Living Well Blog

If there’s something good you can say about processed foods, it’s this: They are popular because they’re convenient. Processed foods can be less expensive than whole foods and homemade variations. And they can typically be prepared, served and cleaned up quickly and easily. Unfortunately, that… See more

Every 3.2 seconds someone in the world is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. This is a debilitating form of dementia that deteriorates cognitive skills and memory. Unfortunately, cognitive health tests are usually conducted once symptoms have begun. Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t have early… See more

American hearts are in trouble with the pandemic and a resurgence of smoking among some groups to blame. Newly released statistics from the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health paint a sobering picture of America’s heart health. This is especially prevalent among… See more

Have you ever heard of a “food swamp”? Researchers coined the term in 2009 to describe a typically low income community, that’s fraught with: Fast food restaurants Gas stations Donut shops Convenience marts Package stores  They often emerge in regions deemed as food desserts, i.e.,… See more

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. This is a major concern: High blood pressure raises the risk for heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize they have high blood pressure. It’s known as the “silent killer” because there are seldom… See more

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of music legend Elvis Presley, recently passed from a sudden cardiac arrest. She was 54. During an NFL football game in early January, Damar Hamlin collapsed after a hit. Reports suggested he too had cardiac arrest. He survived due to immediate, on-field medical… See more

You should always be vigilant about protecting your immune system. But between October and May, it’s imperative.  First, it’s flu season, which can lead to pneumonia and hospitalizations. We’re also still dealing with COVID. Although experts have yet to identify a “COVID season,” cases are… See more

You’ve probably heard (and used) expression, “But first, coffee.” If you’re preventing heart disease, you might want to rephrase: But first, tea! Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It’s high in flavonoids, plant-based compounds found in a wide range of foods including… See more

Maintaining healthy cognitive function is a vital component to living a healthy life. Almost 10 percent of Americans older than 65 have dementia and another 22 percent have mild cognitive impairment – the earliest stage of memory loss, according to a study published in… See more

Nutrition is a complex science, but it plays a significant role in our health, so it’s important to understand at least the basics. Fortunately, there are many dietary tools available to help, including free ones from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that provide guidance on what… See more