All About Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic gynecologic condition in which the tissue that lines the uterus grows in areas it should not, such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, bowels, and bladder. All individuals who menstruate are at risk for developing this disease. Risk factors include starting periods before the age of 11 years, having monthly cycles […]
Refining Your Walk
Brisk walking boasts multiple mental and physical health benefits, including maintaining a healthy weight, preventing and managing cardiovascular disease, strengthening bones and muscles, and improving mood, memory, balance, and coordination.1 Walking is less strenuous on joints than running and helps keep them flexible. During walking, the muscles in the calves contract and pump blood […]
Benefits of Stretching
Flexibility is important to maintain peak muscle performance. When muscles are stiff and tight, there is an increased risk of injury during daily activities and exercise. Flexible joints and muscles allow the body to stretch and move more freely, therefore lowering the risk of injury. Additionally, stretching helps increase blood flow, which reduces joint stiffness. […]
Hobbies, Your Health, and Happiness
By Sarabeth Lowe, MPH Having a hobby, loosely defined as an activity done for pleasure during leisure time, is one way that people of all ages and cultures continue to play. Though the benefits of hobbies are well known, the time spent on such activities usually dwindles as we age.3 This can be due to […]
Equine Therapy
Equine-assisted therapy consists of working with a mental health professional certified in animal-assisted therapy and participating in mounted and unmounted sessions, which includes grooming, tacking, and riding horses, with a focus on fostering communication between the therapy-seeking individual and the horse. Individuals with cognitive, physical, emotional, and social challenges can benefit from equine-assisted therapy.1,2 What […]
Know Your Nutrient: Vitamin D
Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble vitamins and is also a steroid hormone. Although vitamin D is manufactured in skin from a reaction with ultraviolet (UV) light, there appears to be a conditional need for exogenous vitamin D for many people. There are seven identified forms of vitamin D, of which two forms are […]
Nutrients for DNA Damage and Repair: Spotlight on DNA Replication
By Aliza Becker, BA, MPS Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage in the body is responsible for both normal aging and the emergence of certain health conditions.1 The first part of this series examined effects of the diet on the health of telomeres, which cap the ends of individual chromosomes to prevent them from fraying or becoming […]
More than Hearing Loss: How Noise Affects Your Health
Ms. Lowe is a Communication Specialist at the University of Delaware Disaster Research Center. More than 50 years ago, the newly formed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted a landmark statute to mitigate one of the most prevalent and damaging types of pollution to human health. It’s likely not the hazard you’re thinking of, though—the Noise […]
The Relationship Between Calcium and Strong Bones
Human bodies do not make the mineral calcium, which develops strong bones, muscles, the heart, and nerves.1 Besides milk, which is commonly thought to be the only primary source for calcium, patients can also get calcium through a variety of different foods including broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale, and beans.2 Each of these foods have high […]
Tart Cherries: A Healthy Choice for your Diet, Mind, and Body
Tart cherries are a low-calorie food with multiple essential nutrients as part of a healthy diet, including fiber, vitamin C, potassium, polyphenols and carotenoids.1 Polyphenols are an antioxidant that helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.2 As part of a daily diet, carotenoids, an antioxidant, can help reduce the risk of the following […]
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble nutrient that is actually eight compounds—four tocopherols and four tocotrienols. The synthetic dl-alpha-tocopherol (all-rac-alpha tocopherol) is also referred to as vitamin E and is found in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Tocopherols are considered to be the most active of the vitamin E compounds and are found throughout the food […]
What is Art Therapy?
Art therapy allows participants to process emotions and engage in self-expression and communication outside of traditional verbal communication.1–3 Art therapy can also help improve physical and psychological stress via strengthening the connection between the mind and body.3 Art therapy can be used in a variety of contexts. This article will center on the impact of […]
