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Whack Weeds in Your Garden—and Your Life
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2012 CommentMention weeds and, let me tell you, it's a sure way to clear a room. No one wants them. No one wants to hear about them. And no one really wants to deal with them—although I have met a rare soul or two who finds weeding relaxing. If you meet people like this, do everything you can to keep them as volunteers for your corporate or community garden!
Stick with me a bit, and I promise I'll not only give you some easy, earth-friendly ways to eliminate unwanted weeds (I say unwanted, because some weeds are just a balsamic dressing away from being a side dish), but I'll also show you how to reduce the weeds, metaphorically-speaking, in your life.
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Big Stores, Big Bellies?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 12, 2012 CommentDue to their convenience and often cheaper prices, big-box stores, warehouse clubs, and standard supermarket chains have become popular alternatives to specialty chains like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, and small, local markets. Many of the grocery goliaths even offer natural, fresh, and organic options for the health-conscious shopper.
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Eating for Two? What a Healthy Pregnancy Diet Looks Like
Tweet Share on Facebook November 9, 2012 CommentWith the emotional roller coaster that pregnancy brings, it can be daunting for pregnant women to take on the additional pressure of eating the "perfect" pregnancy diet. The good news: There is no single perfect diet for pregnancy. The best way for expectant mothers to meet their nutritional needs is to focus on consuming an overall healthy diet, with a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meats or meat substitutes, and low-fat dairy or dairy substitutes.
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Exercise: of Math and Myth
Tweet Share on Facebook November 8, 2012 CommentOf course exercise burns body fat.
If you are like most of us, you once knew this was true, intuitively, and perhaps from first-hand experience. But that was before you knew it was false, because you were talked out of believing the obvious.
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Mango or Papaya? Spinach or Kale? Food Face-Offs
Tweet Share on Facebook November 8, 2012 CommentOnce again, I've decided to compare foods that I'm constantly hearing people talk about. Consider my thoughts below and decide for yourself if you should run (or walk) to the store to buy some soon.
Papaya vs. Mango
Many people get these two confused. Nutritionally they are similar, but flavor-wise they're quite different. One cup of papaya has 55 calories and 2.5 grams of fiber, while 1 cup of mango has 99 calories and 2.6 grams of fiber. According to registered dietitian Tara Gidus, a nutrition consultant in Orlando, Fla., "Mangos are a premier source of vitamins C and A, and contain antioxidant nutrients with lots of health benefits." Papaya is also a good source of vitamins C and A, as well as other nutrients. As for taste, mango has been described as a mixture of sweet and sour, blending the flavors of peach, pineapple, and apricot. Papaya has a sweet, musky flavor, similar to that of ginger and apricots.
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Is Diabetes Your Destiny?
Tweet Share on Facebook November 8, 2012 CommentMy father, my mother's mother, and my brother were all affected by diabetes. Genetically, for me, that's like waiting to be summoned for jury duty; you know you may eventually be called, but you don't quite know when it will be your turn.
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The 3 Most Dangerous Words in Weight Management
Tweet Share on Facebook November 7, 2012 Comment"Because I exercised."
For folks trying to lose or maintain their weight, those three words are dangerous. Our perception of the virtues of exercise often makes us feel as if we deserve or have earned more—an extra helping, an indulgent sweet, or, in my case, a beer or two.
But at what cost?
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Steer Clear of the Cold: Foods That Boost Your Immune System
Tweet Share on Facebook November 7, 2012 CommentAhh-choo! 'Tis the season of sniffling and sneezing. Between colder temperatures, the time change, and hectic holiday schedules, our bodies are thrown out of whack. The result: Your immune system is working overtime. The good news: There's something you can do about it. Diet and exercise play a crucial role in health, not just in keeping your waistline slim and trim. Add the following to your diet to give your immune system an extra boost:
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Smart Snacking for Kids
Tweet Share on Facebook November 6, 2012 CommentAs I flipped through a photo album of my kids the other day, seeing picture upon picture of them snacking, I was reminded of the movie Ocean's Eleven. In virtually every scene that featured him, Rusty Ryan (played by Brad Pitt), was comically munching away on something. Parents of young children can no doubt relate; it feels like we're constantly feeding our kids.
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Stay Fit Without Setting Foot in The Gym
Tweet Share on Facebook November 6, 2012 CommentIf you're like most Americans who want to stay fit and active, there's a good chance that if you haven't already (or recently) joined a gym, the thought has likely crossed your mind—especially as the new year approaches. Perhaps financial, logistical, or other concerns have precluded you from joining a gym. Then again, maybe the mere thought of joining a gym—and actually having to go to it!—makes you sweat (if not break out in hives), because it's just not your thing.
Whatever your excuse for not stepping foot in a gym, the good news is that you never really have to look much farther than your own home, backyard, local park, or even your office to get—and stay—fit, and reap the many benefits regular physical activity provides.
