Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Vice President, Clinical Development and Support:   Recently, yet another study was released supporting the health benefits of chocolate. This time, researchers reported in the Journal of Internal Medicine that, in people who had previously had a heart attack, eating chocolate at least twice per week was associated with lower risk of dying of heart disease. Earlier research has shown that eating chocolate is associated with lower blood pressure, decreased risk of ... [More]

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]

Erin Thompson, Marketing Manager:   “A cookie would go great with your beverage.” The sticker stares up at me from the lid of the soy latte I just purchased at the Barnes & Noble café. This is added to the fact that the barista just asked me if I would like a warm chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven. It is 9:00pm on a Friday night and I already had a mini ice cream sandwich after dinner. In no way do I need a cookie. But the barista didn’t ask me if I needed a cookie. She ... [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]

Erin Thompson, Marketing Manager:   Yesterday I learned that if I download the “Whopper Sacrifice” Facebook application and delete 10 friends from my account, I will receive a free Burger King Whopper. Salivating, I mentally reviewed my friend list: who will I ax first? Do I sacrifice the outliers and use the promotion as a reason to trim my inflated friend count? Do I sacrifice friends who need a good laugh? The Facebook-obsessed? The vegetarians? Then I stopped mid-review:... [More]

Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Executive Director, Weight and Nutrition Services:   With daily reports about the economic crisis and other urgent national issues grabbing our attention, the fact that our national nutrition crisis can make headlines is noteworthy. The current obesity epidemic is one symptom of the national nutrition crisis.  Research has implicated the environment we live in as a major predictor of obesity and poor health.  Factors like the availability of neighborhood sid... [More]

Beth Shepard, MS, Exercise Physiologist, Contributing Writer:   With the holidays upon us, it’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy– of shopping, celebrating, and enjoying special treats. New Year’s resolutions may be just around the corner, but for now, we just want to eat, drink, and be merry. Setting goals is a powerful way for individuals to take charge of their health no matter what the season. At Free & Clear we encourage our participants to think of goals as their roadmap –... [More]

Marie Gahler, Manager, Weight Management:   This is a wonderful time of year to celebrate with family and friends. But for many, the holidays also bring extra pounds as we indulge in the sweets, treats, big meals, parties and family traditions of the season. Don’t let the eggnog get you down, or the scale moving up! Here are 10 proven strategies to let you enjoy all the warmth of the season while keeping you healthy and happy. 1. Use exercise to help balance extra calories. Ma... [More]

Jennifer Lovejoy, PhD, Executive Director, Weight & Nutrition Services:   The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIH recently funded four new Centers of Excellence, including one at the University of California, San Francisco to study mindfulness meditation and mindful eating in a program to treat obesity and metabolic syndrome. In recent years, considerable research has focused on the health benefits of mindfulness.  Not to be confused with any kind of reli... [More]