Chronic disease affects many Americans. There are some contributing factors we can control such as nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, etc.; however, there are also risk factors we cannot control such as age, gender, and family history. Most people have increased risks for chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
Whether coffee is healthy for you or not, more than half of Americans over the age 18 are consuming coffee each day. According to the National Coffee Association’s National Coffee Drinking Trends 2015 report, 27 percent households own single-cup brewing machines which is up from 7 percent in 2011. Over …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO
The holidays are upon us. Tis the season for pumpkin! Pumpkins usually make their appearance in October in time for Halloween festivities. Pumpkins are used for carving, decorations, and endless recipes, making them one of the most versatile fruits in the world. Yes, pumpkins are classified as fruit. They are …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
We’ve all been told to get more fiber in our diets. How does fiber help us and how do we get enough? Fiber is not only found in whole grain foods such as brown rice or whole wheat bread, but also in fruit, vegetables, and legumes (beans, peas, and lentils).
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Various proteins and healthy fats are recommended for an all-around healthy diet. Both nuts and seeds are healthy sources for protein, and monounsaturated and polyunsatuarated fats (termed the “healthy fats”). Eating nuts and seeds can be good for your heart. Here’s why.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
World Breastfeeding Week 2016 runs from August 1st to August 7th. The theme for this year is about how “breastfeeding is a key element in getting us to think about how to value our well being from the start of life, how to respect each other and care for the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Summertime in North Idaho gives way to some of the most beautiful days, allowing us to spend time with family and friends in the great outdoors. Gatherings almost always include food and beverages. Nothing would ruin a party more if one of your guests or you got sick from the …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Vitamin A is good for your eyes. Vitamin C boosts your immune system. Vitamin D supports bone health. Consumers are generally aware of the basic benefits of certain vitamins because they have been drilled into our brains. One vitamin that doesn’t get much attention is Vitamin E.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Tart cherries have gained momentum as a “superfood” in recent years, most recognized as aiding athletes in exercise recovery. Although we can’t pinpoint foods as “superfoods,” we can talk about properties of foods and their proposed benefits.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Farm-to-table is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular among U.S. restaurants. What is farm-to-table? It can hold a different meaning depending on how one looks at it. A blanket meaning is the production process from harvest to consumption, and everything in between such as packaging and sales. However, some …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
May is a great month to celebrate National Employee Health and Fitness Day, which is third Wednesday of this month. The weather is getting warmer, and it is a great reminder of all the fun outdoor activities we can take advantage of — a great way to kick off health …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 8 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
More and more people have been switching out their cow’s milk for non-dairy alternatives. It used to be that soy milk was the only non-dairy alternative to cow’s milk. With many more alternative milks on the market today, there is a substantial benefit for the vegan and lactose intolerant populations …
Low fat, high fat and low carbs, no trans fat, limit saturated fat, you’ve probably heard it all! As a nutrition expert, I provide evidence-based information on nutrition topics to provide the most accurate information to consumers. Over the years, recommendations for certain nutrients may change. This doesn’t mean false …
As we continue to celebrate National Nutrition Month®, we will continue with 2016’s theme to “savor the flavor of eating right.” Part of savoring food is to use a variety of herbs and spices to enhance its flavor. Did you know that herbs and spices aren’t just for flavoring, but …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
March is National Nutrition Month® in which the theme is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right.” What does this mean to you? Eating slowly to savor your dish? Reducing portion sizes? Using savory spices and herbs to try new dishes? The overall intent of National Nutrition Month® is to create …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO
Baby-led weaning (BLW) is a method for introducing solids to infants without the use of pureed food or spoon feeding. This method of feeding was developed in the United Kingdom. In the United States baby-led weaning refers to the gradual decrease of breast or bottle feedings.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO
‘Tis the season of ghouls, goblins, and skeletons. Skeletons — a reminder to keep your bones healthy! Calcium and vitamin D are essential for a healthy skeleton.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Carbohydrates have gotten a bad rap in the recent years. I've heard, "Carbohydrates make me fat" and "I'm on a low-carb diet" or "I'm cutting out bread." What many people do not realize is how important carbohydrates are for brain and body function. Generally speaking, 130 grams of carbohydrates per …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
Breastfeeding your baby provides the complete nutrition he or she needs in the first stages of life for proper growth and development. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations recommend and strongly encourage mothers to breastfeed infants exclusively for the first six months of life, with continuation until …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO
The Paleo diet has become popular in the last several years, especially among athletes. Paleo is short for Paleolithic, which is the era of the caveman. The Paleolithic era is also known the hunting and gathering period and came before the agricultural revolution. That means that the Paleo diet only …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
Dietary supplements are widespread and easily available in today's market with consumers asking a lot of questions: Do they really work? Which supplements would benefit me the most? How much should I take? Are they worth the money?
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
It may not always be possible to choose foods that were locally grown (depending on the season and your need). However, choosing them when you are able can benefit your health and supports your local community in a variety of ways.
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Promoting healthy habits in the work setting benefits both employers and employees. A healthier workforce contributes to reduced absenteeism due to illness and injuries, and increased productivity. More directly, healthier employees may reduce an employer's health care costs on premiums and worker's compensation claims. In order to control health care …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 9 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
Every year, Kid Healthy Week is celebrated in the last week of April, recognizing health and wellness efforts made by schools and their community partners to improve nutrition and physical activity habits in youth. There is a link between health status and learning. Those who engage in regular physical activity …
This week celebrates National Public Health. Each day focuses on a theme. Monday was "Raising the Grade," to spark talks about the health of our nation and measures of good health. Tuesday was "Starting from Zip," with the idea that the zip code may have a lot to do with …
Educational Therapy addresses underlying learning skills such as visual and auditory processing, attention and memory skills on an individual basis. This is different from a tutor who provides subject support and deals specifically with academics. Educational therapy deals with the processing of information. Processing is the way a student thinks …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO
Many children have difficulties with reading, writing, spelling, math, attention and memory. All children want to be successful in school yet they struggle despite parent-teacher interventions or private tutoring. Thanks to current research in the fields of neuropsychology, major steps forward have been made in understanding potential causes of several …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO
In every classroom there are a handful of bright children who struggle to learn to read. This problem has existed since people began to develop written language. Research over the years has increased our understanding of language and learning disabilities (LD) and how the brain works. Today language and learning …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
As many as 20 percent of children struggle with a reading disability (RD). In fact, children with RD account for 80 percent of the children with learning disabilities. Considering the number of children that are affected, there is a considerable amount of research done to understand RD and interventions for …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO
In an attempt to explain the possibilities of a person with ADHD and how we need to change our perspective on learning disabilities, a physician coldly responded to me, "The only option for kids like these is medication. The "success" stories you are proclaiming are the one in a million …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Kids with learning disabilities are capable of learning. In fact, they have normal or even above normal intelligence, but they are wired to learn differently. Often these children are defined by their weaknesses, but they also have amazing strengths. To equip children with necessary skills and to give them academic …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
In my previous article, I focused on developmental coordination disability (DCD). In this article, the focus will be on dysgraphia, a form of writing disability that falls under the DCD category. DCD may affect all aspects of movement or it can affect only fine motor skills, specifically skills needed to …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO
Kyle is a sweet, active 9-year-old. His response to the world going on around him is laid back and easy going. He was late to speak, but his parents and pediatrician attributed this to being the youngest of four children, not needing to communicate because his siblings could "talk for …
COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO
