Sugar sure is sweet, but the havoc it can wreak on your health is anything but. Overdo it on cookies, cakes, candy and the many other foods and drinks laden with this ubiquitous substance, and you could end up dealing with a host of issues and diseases including (but not limited to) Type 2 diabetes, … Read More
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How To Live Longer
Nobody lives forever, but you can add some time to your ledger and help ensure you remain healthy and active for more of your years with these simple-to-implement steps to take and habits to create. Since man came to understand his own mortality, the human race has been looking for a way to cheat death. … Read More
Stay Cool Treks
Central Alabama’s high July and August temps can often be oppressive, especially if you’re engaging in outdoor activities. One way to keep your cool is to stay in the shade. Check out these beat-the-heat hike options that beckon with woodland wonderlands. (Perry Lakes Park & Wildlife Sanctuary pictured above.) Cherokee Ridge Alpine Trail This … Read More
Easy, Peasy Pickles
Soon, your friend’s farm, area produce stands and neighbors’ (or yours!) backyard gardens will be brimming with homegrown cucumbers. And if you’ve got cucumbers, you can soon and without too much effort, have pickles. Quick refrigerator pickles are the easy path to pickle pleasure. You can take the cooked and canned route, but if you’re … Read More
Breast Health BFF
Dr. Pam Strickland provides the expert care and calming presence needed to fight the breast cancer battle, proving a formidable foe to the disease and a strong ally for her patients. Growing up in small-town Mississippi, Montgomery breast surgeon Dr. Pam Strickland didn’t know a single other student headed to med school. She only knew … Read More
Sun Smarts
Sunshine has multiple benefits. It’s warm. It’s pretty. And it delivers a good dose of the valuable vitamin D, which is important to our overall health. But, too much sun exposure also carries some serious risks, including skin damage (than can, among other things, lead to premature aging) and skin cancer, so safely getting enough … Read More
Smart Grocery Shopping
Droughts, inflation, global events: Many things affect food prices, and in the last year, they’ve been on the rise in several categories. No matter why they go up, and even if they go down, creating a grocery budget — and sticking to it — will help you lower your food expenditures. And a smart budget … Read More
Get Spring Clean
The weather is warming, flowers are blooming, birds are chirping — Spring is on its way, energizing everything in its path. Put your energy boost into a thorough spring-cleaning, using these ideas to get you started. Green Cleaning The urge to rid your home of all dust, grime and germs might lead you to pull … Read More
“Spring Has Sprung” Getaways
Looking for ways to enjoy the beauty and bounty of the spring season that’ll be fun for the entire family? Check out some of our favorite fresh-air Alabama destinations and one spot that’s right next door. (pictured above: Lookout Mountain in DeSoto State Park. Photography provided by DCNR) Hidden Treat Buck’s Pocket State Park is … Read More
Serious Stress Busting Foods
Would you like to feel more relaxed, energetic and less stressed? Then add this list of stress-busting foods to your diet. They’re good for you and taste great too! Avocados” Bananas usually get all the praise when we’re talking about potassium, but avocados are packed with potassium, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E too. All … Read More