Aparna Mele, MD
About Aparna Mele, MD
Posts by Aparna Mele:
4 Reasons Why It’s So Important To Exercise During The Winter Months
*Read the original article on The Chill Times here By Jennie Mason For those living in colder climates during the winter months, the much-anticipated arrival of freezing temperatures and snowfalls can be synonymous to burrowing in your apartment for a few extra months. Sweatpants, hair tied, chillin’ with no makeup on. Drake was preaching the […]
Get to Know Your Coffee
By Hill Road Coffee Roasters Caffeine is one of many compounds found in coffee. The amount of caffeine in the coffee bean does not change depending on the roast level. Caffeine is a stable compound that is deep inside the cell walls of the bean. New research suggests that 4 or 5 cups of coffee […]
All Purpose Coffee Rub
Source: Pups with ChopsticksAuthor: JoyceThis all-purpose coffee rub is our all-time favorite dry rub that we use on everything. It’s earthy, flavorful and great to use on anything you want to quickly cook up on the grill. Quick to make – you can double, triple or quadruple the recipe so that you only need to make it […]
Confronting Stress
By Courtney Shober The state of the mind and the state of the body are unmistakably intertwined. The attitude we choose to possess as scenarios of life unfold correlates with how often we get sick, how fast we heal, and how we maintain wellness. Prolonged periods of heightened stress and anxiety make daily life more […]
How to Handle the Holidays
By John Creveling of JohnCrevelingFitness.com The holiday season is fast approaching. Around this time of year, we tend to be busier than normal with work, family, parties, shopping, etc. It is also around this time of year that our new year’s resolutions are out the window and we vow to start up again on January […]
Homemade Deodorant Recipes
By Katie Wells, Wellness Mama blogger Homemade Deodorant for Women with Shea Butter Recipe Deodorant can contain a lot of harmful chemicals. Eating a good diet and drinking enough water can really cut down the odor, but sometimes you need something else. Sure, the conventional deodorant antiperspirants work great, if you don’t mind infusing your […]
6 Wellness-Boosting Habits for Children
By Kim Thomas, US Health CorpsPer the United Nations, in May 2020, 1.5 billion youth were affected by the new virtual education reforms enacted in 191 countries. Fast forward to today and children across the country are mostly attending in person, but that could change based on fluctuations with the delta variant. To ensure you […]
Why do the leaves change color during autumn?
By Tricia Williams, Cairn CollectiveBelieve it or not, most leaves always have these beautiful colors, but they are hidden by chlorophyl, the green color that we see throughout the summer months. As the weather begins to become crisp, the chlorophyl breaks down revealing the bright, vibrant red, orange, and yellow tones. Orange leaves can be seen because of […]
Five Steps to Prepare for a Big Purchase
By Erica Wennell; Sun Federal Credit Union A financial journey typically includes several twists and turns – such as understanding how to manage spending, build savings and control debt. There might be “speed bumps” in the form of unexpected changes in income. Along the way, you might also navigate milestone purchases such as financing a home or car. When considering a significant purchase, the destination is within reach when you steer through the following five financial steps. 1. Look at your financial picture Start by considering what you […]
Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
As a chill hits the air, fall is a time for nesting and whipping up delicious eats and seasonal treats. Nothing typifies autumn better than pumpkin and maple. Try this hearty breakfast and feed an army on a cold morning wrapped in fuzzy blankets! Source: inspiredbycharm.com Ingredients 1 loaf sliced brioche bread 1 cup pumpkin […]
Resources to Help Get Your Eco-Focused Business Going
By Joyce Wilson, from teacherspark.orgClimate change is a hot topic—and for a good reason. The issue is becoming ever more pressing as the effects of global warming become increasingly obvious. If you’re interested in building a more eco-conscious future, you might consider starting a business that combats climate change. The below resources can help guide […]
Beat Stress with These Meditation Tips
By Joyce WilsonStress can be hard to combat, especially these days as we all face new challenges and lifestyle-altering changes. You may be experiencing anxiety or depression as well, which can have a profound effect on your physical and mental health. Coping with these issues is never easy, but you can also make small changes […]
Plyometrics
By Aparna Mele MDWhat Is Plyometrics?Plyometrics is a type of exercise training that uses speed and force of different movements to build muscle power. Plyometric exercises not only help you build strength, but explosiveness (or power), speed, and agility, too. Those last three perks don’t come from strength training alone, so incorporating these challenging fit moves […]
Vegetable Lasagna
September is when summer and fall produce collide at the farmers’ market. It’s the best of both worlds. Here’s the dish that blends the late harvests of summer with a warm and fuzzy vibes of the fall season for a heart meal perfect for this time of year! Source: Love Real Food by Kathryne Taylor Ingredients […]
Healthcare Across the Generations
By Monica Rush, Penn State Health St. Joseph, Director Rehabilitation ServicesArticle from Women2Women Magazine, Summer 2021; pages 30-31The healthcare industry has seen so many changes over the past decade due to technology; telemedicine/telehealth, price transparency, remote monitoring tools, and artificial intelligence, all fueled by a younger patient generation. While it has been challenging for some […]
Kids Do Better on the Marshmallow Test When They Cooperate
*Read the original article here By Jill Suttie Imagine you’re a young child and a researcher offers you a marshmallow on a plate. But there’s a catch: If you can avoid eating the marshmallow for 10 minutes while no one is in the room, you will get a second marshmallow and be able to eat […]
How Dehydration Affects the Body
By Spine and Wellness CenterHealthy nutrition includes drinking at least 4 to 8 glasses of water every day. Admittedly, this is a wide range, but 4 8-ounce glasses of water represents the minimum intake for adult men and women. A useful frame of reference is the presence or absence of thirst. Optimally, you should never feel as […]
Ginger-Cardamom Red Wine Sangria
Submitted By Sonali Dev, award-winning author and home chef INGREDIENTS For the Ginger-Cardamom Syrup: 1 1/2 ounces peeled ginger root (about one 4 1/2-inch knob) 2 tablespoons water 1/3 cup sugar 20 green cardamom pods or 1 teaspoon ground cardamom For the Sangria: 2 1/4 cups red wine 1 cup fresh orange juice or any […]
A Brighter World Powered By Sunshine
By Aparna Mele Harnessing the powerful energy of the sun has numerous advantages. The electricity produced by solar panels is clean, renewable and emission free. Generating electricity with solar power instead of fossil fuels can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide (CO2). As the carbon count continues to increase, so will our retention […]
Nothing Fishy About Eating Fish
By: Dr. Aparna Mele Fish are an overlooked food source for many people. There are dozens of varieties of fish, with a variety of flavors and cooking styles to suit any taste. Eating fish is a great alternative to eating red meat, potentially providing a broad range of health benefits — from heart health to […]
Summer Ready Health and Fitness Goals
By Aparna Mele MD The warm summer months means shedding layers and showing more skin with tank tops, shorts, and swimsuits. Now is the time to step up your fitness game to get your body summer ready! Incorporate challenging strength training in your workout. Commit to a full-body strength-training program at least three times a […]
Summer Skin
By Aparna Mele MD Yes, the skin does change with the seasons. Winter brings dry weather that strips the skin of its natural moisture and causes scaly, itchy skin. Humidity during summer can lead to bacterial infections due to sweat, clogged pores and acne breakouts. Air conditioning in summer and heaters in winter can both […]
Citrus Salad with Pomegranate & Pistachio
*Read the original article here: https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/minimal-monday-citrus-salad-with-pomegranate-mint-and-pistachio/ Source: The View from the Great Island I get so excited when I see the citrus fruit start to flood into the stores in December. I’ve been buying tangerines and clementines, cara cara oranges, navels, and all kinds of grapefruit and pomelo, (the giant sweet white fruit that looks […]
The Mediterranean Trifecta To Add To Salad For A Nutrient Punch
*Read the original article here: https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/mediterranean-ingredient-trifecta By Eliza Sullivan When it comes to food pairings, there are plenty of guidelines to follow—from both the culinary perspective and from the nutritional side. But to help simplify things when you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider this tip: “What grows together, goes together,” nutritionist Maggie Moon, M.S., R.D., shared at […]
22 Easy-to-Grow Summer Flowers to Plant in Your Garden
*Read the original article here By Arricca Elin Sansone and Kelly Allen Summer’s heat and humidity can take a toll on any garden, but many summer bloomers actually thrive in higher temperatures. Whether you’re planting annuals or perennials, read the plant tag or description and give them the right conditions:Full sun is considered six or […]
Arugula and Rice Salad
Source: Redner’s HealthCents, Issue 64 Total time: 30 minutes | Servings: 4 Ingredients 1/2 cup U.S.-grown black rice cooked 1 cup U.S.-grown basmati rice, cooked 4 cups baby arugula, washed 1/4 cup basil, chopped 1/2 cup almond slices, toasted 3 Tbsp. sour cherries, dried and chopped 1/3 cup feta, crumbled 1/2 cup lemon dressing 1 […]
The Power of Rice
By Meredith McGrath RD, LDN Corporate Dietitian “Wellness isn’t only about the food you eat or the weight on the scale. It’s about joy & happiness.” – Meredith Mcgrath Rice is the most popular grain globally and the primary dietary staple for more than half the world’s population. This tiny but mighty grain is nutrient-rich, […]
JOMO
By Aparna Mele Sometimes wellness looks like the art of JOMO (joy of missing out). JOMO is the joy of missing out on the things that drain our lives like toxic hustle, societal comparison, and digital drain. Many of us are always on the go—if not physically, at least mentally and emotionally, we are always […]
The Far-reaching Effects of PTSD in Veterans
By Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychological condition caused by exposure to traumatic events that are outside the normal range of human experience. These events shake the foundation that our mental health is built on and create a disconnect between the victim’s expectations and reality. The effects of PTSD in veterans are not always […]
How to Do the Perfect Squat
*Read the original article here: https://greatist.com/fitness/perfect-squat By Nicole McDermott, medically reviewed by Daniel Bubnis, M.S., NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS It’s sometimes referred to as the king of all exercises, and for good reason. The squat is a full-body fitness staple that works your glutes, quads, and hamstrings and sneakily strengthens your core. It’s time to […]
Gasification: A novel way to handle our waste
By Aparna Mele We produce over 2 billion tons of waste per year, a number that’s expected to grow by 70% by 2050. We have long sought ways to turn all this waste into energy, but this has usually meant incineration – that is, burning our trash – a method that many environmentalists say is […]
Haikus
National Haiku Poetry Day is on April 17, 2021. A haiku is a three-line, beautifully descriptive, form of poetry, intended to be read in one breath. While some forms of poetry have free rein with regard to their subject or number of lines and syllables, the haiku was established in Japan as far back as […]
Pancetta Pea Asparagus Farro Risotto
Source: Saltandwind.com Ingredients 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or water 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil plus more for garnish 4 ounces pancetta (small dice) 2 medium leeks halved lengthwise and sliced into half moons 2 cups semi-pearled farro 1 cup dry white wine or white vermouth 3 cups shelled English peas from about 3 pounds in-shell 1 pound pencil-thin asparagus cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 3/4 […]
SAVE OUR ELEPHANTS: an Earth-wellness article
By Nisha Mele, age 14 April 16th is Save the Elephants Day, providing a perfect opportunity to share some interesting facts about these gentle giants! Furthermore, it is important to learn about the endangerment of these beautiful animals, and what we can do to replenish their steadily decreasing populations. Elephants have been one of the […]
Follow Your Gut and Get Screened
*Read the original article here: https://www.nursingcenter.com/ncblog/march-2021/follow-your-gut-and-get-screened By Myrna Buiser Schnur, MSN, RN Fifty. It’s just around the corner for me, as much as I hate to admit it, and it’s time to schedule my first colonoscopy. It’s certainly not something that anyone really looks forward to, but it is a critical cancer screening tool that […]
Brussels Sprouts: From Flop to Favorite
By Meredith McGrath RD LDN, Corporate Dietician Redner’s Markets “Wellness isn’t only about the food you eat or the weight on the scale. It’s about joy & happiness.” – Meredith McGrath Remember the old days when Brussels sprouts were boiled whole, left unseasoned and scooped onto your plate like tiny, mushy cabbages? Our childhoods were […]
Guide To Home Workouts: How To Set Up & Get Going In 2021
By Matt Quinn, Marketing Assistant (https://theworkoutdigest.com/) Introduction: Working Out From Home New year, new you – right? We are as sick as hearing this phrase as the rest of the world, but it does ring true for some people. While the new year’s phrase has become somewhat of a joke in recent years, if you stick […]
Plant-Based Milks
By Aparna Mele, MD Plant based milks are increasingly popular, whether it is part of a vegan diet, a lactose allergy, a healthier and lower fat alternative, or simply because they are tasty! Each type of milk is distinct, with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some provide more nutrients, for example, while others are low […]
12 Essential Spring Gardening Tips
*Read the original article here It’s chore time! Stepping back into the garden after a long, harsh winter can be overwhelming, but it is also a time of relief. Even with a winter chill still in the air, there are plenty of tasks to start handling now if you want to get your garden in party-ready […]
Strawberry-Chocolate Greek Yogurt Bark
It wouldn’t be a Valentine’s edition My Gut Instinct Digest without one chocolate recipe! Try this guilt-free treat: lightly sweetened Greek yogurt gets studded with fresh strawberries and chocolate chips, then frozen so you can break it into chunks just like chocolate bark (but healthier!). This colorful snack or healthy dessert is perfect for kids […]
Blue Light and its Effect on the Eyes
By Guest Contributor John Dreyer, Optometrist Bsc(Hons), MCOPTOM, DipCLP What Is Blue Light? Blue light is a perfectly normal and natural spectrum of light that is found in sunlight. Light ranges from 400 to 700 billionths of a meter (nanometer, nm) 400nm being violet to 700nm being red. When combined the individual spectrums of light creates “white light” or […]
Grow Your Glutes!
By Aparna Mele Sculpting a strong booty to fill out your favorite pair of jeans shouldn’t be the only goal. The major muscle group (made up of the dream team- your gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus) is a key player in explosive movements like jumping and sprinting. A strong butt can also help relieve low […]
Heart-Healthy Helpings
By Meredith McGrath, RD LDN Corporate Dietician February is American Heart Month, a time when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health. The foods on your plate can significantly affect your heart health, impacting your cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. With a substitute here and a wholesome addition there, it can be […]
Show Love All Year, Not Just on Valentine’s
By Aparna Mele “I learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou Valentine’s Day is a national holiday celebrated to show your loved ones how much you care about them, but why limit ourselves to expressing our […]
Easy Resolutions To Change Your Life
By Eat This, Not That! Editors Reprinted with permission from US health corps *Read the original article here: https://www.eatthis.com/resolutions/ Love ‘em, hate ‘em, try ‘em, deny ‘em—whatever your relationship is with New Year’s Resolutions, there’s a good chance you have an opinion about them. Since losing weight is statistically the #1 most popular resolution in […]
Charred Vegetable Ragu
January is a month to eat healthy foods that help you look and feel your best and still taste delicious. Ladled over a pile of tagliatelle and topped with more cheese, this nourishing sauce tastes slow-cooked and comforting, especially on a snowy weeknight. Set the roughly chopped mirepoix (a combination of yellow onion, celery, and carrots, […]
Kick Off The New Year, The Healthy Way
By Meredith McGrath RD, LDN Corporate Dietitian “Wellness isn’t only about the food you eat or the weight on the scale. It’s about joy & happiness.” – Meredith Mcgrath With another new year behind us, there is no better time than the present to regain focus on our health and wellness. The start of a […]
The Sustainable Weight Loss Guide for Women
By Sheila Johnson Women who want to lose weight may be confused about what lifestyle changes they need to make in order to get the results they want in a healthy way. Unfortunately, women are often on the receiving end of conflicting advice about losing weight. Further complicating matters, women and men generally lose weight […]
Lassi, Three Ways
Contributed by Chef Tony Walsh As with anything you put in your body for nourishment, it is of utmost importance that it is as fresh as possible. The best foods include simple ingredients that allow the star feature to shine. Fresh fruit, yogurt, and unprocessed, unbleached sugars are ingredients which your body processes easily and […]
Masks
By Aparna Mele, MD Mask-wearing during this COVID pandemic is crucial to preventing the spread of infection. But did you know that even something as simple as wearing a mask has distinct instructions on both how to wear it and how to remove it? Remember there is only one correct way to wear them and […]
Step It Up On the Stairs
By Aparna Mele, MD You do not necessarily need complex and expensive gym equipment to get a good workout. You may not even have to leave your home! When it comes to easy at-home fitness, nothing could be easier than a stairs workout. You only need a set of stairs and a motivated attitude to get a […]
The ABCs of a More Sustainable Christmas
*Read the original article here: http://mosaic.tenthousandvillages.com/more-sustainable-christmas/ Christmas is full of meaningful traditions and joyful experiences, and for many of us it is the most wonderful time of the year. But it can also have a dark side. According to the EPA, in the four weeks leading up to Christmas, household waste increases by 25%. That […]
Spiced Lamb-and-Rice Dressing with Chickpeas
Source: Food and Wine, November 2010 This hearty, savory Palestinian stuffing is traditionally used as a filling for grape leaves or halved zucchini. This holiday, with our travel plans seriously impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, bring the world to you and instead of the more common bread-based dressing, try serving your turkey with this delicious […]
Healthy Skin Month
By Aparna Mele, MD November is National Healthy Skin Month, sponsored by the American Academy of Dermatology to remind us to pay more attention to our precious skin. Our skin’s health tells us a lot about our inner health too. This month raises awareness of all the processes we must do to keep our skin […]
Health Benefits of Spices
Reference: India Brand Equity Foundation Spices have been closely connected to magic, cultural traditions, preservation, medicine and embalming since early human history. Spices were a key component of India’s external trade with Mesopotamia, China, Sumeria, Egypt and Arabia, along with perfumes and textiles – as far back as 7000 years ago. India is known as the home of spices […]
Instilling Kindness In Our Kids
By Aparna Mele “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain How do children learn to care, feel connected to their communities, and know their impact in the world? Developing compassion in children is akin to developing muscle strength. The more you use your muscles, the […]
Muscle Strength and Endurance in Weight Training
*Original article link: https://www.verywellfit.com/muscle-strength-vs-muscle-endurance-which-is-better-3576777 By Chris Freytag There are two types of people who lift weights: those who want big muscles and those who just want to tone and tighten up without getting bigger. Those looking for size tend to grab the heaviest weights and stick to fewer reps. Those who are afraid of “bulking up” generally reach for […]
Essential Oils for Immunity
Although diet, sleep and lifestyle make a big difference when it comes to keeping your immune system healthy, essential oils can be a huge support! Find out here which essential oils are the best for keeping your immune system strong. use essential oils for diy cleaning and beauty, hormonal support, detoxing, skin care, overall health […]
Ricotta, Kale, and Mushroom Toast
Source: Bon Appetit; Jan 2015 Avocado toast lovers, why not expand your palate and try this savory breakfast alternative with lots of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients instead? Ingredients Wild mushrooms Garlic Olive oil Kale Fresno chile White wine vinegar Salt and pepper Ricotta Country-style bread Directions Cook wild mushrooms and sliced garlic in olive oil, […]
Why Work Out with a Virtual Personal Trainer?
By Michael Hartman, Founder and Owner of Formal Fitness Training One of the most amazing things happened during the past six months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when people have been working from home or unable to do their normal routines; people worked out together. As a trainer, I have whole families working out together virtually. […]
Vote!
Roses are red Violets are blue Register to vote The nation is counting on you! Voting is one of the key freedoms we have and a right that generations of Americans struggled to win ― and people in other countries are still fighting for. No matter what you believe or whom you support, it is […]
Common Sense Media: 6 Ways to Support Kids’ Mental Health Right Now
Read the original article here >> Before the pandemic hit, kids’ mental health picture was worrisome, with anxiety, depression, and the youth suicide rate on the rise for the last decade, especially for girls and kids of color. Now that our kids’ worlds have been turned upside down, we can only guess what the long-term […]
Detox Rainbow Roll-ups with Peanut Sauce
Source: Pinchofyum.com This nutritional powerhouse is packed with carrots, curry hummus, red cabbage and dark leafy greens for color, crunch and general yumminess. And then, you know, dip it in some amazing peanut sauce. Detox Rainbow Roll-Ups – with curry hummus and veggies in a collard leaf, dunked in peanut sauce! Most beautiful healthy desk […]
Eco-Friendly Sustainable School Lunch
By Aparna Mele It’s back to school time (well, sort of) and whether your children are headed back to the school campus, signing up for a virtual school year, or doing some blend of both, packing school lunches remains high on a parent’s TO DO list this season. While convenient to just toss a mess […]
Power of Pilates
By Robin Long from The Balanced Life Years ago, I fell in love with Pilates because of the profound impact it had on my body and my life as a whole. Within a few days, I felt better. Within a few weeks my aches and pains disappeared. Within a few months I had begun re-shaping […]
7 Ways
By Andre Young “Marry your dream; not the path you think will take you there or even more dangerously… the path you think you deserve!” – Andre Young Whether your version of greatness is catching a ball for your team, initiating and completing that big project at work, that promotion, providing for or doing for […]
Oven-Baked Super-Green Falafel
Recipe by Donna Hay, food stylist, author, and magazine editor Ingredients: *Makes 16 1 x 400-g (14-oz.) can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained and rinsed 1 onion, finely chopped 1 cup (120 g/4¼ oz.) frozen peas, slightly thawed 2 tablespoons white chia seeds 1 cup (90 g/3 oz.) finely chopped broccoli 2 cups (70 g/2½ oz.) […]
Put Your Mind on Your Eating and Your Eating On Your Mind
By Aparna Mele, MD Not just a trendy mental game, mindful eating is a sort of meditation in motion being actively studied for its far-reaching health benefits. This kind of practice, like other mindfulness techniques, emphasizes judgment-free awareness of your thoughts, emotions, and sensory experiences to help you focus on the meal you are eating, […]
Teach Teenagers to Handle Money
Tips about starting teens with a checking account, debit, and credit cards. By Erica Wennell, My Gut Instinct Board and Sun Federal Credit Union When teenagers leave home, they’re bombarded with credit card and other loan offers. If they’ve already learned to use financial services responsibly, with their parents’ help, they’re less likely to get […]
Lentil and Mango Summer Salad
By Chetna Makan, Chef and Cookbook Author Lentil and Mango Summer Salad Ingredients 100 g split yellow lentils 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 cucumber, diced 1 carrot, grated 1 raw green or unripe mango, peeled and finely chopped 1 tablespoon canola oil 1 teaspoon black mustard seeds 1 teaspoon chili flakes ½ teaspoon salt […]
Massage… For Your Immune Health?
By Sydney Mallatratt, Summit Massage Yes, you read that correctly. Massage for your immune health! When most people think of massage therapy, the first things they tend to think of are: relaxation, hot stones, and relieving stress in their back or neck. While those are all fantastic components, massage has so many other profound effects […]
Mental Wellness During Challenging Times
By Aparna Mele These most challenging times have made the issue of mental health more important than ever. The stress and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic have been difficult enough, and now the social distancing requirements have led to profound changes in our daily routines. All of us are faced with daily uncertainty about how long this […]
Eco Flossing
By Aparna Mele, MD Dental floss may be good for your teeth but is extremely toxic to the environment, because of their Teflon-like coating that contains toxic perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAs). These manufactured chemicals are among the most potent and longest-lasting type of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities. The chief […]
The burning of fossil fuels is leading to large-scale deoxygenation of our oceans
Written by Pippa Strickland & Nate Liebenberg Healthy oceans require oxygen to breathe, just like we do on land. Marine organisms need oxygen to grow, survive and reproduce, ensuring we have an ever-replenishing stock for our fishing industries. But our oceans are experiencing a depletion in oxygen that is startling and has the scientific community […]
A Cup of Tea for Your Health
By India Brand Equity Foundation India is the largest consumer of tea in the world – and the second largest producer of tea – including the world’s most popular tea varieties – like Assam and Darjeeling tea. Four main types of tea are produced based on how tea leaves are processed: Green tea (non-fermented) Black tea […]
Lavender Cupcakes With Honey Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe by Patricia Burrett Source: www.localhivehoney.com Ingredients Cake: 1/2 cup room temp butter 2 eggs 1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 tsp dried lavender 1/2 tsp salt 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup honey 1 tsp vanilla 2/3 cup milk Frosting: 8 oz room temp cream cheese 2 tbsp room temp […]
Happiness Chemicals
By Aparna Mele Metabolism, response to injury, stress levels, energy, reproduction — our endocrine system, the system of glands that produce hormones, regulates all these things. Essentially, hormones are the messengers that control many of our bodily functions. They regulate our physical health and our mood. Dopamine is responsible for reward-driven behavior and pleasure seeking. […]
EMOM
By Aparna Mele If you step into a functional fitness gym, you might see workouts of the day labelled EMOM. No, this doesn’t refer to an electronic mother! EMOM (which stands for every minute on the minute) is a type of interval workout where the goal is to perform a specific task at the start […]
How To Lose Weight By Running
By Ajmal Dar Many turn to cardio when they want to lose weight. While it is a doable solution, it’s not as straightforward as you might think. There is s a wide variety of opinions floating around online on the topic, so I am here to make it easier for you. My guide on how to […]
Chilean Pebre Sauce
Submitted by Aparna Mele Pebre is a Chilean salsa and is most commonly used on bread. In Chile they put it on top of everything, from boiled potatoes to empanadas, from stirring it into soup or spooning it over meat. I like to add it into homemade pasta sauces. Enjoy! Ingredients 2 Roma tomatoes, quartered 1 […]
Poetry and Wellness
By Aparna Mele Most have probably never set out to read poetry for its health benefits, and furthermore most probably never realized reading poetry can actually improve your health. With many of us at home quarantined during the COVID pandemic, reading and writing poetry may take on a whole new incentive. Did you know that […]
A Month of Daily Goals This Spring
By Body Zone Sports Clean out the refrigerator and cabinets of all unhealthy, tempting foods Drink water. Americans on average consume an additional 500 calories a day from beverages. If you replace your other drinks with water you’ll not only eliminate the additional calories but also fill the body with its much needed fluid of […]
Grilled Asparagus and Ricotta Pizza
Source: marthastewart.com Cooking with the seasons means choosing fruits and vegetables that are at the peak of freshness and flavor. Buying locally grown produce is the best. Local produce is less likely to be damaged, uses less energy to transport, and ripens more naturally. April is a fabulous month to enjoy your local bounty, including […]
It’s Just a Fitness Class
Poem by Debbie Graham of Boogie Bounce It’s just a fitness class! 4 walls, a floor, and a roof A stereo and a beat Trainers and lycra Movement to music It’s just a fitness class! Things get built here- Stronger bodies. Fitter bodies. Confident bodies. Things get broken here- Barriers. Silence. Sweat. …but it’s […]
Our Environmental Footprint
By Nisha Mele, age 13 and a concerned citizen Yes, many people know and care about the climate change crisis. However, how many of them are actually doing something about it? The worst part is that we are making this so much worse. We caused this, and we must be the ones to fix it! […]
Work from Home Like Marie Kondo
By Yuriko Beaman, Joy and Space Read the original article here Part 1: Tidy Your Space Working from home has become the new normal for many people that I know. Fortunately, you can apply the KonMari™ method to your desk and workspace. This will help you to reduce clutter and distractions so you can focus […]
COVID-19 PANDEMIC
In the last 24 hours, the World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 (corona virus) a global pandemic. The world is dealing with an issue of enormous scale and human impact, and our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected by the outbreak of the coronavirus. We believe it is our role […]
Take a Bite Out of Colon Cancer
By My Gut Instinct March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the 3rd most common cancer and 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in worldwide. Because > 90% of CRC cases involve a carcinoma that develops from a precancerous polyp, screening for and early identification, and removal of polyps through screening colonoscopy […]
It’s Not Luck
By Aparna Mele “I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.“ – Thomas Jefferson Are you feeling lucky or are you down on your luck? You can build a “lucky mindset” that either works for you or against you, because your views on luck can […]
GoggleWorks, Penn State Health St. Joseph & Berks LaunchBox Announce Virtual Reality Project
New art tool will help patients overcome anxiety and post-traumatic stress for blood withdrawal Dr. Jerry Lee, pediatric physician at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical (St. Joseph), achieved positive results from testing VR software in a situation where a child resisted immunization and blood withdrawal due to a history of trauma. GoggleWorks and CTMR learned […]
Irish Soda Bread Scones
Source: EatingWell.com Ingredients Scones 2 ½ cups whole-wheat pastry flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cubed ⅔ cup dried currants ¾ cup low-fat buttermilk ¼ cup pure maple syrup 1 large egg Glaze ½ cup confectioners’ sugar 1 tablespoon orange juice Directions To prepare scones: […]
Chilean Lentil Stew
Trying to follow a heart healthy diet means cutting down on meat consumption. Eating more vegetarian meals is great strategy for heart health because you end up eating more fiber and less saturated fat. Try this recipe which is light on sodium, filled with heart healthy fat, vegetables, and proteins. Healthy, please meet delicious! Source: […]
Love Your Heart
By Aparna Mele February is all about hearts, and not just the candy kind. It’s also National American Heart Month, a 56 year tradition to increase awareness of, and keep families and communities free from heart disease, the No. 1 killer of Americans. This month reinforces the importance of heart health. Consider this: cardiovascular disease, […]
I Am Different, Not Sick: Thoughts from a Gifted Bipolar
By Richard Gardner One of the issues which looms large in the field of medicine and mental health, and which has disturbed me for many years is the definition of “healthy”. I am not really sure what healthy actually means, except for an average of everyone’s health in a population with no tolerance for “healthy” […]
Walk At a Clip
By Aparna Mele, MD A recent study of nearly half a million people concludes that walking at breakneck speed might increase life expectancy. Recently, researchers linked a spring in your step to the number of years between birth and death. In the study, researchers took self-reported walking speeds and body mass indexes (BMI) of nearly 475,000 […]
Writing From the Heart Is Good For the Soul
By Melissa Greene, Writer, Teacher, and Believer in Art for a Kinder World The impact of mood and mental well-being on cancer progression is considered important by clinicians and patients, and creative writing has shown to provide psychosocial benefits for patients recovering from mental illness. Melissa participated in early research at Hershey Medical Center, where […]
Mediterranean Nachos
From Sarah Schiear, creator of Salt House These nachos will score a touchdown at your game day party, and are tasty enough for both a victory celebration or a devastating blow; plus healthy enough to feel guilt-free. They have the same mix of creamy and crunchy as traditional nachos, but with healthier alternatives to tortilla […]
Simplifying New Year’s Resolutions
By Aparna Mele With the start of a new year (and new decade!), everyone vows to start making changes in order to live our lives in the best way possible. However, the difficulty is that new year’s resolutions are notoriously hard to keep because they are often too vague or too monumental. They are often […]
Seaweed to Combat Climate Change
By Aparna Mele Green Wave is a non-profit organization dedicated to cultivating seaweed and other restorative species like oysters, mussels, clams, and scallops vertically using the entire water column. Farming seaweed is typically a more sustainable approach than wild-harvesting it, which can lead to the clear-cutting of valuable ecosystems. Unpredictable ocean conditions due to climate […]