Bed Rest for Your Back Pain? Not the Best Idea

Upwards of 80 percent of adults suffer at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime, which means you've already felt the pain, are feeling it now or will feel it before you know it. And chances are good that, like so many others, your first thought will be to get off your feet, lie down and rest. Unfortunately, evidence suggests that unless the pain is severe or accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain radiating down the legs, rest is exactly the opposite strategy if you're trying to relieve your back pain. Read More

Less Stress, Healthier Heart

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and research suggests it's no coincidence that the average American suffers from high levels of daily and long-term stress. While the precise connection between the two isn't clear, we do know that stress encourages the release of cortisol – the so-called "stress hormone." In a 2010 study, subjects with high cortisol levels had a fivefold increase in cardiovascular-related death (heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular causes) compared to subjects with lower cortisol levels. Read More

Lose Sleep, Gain Weight

Gaining weight may have to do more with how many zzz's you are getting rather than how much you are consuming. New research has found that losing just a few hours of sleep a few nights in a row can lead to almost immediate weight gain. Just how much?

Recently, researchers from the University of Colorado recruited 16 healthy men and women for a two-week experiment tracking sleep, metabolism and eating habits.  Read More

Exercise Your Right to Change Up Your Workout

You've been working out for the past three months and you're feeling great. You're losing pounds, dropping inches off your waistline, and toning and tightening muscles you didn't even know you had - and that thought you'd forgotten them. Then you hit the proverbial workout wall and your enthusiasm starts to go downhill. Every workout feels the same, you don't seem to be making any strength or muscle gains, and the scale's stuck at the same place it was last week – and the week before that. Read More

Five Nutrients Your Kids Need

When it comes to nutrition, kids need the most variety in order to ensure they grow properly. There are many vitamins out in the market, but what exactly do kids need to be focused on getting when it comes not only to their nutrients but also their food? Read More

Glucosamine Chondroitin: Do you know what's in yours?

Glucosamine with chondroitin is a very popular supplement to support healthy joints. Something that most people don't realize, though, is the amount of adulteration that is occurring with this specific supplement. Unfortunately certain manufacturers, in an attempt to maximize their profit, add cheaper ingredients that are not listed on the bottle, which generally are not harmful, but you are not getting what you purchased. Read More