Stress is something we all deal with on a regular basis, but we usually don’t realize just how detrimental it can be to our health.

In particular, stress can be very problematic for seniors, who are already dealing with other health challenges that come along with getting older.

Seniors looking to increase their life expectancy and live a happier, more comfortable life should focus on reducing their stress levels, particularly if they are living in senior homes or memory care homes.

Here are some ways that seniors can reduce the stress they experience on a daily basis.

One would assume as a registered dietician my children naturally gravitate toward foods enriched in vitamins and nutrients. In my dreams, perhaps. The reality is it can still be a struggle at times to make meals that are balanced and as green that they should be.

As I tell patients at CHOC Children's, ensuring your family eats right, starts way before any meal hits the table. For me, it begins during my weekly trip to the supermarket. I know anything purchased then will directly impact the food choices my kids make for the next seven days. This is especially true for my younger ones who eat most of their meals at home or from packed lunches.

Admittedly, I can’t manage every morsel of food that goes in my children’s mouth. Nor should I. What I can do, however, is provide balanced meals and a kitchen stocked with healthy foods, so when they are older – or in that I call the “grab-n-go” stage – they’re incline to make better choice. Until then, here the 10 basic rule from which I operate my kitchen and advise my patients.

There’s crash dieting, and then there’s intermittent fasting. 

Crash diets aren’t sustainable and rarely factor in healthy food options. Intermittent fasting on the other hand is gaining attention because people are seeing weight come off, and therefore stay with it. It’s being touted as the go-to way to lose 15, 20 pounds within a month or two. 

Is it just a popular hashtag or can the weight actually stay off leading millions of people to reach their weight goals? 

To get clarity, we turned to Dr. Niket Sonpal who not only is Board Certified in Internal Medicine specializing in Gastroenterology but lost eight pounds his first week of intermittent fasting when he decided to do it himself.

With back-to-school season approaching, a familiar foe for many parents is also returning from summer break: school lunches.

Most parents would love to send their children off to school every day with a healthy and nutritious lunch. But, many are stumped about what to pack to ensure kids get the nutrients they need and that the carefully prepared meal doesn’t get tossed for cookies and chips.

Fear not: What follows are the building blocks of a healthy school lunch, that when combined will offer flavor, color, nutrition and fun for children of all ages; some tips that will make packing school lunches less tedious for parents; and a recipe that kids will surely love.

Soon, sidewalks nationwide will be dotted with the familiar sight of children and their backpacks navigating their way to school in the early morning hours.

Allowing a child to walk to school alone can be a healthy option for both parents and their children. It teaches children independence and responsibility, and provides an opportunity for physical activity. 

That said, safety is critical when it comes to heading to school or anywhere on foot. After all, unintentional pedestrian injuries are the fifth-leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 19. Every day, 44 children are hit by cars while walking in the United States.

So, before your children sling on their backpacks and head out to door, introduce them to the “rules of the road.”

Stress. We all have it but some of us deal with it better than others. 

If you look at any recent United States President from their first day in office until their last, you will see that all aged appreciably in only four years. 

Why? Because carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders took its toll on their appearance. Even if you’re just an everyday lady boss or Mom trying to make her way in the world, stress can cause you to age before your time. 

Here’s how and why according to New York Neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez.

Simply moving a meal from the kitchen table to a blanket on the ground magically makes mealtime more fun.

That is the power of a picnic! 

Whether you choose to set up close to home in the yard or while out and about at the pool or park, be prepared for a safe and tasty picnic with these tried-and-true tips.

Since January, we’ve been bombarded with ads urging us to slim down and “get your body in shape by summer” or “lose weight by Memorial Day.” 

While some women manage to meet their weight loss goals in time to feel confident in their swimsuit, the majority of us don’t. 

We can disguise unwanted pounds in heavy layers during winter, but in summer there’s nowhere to hide when you’re invited to that pool side BBQ. 

Why should we have to hide?