It’s no secret that many women suffer through their monthly periods, experiencing cramps, bloating and lower back pain, to name just a few. But a large number of them—estimated at anywhere from 30 to 90 percent—also endure the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Most women feel some discomfort before their periods. But if you have PMS, you may feel so anxious, depressed, or uncomfortable that you can't cope at home or at work.

Fats have gotten a bad rap. Cruise any supermarket aisle, and the promises of “fat free” and “no trans fats” leap from the shelf. Confused consumers trying to eat well mistakenly eschew any kind of fat - and think they’re doing their body a favor. The fact is there are good fats and bad fats and it is important to know the difference.

Here is something to chew on: eating the right kind of fat isn’t just delicious, but it is necessary for optimum health. Some fats are so important that they are called essential fatty acids, and are essential for proper cell function, brain functioning (especially in children), hormonal balance, for calming inflammation, and for maintaining healthy skin and hair.

As the holidays approach there are opportunities for green purchases beyond the usual toys and special gifts. The world surrounding a new baby, in particular, the laundry room, is full of choices for green purchases. 

For such a little person, a baby sure goes through a lot of laundry: diapers, bibs, sleepers, undershirts, blankets, sheets, socks, pants . . . and of course all the items the baby spits up on that also need to be cleaned—often. That’s why having a baby in the house turns the mundane washer and dryer into wonder machines of incredible convenience. This increase in laundry loads is also a good reason for you to focus your green efforts on the laundry room.

The recent teasers of chilly days have sent me scampering to use up what’s left in my garden before nature decides it’s truly time to frost. It is a good time to make pesto.

In Italy, pesto, a paste of herbs, olive oil and Parmesan cheese, is used for everything from spreading on bruschetta to slathered on a Panini to stirred with hot pasta noodles until the parmesan melts delightfully. Traditionally made with garlic, basil and roasted pine nuts, I like to add spinach to my pesto as well. It cuts the powerful basil nicely and adds a nice nutritional boost while making the endeavor more economical if you have to buy your fresh herbs at the store.

Having trouble buying the highest-quality seasonal organic produce? Unable to find a wide variety of natural and organic fruits and vegetables to bring home? Lack the backyard space to grow your own natural and organic foods?

If you live in an area where shopping for organic food poses a challenge, don't throw in the all-natural kitchen towel! Many Americans in similar circumstances have found the perfect solution: community supported agriculture, or "CSA." First popular in Japan and Switzerland in the 1960s, the CSA movement has -- pardon the pun -- taken root with a vengeance in the United States, where it is sometimes referred to as "subscription farming."

How, exactly, does a CSA work?

When you spend enough time working with people who are in pain, you hear it all: anger, fear, hope—but mostly frustration. Whether you are going through a treatment program for your back pain with a chiropractor or physical therapist, or trying your own exercise program (Yoga, Pilates, pumping iron at the gym, etc.), if you’re not getting relief, let me share with you a widely known “secret.” 

Knowledge Is Power

Our mission is to inspire you through education. We know that people who understand their situation and their condition get better care and faster results, regardless of the type of treatment they are going through. The reason is simple: They have more control. 

Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. The fiery glory of the leaves during my college years in Maine. The alpenglow on the mountainsides near my home in the Rockies. Pumpkin patches and fresh apple cider straight from the press. Thanksgiving, the most important holiday tradition in my family, and all of the annual rituals of the harvest.

As a father and pediatrician, I’ve changed many diapers—enough to teach me that diapers are a daily reminder that as humans we deplete resources as we consume, and we make messes with our waste.

Those landfill diapers that are so easily tossed into the trash are clearly a major ecological issue. But what about the energy, water, and often chlorine involved in laundering cloth diapers? Comparing the environmental impact of different types of diapers has been the subject of a number of studies—with differing results often linked to the vested interests of those behind the study.

Ever since man discovered the luxurious taste of fermented fruit, wine has been a prized commodity. It has also proved to have many health benefits. Consumed in moderation, white wine can improve lung function. Drinking a modest amount of red wine (no more than one glass per day) increases cardiac output and arterial elasticity. Drinking even one glass of red wine a week may reduce the risk of senility or Alzheimer's disease. Some studies show wine helps eradicate the bacteria that cause peptic ulcers.

Reading current magazines, we learn there is a new awareness regarding British food amongst the more educated public. I will let you into a secret, we had all those foods and chefs back in the 50's, we just did not go public and being our nature to keep quiet about things, we did not share our good fortune. However, in these techno times, publicity is important.

Since the time of William the Conqueror in 1066, cheese has played an important part in both the diet and economy of the British. But over the past two decades there has been an upsurge in the making of cheese and being a Brit, I am in the process of writing about the great variety of farm cheeses produced across the British Isles by cheesemakers who are passionate about what they do. In fact, Wales, Scotland and England can boast over 450 unique Farm cheeses.

Cheese can be split into two types: Traditional and Modern and those into three distinctive groups. The first group in the Traditional are Cheddar, Double Gloucester, Single Gloucester and Red Leicester- all mostly handmade, wrapped in cloth and left to mature for months, even years. The second group is the Crumblies which have a higher moisture content and are crumbly in texture. This group consists of Caerphilly, Cheshire, Lancashire and Wensleydale. The next grouping is Blue Cheese with Stilton and other less known blues - Shropshire Blue, Blue Cheshire, Blue Wensleydale, Blue Vinny and Yorkshire Blue.

The statistics are staggering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

The number of overweight children ages 6 to 11 has more than doubled over the last 20 years -- from 7% in 1980 to 18.8% in 2004. The number of overweight teenagers (ages 12 to 19) has more than tripled, increasing from 5% to 17.1%. About 61% of overweight youngsters have at least one additional risk factor for heart disease, including high cholesterol or high blood pressure.