Healthy Living Blog

Many people have this question: "Does Callanetics Work?" Let me explain it to you.

More than thirty years ago, Callan Pinckney created an exercise program that was quite unique for the time.  She duly named it Callanetics.

Unlike Pilates and other low-impact exercises, Callanetics incorporates precision-like movements that focus on specific groups of muscles.  These movements are small yet powerful, and they serve to shape and tone as well as strengthen and promote flexibility.

So often we hear news reports that one type of food is bad for us only to find out years later that it is not bad at all.  Exercise and diet are important elements in maintaining a healthy heart.  With so many diet plans available today, it may be confusing to ascertain what foods are more targeted towards a healthier heart.

Here are five heart-friendly foods that have been touted for decreasing cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body.

Leafy green vegetables:  Broccoli, spinach, kale, escarole and others are very high in vitamins, minerals, and iron.  One serving of vegetables a day can dramatically reduce the incidence of heart disease.

Feeling poorly? You might think that being pricked with needles would only make you feel that much worse. But when it is done by a trained acupuncturist, it could leave you feeling much better.

Acupuncture has been traced back as far as the Stone Age. Legend has it that soldiers in ancient China were wounded by arrows and experienced pain relief in other parts of their bodies. This led to experimentation with needles, and acupuncture was born. However, precious little factual information exists about the origins of acupuncture.

Acupuncture today varies very little from that practiced thousands of years ago. The patient lies on a flat, comfortable surface. The acupuncturist then inserts thin metallic needles into the skin at various points on the body. These needles are usually manipulated by hand, but sometimes electrical stimulation or heat is used. Up to a dozen needles may be used in various spots in the course of one treatment. The needles remain in place for five to twenty minutes.

Cow's milk has long been a dietary staple for humans. We drink it, bake with it, and eat foods such as cheese and butter that are made from it. And the dairy industry has advertised extensively in an effort to get us to consume even more milk.

Yet there has been a great deal of discussion lately about alternatives to milk. They are necessary for those who are allergic to milk, lactose intolerant or follow a strict vegan diet. But even people who do not fall into these categories have expressed an interest in non-dairy milk. Some believe that cow's milk is simply too hard on the human digestive system.

The most popular alternative to cow's milk is soy milk. Made from crushed soybeans, soy milk contains no lactose and is naturally low in fat. But cow's milk loyalists argue that it does not offer the nutritional benefits of "regular" milk. The debate has been long and arduous, and no clear winner has been defined. Following are some of the points made on both sides.

We all know that exercise is crucial to good health. Our doctors tell us so, we read articles in magazines and online, and new studies about the benefits of exercise are all over the news. For most of us, getting enough exercise is a matter of getting motivated and making the time for it. But for asthma sufferers, exercise can be a very scary concept.

Asthma attacks are no laughing matter. They cause great difficulty in breathing, and if they're untreated or treatment is not effective, a trip to the emergency room is necessary. Asthma is the cause of a huge number of missed days at work and school each year. So many asthma sufferers avoid exercise altogether for fear that it will trigger an attack.