February is American Heart Month, a time to raise awareness about heart disease and the importance of taking care of our hearts. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with more than 600,000 Americans dying from it every year.

Fortunately, there are steps we can take to reduce our risk and improve our heart health. We will explore some simple heart-healthy habits you can incorporate into your daily routine, as well as resources for where to go to learn more about heart health.

So many people make New Year’s resolutions to get healthy, and by mid-February about 64% of people are still successful in keeping them. People often set unrealistic goals or jump head-first into resolutions that they haven’t thought all the way through. With such a high failure rate how do you set yourself up for success?

Remember when your parents used to remind you to eat your vegetables so you can grow big and strong? Well, it’s actually important at every stage of life to get the proper nutrition so your body can be healthy. There are signs to when your body is missing key nutrients, and each symptom can be correlated to a specific nutrient.

You may have noticed the refrigerated section of endcaps expanding in recent years as more and more options for items like kombucha, kefir, wellness shots, and tonic drinks. Many of these products are sources of probiotic and prebiotics. But why are they so popular and what health benefits do they really offer?

Sitting down at Thanksgiving dinner with turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and pumpkin pie staring back at you is no time to decide you’re going to be healthy. But, you’d also like to avoid the food coma that inevitably happens each year and lands you on the couch, groaning from discomfort for the rest of the night.

It’s time to trade in your swimming suits for school supplies - back to school season is upon us! While many parents and caregivers are ready to get back into a routine again, actually doing so can take some time. The tips below can help you make healthy choices for your kids as you start the summer to classroom transition. 

Many people look forward to the summer. During the summer you can enjoy the beautiful weather outdoors, the days are longer, and there are plenty of fun things to do. The only complaint that people have during the summer is that it can get too hot. When the temperature reaches the 90's and the 100's, it can be very difficult to get comfortable. It can also be dangerous. If you are not careful and you don't keep yourself cool, your body can overheat, which can be very dangerous and even deadly.

The official start of summer brings the fun of outdoor activities, summer camps, vacations, and high temperatures. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of activities and a more relaxed routine, forgetting to take proper care of ourselves and our loved ones when the temperatures get into the triple digits. High temperatures combined with strenuous physical activity can lead to heat exhaustion. Luckily, with the right knowledge and precautions it’s completely preventable.

We all experience levels of stress, sadness, depression, anxiety and other emotions in our lives. They are part of who we are as human beings and our natural way of responding to situations. But as many as 1 in 5 people are affected by these expected behaviors and responses turning into a mental health condition. The signs of mental illness are not always obvious, and each mental health condition has its own symptoms. It’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms and to know how to help yourself or someone else who is suffering.

We all want our youngsters to eat nutrient-rich foods and hope they naturally gravitate towards choosing healthy options – especially when we’re not around to feed them. But you may find yourself with a picky eater and you’re at a loss of how to get them to eat anything other than chicken nuggets or mac & cheese.

Being a picky eater typically starts around the age of one or two. This is the age when kids begin to form specific opinions, but also act very fickle. They love a certain food one day, but if you suggest it to them the next day, they have a temper tantrum.

Some parents feel like bribing their kids is the only way to get them to eat healthy options. Forcing and bribing kids to eat specific foods seldom instills a desired result or behavior. Instead, try different strategies on your meticulous eaters to encourage healthy eating habits.