Does anyone need Insurance? This question is asked by many Americans who have any kind of insurance. With changes in our healthcare system, there will be some confusion and many changes for the foreseeable future.

What is “insurance” anyway?

Insurance is a tool that offsets financial losses due to accidents or incidents or unforeseen circumstances. Having a group of people in an insurance plan creates an affordable ‘pool’ for those who may need the service. Actuaries are people who work in the insurance industry who are smart enough to figure out…Read full post

By Jack Morris

Laughter can be the best medicine. In sickness and in health, your state of being can determine so much of your life. However, society doesn’t always recognize that the psychological portion of a person’s health is as important as the overall health condition of the person. If this is all too familiar to you, then here are some useful things to remember.

Patch Adams:
A few years back, a movie based on a true story of a doctor who dressed up in ridiculous outfits as he made his rounds was made….Read full post

By Luis Castro

The Mediterranean diet is an age-old way of eating that has in recent years been ‘discovered’ as being a healthy diet plan that reduces disease risks and promotes longevity. If you’re looking for a tasty, nutritious way to stay healthy and avoid some terminal ailments, then read on. Here’s what you need to know about the Mediterranean Diet.

The Basics
No food to measure, no calories to count. This diet plan is a healthy eating plan to follow for life. By adhering to the heart healthy principals of eating more…Read full post

Did you know that certain foods eaten before a workout can either limit or enhance your body’s fat-burning capabilities? Believe it or not, something as simple as eating a few cashews or a bowl of Fruit Loops can make a big difference in how effective your workout is – at least as far as fat-burning is concerned!

Research shows that eating low-glycemic index snacks, such as a small handful of nuts (which have the ideal combination of unsaturated fat,…Read full post

(PCM) The usual resolutions we tend to make year after year – lose weight, save money, get a new job – are great resolutions if we can actually stick to them past February, but the fact is, less than 10 percent of us will be successful. So, why not try something a little different this year: Resolve to spend more time with friends and loved ones in the new year! Studies show that friendships make aging more enjoyable, lessen grief,…Read full post

(PCM) When the weather turns chilly, it’s tempting to banish the outdoors and curl up by the fire with a hot cup of cocoa, but that won’t last long with a house full of energetic kids. Instead of attempting to keep the family indoors, embrace the wintry weather! Make the most of it by getting everyone bundled up and heading outdoors; take a family trip to the slopes or ice skating rink – or even just your own backyard! Not…Read full post

(PCM) Having already remarked professionally regarding the heartbreaking tragic news from Newtown, CT in recent days, within my scope as a trauma counselor I expressed my concern for the child survivors and families and for the visitors of PCM who may have endured trauma in their lives, who in re-witnessing it via the media.

I now must urgently respond to early and as yet unconfirmed reports that the shooter at Sandy Hook Elementary School (who remains nameless…Read full post

(PCM) As if you needed another reason to keep your kids healthy and active, a new study suggests that obese children develop risk factors for heart disease that usually aren’t seen until adulthood. That’s pretty scary. The risk factors – including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar levels and even thickening of the heart muscle – can boost a child’s risk of heart disease by up to 40 percent, say British researchers.

Lead researcher Claire…Read full post

Want your kids to eat more vegetables? Try giving veggies a fun new name! Believe it or not, it can make a BIG difference in intake consumption among young children, according to new research.

A new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab found that when carrots were labeled and presented as “X-ray Vision Carrots” instead of “Food of the Day,” school lunchroom intake more than doubled among elementary school children.

“This research suggests that schools have…Read full post

Research from Penn State finds heavily spiced meals, like those rich in cinnamon, turmeric, and cloves, may do the heart good! Researchers found that a spicy meal helps cut levels of triglycerides, even when the meal is high in fat. Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood, and elevated levels are a risk factor for heart disease.

The study found that triglycerides decreased by about one-third in those who consumed a spicy meal compared with people who ate…Read full post