Blog Posts by Tips on Healthy Living

By Debra Snyder, Ph.D.
Author of Intuitive Parenting
It's back-to-school time again. There are supplies to purchase, clothes to sort through, and a fresh outlook on the academic adventures to obtain. Quality family time often takes a back seat to sporting events, car pool responsibilities, and the hustle and bustle of every possible school activity. Our relationships with our children can greatly suffer when we allow the actions of living to overtake what we value in life.

Why not put your family first this fall by making a commitment to celebrate your connections?

Dedicate a day with your loved ones to "just be" together. Clear everyone's schedules and make your relationships a priority for the entire day. This is not the time to play video games, watch sports, work on the computer, or be on autopilot. You do not need to spend money, take a vacation, or make any significant sacrifice. Simply spend conscious time together. Be present with one another, moment by

By Kristin Sidorov
It's almost back-to-school time, and while most of parents out there already have a to-do list a mile long, be sure you add one more item to the top of the list: Grading your child's diet. During the busy school year, just getting your kids to eat something, anything, can be hard enough, especially if you have picky eaters and an overbooked schedule. But the number of overweight and obese kids in the U.S. is on the rise, and diet is one of the best ways to keep your kids' health in check.

A balanced and healthy diet for kids takes more than cutting out fatty fast food and sugar-laden treats. It takes a little planning and food savvy. But it's well worth the effort, and soon it'll be second nature for you and your kids.

We've compiled a list of some of the worst kids' foods out there (and the list is looong), as well as healthy alternatives and tips on how to keep the peace (and your sanity) while still feeding your family right.

1. Sugary

Scarred by a painful breakup? It's worth re-examining the relationship-not to linger on the pain, but to learn from the experience with the hopes that your next relationship is that much healthier. From Total Memory Recall: Uncover Your Past, Take Charge of Your Future, by Marilu Henner.

When you fear your past, you give it power. I'm often asked about bad breakups in one's past, especially by women. They'll say, "Come on, isn't there some guy who broke your heart, and now you don't want to remember and relive that experience?" Yes! Yes, of course I have that in my past. I'm a grown woman with two children, and I have been married three times. Before and in between marriages, I have dated, and my heart has been broken more than once. What woman or man, young or old, hasn't had their heart broken? As for the second part of the question, whether I wish to forget and not relive that experience, no, not really. If you don't reexamine those heartaches once in a while, it is even more

Move over, Seventeen Magazine. New research shows that many teen girls Photoshop photos of themselves to look thinner for their Facebook profiles, their focus on weight and appearance verging on compulsion. In Talking Back to Facebook, author James P. Steyer explains how social media is taking an old, familiar problem-low self-esteem in teens-to obsessive new heights.

According to a study by Stanford's Cliff Nass, teen girls tend to present overly thin images of themselves on Facebook. In addition, the more concerned a girl is about her appearance, weight, and body image, the more she tends to check her Facebook profile and vice versa. The new research also shows that many teen girls Photoshop-digitally alter-their photos to appear thinner and carefully select photos for their Facebook profiles that make them look thinner, hoping to receive positive public feedback from their peers. At times, their focus on appearance and thinness verges on compulsion. With digital cameras on

It's tough to find a good job, any job, these days. And when you don't ace an interview, it can deepen your despair. But it happens to everyone and no one likes it. Here's how to gain perspective and see that being turned down by a potential employer is nothing personal. From The Pathfinder: How to Choose or Change Your Career for a Lifetime of Satisfaction and Success, by Nicholas Lore.

Most of us job search from a point of view that saps our effectiveness from the very beginning. Take a few moments to imagine what it would be like if you were offered every job you applied for. Then the search would just be a matter of sorting: meeting with potential employers to clarify whether there would be a perfect fit between you and the job, negotiating benefits, and accepting the one you wanted. It would be like shopping for anything else. Remember how it felt to shop for something you were excited about: a special gift, a book, clothes, a car, a guitar, or whatever.

The difference

Do you explode easily or take things personally? Whether you've got a brief bout of road rage or an irritating long-term grudge, use this "framing" technique to manage it in a sane way. From The Art of Falling in Love, by Joe Beam.

Imagine that you are driving along in traffic on the way to a meeting. Suddenly, a little red sports car pops right in front of you and you have to hit the brakes to keep from hitting it. The red car slows down a couple of times, looking for a turn, but remains in front of you. Then it slows down as you approach a traffic light, and takes just enough time passing under it to make you miss the light.

How would you react? You may be irritated at the beginning, and then become more and more angry. If incensed enough, you may even run the red light to catch up with this automotive persecutor and shake your fist at him!

The irritation you feel is normal, but whatever anger you feel is yours, not that of the driver of the other car. You may shout,

By Dr. Mike Moreno
Author of The 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging
It's hot, humid, and smoggy this summer, and no matter where you live, chances are you have seen signs that the quality of the air we all breathe in and out every day isn't what it once was. There are other types and sources of outdoor air pollution (including carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide), but I'd like to focus on ozone, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter.

You cannot see ozone pollution. Ozone, which is a gas comprised of three oxygen molecules, may not sound harmful on its surface. It's just oxygen, right? Well, when it gets into the tissues of your lungs, a reaction occurs that causes damage. This damage leads some people to experience trouble breathing, pain, inflammation, and more. It can land some high-risk folks in the hospital.

Get informed. Your local news outlets typically report on the level of ozone in the air, especially during the summer, when levels tend to be higher. Air Quality

By Kristin Sidorov
This summer's heat and humidity have been pretty brutal. When it's been ages since the temperature dipped below 85°F, it can be hard to find the energy to fan yourself, let alone get in a good workout.

But don't let Mother Nature get in your way. By modifying your daily routine to suit these long, hot days and using a few tricks to your energy up, you'll find your pep and stick to your fitness goals straight through fall.

1. Cool down for better zzzs.
Health and energy start with a good night's sleep, but research shows that on average, most of us struggle with falling and staying asleep during the summer months. Hot, humid weather can prevent our bodies from dropping to the temperature needed for sound sleep. But by using a cold pack (or a bag of frozen veggies) to cool down before you hit the hay, the body can adjust and start producing melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. Just 15 minutes of using the pack on your wrists, neck, and in the