Author name: Roberta Levine

Choose power-house veggies: Those are the ones that are the most nutrient-dense, pack lots of vitamins and minerals into every calorie, and are strongly associated with reduced risk of chronic disease. According to a recent study that analyzed 47 fruits and vegetables the top 10 power-house veggies are: watercress, cabbage, chard, beet greens, spinach, parsley, […]

If there’s one magic bullet to being healthy, and wise, it’s exercise. So the next time you think that you’ll just work out tomorrow, check this list of research-proven facts to remind yourself to get moving today! Physical activity helps you lose weight by burning calories, boosting resting metabolism, and buffering you from bone and

All the research now shows that the biggest health risk is belly fat. To keep risk low, experts say a measurement of under 35 inches for women and 40 inches for men is best. Research has found that women who have waists over 37 inches have an 80% higher risk of various conditions, including heart

Sodium gets a bad rap-and deservedly so. Our bodies do need this mineral, but in much smaller amounts than we normally eat. To prevent high blood pressure and heart disease, a healthy sodium goal to strive for is no more than 1,500 milligrams per day. Keep in mind that sodium doesn’t just come from the

How tempting it is to say, “I’ll start over on Monday.” It’s the first day of the week and it seems ideal, right? Wrong! Any day is a good day to start (or recommit to) eating well and exercising. Don’t let one junk-food-laden party or skipped workout derail you for days. Think of it this

All food is good. Remove the “good” and “bad” from your food vocabulary. You can’t completely enjoy that piece of cake if you’re telling yourself it is bad for you. There is no such thing as a bad or wrong food. If you get rid of the judgmental language around food, it becomes less stressful.

1. You want to fight disease. Exercise reduces your risk of a number of conditions, such as cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. 2. You want to lose weight and keep it off. This is a given, but it means that people who maintain weight loss work out regularly. They don’t just exercise until the

You probably know the effects of smoking, but do you know the wonderful effects of quitting? In 20 minutes, your heart rate and blood pressure drop In 12 hours, your blood’s carbon monoxide level returns to normal In 2-12 weeks, your circulation improves and lung function increases In 1-9 months, coughing and shortness of breath

You hear all the time that exercise is good for your health and heart. Here’s more motivation to start getting fit: If you’re inactive, you’re twice as likely to develop Heart Disease as people MOVING on a regular basis. Regular exercise naturally decreases the LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in your blood while increasing the HDL

As we work, we sit more than we do anything else. We’re averaging 9.3 hours a day, compared to 7.7 hours of sleeping. Sitting is so prevalent and pervasive that we don’t even question how much we’re doing it. And, everyone else is doing it also, so it doesn’t occur to us that it’s not

Meat in the Middle. Instead of going completely vegetarian one day, try to go two-thirds vegetarian almost every day. It’s fairly easy to eliminate meat from a couple of meals a day. Try enjoying meat for your lunch only. A salad a day. Try a roasted root vegetable salad. Root vegetables have a meaty flavor,

Can you improve your eating habits? Get more Sleep? Exercise more? What is your goal? Why do you want to achieve it? What will it take to attain it? When do you want to obtain it? What do you need to do to succeed? Break your goal into 4 smaller specific goals. (Example) Instead of

All the stressors in your life aren’t likely to disappear, but there is a way to stop and even reverse the damage they do. Start by getting enough sleep. Lack of shut-eye boosts cortisol levels and can lead to metabolic imbalances that can increase your risk of heart disease. Eat plenty of antioxidant-rich fruits and

There are many factors that can cause sleep problems, and even more potential solutions. The steps you take to improve your sleeping patterns will be individual, based on the cause of your insomnia and the treatment plan laid out by your health care provider. In addition to the many lifestyle changes that can help you

The ins and outs of Better Breathing Try this relaxation exercise from breathing guru Andrew Weil, MD. The payoff? Blessed relief from constant thinking. Sit with your back straight Place the tip of your tongue against the ridge just behind your front teeth. Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whooshing sound. Inhale quietly through

If you feel like you’re always rushed, never get a break, don’t have enough time, and are dissatisfied with your relationships, job, etc., chances are you’re stressed. Stress has become so normal that most of us don’t even recognize it. Stress can also manifest as physical symptoms, such as stomachaches, headaches, chest pains or back

Exercises that elicit a “relaxation” response can help your body erase the cumulative effects of stress. This relaxation response is a state of profound rest and release. When a person meditates, for example, heartbeat and respiration slow down. The body uses less oxygen and produces less carbon dioxide. Blood-lactate levels- which some researchers believe are

Walk for 60 minutes every day. Break it up into 20-minute segments to work with your schedule if necessary. Watch less than 10 hours of TV a week. That’ll get you off your duff and keep you from snacking. Weigh yourself at least once a week. Think of the scale more like a car’s speedometer-