Food and Mood: It’s All Connected
Have you ever been hangry (hungry + angry)? You’re certainly not alone. Your diet is a two-way street—food can affect your mood, and your mood can affect your food choices.1-4 This can be for better or for worse. Generally speaking, processed, deep-fried, or sugary products may raise your mood briefly, but then will cause your […]
What’s New in Medical Research—Exercise Likely to be Best Treatment for Depression in Coronary Heart Disease
A study by RCSI indicates that exercise is probably the most effective short-term treatment for depression in people with coronary heart disease, when compared to antidepressants and psychotherapy or more complex care. The study, led by researchers at RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, was published in the June 2021 edition of Psychosomatic Medicine.This […]
Sunscreen 101—A Guide to Choosing the Right Sunscreen for You
There’s nothing quite like spending a nice summer day outside under the sun, whether swimming, relaxing on the beach or poolside, or even just chilling on the back deck of your house. But if you aren’t careful about protecting your skin, the resulting, and often very painful, sunburn may make you feel less than sunny […]
Water Safety Tips
Children and Water Safety Young children, even those who know how to swim, face many dangers around water, so it is essential to follow proper precautions to keep them safe. The most frequent location of drowning accidents for children under the age of five years is in a swimming pool, so pools should be fenced […]
Home Remedies for Treating Poison Ivy and Oak
Oatmeal. Oatmeal paste can help relieve a rash caused by poison ivy or oak. Cook a small amount of oatmeal and, while warm, apply it to the rash. Allow the paste to cool and dry on your skin before removing. An oatmeal bath can also soothe the affected area. Sprinkle oatmeal beneath your faucet so […]
The Dreaded Leaves of Three—Tips on Identifying, Avoiding, and Treating Poison Ivy
For most people. knowledge of hazardous plants is limited to the phrase, “leaves of three, leave them be.” However, despite widespread awareness of a few common culprits, many casual outdoor enthusiasts may still find themselves with an itchy souvenir following an encounter with an apparently innocent looking flower or shrub. Enter poison ivy! One of […]
Eating Disorder or Disordered Eating? What’s the Difference? How Are They Managed?
Eating disorders can be hard to spot, which can be especially true in societies that have a pervasive diet culture, such as in the US. It can be tricky to understand when disordered behaviors in eating spiral into a full-blown eating disorder.1 In this article we explore the difference between disordered eating and eating disorder, […]
Know Your Nutrients: Lycopene
Better understanding of how nutrients in our diet work, their health benefits, and their nutritional sources can help guide dietary choices for optimal health and well-being. We know that whole, plant-based foods, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, roots, grains, legumes, and nuts, offer the human body a variety of nutrients with many health benefits. We […]
Superfood Spotlight: Ah NUTS!
A nut is defined as a dry, single-seeded fruit with a high oil content, which guarded by a tough shell/outer layer.1,2 Certain legumes (such as peanuts) are also regarded as nuts.1,2 There are different types of trees and bushes all over the world that produce nuts; however, some plants, such as the peanut plant, produce […]
Nutrition to Improve Immune System Health
Individuals with immunodeficiency disorders are either born with them (primary) or have acquired them in time, usually later in life (secondary).1–3 According to researchers and physicians at Penn Medicine, when the defenses of the immune system are low or weak, this can negatively impact the body’s ability to combat disease or infection, making the individual […]
CARBOHYDRATES—Good for the Body, Necessary for the Brain
More often than not, at least in the fad diet world, carbohydrates—aka carbs— get a bad rap for being unhealthy. Unfortunately, the abounding misinformation about carbs has created ambiguity in the public’s eye regarding their true nutritional worth. Carbohydrates are, in fact, one of the main macronutrients the body needs to maintain proper health.1 Carbs […]
COFFEE VS. TEA: Is One Healthier than the Other?
Coffee and tea are two of the most popular morning pick-me-up beverages. We all have our preference between the two. The potent smell of a fresh pot of coffee may be enough to help you stumble out of bed in the morning or perhaps the comforting aroma of hot tea sounds more appealing. Is one better for health than the other?
