November 2014

Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, and can raise your risk of heart disease, breathing problems, and cancer. However, many people are afraid to quit smoking for fear that they will gain weight. The good news is that a recent study suggests that a little weight gain is much less dangerous than the long-term effects of smoking. [...]

I’m sixty-one years old and I have had diabetes for 42 years. Now here’s the good news: it’s made me healthier than I would be if I’d never gotten it. Really. I was eighteen years old, a freshman in college, when I found myself gripping the water fountain constantly. I was so thirsty! If I wasn't at the fountain, I was in the bathroom peeing. I was also getting nightly leg cramps. [...]

Garlic gives great flavor to food and warding off vampires in horror movies. But did you know that garlic may also help you manage your diabetes? [...]

Diabetes is a hot topic these days. It’s often mentioned in the news, and diabetes medicines are advertised on TV and in magazines. This disease even has its own month (November). The chances are good that you know more than one person who has diabetes. That’s not surprising, as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated earlier this year that about 29 million Americans now have diabetes. [...]

The reason healthcare providers are so worried about rising obesity numbers is that excess body fat can cause many other health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart attacks. Being obese can even shorten your lifespan. The keys to losing weight are eating healthy and getting more exercise. There are two parts to eating healthy—the first is choosing to eat foods that are good for you. The second part is avoiding unhealthy food, like sugary drinks and fast food. [...]