I was fascinated to discover from heart experts at Cleveland Clinic that I was no bigger than a poppy seed when my heart first began to beat during my mom's 4th week of pregnancy. With no effort on my part, my heart beats 100,000 times a day. Each minute, this 10-ounce muscle pumps 1.5 gallons of blood through 6 thousand miles of vessels to ...Read more

In spite of the sub-zero cold, at least one reader in Minnesota continues to keep his spirits up. "If you smile while reading this," he writes, "please rise to the occasion and pass it on to someone having a crumby day and kneading a lift."

I'd say we all do, Chuck. Thanks for your take on this old familiar news story:

"Sad news from Minnesota...Read more

I have to admit I was pretty proud of myself when I unpacked the leftovers from my lunch bag this week. Almost by accident, what I had pulled out of the fridge as I ran out of the house turned out to be a fairly balanced meal: the last bit of turkey soup I had thawed from my freezer and reheated for dinner the previous night, the remainder of a ...Read more

Q: My husband was recently diagnosed with kidney stones (lots of them!) and has been advised to limit high oxalate foods. He was also treated for prostate cancer a while back and also has been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Trying to come up with a mostly vegetarian diet that manages these three conditions seems to be impossible. Is this ...Read more

It's still January. How are those New Year's resolutions coming along? Nutrition experts tell us our biggest challenge to long term health is sticking to a plan for the long term. Not that our intentions aren't honorable. It's just that words like "routine" and "consistency" don't often match life's erratic and unpredictable circumstances.

How ...Read more

Nutrition professionals have been singing their praises for years. Nuts (the type you eat) are rich in healthful fats and protein. In fact, a typical 1 ounce serving of nuts (unsalted, please) has as much protein as 2 ounces of meat, according to the most current Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

We have our favorites although most experts tell...Read more

Let the celebrations continue ... at least until the clock strikes midnight on December 31. That's when grocery shopping quickly turns from eggnog and butter to salads and water.

Not surprising, the number one resolutions on January 1 are aimed at getting back into shape. There is a difference, however, between a resolve and a goal, say experts...Read more

My recent column on nutrient supplements brought a few letters from readers.

David L. from Lincoln, Nebraska (Go Big Red!) wrote. "I thoroughly enjoyed your article about supplements/nutrition. I do have one suggestion which needs to be passed on to the public! You wrote about calcium and vitamin D; however, you did not mention the necessary ...Read more

I tried something new before my grandchildren started decorating their gingerbread houses this year. I made them a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and milk. Didn't work. They took a few bites and in excited anticipation said, "I'm through, Grammy. Can we decorate the gingerbread houses now?"

As expected, a lot of sugar sprinkles and ...Read more

Q: I (and maybe many others) have usually pulled off many of the strings that are on the segments of tangerines and clementines and discarded them. I do this because they occasionally get stuck between my teeth, but probably more so because of aesthetics. I now am wondering whether I have been discarding valuable 'fiber' or should I be mainly ...Read more

I often get asked, "What supplements should I take?" My pat answer: Tell me first what you eat.

That seems to be the conclusion of the latest position paper on this topic by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Micronutrient supplements (those that contain vitamins and minerals) are warranted, when our nutrient requirements are not being met...Read more

Call me a traditionalist but there's no way my Thanksgiving turkeys and pumpkins get replaced with red and green Christmas decor until December 1. Gift ideas are another matter. It's never too early to shop, right? Here's a few ideas that will last longer than Christmas morning:

-- Sustain the environment. For the take-your-lunch-to-school-or-...Read more