Healthy Hacks: 10 Food Swaps that Don’t Sacrifice Flavor
You might think cooking and eating more healthfully means a total change in the dishes you love and the ingredients you normally use. But the reality is that there are tons of food swaps that help you keep the flavor with less fat, fewer calories, and more nutrients. “It can …
Fun & Fitness: Olympic Sports Anyone Can Try
Have you caught Olympic fever? The Summer Games are in full swing, and you already know Olympic sports like beach volleyball, swimming, basketball and track-and-field offer heart-pumping perks. But consider the not-shown-in-primetime events, like archery, trampolining, or even discontinued sports like tug-of-war. These are full of potential for backyard fun …
Can Gardening Count as Exercise?
The benefits of gardening go far beyond connecting to nature and creating a beautiful yard. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, gardening qualifies as exercise. In fact, getting out in the yard for just 30-45 minutes can burn up to 300 calories. Routine garden upkeep activities, such …
Sleep Your Way to Weight Loss
Trying to lose weight? You might be able to do it in your sleep. According to Philip Cheng, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and research scientist at the Sleep Disorders and Research Center at Henry Ford Health System, there is a direct link between too little or too much sleep and issues …
Amp Up Your Workouts with Plyometrics
One of the best ways to amp up your fitness game is by incorporating childhood pastimes—hopping, skipping, jumping—into your weekly routine. Dubbed plyometrics, these activities use explosive motions to build power, strength and performance. Unlike typical strength training exercises designed to build muscle mass, plyometric training involves rapid-fire movements that …
Tired & Stressed: Is Your ‘New Normal’ Making You Sick?
To change any behavior, we first have to be aware of it. Sounds simple, right? But as humans, we have the ability to acclimate, constantly creating a “new normal” which challenges our ability to recognize when our status quo has changed. “When we acclimate, we adjust to a new status …
Guilty Pleasures That Are Good for You
Meat, potatoes, eggs, bread, chocolate. At one time or another, each of these foods has been shunned in the popular media. Many might even appear on your personal “do not eat list.” The irony: Each of these foods—and many others that get a bad rap—can actually be good for you. …
A Parent’s Guide to Making Time for Fitness
Sticking to an exercise program can be challenging under the best of circumstances. But add a house full of children to the mix — each with their own demands and up-to-the-minute requirements — and squeezing in a workout can seem impossible. After all, how can you find time to exercise …
DIY Spice Mixes
Healthy cooking does not mean that the food you’re eating needs to be bland. In fact, you can amp up the flavor by increasing your use of herbs and spices while cutting the salt, sugar and fat. A bonus: Even small amounts of spices such as cinnamon, oregano, ginger, and …
7 Ways to Fit in Fitness at Work
Working 40 hours a week—or more—isn’t unusual. But being tied to your desk can have devastating health effects. In fact, a mounting body of research suggests that sitting for 7 to 8 hours a day increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and yes, early death—even among people who exercise …