When you're running on five hours of sleep and the long list of things you need to get done isn't getting any shorter, it can be extremely tempting to reach for an energy drink to boost your energy levels. However, just one energy drink comes with a risk. According to a study by the American Heart Association, drinking one 16-ounce energy drink boosts blood pressure and the stress hormone responses in young, healthy adults. What else did the research find? Listen in as John Higgins, MD, shares i...
Dec 15, 2015
Whether you're celebrating at a wedding, or toasting to the New Year, champagne might be your go-to drink. It turns out that there may actually be some health benefits from popping bottles. For example, while a glass of wine usually contains 120 calories, a four-ounce glass of champagne contains only 90 calories. A recent study also found that drinking one to three glasses of champagne a week can help delay the onset of dementia and memory loss. Will you be toasting to good health this year? Lis...
Dec 15, 2015
During the months of October to January, you're at an increased risk of gaining weight and losing sight of your health and fitness goals. In fact, during the holiday season, the average person gains one to two pounds and people who are already overweight can gain close to five pounds. What are some tips to help avoid weight gain and to stay on track during the holidays? Listen in as fitness experts Grace Desimone and Neal Pire share the best fitness strategies for the holiday season....
Dec 08, 2015
Throughout the holidays, it can be extremely tempting to just embrace the food and alcohol that surround you. You may think you can give yourself a break and that you'll start "fresh" in the New Year. Even though this plan sounds appealing, it could actually backfire and set you back further in your health and fitness goals. You might also be thinking the extreme opposite, pushing yourself at an unhealthy rate. Working out constantly while not getting enough food can be dangerous and unhealthy. ...
Dec 08, 2015
When you're traveling and are expected to be somewhere at a certain time, it can be extremely frustrating when your flight has become delayed. To pass the time and help ease stress, you might want to consider doing some exercises. In fact, many airports offer exercise rooms and health clubs for passengers waiting for their flights. What are some exercises you can do while stuck at an airport? Listen in as Christopher George Berger, PhD, shares simple yet effective workouts you can do in an airpo...
Dec 01, 2015
During one of the busiest times of the year, getting sick at an airport might be the last thing you want to worry about. You may try to avoid getting sick while traveling by taking care of your health before you take off. But, with airborne illnesses, new environments, and typically unhealthy foods, it can be difficult to prevent. How can you stay healthy during your holiday travels? Listen in as Christopher George Berger, PhD, shares how you can stay healthy while traveling during the holiday s...
Dec 01, 2015
Heart rate monitoring can be extremely beneficial for your overall health. For example, high resistance intervals are an effective method for improving the aerobic qualities of fast twitch fibers through constant oxygen delivery to your muscles. However, before buying a heart rate monitor, there are some things you need to be aware of. What are some of the features you should look for when purchasing a heart rate monitor? Listen in as George Centeio, MA, shares the benefits of heart rate monitor...
Nov 17, 2015
Within the past few years, heart rate monitoring has become a popular fitness trend. Monitoring your heart rate can be used to measure how hard you're working during an exercise, and track changes in your fitness level. Cardiac intervals are a high-intensity option for increasing the power of the cardiac muscle and its mitochondrial density. Why would you want to consider using this method of fitness? Listen in as George Centeio, MA, shares the basics of heart rate monitoring....
Nov 17, 2015
The annual survey of worldwide fitness trends is now in its 10th year, and this go-around has some very surprising results. Back in 2014, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) took over the number-one spot, which was previously long-held by educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals (in that position since 2008 and now at number five). Body weight training took over the number-one spot for 2015 but fell to number two in 2016 behind newcomer wearable technology. The 2016 ACSM Wo...
Nov 10, 2015
If you're trying to lose weight or transform your life into a healthier one, you might have thought about using a wearable device that tracks your running mileage, calories burned, and your average heart rate. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has announced its annual fitness trend forecast, and, for the first time, exercise pros say wearable technology will be the top trend in fitness. The results were released in the article "Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends for 2016: 10th Anniv...
Nov 10, 2015
Whether it's losing weight before a big event (class reunion), or just trying to get back in the swing of working out, you may have hired a personal trainer to help you with your specific goals. You may be dying to ask your personal trainer certain questions, like how quickly will you be seeing results? Listen in as fitness experts Grace Desimone and Neal Pire answer the most common questions that you may want to ask your personal trainer....
Nov 10, 2015
You might have heard how bad sitting can be for your health. Unfortunately, you might be spending most of your time sitting at work, and you might find it difficult to stay active throughout the workday. What if there was a way to get some exercise in while you were at the office? By providing workers with a portable pedaling device, researchers have discovered that inspiring office employees to be active at work could be as easy as pedaling a bike... and they don't even have to leave their desk...
Nov 03, 2015
If you're trying to lose weight or keep better track of your calorie intake and how many calories you're burning, fitness trackers can be great. Activity trackers can provide a good overall estimate of calories burned, but a new study finds they're less accurate when measuring certain activities, such as strength training. Listen in as John Higgins, MD, shares why your activity tracker could be great for monitoring certain activities, but not strength training. He also discusses if there is a wa...
Nov 03, 2015
Meat can be a great source of protein, B vitamins and minerals like iron and zinc. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) is suggesting that eating red meat and processed meat can increase your risk for cancer. The WHO indicated in their report that 50 grams of processed meat a day can increase your chance of developing colorectal cancer by 18 percent. Processed meat is labeled as such when something has been added to the meat product in order to extend shelf life or change the taste (for ...
Oct 27, 2015
Halloween isn't just for kids; adults also can participate in the fun festivities that take place every October. Whether dressing up in costumes, watching scary movies with festive foods, or having parties with their friends, most people enjoy Halloween. However, Halloween can also be the beginning of a failing dieting plan. In fact, Americans eat approximately 24 pounds of candy every year. How can you enjoy Halloween without the dent in your diet? Felicia Stoler, PhD, shares the non-candy trea...
Oct 27, 2015
What you eat is an essential part of achieving and maintaining good health. What you may not know is that when and how you eat can be just as important. This is especially true if your goal is to lose weight. Here are two ways that changing the way you eat can help you lose weight and keep it off: First, eating more slowly can help you limit the amount of food you eat. In addition to controlling how much food you consume, eating slower is a good way to enjoy meals -- both the food and the compan...
Oct 20, 2015
Making changes to diet and exercise habits for weight loss or to improve health and fitness can be one of the most difficult behavior modifications to undertake. Making lasting changes (think years, not weeks or months), means that these behaviors must be maintained, and success depends on much more than simply following a diet or exercise program. Perhaps the most important tool for promoting long-term behavior changes is preventing a slip-up from happening. For example, a bad day or bad week o...
Oct 20, 2015
Even though you may not like how obsessed our society has become with social media, a new study shows that it might actually be beneficial when it comes to your health. A study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and published in the journal Prevention Medicine Reports found that social networks can actually help you stay motivated to work out, especially during cold months. In a randomized controlled trial, researchers created a website where 217 graduate students enrol...
Oct 13, 2015
When the weather gets a little colder, it's easy to find any excuse to stay curled up on the couch and skip your workout. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, five days per week, and 8-10 strength training exercises (with 8-12 repetitions of each) twice per week to maintain good health. During the winter, you can either opt for walking at an indoor track, using a gym for stationary bikes or treadmills, or work ...
Oct 13, 2015
High intensity interval training (HIIT) is often recommended as a way to improve cardiovascular fitness in men and women. However, studies on these exercise regimens have focused on younger subjects. Researchers looked at whether HIIT effects were the same for older males and females as those noted in younger adults and found significant differences in the results in men and women. What are some exercises that women can do to achieve results? John Higgins, MD, discusses why HIIT might work bette...
Oct 06, 2015
Even if you save going out with your partner or friends for the weekend, sipping on too many cocktails just one or two nights a week can have drastic consequences on your diet. You may not realize it, but alcoholic beverages can be packed with calories. In fact, a five-ounce glass of red or white wine contains about 120 calories, a 12-ounce beer has about 150 calories, and a 1.5-ounce shot of 80-proof liquor has about 100 calories. Alcohol also lowers your blood sugar, which can cause you to rum...
Oct 06, 2015
Even though pulling a muscle isn't considered life threatening, it still can be a huge pain. Muscle cramping can keep you from exercising, or from reaching any goals that you've previously set for yourself. But, why do muscle cramps happen? Is it from overuse (fatigue) or do you have something a little more serious like an electrolyte deficiency? Listen in as Michael F. Bergeron, PhD, FACSM, shares whether or not your muscle cramping is derived from fatigue or electrolyte deficiencies....
Sep 22, 2015
If you or someone you love is involved in athletics, you know how important it is to keep your health safe and your body injury-free. You may also know the importance of getting your child involved in athletics at a younger age in order to help them seek the benefits of both physical activity and social interaction. However, trying to keep athletics fun in order for your child to stay interested over the years can be a challenge. Michael F. Bergeron, PhD, FACSM, shares how you can find ways to m...
Sep 22, 2015
Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General launched a campaign to help address major health epidemics like diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. With only 22 minutes a day of walking, you can drastically decrease your risk of serious health issues later in life. However, a 2013 study by the U.S. Department of Transportation found that three out of 10 Americans reported there were no sidewalks along any streets in their neighborhood. Another barrier that doesn't allow many people in communities to walk i...
Sep 15, 2015
If you have a specific goal weight in mind, or if you're counting down the days until a huge life event, it might be time to increase your fitness routine. Oftentimes, people think they need to increase their fitness routines by simultaneously working out several times a day and decreasing the amount of calories they consume. However, focusing your attention on doing more may actually backfire and end up causing an injury or burnout. How do you know when enough is enough? Fitness experts Neal Pi...
Sep 08, 2015
There are many reasons you may hire a personal trainer. For example, you may need someone to help motivate you through your workouts. When you're out of breath and dripping with sweat, do you ever wonder what your trainer is thinking? Even if you think your lifestyle habits aren't so bad, your trainer might think otherwise. But, will your trainer ever tell you what he or she is really thinking? Listen in as fitness experts Neal Pire and Grace Desimone share the top three fitness instructor thoug...
Sep 08, 2015
Research suggests that by eight months after New Year's Day, over half of you who made New Year's resolutions have either lost momentum, or have completely given up. In fact, research says that only eight percent of you will reach your goal. Why is that? Usually the most common resolutions are to quit smoking, lose weight, and get into a fitness routine. But, these are some of the most difficult resolutions to follow. The reason is because you have to make significant lifestyle modifications tha...
Sep 01, 2015
It all seems so simple; steer clear of processed foods, exercise, drink lots of water, and you'll be on the right path for a healthy life. However, it's not that simple. Nutrition and exercises are constantly changing, and it seems like there are always new diets to try and new workouts that promise to help shed troubled areas. This can make you feel confused, overwhelmed, and quick to throw in the towel. It's not your fault if you struggle with understanding health information and the recommend...
Sep 01, 2015
Fads come and go; this is especially true for foods. Every year there seems to be several food trends that flow into your grocery stores and restaurants. What are the top 10 healthy food trends of 2015? According to an article posted on Everyday Health , here are the top 10 foods of 2015: Teff Beet greens Heirloom Beans Grass-fed dairy and meats Nut-based vegan cheese Gluten free flours Bone broth Rutabagas Hyperlocal and non-GMO foods Braising your food, not roasting Listen in as Felicia Stoler...
Aug 25, 2015
Food labels are important to fully know what's in the food that you're buying and eating. However, the difference between "organic" and "natural" and what those terms mean, food labels might be a little confusing. What are the most common misleading labels on food? Felicia Stoler, PhD, shares the common misleading food labels and how you can choose your food without being fooled....
Aug 25, 2015
