Don’t let the holiday season be a reason for you to not eat right. Put those candy canes to extra use with this scrumptious dessert from Canyon Ranch. Serving-sized pieces can be individually wrapped and kept frozen to give as gifts. Enjoy!

This Mock-A-Rita has all of the taste of a margarita without any of the alcohol. Enjoy as many as you like without having to worry about the side effects of alcohol. If you do go out for alcoholic drinks, make sure to pick a designated driver before you leave. (With thanks to Canyon Ranch Health Resorts for this wonderful idea.)

Tabbouleh is a popular type of Middle Eastern salad made from bulgur, parsley, mint and tomatoes seasoned with olive oil and lemon juice. This tabbouleh recipe uses extra lemon juice and more fresh herbs. The result is incredible – a delicious taste of lemon with every bite of grain and a burst of freshness from the blend of fresh herbs with every mouthful!

Room temperature or right out of the oven, this colorful quiche is perfect for an afternoon book club or gathering of friends. For appetizers, pour quiche in an 8 x 8-inch square pan and cut into small squares.

You have worked hard to lose your excess body fat and developed some new eating and exercise methods that now need to become habit. Once you have achieved a desired weight, a positive attitude is very important in your efforts to successfully manage it. To lose weight permanently, you must make a commitment to gradually adopt a healthier way of life. Maintaining your new weight is not an easy task, but it will become easier over time once your choices become new habits. This will take time and…

What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas, an organ located behind your stomach. Normally, the pancreas releases a substance called insulin into the blood. Insulin helps the body to use sugars and fats that are broken down from the foods we eat. When a person has diabetes, the pancreas: Does not make insulin Makes only a little insulin or, Makes insulin, but the insulin does not work as it should. Diabetes is a lifelong disease. People with diabetes must manage their…

Protecting yourself from Sun Damage The immediate danger of too much sun is sunburn. If you looked at sunburned skin under a strong microscope, you would see that the cells and blood vessels have been damaged. With repeated sun damage, the skin starts to look dry, wrinkled, discolored, and leathery. Although the skin appears to be thicker, it actually has been weakened and, as a result, it will bruise more easily. However, the sun’s most serious threat is that it is the major cause of skin…

May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month: Protect Your Bones for Future Mobility Osteoporosis is an elusive disease. Most people won’t have any symptoms until they break a bone. But falling and breaking a bone is not a normal part of the aging process. Osteoporosis is a disease, and like many diseases it is both preventable and treatable. It’s important to be proactive about protecting bone health before you run into trouble. May is Osteoporosis Awareness Month, so why not start today! To…

5 Nutrition Myths and the Facts Myth 1: Late-night snacking causes weight gain. Fact: Many people believe late-night snacking packs on extra pounds. The truth is, it’s not when we eat that matters, it’s what and how much. Our bodies need fuel throughout the day. If we skip meals during the day, that state of starvation triggers cravings at night, and we make up for it by overeating. To break the starving-binging cycle, go no more than four to five hours between meals, and watch your portion…

Who is at risk? Osteoporosis is mistakenly thought of as a disease of older white women. In fact, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, osteoporosis and low bone mass affect 44 million women and men age 50 and older in the United States. That’s a staggering 55 percent in that age group. There are many risk factors that increase your chance of developing osteoporosis including gender, age, race, bone structure and body weight, nutrition, lifestyle, medication and family history.…

Ask the Expert: Birth Control OptionsThere are literally dozens of reliable choices for women who do not want to become pregnant. A women's health specialist can help you choose the one that best fits your lifestyle and future plans.One of the first things that I ask my patients is how often do you want to think about not getting pregnant? Do you want to think about it:Every time you have sex?Every day?Once a month?Once every three months?Once every five or 10 years?Never?In many cases, the…

Uterine Fibroids Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that are made up of the muscle and connective tissue from the wall of the uterus (womb). Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters and may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. They may grow within the wall of the uterus or they may project into the interior cavity or toward the outer surface of the uterus. In rare cases, they may grow on stems projecting from the surface of the uterus. What causes…

Make a Travel Medicine Clinic Your First Stop The new low airfares and bargain travel packages are truly tempting if you want to: Take that dream cruise Study abroad Volunteer your time to help the less fortunate Conduct overseas business Wherever you’re headed, cruise on into a travel medicine clinic first A travel medicine specialist can review your unique itinerary, length of stay and current travel conditions/advisories before you go. Vaccine and medication recommendations…

Q. I thought that drinking red wine was good for your heart. Now I read that it can cause breast cancer. Should I give up my nightly pinot noir? A. Many women have taken to drinking one glass of red wine in the evening ever since researchers linked it to a reduced risk of heart disease. But recent reports that all types of alcohol, including wine, increase a woman’s chances of breast cancer understandably raise concern. Heart disease and breast cancer are two of the greatest health risks…

What is a breast self-exam? A breast self-exam is a way a woman can examine her breasts to look for changes (such lumps or thickenings) that may signal breast cancer. When a woman detects breast cancer in its early stages, she greatly improves her chances for surviving the disease. Most breast lumps (80 percent) are not cancerous, but you can help ensure your breast health by regularly performing a breast self-exam. When should I perform a breast self-exam? You should perform a breast…

Doctor’s Visits Still Important in Midlife and Beyond Just because you’re through your childbearing years doesn’t mean you can stop seeing your gynecologist. Health screenings and preventive care are as important during and after menopause as they were when you were young. It’s imperative that you find the right doctor. While the ob/gyn who delivered your children may have a special place in your heart, he or she may or may not be as knowledgeable about the issues you are facing during…

You can make a difference in your blood glucose control. To keep your blood glucose levels within goal range, you need to balance your food, diabetes medications (if taken), and physical activity. By familiarizing yourself with each of these factors, you will be able to achieve optimal blood glucose goals. What is the role of carbohydrates? Carbohydrates are the body’s main energy source. About half of your daily calories should come from carbohydrates. Carbohydrate choices include bread,…

Are You Thinking "It Can't Hurt" to Take a Holiday From Healthy Foods? It's okay to indulge in rich foods and decadent desserts during the holidays, but keep the portions healthy - a little bit here, a little bit there. If you do overindulge, make sure you get in some extra exercise to burn off those extra calories. Taking small steps — using the stairs instead of the escalator, parking further away at the mall — adds up to big strides at the end of the day. Remember to eat healthy the rest…

Did you know that cancer of the womb and cervix used to be the number one cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States? That fact was true in 1930s and early 1940s. Today this disease has fallen to number seven. When you regularly get a test known as a PAP smear, you greatly reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer. What is Cervical cancer? Cervical cancer is a tumor or growth in the tissue of a woman's cervix. The cervix is the lowest part of the womb, or uterus, through which…

No Need to Fear Seeing Your Doctor Any person who experiences a fluttering or abnormal beating of the heart should be evaluated promptly, say Cleveland Clinic Heart & Vascular Institute specialists. Heart rhythm disturbances occur across a range of ages and result from problems with the electrical impulses traveling through the heart. Atrial fibrillation most common Bruce Lindsay, MD, Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing notes that the most common heart rhythm irregularity in the…