Self-help “wisdom” is everywhere these days. New self-help books pop up every day, and social media is overflowing with inspirational quotes from self-help experts. Although people want to improve their lives, many are skeptical of self-help books and personal development gurus because they wonder if it really works. The good news is that research shows…

Caring for an aging or ailing loved one is never easy – but throw in a fulltime job, kids of your own, and a busy household, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed fast. Nearly half of all caregivers have trouble balancing work and caregiving, and 20 to 40% of them suffer from depression. But just…

Sure, we’d all love to eat nutritionally-balanced, home-cooked meals every day, but that’s not always possible. Sometimes, we have to make do with takeout and frozen dinners. Sadly, most takeout meals and frozen dinners aren’t designed with nutrition or health in mind. If they were, they probably wouldn’t be as popular! Most of us worry…

New vegetarians often worry if they’re getting enough protein. Most people associate protein with meat, dairy, and other animal products. Their knowledge of plant-based protein starts and ends with beans! While beans are a good source of plant-based protein, it’s totally possible to get enough protein as a vegetarian without eating beans. But, first, let’s…

The key components of diabetes management are diet, exercise, medication, and regular check-ins with your healthcare team; everyone knows this. It’s the best-known way of preventing long-term complications.  However, diet, exercise, and medication are just part of the equation. To truly live well with diabetes, you also need to practice self- care (not everyone knows…

Everyone has memory lapses. Sometimes we misplace our keys, forget where we parked the car, or lose our train of thought when talking to someone. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re experiencing cognitive decline or have dementia (what a relief!).   Normal Forgetfulness vs. Age-Related Memory Loss vs. Dementia Why you probably don’t have dementia…

Here’s the amazing thing about your brain: It’s always changing, reorganizing and making new connections between neurons, depending on how you use it. This phenomenon, known as neuroplasticity, is the brain’s natural response to new experiences, thought patterns, and habits. What does any of this have to do with mental health? Interestingly, neuroplasticity can work…

Your brain is a powerful machine that can convince you of pretty much anything, including things that aren’t true! It can take a particularly rough morning and turn it into “I have the worst luck in the world!” or a slightly strange look from a stranger becomes “he /she doesn’t like me” or a myriad…

One of the biggest hurdles to eating healthier is that it often requires planning and a trip to the grocery store and meal preparation. It’s one of the reasons why 1 in 3 adults in the US eats takeout (pre-COVID-19). Most people prefer home-cooked food to restaurant food, but that’s not always an option. Sometimes,…

If you want to see what you’re made of and how much you can take, self-shelter in close quarters with friends or loved ones for a few days or a month. Oh wait, that’s what you’re doing now, so…how’s it going? Staying indoors for days on end makes you restless and irritable, especially if you’re…

People are afraid. How can they not be? Images of cities turned into ghost towns, fatigued hospitals, medical tents popping up across the country, and grim projections that more than 100,000 people in the United States might die from COVID-19, perhaps 200,000. People are out of work; paychecks have stopped. Businesses have shuttered; the hopes…

Many people around the world love a good nap. In fact, siestas are an integral part of some cultures. A quick nap boosts productivity and performance, according to some research. But, other studies (perhaps controversial) indicate a connection between napping and mortality. Napping during the day increases the risk of premature death by up to a third!…