Tag Archives: stress reduction

Is Pasta Really Healthy?

This Sunday more than 35,000 runners will take to the streets of the Big Apple for the 2007 New York City Marathon. Prior to making their way along the 26.2-mile route runners have the opportunity to participate in the traditional night-before pasta dinner. Carb loading before a big race is part of the training process. At least it was for me. I pigged out on pasta before I ran the Chicago Marathon. I gorged on ziti at the Olive Garden before I ran the Madison Marathon and I had two plates of spaghetti plus four pieces of garlic bread the … Continue reading →

Teach Your Children How not to be Fat

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Just because many of us are fighting the battle of the bulge, that doesn’t mean that we can’t teach our kids how to eat properly and stay fit. In fact, this is the ideal time for us to break the chain and make sure that our children never have to deal with the kind of weight loss worries we do. Guaranteeing your children a better future isn’t just about global warming and recycling – it is about teaching them the skills they’ll need to live a happy, healthy life. At the top of that list should be teaching them about … Continue reading →

Feed Your Skin

The right foods can leave your skin smooth, healthy, and glowing. Blueberries are chock full of antioxidants — more than most other foods do. The antioxidants in blueberries can help protect your skin from dangerous free radicals that result from sun exposure and stress. Just one half cup of blueberries every day can help prevent cell damage that can leave your skin saggy, lined, and wrinkled. Fish with high omega-3 fatty acid content — like sardines, salmon, and mackerel — help strengthen cell membranes. This keeps moisture in your skin cells, leaving your skin plump and soft. Omega-3 fatty acids … Continue reading →

An Apple A Day Keeps Cancer Away

In a previous blog I recounted our recent trip to a local apple orchard. Despite my concerns about the farm’s pricing structure, we had a great time and left with more apples than we could possibly consume. In fact, if the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is really true I should be able to keep my daughter out of the pediatrician’s office until next summer. Kidding aside, the health benefits associated with apples are serious business. Studies show eating apples can reduce a number of diseases. And with apple harvest season in full swing there’s no … Continue reading →

Is Your Diet Putting You At Risk For Breast Cancer?

Three years ago this month my mother was told she was cancer free. The good news came after major surgery, months of treatment and a complete overhaul of her diet. My mom’s breast cancer diagnosis acted as a severe wake up call to our entire family. As you likely know by now October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What you may not know is that breast cancer affects over 200,000 women in the U.S. each year and about 40,000 women die annually from the insidious disease. As I mentioned earlier my mother is still with us, but as a … Continue reading →

Health Benefits of Mushrooms

Did you know September is National Mushroom Month? I didn’t either until I saw a sign in the supermarket yesterday encouraging shoppers to “Celebrate the Mushroom.” At first I thought it was a ploy to get customers to buy mushrooms. But when I got home I did some research and learned that this month is indeed National Mushroom Month. I also discovered that the formidable fungi offer many health benefits. In fact, several Eastern cultures have long revered mushrooms as both food and medicine. But it wasn’t until just recently that researchers have been able to back up those claims … Continue reading →

Eating Healthy At The State Fair—It Can Be Done

I know what you are thinking… Is it possible to eat healthy at a place where just about everything is deep-fried and impaled with a stick? Moreover, does anyone try to eat healthy at a local fair? I know I don’t. But then there are people like my friend (and running partner) Kim who do. Recently I detailed my adventures at our local fair and listed all of the tantalizing on-a-stick-creations my daughter and I gorged on during our time there. Kim attended the same State Fair with her kids and she left without ever wrapping her lips around a … Continue reading →

What Do You Mean Pop-Tarts Are NOT Healthy?

Okay, I’m not completely nutritional challenged. I know that the popular toaster pastry isn’t exactly packed with vitamins and nutrients. However, I didn’t realize that you are better off skipping breakfast altogether than downing one as you dash out the door. It was news to me. A nutritional update I got directly from someone who knows a thing or two about the health benefits of food. Last week I drove to the TV station I used to work for to drop off a birthday present for a friend/former colleague. (I was out of town and missed her party.) As I … Continue reading →

I’m Too Busy to Diet!

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Nonsense! You can still lose weight while maintaining a busy life. It can be done. I’ve been there. I did it. Here are a few tips on how to trim down without having to give up all the fun and convenience. First of all, eat breakfast! If you don’t think you’ll have time for breakfast, consider a meal replacement bar or drink that is well balanced in protein, carbohydrates and fats. Try a Zone Bar or one of the newer Slim Fast shakes that has a lower carbohydrate content and a higher protein content (think Ultima or Low-Carb). Next, if … Continue reading →

Know Your Whole Grains

Adding more whole grains to your diet is a very good idea. But the packaging and labels can be hard to understand. What’s the difference between “whole grain” and “100% wheat”? Here are some words and phrases to look for — and some to avoid. WHOLE wheat: look for 100% whole wheat or whole grain. Then check the ingredients list. The first thing on the list should be a whole grain. Whole grain foods: more than half of each serving (51%) must contain whole grains. This doesn’t necessarily mean high in fiber! Whole grain breads also contain a lot of … Continue reading →