health

Getting lost in the jungle of research that surrounds the health benefits and harmful side effects of that strong, dark, pick-me-up in the morning, a steaming cup of Joe, is easy to do. Harvard’s School of Public Health reports favorably that coffee has the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke and lower the possibility of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as prevent gallstones.  But the evidence is not concrete.

Pomegranate plants are prized for their blooms and fruits; here’s how to get the best out of them…

My first introduction to yoga was as an elective tenth-grade PE class. While it may have been limited in education, it was an excellent beginner course that opened my eyes to a yoga revelation that has stuck with me since. One of the homework assignments was to scrape the tongue in the morning before brushing. Scrape the tongue? As odd as it sounded, in Ayurveda this is practiced on a daily basis. And by taking one look at your tongue in the AM, it is easy to see why.

I’ve grown up around plenty of pets my entire life. In fact, my mom has always been a part of animal rescue efforts. Needless to say, I know a thing or two about your average cat and dog. However, until recently, I was completely unaware that there are numerous proven health benefits that can come from caring for a furry friend or two. So, next time your kid starts begging you for either a kitten or puppy, take a moment to think it over before you simply shut them down (and inevitably crush their dreams).

Walking into the markets here in Barcelona, Spain, I am welcomed to find an array of seasonal fruit, from three kinds of watermelon to cantaloupe and late-harvest cherries. Strawberries were on the shelves in late June, but as August rolls into September the last of the summer stone fruits make their appearance, getting ready for autumn’s harvest.

As a country, we’re becoming increasingly more aware of what we eat, and how what we eat makes us feel. The past few years have seen a rise in the popularity of many diets advocating a return to real, whole foods, and prompting us to listen to our bodies. Dietary choices such as Paleo, vegan, raw, and the hormone diet mark a turn away from processed foods and towards a more natural way of eating.

Have you seen those itty-bitty plastic bottled waters that can be consumed in one giant gulp? Anyone who has gone for a hike, done a workout routine, or was even remotely thirsty understands the impracticality of a plastic bottle that size. That 8 ounces of water will not suffice your body's need for hydration. So how about a bigger plastic bottled water? As absurd as that small bottle is, the bigger versions are no better. While you may see buying bottled water as a quick fix, the truth of the matter is: that quick fix has a lasting negative impact on the environment and your health.

Going to the dentist can be a real drag, and is generally not something that we look forward to. However, it’s important to remember that our oral health sets the foundation for the rest of our body, so it’s imperative that we do everything possible to keep our gums, teeth, and mouth healthy.

Life is continuously unfolding before us. Many of us try very hard to direct the course of life’s trajectory, which is not necessarily a bad thing. However, no matter how much we try to control, direct and predict where life will take us we can never fully know the future. In fact, the only thing we can count on is that life will definitely present us with unexpected twists and turns; why not learn to embrace the unexpected changes and find comfort in the unknowable future?

Heightened stress, demanding schedules, processed food, and greater sensitivities in today’s modern world have started to take their toll in even greater numbers. This shift can be witnessed by the increase of obesity and disease in our society. The National Health Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases reported 60-70 million individuals a year in the United States are affected by some type of digestive illness.