The Herald-Dispatch Health Source RSS

Holidays, cooler weather can invite health problems

2012-12-20T22:24:58-05:00

Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson), the demonic writer in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," convinced pretty much everyone that winter can be a treacherous time. And while his troubles were fictional, real emotional and physical challenges do pile up for most folks, pre- and post-holidays.

Flavorful stir-fry is tasty and satisfying

2013-05-19T00:00:00-04:00

Serve this colorful Asian dish from the American Diabetes Association over rice for a satisfying entree.

Chin up! Banish that double chin

2013-05-18T00:00:03-04:00

Brahma bulls, turkeys, Vince Vaughn, Tom Hanks, Roseanne Barr and Kirstie Alley all sport 'em. But for most folks, a double chin isn't something to build a reputation on. This submental accumulation of fat (really, they call chin fat "sub-mental"!) can happen to folks who aren't overweight. That's because some people simply have a genetic predisposition to deposit profile-building fat below their jawline. For the rest, it comes from loss of muscle and skin tone (associated with aging) or as part of excess body fat -- and for those folks, it's an indication that they're due for a lifestyle overhaul.

Eating clean, workouts key to overall health

2013-05-16T00:00:04-04:00

It should come as no surprise that you need both a healthy diet and an effective workout plan to reach your health and wellness goals. As the old saying goes, "You can't out-train a bad diet." If you want to be healthy inside and out, you have to eat clean and train mean. Some people take this mantra very seriously, but even small lifestyle changes will go a long way. Use these tips from Life Fitness to clean up your diet and step up your workouts:

Healthy Classes, Programs and Screenings

2013-05-13T23:20:43-04:00

HUNTINGTON -- A number of health-conscious classes, programs and screenings are scheduled in the Tri-State this week. Some of the activities offered in the area:

Walking tops running every time

2013-05-13T00:00:00-04:00

George Meegan spent seven years walking 19,019 miles from the southern tip of South America to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. But you don't have to walk that far to gain the benefits of putting one foot in front of the other.

Chili lime shrimp is flavorful, beautiful

2013-05-12T00:00:00-04:00

This dish from the American Diabetes Association is not only really flavorful but also beautiful. Serve them on skewers, in a lettuce cup, or over brown rice for a main dish. They are easy and a huge hit at parties.

Physical activity can help promote brain health

2013-05-10T00:00:04-04:00

Physical activity not only benefits your body, it's a great work-out for your brain too. As we mentioned last week, engaging in physical activity on a regular basis has been proven to reduce levels of stress and anxiety, as well as improve learning and memory.

Another boost for coffee

2013-05-09T00:00:00-04:00

Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra and Bob Marley all have crooned songs about coffee -- as cups of love with lots of flavor. We sing its praises because daily consumption makes your RealAge younger by keeping your blood vessels flexible and lowering your stroke risk by 30 percent. It also cuts the risk of early death by 18 percent in women and 3 percent in men. Plus: Three cups a day may help you dodge some cancers, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes. And now a recent study found that residents of the Greek island of Icaria, where they have the longest lifespan in the world, owe their longevity in part to the boiled Greek coffee they drink every day.

De-stressing kids with safe exercise

2013-05-07T22:45:43-04:00

There's a lot of pressure on kids these days: They're overburdened with homework and tangled in peer pressure at school and through social networking. And then there's puberty, which creates a hormonal roller coaster that throws them for a loop physically and emotionally. (And it's happening earlier and earlier.)

Health-Related Classes, Programs and Screenings

2013-05-07T00:00:03-04:00

HUNTINGTON -- A number of health-conscious classes, programs and screenings are scheduled in the Tri-State this week. Some of the activities offered in the area: