Healthy Life Archives - Page 2 of 39

Fermented foods for gut health including yogurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut

Fermented Foods: A Simple Way to Support Your Gut and Your Overall Health

September 2, 2026

Healthy Eating, Healthy Life, In The Kitchen, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine, Nutrition

By: Harlee Palmer Edited by: Thrive Carolinas You may have heard that fermented foods are good for your gut. But what does that actually mean, and why should you care about the bacteria in your digestive tract? The answer starts with your gut microbiome: the trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that live primarily in your digestive tract. These microbes do much more than help you digest food. They interact with your immune system, influence metabolism, help produce important compounds, and communicate with other parts of your body—including the brain. One of the simplest ways to support this community is to regularly include fermented foods in your diet. What exactly is a fermented food? Fermentation is an ancient process in which microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast transform food. Think about what...

The Breath Challenge: Why the Simplest Thing You Do Every Day Might Be the Most Powerful

August 25, 2026

Acupuncture, Dr SG, Fitness, Group Fitness, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Scott Greenapple Over the summer, we invited you to join the food challenge we talked about. We added some exercise and movement challenges. Now it's time to talk about something you've done over 20,000 times today already, without giving it a second thought: breathing. It's the one function in your body that is both completely automatic and completely within your control. You don't have to think about breathing to survive, but the moment you do think about it, you gain access to one of the most powerful tools you have for your health. That's why this week, Dr.Greenapple is adding a third challenge to the list: The Breath Challenge. The Western View: Breath as a Direct Line to Your Nervous System From a Western medical standpoint, breath is...

Summer, the Fire Element & Heart Balance in Chinese Medicine

August 19, 2026

Acupuncture, Dr SG, Functional and Integrative Medicine, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine, Massage & Bodywork

By: Dr. Scott Greenapple Greenapple Acupuncture / Qi Gong / Meditation / Electro-Medical Acupuncture / Functional Sports Medicine / Dry Needling Thrive Carolinas Functional and Integrative Medical Summer is the season of expansion. The days are longer, the sun is stronger, and nature is in full bloom. In Chinese Medicine, summer is associated with the Fire element, the Heart, joy, connection, movement, warmth, and the full expression of life. But, as with all things in Chinese Medicine, balance is the key. A healthy Fire element brings warmth, enthusiasm, laughter, compassion, connection, and a sense of openness. When Fire becomes excessive or unbalanced, it may show up as anxiety, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, agitation, heart palpitations, overheating, digestive upset, or feeling emotionally “scattered.” In my almost 40 years of clinical practice, combining Chinese...

Presidential Fitness Challenge: The One-Mile Run

August 19, 2026

Blog, Dr NP, Fitness, Group Fitness, Health, Health Hints, Healthy Life

By Nancy A. Palermo, MD We know that when it comes to fitness, Americans are not doing well. Only about 28% of adults meet the physical activity guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and even those recommendations represent a relatively modest goal. That’s one of the reasons we introduced the Presidential Fitness Challenge this summer. While earning the Presidential Award is all in good fun, the real objective is to challenge ourselves to become stronger, healthier, and more resilient. This week, we’re focusing on one of the simplest and most powerful fitness tests: the one-mile run. Why Running Still Matters Only about 15% of Americans run regularly, meaning roughly 85% do not. Here’s the encouraging news: if you’re getting out and running, even if you have to slow...

Whole-food protein sources including eggs, fish, yogurt, beans and nuts compared with packaged high-protein foods.

Protein: Whole Foods vs. the “Added Protein” Trend

August 18, 2026

Dr TL, Health Hints, Healthy Eating, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine, Vitamins, Weight Management

Are foods with added protein as healthy as whole-food protein sources? Foods with added protein can help increase daily protein intake, but they are not necessarily as nutrient-dense as whole foods. Eggs, fish, poultry, dairy, beans, lentils, tofu, and other whole-food protein sources provide protein along with vitamins, minerals, healthy fats, fiber, and other beneficial nutrients. By Tracy Larson, MD Protein intake has been a major focus over the past few years, driven largely by the surge in GLP-1 weight-loss medications and shifts in how we think about aging and metabolic health. The goals of preventing muscle loss during significant weight loss and preserving muscle as we age have made protein a higher priority. Proteins are large, complex molecules that play critical roles in almost every process within the...

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

August 17, 2026

Dr NP, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine

By: Dr. Nancy Palermo “A letter does not have to be eloquent. It does not have to be long. It doesn’t even need to be sent. It simply needs to be real.” — Ronda Beaman, author of A Life in Letters Our world is built on speed, efficiency, multitasking, and producing work with very little thought. Letter writing, however, is wonderfully inefficient. It is slow, intentional, and thought-provoking for both the writer and the recipient. Writing a letter forces us to slow down and be present. It encourages us to reflect on why we are writing and carefully consider the thoughts and emotions we want to express. In doing so, we often organize our beliefs, process unresolved feelings, and gain clarity about experiences that have shaped us. Letters of forgiveness, sorrow,...

Healthy Grilling in 2026: How to Savor the Season Safely and Deliciously

August 17, 2026

Health Hints, Healthy Eating, Healthy Life, In The Kitchen, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine

Grilling is one of the simplest pleasures of summer. It brings people together, keeps the heat out of the kitchen, and adds flavor to everything from chicken and seafood to peaches, zucchini, and corn. As we pay closer attention to where our food comes from and how it supports our health, it is also worth considering how we prepare it. Grilling can absolutely be part of a healthy lifestyle, but a few simple choices can help reduce exposure to potentially harmful compounds while also protecting your family from foodborne illness. The goal is not to give up the grill. It is to grill more thoughtfully. Key Takeaways Choose lean, minimally processed proteins and make vegetables the foundation of the meal. Use moderate heat and avoid heavily blackened, burned,...

Colorful plate of fruits and vegetables illustrating the 3-color rule and eating the rainbow

The 3-Color Rule: A Simple Way to Eat the Rainbow

August 11, 2026

Dr NP, Health Hints, Healthy Eating, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Lifestyle Medicine

What is the 3-color rule for eating? The 3-color rule encourages you to include at least three different colors of plant foods in a meal. Different colors often provide different vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients, helping increase plant diversity and support gut health, heart health, immunity, and overall nutrition. It seems many people now look to social media for health information and recommendations. We have heard everything from Proteinmaxxing to Fibermaxxing, and now one of the newest trends is the 3-color rule. Many of these trends begin with science-backed ideas, but social media has a way of pushing recommendations to the extreme. Some of the people sharing this advice have no medical background and are simply trying to attract followers. Overdoing protein or fiber, for example, can lead...

Organized home office with clean workspace promoting focus, reduced stress, and mental wellness

The Health Benefits of Decluttering

August 5, 2026

Blog, Dr NP, Health Hints, Healthy Life, Lifestyle

Health Benefits of Decluttering By Nancy A. Palermo, MD We all have clutter in our lives: the junk drawer in the kitchen, the overflowing hall closet, or the growing pile of shoes in the bedroom. While clutter may seem like little more than a visual nuisance, research suggests it can significantly affect how our brains function. This week's challenge is simple: declutter one small area every day. Before you begin, let's look at why this habit can be so beneficial for your health. The Neuroscience of Clutter Managing clutter in both your environment and your mind can help improve attention, reduce stress, enhance cognitive function, and even improve sleep. Life gets busy, and clutter happens. But when we're surrounded by piles of papers, overflowing laundry, unopened mail, and disorganized workspaces, our brains...

A person demonstrating proper form push-up alignment on a fitness mat for strength training

The Return of the Presidential Awards: The Push-Up Challenge

June 23, 2026

Exercise, Fitness, Health, Healthy Life, Lifestyle, Running, Weight Management

Why are push-ups considered one of the best exercises? Push-ups are a highly effective bodyweight exercise that strengthens the chest, shoulders, triceps, core, and stabilizing muscles. They can improve strength, cardiovascular fitness, glucose metabolism, and overall functional fitness without requiring any equipment. By Nancy A. Palermo, MD The Presidential Fitness Award is given to those who can perform at least 25 push-ups (women) or 50 push-ups (men) in 60 seconds. One of the best things about push-ups? No gym. No equipment. No excuses. Yet many adults struggle to perform even a single push-up. So why should we make push-ups part of our daily routine? Because a single push-up can trigger measurable changes in the body related to muscle strength, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and even brain function. Imagine what 10, 25, or...

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Fermented Foods: A Simple Way to Support Your Gut and Your Overall Health

The Breath Challenge: Why the Simplest Thing You Do Every Day Might Be the Most Powerful

Summer, the Fire Element & Heart Balance in Chinese Medicine

Presidential Fitness Challenge: The One-Mile Run

Protein: Whole Foods vs. the “Added Protein” Trend

The Lost Art of Letter Writing

Healthy Grilling in 2026: How to Savor the Season Safely and Deliciously

The 3-Color Rule: A Simple Way to Eat the Rainbow

The Health Benefits of Decluttering

The Return of the Presidential Awards: The Push-Up Challenge

Where is a Patient to Go? Planning Unplanned Medical Care

Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Kebobs

Monday Motivation: Garlic & Gut Health

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