Health News

Features

No idle hands this summer

Getting teens involved in a good cause IS a good cause Have you checked out your teen’s Facebook page lately? Many parents might wonder if their offspring will ever become less self-absorbed. However, encouraging a teen to be involved in the world around him can offer a lesson in selflessness, while inspiring a positive future.…
7 safety tips for summer

Avoiding the season’s common health hazards It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy — but that doesn’t mean dangers aren’t lurking nearby. While breaks from school, warm temperatures, holidays, and vacations on the horizon mean fun for the whole family, these situations can contribute to some of summer’s most common safety concerns. 1. Child’s Play…
Don’t resist muscle-building resistance training

Weights are not just for getting ripped You, the Speedo and the beach no longer come together in one sentence. So you may ask yourself why you need to lift weights or do other resistance training. Your six-pack-ab days are over. But vanity ranks low on the list of reasons you should embrace this physical…

Don’t look, I’m exercising!

The Challenge of Going to the Gym for the Body Conscious The locker room isn’t the only scary place in the fitness center. The workout areas present their own challenges for the self-conscious. Just like in the locker room, the fear that others are watching and judging is a very real part of the…
Publisher’s Note: Fruits and veggies – more matters month

Many may not know that September is national “Fruits and Veggies – More Matters” month. The Produce for Better Health Foundation offers the “Fruits and Veggies – More Matters” initiative as a simple, user-friendly way to get expert cooking advice, nutrition information, and shopping tips. As kids are getting back in school, it’s important…
August STATS

Minority Report 2 Number of adults (out of 10) that meet the suggested physical activity guidelines. Source: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services According to the USDA Food Environment Atlas, in 2007, 63.5% of Polk County residents met the suggested physical activity guidelines. “Physical activity guidelines for healthy adults are a minimum of…