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

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

We came across this cool company that lets you make your own energy bars through a fun and simple online process. You pick your ingredients—from the base bar to fruits and sweets and other fun stuff—and then order ‘em up.

We figured they’d make unique gifts or maybe tasty treats for yourself. So we asked two readers and a registered dietitian to test them out. They went through the process and received their baked bars not long after. Find out the results here.

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com.

by Leigh Ann Otte

Rumor has it that boiling leeches nutrients from vegetables. Steaming is better. But is that true?

Registered dietitian Janel Ovrut says yes. But steaming’s not the only way to preserve those nutrients. Microwaving and stir-frying are great options too.

She explains more in this week’s feature article, including how to steam if you don’t have a steamer, and whether you need to worry about the fat in stir-frying.

What’s your favorite way to prepare vegetables? What do you think is the tastiest?

Leigh Ann Otte is the managing editor of MyFamilyDoctorMag.com.

by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

Remember when the experts were telling us to eat more soy? Tofu, edamame—lap it up! Then, wouldn’t ya know it, we were told it causes cancer. Thyroid problems. Male infertility. Too much of a good thing …

In “The Soy Controversy,” registered dietitian Janel Ovrut considers the evidence to give us the bottom line: what we know and what we don’t about soy right now.

What do you think? Do you eat soy? Has it ever worried you? I, for one, love it. Roasted soy butter (like peanut butter), edamame, tofu … yum ….

by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

Did you know it’s legal to sell meat from cloned animals–but the USDA has asked companies not to because people are wary of it? We just posted a debate about whether it really is safe here.

Though meat from cloned animals isn’t supposed to be in your grocery store, meat from their offspring has been there for years. Proponents say it’s no different than regular meat. Skeptics say we don’t know that yet. What do you think? (You can share here or in the article’s comments section.)

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by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

Just around the corner loom … dum, dum, duuuuum … New Year’s resolutions! Let the dieting begin!

This week, we focus on one type of diet that has not only your waist size but your entire physical health in mind: the food combining theory.

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by Leigh Ann Otte, managing editor

Impending kiddie sugar high scaring the heck out of you? How ’bout enticing them away with a steaming bowl of boiled jack o’ lantern guts (i.e. pumpkin soup)?

We’ve scoured the Web (get it? spider? no? OK) and unearthed pumpkin recipes galore.

Whatever you pick, just don’t tell the kids it’s healthy … unless you really want to scare them.

Happy Halloween!

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• Healthy Halloween recipes–great for children, adults and parties.

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