Have you ever dipped an apple into lemon juice to prevent it from browning? That browning process is called oxidation, and the same thing happens inside our bodies. Lemons minimize the damage caused by oxygen exposure because they are a rich source of antioxidants.

Just like our bodies, our skin needs regular maintenance to stay healthy. Gravity, environmental toxins and ultraviolet light cause damage, especially to our face. Even though professional facials are relaxing and effective, they can be costly.

Nature is your skin’s best friend, and its worst enemy. We get a dose of vitamin D just by being outside, but environmental toxins, the sun’s ultra violet rays, and allergies can send your beauty regime into overdrive. Brand name beauty products can be expensive, and they don’t always do what they promise.

Nutritional information can be found on most forms of processed food. The black and white Nutrition Facts panel on packaged foods lists total calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates and more. Labels such as “trans-fat-free,” and “fat-free” tout health benefits, but aren’t always the best food choices.

Long summer days filled with sunshine and outdoor activities leave us yearning for light meals that don’t heat up the kitchen. The following salads serve four, are delicious, and provide the nutrients your body needs to recover from those sweet, summertime adventures.

Memorial Day is the official opening of swimsuit season. If thoughts of exposing your body make you want to hide in the dark, the following suggestions will steer you back into the light.

When spring rolls around, people often clean their bodies just as they would clean their homes. For thousands of years people have detoxified as a way to remove harmful substances from the body. Today, detox diets are one of the cornerstones of alternative health, and for some, a quick way to lose weight.

Our metabolism is like a combustion engine. It turns food into fuel, and it is responsible for producing, maintaining, and destroying material substances to drive vitality. Every part in our body depends on the metabolism of calories for energy, and a souped up engine burns most effectively.

When we feel stressed or depressed, we often reach for fatty comfort foods to alleviate the distress, and a recent scientific study uncovers why. Researchers at the University of Leuven in Belgium, found that consuming fat reduces negative emotion. The study discovered that participants who received fatty acids through a feeding tube were about half as sad as participants on a placebo.

Just like our bodies, our skin needs regular maintenance to stay healthy. Gravity, environmental toxins and ultraviolet light cause damage, especially to our face. Even though professional facials are relaxing and effective, they can be costly.

Many people wake up refreshed and ready to move, motivated to exercise for the sheer pleasure it brings them. Working out is a mood booster that leaves them feeling energized, and without it, they feel restless and uncomfortable. For these people, exercise is an innate pleasure, important to their sense of well-being.

Nothing can brighten your day like hearing a favorite song. Music lifts your spirits, and can give you an instant jolt of energy. That’s useful because during a workout, music soothes unpleasant feelings brought on by intense exercise.

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This year, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports challenges Americans to get moving for health, and to get active and fit in May.

Cloudy skies and cold temperatures can depress motivation. Snow and ice seem to melt our best efforts, and drive us to reach for a good book instead of workout clothes. With a change of attitude, you can turn snowy days into new winter fitness adventures, using nature as your playground.

Besides burning calories and building muscle, dancing engages creativity and opens new learning channels within the brain. Through dance, an individual builds strong emotional, cognitive, physical and social assets.

Elderly bones fracture easily because over time, bone tissue becomes thin and brittle. Osteoporosis, the most common type of bone disease, occurs when the body doesn’t form enough new bone, or when old bone is absorbed by the body.

Maintaining healthy knees is critical for anyone who leads an active lifestyle. Knees can be achy or tight and may pop or swell. Cartilage damage, injured hips and weak feet, or excess body weight contribute to knee pain, and minor structural misalignments can lead to injuries and arthritis later in life.

Just because the weather outside is frightful, doesn’t mean your skin has to be. Cold, dry air can leave skin red, blotchy and dehydrated. With the right care and nutrition, you can turn a fresh face towards winter doldrums.

As the seasons change, so can your mood. For some, the shorter days and longer nights trigger the “winter blues,” a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This usually occurs at the same time every year, and people who live in places with long, cold nights are at greater risk.
 
Like all forms of depression, it occurs more often in women than men. Symptoms build slowly, and intensify as autumn’s splendor bleaches to winter white. Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett recommends taking steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.

Aging gracefully is like a well performed dance; it requires repetition and challenge— both mentally and physically. Loss of motor skills and memory can be avoided with exercise and mental stimulation, the keys to a youthful body and mind.
 
A flexible body and fluid mind are hallmarks of youth, and Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett says that besides being fun, dance is a mind-body experience that requires focus, coordination, and learning new moves.  All of these skills can slow down the aging process.

Celebrate the harvest season and thank your family and friends by serving a bounty of nutritious options this Thanksgiving. Overindulgence often goes hand-in-hand with the holiday season so in case your loved ones can’t resist, save them the guilt with these low calorie recipes. They’re delicious and nutritious too!
 
Along with a beautifully roasted turkey, dress your holiday table with an abundance of colorful food. Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett says that eating healthy can be just as filling and satisfying as those high calorie favorites.