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]

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 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]

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]

It’s January and you all know what that means – New Year’s Resolutions are in full swing. If you are like me though, they may already be broken (never again will I attempt to give up chocolate forever!). This commonly happens when people set unrealistic expectations and find themselves exhausted and worn out from the holidays. One resolution in particular that always seems to be popular is the resolution to exercise more... [More]

Well, the holiday season is over and the diet damage has been done. If you’re feeling a bit guilty about throwing dietary caution to the wind during this past holiday season, you’re not alone. I mean, to be fair, I probably didn’t need that 3rd piece of pie at the family Christmas gathering. The peer-pressure got to me though, and before I knew it Grandma convinced me that I simply had to try another slice. I can’t say no to Grandma!.. [More]

I drove by the gas station this afternoon and sure enough, the price was up again! Financial concerns are a leading cause of stress in Americans. Our relationship with money has a significant effect on our overall health. Financial stress is linked to problems such as depression, sleep difficulties and high blood pressure. It seems like the price of gas (among other things) is constantly rising! Because this is something that most all of us spend a significant amount of money on, I decided to do some research to see if saving money on gas is possible... [More]

Have you been following the news lately? If so, you may have heard about the huge recall of Slim-Fast ready-to-drink products. All Slim-Fast shakes are being recalled due to a potential contamination with Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that may cause diarrhea and possibly nausea and/or vomiting. According to a Unilever news release, the possibility of severe adverse health effects is remote. Unilever says it issued the recall "out of an abundance of caution"... [More]

The holiday season is here! Be prepared to start hearing some well-known seasonal health myths. According to Rachel Vreeman, MD, and Aaron Carroll, MD, here are a few to be on the lookout for this holiday season... [More]

The holiday season is almost here! Pretty soon we will start seeing Christmas lights, hearing festive music, and holiday cheer will be everywhere! Tis the season to be jolly – right? Well, that’s not quite the case for everyone. Unfortunately, the holidays can be a time of loneliness, anxiety and sadness for many people. How can this be?.. [More]