Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Vice President, Clinical Development and Support:   The new flu outbreak has everyone concerned, but besides washing your hands a lot, the best way to stay healthy is to make sure your immune system is strong.  It’s well known that lifestyle choices have a big effect on immunity, so now is a good time to re-evaluate your current habits. There are 3 key areas to look at: 1) Nutrition – If you are eating the Standard American Diet (“SAD”) full of whi... [More]

Adrienne Schultz, Sales Coordinator:   Research proves that chronic stress is unhealthy – symptoms include headaches, stomach issues, sleeplessness, illness, weight loss, weight gain and depression.  In my sometimes stressful, but relatively stress-free life, I’ve managed to experience a few of those symptoms and also deduce the following: 1. We all have stress (tell me something I don’t know, you’re thinking). But different sources affect people differently.  For me, it’s wha... [More]

I have been practicing yoga for about 6 years. As a runner and a skier, yoga is the perfect balance to both of those sports and many more. I often ask my friends to try yoga; I typically get the same response: “Why would I waste my time with stretching?” Well, the 5,000-year-old practice of yoga is so much more than stretching. Yoga has a multitude of health benefits, such as flexibility, balance, strength, mood and stress management. There are many types of yoga, so if you are new to ex... [More]

Beth Shepard, MS, Exercise Physiologist, Contributing Writer:   For many people, taking time to chill out may sound like an impossible – or useless – idea. Every day there’s more to get done, in less time. Carving out time to do nothing may sound counterproductive. But regular meditation can actually decrease physical and emotional stress, increasing productivity and life satisfaction. We’re not talking religious meditation; no matter what your personal or religious beliefs, meditation ... [More]

Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Executive Director, Weight & Nutrition Services:   The 2008 Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Society concludes that stress levels among Americans are way up.  Not surprisingly, a big cause of our increased stress is money worries – 81% of adults indicated that finances were a major source of stress.  Add to this the “normal” increase in stress many people experience during the holiday season, and spiking stress levels can lead to physical and... [More]