healthy living

Most of us love spreading peanut, almond, or cashew butter on our favorite foods. The sad truth is that not all nut and seed butter is created equal, especially peanut butter. There’s a dark and dirty little secret you might want to know about America’s favorite sandwich spread. Let’s start with the basics. Peanuts are […]

The Food Pyramid was first introduced in 1992 and was touted as being the guideline for a perfectly balanced diet. But unfortunately, this perspective was jaded by the greed and power of the food industry giants who had much to gain from guiding people toward consuming processed and refined foods. Nearly 20 years later, the […]

If you are a woman, it’s highly likely that you’ve experienced the unpleasantries associated with an abnormal menstrual cycle. As hormones ebb and flow throughout the month, symptoms such as PMS, heavy bleeding, menstrual-related headaches, or breast tenderness can be all-too-familiar and disruptive to your life. Although these symptoms may be common, that doesn’t mean […]

It’s no big secret that fat cells produce estrogen. This is, in part, why men and women who struggle to maintain an optimal weight may have greater difficulty keeping their hormones in check. As fat cells grow bigger from a high-carb diet, they produce more estrogen, which then drives more fat storage. This vicious cycle […]

Did you know that the bacteria in your gut actually run the emotional part of your brain? It seems a bit far-fetched, but it's true! The emotions we have on a moment by moment basis are not just "out there somewhere" feelings that ebb and flow throughout the day. Instead, they are largely influenced by […]

A good night’s sleep is worth almost any amount of money, especially if it’s been weeks, months, or even years since you’ve slept well. Over-the-counter supplements that promise a good night’s sleep are nearly everywhere, which is clear evidence that this issue affects a significant number of us.  Research has shown that consistent quality sleep […]

Let’s face it. Being a girl isn’t always easy. Especially when it comes to that monthly visitor that seems to show up at the most inopportune times. And when she brings her friends that drag down your mood and make you reach for the heating pad and a few Advil, it’s time to make some […]

New Year's Resolutions.  Whether you love them or hate them, the tradition still runs strong. A simple Google search will pull up over 24-million internet pages about how to set them, keep them, and ignore them. And much of the information is snooze-worthy, to say the least. Setting a few resolutions at the beginning of […]

Sugar cravings got your tongue? If so, you’re not alone. The lure of Christmas cookies, holiday fudge loaded with squishy marshmallows, and other delectable desserts can be challenging to resist. Our ability to stay the course and say NO requires an unbelievable amount of willpower. But it doesn’t take very long before our vow of […]

Did you know that a certain level of stress is actually beneficial? Researchers have long known that lifestyle stress plays a vital role in keeping our immune system in good working order. But if the inevitable stress pendulum swings too far to the right or the left, meaning too much or too little stress, it […]