Make sure you’re getting enough calcium. Of all the minerals the body absorbs, you’re most likely to come up short in your supply of calcium. Unfortunately, this mineral is essential as far as strengthening bones, helping muscles contract and regulating contractions of the heart. Most surprisingly, calcium plays a role…
Life is hectic and the last thing you want to do after a long day’s work is slave over a hot stove. That’s time that can be far better spent on homework, housework or even gym work. It is possible to enjoy a healthy, home-cooked meal without spending all evening…
It’s that time of year again when we create lofty goals for ourselves that are virtually impossible to meet. Avoid the self-recrimination that you’ll undoubtedly feel in a few months, and resolve just to do the best you can. Whether your goal is health-oriented, altruistic or family-oriented, you’ll feel better…
We bet you didn’t know it was National Sleep Awareness Week. According to the National Sleep Foundation, this year’s focus is on “springing forward,” the process of losing that precious hour of sleep for Daylight Savings Time. The amount of rest you get is directly related to how you perform…
Celebrate the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout by butting out. We’re talking about extinguishing those cigarettes for good. Every year, the Great Smokeout is held on the third Thursday of November. To participate in this event, which went national in 1977, smokers take part by cutting back on the…
Fast food restaurants, convenience stores and other one-stop shops for junk food can be the ultimate landmine for even the most determined dieter. When hunger strikes, it’s important to have healthy foods on hand. So instead of putting your diet on ice, put some healthy foods on it. When hunger…
The weight didn’t come on overnight, and it’s certainly not going to come off overnight. Focus on losing one to two pounds per week through healthy eating and exercise. It takes a combination of both to achieve lasting weight loss. As the old saying goes, slow and steady wins the…
There are many different schools of thought on the concept of daily weigh-ins. While some weight loss experts believe it can actually hinder, not help, the losing process, others promote the idea of stepping on the scale every day. A study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that people…
Common sense says that if you want to lose weight, you should lower your calorie intake. But how low can you go? It’s important to find a happy medium that will be good for your body. Many people believe that dropping down to 800 calories or less will help shed…
The USDA recommends five to nine servings per day of vegetables and fruits, and that doesn’t include French fries. Many people don’t grow out of their childhood habit of hating vegetables, but summer is a perfect time to try and make those valuable veggies taste great. Farmers’ markets are in…