Did you know that a green (unripe) banana confers its own unique health benefits? Green bananas are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and contain resistant starch which cannot be broken down by enzymes in your digestive system and, therefore, acts more like fiber. Including foods high in resistant starch in your diet may reduce your risk of diabetes and heart disease by aiding in blood sugar control and lowering blood cholesterol levels. Bananas have higher levels of antioxidants as they ripen. Fully ripened bananas produce a substance called Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF). TNF regulates... Read More

It’s almost here again…back to school. Getting your kids back in the school year groove doesn’t have to be stressful as long as you plan ahead for classes, sports, and getting up early. Here are some tips to make your back to school strategy operate smoothly. Get back on your school year sleep schedule. Pediatricians recommend that children age 6 to 12 get 9 to 12 hours of sleep a night, and that teens get 8 to 10 hours a night. If it’s still light outside when your kids go to bed, consider light blocking shades to help your child’s body send the appropriate signals for sleep.  All devices... Read More

Planning a camping trip requires thought and preparation.  After ticking off the items on your gear checklist, take some time to think about some other important checklist items before you pitch your tent. Taking Fido? If you are taking your dog on a camping trip, don’t forget these things to make the trip safe and healthy for him. Dog first aid kit. Just like you, your dog may have a minor emergency. Consider butterfly bandages, tweezers and a muzzle. Make sure your dog’s tags and microchip are up to date. Know basic facts about dog first aid, like when to induce vomiting and when not to... Read More

While we are in Colorado we should use sun protection year round, due to the altitude and our storied 300 days of sunshine, it is particularly important during the long summer days. While American culture says that a tan equals healthy, there is no such thing as a healthy tan! The increase in skin pigment, called melanin, which causes the color change in your skin is a sign of damage. Once skin is exposed to UV radiation, it increases the production of melanin in an attempt to protect the skin from further damage. Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays can do lasting damage. They penetrate the skin more deeply... Read More

If you are of a certain age, you remember when computers were huge mainframes in the computer science lab, you took a typewriter to college, and you wrote notes by hand in class. Technology has presented us with many modern opportunities to take notes – laptops, tablets, phones, watches.  While we have many options at our disposal, science is proving that the best way to take notes for retaining knowledge is a good, old-fashioned paper and pen. Studies of memory retention using a variety of different tools for note taking show that note-taking by hand improves retention in almost all circumstances.... Read More

The way we read, write, and talk helps to determine the way we see the world. Recently, economist Keith Chen published a paper that asked the question, are languages with less decisive future tenses more thoughtful about the future because they consider it grammatically equivalent to the present. For example, in English, we say “I will go to the play tomorrow,” which is a strong future tense. In Mandarin or Finnish, which have weaker future tenses, it might be more appropriate to say, “I go to the play tomorrow.”   Chen discovered that speakers of German, Finnish... Read More

Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins are neurotransmitters that regulate our happiness.  A neurotransmitter is a messenger of neurologic information from one cell to another.  Being in a positive mental state has significant impact on our motivation, productivity, and wellbeing. Did you know you can intentionally cause neurotransmitters to flow? Let’s take a look at each one and how you can activate them to make yourself happy. Dopamine motivates us to take action toward goals, desires, and needs, and gives a surge of reinforcing pleasure when achieving them. Procrastination, self-doubt,... Read More

Humans have been fasting throughout our existence, sometimes because food was not available, or as a part of major religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. As hunter-gatherers humans went for stretches when food was not available, our bodies evolved to be able to function without food for extended periods of time. Intermittent fasting is a term for an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It is not a “diet” in the conventional sense. It is more accurately described as an “eating pattern.” Intermittent fasting methods may involve... Read More

People often struggle to find ways to preserve health and happiness when they live in stress-inducing urban environments. Recent research suggests parks have a unique capacity to enhance physical health and foster a sense of community for city dwellers. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine and the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, used information from the Gallup-Healthways Well-being Index, the U.S. Census Bureau, and a variety of other sources and combined this analysis with city-level data on park quantity, quality and accessibility... Read More

Above-average temperatures are expected to continue to grip the West this summer, according to the latest outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business. From the Plains to the Great Lakes and Northeast may slightly above-average temperatures through August. In short, it’s hot! Summer is an obvious time for concern about dehydration. Mild dehydration can have adverse effects on mood and energy. Sometimes the signs of dehydration are less obvious than thirst and fatigue. Dehydration can be caused by hot, humid weather which increases sweat and fluid loss, but dry heat is actually more harmful.... Read More

As a young adult, I taught multiple fitness classes and played recreational soccer.  At that time in my life that much physical activity was not only desired, it was a great way to expend my abundant energy.  As I’ve aged, I’ve noticed shifts in my physical activity levels and preferences. You may have noticed that, as you age, your interests have shifted as well. Changes in your activity level and interests are normal. As we age, there are some activities that become more difficult or risky.  For example, if you were a wrestler in your youth, you are not likely able to tolerate the physical... Read More

There have been studies conducted to determine if happy people live longer.  In a study from the UK, one of the longest-running studies on aging,  older people who said they were happy, were less likely to die over a five-year period. And the happier they were, the longer they lived. The study results showed that older people who reported feeling happiest were 35% less likely of dying during the study than those who were least happy. Earlier studies have looked at happiness and longevity by asking people to recall their emotional state, for example, happiness and anxiety, throughout the day.... Read More

From birth to death, one of the most important parts of being human is the need for physical contact. Did you know that a firm hug can make you feel less negative emotion? Scientists found that getting a hug on the day of a conflict was linked to a slight rise in positive emotions and a comparable drop in negative ones, and appeared to linger into the following day. Evidence suggests that close physical contact — such as a hug — can play a part in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure, stress, loneliness, aggression, anxiety and depression. When you hug someone, you release... Read More

I hear, read and see lots of material on health and well-being.  Sometimes the information is thorough and accurate.  Sometimes the information is correct, but some facts are omitted. Here are a few things I still hear after many years in the fitness business. BMI is not a valid health measure.  Body Mass Index, or BMI, is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. Some complain that this not a valid way to determine if someone is fat or not.  The fact is, most Americans can use BMI to determine if they are overweight or obese, but for some this method... Read More

Hospitals around the country are using music therapy as a way to ease a patient’s pain, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety and depression, allowing patients to heal faster. Thirty-five percent of healthcare facilities in the US offer music, of some form, to their patients. An article in the journal, Pain Physician, indicates ​that music functions effectively to alleviate both chronic pain and related depression. In general, music was used in combination with other, more conventional pain treatments, rather than as a standalone substitute. Music that listeners find emotionally engaging... Read More

Scientists have talked for years about the impact global climate will have on our planet.  Some are even speculating that, at this point, there are some things that have happened as a result of the changing climate that are already irreversible. For example, mountain glaciers are in alarming retreat and the downstream effects of reduced water supply in the driest months may already be a foregone conclusion. Did you know that global climate change is having an impact on your health now? Some scientists say that impact may also be irreversible. Catastrophic weather such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes,... Read More

The knee is one of the largest and most complex joints in the body and it endures stress on a daily basis. Our knees absorb force equal to 3.5 times our body weight just walking down stairs. For a person weighing 120lbs, that equates to 420 pounds of force! If you exercise, you probably put more stress on your knees, and this can have consequences such joint wear and tear, injury, or osteoarthritis. Overuse will slowly but surely lead to knee injuries. Opt for a range of activities and alternate workouts. If you run, for example, alternate with cycling or swimming to use different muscle groups. ... Read More

Higher levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have led to more potent pollen. Warmer temperatures have led to earlier springs and longer allergy seasons. If you suffer from spring allergies, that means a longer period of time being just plain miserable. The good news is that natural allergy relief is as close as your local grocery store. Foods rich in vitamin C and folic acid help reduce the inflammation associated with allergic reactions. Chocolate. If you have a sweet tooth, you’re gonna love this! Cocoa has been found to have some anti-allergy properties by reducing the body’s ability... Read More

Summer days are long and hot, but more carefree and laid back than the rest of the year.  Practicing self care is something we should do all year, but work, relationships, and everyday hassles seem to take up all our time. Take time this summer to incorporate simple changes in your daily routine to enhance self-care. Eat berries.  Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and blueberries are antioxidant powerhouses.  Two new studies suggest that berries may be good for your heart as well. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that eating just under a cup of mixed... Read More

Healthy eating can be expensive if you’re on a tight budget, but it can be done with a little thought and creativity.  Here are some easy tips for eating healthy on a budget: Plan your meals. If you plan your meals, build a shopping list, and only buy what’s on the list, you’ll spend less on stuff you don’t need.  You can save even more if you take a look at what’s on sale at your grocery store and build your food plan around it. For example, this week, my grocery store is having a special on ground turkey, salad greens, grapefruit, pears, and whitefish—all items around which I can... Read More