Today we’re going to do a little time warp back to chemistry class, so put on your safety goggles and let’s go! Pop quiz: Can you recall the name of the element “Fe” found on the periodic table?.. [More]

What is one of the first things you turn to when you feel the common cold setting in? For many of us, it’s vitamin C. Over the last few weeks I’ve heard people around me talk about catching colds this summer. Since I still have so many fun things I want to accomplish on my summer list, I decided to do some research on vitamin C and foods rich in vitamin C to help lessen my chances of catching a cold bug this summer! Here are some interesting facts I found... [More]

Sometimes I think the phrase ‘busy as a bee’ was made for me. Now, granted, my crammed schedule is a self-inflicted matter. In fact, I really like to keep myself busy! But my active schedule sometimes that leaves me a little squeezed for time. And as everyone knows, mornings can be the worst. It seems like I’m running out the door all too often without the most important thing of all – breakfast!.. [More]

If you are like me, you’re always looking for ways to make a delicious meal healthier without sacrificing taste. I have spent countless hours in the kitchen over the years in the attempt to lower calories, reduce sodium, or trim some fat from my meals. Likewise, I have also been trying to increase the nutrients in my diet. There have been some mistakes – some foods were never meant to be combined – but I did stumble upon some good ideas and have compiled a list of my favorite swaps. Try a few and let me know what you think!.. [More]

Today, in my continuing series on vitamins, I want to take a little time to pay homage to folic acid. First, let’s begin with introductions. Folic acid is part of a group of eight B vitamins. These vitamins are considered essential, meaning your body cannot make them so you must get them from your diet or from supplements. With our busy lives, this isn’t always easy... [More]

When is the last time you had chicken? Chances are, it wasn’t very long ago! According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), chicken is now the number one species consumed by Americans. Since chicken is so popular, I wanted to share a fun little chicken genealogy fact I ran across the other day. Did you know that chickens are descendents of the Southeast Asian red jungle fowl, which was first domesticated in India around 2000 B.C.?.. [More]

In our continuing series, today I want to talk about calcium. Let’s begin, though, by talking about milk! Though milk may look great as a mustache, it offers many health benefits beyond the creation of mock facial hair. It’s probably no surprise to most people that milk is a fantastic source of calcium. This is a vital mineral, yet only 21% of us actually get our daily dosage!.. [More]

During summer, I love seeing all of the great produce on sale at the grocery store. This time of year, fruits are at their peak of freshness and I like to take advantage of their great flavor as often as I can. Most fruits are easy enough to prepare, but sometimes there are fruits that can be a tougher nut to crack! Let's take a look at pineapple... [More]

A is for apple. A is also key for vision - vitamin A that is. There are two forms of vitamin A - one that comes from animal products and one that comes from plant products. The form that has the most impact on the body is retinol, which comes from animal products, plus it is absorbed quicker into the body. So try foods like eggs, liver (yuck!), and fortified milk and cereal... [More]

It seems as though everyone here at work has their summer vacation planned. I’ve heard about several Caribbean cruises, one fantastic-sounding trip to a resort in Mexico and a couple of guys were recently was telling me about a trip later this summer out to Vegas for a bachelor party. Now, it’s hard to imagine how these different vacations could be similar, but there is a common thread tying them all together. Any guesses what that could be?.. [More]