What is facial aging and what causes it? Facial aging refers to how the appearance of your face changes with age. Facial aging occurs mainly as the result of skin changes and changes in the deeper soft tissues of the face. Factors that influence external skin changes include natural aging, skin type, sun exposure, facial movement, and routine skin care. Facial fat deeper within the face thins with normal aging and, as gravity pulls on the face, the underlying soft tissues droop. These two…

What is a colonoscopy? A colonoscopy is an outpatient procedure in which the inside of the large intestine (colon and rectum) is examined. A colonoscopy is commonly used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as rectal and intestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, or changes in bowel habits. Colonoscopies are also performed in individuals without symptoms to check for colorectal polyps or cancer. A screening colonoscopy is recommended for anyone 45 years of age and older, and for anyone with…

Enjoy these snacks under 200 calories between meals. Snacking is encouraged and will help you avoid excessive hunger and overeating at meal times. Please keep in mind that these snacks should be included in your daily caloric allotment. Therefore, make sure you account for snacks by adjusting mealtime calories, if necessary. Dairy or Dairy Alternative 8 oz nonfat fruited* or plain yogurt* 8 oz nonfat yogurt* with ½ cup mixed berries 8 oz nonfat yogurt* with 1 Tbsp slivered almonds,…

Leftover cooked chicken turns magically into another easy Southern favorite. This spicy dish can put a kick in your step. Serve over rice. Make your jambalaya spicier with pre-cooked chicken breasts straight from the freezer.

This recipe is featured in Holly Clegg's Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets to Sizzle at Any Age.

The most common cause of hair loss in both men and women is genetic. In fact, heredity accounts for 95 percent of all the cases of alopecia (baldness) in this country. The remaining five percent of the cases can be due to a number of things including diet, stress, illness, and/or medications. Specific factors that can cause hair loss: Medications, vitamins, or minerals: medications used to treat high blood pressure, heart problems, depression or gout; chemotherapy or radiation treatment…

Cardiac Risk Factors Cardiac risk factors are certain conditions that increase a person’s risk for cardiovascular disease. It is important to know: Some risk factors, called " nonmodifiable risk factors," cannot be changed. Some cardiac risk factors, called " modifiable risk factors," can be modified, controlled or treated. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing cardiovascular disease. Higher levels of each cardiac risk factor correlate with a higher…

A better heart may be as easy as a walk in the park. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? But that is precisely what the American Heart Association wants to get across with its "Simple 7" guidelines for good cardiovascular health."Simple 7" Guidelines for Good Cardiovascular Health Get activeControl cholesterolEat betterManage blood pressureLose weightReduce blood sugarStop smoking 1. Get active Aerobic exercise is a crucial factor in managing your cardiovascular risk. It aids in lowering blood…

At least 65 million Americans have high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and kidneys, increasing the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease. High blood pressure is the biggest risk factor for stroke. It is up to you to take control! By making lifestyle changes, taking medications and working with your health care team, you can control your high blood pressure to help prevent future problems. Important note: These are general…

8 Tips to Successfully Manage Your Weight 1. Cut down on portions Portion your meals in a calorie-conscious manner. One quarter of your plate should comprise a palm-size portion of lean protein, such as salmon or chicken breast; another quarter should comprise a fist-size portion of unrefined grain, such as brown rice; and one-half of your plate should be filled with a variety of colorful vegetables. If you are still hungry after eating your meal, try waiting about 20 minutes to allow your…

If you have salsa, kidney and navy beans, and chicken, then what could be better than a chicken chili? Serve with reduced-fat cheese, avocado and onions.

Reduce Your Risk Factors Following these nutritional strategies can help you reduce or even eliminate some risk factors, such as reducing total and LDL-cholesterol; lowering blood pressure, blood sugars and triglycerides; and reducing body weight. While most dietary plans tell you what you can’t eat (usually your favorite foods!), the most powerful nutrition strategies help you focus on what you can and should eat. In fact, research has shown that adding certain foods to your diet is just as…

Download a blank food diary page Meal or Snack Foods and Beverages Consumed Amount Preparation Method Fat Used * Today’s Good Points: * What I Can Improve: Breakfast (7:00 am) Oatmeal ½ cup cooked Microwave None Skim milk 8 ounces Slivered almonds 2 Tbsp Apple 1 medium …

Exercise is an important part of improving and maintaining normal, comfortable back function. It is important to exercise regularly so that you can maintain your fitness level. What are the different types of exercise? Exercise can be divided into three basic groups: Strengthening— using repeated muscle contractions until the muscle becomes tired Stretching or flexibility— slow, sustained lengthening of the muscle Aerobic— steady exercise using large muscle…

Cytologic screening (Papanicolaou or Pap smears) represents one of the most successful screening efforts of modern medicine. The morbidity and mortality secondary to cervical cancer has substantially decreased in adequately screened populations. Patients, however, need to understand that Pap smears are intended to be a screening, not a diagnostic, test. For any screening test there is an inherent false negative rate, which is approximately 10 to 20 percent for Pap smears. Despite the false…

Determining A Proper Serving Size In a portion-distorted world, here are some tips on how you can determine a proper serving size Most of us would like to think that we have a good handle on portion control. But in our country – where “super-size it” seems to be our cultural motto, obesity is running rampant, and diabetes rates continue to rise – most of us could stand to learn a few things about portion control. While it may seem disheartening at first to learn that a serving of porterhouse…

Soup! The best comfort food around on a cold winter day or night. This minestrone-style soup is hearty, healthy and satisfying, loaded with veggies and pasta, and makes a delicious one-pot meal.

This recipe is from Holly Clegg's Too Hot in the Kitchen: Secrets To Sizzle At Any Age cookbook.

Your heart is too small to continue to carry painful experiences in it, all because you refuse to forgive! You should be tired of allowing people you haven’t forgiven to take up space in your mind. It is probably more than past the time for you to let it go, let them go, forgive, and live! You will find freedom, relief, as well as inner and outer peace when you give yourself permission to forgive. Forgiving as a Process Moving to a point of forgiving a friend or loved one for an atrocity…

There will always be times in your personal and professional life when you have to say "no" to someone's request. The challenge is how to do it without alienating them. In fact, would it be possible to say "no" and actually have the person walk away appreciating you? I believe it truly is. How Not to Say No I was in a small electronics store the other day and watched a woman try to return an item. She started out fairly pleasant, but no matter what she said, the store manager was curt, short…

Did you ever have the kind of day that made you wonder where all the nice people went? It was as if there was not a single nice person left in the world. Vendors were cranky, your coworkers were grumpy, even your best friend was a little testy. What happened? Was it something in the water? Were the stars lined up wrong? While there are times when we all get a little crabby, I do believe there is something we can do to bring out the "nice" in people. My Experience Let me share a story with…

You're committed to doing the best work you can. You're smart and hardworking and want to excel. But as you move ahead and make progress, you begin to detect a little resentment coming from your coworkers. At first you try to ignore it, then you start to get angry and frustrated. You're tempted to confront it head- on, but aren't sure if that's the right move or not. What's the right strategy? While there are no hard and fast rules, and every situation may be different, the following four…