Author: healthtost

When dealing with pregnancy, you can feel bombarded with a dozen don’ts from all directions. For example, some moms-to-be are reluctant to eat certain types of fish because of the fear of mercury. But it is generally recommended to incorporate healthy fish into the diet. Likewise, the myth surrounding eating certain fruits confuses many moms-to-be. The same applies to the use of oils during pregnancy. Understandably, the search for pregnancy-safe essential oils is warranted. This concern simply stems from the concern about using essential oils during pregnancy. But does it make sense? Let’s break down the important details to make…

Photo source: JJs Fresh From Scratch Whether you’re a local, in town for a work trip, or taking the kids to the parks, the healthy restaurants here in Orlando are worth seeking out. Of course, eating out will never be as healthy as eating in your own kitchen, but we’re lucky to live in a city that has fresh, delicious, healthy options in every neighborhood. Here are some of my favorite healthy food options in Orlando (and suggestions for what to order): JJ’s Scratch Cocina (Carrie Ford) Think of JJ’s as a local Chipotle, but with better quality and more…

Split squats are a great exercise for building unilateral lower-body strength—but they’re not always easy to embrace when legday rolls around. The balance challenges, awkward adjustments, and reduced range of motion due to these factors often turn it into a circus. That’s where the Hatfield Split Squat comes in. This unilateral variation gives you the best of both worlds: the muscle-building benefits of unilateral training with the added stability of arm support. Using upright racks or safety bars keeps you balanced, allows you to train with a deeper range of motion, and enables you to load heavier without sacrificing control.…

One in five children and teens in America are obese. This is up 35% since 2000, as rates of severe childhood obesity have nearly doubled in that time. In recognition of efforts to stand up locally to create healthier classrooms and communities, the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, honored nine students, schools and educators from across the country during a virtual awards ceremony on November 20. The ceremony – held annually to recognize outstanding participants in the Association’s national programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ – featured volunteers and…

Over 40 million American adults – about 19% – live with one anxiety disorderaccording to the National Institutes of Health. Studies show that this stress is more prevalent among young people. In recent years social psychologists such as Jonathan Hyde have begun to make connections between technology use and stress. They argue that the ubiquity of smartphones and social media can affect not only young people’s habits and emotions but also key aspects of their brain development during adolescence. Maintaining a consistent online presence can pay off excessive social comparison, disturbed sleep, fragmented attention and increased exposure to cyberbullying; –…

When I was growing up, all the caregivers in my world were women. The first memories I had of our family when my mother, father and I enjoyed life in our little house in the San Fernando Valley town of Sherman Oaks ended when my father became ill. I was told he had suffered a “nervous breakdown”, which made no sense to a five-year-old, but I felt safe knowing my mother was there to take care of me. There were female caregivers at the preschool I attended, and my kindergarten and first grade teachers were female. My pediatrician was a…

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, many people experience the “winter blues” or, in more severe cases, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). This condition, often caused by reduced sunlight in autumn and winterit can lead to feelings of fatigue, low mood and lack of motivation. The good news? There are practical, evidence-based strategies to help you stay energized and refreshed during the colder months. Here’s how to fend off SAD and keep the winter blues at bay. Understanding Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) SAD is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, usually appearing in late fall…

Bringing Gratitude to the Table: A Nutritious Recipe for Gratitude in Every BiteAuthor: Roxane ShymkiwI confess that I am guilty of more than one of these habits – eating food on the run, squeezing in meals between tasks, or eating in front of a screen. However, when we eat, it is one of the best and most consistent opportunities for us to pause, connect and reflect. Food not only nourishes the body but also has the power to affect our mood, spirit and general well-being. When we approach meal times with gratitude, something changes. We go from eating to nutrition,…

An Emory University study, published Friday by Advances in Scienceprovides the first evidence that exposure to higher temperatures during pregnancy is associated with specific biological changes in mothers that are also associated with preterm birth. A team of researchers from Emory University’s School of Public Health and Rollins School of Medicine conducted a new molecular analysis of blood samples from 215 pregnant women living in metropolitan Atlanta whose pregnancies ended in either full-term or preterm birth (birth before 37 weeks’ gestation) and then matched the mother’s address with maximum ambient temperature. This first-of-its-kind analysis found that several natural substances, including…

All cells in an organism have the exact same genetic sequence. What differs between cell types is their epigenetic- meticulously placed chemical tags that affect the genes expressed in each cell. Errors or failures in epigenetic regulation can lead to severe developmental defects in both plants and animals. This raises a puzzling question: If epigenetic changes regulate our genetics, what regulates them? Scientists at the Salk Institute have now used plant cells to discover that a type of epigenetic tag, called DNA methylation, can be regulated by genetic mechanisms. This new way of targeting plant DNA methylation uses specific DNA…