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Health Benefits of Pet Ownership   If you have a furry family member – or one with scales or feathers – then you might already suspect that your four-legged charge offers a bevy of emotional benefits. Research backs up your hunch. In fact, there are a wide number of benefits to keeping a family pet from both a physical and emotional standpoint. Whether you have a pet right now or [...]

Beverage Alternatives to Soda   Sunny days might make you reach for a frosty soda, but before you grab another soft drink from the cooler, think about the nutritional impact of your favorite sugary beverage. Sodas are packed with sugar, and while your body needs some amount of sugar for energy, a single can of regular cola contains nearly an entire day's worth of the recommended daily allotment. Instead of [...]

With so many conflicting advice about sugar, you might wonder about the truth behind your favorite sweet snacks. Is sugar really bad for you? If so, how bad is it? As with most elements of the modern diet, sugar consumed in moderation poses little threat to an otherwise healthy, active person. The occasional piece of birthday cake or celebratory cocktail won't cause significant long-term damage. However, consistent consumption of added [...]

Dozens of vitamin supplement bottles line your local pharmacy's shelves, and as you stand in front of them, overwhelmed by the options, you start to wonder if you need any of them at all. In fact, many people don't need supplemental vitamins and minerals because a rounded diet offers sufficient nutritional benefits. Your body gets what it needs from the foods you eat as long as you're eating what you [...]

Flu season in the U.S. typically runs throughout winter, but the epidemic season can start as early as October and last all the way through May, peaking from December to March. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC recommends that everyone ages six months or older get a flu shot each year, usually by October if possible. However, it's not too late to get a flu shot if [...]

  Allergies, Cold or Flu: How to Tell the Difference   If you've been fighting a runny nose, sore throat and general discomfort for the last few days, you may be tempted to pass it off as just a cold. While the common cold is aptly named, it's not the only reason you might be suffering. Early spring offers a perfect storm of conditions that make colds, allergies and even [...]

If you suffer from dry mouth, sensitive teeth and other dental problems, then you may attribute these conditions to aging, and you may be right. Adults over the age of 65 are more likely to experience a wide range of dental issues, from sensitivity to cavities. This is partly due to fluctuating hormones, partly from concurrent medical problems, like diabetes or heart disease, and partly from increased medications. Your teeth [...]

You know that exercise plays a critical role in healthy weight loss, but if you're like many Americans, you may not be getting what you need to stay fit. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that most healthy adults get 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity or 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week. Ideally, you'll get a combination of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity and strength [...]

Men and women age differently, but age-related hormone fluctuations affect men and women in similar ways. Did you know that men can go through a type of menopause? Labeled "andropause" because it is not as defined as female menopause, male menopause affects a small portion of the aging male population. Andropause shares similar features with menopause, but it is not as severe as what some women experience once their reproductive [...]

If you're stressed, then the best way to boost your mood and relax your mind is to engage in a calming physical activity. Unfortunately, your schedule may not allow it. How can you de-stress when you're short on time? Food is the answer. Eating the right kind of food can actually help you calm down, think more clearly and eliminate stress from your life. Let's take a look at 10 [...]

Like any other part of your body, your brain changes as you age. You may forget the name of someone you met a few weeks ago, or walk into a room without knowing why. These are common signs of aging, but a pattern of forgetful behavior can evolve into medical problems, such as dementia or Alzheimer's. About 1 to 2 percent of aging adults develop dementia each year. Causes for [...]

5 Common Problems with Perimenopause   Menopause starts for most women during middle age, but symptoms of age-related hormone changes can start well before the official end of your reproductive years. If you're in your 30s or 40s and already experiencing unusual symptoms, then you may be dealing with perimenopause. Plenty of changes take place as women age, from graying hair to looser skin, but perimenopause can be one of [...]

  When it comes to losing weight, many people are looking for a quick fix to shed pounds. While dozens of fad diets promise fast results, few can help you stick with a healthy figure long term. There's no quick fix for weight loss because weight gain doesn't happen overnight. However, there are simple, straightforward changes that you can make over time to help the pounds come off and stay [...]

If spring flowers bring you nothing but itchy eyes, a runny nose and a sore throat, then you're probably familiar with the irritating effects of seasonal allergies. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, affects nearly 8 percent of the American population. Worldwide, it's one of the most common medical problems, affecting between 10 and 30 percent of the population. You may reach for your tried-and-true bottle of over-the-counter medication [...]

From getting stuck in traffic to giving a big presentation at work, stress takes shape in a variety of forms. When we're stressed, our bodies release cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormone. It's thought that cortisol used to serve a specific purpose in early humans, warning our ancestors of impending danger, like attacks from predators. Absent the threat of predators, cortisol now kicks in whether we're worried about our finances, running into [...]

After a long workout routine, you probably reach for your water bottle without hesitation, but do you guzzle enough H2O on a regular basis? If you're like most people, the answer is no. Americans are woefully under-hydrated. A CDC survey reported that 7 percent of respondents drank no water at all on a day-to-day basis. Only 22 percent of adults drink more than eight cups per day. Staying hydrated can [...]

Losing or maintaining weight as you age might seem harder than it was when you were in your twenties. That's because it is. Hormones, which are responsible for a wide range of body processes, including metabolism, can affect your ability to slim down and keep weight off long term. As you get older, hormone production can slow down and become erratic, leading to a host of physical and emotional changes. [...]

If you've resolved to get in shape and lose some extra weight this year, then you already know that belly fat can stand in the way of your ideal figure. Excess fat around your midsection isn't just embarrassing. It's called "visceral" fat, and it can create long-term health problems, from heart disease to type 2 diabetes. Visceral fat forms for a lot of reasons, so there are several things you [...]