At this time last year, most of us had no idea whether summer camps would be open for 2020, as COVID-19 spread throughout the world. This year, though the pandemic is far from over, things are looking a lot better for kids longing for a summer full of friendship bracelets, swim classes, sun burns, and silly songs — and for parents hoping to give kids some of those quintessential experiences. Some summer camps are filling up already, but if you’re still on the fence about whet...

Just as our bodies tend to atrophy the older you get, so do our brains. We all know you can keep your body physically fit to stave off an inevitable decline, but can we do the same with our minds? Despite what you may think about your brain being a hardwired organ incapable of reinventing itself past a certain age, there are ways to forge new cognitive connections through a concept called neuroplasticity—the ability of neural networks in the brain to establish new connections in response to new...

Vitamin A is afat-soluble, essential vitamin. Vitamin A  helps the eyes, immune system, and organs function properly. It is available through animal and plant-based foods.  Here are five science-backed benefits of vitamin A and how much you should be eating each day:  1. Vitamin A preserves eyesight Vitamin A is important for maintaining night and dim light vision because it forms pigments - molecules that help you see color - in your eye that are required for night vision...

Now that we’re more than a year into the pandemic, certain eating challenges have emerged from the disruption of our daily routines, limited opportunities to dine out and the anxieties that come along with job and financial insecurities. Here are some common pandemic eating problems and how to handle them. You’re grazing all day or snacking through lunch A handful of nuts here, a few chips there, a taste of chocolate, a bite of leftovers — if this scenario rings a b...

Despite what widespread healthy eating wisdom would have us believe, variety isn't necessarily the spice of life when it comes to diet, and I'm living proof: I eat pretty much the same thing (nearly) every day. And if you've ever wondered what eating the same foods every day does to your overall health, well, it's not as "bad" as you may think. Now, I'm not one of those people who eats nothing but cheesy potatoes, nor am I a Soylent bro. The fact of the matter is, I love food. In fact...

For parents of kids who are picky eaters, introducing any new food item into their diets can be a challenge. That challenge gets even more complicated when parents try to introduce kids to vegan or vegetarian diets—especially when they’re doing it at older ages The good news? There are a lot more options now than in the past. Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, a holistic nutritionist, vegan chef, cookbook author, and television personality, points out that plant-based food products have improved in...

One of the reasons yoga is so valuable for stress relief is that it incorporates dynamic, or moving, stretches. Moving stretches activate your range of motion, circulating blood and oxygen and delivering nutrients to tissues. This powerful combination is incredible for melting away muscle tension. What's more, Harvard University research has found that activities like yoga that combine deep breathing and active stretching can help reduce stress, tension, and inflammation in the body. Here are...

Most people can't go a morning without coffee. The taste and the very quick jolt of caffeine can make all the difference in your day. But there are actually some real health benefits to drinking a cup of coffee — they go way beyond just making you feel wide awake (although we love the energy rush, too). Examining it closely, coffee has pretty incredible health benefits as laid out by a suite of developing research in the scientific community, namely a decreased risk of developing certa...

If you're the kind of person who preps for a walk by throwing your shoes on and heading out the door, it may be time to rethink your routine. "Many people often skip stretching before walking because they consider walking to be a light or minimal intensity workout," physical therapist Chanha Hwang, PT, DPT, CHC, founder and owner of Fatherly Health and Wellness LLC, told POPSUGAR. "The reality is that stretching before walking allows muscles to warm up, which increases range of mo...

If you think marathon runners are incredible — but the idea of lacing up sneakers yourself makes you dread a workout like it's the Presidential Fitness Test in fourth grade — it's time to reframe that narrative. After all, with most gyms closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic and Zoom fatigue being completely real, getting out for some fresh air might be the perfect antidote for your housebound muscles (and mood). And since all you need for a great run are your sneakers and yourself...