The Power of Thoughts

Starting yoga might sound scary if you’re new to this activity. The poses may seem tough, and if you’re less “bendy,” you may find it hard to believe you could ever twist your body in this way. But if you’re able to push past this early fear and start practicing yoga, the payoff is well worth it. Find out the many mental and physical benefits of yoga, from stress reduction and weight loss to pain reduction and chronic disease management.

Some people think I love my dogs more than most people — and in part, that may be true. Don’t get me wrong, I love people as well, but my dogs are my therapy. My two dogs, Peyton and Eli, give me so much joy and help me focus on what is important in life. They teach me so much more than anything I’ve ever learned in a classroom. Here are some helpful things my furry friends have taught me about life. 

The holidays are here, trips are scheduled and menus are planned — but no one plans for a foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning. The symptoms aren’t pleasant, and in some cases it can even be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in six Americans (or 48 million people) gets a foodborne illness each year — more than 125,000 people are hospitalized and 3,000 die. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has four tips to help prevent foodborne illnesses.

To maintain strong bones, your body needs the mineral, calcium. But what’s the best form of it to take? Research shows that eating foods that are naturally rich in calcium is safer than taking calcium supplements — especially for older women. The fact is, older women who take higher amounts of calcium supplements (at least 1,000 mg a day) may have a higher risk of heart disease, stroke or kidney stones. So how can you get more calcium into your diet? 

Wellness is a term we hear more and more these days — but what exactly is it? While diet and exercise might be the first things that come to mind, wellness is actually so much more than that. Nutrition and physical activity are certainly a major component in staying fit, and they play a huge role in managing chronic conditions. But there are other areas often overlooked that greatly impact one’s overall health and well-being.