People DO NOT get sick from cold weather; it's from being indoors a lot more. The highest concentration of germs is inside, so if you stay indoors more during the winter, you're exposed to more germs.... read more ⇒

Excess body weight, especially around the waist, puts strain on your back. It is like carrying a bag of groceries all day. Being overweight often means being in poor physical condition, with weaker muscles and less flexibility. Both of these factors can lead to low back pain. Even losing a few... read more ⇒

Stretching the muscle you are strengthening is key; however, it is also important to stretch the muscle opposite the one you are strengthening if that muscle is tight or overly-contracted. Example: If strengthening the upper back muscles, first stretch the chest muscles (which are typically tight... read more ⇒

27.2% of US adults, aged 20 years and over, are obese! Obesity is defined as a Body Mass Index of 30 or more or 20% or more above your recommended weight. National Health Interview Survey, 2009 To calculate you BMI: take your height (in inches) and square it. Then divide that number into your... read more ⇒

You need sleep as much as you need food. Make sure you get enough sleep because without it, your body and your immune system will weaken. Mark Stibich,... read more ⇒

Having poor posture, slumping or slouching forces your back muscles to pull and hold your torso up, which can cause low back pain. Try this: Have a friend put their hand on your back and feel the difference of muscular tension with good posture vs bad posture. Now imagine having that extra muscular... read more ⇒

Always contract the muscle you want to stretch first (2-5 seconds), take a deep breath in-and-out (1-2 seconds) and then stretch, (holding the stretch 15-30 seconds). Repeat this process 3-5 times. This mechanism allows the muscle to relax. Try it! Example: If stretching the hamstrings, you should... read more ⇒

To maintain weight, see calorie chart. To lose weight (1 lb a week) reduce calories by 500 a day and become more physically active. To gain weight, add 500 calories a day for each pound you want to gain per week.   Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes,... read more ⇒

1.) US $878 2.) Canada $691 3.) Greece $677 4.) France $588 5) Belgium $566 6.) Spain $562 7.) Germany $542 8.) Italy $518 9.) Austria $500 10.) Switzerland $454 OECD Health Data,... read more ⇒

Experts stress you can do a lot to support your treatment for depression and anxiety. Try to eat well and get enough sleep. Don't rely on alcohol or illicit drugs. Physical activity is key, as there's good evidence it can help with mood and may help people bounce back from depression. Breathing... read more ⇒