As children head back to schools across the country in the coming weeks, many will be facing menu changes in school meals as new significant nutritional standards take effect in the National School Lunch Program for the first time in 15 years. Some districts, like in Tolland, have already made concerted efforts to provide healthier menu selections for students to help combat the rise in childhood … [Read more...]
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaXwioLpXcc] Yes, I admit it. This year’s Olympics have drawn me in more than any other since I was a child. From cringing at unsportsmanlike controversies even before the Games have begun to getting caught up in the thrilling rush watching the down-to-earth teen’s fulfillment of a childhood dreams, I have definitely been emotionally invested in London … [Read more...]
On Wednesday, the Connecticut Public Interest Research Group, (ConnPIRG), released the findings of its report Apples to Twinkies 2012, which showed that more of Connecticut taxpayer dollars go toward subsidizing junk food ingredients than fresh vegetables and fruits, like apples. At a gathering outside city hall in New Haven on Wednesday, the impact to taxpayers of funding junk food and the … [Read more...]
Buying food locally has a number of advantages for a community, from the added health benefits to boosting the local economy. For one, getting food from local sources cuts down on the need to ship food long distances, which decreases the use of fuel. The average food item sold in a supermarket travels more 1,500 miles from a farm to the kitchen. As a result, fruits and vegetables in grocery stores … [Read more...]
According to Punchbowl.com, celebration is in order today for Workaholics Day. Few would criticize the numerous achievements and accomplishments one can achieve with the industrious spirit that is so highly prized in a multitasking culture such as ours, where we’re eager to pencil in to-do’s for every hour of our waking day. However, being a recovering workaholic myself, I can honestly say that … [Read more...]
There were mixed reactions across the state to the 5 to 4 U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lieut. Gov. Nancy Wyman echoed the praise of fellow state Democrats for the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision. In a joint statement on Thursday they called it a tremendous day for all Americans. “The Supreme Court has taken a historic … [Read more...]
A plethora of studies have been published in recent months linking inadequate sleep to obesity, diabetes and stroke. Now, a recent review by the American Medical Association found research that suggests disruptions of the circadian rhythm due to nighttime light could also play a role in the risk of breast cancer, as well as of ovarian, prostate and colorectal cancers. The work of University of … [Read more...]
Jillian McKee is our guest blogger today. She is a Complementary Medicine Advocate at the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance. Her time is spent mostly on outreach efforts and spreading information on complementary and alternative medicine use in cancer treatment. Following a healthy diet can boost your immune system, improve your healing time, lower your cholesterol and boost your mesothelioma survival … [Read more...]
Hartford often gets a bad rap for crime, poverty and the quality of its education, but it recently received high praise for its level of health and fitness. Among the nation’s 50 fittest largest metropolitan areas, the Hartford area recently was ranked 5th. Only the San Francisco, Calif. Boston, Mass., Washington, D.C. and Minneapolis, Minn. areas ranked higher. The ACSM (American College of … [Read more...]
It really is quite amazing that a type of the seeds that sprout from atop the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia Pet, a holiday commercial mainstay, have grown into the latest superfood. The seeds from the Chia pets, laden with pesticides, are “not fit for human consumption,” said Dr. Jack Bukowski, of the Nutritional Science Research Institute, on faculty of Harvard Medical School, in an interview with Dr. Mehmet Oz … [Read more...]