Linda Ciotola

Greeting the Season with Gratitude

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With Thanksgiving just over, and the holiday season entering full swing, it is easy to be swept into the culture of consumerism and mindless over-indulgence.  This, combined with time pressure, to-do lists, and financial strain can leave you rushing through the season propelled by stress hormones, and collapsing into exhaustion on New Year’s Day.  Besides taking joy from the holiday season, and depleting both your energy and your pocketbook, the immune system and mood can both end up depressed.  Read more

Linda Ciotola

Defining Wellness & Well-being

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As autumn settles in, and with winter just around the corner, public service announcements send reminders about getting a flu shot in an effort to prevent the spread of disease.  Our culture reflects a philosophy that emphasizes the avoidance of sickness.  However, many people who are not sick would not describe themselves as being optimally well.  Read more

Linda Ciotola

National Health Education Awareness

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So many health issues have chosen October as their time to promote awareness, we decided to list a number of them and give you contact information about where and how to learn more:
1)  Brain Injury Awareness:  a brain injury occurs every 21 seconds as a result of bicycle and car crashes, sporting accidents, violence, and falls.  Prevention is the only cure.  For more information and a free resource kit, log onto www.biausa.org. Read more

Linda Ciotola

Wellness ABC’s

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While students are returning to school, for consumers interested in learning new developments in the health and wellness field, there is a lot to discover!  As the days grow shorter and the sun-drenched days of summer begin to fade, it is important to check your skin for any signs of change, especially if you have accumulated years of sun exposure:  a total body skin exam by a dermatologist beginning at age 50 or earlier in people with risk factors such as a personal history of skin cancer or with excessive sun exposure, then annually.  Read more

Linda Ciotola

National Kids’ Week occurs this month

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National Kids’ Week occurs this month.  Providing a safe, healthy environment in which children can flourish is the focus of this event. Unintentional childhood injury is the number one killer of children ages 14 and under.  The National Safe Kids Campaign sponsors a nationwide celebration of child safety and addresses such issues as bicycle safety, drowning, fires and burns, suffocation, poisoning, choking, and falls.  For more info contac www.safekids.org.

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Linda Ciotola

Swimsuit Season Has Arrived.

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Swimsuit season has arrived.  While many anticipate the mood elevating effects of sunny days, many persons, especially girls and women, dread shopping for and wearing a swimsuit.  Even females who are at or below a healthy body weight, often perceive themselves as “too fat” and focus on perceived physical flaws which make swimsuit shopping an anxiety- producing experience.  Comparisons with actresses and models whose photos have been electronically altered and who receive the services of a team of “beauty and fitness” specialists, lead to widespread body dissatisfaction.  Read more

Linda Ciotola

June Marks the Official Beginning of Summer

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June marks the official beginning of summer, end of school year, and a time when many folks plan a vacation, or just look forward to “vegging out”.  This summer, we invite you to experiment with a different kind of “veg-out” ~ adding more vegetarian meals to your diet.  Please, don’t scream, “no tofu”!  Read more

Linda Ciotola

Healthy Lifestyle While Avoiding Dieting

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This month we focus on how a healthy lifestyle while avoiding dieting can help prevent eating disorders and osteoporosis while reducing cancer risks and delaying the decline into the disability zone.

The mixed messages which bombard us daily attempt to sell diet books and products, lead to unrealistic expectations regarding weight and appearance while also advertising super-sized portions and encouraging sedentary lifestyle.  Read more

Linda Ciotola

Spring is Here!

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Spring is here at last and is the perfect time to consider starting a garden.  According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, gardening provides a wheelbarrow full of benefits.  First, all the physical activity involved in gardening, like pushing the wheelbarrow, pulling weeds, raking leaves, digging holes, and so on improve endurance, strength, and flexibility – while    burning 300 calories per hour or more! Read more

Linda Ciotola

National Nutrition Month

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Discover how to choose and prepare foods that are both healthful and delicious. Beyond physical well-being, your mood depends upon well-balanced eating. Missing out on key nutrients, either by dieting or over-eating nutrient – poor foods can put you at risk. Follow these guidelines: Read more