Cortisol is an important hormone in the body, secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in the following functions: proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, immune function, and inflammatory response. Normally, it’s present in the body at higher levels in the morning and at it’s lowest at night. Although stress isn’t the only reason that Cortisol is secreted into the bloodstream.  Cortisol has been termed “the stress hormone” because ... [full story]

Ever since he began equipping gyms with the revolutionary Lifecycle, Augie Nieto has been one of those big wheels of business who keep the fitness world spinning. But as he clings to his life by the most fragile of threads, struggling to comprehend a fatal muscle-wasting disease, a more profound legacy is taking shape Nieto, 48, is at the forefront of a fundraising tsunami that's attacking ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease) ... [full story]

You've seen the statistics: Nearly every alcoholic began drinking before age 21. And kids who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to have alcohol problems than those who wait. Yet getting kids not to drink can be challenging. Beer is almost as cheap as soda pop. And there's the peer pressure. Now you're facing a summer when they have no classes, no homework and fewer sports, clubs and other activities to ... [full story]

Healthy by Choice, Not by Chance Tips for improving posture  Over time, poor posture may be caused by habits from everyday activities such as sitting in office chairs, looking at the computer, driving, standing for long periods of time, or even sleeping. Poor posture can easily become second nature, causing or aggravating episodes of back pain and damaging spinal structures. Fortunately, the main factors affecting posture and ergonomics are completely within one's ability to control and ... [full story]

Healthy By Choice, Not by Chance “The truth is that people are eating ten dollars worth of food that is only giving them ten cents worth of nutrition” - Dr Scott Hannen Are you a “carboholic”?  Foods can be broken down into three main categories; Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Generally speaking, proteins are used for cellular repair and replication.  Fats, which form the layers of the cell walls, are used for insulation and lubrication. And carbohydrates are ... [full story]

Beware the sun! It started out as a tiny bump on her forehead. Maybe a pimple, she thought, although at 65, she was a tad old for it. But the bump stayed and stayed and stayed. And it changed in shape over time, becoming asymmetrical. Finally, about a year later, our friend figured she should go to her dermatologist, Dr. Richard Castiello, to have it checked out. When the doctor's nurse took her into the exam room, ... [full story]

Eight months ago, Heather Thelen's idea of a heavy workout was lifting 320 pounds - every ounce of it her own - onto an elliptical trainer. Thirty seconds later, breathless and exhausted, she could barely remain upright. Nothing, though, could be as draining as falling off one structured diet program after another, from Jenny Craig to Optifast. "I would lose, then hit a plateau, get discouraged, quit and gain everything back and more," she said. Thelen, 33, was ... [full story]

"Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food"- Hippocrates, father of medicineThere are a few key concepts that must be understood before we discuss wellness nutrition.  The goal of any wellness intervention including nutrition is to increase health and well-being. So we must start out with, what is health?Health, by definition, is a state of consistent balanced cell function. All living things, including humans, are composed of individual living cells working ... [full story]

Picture an office teeming with workers who couldn't be more on the ball. Chests open, shoulders straight, trunk muscles offering plenty of anti-slouch support. Each is perched atop a round, inflatable plastic object, variously known as an exercise ball, stability ball or Swiss ball. Each is practicing the art of active sitting, turning a chairless workplace into a fitness-conscious ballroom. Chalk it up to the ingenuity of a sedentary society: a strategy to combat the hunched shoulders, ... [full story]

A mumps outbreak that first appeared to be confined to one state has spread, and federal health officials are investigating airline travel as a potential source of exposure. All states have been advised to be on the lookout for additional cases, public health officials in the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) said today. As of Thursday, 605 possible mumps cases were reported in Iowa with additional cases reported in six neighboring states. Two of ... [full story]

According to national surveys, most Americans know that massage therapy can help relieve stress and pain and benefit their overall health. If you've decided to get a massage but haven't had one before, you may have questions about what to expect during your session. The American Massage Therapy Association offers the following information for first-time recipients of massage: * Massage is beneficial whether fully or partially clothed. It's your choice whether to remove some of your ... [full story]

The market is saturated with low-fat, low-carb and sugar-free foods. But despite the popular diets, "magical" pills and the latest, greatest fitness machines that all promise to melt away the pounds, more than half of American adults are overweight. For true weight-loss success, health experts stress the importance of changing your lifestyle for the long term and exercising regularly. Here are some creative ways to make fitness fun again and help you win the battle ... [full story]

(NU) - There has been an increase recently in Americans' obsessions to look and feel better. Reality makeover programs such as "Extreme Makeover" use cosmetic surgery to erase signs of aging or to change the size and shape of specific body parts. However, for some people, invasive procedures are not an option. Many are afraid to undergo surgery because of the risks or the expense that is often associated with these cosmetic procedures. Fortunately, there are ... [full story]