kbarnes 
I don’t know about you, but I get pretty tired of apples and oranges and plastic tubs of organic lettuce and plastic tomatoes in the winter. So I couldn’t be happier with the advent of spring and the vastly expanded array of fruits and vegetables now available. Variety is the spice of life, so we … Read more
By now, most of us have happily heard that a daily glass of wine (my favorite!) can be a big health promoter – dozens of studies have shown that the antioxidant compounds in wine (especially reds) can lower heart disease risk. But surveys show that beer is Americans’ favorite adult beverage—with 46% choosing it most … Read more
Now that much-anticipated beach vacations, gardening, outdoor sports and other outside summer activities are on our calendars, it’s time to practice ways to protect skin from sun damage. The medical profession has reported loud and clear that too much exposure causes dryness, wrinkling, premature aging and even skin cancer. Yet, many people don’t understand that … Read more
You’ve no doubt seen the “Buy Local” bumper stickers around town and maybe wondered what the big deal is. Now that spring is in full swing and early crops are starting to come in, there’s no better time to get your hands on the freshest, most nutritious food possible. If you’re growing your own garden, … Read more
From Dr. Hyla Cass and Kathleen Barnes, authors of 8 weeks To Vibrant Health: A Take Charge Plan for Women. It’s almost impossible to exist in today’s world without stress. We all feel it. The pressure of job, home, kids, health, finances go on and on. And now we’re “lucky” enough to have cell phones … Read more
Spring is here and along with it, for many of us, the misery of allergy season has begun. As grass grows and trees begin to bloom, the celebration of spring is doused by a deluge of pollens accompanying the misery of a stuffy head, drippy nose and sinus headaches. An additional and unwelcome element: It … Read more
If you’re like 43% of all Americans, you have trouble sleeping at least one night a week. I have the problem occasionally and I’ve found natural and effective ways to lull myself to sleep or back to sleep when I awaken in the middle of the night. Please! At all costs avoid sleeping pills of … Read more
The laundry list of the health risks linked to lack of sleep is growing longer and more frightening. Several new studies have unveiled a truly jolting series of results that boil down to this: Lack of sleep results in brain damage, brain shrinkage, poor memory and Alzheimer’s disease. Here is the down low on the … Read more
“I’m so tired,” Janna complained while we sat on her front porch, reveling in a balmy evening and sipping a glass of iced herbal tea. I looked over at Janna and noticed her dry, brittle hair and skin to match. I remembered her complaints of joint pain. Her symptoms could have been a sign or … Read more
So you’re thin? Your child is thin? You think a soft drink (loaded with 17 teaspoons of sugar in just 12 ounces) here and there won’t hurt? Think again. MRIs are showing that thin adults and children are accumulating lethal abdominal fat around their organs, even if it’s not visible from the outside. Research shows … Read more