ShareWIK.com

Phew, we made it. Springtime is in the air. Well, for some of us anyway (my apologies to those still experiencing winter!) Here in Los Angeles, the cherry blossoms and magnolias are beginning to bloom already. Sneeze. Runny nose. Sneeze. Yes, with all these beautiful blooms come seasonal allergies.

Just about everyone is familiar with the symptoms of seasonal allergies

It’s true! When you choose an unhealthy lifestyle, you may be choosing an expensive lifestyle.  Recent research published in the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has reiterated the increasing costs associated with the growing chronic disease burden in the United States. And it’s not just costs incurred by health insurance or healthcare system – it’s costs you incur as well!

When you choose unhealthy behaviors (like using tobacco or not getting any physical activity), you’re doing more than just potentially increasing your medical bills or your risk for developing diabetes or heart disease. Think about the cost to your body – such as sore knees, depressed mood, and snoring. These are all real consequences from even a few days worth of unhealthy behavior choices. It’s easy to see how these choices can snowball, posing a real threat to your long-term health!  

Y

Sometimes life throws us curve balls.  We often hear,“When life throws you lemons, make lemonade.”  Or, “Everything happens for a reason.”

Sound familiar?  We all have heard these various pithy statements at times of stress or difficulty. Sometimes they're comforting, sometimes not. And, sometimes we feel that there’s really nothing anyone can say to ease feelings of anxiety, grief, sadness, or depression. I realized this weekend that, in my times of difficulty, there is a reason for believing in these statements.  

Have you read a good book lately?  Have you taken any time for yourself at all? Be honest.  I won’t be surprised if the answer is “no.”

Somehow, despite the best intentions each year, the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day just gets away from us. The holidays. They can get us every year. Between the actual obligations we have and the pressure we put on ourselves to do it all at this time of year -- it's enough to completely stress one out!  

After New Year’s Day, “real” life starts again and we often find that we accomplished less over the

Persimmons, Asian pears, pomegranates and clementines…the turn of the New Year is a terrific time to introduce into your diet new and yummy foods that are good for you.  Enough with too many holiday cookies, glasses of eggnog and fruit cakes! Make eating healthier part of your new year’s resolution – doing so can help you shed unwanted winter weight and can provide vital nutrients your body needs to ward off colds and flu.

Rather than sticking with your standard fruit and vegetable routine, how about trying something new? Winter fruits and vegetables are so beautiful and chock full of wonderful nutrients that are the perfect antidote to the overindulgence of the holidays. 

Pomegranate skins are bri

The holiday season is here and, whether you celebrate Hanukah, Kwanzaa or Christmas, you most likely have been bombarded with all the stresses that come with the season. It’s easy to turn cookies, eggnog, or wine to help make those family gatherings, office parties and gift-giving more tolerable. While the sugar rush may make you feel better in the short-term, these coping mechanisms are not good for your physical or emotional health in the long-term.

Excessive and uncontrollable consumption of food, alcohol or drugs can lead to an addiction which can have devastating effects on the individual and his/her family and friends. Many of us are not addicts, but willingly admit to consuming an extra piece of pie or holiday alcoholic beverage to help ease stresses or cope with an awkward situation. The pie – while delicious – will spike your blood sugar levels causing a “

So the holiday season is upon us, and it's already begun -- you're eating too much, not exercising enough, and starting to get those winter blues.  I know, I know – you said that you were absolutely not going to feel this way this year. But don’t worry; this holiday season can still be different for you - no five pound weight gain, holiday blues, or stressed-induced illnesses for you!  

Here’s how. Start by making a plan for each of the following areas: nutrition, exercise, and stress management. Doing so will make it easier for you to face those holiday cookies at work, your children's classroom parties, your in-laws and all the other stresses related to holidays!  

What's available to you 24/7, anytime, anyplace?  Your breath.  

Why is that important, you ask? Well, we’re about to embark on one of the most stressful times of the year – the winter holidays. Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanza, New Year’s – no matter which combination of holidays you observe, they are bound to cause stress. Shopping for gifts, party planning, holiday baking, and family gatherings are all bound to have you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. But there is good news (and no, I am not about to advocate an extra glass of egg nog or piece of pie). By simply remembering to breathe, however, you can reduce your stress level, decrease your frustration or anxiety, and increase your ability to experience (and spread) holiday cheer.

It may seem too good to be true, but I think there is a benefit to Halloween candy.  That benefit is called portion-control!  The great thing about Halloween candy is that it is prepackaged into manageable portions.  

Instead of eating more than 40 grams of sugar in a regular-sized bar of your favorite candy, you will find that these small packages usually have less than 10 grams of sugar.  Not ideal, to be sure, but if you're going for moderation - and not elimination - to handle the holiday stress, then consider raiding your child's Halloween candy stash instead of working your way through a king-size candy bar. 

Before you mindlessly choose a few “fun sized” candy bars for yourself, consider giving yourself the best. The best chocolate, that is. 

Have you ever noticed that your stress level can affect your child's stress level (or for that matter, anyone around you)?  

Do you spend a large portion for you day feeling anxious, sad or worried?  Sometimes, how we feel can rub off on those around us - partic