As most of my friends know, once summertime comes around, my grill and patio are in for a workout. I absolutely love grilling out and having friends over during these precious few warm Wisconsin days! However, some of my friends have some special diets. In fact, last summer my own mom (at the advice of her doctor) began eating according to the DASH eating plan. So to accommodate friends and family at my cookouts, I’ve been trying a few new recipes! For those of you following the DASH diet plan, try this Portobello mushroom burger recipe – it’s an excellent alternative to the traditional burger!.. [More]

We’ve all heard of first-hand smoke, which is the smoke a smoker inhales through a cigarette or pipe, and the health risks it poses to the smoker. And, naturally, we’ve also heard of second-hand smoke, which is the smoke inhaled from the exhaust of a cigarette, and the health risks it can cause to smokers and non-smokers in the vicinity. But many have not heard of a new term that is popping up in conversations: third-hand smoke... [More]

You may have noticed on some food labels (mostly from candy, desserts or gum) that there is a listing for sugar alcohol. I started looking into details about sugar alcohols after one of my friends offered someone sugar-free chocolate. In response, the recipient replied “Thanks, but I can’t. I’m not 21 yet, I can’t have alcohol.”... [More]

Are any of you struggling to maintain your weight? It seems like a lot of the people I talk with are. Weight maintenance can be a tricky balancing act! To try and maintain his weight, one of my friends lowered his caloric intake a bit, but he found that his stomach was growling within an hour after every meal! My friend is a smart guy and knew he was still eating enough calories. So the other day, he came to me, wondering why he was so hungry... [More]

At my job here at Group Health Cooperative of Eau Claire, I get the opportunity to talk to lots of people in my daily life. One frustration people have shared with me is the loss of muscle definition and strength they experience as they age. Many people notice decrease in muscle definition with age, as well as a decrease in metabolism and strength. However, did you know that this muscle loss phenomenon actually has a name?.. [More]

There are a lot of different diets out there, as I’m sure you are aware. In fact, it seems like anytime I turn on TV, a new diet is making waves in Hollywood! With so many diets, though, most of us are left wondering what is the difference between all of them? Which one works the best? When it comes down to it, most will all will aid in weight loss... [More]