Articles by

Tips to stop hair loss and thinning hair

Karen Hawthorne — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:16:00 -0700

The sleek, bald look on male celebrities like Vin Diesel is considered highly attractive, and many men opt for this no-comb style, whether they have naturally thinning hair or not. Women, on the other hand, are adding extensions and using fortifying, body-boosting hair masks, shampoos and conditioners – whatever it takes to achieve those full, shiny tresses like Jessica Biel. While baldness is typically associated with men, you may be surprised to learn that 40 percent of all hair loss sufferers are women. Here’s what you need to know about stopping hair loss and keeping your luscious locks.

Country star Patty Loveless: Get screened for lung disease

Karen Hawthorne — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 14:59:00 -0700

Grammy-award winning country music star Patty Loveless has written a new song for a health campaign about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , a lung disease that is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States – COPD kills more people each year than breast cancer and diabetes combined. Awareness and early screening could change the statistics.

Energize your work routine

Karen Hawthorne — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:22:00 -0700

Work can be frustrating. Can’t find where you filed that must-do outline for your next report to your manager? Is the highlight of your day forwarding a joke email to your mom and eating a mini Coffee Crisp bar from last Halloween that you’ve found at the back of your drawer? If so, it’s high time to re-group.

8 Tips to get tidy

Karen Hawthorne — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:22:00 -0700

Have you watched the new reality TV series Hoarders and feel a twinge of guilt over your own overflowing laundry basket and untidy behavior? This eye-opening series showcases homes one step away from being declared a biohazard while their compulsive residents require therapy and a team of professionals to sort, clean and fight the disorder. Even if you aren’t a candidate for the show, spring is shedding light on the messes you’ve been ignoring all winter and beckoning you to get cleaning. Before you crawl back onto the couch feeling overwhelmed, we’re sharing our top tips for getting – and staying – tidy.

Why you need morning exercise

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 08:48:00 -0700

You jump out of bed after your alarm goes off and stumble to the shower for a quick wake up. Then you figure out what you’re going to wear, get the kids up, grab breakfast, feed everyone, and herd them into the car to further start your day. How could you possibly fit in anything else – particularly exercise – into this busy morning routine? Exercise is essential for your health, and we’ve got a few tips and tricks and the best exercises to get you moving in the morning.

Colorectal cancer: What you need to know

Karen Hawthorne — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 16:55:00 -0700

Imagine a cancer that not only changed everything in your life but was actually a cancer that you were too embarrassed to talk about because it ruthlessly invaded your most intimate areas? Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, is the second deadliest cancer in America, causing over 655,000 deaths worldwide per year. To spread awareness and help others cope with this deadly disease, one woman is tossing her embarrassment aside and speaking out. Here’s what she wants you to know about colorectal cancer.

Why you should love your food

Karen Hawthorne — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:04:00 -0800

Are people in denial about their eating habits? Two out of three Americans are overweight or obese, yet, in a new national survey, three-quarters of respondents said they have a healthy personal relationship with food - revealing a clear disconnect between how people think and act when it comes to eating. Here, one intervention expert weighs in on the nation's fat factor and offers solutions to help people improve their relationship with food.

The truth about common exercise myths

Karen Hawthorne — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:48:00 -0800

The health and fitness industry is pumped with many exercise myths. Some are used as excuses not to exercise; some are thought to be exercise shortcuts. Here is a collection of common exercise myths and the truths that debunk them.

6 Reasons to not exercise

Karen Hawthorne — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:35:00 -0800

While we celebrate our personal relationships with friends and "special friends" on Valentine's Day, it's the perfect time to look at other important relationships in our lives. In particular, our relationship with exercise. Physical activity impacts so many aspects of our health and wellbing, one fitness expert says, that we have to learn to love it, honor it and commit to it, in order to reach our goals and live well. Just like we may find ourselves making excuses to forgo fostering important personal relationships, we often find ourselves conjuring up a host of reasons to skip our daily fitness. Here are six excuses to not exercise and how to get over them.

Workouts that save time and money

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:00:00 -0800

In the post-holiday rush to jump on those New Year's resolutions and pay off the bills from accelerated seasonal spending, time and money are top concerns for staying fit in 2010, one survey says. Here a fitness expert gives her two cents on the fitness trends to follow and why.

Living with epilepsy

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 13:02:00 -0800

When Veronica Crowe was a young girl, she would often feel herself "spacing out" for 30 seconds or so when staring at the television. She couldn't see the screen clearly or hear sounds around her. Doctors did not realize that the staring spells were actually seizures until Veronica was 13 years old when she had a more serious seizure, saw a neurologist and, after months of testing, was finally diagnosed with epilepsy. Now at 29, she's reaching out to help others overcome the hurdles of living with epilepsy.

A little exercise reaps big rewards

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:45:00 -0800

Okay, so maybe running a marathon is a bit out of scope for your lifestyle, but getting off your duff and adding a little exercise to your routine can make one big difference. Experts say it can give you a longer life.

Guys find women sexier in winter

Karen Hawthorne — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:10:00 -0800

Layering and covering up from head to toe with sweaters, coats, hats and boots can make you feel bulky and unattractive at this time of year. Is there anything figure-flattering about puffy coats and snow pants? Turns out, despite all the fluff, research shows that men find women more attractive in winter.

10 Warning signs your older relatives need help

Karen Hawthorne — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:11:00 -0800

With so many of us living away from our parents and grandparents, coming home for the holidays may be a frightening wakeup call when we find lethargic and forgetful elderly loved ones, a messy house and forgotten bills piling up. Here are the warning signs your older relatives are in need, and steps you can take to keep them healthy and safe.

How to beat the winter blues

Karen Hawthorne — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:11:00 -0800

Shorter days and colder weather at this time of the year mean less feel-good sunshine and less activity outside. It's easy to hibernate indoors and cozy up in front of the TV far more often in winter than in the warmer seasons. While watching sitcoms and dipping into a tub of Ben & Jerry's might seem like instant gratification, without the sunlight's vitamin D and daily exercise to get your blood flowing, your mood and energy are likely to plummet. Here are some warm and wonderful ways to brighten your mood, up your energy and lift your holiday spirit.

Christmas diet strategies

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:21:00 -0800

The hustle of the Christmas season sets us up to pork on the pounds - our routine of healthy diet and exercise often gets shoved aside for the party circuit and mad-dashing through the snow to finish our last-minute shopping. We need all the help we can get to eat smart and avoid outgrowing our pants. Expert nutritionist Colette Heimowitz shares her top holiday diet strategies to keep us fit and trim.

Christmas safety tips

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:36:00 -0800

Christmas is just around the corner. With party preparations, shopping and decorating to occupy their minds, many people overlook simple safety precautions. But frayed wires on Christmas lights and deeply discounted electronic products require extra care and attention. CSA International, a product testing and certification organization, has issued seasonal safety tips to keep top of mind this Christmas.

Chef Mario Batali on the food-family connection

Karen Hawthorne — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:19:00 -0800

Life is quite the juggling act with career, family and social commitments. Too often we're calling home to say -œOrder in a pizza, I'm working late- - but studies show that sitting down around the family dinner table for conversation and good food has powerful benefits. Iron Chef Mario Batali and country music star Martina McBride have launched a new project, Share the Table, to inspire families to cook and eat dinner together.

Protect your child's vision

Karen Hawthorne — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 10:02:00 -0800

Startling news: About 60 percent of children who have been identified as problem learners have undetected vision problems and many may be mistakenly diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder , according to the American Optometric Association. Regular eye exams are key to your child's health and development.

Budget-friendly tips to go organic

Karen Hawthorne — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:17:00 -0800

With rising food costs and a slow recovery from the recession, you may be wondering if those organic grapes and apples you've been putting in your grocery cart are worth the extra cash. They are, many nutritionists say, for your long-term health and the environment -- and you don't have to break the bank to reap the benefits. Learn how to go green and follow an organic diet on the cheap.