Healthy happy you.
Inflammation is a hot topic in skin care because of its purported connection to aging, and big names like Dr. Perricone think we should be doing everything we can to avoid it. But is inflammation really such a bad thing, and is there anything we can do about it? To find out what we know for sure about inflammation, just keep reading. Read more
Did you know that it's the powerful Indian spice turmeric that gives curry dishes that nice bold yellow hue? Turmeric not only adds to the aesthetic of Indian dishes, but it is also a powerful healing aid. The active ingredient in turmeric, curcumin, works in a very similar way to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. For thousands of years, people in China and India have been using the spice to Read more
You eat to maximize your fiber. You eat for omega-3s. Well, there's another way to figure out what to put on your plate and what to avoid: the pH your food produces. Foods that fall on the alkaline side of the pH scale offer many health benefits. Along with fighting inflammation, which is thought to lead to heart disease and some cancers, alkaline-producing foods can help maintain bone density Read more
I have come across the word "leptin" a lot recently and instead of just skimming over it and knowing it is vaguely related to weight, I thought I'd do a bit more research. Leptin (from the Greek word leptos meaning thin) is a hormone that helps control appetite and metabolism. In a normal weight person, when body fat increases, leptin levels rise which signal the brain that it needs to speed Read more
Injuries are a serious bummer, especially when they prevent you from doing the things you love. One common injury is tendonitis, and I bet you already figured out that it involves your tendons, which you remember are those tough, yet flexible bands of tissue connecting muscles to bones. When a tendon becomes inflamed or irritated, that's tendonitis (or sometimes spelled tendinitis). Symptoms Read more
If you have a pain or you hurt yourself, do you ice it or heat it? Good question for all of you weekend warriors. Apply ice no longer than 20 minutes: If you've hurt yourself in the last 48 hours (sprained your ankle or hammered your thumb instead of the nail). If the area is swollen - ice will decrease the inflammation around the injury which will help control the pain. After surgery to reduce Read more
"Oh my - I'll try not to cry but there's a sty in my eye." I used to say that all the time when I was in junior high; my hey day of sharing eye liner and mascara. One too many styes made me wise up and use my own make-up. What exactly is a sty, anyway? A sty is an acute infection or inflammation of the secretory glands of your eyelid. The gland gets blocked, the oil produced by the gland backs Read more
From pounding the pavement running to spending a day in fashionable shoes that lack proper support, feet take a beating. If you're training for a race this Spring and upping your mileage, it pays to show your peds some love. You can do some preventive prehab to avoid coming down with a case of plantar fasciitis. This painful condition, which can be common in new runners and affects women more Read more
You know the feeling: sore muscles after your workout. If you want to feel better fast, help speed the process along by doing these two things soon after your workout. Feed them right: Eating or drinking protein soon after your workout will help repair spent muscles. The best postworkout foods are a mix of protein and carbs for energy and repair (a ratio of 4:1 carbs to protein, since carbs help Read more
Shin splints are the bane of many new runners. The tight calves that accompany mileage increases can spell pain for the lower leg. If running causes any discomfort, take time off to allow your shin splints to heal. But you need not sit idle on the sidelines while you recuperate: ice massages help, too. A serious runner, my Equinox trainer reminded me of the healing combo of ice and massage to Read more
