by Leigh Ann Otte

Embryonic stem-cell research has been in the news lately. But how much do you really know about it? Where do embryonic stem cells come from? Why do many researchers want them when there are also adult stem cells? And what’s a stem-cell line?

We’ve published a quick Q&A to fill you in on the basics, and a more in-depth debate between two experts. Each expert weighs the facts and forms a different opinion. We’re interested: where do you stand?

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Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

by Leigh Ann Otte

Did you know your feet keep getting longer and wider as you age? That they can be larger at the end of the day? That foot doctors say the break-in period just doesn’t exist?

Yep. It’s all true.

Family doctor Susan Louisa Montauk compiled seven quick, simple tips to help you buy fashionable shoes that can help you avoid foot problems down the road. Here’s the list. Have foot problems already? She also wrote an article about that for us. It’s got remedies for foot odor, calluses, ingrown toenails, hammertoes–just about anything you can think of.

Do you have a favorite pair of comfortable shoes? What makes them so great, and how did you find them?

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Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

by Leigh Ann Otte

How cool would it be to get all the exercise we need one day a week? Frisbee, hiking, swimming … all in one fun Saturday, and you’re done!

Bummer. Looks like doctors aren’t too keen on the idea. They’re worried about stuff like muscle recovery, and sprains and strains, as Rita Beckford, M.D., explains in this week’s brief featured article. One injury can put you out for a few weeks, she points out. Fine. Master quickie fitness plan, thrown into the junk drawer.

But then again … there is that Harvard study. It found that some people (not all) benefited from weekend warrioring. Check it out in the box by the article.

Have you tried exercising once a week? What was the result?

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Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

by Leigh Ann Otte

Doesn’t summer just make your mouth water? Watermelon, plums, cherries, watermelon, tomatoes, corn … watermelon.

If there’s any time of year to start adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, summer would seem to be a prime one. And one way to add them is by tossing them into whatever you’re already making. This week, we’re featuring an article that gives tips on doing just that: “19 Easy Ideas for Adding Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet.” The author, registered dietitian Jill Weisenberger, gives creative ideas like, use spaghetti squash instead of pasta, and top grilled chicken or fish with salsa.

Want even more ideas? We have a huge list of healthy summer recipes here, most of which involve lots of fruits and vegetables. There are things like grilled watermelon, pineapple slaw, cantaloupe soup, cucumber yogurt dip and a treat called Frozen Fruit Crunchies.

What’s your favorite fruit or vegetable in the summer?

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Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

by Leigh Ann Otte

This week’s featured article is a quick but interesting read: three questions-and-answers about the all-important breakfast:

1. Why is breakfast called “the most important meal of the day”?
2. Why am I hungrier in the morning when I eat breakfast than when I don’t?
3. Are eggs bad for you?

Do you know the answers already? If not, you can read the answers here.

Did any of the answers surprise you?

Click here for our free health newsletter, featuring health-care information written by experts.

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

by Leigh Ann Otte

For most of us adults, body mass index gives us a good indication of how healthy our weight is. But for kids, things are different.

In this week’s featured article, pediatrician Vincent Iannelli explains what else doctors look at when determining whether a child’s weight is healthy. Yes, they consider growth, weight and BMI, but they also take into account things like puberty and how the weight has changed over time. “One red flag that might indicate a medical problem is losing weight or not gaining an appropriate amount of weight over the last few years,” writes Dr. Iannelli. “For a school-age boy, normal weight gain would be about 5 or 6 pounds a year.”

You can read the full article here: “Healthy Weight for Children: Why You Can’t Always Tell by Looking.”

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Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

by Leigh Ann Otte

Pop quiz: Should you eat before or after exercising?

It seems like before would be best because you need the fuel. But then again, afterwards, you tend to get hungry, and maybe your body needs replenishing, so … um …

We asked a registered dietitian to give us the expert’s take. Her answer? Basically, listen to your body. Here’s the article, in which she also tells what to eat either way. What do you tend to do?

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

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by Leigh Ann Otte

Did you have a good Fourth of July? Enjoy the sun? Spend time with family? Eat from the grill till you were stuffed and miserable? Sigh.

One problem many of us have is knowing when we’re full—and stopping eating at that point. In this week’s article, gastroenterologist Patricia Raymond explains this issue and gives tips.

Did you know that your meal should be no bigger than what you can hold in two cupped hands? Yep. Read on …

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

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by Leigh Ann Otte

Yes, you really are, according to our feature article this week. Theories as to why involve adrenaline and the cardiovascular system getting geared back up.

But the remedy isn’t sleeping in.

… On second thought, don’t tell anybody I said that. … Pushing snooze …

Read the article here. Are you surprised this rumor is true?

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

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by Leigh Ann Otte

This week, we’re featuring one of my favorite articles: “Are You Normal? The Difference Between Quirks and Mental Illness.” In it, you get to play psychiatrist. Four fictional people tell their brief stories, and you decide whether they need help. Then, a real psychiatrist gives you his opinion.

It’s an eye-opening article that answers interesting questions like, if you hear voices, do you have schitzophrenia? If your friends think you’re obsessively neat, might you have OCD? And what do panic attacks really feel like?

After you read the article, tell us what your score was! Did you guess right?

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com and a freelance writer, editor and blogger.

Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and get interesting, useful articles written by doctors.