Do You Need a Multivitamin?

This week I threw out my multivitamin. It was partly due to the recent news of contaminants found in some vitamins. It was partly because if I don’t take them at the same time I eat a large meal they make me sick. It was also partly because I’ve been using them as a crutch. Let’s face it, it’s a lot easier to think “did I take my multivitamin today” than “did I have enough servings of leafy greens today”. You just swallow that little vitamin pill and call it nutritional eating for the day. Sadly, there really is no … Continue reading

Tip of the Day- Do a Skin Assessment

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t like to think about what I really look like without my clothes on. Naked assessments of my body are something I generally try to avoid. The only advice I have to offer is to concentrate on the skin, and not how much there is of it. Why am I even asking you to do this? Because, I want you to live a long and healthy life. Each year more than one million people will find out they have skin cancer. Ten thousand people will die from it. The sun and genetics … Continue reading

For Women Only- Signs of a Heart Attack

Did your mother ever use the phrase “I am just sick and tired” on you when you were growing up? Mine did. She was sick and tired of my antics quite a bit. Sadly, this same phrase may also be the only signs a woman experiences when she is having a heart attack. Most sources that talk about warning signs for a heart attack base their symptoms on those of a male patient. Women are not the same as men. Yes, sometimes we really do need science to point out the obvious. Here are the hard facts of the matter. … Continue reading

Preventing Neck and Back Injuries

Did you know that 8 out of 10 people will see a physician for back pain some time in their life? As anyone who has had a problem with their back can tell you: it’s a problem, and it’s debilitating. Taking care of your back is serious business, but often we take it for granted. Often, a lot of our problems with our neck and back could be prevented if we were more aware of (and nicer to) our bodies. Let’s start with posture. Your mother, and your piano teacher, knew what they were talking about when they said “don’t … Continue reading

Tip of the Day- Eat Breakfast

We’re always nagging our children to eat breakfast. After all, it’s “the most important meal of the day”. But how many of us follow our own advice, or even remember why this meal is supposedly important? Breakfast food is comfort food to many of us. Maybe because it’s a lost art. Convenience foods are very prevalent and with our nonstop lifestyles, a good hearty breakfast is easily overlooked. That’s sad, because I for one could use a little more comfort before facing the big bad world each day. Breakfast can set the tone and our energy level for the entire … Continue reading

Getting Cold Sores to Chill

Your lips feel swollen and tingly. But it has nothing to do with a romantic kiss you just shared (dang it!), instead you know it’s a sign. Red blisters are about to appear on your lip. Cold sores (or fever blisters) are caused by the type 1 herpes simplex virus and they’re highly contagious. They appear as small, red, and painful blisters on the outside of your lips, but they can also show up on your nose and chin. You can expose yourself to the virus by coming in contact with someone who has an active cold sore. Kissing, sharing … Continue reading

The Bedtime Jitters- Dealing with Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Sydrome (RLS) is an irresistible urge to move your legs that occurs when you go to bed and all during the night. 10% of the population experiences this problem. If you have RLS, the constant movement interferes with your ability to get a good night’s sleep. These sensations and your body’s reactions to them will either partially, or fully wake you multiple times during the night. RLS can be inherited and is most likely to show up after age 40. It is also a neurological problem, so people with diabetes, kidney disease, or back problems will have a … Continue reading

Tip of the Day- It’s No Soda Day!

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a big soda drinker. I’ll occasionally sip a soda when I’m out to dinner, but mostly I find the little bubbles annoying and the syrup too sweet. So, this one isn’t really as big of a problem for me as some things are. But here’s the low down on soft drinks. In the year 2000, 15 billion gallons of soda pop were sold in the United States. This averages out to a 12 ounce serving every day for every man woman and child. Yikes! Take a mental inventory. Do you know how much soda … Continue reading

How much salt are you eating?

Yes, salt is a necessary nutrient. But most of us eat far more salt than we actually need to be healthy. Most of us can eat as much as 6-9 grams of salt a day when we only need less than 3 grams. The Nutrition Facts Label lists a recommended daily value of 2,400 mg (2.4 grams) of sodium per day. That’s about 1 teaspoon of salt each day. Too much salt in your diet can cause fluid retention, and in about 50% of us, high blood pressure. It may also be a factor in osteoporosis because it causes us … Continue reading

Hypothermia

Winter has finally gotten serious in my part of Michigan. The first “pretty” snow is on the ground. You know the kind- it’s fluffy and soft and looks slightly shimmery, and it’s not too cold to go out and enjoy it. It won’t last; the bitter cold always follows the not-so-cold. A little cold or a lot cold, it’s all relative to me. I seem to be consistently cold. Some days there just doesn’t seem to be anything I can do to warm up. Let’s suppose for a minute that I got brave and decided to go out with the … Continue reading