As a conscious consumer I like to be aware of what foods are best for me. This means that when I’m at the grocery store, I am always seeking out foods with the best health benefits. Ultimately, this is all part of my goal to a healthy diet. Recently, with this goal in mind, I’ve decided to incorporate organic foods into my meals... [More]

This past year, like a lot of people I know, I really got into watching the Winter Olympics. Some nights I found myself cheering for athletes competing in sports I’ve never even heard of before! Take, for example, the sport of skeleton. Competitors in skeleton lay face-first down on a luge sled and hurtle down a bobsled track at speeds up to 80 miles per hour. The true challenge in the sport is that this little sled has no steering mechanisms; athletes steer through their body movements alone... [More]

My sister is a houseplant fanatic. Sometimes, just to tease her, I like to sing “Welcome to the Jungle” when I go over to visit. (She thinks it’s funny, don’t let her fool you!) While her house may not actually qualify as a jungle, it doesn’t take long to notice out that she’s a bona fide indoor green thumb. One time, I made the mistake about asking about one of the ivy plants she had sitting in her windowsill... [More]

I wanted to share one of my favorite on-to-go snacks with you! Gorp is a classic, and the high fiber and protein content make it an energizing and filling snack. It’s great because it’s easy to make and can be made in large batches. There are many different versions of gorp, so you can experiment and make it from the ingredients you like!.. [More]

Have you heard of the new Sketchers Shape-ups yet? Lately, it seems like I’ve been seeing them in magazine ads, TV commercials and displays everywhere! Sketchers claim that if you wear these “miracle shoes” you’ll have more toned and strengthened leg, back, buttock and abdominal muscles. All of these benefits from a pair of shoes?! As with any new product I was a little skeptical... [More]

One of my favorite television shows is “The Biggest Loser”. I find it very motivating when I see how hard the contestants push themselves every week. If they can do those workouts with Jillian, I have no reason to skip a 30 minute session with my bike! Many people I know are trying to be their own “biggest loser” and this show inspires their efforts... [More]

I recently received an inquiry from one of my readers about adult acne and, more specifically, the claims that milk causes acne. First let me begin with a thank you for the question! Adult acne is an unpleasant condition, and as a result, there are a lot of theories on how and why people get it. In this post, I’m going to try and clarify some of noise out there about acne... [More]

The box of candy hearts spilling onto my desk is telling me one thing: we’re on the cusp of Valentine’s Day again! Traditionally, this time of year flowers and boxes of chocolates cover the shelves of almost any store you might visit. I thought it would be fun to share a great Valentine’s Day recipe this year! Instead of buying the usual box of chocolates, try making this mousse!.. [More]

At my job here at Group Health Cooperative, I (along with the other Health Promotion Coaches) help companies develop worksite health promotion programs. It’s rewarding work! Because every organization is different, we have an opportunity to help them create a program that fits their needs. When it comes to health promotion, a one-size-fits-all program is definitely not the direction to go!.. [More]

The last few weeks, it seems like there’s been a surge of colds and sinus infections running rampant around the office. I’m sure the scene is very similar where you work – lots of sneezing and Kleenex hording. When I asked one of my coworkers how she was handling her latest sinus infection, she told me she had recently decided to try using a neti pot. Now, I had heard of these things before. The moment after it was featured on an Oprah, I got a call from my mom, asking me if I knew anything about this nasal-clearing phenomenon... [More]