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Spring & Summer Superfoods
Good vs. Bad Stress
Tapping Into Your Self-Confidence
Is Barbie Too Perfect? Evaluating the Standard of Beauty
Beating the Odds: 9 Steps of Radical Remission
What’s Hot in Natural Health News?
Unplug & Unwind: My Self-Imposed Device Detox
A few weeks ago, social media and other sites blew up with the news that France had banned working after 6:00 p.m. Well, at least sending work emails after that time.
Here in the U.S., we rejoiced for the French and silently hoped that our very own country would follow suit.
It turned out that, in fact, the French did not make it illegal to send work emails after 6:00. Apparently, according to the Washington Post, the buzz stemmed from “an agreement made between labor unions and a federation of engineering and consulting companies, affecting 250,000 people and involving no official laws.”
It was like a bad game of Telephone via the World Wide Web. By the time it made its rounds, the real story had turned into something completely, well, wrong.
tel-e-phone [tel-uh-fohn]: the party game where a phrase is whispered down a line of players, with the goal of that phrase coming out the same by the end. Which, of course, never happens. “John and Amy are having a baby!” turns into “Don and Amy are going to Vegas!” Amy, I don't know who the heck Don is, but if he knocks you up, for the love of all that is sacred, please don't bring your screaming, crying child to Vegas.
So, no. The City of Lights did NOT decide to turn its lights off at 6:00 p.m. so that all French people could go home and watch Game of Thrones.
Besides, if it had been true, what about all the service industry folks? Why shouldn’t they be considered just as hard working as those business professionals and be able to shut down at 6:00? They might even be more physically, emotionally and mentally taxed than those in suits... I mean, have you ever had to deal with a rude American tourist?
It was a good thought, though, and for one fleeting moment, many of us were excited about the possibility of change. What if we didn’t have to be connected to our phones, email, laptops, tablets ALL THE TIME?
Do You Know Your Vitamin ABC's?
Why Are Minorities at Greater Risk for Diabetes?
Slim Down with Seafood
Don't Mess with Runners
My sister, Rachel, is going to be one among the pack. Last year after the bombings, she made it her mission to qualify and run Boston this year in memory and honor. And she did just that. See, unless you get a special "pass" or run with some sort of fundraising group, you have to qualify to run the Boston Marathon. It's the only marathon in the U.S. that requires you to do so. To make the cut, you must run the entire 26.2 miles under a specific time for your age group. Unfortunately, in my seven full marathons, I have never hit the mark. It's OK, she's faster than me. A little sibling rivalry can be healthy. In all honesty, I'm really proud of her. That's us in the picture, at the start line of the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. in 2011. If you can't tell by our body language, it was COLD. We actually did two marathons together that year, both within 30 days.
The Boston bombings rocked us as a nation, as it should. Terrorism is some tricky, nasty stuff. But as a runner myself, it hit especially hard. Runners run for different reasons. They run races for different reasons, too. Some of us do it for health (mental and physical) or to raise money for a cause. Some do it as a healthy competition, with others or with themselves. I've mentioned before that I run for a variety of purposes, but mainly to keep my sanity. I ran the Marine Corps Marathon in memory of my best friend's brother, Mike, who was killed in Afghanistan.
Runners, in my opinion, are a special kind of people. Call us "joggers" and you might get a dirty look or a swift kick to the groin. So, when someone intentionally hurts us – and our supporters – we don't take it lightly. We take it in stride. We rise above. We stay strong. Boston Strong? Hell yeah.
In addition to being a runner, I am, as you know, a writer. So, last year when the bombings occurred, I got out my pen and I wrote a poem. And then I went for a run.
Home Tips to Keep Your Allergies at Ease
Is Social Media Unhealthy?
The way you communicate with your significant other, best friend, colleagues and family is changing. Might you need a social media detox?
How to Heal Yourself after Sexual Trauma
5 Ways to Live with Passion & Purpose
Join in the Fight Against GMOs
Dangers of GMOs
Chew on This with Kim Barnouin
Neuroplasticity: Erasing the Negative, Replacing with the Positive
Healthcare Reform: New Role of the Community Pharmacy
Simple Workouts to Do in Your Hotel Room
Supplements: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Uses
Pregorexia: The Pregnancy Eating Disorder
How to Maintain a Healthy Weight During Pregnancy
9 Essential Health Tests for Women
Payback's a Bitch: Why You Retaliate
The Myth of Monogamous Relationships
Beat Multiple Sclerosis: Paleo & Functional Medicine
Balancing Work, Grad School & My Social Life
How do I keep my head on straight when everything demands parts of my day? Let me first start off by saying how lucky I am to be working while in school. Especially doing something that I love to do. I know I am not the only student who goes to work everyday, and then off to class at night. If I could, I would give each of you a piece of cake of admiration and have a day specifically dedicated to you.
Also, I want to say how fortunate I am to be in Grad school. Never in my life did I think I would even graduate college, sometimes high school was even doubtful, but here I am about to graduate with a master's degree in June.
That being said, don't you ever feel like screaming and ripping your hair out, or should I say shave it all off (like most people seem to do when they've officially lost it)?
I do.
6 Foods for a Better Mood
Boost Your Health with Green & Red Superfoods
Spray Tans & Self Tanners: Are They Safe?
Spring Cleaning: Refresh Your Life & Home
Admitting You Were Wrong: The Art of the Apology
New Study Links Autism to Environmental Toxins & Pollution
Many Benefits of Stand-Up & Treadmill Desks
The Supplement Pyramid
10 Beauty Products You Cannot Live Without
10 Beauty Tips from a Celeb Makeup Artist
Truth About Sodium: 9 Things You Need to Know
The Biggest Success of the Proposed Nutrition Facts Label: Added Sugars Will Mean Less Chronic Disease & More Jobs For America
The United States Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) proposed changes to one of the most iconic, well-recognized designs to all Americans, were presented by First Lady Michelle Obama Thursday.
The changes are much more than a new design and adding a few numbers to the panel.
From a broader perspective, the FDA's proposed changes reflect a shift in the chance that health care changes in the future will be a tailwind rather than a headwind to American jobs and prosperity. After 30 years of US obesity rates climbing, there is a shift towards creating solutions that are in favor of American consumers, rather than the powerful food industry.
The FDA estimates that the changes will mean a one-time cost of $2.3 billion to the food industry for labeling, reformulation, and record keeping, plus small annual costs for recurring record-keeping. However the FDA also predicts that over the next 20 years, these changes will save an average of $21.1 billion to $31.4 billion in healthcare costs.
Two key changes : Calories per container and per more accurate portions and Added Sugars.