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Have you ever tried to reframe a problem?  Taken a bad situation and decided to think of it as an opportunity instead?  You may have done this with a situation at work. Perhaps you did not receive the promotion you wanted but rather than become upset, you decide instead to be grateful for the work you have and how your work load allows you to be home when your children are finished with school.

We do this a lot with children, too. When your son or daughter is not chosen for the school sports team or theatrical performance, you probably console them - and also point out all the other opportunities available such as local city sports teams, community theatre, and dance and vocal classes. But did you know that these same reframing techniques can be applied quite successfully to a divorce?  

It’s election season - your chance to stand up and be counted. The primaries have come and gone, and now it is your turn to stick to your platform of living a healthy life.  You, too, have an opportunity to shape the views of those around you….You, too, have an opportunity to be an example.  Seize this moment for yourself and for those around you.

Did you know, for example, that you don't need to bring in sweet treats for your child's birthday at school?  You may know just what I am talking about: those large cupcakes from your local big box store that are more frosting than cake. Does your little 40-pound child and her classmates need that much sugar?  

Back-to-school time isn’t just for kids and college students. The back-to-school ritual can also be good for your health. Labor Day is over, and September is a great time to think about scheduling your preventive screenings.  Have you scheduled your mammogram for the year?  If you need it, have you scheduled your pap smear?  What about that bone density test or colonoscopy?  Various organizations, including the United States Preventive Task Force and the American Cancer Society, publish guidelines recommending when you should get screened. 

Here's a basic rundown, though always be sure to check with your own physician. Depending on your own personal medical history, the guidelines may vary!

Where did the summer go?  The end of August looms ahead bringing with it the words kids dread to hear: school is back in session! As you pack your child’s backpack with all the tools she needs to succeed - notebooks, folders, pens and pencils – don’t forget to pack the most important item. Lunch.

Packing your child’s lunch can help establish healthy eating habits that can benefit your child long after she’s finished with school. Kids who eat packed lunches generally eat healthier than those who choose their lunch from a cafeteria (burger and fries, anyone?).  But even the most well-meaning parents can pack foods that are less than healthy in their little one’s lunches. It’s easy to do – food marketers are very savvy at showcasing the good ingredients and hiding the not-so-good ingredients in packaged fo

Sugar isn’t only harmful to your teeth – it’s harmful to your body as well. The edible crystalline carbohydrate occurs naturally as sucrose, yet most of us ingest sugar in its manufactured forms of glucose, fructose, and high fructose corn syrup. It’s these manufactured forms – most commonly found in US industrial food preparation – that can contribute to disease development.
 
Here’s how: too much sugar in our bodies can lead to something called insulin resistance.  (You may have heard of this, especially if you or someone you know has diabetes.)  Insulin resistance occurs when the body produces, but cannot properly use, insulin, a hormone required to process glucose (your body’s main source of energy). This insulin resistance can lead to inflammation.  Too much inflammation in our bodies can cause disease.  Depending on where the inflammation is will depend on the type of disease that develops.  For example, inflammation can lead to heart disease (a major cause of disease for women, especially as we get older).  Diets high in refined carbohydrates (think wh

You may have noticed more products at the grocery store labeled “gluten-free” or “wheat-free”; some stores have entire sections devoted to these products. But what are they? Gluten-free foods are great options for individuals with celiac disease, a gastrointestinal autoimmune disorder. Children and adults with celiac disease cannot digest gluten, a type of protein found in grains such as breads, pastas and cereals. When a person has celiac disease, his/her body's intestines cannot digest gluten properly which leads to inflammation in the lining of the small intestine and a decrease in absorption of nutrients – including vitamins and key minerals. This “malabsorption” can lead to other health problems. For example, celiac disease can affect iron absorption and lead to anemia; or it can affect bone health and lead to osteoporosis.

Feeling bloated? Cranky? Experiencing sleeplessness? It could be pre-menstrual syndrome, or PMS. You can thank the monthly drop in estrogen and progesterone that precedes our periods for all these fun symptoms that often disrupt our lives. These declines create a domino effect that results in a yet another temporary drop in levels of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin as well as endorphins. In addition to feeling irritable, depressed, and tired, you can also feel bloated, dizzy or experience breast tenderness.  These bothersome symptoms can last anywhere from three to 14 days. While that may sound unpleasant, there are actually many things women can do to lessen – or even alleviate – PMS symptoms.
 
Some herbal and nutritional supplements can help lessen PMS symptoms. Chaste tree berry, calcium, vitamin B6, vitamin E and magnesium have all been shown to minimize symptoms. Be sure to check with your physician before adding any supplements

Can you believe it? Summer is finally here…and, if you’re like many Americans, it’s a hectic time filled with barbeques, sporting events, children’s activities and vacations.   Even though your schedule might be jam-packed from May through August, be sure to take time out for you - to breathe, to relax, to enjoy a walk, to watch a baseball game or a sunset. In spite of all the summer fun and frolic, you can still find time to stay healthy through nutrition, exercise and stress management.

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Did you go outside today? Or at least want to go outside today?

If so, don't forget the sunscreen! Summer is nearly upon us…and so is the potential for sunburn! While sun exposure can boost your body’s level of Vitamin D, its ultraviolet rays can also damage your skin. Sun exposure can prematurely age your skin as well as cause wrinkles and make your skin look tough and leathery.  Years of severe sunburn and/or sun exposure has been linked to the development of melanoma, a deadly skin cancer.

On the bright side