Embrace a Dry January & Start Your New Year Off Right

Let’s face it. Most New Year’s resolutions don’t stick. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t aim to make healthy lifestyle changes in 2019, but you may want to consider changing your approach. Take, for example, participating in Dry January.

Peppermint. There’s Much More To It Than You Think

Peppermint may be one of the most versatile and overlooked plants around. Mariah Carey is said to plump her pout with peppermint oil before heading out during the holidays. Simply add a drop of peppermint oil to your favorite lip gloss to give your lips an added ‘oomph.’ Peppermint oil may improve circulation and bring blood to the surface of the lips, thus making them appear fuller. Even models are reaping the benefits of peppermint oil. Ashley Graham beats her bloat by taking peppermint oil orally. Ashley told Style Caster, “I love mixing peppermint oil in my water to help with bloating.”

Nuts for Nutmeg? You Should Be

The mere mention of nutmeg conjures up thoughts of our favorite cold weather treats, like eggnog and apple pie. But nutmeg and its cousin spice, mace, are much more than just dusted-on additions to holiday recipes.

Why You Should Always Wash Your Avocados

It seems as though we always stress the importance of eating whole, unprocessed nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables. This is because fruits and vegetables contain many of the nutrients our bodies need to keep us healthy. Remember we need six basic nutrients to live: water, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. And many nutrients, especially vitamins and minerals, are present in fresh produce.

Think Better With Nutrient-Rich Blood

Blood. You know you need it. But have you really thought about why you need it? Your blood is made up of both liquid and solids. The liquid part is referred to as plasma and is “made of water, salts, and protein. Over half of your blood is plasma. The solid part of your blood contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets” (National Institutes of Health (NIH)).

Taking Metformin to Manage Your Diabetes? Make Sure Your Doctor Checks Your Vitamin B12 Levels!

If you have type 2 diabetes, the odds are you are taking the prescription medicine metformin to help manage it. Also known by the brand names Glucophage, Carbophage, Riomet, Fortamet, Gluformin and Diaformin, among others, metformin is believed to be the world’s most prescribed antidiabetic medication since it first appeared in scientific literature almost 100 years ago. Metformin became commercially available in the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, in Canada in the early 1970s and in the United States in 1995.

Is Your Diet Damaging Your Brain?

Just when I think I’ve heard it all, I discover that there are people who follow ‘junk food diets’ to lose weight.

If Holiday Weight Gain Has You Counting the Days to January, This Will Help

Despite many reports to the contrary, the average American does not gain that much weight over the winter holidays.

How Fit Are You, Really? This Test Can Help You Find Out

We are quickly approaching the new year. So, many of us may be trying to schedule last-minute doctor’s appointments in order to get a routine physical, hoping we can enter 2019 with a clean bill of health.

Being Deficient in Magnesium May Make You Deficient in Vitamin D

It is my opinion that magnesium is a miracle mineral. It is one of the critical nutrients we need to stay healthy. It is an important cofactor for hundreds of processes and reactions in the body, including energy. It is also important in sugar breakdown and use, blood pressure regulation and muscle and nerve function, including the heart muscle.

Making At-Work Farmers Markets Part of a Successful Employee Wellness Strategy

Employee wellness programs have become ubiquitous. In fact, over 90 percent of companies, and the majority of government entities, offer some sort of wellness program for their employees. Many companies have installed gyms in the office space, offer employees “stand-and-stretch” breaks throughout the day, and provide healthier food options in cafeterias and break rooms. All have been shown to make a positive difference.

This May Be the Hottest Way to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Did you know that the word ‘sauna’ is of Finnish origin? “Sauna use is deeply embedded in Finnish culture. A nation of 5.5 million people, Finland has as many saunas as television sets — around 3.3 million. Most of the saunas are in people’s homes, although they’re also standard amenities in offices and factories,” according to Harvard Health.