Your Health

Knowledge, as they say, is power. This is certainly true when it comes to health. It’s not only healthcare professionals who need to stay in the know. Patients, too, can and should arm themselves with knowledge as a way of becoming more proactive about their own care. An increasing number of people are doing so.

Owning a pet—especially a dog—may be associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels and can have a positive effect on the body’s reactions to stress, according to a recent American Heart Association scientific statement, which reviewed previous studies on the influence of pets. In one study of 5,200 Japanese adults, for example, dog owners were 54 percent more likely to get the recommended amount of physical activity and engaged in significantly more walking and physical activity than those who didn’t own dogs.  

Comfort food goes healthy

Ginger makes this soup especially warming. Packed with the nutrition of fresh veggies, this easy dish is low in fat and a good source of fiber, with corn adding texture. If you can find fresh corn, simply saw it off the cob and throw it into the soup with the chopped chicken at the very end of your cooking time.  

Ingredients

Prevention and treatment strategies for arthritis

We tend to think of osteoarthritis—and the joint stiffness and pain it brings—as an inevitable part of aging. But you can reduce your risk of developing it, and researchers are making discoveries that could lead to better therapies.