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Thrive Carolinas / Lifestyle

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

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,...

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The Lost Art of Letter Writing

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,...

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The One-Mile Run Challenge

Presidential Fitness Challenge: The One-Mile Run

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...

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Summer, the Fire Element & Heart Balance in Chinese Medicine

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 Medicine, acupuncture, Qi Gong, meditation, breathwork, sports...

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The Return of the Presidential Awards The Push-Up Challenge

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

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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Why You Need to Pay Attention to Body Composition

By Nancy A. Palermo, MD Recent research continues to highlight the importance of strength training for health and longevity. As we learn more about the role of muscle in metabolic health and chronic disease prevention, it becomes clear that building and maintaining muscle should be a key part of any wellness plan. However, as we build muscle, we can no longer rely solely on the scale to measure progress. The weight we have been striving for may be far less meaningful than our overall body composition. What Is Body Composition? Body composition refers to the percentages of fat mass and lean mass that make up your total body weight. Fat mass includes: Subcutaneous fat (the fat beneath your skin) Visceral fat (the fat surrounding your organs) Lean mass includes: Skeletal muscle ...

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PCOS Has a New Name: What PMOS Means for Women’s Health

Written by: Dr. Amy Fletcher Edited by: Thrive Carolinas For years, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, commonly known as PCOS, has been one of the most common yet misunderstood hormone conditions affecting women. Now, the condition has a new name: Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome, or PMOS. While the name may sound more complicated at first, the change is meant to make the condition easier to understand and more accurately describe what is really happening in the body. PCOS was never just about ovarian cysts. In fact, many women with the condition do not have true ovarian cysts at all. The older name often led people to think of PCOS as only a reproductive or gynecologic condition. But we now understand that this condition affects multiple systems in the body, including hormones,...

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Summer Health Do’s and Don’ts for 2026

Summer is a season of sunshine, vacations, outdoor activities, and time spent with family and friends. While the longer days and warmer temperatures offer many opportunities to recharge, they can also present unique challenges for your health. Whether you’re traveling, spending time outdoors, or simply trying to maintain healthy habits during a busy season, these summer health dos and don’ts can help you make the most of the months ahead. Key Takeaways Stay ahead of dehydration by drinking water consistently throughout the day—not just when you’re thirsty. Protect your skin with daily sun protection, even on cloudy days. Prioritize sleep and stress management to support energy, immunity, and overall wellness. Focus on sustainable habits rather than trying to be “perfect” during vacations and summer gatherings. DO: Prioritize Hydration Hydration...

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The Mind-Body Approach to Health: Hypnosis, Mindfulness, Qi Gong, and the Gut Brain Connection: 

By: Dr. Scott Greenapple We are consciously aware of only a small portion of what the mind-body system is processing. Much of our behavior is shaped by automatic, subconscious patterns. This is one of the key ideas behind mind-body healing. The body is constantly responding to signals beneath the surface: stress, breath patterns, emotional memory, muscle tension, digestive reactivity, and whether the nervous system feels safe or threatened. That is why practices such as hypnosis, mindfulness, and Qi Gong can be so helpful. They do not simply ask us to “think positive.” They help the nervous system experience calm, safety, and regulation. The Gut-Brain Connection The gut and brain are in constant communication. This is especially important with conditions such as IBS, where the digestive system can become highly...

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Why Sleep Isn’t Optional: The Health Consequences of Poor Sleep

Published: March 25, 2025 Updated: May 12, 2026 A Thrive Perspective on the Science of Rest In today’s busy, tech-filled world, sleep is often seen as optional, something we sacrifice in the name of productivity. But science tells a different story. Poor sleep isn’t just an inconvenience; it has serious health consequences. According to the CDC, over 50–70 million Americans experience sleep disturbances, and 1 in 3 adults don’t get enough sleep. On average, we’re sleeping 25% less than 70 years ago, and the impact is showing up in our physical, emotional, and cognitive health. Physical Health Risks of Poor Sleep Lack of adequate sleep is strongly associated with: Obesity Diabetes Cardiovascular disease Hypertension Regularly getting less than 6 hours of sleep per night increases your risk of heart disease significantly. A long-term Harvard...

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