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We work at Health. We make woopie pies with apple sauce instead of butter. Gotta problem with that? http://pinterest.com/goodhealth/skinny-chocolate-desserts/ read more..
What would you do if you got a bonus hour in your day? (Responses may be selected to appear on our You + Health page in an upcoming issue!). Comment below or email us at You+Health@Health.com. read more..
That sounds great! I wrote up tips for Yoga for Beginners and Health for Beginners. Those are the links to each page, but you can always go back and find it in the FAQ page. That should help. You’re welcome, and thank you as well (: read more..
Are you ready to lose weight? (Join the club -- we are Health LOVE food!) Here are 16 little ways to lose big
16 Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds
Had it with strict diets? We found easy lifestyle tweaks that send extra pounds packing. We talked to readers who shred up to 60 pounds, just with... read more..
Thank you (: Ah, not yet. I guess you could say I’m half vegan for now but there are still bits of dairy in my diet like in chocolate and some of my vegetarian foods. Working my way there, though! read more..
New study zeroes in on the best way to lose weight.
New Study Reveals Best Strategy For Health - Prevention.com
http://bit.ly/NAUBs9
new research reveals that the best way to lose weight is surprisingly simple: Eat more produce and sit less. read more..
Every day, beginning with our first steps as a child, we walk. But do you know that for adults ages 18 to 64 it is recommended that you reach 10,000 steps per day? Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) invite you to use a pedometer to track your steps!To mark the end of Physical Activity Month, OPH staff, Board of Health members Katherine Hobbs and Mathieu Fleury, and Councillors and OPL Board trustees Jan Harder and Shad Qadri are wearing pedometers all week. They will be tweeting their step counts and trying to reach the 10,000 a day goal. Follow #ottawawalks and #ottawamarche to see how they’re doing!Walking is a free, accessible and low impact form of physical activity that can be incorporated throughout the day. To increase your daily steps:
I decided to gather a list of health related documentaries. I have seen a few of them and plan on watching more. You can watch available films online, buy them, search for them on Netflix, or download the torrents (which I do and is safe). If you would like to torrent videos and don’t know how, let me know and I will explain it (: Also, It took me 5 hours to get this all together. Please do not re-post or steal as your own. Thank you.
Ottawa Public Health Nurse Cristina speaks with CFRA about Mental Health Resiliency in children and youth read more..
Sunday, May 6, support children’s mental health and take part in “Walk so Kids can Talk.” Learn how you can get involved read more..
Certainly! How’s this? (: Hip Openers. Some of those hip stretches should stretch the front of them as well. If you need/want more, let me know! read more..
Signs that you are a binge eater:
Feelings of being out of control
Frequently eat large portions of food
Hiding food and eating in private
Feeling guilty after overeating
Feeling depressed
Having metabolic syndrome
How to Gain Control Over Binge Eating
Recognize that you have a binge eating disorder
Realize that it is normal to have a relapse while overcoming your binge eating
Enlist support from family, friends and a self-help group
Learn to eat naturally by eating only when you are hungry and never eating until you are full.
Eat frequent small meals throughout the day so you don’t get overly hungry and eat absentmindedly.
Be conscious of the kinds of food you put in your body
Practice mindful eating
Eat for health and energy rather than cravings
Try cognitive-behavior therapy or psychotherapy
Try an antidepressant
Find the motivation to exercise daily
Look for the silver lining – adapt a positive attitude
Benefits of overcoming binge eating:
Regain control over food
Better manage stress
Stop feeling like you have to hide your eating habits
Feel better about your body
Improve you overall health
Reduce chances of getting a life-threatening disease
Have more energy
Increase self-esteem
And what can you do to stop a binge before it starts?
1. Already bought your Halloween candy? There’s still time to stop yourself. Save a bite-sized piece, eat it, and enjoy it. Give the rest to a homeless shelter. Don’t take it to work. Put your imagination to work on alternative treats to hand out - like raisins, cereal, pencils, party favors, etc. - and don’t feel guilty. You can count on your neighbors to provide chocolate to the kids.
2. Have a plan. Eat a nutritious snack before going to a party. Tell yourself you’ll eat just half of what’s served, then stick to your vow.
3. Plan active days off and vacations. Don’t assume you have to gain weight if you’re indulging. Compensate with physical activity.
4. Identify your triggers. For example, if you’re going to a family gathering, are you likely to feel resentful or guilty about long-standing differences with certain family members? Deal with these issues. Food can mask them but won’t make them disappear.
5. Distinguish between indulging and bingeing. Occasionally allow yourself to indulge without eating out of control. The tendency to engage in black-and-white thinking is the hallmark of a problem with food. “If you think one Snickers makes a disaster, then you might think, ‘Why not go all the way and really binge?’”
6. Snack often on nutritious foods to keep from getting overly hungry. Carry an insulated snack pack everywhere. It’s filled with foods such as dried and fresh fruits, baby carrots, nonfat yogurt, trail mix, whole-grain cereal, nuts, and baked chips. You have to defend yourself, you can’t go out into the modern ‘obese-ogenic’ environment and hope not to get fat, just as you wouldn’t go out in the rain without an umbrella and expect to not get wet. read more..
Make a video on how we can all take the stigma out of kids’ mental health issues and you could win $2,000 read more..
Merry Christmas from all of us at Health! We hope you and your loved ones enjoy a happy and healthy holiday! read more..
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A man's health can be judged by which he takes two at a time - pills or stairs.-- Joan Welsh http://ow.ly/8f9Sn5 Quick Ways to Stop Back Painow.lyFrom crunches to lunches, how to ease the ache: Learn how five ways to ease back pain in this slideshow. read more..
Hi everyone! Health is honored to have Athleta's Tracy Byrnes, an endurance runner and all-round fitness role model for women of all ages, here with us to answer your burning questions about fitness! read more..
Health needs your help! We're interested in hearing about your doctor experiences: What is the worst thing a doctor has ever said to you? What was something your doctor said that made you convinced she was great? Send an email with your response to kate_lowenstein@health.com read more..
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer has been heavily hyped, and a new study suggests that men's expectations of the surgery may be too high. Researchers found that of 171 men facing prostate cancer surgery, those having robotic surgery expected a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker return to their usual physical activity and sex life. But those hopes may not be realistic. Prostate removal is one treatment option for prostate cancer, and in the U.S., a majority of those surgeries are now done with the help of a "robot. ... read more..
Parents want the best for their children! They work very hard to coax a baby’s first smile, steps and words. But parents often worry about:
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This report outlines a proposal for a Renewed Strategy for a Smoke-Free Ottawa, designed to protect children and non-smokers from second-hand smoke (SHS) and to reduce tobacco use. The proposed strategy includes a significant increase in programming for people who want to quit; new smoke-free regulations to protect people from SHS and a public awareness, community engagement and advocacy strategy designed to make Ottawa a healthier city for all. OPH is recommending to the Ottawa Board of Health (BOH), the Community and Protective Services Committee (CPSC) and City Council that existing smoke-free regulations be amended, beginning this year, to prohibit smoking on: · All municipal properties, including parks, playgrounds, beaches, sports fields, fruit and vegetable markets and outdoor areas around City facilities; and · Outdoor restaurant and bar patios and terraces. These initiatives have been developed after extensive public consultation and research and do not require additional funding to enforce or to deliver enhanced services. OPH’s consultations and public opinion research indicate that Ottawa residents strongly support creating more smoke-free spaces. If the recommendations in this report are adopted by Council, Ottawa will join a growing number of municipalities that have made such places smoke-free. SHS is a known health hazard and studies have found that it can be as toxic outdoors as indoors (1-12). Sadly, every year 1,000 smokers and non-smokers in Ottawa die prematurely of tobacco related illness (13). Smoking and SHS has a financial cost as well, including $2 billion in direct health care costs to the Ontario economy (14). For Ottawa residents, hospitalization costs alone due to smoking-related illnesses are almost $40 million per year (13). The purpose of the proposed regulatory amendments is to reduce public exposure to SHS and the resulting risk of tobacco related chronic illness. The proposed amendments are part of an overall OPH strategy to protect children and non-smokers from SHS exposure, reduce smoking rates, increase tobacco cessation attempts, reduce tobacco use initiation, and improve health outcomes such as reducing heart attacks, respiratory illness and cancer. The regulations would complement community engagement activities that will advance smoke-free policies in settings such as hospitals and post-secondary campuses, doorways, hotels, motels and bed and breakfast establishments, spectator events, multiple unit dwellings, and outdoor worksites such as construction sites. A phased-in approach for enforcement of the regulatory amendments is recommended. Beginning with awareness raising and warnings, fines would not be levied until three months after the amendments take effect. It is anticipated that there would be a high degree of voluntary compliance and, as a result enforcement is recommended to be predominantly complaint-driven and would not require additional by-law staff or other resources. Enforcement would be accompanied by a parallel strategy that includes a public awareness campaign to inform the public of the regulatory changes and to increase awareness of the health risks of tobacco smoke and the dangers of water-pipe use.Full Report here read more..
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Blueberries top the list as one of the most powerful disease-fighting foods. That’s because they contain anthocyanins, the antioxidant responsible for their dark blue color. These delicious jewels are packed with fiber, vitamin C, and are available all year long. Boost heart health by adding them into your diet regularly. Here’s how:
1. Top your whole-grain cereal with fresh or frozen blueberries to add delicious flavor, a dose of fiber, and heart-healthy antioxidants.
2. Power up pancakes, waffles, or muffins with fresh, frozen, or dried blueberries for a nutritious breakfast.
3. Eat them plain or mix with other fruit for a low-calorie, high-fiber tasty fruit salad, dessert, or snack.
Recipe idea: Make an irresistible trifle by layering lady fingers, light whipped topping or low-fat pudding, and blueberries. Or puree a batch of berries for a breakfast or dessert sauce.
This cold-water fish is a great source of protein and is also packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. The American Heart Association advises eating salmon and other omega-3 rich foods twice a week for benefits that go beyond heart health. Americans love salmon because it is so versatile, easy to cook, and tastes great.
1. Salmon is easy to prepare on the grill, in the oven or microwave, or on the stovetop. Save leftovers to toss into pasta dishes, make into salmon cakes, add to salads, or mix into dips or spreads.
2. Smoked salmon comes in two varieties. The raw type is commonly used in appetizers and on bagels with cream cheese and capers. The dry smoked type has more of a cooked appearance. You can enjoy it the same way as the raw style, and add it to cooked dishes such as pasta.
3. Salmon cooks in a matter of minutes and its delicate texture quickly absorbs and showcases the flavor of added ingredients. For example, toss chunks of salmon into a chowder of corn and potatoes, or wrap salmon with herbs and chopped onion and tomatoes in parchment or aluminum foil and grill or bake 12 minutes for a satisfying meal.
Recipe idea: Marinate salmon in a lime, onion, garlic, and soy mixture for 15 minutes before grilling for a delicious fish taco or grilled fish sandwich.Soy Protein
This inexpensive, high-quality protein contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals — all the ingredients for a heart-healthy meal. Also, a diet rich in soy protein can lower triglycerides, which help prevent cardiovascular disease and keep your heart strong and healthy. In those with high cholesterol levels,the benefits of soy foods are due to their high levels of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.1. Pack a soy protein bar or a bag of soy nuts for a quick snack during the day.
2. Edamame (the Japanese name for green soybeans) are snacks even kids will love! Find these nutritious nuggets in the freezer section at your supermarket. Boil them, then serve warm in the pod. Pop them out of the pod to eat plain or with a low-fat dip.
3. Tofu, made of soy beans, takes on the flavor of spices and foods you cook with it. Saute cubed tofu with green and red peppers, sliced garlic, and a dash or two of curry powder. Or add tofu to soups for a healthy dose of fat-free protein.
Recipe idea: Soy milk is not just for the lactose-intolerant. Make a nutritious beverage with chocolate soy milk, a banana, and some ice for a delicious smoothie.
Grandma called it roughage and we need plenty of it each day. Oatmeal is one way to get it. Oats are nourishing whole grains and a great source of vitamins, minerals, and cholesterol-lowering fiber. The FDA allows manufacturers of oats to make health claims about the grain on their products, suggesting that a diet high in oats can reduce the risk for heart disease. Research shows oats lower cholesterol levels, keep you regular, and may help prevent certain cancers.
1. A warm bowl of oatmeal fills the belly for hours with its high fiber content. Top it off with fruit (such a read more..
Debunking the Milk Myth: Why Milk is Bad for You and Your Bones -Excerpts from article linked above. Click the link or photo to read the full (interesting and informative) article. Also, I thought that photo was funny so I used it.
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Women's Health Weekend Challenge! This weekend, take your sprints laying down. Complete as many reps of “The Sprinter” as you can without sacrificing proper form. Make sure to control your movement through the entire exercise, bracing your core to keep pressure off your back. Do this move today, tomorrow, and Sunday. So...ARE YOU IN? read more..
7 Things You Should Know About Sunscreen: hopelessoptimist:A very very interesting read! Any normal suncream makes me come out in a rash, not surprising as it’s full of chemicals, I’ll see if I can find a natural one this year, and see if my improved diet helps. :)It definitely is a good read. I’m going to do the same (: Eat more antioxidant-rich foods in the summer and buy (or maybe even make) natural sun screens. read more..
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What are you having for dinner tonight? Today's guest host - health & fitness guru Kathy Kaehler is making veggie soup! Want the full recipe? Join her Sunday Set-Up™ Club at KathyKaehler.net and check our tasty soup recipes: http://on.self.com/wGlAh8 read more..
