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

Sugar is both a delightful treat and the bane of our existence because, while it is delicious, it also seems to be addictive. Scientific evidence is mounting to suggest that too much added sugar in our diets could lead to true addiction. Sugar is linked to addiction because when we eat it, dopamine and opioids are released into the bloodstream. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that creates a reward associated with addictive behavior. Once dopamine is released into the system, it gives us a pleasurable “high.” Why do we crave sugar? The main natural source of sugar is fruit. Thousands of years... Read More

Thanksgiving kicks off weeks of eating, shopping, parties, and family gatherings. Most people feel a mix of joy and anxiety right before and during the holidays. Statistics show that up to 69 percent of people are stressed by lack of time, 69 percent are stressed by a lack of money, and 51 percent are stressed out about the pressure to give or get gifts. A British study examined people’s stress levels and other behavior during the holiday season. For anyone feeling less than on top of things, the turning point from mild to severe stress comes on December 18 and peaks on Christmas Day. According... Read More

This month’s blog was going to be about something else entirely, but then I read a piece about a woman who won a law suit against her ex. The ex broke up with her and then shared her nude pics and videos with her friends, classmates, and pornographic websites.  This story persuaded me to write about the hazards of sharing suggestive media with anyone, even your significant other. A federal district court in California last week entered a default judgment against a man and ordered him to pay $6.45 million in damages after he was accused of spreading an ex-girlfriend’s naked pictures and videos... Read More

Over the past decade there has been growing interest in natural childbirth. As part of that debate many have questioned whether doctors should dispose of a placenta after birth. Many mammals consume their placenta — referred to as placentophagy — and there are proponents who argue that humans should also engage in this practice. What is the science of placentophagy? Is it safe to consume a placenta? Is it beneficial? The placenta is an organ shared by a pregnant mother and her growing fetus, functioning as the lungs, gastrointestinal system, liver, and kidneys of the developing child. Proponents... Read More

It’s Movember, the time when men grow mustaches to raise awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and big health issues for men. The Movember Foundation is dedicated to improving quality of life for men, 60% of whom don’t go to the doctor and only 7% of whom actually talk about their health. Men still die an average of six years earlier than women, due to health conditions that are largely preventable. Compared to women, men are more likely to: Smoke and drink Make unhealthy or risky choices Put off regular checkups and medical care If you have family and friends,... Read More

A 2015 survey found that two out of three U.S. teens owned an iPhone. For this reason, the generation of kids born after 1995 is called iGen, coined by author Jean Twenge, author of a book on the subject. According to the Pew Research Center, smart phone ownership crossed the 50 percent threshold in late 2012 – right when teen depression and suicide began to increase. These increases in depression, suicide attempts and suicide appeared among teens from every background, across all races and ethnicities, and in every region of the country. The bottom line:  iGen teens are much more likely to... Read More

Rosacea is a skin condition characterized by redness and often small, red, pus-filled bumps on the face. Over 3 million people are estimated to have rosacea and the signs and symptoms may flare up for a period of weeks to months and then diminish for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, an allergic reaction or other skin problems. The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors. A number of factors can trigger rosacea by increasing blood flow to the surface of your skin. Some of these factors include: Hot drinks Spicy foods Alcohol Temperature... Read More

Cuffing season is upon us, officially starting on November 1, running until Valentine’s Day. The Urban Dictionary defines cuffing season as follows: “During the fall and winter months people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves desiring to be ‘cuffed’ or tied down by a serious relationship. The cold weather and prolonged indoor activity causes singles to become lonely and desperate to be cuffed.” A simpler definition is singles who venture out looking for someone with whom to spend the winter and dump them before spring arrives. Recently get into a relationship?... Read More

Cruciferous vegetables are vegetables of the family Brassicaceae such as cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and similar green leaf vegetables. High in vitamin C and soluble fiber with multiple nutrients and phytochemicals, cruciferous vegetables are one of the dominant food crops worldwide. In the fall, cruciferous veggies like Brussels sprouts and cauliflower are abundant.  Perhaps you’d like to try something new?  Allow me to introduce you to some cruciferous veggies you might not have tried. Mizuna.  Also known as Japanese mustard greens, mizuna has a rich, peppery... 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

In 2018, an estimated 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and over 600 thousand people will die from the disease. Recently, a phase I trial was conducted testing a personalized vaccine’s ability to hold an aggressive group of cancers in check. The trial is the first step to determining if a vaccine can stop cancer in its tracks. The promising new cancer vaccine cured up to 97 percent of tumors in mice and will soon be tested in humans for the first time. Researchers from Stanford University will test the therapy in about 35 people with lymphoma by the end of... Read More

A new survey finds that the U.S. is just the 18th happiest country in the world, because of poor health, poor economic mobility, and a lack of social cohesion.  In each of more than 150 countries surveyed, Gallup asked 3,000 respondents to assess their life on a scale of 1 to 10. The top rung (10) means they are living the best possible life; the bottom means the worst. Americans give an average rung-number of 6.8, while the top four countries all score more than 7.5. There are many reasons why we might not be happy. Social media, while giving the illusion of connectedness actually makes us more... Read More

According to the 2010 census data, 15 million people live together without being married, a 138% increase since 1990. According to the Pew Research Center, 18 million adults were living with an unmarried partner in 2016. With more people moving in without putting a ring on it, it makes sense to talk about what happens when you move in and what you should plan before you move in. Moving in together is a big change! Now you’ll see one another all the time, and find out about all of your partner’s warts.  Before you cohabitate with your significant other, here are a few things to think about. Make... Read More

Recently, I had dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant.  Usually I get a meal and don’t have room for the sopapilla that comes with it, but this time I took the sopapilla home to eat later. When I was ready to eat it, I was surprised to see that the “honey” for the sopapilla was not honey at all. It was fake honey made with corn syrup. I happened to have some locally source honey at home and used that instead of the faux honey. This is just one of the reasons it’s important to read labels. If you’re trying to change your life by eating fewer processed foods, less sugar, or any number... Read More

The benefits of yoga are many! Researchers found that yoga outperformed aerobic exercise at improving balance, flexibility, strength, pain levels, menopausal symptoms, daily energy level, and social and occupation functioning, among other health parameters. Whether you are long time yogi or new to the practice, there are some fun new ways to experience yoga, that might boost the benefits. Goat yoga. There are many positives to having contact with animals. The act of petting or being near goats will produce an automatic relaxation response. There are many mental benefits of practicing yoga with... Read More

Are you putting off until tomorrow what you could be doing today? If that’s you, it might not be just a personality trait. A study of over 250 men’s and women’s brain scans revealed that a brain region involved in motivation tends to be larger among people who put things off, while communication between that part of the brain and another involved in taking action appeared to be weaker. This study is the first to scan the brain to identify a neural basis for procrastination. Participants in the study were between the ages of 18 and 35 with no history of neurological or psychiatric disorders.... Read More

The carefree days of summer are almost over.  Long, lazy days in the sun with weekend travel and spontaneous adventures will soon turn, like the autumn leaves, to a more even paced fall and winter routine.  For many of us, the fall means transitioning to gym workouts if we exercise primarily outdoors in the summer.  Whatever fall exercise means to you, it can be hard to slip into the rhythm and momentum of cooler weather workouts. Let’s look at a few ways to help you think about your fall fitness routine. Don’t be too hard on yourself. It takes baby steps to get back to a fitness routine,... Read More

Sleep is incredibly important to our well-being.  It is the time we heal from illness or injury, the opportunity to re-charge our brain and re-build muscle after a workout – it is critical to our health and well-being. Insomnia is defined as a persistent problem falling and staying asleep. Insomnia is often related to physical conditions like hyperthyroidism, peri-menopause and low back pain, or a state of stress like anxiety. If you suffer from chronic insomnia, it’s important to address the underlying reason instead of treating the symptom. If, however, you have an occasional problem with... 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