Some researchers at the University of Nottingham think they have the low-down and dirty on why diseases such as asthma appear to be so much more common in the developed world:

We’re not wormy enough.

Well, that’s a bit of a simplistic way of putting it, admittedly, but it’s basically accurate. [Read more →]

Whether you’re attending a Super Bowl party or hosting an anti-Super Bowl knitting circle this Sunday, guacamole is an ideal festive food to share with the friends. It’s rich, creamy, delicious, and nutritious to boot - thanks to the amazing avocado!

Now, you may have heard that guacamole was fattening. But don’t fret: Avocados contain the good kind of fat, the monounsaturated kind that can help to lower levels of bad cholesterol. True, one cup of avocado contains 1/3 of your fat quota for the day, but for once-in-awhile big events, go ahead and dip that tortilla chip!

Think twice about grabbing that pre-made “guacamole” at the supermarkets. Some blends contain very little real avocado - just fats, oils, and sometimes even potato as filler!

Luckily, whipping up your own guac can be quick and easy. Guacamole recipes abound, featuring tasty add-ins like mango, papaya, and cilantro. Others substitute avocado for lower-fat options like asparagus.

I make a modest, super-simple mix that gets gobbled up quickly and only requires 4-6 ingredients. [Read more →]

So, here we find ourselves in the frosty grip of winter … again. It just doesn’t seem to get better before it gets worse. With most of the country firmly ensconced in a deep freeze and battling record snowfall levels, it is not uncommon for a Canadian to feel a bit blue right about now.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can creep up on any one of us, not just those already suffering from the often debilitating effects of chronic depression or anxiety disorders.

Pharmaceutical sales soar in the area of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, but often sufferers choose to take a more natural approach.  And one of the top-selling herbal products in North America is widely used by these sufferers: St. John’s wort. [Read more →]

John Updike, the prolific, award-winning author has passed away at the age of 76. His death is due to complications of lung cancer.

Updike may be best known for his “Rabbit” novels about Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom, books for which he won the Pulitzer Prize twice over. He wrote often about relationships, sex, marriage, and family, though his interests ranged widely. He wrote about religion, politics, science, and history, among many other topics.

His 2008 novel “The Widows of Eastwick” was a follow-up to his earlier hit book “The Witches of Eastwick” (which itself was made into a film featuring Jack Nicholson as the Devil). A new collection of stories is due out later this year called “My Father’s Tears and Other Stories”.

Some of Updike’s later work turned to the question of aging. In an October 2008 interview in the Daily Telegraph, Updike explained how he handled getting older: [Read more →]

Do a search for Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” on YouTube, and you’ll find the original video clip: Beyonce and 2 other ladies gyrating through 3+ minutes of intense, awesome, and very aerobic dancing.

Keep searching and you’ll also find lots of aspiring Beyonce’s: The young, not-so-young, fit, not-so-fit, male and female alike - all fist-pumping and hip-shaking with all they’ve got.

I giggle when I watch these homemade videos, but I’m reminded of the times back in my ‘tween days when I would dissect video choreography and try to copy the moves of Madonna or Janet Jackson. And when I watch that Beyonce video I feel that old, familiar urge to try the moves myself.

And as it turns out, I can move like Beyonce - in just 6 steps! [Read more →]

My eyes are a bit bloodshot and I’m feeling a sore throat coming on. It seems that after a week of coughing, high fevers, and a visit to the pediatrician, I have finally caught my daughter’s cold.

She’s small and cute, I mean, you could probably fit her in your pocket if you tried, but this cold was anything but cute! [Read more →]