Iron is the most abundant element on Earth, yet iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder both in the United States and the world, according to the World Health Organization. Iron is …
The Five Aspects of Fitness
Fitness is about that wonderful feeling of exhilaration and power after a good workout. Or is it? Many of us equate fitness with the ability to run, swim, or bike a certain distance, make it through a …
Traditional Paella with Chicken and Beans
Paella has been a favorite in Spanish homes for centuries. Most historians agree that this rice-based dish originated in the Spanish city of Valencia, which has been a significant producer of rice for …
Yoga for Digestion
Nothing is more traditional than eating large festive meals, starting at Thanksgiving and continuing right on through New Year’s Eve. With the days getting colder and darker, we also tend to exercise …
Power Up with Citrus
Once upon a time, back in the Victorian era, citrus fruits were rare and expensive, a delicacy to be enjoyed only on special occasions. Earlier still, for sailors suffering from scurvy on long …
Think Outside the Fruit Bowl
There is more to fruit than meets the taste buds. The vitamins, phytochemicals, and fruit acids that make fruit so healthy can also be effective ingredients in homemade beauty products, natural …
Summer’s Nectar: Stone Fruit
The sweet smell of peaches at farmer’s markets heralds the official arrival of summer. Stone fruit season is here! Nothing captures the golden light of summer like the varied hues of …
Winter Solstice Feast
December brings many celebrations including Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the Dongzhi Festival. But my favorite is the lesser-known winter solstice. This day marks the shortest day (and longest …
How to Sit Less at Work
You don’t have to qualify as a couch potato to be sitting too much. Most of us spend at least half of our day sitting: at our desks and computers, at meetings or in classrooms, in cars, on transit, …
Walking on the Job
Aristotle and Steve Jobs both did it. Did what exactly? Walking at work. Walking is a great form of exercise and a surprisingly good fit at work. Healthy employees save an organization both time …
How Sweet You Are
Recently I overheard someone at the gym recommending green apples over red ones because they supposedly contain less sugar. This seemed a strange idea, since the sugar in fruit isn’t like added sugar …
Lunch is the Gateway
9 Lunch Ideas to Improve your Diet By Rebecca Taggart Breakfast is touted as being the most important meal of the day, but lunch—be it a homemade sandwich or a restaurant meal—gives us the energy …
Ascend to Fitness
Before the 1990s, rock climbers were relatively few and far between, either dedicated aficionados who lived near mountainous areas to pursue their passion or weekend warriors making long drives and …
Try a Sauna for Relaxation and Well-Being
"Life without sauna seems to me impossible."—Urho Kekkonen, former Prime Minister and longest-serving President of Finland The Finnish sauna has been around for thousands of years but only came to …
Orange you Healthy?
The orange of autumn is not only on trees: November is the peak season for winter squash. Although remarkably varied in appearance, winter squashes share an orange-colored flesh rich in antioxidants …
Praising the Pear
Apples have gotten such a good rap (“an apple a day keeps the doctor away”) that the closely-related pear, equally nutritious, should have its own aphorism: “A pear a day keeps sickness at bay.” But …
P.M. Yoga
Back at the computer after lunch, and starting to feel sleepy? Are your neck and shoulders stiffening up? Does sitting hunched over feel uncomfortable? Instead of reaching for coffee or M&Ms for a …
Water Fitness
Swimming laps is fantastic exercise because it is both cardiovascular and strengthening. It uses all the body’s muscle groups and therefore gives a whole-body workout. It is also low impact, which …
Every Nutrition School has a Pyramid, Which One is Yours?
Nutrition pyramids are supposed to be graphical representations of a healthy diet. But whose? The latest guidelines issued by the U.S. government emphasize eating more fruits and vegetables and less …
Sitting Pretty
For me, the word ergonomics has always called to mind carpal tunnel syndrome and back pain. But what does it mean exactly? The science of ergonomics finds the best fit between a person and the …
Kitchen Plastics Guide: How to Identify Safe Food Storage Products
Last month we wrote about plastics and the potential health hazards some can present for food preparation and storage because of the inclusion of the chemicals biphenyl-A (BPA) and phthalates. Here we …
Yoga for Aching Backs
Sitting at a desk all day? Driving a long commute, or maybe simply rolled out of bed a little funny? Backache afflicts 90 percent of all U.S. adults at some point in their lives, and 50 percent report …
Plastics in the Kitchen: Are They Safe?
Plastics are widely used in the kitchen, from containers for leftovers to dishware, cutlery, baby bottles, even the coating inside canned foods. But recent research has shown that the chemical …
Rebecca’s Winning Seafood Paella
This recipe won the 2nd-place ribbon at the Fallas festival in Valencia described here. Ingredients ½ lb monkfish or other white fish, cubed into 1" pieces 1/2 lb calamari, chopped into …
Paella, or Spanish BBQ: A Classic Spanish Family Holiday Dish
Paella originates from my mother’s hometown of Valencia, Spain, and harkens back to the 13th century when the Moors brought rice to the Iberian Peninsula. Cooked in a shallow round metal pan first …
Why Turkey is Good For You
Holidays and food often evoke memories of overeating and sleepiness, perhaps brought on by Uncle Ed or Aunt Bertha’s long-winded story at the other end of the table. Holiday menus provide comfort, but …
Got Fiber? Dietary Fiber Helps Weight Loss, Lowers Cholesterol
Looking for a miracle food that helps you lose weight, feel full, lowers blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and keeps you regular? Fiber is the answer. Most of us know very little about fiber, beyond …
Calcium: A Bone’s Best Friend – Needs Change as We Age
Calcium and phosphorus are critical minerals that form the basic building block of bones and teeth, giving them both strength and density. Calcium is also essential to nerve and muscle function, blood …
Stairway to Heaven
Looking for ways to burn a few extra calories, build your strength, or tone your rear end? Stair climbing is a great way to get an excellent aerobic workout, no matter where you are or what your …
Vitamin D – What’s all the fuss?
Vitamin D has been getting a lot of attention lately for several reasons. It appears that vitamin D deficiency may affect many more people than previously thought who reside at mid-northern latitudes, …
