Research and clinical experience have revealed that women's major concern with midlife and aging is weight gain. Dr. Holly L. Thacker, executive director of Speaking of Women's Health, discusses how midlife women can lose weight during menopause.

The delightfully crisp Cucumber, Mint and Feta Salad is from the ‘Ready-Made Menus – Summer Sensations’ chapter of Holly Clegg's KITCHEN 101: Secrets to Cooking Confidence cookbook.

Great source of potassium and Vitamin C. Look for more healthy and refreshing recipes from Holly Clegg's Eating Well Through Cancer book.

Looking for a great summer salad that’s refreshing, colorful, and jam-packed with flavor? Here it is! Give your taste buds a thrill with this fruity spinach salad accented with Maple Pecans, if desired.

Look for more yummy recipes from Holly Clegg's trim & Terrific Gulf Coast Favorites.

An outstanding summer starter with surprise ingredients. One step to the most refreshing make-ahead soup. Refrigerate to let the flavors blend.

Look for more healthy recipes from Holly Clegg's Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle At Any Age.

I am diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis but have been told lately I am seronegative. When I see other specialists they act like I don’t have anything wrong. I am starting to have almost as much muscle pain as I do joint pain. Can you help me understand why and what I can do about it?

Italian bruschetta is a wonderful way to capture the flavors of ripe summer tomatoes, fresh garden basil and garlic.

During rainy seasons, I receive many calls from patients having difficulty controlling their headaches. It reminds me of when I was a child and would sing “rain, rain go away, come again some other day!” in order to get outside and play again.

Dianne Dunkelman, founder and CEO of the National Speaking of Women’s Health Foundation and founder of the Clever Crazes for Kids health outreach program, will receive the University of Cincinnati Award for Excellence at UC’s Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 9, in Fifth Third Arena. The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the purposes and ideals of the university.

I was recently diagnosed with a thicker than normal uterine lining (11.5 mm) by my Ob/Gyn through a vaginal ultrasound. He would like to biopsy and possibly a D&C (dilation and curettage). Sounds fine, but I believe in also preventing the problem from occurring again.

Through personal research my understanding is that during perimenopause the lining can become thicker due to a lack of progesterone. Obesity and endometriosis are two other factors, but they do not apply to me. The most likely explanation is low progesterone. Also, please note that I have been taking Estrotone® (made mostly from Black Cohosh) to eliminate the hot flashes and moodiness on my own for the past year. It helped, but I’m afraid it may have now made me estrogen dominant. I would like to have my blood work run so a complete hormone panel can be run and evaluated. In which case, if I need progesterone afterwards, we know for sure rather than just guessing. In your opinion which medical doctor is most qualified to run and interpret this type of panel?

Whether you are facing menopausal matriculation, or have already passed that important milestone, you should read Dr. Holly L. Thacker’s take on the US governmental report on menopausal hormone THERAPY.

Looking for an easy and flavorful way to kick off grilling season? Try our tandoori shrimp! This dish will fill your patio with the aroma of Indian spices. If you're not a shrimp fan, you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts or leg of lamb cubes with all fat removed. Either way, keep in mind that crushed pepper flakes are quite hot, so start with the lesser amount and taste the yogurt marinade before adding more.

Conditions of the skin are as varied as the human beings who have them. The condition of your skin is created from a variety of factors, including age, ethnicity, environmental factors including sun exposure level, diet, personal habits, and your family tree (that is, heredity). The information contained here is intended to serve only as an overview of general skin care concerns and should not replace the advice of a skin care professional, or dermatologist. What are the some of the most…

Hot flashes (or hot flushes) are the most frequent symptoms of menopause and perimenopause. They occur in more than two-thirds of North American women during perimenopause. They occur in most women with induced menopause or premature menopause. What is a hot flash? A hot flash is a momentary sensation of heat that may be accompanied by a red, flushed face and sweating. The cause of hot flashes is not known, but may be related to changes in circulation. Hot flashes occur when the blood…

How common are headaches in adults? According to the National Headache Foundation, more than 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches and of these, 28 million suffer from migraines. About 20 percent of children and adolescents also have significant headaches. About 70% of headache sufferers are women. Headaches are the most common cause of absenteeism from work and school. Migraine sufferers lose more than 157 million work and school days annually because of headache…

Read Dr. Holly Thacker's Memorial Day column about the true role of calcium supplements for women.

7 Ways Women Can Improve Their Health Women tend to put themselves on the back burner, but a woman's health should not be ignored. Take control of your health and choose one thing at a time to improve it. 1. Protect Your Bones Osteoporosis can be 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. It’s important to be proactive about protecting bone health before you run into trouble. A…

It’s not unusual for women to say that they don’t think they need to see a women’s health specialist after menopause unless they have a problem. But it’s always important to be proactive about your health, which includes keeping up with pelvic exams and screenings throughout life. Risks of dangerous health problems like cardiovascular disease, breast and other cancers, and stroke actually increase with age. Midlife is a time of transition for women in all facets of their lives. It’s a great…

What are the dangers of sun exposure? 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…

Dry Skin Care Dry skin is defined as flaking or scaling when there is no evidence of dermatitis, or inflammation, of the skin. It is most prominent on the shins, hands, and sides of the abdomen , and can be associated with itching. It is more common during the winter months, when humidity is low, and improves in the summer time. Some people also have a genetic, or hereditary, tendency to develop dry skin. In addition, elderly people tend to have more trouble with dry skin due to the natural…