High-fructose corn syrup has been a scapegoat for American obesity for the past decade and a half, so you might be surprised to learn that natural sweeteners like sugar and honey both have more fructose than high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Let’s break down the numbers here. Despite its misleading name, the most commonly used form of HFCS only has 42 percent fructose in comparison to table sugar’s 50 percent. Honey, the beloved natural sweetener, has 49 percent. Standar...

With gyms still closed and chilly weather limiting outdoor group fitness classes, fitness has gone virtual—and that means virtual personal training sessions too. Many people are now considering testing out personal training sessions, even if that wasn’t really something they thought about pre-pandemic, especially if they belonged to gyms or studios. One reason? Personal training sessions can be costly. While the fee varies widely depending on whether your trainer is working for themselves ...

Cream or sugar with your tea? How about bacteria? Kombucha, a concoction of bacteria, tea and sugar, is definitely having its 15 minutes of fame. Fans claim the popular tea-based drink provides a string of health perks, such as improved digestion, less stress and more energy. The potent drink has a vinegar-like smell and a taste that has been described as everything from rotten apple cider to fizzy, tart apples (we’ll take the latter). Can this at-home drink cure what ails you? Here’s what you n...

In the fitness world, people often say you should “listen to your body” when deciding what to do if you aren’t feeling great. That advice often amounts to permission to take the day off, which is certainly a valid option in many cases. But “listen to your body” doesn’t mean “take the day off if you’re not feeling 100%.” That suggests a relationship where our brain is pushing us to go go go, while our body is like a stubborn donkey—sometimes complying, sometimes sitting down and refusing to budg...

Oils are fats in liquid form at room temperature. While they are found in a variety of foods - such as nuts, fish, avocado, and olives - cooking oils are one of the most common forms of oil consumption. And some cooking oils are healthier than others.  We spoke to dietitians about the eight healthy oils you should be incorporating in your diet and which cooking oils you should avoid.  If you’re like many of us who are spending more time than ever scrolling through soci...

Exercising is one of the best ways to keep your heart healthy and reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease, which causes 25% of deaths among Americans each year.  At the same time, skipping exercise can increase your risk. For example, it's estimated that 35% of deaths from coronary heart disease are caused by physical inactivity.  "Even without having risk factors, physical inactivity can lead to heart disease and dying from premature cardiovascula...

The godfather of fitness Jack LaLanne himself once told me that his secret to avoiding plateaus was religiously changing his workout routine every three to four weeks. He was pushing 90 at the time, and though certainly past his physical prime, he was still remarkably fit and strong, thanks to heeding his own advice. LaLanne understood that the human body is incredibly adaptable. That’s why we train: When you push the limits of what your body is comfortable with and capable of,...

Miki Gorman-an elite runner and the last American woman to win the New York Marathon until just last year-was known for running as if she had a built-in metronome. She had a vibration with each step, a beat she followed: one step at a time, one breath at a time. No distractions. In fact, she described running as a meditative state of movement, a feeling many runners can relate to. Yet, there's a disconnect: Have you ever really connected your feet to your mind? While we often follow ...

Art therapy is a way of using art and creative expression to support healing and health.  Anyone can benefit from art therapy, but it's particularly useful for people who might have difficulty processing their emotions in words. That includes children, people with trauma, and people with dementia.  "Art therapy is the use of the creative process, alongside a masters-level art therapist [a mental health therapist with formal art therapy training], to increase resiliency...

For parents of kids who are picky eaters, introducing any new food item into their diets can be a challenge. That challenge gets even more complicated when parents try to introduce kids to vegan or vegetarian diets—especially when they’re doing it at older ages The good news? There are a lot more options now than in the past. Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, a holistic nutritionist, vegan chef, cookbook author, and television personality, points out that plant-based food products have improved in...