With shorter days and colder weather in the northern hemisphere, it’s vital to keep exercising, meditating, resting and eating right to maintain mental health. Studies show that yoga can be particularly powerful in managing stress, as well as improving or stabilizing mood. If you’re new to yoga, Fitness Magazine has a great compendium of beginner, intermediate and advanced yoga poses at http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/yoga/poses/yoga-poses-beginner-intermediate-advanced/.
The Mayo Clinic web site delivers a host of resources around weight management, weight loss and healthy living. The experts at the Clinic offer six simple strategies for weight loss: make a commitment, get emotional support, set a realistic goal, enjoy healthier foods, get and stay active, and change your lifestyle. For complete details on this simple, yet effective approach, go to http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/HQ01625.
Can’t get away from your desk to the calm of the yoga studio? Check out www.dailyzen.com for a quick dose of relaxation and peace. The site offers a daily bit of wisdom from Zen and Taoist sages, the ability to send Zen gifts or e-cards to your friends and—this is really cool—an online Zendo. Check it out the next time your boss sends your blood pressure spiraling.
Women’s Healthoffers a great, interactive slideshow on the 17 healthiest foods for women. You might be surprised by some foods on the list, like turkey drumsticks, avocados and chocolate milk. View the entire slideshow at http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/fitness-foods?page=0.
Real Simple this month offers a comprehensive look at stress, its benefits (yes, benefits!) and drawbacks, and how to most effectively manage it. Bottom line: sleep, rest, balance and diet all play a role in effectively managing life’s inevitable stresses. Read the whole article at http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/channel/lifesoul.
Here at DKWIO, we often talk about the need to limit kids’ screen time. American kids, on average, spend more than five hours per day in front of computers, video games or televisions. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours per day for most kids and no time at all for kids aged 0-2. Easy enough to say, but how do you do it in the face of tantrums, whining and your own desire for a little peace and quiet? Family.com offers some great suggestions, starting with turning off the TV during meals and preventing kids from having TVs or computers in their rooms. Check out the whole article at http://family.go.com/parenting/article-561071-limiting-screen-time-t/.
Did you know that olive oil, pomegranates, strawberries, green tea and pumpkin were great for your skin? We didn’t either, until we checked out this health.com article, featuring the wisdom of dermatologist Nicholas Perricone, MD: http://living.health.com/2008/09/09/feed-your-face-healthier-skin-starts-with-these-five-foods/.
A recent Rutgers University study shows that flowers foster happy emotions, increase feelings of life satisfaction and enhance social interactions. The researchers found that flowers immediately improve happiness in all age groups and have a long-term positive effect on mood. So, even if you’re not a gardener, splurge on a bouquet for yourself or a friend.
Have you seen the widely debunked e-mail claiming that underwire bras cause breast cancer? Or have you heard that having implants makes breast cancer more likely? These myths and others have been compiled by health.com in an easy-to-read format that will help you separate fact from fiction as it relates to women’s number one health worry. See the whole article at http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0,,20215558,00.html.
This season’s biggest hair trend—the updo—is really more laid back than it looks. A stylist at Oscar Blandi’s Manhattan salon explained, “People are finally understanding that it’s not that hard to do.” Just twist, pin and go. It’s the perfect solution if you’re not sure what to do with your do after a workout. (courtesy NY Times Style Magazine).
 | MSNBC: McDonald's courts busy moms as emissaries |
| | Detroit Free Press: No sweat: Obamas work fitness into daily routine |
| | Reuters: Fast-food ad ban could cut child obesity: U.S. study |
| | Associated Press: Burger King limits sodium in kids meals |
| | CNN: More U.S. families struggling to feed children, report says |
| | Detroit News: Nutrition experts shell out praise for walnuts |
| | New York Times: Child Obesity Seen as Warning of Heart Disease |
