking...

Humor Is Good For You - A hearty laugh may be good for your health and protect you against heart disease. A good burst of laughter is packed with physical and psychological benefits.

Extreme Nature - “Extreme Natural Disasters” seems to be the global theme song of the last five years. From the great tsunami of 2004 to Hurricane Katrina to the recent earthquakes in China, nature seems to have turned against us. Drought...

Sneakers vs. Sniffles - Regular aerobic exercise could be a potent way to avoid getting the sniffles. The average American fights the common cold two to four times a year. Many take a preemptive approach to the problem.

Gotta Have Friends - Want to live longer? Hang out with friends. Fifteen hundred people were monitored for 10 years. Researchers found that close contact with family members had little effect on survival rates...

Addiction Dangers - Many teenagers today are experimenting with alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.

Pre Monster Syndrome - One day after yelling at the kids and snapping at my husband, I was lying in the bed wondering what in the world was wrong with me.

Tune Out Pain - What effect does music have on pain, depression, and disability? A recent study produced some surprising results. Patients were divided into three groups. Two groups were told to listen to music over a seven-day...

Grapevine Good News - Grapes grow in clusters on a deciduous, woody vine, Vitis vinifera, with as many as 300 grapes in a cluster. While the original grapes were red, they now come in many colors. Blue, red, purple, black, green and golden are...

Just Say No Smoking - Despite common belief, sitting far from the smoking section in a restaurant, opening a window, or turning on air-conditioners or fans will not protect you from the serious risks of secondhand smoke.

Really Living - John Lennon said in one of his songs, “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.” How true that is! We can become so busy making plans for our lives that we can actually be passing by our lives.

An Impending Epidemic - Diabetes is approaching epidemic proportions. At present, 21 million Americans, or seven percent of the population, have diabetes. And nearly one-third of these people are unaware they have the disease. The rapid increase in diabetes...

Exercise Guidelines - The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently released exercise guidelines for managing type 2 diabetes. If you have impaired glucose tolerance, aim for at least 150 minutes, two and a half hours, of moderate to vigorous...

Bouncing Back - If we think we are fragile and broken, we will live a fragile and broken life. If we believe we are strong and wise, we will live with enthusiasm and courage. The way we name ourselves colors the way we live. We must be...

Nuts To You! - The news about nuts is old news. And by old news, we mean back to the time of creation. Nuts were part of the original diet provided to Adam and Eve. God provided plants producing seeds (grains) and trees producing...

Finding Fresh Air - To minimize your exposure to outdoor health-destroying air pollution: Schedule outdoor workouts for early morning when the sun is weaker and there's less car exhaust.

"Hands-only" CPR - My mother-in-law, Dorothy, had no idea that her trip to the mall would save a life. She was looking at a vacuum display in a department store when without warning, a man standing nearby crumbled to the floor. Dorothy rushed to...

Think About Thinking - Thinking is a skill, and one you can always get better at if you take the time to think about your thinking! The brain is incredible in its ability to take in information, but what it does with this information is a unique...

What's Polio? - I put my library books on the table. Atop the stack was a book titled, Polio: An American Story. My youngest son, then 15, glanced at it. Puzzled, he asked, “Dad, what’s polio?”

“Pet”icure - Romping with a family feline or canine may benefit your child's stomach. Australian researchers say tots who live in households with animals are less likely to suffer from nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea associated with stomach...

Time Out - In some ways, I was a rather undisciplined child. Whenever my mother went shopping at J.C. Penny’s, I would entertain myself by running up the “down escalator,” then racing down the “up escalator.”

Coffee and Health - New research from Duke University suggests that caffeine may contribute to an increased risk of heart disease. When healthy coffee-drinkers were given 500 mg caffeine (the same caffeine as found in 4 cups of coffee), their...

Tea Time - Centuries of dedicated use backs up chamomile's credibility as a cure-all for menstrual cramps, insomnia, skin irritations, and stomachaches. Now a small study of men and women who drank five cups of chamomile tea...

Future Life - “Frozen to life” would probably best describe the sentiments of some living Cryonic Institute members.

Stroke Symptoms - During a backyard picnic Irene stumbled and took a little fall. She assured everyone she was fine and that she had just tripped over a brick. Her family helped her get cleaned up and got her a new plate of food. While she...

Sing for Your Health - Scientists have researched the effects of group singing, whether in a barbershop quartet, a cappela group, gospel choir, or community chorus, and the results show benefits for mood, stress levels, and the immune system.

Noise Stress - Noise can be very unpleasant and may effect the quality of our lives. Today's lifestyle can present quite a few ways in which noise can disturb our space; the person talking loudly on their cellular phone, music blaring from a...

Your Mood Goes South - If you have days when you feel down and blue, you're not alone. Our fast-paced, modern lifestyle can easily zap energy levels. A recent report--”Changing Diets, Changing Minds”--from the UK highlights the growing problem...

Listening - I like to be outside and listen to the sounds of nature. I’ll always remember one gray, bitter, early winter morning. I was outside shoveling snow and it seemed like all the rest of the world was asleep. The birds were...

Color Me Healthy - “Eating a variety of veggies is the key to optimizing heart health,” says Melissa Ohlson, M.S., R.D., L.D., nutrition projects coordinator in the Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation Program at Cleveland Clinic.

Enjoying the Ride - As the dark green UPS truck rolled into our drive that balmy June day, my mind snapped a photo that remains etched in my memory 40 years later.

Small Loss, Great Gain - If you think you must lose a lot of weight in order to get healthier, consider this: A moderate sustained weight loss, losing five to ten percent of your body weight, can provide significant risk reduction or improvement of...

Cost of Upsizing - Forget AIDS, cancer, and famine for a moment, because now increased blood pressure is the most common cause of death in the world! Even if you don't have it by middle age, the Framingham study, ongoing for the last 50 years in...

Worry Go Round - As I stared at my computer screen my blood pressure began to rise; my stomach knotted and my chest ratcheted in a notch or two. Earlier that morning, I had made a credit card purchase of $129 for dietary supplements over the...

Pass the Pomegranates - Pomegranates were prominent in the life of early Near East residents and were associated with a long and healthy life. In Palestine, pomegranate flowers and fruits were embroidered on the bottom edge of the high priest's robe.

Nursing Home Bound? - A study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine followed middle-aged and elderly people for 20 years. At the start of the study, the more than 3,500 participants ages 45-64 who were obese, physically...

Far Too Tight - Your doctor recommended walking for exercise. After three weeks you gave it up. It proved an agony of blisters, corns, and sore feet. You were even getting blisters between your toes, and calluses on the side of your...

Take Your Medicine - Taking medicine is one of my least favorite things to do. I hate swallowing pills. There are the huge, “horse pill” type that seem just too big to fit down a human throat. Then there are the tiny ones that start to dissolve...

Aging Myths Debunked - Myth 1: Middle-age spread and muscle loss are simply part of growing old. Myth 2: Aerobic capacity drops with age. The Truth: Muscle loss and a spreading mid-section is mostly the result of decreased physical activity and...

Shopping Lists - Health - If you want to cut down on impulse buying, save money, and make better food choices, take a few minutes to plan a shopping list before you get to the grocery store. Researchers from Duke University, the University of...

Healthy Children - “Mom, what's for dinner?” asked ten-year-old Lanny. “Oh, you will be happily surprised,” replied Sarah Bailey, Lanny's mother. Sarah recognizes the vital importance of balanced tasty meals for her husband and three growing children.

Diabetes Ages Heart - Current research shows that half of all American adults are now at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. A new study from Canada examined the 15-year medical records of 379,003 people with diabetes and more than...

A Time to Share - The Lenten season is a time of sacrifice and renewal for many Christians. One of the most common sacrifices that the faithful make is a resolution to forgo favorite foods. The idea of food sacrifice, especially forgoing meat...

Call Him Joe - His real name is unimportant. Joe was very important to his wife of 25 years, though. When her health was bad—bad enough that she could not work—Joe made sure that she got the treatment she needed.

Soy Yogurt - Soy yogurts enriched with blueberries contain natural compounds that may dampen the activity of enzymes that play a role in high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. These enzymes-angiotensin-l converting enzyme (ACE-l)...

Back to Basics - My lower back hurts, and I have a feeling yours might too. According to Spine-health.com (a web site providing back pain sufferers with helpful information written by medical professionals), over 30 million Americans experience...

Loneliness - Loneliness is unpleasant by any standard. But according to a recent study at the University of Chicago, it also appears to be a risk factor for high blood pressure.

Wrestling Tough Stuff - Rulon Gardner keeps defying the odds. Earlier this year he survived a plane crash in Utah. He swam for more than an hour in 44-degree water before reaching shore and then spent the night without shelter.

Healthy "Eating Out" - Eating out can be a nice change of pace, especially during the holidays when family and friends get together. No cooking and no clean-up! But don’t get too used to it because if you’re wanting to eat healthy, restaurants...

The "Cold War" - I enjoy the fall and winter months. I relish the cool, crisp weather, brightly colored leaves, fresh snow (when I don’t have to drive in it), cozy fires, wooly sweaters, and the warmth of the holidays. Yet, there is one thing...

Blood Sugar Buster - Burdened with high blood sugar? Eat your fiber. A New England Journal of Medicine study reports that people with type 2 diabetes who eat high fiber diets can significantly lower their blood sugar and insulin levels as much as...

Trying for a Baby? - For many, the desire to have a child is exciting, but it also carries enormous responsibilities and implications. When a couple decides they are ready to have a baby, there are some essential things they need to do first.

Get In Shape - Really - With New Year’s comes your annual resolution to lose weight and get in shape. This year you are going to do it. Of course, you said that last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. Yet as a fresh year...

Good Fats, Bad Fats - Fat. The mere mention of the word creates fear in the minds of some. But we all need some fat in our diet. It helps with the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and health-promoting phytochemicals, and delivers essential...

Never Give Up! - My husband likes to get funny video clips from friends and has found a few really funny ones of his own. Our family has had a great time laughing at the hilarious antics portrayed. A few weeks ago he shared another clip with us.

Health by Habit - Every day when I sit down in the lunchroom at work, I invariably pull the same contents out of my lunch bag. Ignoring the groans and sarcastic remarks from some of my colleagues, I tuck into my food with the zest of a...

"Blue Christmas" - Are you having trouble getting into the holiday spirit this year? Just don’t feel up to all the festivities? Maybe it’s been a tough year, one of loss or loneliness. And perhaps all the cheery glitter and glitz of the...

Time to Weep and Laugh - This holiday season brings a first for me and my family. It’s our first one without my brother, who died last spring. I wasn’t sure what it would be like without him. We’ve always spent holidays together. Even after we kids...

Hangers-On - My father, a dentist, had a rule for Halloween candy: eat as much as you want tonight, but it’s in the trash tomorrow morning. I’ve always thought that was a fabulous way to handle holidays. Go ahead and enjoy yourself, but...

A Gift for Moms - This article is especially for you Moms—from one Mom to another. The holidays are a time for giving. Giving cards. Giving home-baked cookies. Giving gifts. And since Moms are often the ones who make Christmas happen, we...

Let's Go for a Walk - It's no secret that some of physical exertion, on a daily basis, is healthy for us no matter what our age. It enhances both our body and mind and helps lessen the dangers of stroke and heart attack.

Distressed to De-stressed - I recently finished graduate school, moved to a new area and changed jobs, so you can imagine that stress levels are not exactly at a record low for me. With the onslaught of new endeavors and major life changes comes the additional...

Start the Day Right - The deleterious effects of omitting breakfast on the health of ten lean women were measured in a study conducted at the Queen’s Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, U.K.

Love or an Addiction? - Our culture glorifies the notion of love and romance, with people “falling in love” and “living happily ever after.” Each of us feels the desire for belonging, importance, and intimacy. God has given us a way to relate to one...

Sun Exposure - Most fair-skinned people need 10-15 minutes of exposure to the sun’s rays every day.

A Song In My Heart - Well, it happened. Yesterday, I turned 30 years old. How could this have happened? Seems to me that I lost a few years somewhere... they flew right by!

For New Mommies - It takes nine (really 10) months to grow a baby. You, as a mother-to-be, are truly partnering with God in a miracle—that of creating and sustaining life.

Unexpected Breakdown - The day I was scheduled to leave on a recent trip to Phoenix, I became deathly ill. The night before I tossed and turned, waking with chills and a fever.

Bit by Crocs? - Crocs have swept the nation. Soft rubber clogs, they are comfortable, washable, and easy to slip on and off. Air travel is a hassle. Lines are long, you have to wait forever, and you even have to take off your shoes when...

Many Feasts - The doldrums of the work week seem to be an ever tolling bell that alerts us to the need of something apart. I probably should tell you that I love my job as much, if not more, than the next guy. But as I climb into my car...

Freaky Fruits - It's the last class before lunch and the only thing keeping you awake is the rumbling of your stomach. You're famished! But when the bell finally rings and you eagerly tear open your sack lunch you let out a groan.

Sluggish Metabolism - Some people appear to be born with a naturally fast metabolism that burns calories rapidly. If your metabolism seems slow, you can influence it by choosing foods rich in complex carbohydrates to maximize the number of...

Why Not Bottled Water? - Bottled water is going through a bad patch. Some condemn it as environmentally unsound. Cities are outlawing it. Others claim tap water is just as good for anything you can use bottled water for.

Real Cost of Upsizing - Bigger portion sizes make you eat more, even if you think the food tastes terrible, according to a new study from Cornell University. Portion size is now thought to be as influential as taste in determining whether we overeat.

Low Cholesterol Level - Low cholesterol levels in midlife appear to translate into lower mortality well into old age, according to a study from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Too Much Isn't Better - I love gardening, but it’s hard work. I think that’s why God placed Adam and Eve in a garden and told them to take care of it. He knew humans need exercise. The evidence is mounting: Exercise reduces the risk of cancer.

The Buzz on Caffeine - You may not think of caffeine as a drug. It is present in the three most popular drinks in the world—coffee, tea, and cola. It is also in chocolate. Could anything that widely available be a mind-altering chemical? You bet.

Fascinating Fiber - Take two people of about the same age and height; one is normal weight, the other overweight. Why the difference?

Don't Call Me Sugar - “Sugar in the morning, sugar in the evening, sugar at suppertime…” For too many of us the words to this old song describe our daily diet. We Americans love our sugar!

Kidney Disease - You feel tired all the time. Your skin itches. It might be allergies, because taking an antihistamine helps, but you have never had allergies before. You are off your feed, too. Eating makes you feel nauseous.

Breath of Anger - Experts have known for years that anger takes a toll on the heart. A recent study found that being angry and hostile can also affect how well you breathe.

Die for Trans Fats - Disturbing research published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that people who regularly succumb to processed foods like burgers, fries, cookies, pies, pastries, and certain margarine spreads can easily...

A Cheerful Heart - Three or four times a week I walk around my country neighborhood. I pass horse farms, a goat farm, and a llama farm. I take exercising seriously, so to get my quota of movement I usually am rushing to make sure I cover four...

Gimme' A Break! - Gimme a break! That’s all I could think of as I was shoveling the dirt from around the manhole cover. I had taken a job with a construction and demolition crew during the hot months of summer, and with temperatures in the...

Letting Go - I like to plan. I like to lay out everything I’m going to do and make a schedule to get it done. Although it’s usually to my benefit, my tendency to plan has been making my life stressful this summer. I decided to finish 20...

Wages of Gambling - It’s only a $17.95 processing fee and I might win the sweepstakes. I’m not gambling, am I? What’s wrong with a lottery ticket? Gambling’s a harmless entertainment. No problem! The statistics say otherwise. In the U.S. alone...

Vegans and Calcium - Some believe that vegans (those who choose to eliminate all animal products from their diet) get lower than the recommended levels of calcium. A German study of about 150 vegans found that, on average, they consumed 810...

Shopping Addiction - Shop ‘til you drop? Many people have taken that mantra to the max! Research related to us by the Department of Health Science at Indiana University reveals that what used to be considered a funny joke is no laughing matter.

Doggy Diet - Want to lose weight? Get a dog. A study by the University of Missouri-Columbia’s Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction found that having and walking a canine friend encouraged people to get more exercise and resulted...

Energized at Play - I’m playing with my class of college students, taking a gamble that the particular video clip I’m showing them of Carreras, Domingo, and Pavarotti in concert in Rome will help make my point about the importance of play in...

My Fears Relieved - Sometimes even the simplest things seem hard; whether it is going to a doctor’s appointment, being in a crowded room, or even driving down the freeway in your car. People, who suffer with stress and anxiety, find life...

Pushing Pause Button - We live in an “I’m too busy” world. Fast Foods; 15-minute oil changes; one-hour photo development. Even surgery is done on an outpatient basis, you’re on your way home before you’ve had a chance to rest!

Golden Oil - In biblical times, almost every village had an olive grove and olive press. In Deuteronomy, Palestine is described as a land of olive trees, fig trees, and pomegranates. Olives and olive oil are commonly used in Mediterranean cuisines.

Kiss for Good Health - A group of German psychologists, physicians and insurance companies researching secrets of long life and success made a surprising discovery. It is something simple and free: kiss your spouse each morning.

Stop Brain Cell Death - Beginning shortly after birth, when the number of brain cells that we possess are probably at their maximum, those cells begin to die at a frightening rate—perhaps as many as 50,000 per day! Multiply that by the number of days...

From SAD to the Son - I was feeling like a sad country song. I still had my wife, my dog, my truck, my kids, my job, and all those things usually mentioned in melancholy country songs, but I was depressed. My life hadn’t fallen apart.

Alcohol-free? Maybe. - You did not worry when your company instituted a zero alcohol policy. You thought it would not affect you. You don’t drink. But, when you were chosen for a random test you failed. Not that you were legally intoxicated.

An Olympic Lesson - Atlanta, July 23, 1996: Never before in 100 years of Olympic games had the U.S. women’s gymnastic team been so close to Olympic gold. They trailed Russia by only a few tenths of a point. Tension mounted.

Consider the Lilies - If you’re an anxious person, you likely feel jittery when routine is broken. Your sensation of being on edge and suffering muscle tension results in more fatigue, so you go to bed early. But after a few hours, you awaken...

A Wake-Up Call - Americans have accepted sleep deprivation as a new way of life. They consider sleep as an expendable luxury. Such is the conclusion of a recent government report. About 15 to 20 percent of adults regularly get less than six...

Laptop Backaches - You have probably grumbled that your laptop causes eyestrain. Did you know it may be causing a more serious health problem? It may be ruining your spine.

Good Cholesterol - Your body needs healthy carriers of cholesterol, called high density lipoproteins (HDL). These cholesterol carriers can actually reduce the risk of heart disease by helping the body get rid of unhealthy levels of...

Personal Religion - Researchers have surprising evidence that people who believe in God as a heavenly parent who loves and cares for them, and who actively cultivate that faith, have one of the most effective resources available for managing...

Build Brain Boutons - Messages are processed in the brain and sent to different parts of the body through nerve cells. These cells are made up of a center called the nucleus, the surrounding fluid called the cytoplasm, and a boundary called...

Less Salt, Please - You may be the salt of the earth, but too much salt can be bad for you. So what do you do when your doctor tells you to cut down or cut out on the salt?

Monkeys in Your Life - Things that need to be done are like monkeys. Feed them and they’ll never go home. They cling to you. They chatter incessantly. They vie for your attention. They multiply until they’ve taken control of your life.

Methamphetamines - Methamphetamine—also known as Meth, Speed, Crank, Chalk, Go-Fast, Zip and Cristy, and, in it’s smokable form as L.A., Ice, Crystal or Chrystal, 64glass, or Quartz—is a powerful central nervous system stimulant.

Bone Remodeling - Ten million Americans past the age of 50 have osteoporosis, and many more have bones that are less dense than normal. In addition, four out of every ten white women past 50 years of age will break a hip, spine, or...

Happiness and Health - Happiness Helps Health! Lots of new research is confirming this reality. Carnegie Mellon psychology professor Sheldon Cohen and his colleagues (who collaborated in this research with several major medical schools and...

Heart Risk Links - Studies are unearthing some destructive links to your heart. It’s already known that diabetes doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease. But new research points a finger at high blood sugar itself.

Just a Social Drink - Many people pride themselves by saying, “I am not an alcoholic, I am a social drinker and I know when to quit. I do not break the law. I am in control of my behavior.” That may be true, but have you given thought to how far...

Heart Trouble - Recently I went to see my doctor. It was not voluntary, I can assure you. Like most guys I don’t like the doctor, but this time I sort of had to. It was my heart. It was beating funny, pounding really hard.

Death-Look Ideal - In my sophomore year of college, I found myself close friends with a girl who was battling an eating disorder. She was glamorous and tall, but according to the death-look ideal (attempting to look extremely thin).

Straight for the Top - In elementary school Danielle Fisher began struggling with her grades. By high school it had become a full-fledged battle, and when college rolled around, this Washington State University student’s grades were so low that after...

Good Cholesterol - Good cholesterol? We hear so many negative messages about cholesterol, it seems strange to hear about “healthy cholesterol," one that is actually good for the heart!

Fit and Happy - Sedentary people are more likely to be depressed, note researchers in Psychosomatic Medicine. Exercise boosts fitness and elevates mood.

Nuts About Nuts - “Don’t eat nuts! They are full of fat! ”Have you ever heard anyone say that? Well, do you know what? They’re right! Nuts are high in fat. But before you go chucking that bag of peanuts out the window you should know...

Heavy Sleep - If you’re not getting enough shut-eye, you may notice the effects on your bathroom scales. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, studied the sleep habits of more than 68,000 middle-age women for 16...

Trans Fat - Every year we make new health resolutions. Sometimes we choose to cut down on sweets or sometimes we decide to eat more fruits and vegetables. This year why not take the challenge of reducing trans fat in your diet?

Toning Muscles Plus - Strength training—whether with weights, elastic resistance bands, or even the weight of your own body—can tone muscles as well as:

Prostate Cancer Risk - A study of nearly 3,000 Italian men showed a direct relationship between cholesterol levels and prostate cancer risk. Men over 65 with prostate cancer were 80 percent more likely to have high cholesterol.

Guilt-Free Junk Food - Do you find certain sweets or junk foods hard to resist? Avoiding them completely can increase cravings and trigger a binge-eating episode. It’s better to find a sensible way to incorporate small amounts of these foods into your...

You Look Good - In a recent poll conducted by SparkPeople.com, 35 percent of respondents named the scale as their primary motivation to lose weight. While this mindset seems harmless, dietitian Becky Hand thinks it may contribute...

Pomegranate Juice - When his grandfather passed away from Alzheimer’s disease, Richard Hartman, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Loma Linda University’s School of Science and Technology, wanted to make a difference.

Tomato for the Heart - The tomato slice in your sandwich could help prevent a heart attack, stroke, and even cancer. The yellow, jelly-like material surrounding the seeds helps make blood less “sticky,” inhibiting the formation of dangerous...

The Mighty Soybean - For 5,000 years the people of Asia have known something Western nations are just beginning to discover—the soybean is an amazing food! This lowly bean is packed with nutrition, is inexpensive, is easy to cook...

The Home Stretch - Stretching can help you grasp a zipper that’s been tantalizingly out of reach for years, work kinks out of a stiff neck, and ease back pain.

Juice for Your Brain - You see’em on those late night infomercials—juicers that promise to save you more time and transform your life. All hype? The juicer might be, but the juice isn’t.

Battling Bad Breath - If your breath is capable of dissolving iron (indicated by a sudden lack of friends), you might want to consider a few helpful hints. Halitosis is most often the result of bacteria in the mouth.

Learning to Walk - Research shows that taking a brisk walk can benefit your heart, body, and mind—at any age. How you walk is just as important as that you walk. Follow these simple guidelines:

Healing Honey - A study published in the journal Burns found honey salve healed superficial burns more effectively and quickly than a standard treatment of silver sulfadiazine.

Eat More, Weigh Less - People who choose low “energy-dense” diets eat more food (by weight) but consume fewer calories, helping them to better regulate their weight, according to a new study of more than seven thousand Americans published in the...

Healthy Fat - Nuts and seeds are high in both fat and calories. So how could they ever be considered a healthy food? Well, not all fat is created equal.

Lowdown on Low Fat - While diets low in fat do not appear to prevent breast cancer, they may help prevent its recurrence. A recent study from the National Cancer Institute found that in post-menopausal women with breast cancer...

Foods for Your Moods - Have you ever had one of those days? You know what I’m talking about—you get up in the morning wishing you hadn’t, and the day goes downhill from there.

Prime Time Exercise - Is channel surfing your primary fitness activity each day?Watch out—it may make you fat. In study after study, all that TV-time has been shown to increase the risk of obesity.

What Shall We Drink? - The average American consumes 21 percent of their calories from beverages. This represents an increase of 150-300 calories more than was consumed 30 years ago. Most of this increase comes from sweetened fruit drinks...

Fitness Forever - Youth is NOT wasted on the young. A new study finds that even octogenarians can enjoy improved health and fitness with regular exercise.

The Unmerry Heart - Depression can increase your risk of heart disease. New research confirms that, even in healthy middle-aged women with no apparent signs of coronary heart disease, severe depression appears to dovetail with lifestyle habits...

Religion and Health - Individuals who have a meaningful religious experience and attend church regularly are reported to have fewer health problems. In addition, they are more likely to recover faster from an illness, have better surgical outcomes...

Fight Heart Disease - Here are some natural, good-sense ways to keep your ticker tickin’ without the use of potentially dangerous prescriptions:

McDrug - Scientists are discovering that fast food can trigger hormonal changes in the body that make them hard to resist. Fatty foods may activate the brain’s dopamine system—similar to the effects of an addictive drug.

Waiting to Inhale - “There’s a growing trend in research,” says Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network,an environmental group based in Washington, D.C.,“that shows that environmental toxins that damage your health may...

New Running Duds - The New Year always begins with a certain amount of optimism based on new resolutions and the desire to change. But right on the heel of those determinations is usually a pessimistic voice as well that taunts us.

The Grudge Report - Holding a grudge may kill you. While research into the effects of forgiveness on health is still relatively new, there’s evidence that withholding it may contribute to:

Green Is Better - Eating green is better and healthier. It is healthier for people, for animals, and for the environment. Eating a plant-based diet is associated with a longer life, less chronic disease, and less damage to the environment.

Oatmeal /Cholesterol - Research is showing that oatmeal, which is high in soluble (dissolves in water) fiber, slows the absorption of cholesterol and produces a feeling of fullness.

Alzheimer's-safe Home - If you’re living with a person with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you can make life better by making your home safer.

Diesel Dangers - Exposure to diesel exhaust for an hour during exercise impairs blood vessels’ ability to expand for greater blood flow. Volunteers, who were placed in a closed chamber and asked to exercise on a stationary bike, were subjected...

Diet and Your Heart - Here are some quick info bytes about heart disease and vegetarian nutrition.

Nurturing the Mind - Black balloons mark some fortieth birthday celebrations. But when Luke Skelton hit the middle-age milestone, he reflected on years of excellent health and looked forward to a future filled with more of the same.

Pills or Peanuts? - Sometimes fact seems stranger than fiction. Certain high-fat foods, such as peanuts and peanut butter, protect us from developing heart disease.

Break the Black Horse - Has life dealt you a bum deck of cards? Has prejudice due to race, gender or culture repeatedly reared its ugly head? Has poverty, illness, a broken home, or handicap plagued your life from day one?

Free-radicals Beware! - A study by the United States Department of Agriculture reveals a dozen tasty foods that rate highest in antioxidants—the nemesis of those damaging, cancer-causing free-radicals coursing through our bodies.

The Power of Flaxseed - The tiny flaxseed is a good example of something small that has powerful health-promoting benefits. Flaxseed is rich in a fat—alpha-linolenic acid—that is essential to health, which the body cannot manufacture.

Eat for 20/20 vision - A high intake of dietary antioxidants, present in normal foods, may delay the onset of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Garden of Delight - Mere hours after my brother’s sudden death two years ago, I was stunned as I passed over the threshold of his house. Everything was in total disarray. Screens were broken, there was no running water and the toilet was clogged.

Water Your Heart - Are you a water drinker? More than a thirst quencher, water is powerful medicine for the most important disease in this country—coronary artery disease.

Vacationer's Guilt - Feeling guilty about the vacation you just scheduled for this coming summer? Don’t. Taking a break from work and your everyday routine isn’t just for fun, it’s essential for mental health and creativity.

Escape Brain Pain - New studies show that the lifestyle changes you make to reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke will also benefit your brain.

Fast Breaks - According to researchers from the University of Massachusetts and the University of South Carolina, if you’re among those who skip breakfast, you’re enjoying a 4.5 times greater risk of becoming obese.

Give Yourself a Raise - Here is a way to pick up some extra cash, tax free. In fact, the government kicks in some. Not everyone is eligible for this money, though.

Help Prevent Cancer - The amount of physical activity you perform both in your leisure time and on the job may lower your risk of colon cancer. Researchers examined 685 colon cancer patients and over 2,400 control subjects, ages 40 to 85.

Secondhand Smoke - If you’re a smoker, you sustain a 65 percent higher risk of developing glucose intolerance than nonsmokers. Previous research has already linked smoking with diabetes.

Remarkable Raspberries - The antioxidant concentration in raspberries is ten times greater than that of tomatoes and broccoli, according to recent findings by a research team in the Netherlands.

What's Her Secret? - "Have you been as busy as I have?” my friend Betty asks when I come to see her. I’m not sure how to answer. Betty, a retired school teacher and widowed for over 20 years, is now 93 years old.

Bug-A-Boo - The Ampulex compresso is a serious wasp! I recently did a little research on the tiny creature, and was amazed at its ability to use an ordinary cockroach for its plans of pro-creating.

Give Life - Donate Blood - Photo: Penelope Berger I have a thing about hypodermic needles. They bother me. I am a big, husky guy, but that little needle gives the chills. When I get a shot, I give the nurse a choice.

Stress-Free 13 Steps - 13-Step Program for Becoming Stress-Free

Giggles Good for You - Like a good joke? So does your body. According to gelotologists, those who study humor and its effects on the human body, laughing reduces tension, clears the mind, and lifts the spirits.

Letting Go - Hanging on to anger and resentment when you perceive someone has wronged you could make you sick. In a recent study, those who learned to forgive saw not only their stress and anger subside, but also psychosomatic symptoms.

Five Steps to Fitness - A new year has begun and this year you really are going to lose weight and get in shape. You told yourself the same thing last year – and the year before that, and for the last five years running.

Chocolate and Your Skin - Here's a formula for sensational skin: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and chocolate.

Knobby Knuckle Advice - Myth or fact? Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis.

Supersize - Hefty Price - For an extra 67 cents, you can get lots of fries, a bucketful of soda, a super-duper burger, and more at a fast food window.

Still Skating - Akrove was marking his 96th birthday at the place where he can be found almost every day. After the cake-cutting ceremony, when the lights had dimmed in the blue, yellow, and orange globes overhead, he eagerly rejoined the ... 

Friendly Fats - Avocados, nuts, olives, and seeds—even if you have high cholesterol, don’t give ‘em up. 

Physical Activity - When it comes to exercise, the slogan “no pain, no gain” is a myth. In reality the opposite is true, for when you exercise, you increase the “gain” and decrease the “pain.”

Skinny Quiz - Who has the slimmest waist? Meat eaters, fish eaters, vegetarians, or vegans? 

Fighting Inflammation - A compound found in extra-virgin olive oil inhibits the activity of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, acting in the same way as ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Focus on the BIG 5 - It’s no surprise that five key health factors that make your RealAge older also steal late-life independence.

Sleep! - At the beginning of the previous century, the average person slept ten hours per night. Currently one in three are sleeping fewer than seven hours.

The Flu Bug - As winter approaches, friends and family get together, traveling near and far for the holiday season. But beware; those around you may be bearing more than just gifts.

Sweets and Belly Ache - The dog days of summer may have you reaching for lots of cold drinks. But could this habit leave you doubled over in pain?

Eat Your Vegetables! - Do you remember your mother’s advice to “eat your vegetables—they’re good for you?” It’s still true! 

Drink Water - Examining the survey reports by participants in the Adventist Health Study, Dr. Jackie Chan at Loma Linda School of Public Health found that water can protect the heart.

B-12 and the Brain - Inadequate vitamin B-12 is much more common than realized before. A new study in the elderly showed that 40% had low or marginal levels for good health.

Potato Sack - Take a potato and write on it the name of a person who did you wrong. Do this for everyone who has raised your ire and never received your forgiveness.

Improve Your Skin - Got blackheads on your face or maybe a few pimples on your neck? Don’t panic. You’re not alone. Those glossy pictures of perfect, unblemished faces adorning your favorite magazines don’t tell the whole story.

High Octane - Love those fruits and vegetables but hate those, um, excess internal vapors? Begin with smaller servings, and slowly increase the amount.

Brain Food - Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day can cut your risk of stroke by 26 percent. British researchers evaluated data from eight major studies that followed over 250,000 people...

Power Walking - About three years ago I decided to begin a walking program. Just a couple of miles a day. My young-adult daughter had started walking and was putting me to shame, especially since she’d never been any to fitness-minded up to that point.

Revitalize Your Life - To revitalize your life and enjoy a more vibrant lifestyle, you should implement the following ten factors.

Figs for Your Health - Figs originated in Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The fig is mentioned more than fifty times in the Bible including a mention in the Garden of Eden.

Add Whole Grains - A national wellness goal in MyPyramid, the new food pyramid, is to eat more whole grains. Consumers can easily add whole grains to their meals, often using favorite recipes they’ve always enjoyed.

Nutrient Dense Foods - Why should you choose an apple over a bag of pretzels if they have the same number of calories? If calories were all that counted it would simply be a matter of taste.

Fruit Juices for Baby - Filling your baby’s bottle with fruit juice may not be the healthiest for your child.

More Than Water? - Bottled water, soft drinks, fruit drinks, and sports drinks. There are so many choices to quench our thirst. Which one is the best? One out of every five calories consumed by an American today comes from beverages.

Preventing Meningitis - Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection in the fluid within the brain and spinal cord that usually affects children younger than five years of age.

Heel for Health - Walking a dog may be good for your waistline, and it doesn’t have to be your dog. Walking a dog helped people in a recent study lose nearly 14.5 pounds over a yearlong period.

Religion-Good Health - Dr Koenig found that those who attend church at least once a week have one-half as much interleukin-6 in their blood, a substance known to impair the working of the immune system.

Everyday Fitness - A recent study found that everyday chores could lower blood pressure as effectively as a formal program of cardiovascular exercise. Many actions you would not think of as exercise are considered moderate-level physical activities...

Cancer Death Rates - In the last 10 years, cancer death rates have been slowly dropping, by 1.1% per year. This reflects progress in prevention, early detection, and treatment. Though small, this progress is in the right direction.

Protect Your Eyes - To substantially reduce your risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)—a leading cause of blindness—consume a diet rich in certain antioxidant vitamins and minerals.

Abdominal Fat - Women with a lot of weight around their waistline are nearly twice as likely to develop gallstones large enough to require surgical removal.

Losing Lean Weight - In a four-year study of 2,163 older adults, researchers found that for every 10 pounds of fat weight a person lost in a weight loss program, they also lost about four to five pounds of lean (primarily muscle) tissue.

High Price Tag - There is a high price tag to pay for being a couch potato. The lack of exercise not only increases the risk of a person becoming overweight, but inactivity can also adversely affect the function of the brain...

Bird Flu - Outbreaks of avian flu continue to spread to other countries including Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, Greece, Iraq, and Azerbaijan. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there have been 91 deaths...

Can the Clutter - Fatigue is likely to be a frequent complaint when you’re over 40. If you get adequate sleep, eat well, generally take good care of yourself, and have received an A on your physical exam but are still complaining of fatigue...

The Amazing D - Scientists have discovered that vitamin D may do more for you than promote healthy bones. It’s proving to be beneficial in preventing and managing numerous health conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and skin disorders.

Heart-health Awards - And the winners are pistachio nuts and sunflower seeds! These two contenders came out on top in a recent analysis reported in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry for heart-healthy foods.

Nutrition Bargain - Buying fruits and vegetables appears to be the best nutritional bang for your buck according to a team of French and U.S. researchers.

Save Your Bones - The news is good if you don’t do much dairy but get a frequent hankering for Chinese food. 

Controlling Cholesterol - Several risk factors may lead to unhealthy cholesterol levels. Some you control—some you can’t. 

Breaking the Mold - Excess mold can become a health issue in any season. Here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from this persistent fungus:

Unorthodox Activism - I remember being fascinated by the story of a Chinese anti-smoking activist who traveled to Hong Kong. Once there, he routinely grabbed cigarettes from the mouths of unsuspecting locals in the business district.

Get On Board - If you are dealing with a chronic health condition, widen your circle of support by going online.

Healthy Teeth - Here’s something to chew on. New findings reveal that a plant chemical, oleanolic acid, found in raisins, inhibits the growth of two species of oral bacteria.

Organic Hit List - Certain foods have been found to contain the highest levels of pesticides and are healthiest for you when purchased organic.

Exercise Buddy - Your spouse can be your best exercise buddy. In a study of 3,075 people, researchers looked at marital status and activity levels.

Staying Young - Here are some things you can do to stay “younger” as you get older: 

Fidget Fitness - Researchers at the Mayo Clinic measured the movements and body postures of 20 sedentary people: half were lean, half obese.

Total Healing - As I came down one of the upper floors of the hospital, my pager sounded. Since faith and spirituality can take me anywhere in the hospital, I have had to join the beeper crowd

Live to Be 100 - More and more people are living to be centenarians. Are they just lucky, or are there factors that you can apply to your life?

No Stone Unturned - In a study of 96,000 women age 27 to 44, those who drank the most fluids (average: 131⁄2 cups/day) had a 32 percent lower risk of developing a kidney stone than those who drank the least (five cups/day).

Wait for Weights - Maximize the calorie-burning benefits of your workout by tackling cardiovascular exercise before strength training.

Keep It Cool - Is your olive oil in an opaque bottle? If not, it may be quickly losing some its ability to protect your blood vessels.

Food To Watch - What foods are most closely associated with weight gain? That’s a practical question in our current overweight society.

TV, Children, Calories - TV has become a dominant influence in the lives of most Americans, especially children.

Heartburn Vs Pnemonia - If you take acid-fighting drugs to curb your heartburn, peptic ulcer, or other gastrointestinal malady, you might be trading one minor problem for a much bigger one.

Walk Off Dementia - Harvard School of Public Health researchers studied 16,466 female nurses ages 70 to 81. Those who walked an hour and a half or more per week outperformed less-active women in tests of mental functions.

Sodium Alert - If you’re fighting high blood pressure, limiting sodium intake is recommended. Even if you don’t have high blood pressure, a low-sodium diet may decrease your risk of future blood pressure problems and heart disease.

Heart and Kiwi - In a recent study, people who ate two to three kiwifruits daily for 28 days reduced their platelet aggregation response (potential for blood-clot formation) by 18 percent and their blood triglyceride (fat) levels by 15 percent compared with people who ate no kiwi.

Lose It Safely - Ready to drop some pounds? Beware! Losing weight unhealthfully can be almost as harmful as being overweight.

Building Bones - Gravity is essential for building and maintaining bone mineral density. That’s why weight-bearing exercise —any sustained activity you do against the force of gravity—is recommended for strong, healthy bones.

An Inside Job - The next time you reach for a cotton swab to clean your ears, you might want to think twice. According to Ravi N. Samy, assistant professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

No Thrill in Pills - If your New Year’s resolution to lose weight has you eyeing the natural weight loss pills at the drug store, look the other way.

Colon Cancer Barrier - A 17-year study that tracked more than 35,000 Iowa women middle-aged and older showed that those who consumed more than 350 mg of magnesium per day (mostly from foods) lowered their risk of colon cancer.

Expect the Best - A positive attitude about aging can help you embrace health in the years to come. According to research, older people who expect their health to decline with age may be less likely to try to stay physically active.

Healing Music - Singing is often a result of a heart-felt response to the goodness of God and His leading. The first recorded song in scripture immediately followed the drowning of Israel's enemies.

Use It or Lose It - Dementia is a common malady stalking older adults. A recent study suggests that those who read, play board games, or “jam” with their favorite musical instrument several times a week, lower their risk.

Candles and Sniffles - If the next time you sit down with your significant other at a candlelight dinner and find your eyes welling with tears, it may not be the magic of the moment.

Good Posture Benefits - Good Posture Improves Walking Benefits 
Walking is great exercise if you maintain correct posture and movements.

Health Risk Formula - Is your health at risk because of your weight? Use this three-step formula to determine your body mass index (BMI).

Arthritis Relief - Get a leg up on achy joints by exercising the pain away. Resistance training, range of motion exercises, and walking increase quality of life and reduce pain and stiffness.

Weight Loss - A popular weight-loss website found that 14 percent of 285 individuals who responded to a newsletter query were going through their program as part of a couple.

The Perfectionist - From the time he was a teenager, Bernard Loiseau had one driving ambition – to be the chef of a French restaurant rated three stars in Michelin’s Guide. You see, Michelin’s Guide is the bible of French dining.

Fatal Charge - Spring and summer offer more than fair skies and warm temperatures. They also can spark powerful storms bristling with lightning. To protect yourself, consider these life-saving tips: 

Want Cancer? - Ready for a little reverse psychology? If you want to play patty-cake with a deadly disease, here’s how:

Eat Cheap - Think eating fruits and vegetables is too expensive? In 1999 researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture systematically priced 154 different types of produce.

A Family Affair - Both sides of the family tree are important in determining genetic risk of breast and prostate cancers, reports a study completed at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Vegans Beware - Nonvegetarians get all the iodine they need from iodized salt, seafood, and other animal products. In one study of people, nine percent of those eating a mixed diet had low iodine...

Quiet! - If you work all day in noise levels 85 decibels (dB) or higher, you’re going to experience hearing loss. How loud is 85 decibels? 
 

Fiber Up - Proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are all basic materials from which our bodies build muscle, repair tissue, and draw energy.

Smarter Students - Students at Montana’s Whitefish Central School are calmer, more respectful, and smarter thanks to a change in their diet.

Sleep, Live Longer? - Think chronic lack of sleep gives you just a bad case of afternoon yawns? The quality and quantity of your snooze time can affect your immune system.

The Cold Hard Facts - We get more colds in winter than summer—not because it’s colder or wetter, but because we spend more time indoors where viruses are easier to swap.

Ladies, Move It! - Participants at a recent International Research Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Cancer in Washington, D.C., heralded some good news in the fight against cancer.

Sleep On It - Got a problem? Go to bed. Researchers recruited 66 people to discover if sleep spurred creative problem solving.

Olive Oil and You - The magic charm of the Mediterranean draws million of visitors each year. Part of the attraction is the delicious food served in the region.

Anyone for Mushrooms? - Mushrooms have been very popular for many centuries. They have been used both as food and for medicinal purposes.

Its Gotta Be Brisk - You can get fit by walking. But it needs to be “determined,” or brisk walking. What’s brisk?

Down but Not Out - Approximately four out of every five newly disabled older people regain the ability to live independently within six months of their disability episode––a higher recovery rate than previously reported.

No Time for Rocking Chairs - If you’re 65 or older, it might be time to hit the free weights. A study finds that older people would do well to take up lifting weights.

A National Epidemic - About nine million children in America, aged six to 11 years, are overweight. That amounts to 15 percent of our children.

Going Nuts - Recently, a number of human studies reported that a frequent consumption of nuts was associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease.

Park the Stroller - To help keep your preschooler from having to fight the battle of the bulge later in life, leave the stroller behind.

Good Memories Outlast Bad - During those moments of retrospection we all experience, we’re more likely to remember the good times than the bad.

Reusing Frying Oil - Reusing frying oil increases the risk of high blood pressure. Researchers randomly sampled and analyzed cooking oil from 538 homes in Málaga, Spain.

Killer Cleaners - According to a World Health Organization 1997 study, 80 percent of cancer cases in the twenty-first century will be attributable to environmental factors.

Low Carb Diets - With Americans eating more and exercising less, obesity rates are climbing. Losing weight has become a way of life in America.

Secondhand Smoke - Researchers from Montana and the University of San Francisco recently examined the impact of a short-lived Helena, Montana, 2002 smoking ban.

Color Me Fat - People eat with their eyes. If you see more variety and color in a candy dish or buffet line, you’ll eat more.

Soda Waistlines - Drink just one can of sugary soda per day while not adjusting the amount of food you consume or increasing your exercise level, and you’ll be in trouble.

Lather Up - Want to keep yourself healthy? Then lather up. The Council on Family Health offers these tips to help you combat those nasty germs.

Fish Freedom Act - Tuna, mackerel, and other fatty fish can bubble a sigh of relief. Although they are rich in omega-3 fats, a component necessary for good health in humans, they’re not the only source available.

Living Healthier Longer - Throughout the centuries people such as the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon have searched for the fountain of youth.

Eat Breakfast - Cut Calories - Enjoying a hearty breakfast sets you up to consume less calories throughout the day. So concludes a recent study by the American Heart Association.

Excuses, Excuses - The cause of most weight problems is not “slow metabolism” per se, but rather inactivity.

Humor and Blood Sugar - On two separate days, five healthy adults and 19 diabetic adults sat down for dinner.

Keep Veggies Fresh - Want to serve your family the freshest possible vegetables? If your local farmers’ market isn’t open, head for your grocer’s frozen food aisle.

Protect Your Prostate - A diet that includes a daily dose of garlic, shallots, scallions, chives, leeks, and/or onions may help cut a man risk of prostate cancer in half.

Winning While Losing - With nearly 60 percent of Americans overweight, the pursuit of weight loss has become a national way of life.

Health Hype Alert - New fitness videos, diet books, and health products are continually flooding the marketplace.

No Pain, No Problem - Exercise does your heart and immune system good. But there’s a limit. Over exercising may actually do a body harm.

Fight Night Sweats - Women have long used estrogen and progesterone drugs to ease such menopausal symptoms as hot flashes

Why Exercise? - Studies reveal that regular exercise not only adds years to your life, but also life to your years.

Better Cancer Fighter - A University of California, Davis, study of organically grown corn, strawberries, and marionberries found that they contained higher levels of natural cancer-fighting compounds than conventionally grown samples.

Time+TV=Fat - TV watching can affect more than your mind. It can also help determine your girth.

A Merry Heart - Avoiding negative emotions may enhance your body’s ability to fight infection, suggests a study reported in the online edition of Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.

Sibling Violence - Brothers and sisters who fight while growing up lay the groundwork for battering their dates by the time they get to college, reports a University of Florida study. 

Middle Age Health - Maintaining a heart-healthy lifestyle during middle age not only helps you live longer; it helps you live better. 
 

Oral Health Tip - If you’re one of 62 million Americans suffering from some form of cardiovascular disease or 16 million with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), you might want to check your teeth.

Arthritis Pain - Suffering from chronic arthritis pain? It might be time for a little Mozart. Sixty-six elderly arthritis patients took part in a study recently reported in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

The Benefits of Soy - Tofu, soy beverages, and soy burgers are hot items these days. Why the surge of interest in soy products?

An Apple A Day Helps - Apples, especially the skins, are very rich in quercetin, a flavonoid that helps provide protection against brain cell damage.

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