A Healthier Michigan

Gut health is connected to all other areas of personal health, including physical and mental health. Maintaining a healthy gut biome is important to support your body and the way it functions. There are foods that promote gut health in the way they are broken down and absorbed in the digestive system.

Having a family member in assisted living can be difficult for everyone involved. People who move into assisted living can struggle with a loss of independence, leaving their home or fears of fewer family visits. Family members of those in assisted living may feel guilt, helplessness and concern.

If there is an imbalance between the nutrients your body needs and the nutrients you are able to eat and absorb it can cause malnutrition. Undernutrition is most common condition associated with malnutrition but there can be other causes as well. Malnutrition includes undernutrition as well as overnutrition, or an imbalance of nutrients

Taking care of yourself and being mindful of your mental and overall health can be especially difficult when you are grieving. Self-care is important during times of loss, even though it may be difficult. Here are some ideas and tips for taking care of yourself and being mindful of your personal mental health while you grieve.

You are probably aware that eating more fruits and veggies is good for your health. When it comes time to prepare a meal, it can be difficult to know the best way to include and serve the proper amount of fresh fruits and vegetables or to break long-standing habits tied to food.

It can be difficult to know how to respond when a friend or loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Emotional support and encouragement can be helpful to cancer patients, but often, cancer patients have logistical, physical and financial needs that you can help them with. Here are five creative ways to help someone with cancer.

You may associate Labor Day with barbecues, fun and the end of summer, but Labor Day has long been tied to public health. The origins of Labor Day include movements for better workplace health protections and improved quality of life for workers. Here are some health benefits from Labor Day that may surprise you.

Activated charcoal has been showing up all over in recent years, from toothpaste to hamburger buns to supplements. The substance has a history of medical use as an antitoxin for ingested poisons, but more recently it’s become a social phenomenon for “detoxing.”

Putting sunglasses on a baby or infant is sure to be cute – but it’s also an important preventive choice to protect the child from sun damage. Learn when kids start to need sunglasses and how to pick out the right set of sunglasses for a baby or infant.

The first year of middle school is full of new experiences and challenges. Parents and mentors have an important role in helping kids acclimate and succeed in middle school. Learn some approaches and tips for helping kids prepare for middle school.

You may feel anxiety rising as summer nears its end and autumn and winter get nearer. This end-of-summer anxiety can be tied to a few causes. Learn how to recognize and deal with “August anxiety” or the back-to-school blues.

Reading out loud to your kids is a great way to spend time together and has multiple educational and emotional benefits for both kids and adults. Time spent together with books and stories can help kids’ reading and comprehension skills, as well as be a centering and calming practice for everyone involved, especially when reading together is part of a routine.

Every summer, the Perseid meteor showers grace the night skies above Michigan. Learn more about this celestial display and the best places and times to check them out in Michigan.

Alcohol is involved in cultural and social norms, including after-work decompression and socialization, but there are many ways to wind down after work and “chill out” that don’t involve alcohol.

This picturesque lakeshore village sits at the foothills of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Going to the beach is not only fun, but a great way to spend time outside and connect to the natural sights and sounds of an inland lake or one of the Great Lakes. The best way to make sure your beach day is a success is to be prepared. We’ve compiled a list of must-haves to include in your beach bag.

From Traverse City to Alpena and points in between, the northern half of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula is home to wonderful vacation destinations and plenty of natural beauty to explore. If you’re planning to be in the area, make a point to spend a day on foot, checking out some of the best hiking trails in Michigan.

Do you think you have to go “up north” to get an authentic Michigan hiking experience? You will be surprised by the diversity of sites to explore in mid-Michigan. Whether you are looking for a riverfront experience, big rocks or an urban adventure, there is plenty to discover in the middle of the Mitten state.

If you listen to music when you work out, you've got to read this post to design the perfect playlist to pump you up.

Check out some of the Michigan farms that are hosting sunflower festivals this summer and fall.

Whether you’re looking to escape to a natural setting or enjoy a quick hike on your lunch break, southeast Michigan has plenty of great trails to discover. Here are some ideas to get you going on your next hiking adventure.

Pack up some discs, grab some water and check out these popular disc golf courses across Michigan.

Michigan is known for its gorgeous water, woods, and natural beauty, as well as its role in the Great Lakes regional and national history. There are several National Parks and national-designated parks and trails in Michigan. We’ve listed them below with details for you to add to your summer itinerary or Michigan bucket list.

Grabbing your phone or switching on the TV or YouTube is second nature for many people. When there is a lull in the day or a moment of silence, it can be easy to fill that space with social media, entertainment or news that are always available at our fingertips. It’s important to set screen time limits for yourself.

Access to beaches and waterfront spaces is improving across Michigan as state parks and city beaches become places that people of all abilities can navigate.

UVA, UVB, UVC: What do these all mean? Here’s how to the know difference and protect yourself from their damage.

Michigan is home to many zoos, petting zoos, refuges, and specialty animal conservancies that are an exciting, fun and educational experience for the whole family. We’ve compiled some of the best zoos and conservatories from across the state.

The joy and affection that animals bring can cheer you up, calm you down, and keep your attention focused and in-the-moment. Not everyone can have a pet at home, and even if you do, you may find volunteering at a local animal rescue to be a rewarding experience. Learn five ways volunteering at an animal shelter can benefit your health.

While the sun can be healing, it can also be harmful. Make sure to protect your skin with sunscreen but remember skin protection from sunlight doesn’t stop there.

Adopting five new habits can help reduce your overall stress and have a positive impact on your life.

Social wellness, just like another area of personal health, requires care and attention. Your social health, just like physical or mental health, cannot be ignored until something is going wrong.

Self-care can help build and maintain mental health and resilience. Mental health is not something that can be ignored until something goes wrong. Just like any other area of your personal health, it needs to be maintained and checked up on.

Summer is here and the sun is shining. While you are enjoying the heat and daylight, you also have to protect your skin and body.

You can protect yourself against West Nile and other mosquito-borne diseases by avoiding contact with mosquitos. Here are five tips to help you do just that.

Damaged hair can say a lot about your health – keep your hair healthy in the hot summer with these diet tips and scalp treatments.

Shin splints are a common and painful overuse injury or condition usually caused by running, tennis, pickleball, dancing, or other standing exercises for extended periods of time. With some preparation, there are self-treatment tips for preventing shin splints or minimizing the pain from shin splints.

Lack of structure in the summer can lead to mindless snacking. Try these swaps to help kids eat right this summer.

During the summer months, Michigan supplies many local produce options including hot-weather crops such as strawberries, cherries, beans, blackberries, squash, and more. Summer fruits and veggies can be included in dishes to add nutritional quality and flavor. Try one of these summer-inspired recipes to make the most of the season.

It’s tempting to romanticize childhood as a time where the biggest concerns are who to sit with in the cafeteria, what your summer plans are, and what to spend your allowance on. Reality during childhood can often be a lot different than the ideal.

Diabetes can lead to conditions that affect your vision, such as glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Equip yourself with the knowledge needed to prevent these conditions by reading these tips.

Ready to mark the longest day of the year? Stick with us for tips on how to celebrate the summer solstice.

Don't sleep on homemade roasted pumpkin seeds this fall! Here is a basic recipe for this crispy, crunchy and delicious snack, plus two fun variations.

Does your fear of needles keep you from donating blood? Check out these ways to combat your fear and save lives in the process!

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is often associated with the coming of winter and loss of daylight, but it can also be brought on in warmer months and is known as summer onset seasonal affective disorder.

There are many products and games marketed as memory aids or mind-sharpening pastimes explicitly, especially for older Americans. Do these exercises really help with memory or have a noticeable effect?

Breakouts on the skin can be frustrating and uncomfortable. When a breakout happens, there are ways to manage the discomfort and the affected areas. There are also some products, behaviors, and foods to avoid for managing breakouts.

Festivals, parades and family-friendly activities are all on tap as Pride events fill up the summer calendar across Michigan in 2024.

The causes for summer anxiety and depression are broad, but some common causes can be found including sleep issues, schedule changes, and even summer onset seasonal affective disorder.

Allergens can easily find their way into your home and wreak havoc on your allergies or immune system. Learn how to identify how allergens are entering your home and some easy steps to take to avoid indoor allergens and improve the quality of the air inside.

Avoiding stress can be a tall task with the demands of life and everything going on around you. There are lifestyle changes or habits that can help to alleviate routine stressors or triggers for stress or panic.

Garden lovers, this is the season of so much anticipation. Major gardening activity typically waits until the soil warms up enough to plant the most common crops, and for us in Michigan, this usually means mid to late May

When a child suffers a fall or a blow to the head, concussion is a concern. It’s important to know the signs of a concussion, warning signs that need immediate care, and what to do for a child who may be concussed.

Learning another language will open new doors for you in your personal life, professional life, and social life. Learning a new language is a great way to focus on personal growth, stimulate your mind and your senses, and introduce you to new people and new possibilities.

Many triggers or allergies or allergens are found in the home or brought into the home from outside and continue to aggravate and trigger allergy symptoms in the supposed comfort of your own home. One of the most common culprits of allergens in the home is laundry and the laundry room.

Wild swimming, or open-water swimming, refers to swimming in natural waters, open water, or generally swimming outside and in natural waters. Wild swimming and open-water swimming has become more popular in recent years, especially with Americans looking for a mental health boost, since it ties together exercise and connection with nature.

Skin breaking out in acne or a rash can be scary, irritating and confusing especially if you are not sure what the cause is. Acne most commonly occurs during puberty, but up to 15% of adult women develop acne as well.

It is important to know about your skin, allergies or sensitivities, and skin type whether or not you have a chronic condition. Depending on the severity and extent of chronic skin conditions, certain products or medications may need to be added to a skincare routine.

Do you have plans this Memorial Day Weekend? Stop by one of the many parades and celebrations happening all over Michigan. Find a Memorial Day celebration near you.

While it’s exciting to head outside and enjoy nature, the change in season also means allergies. Here’s how to nip symptoms in the bud.

While no furry friend can truly be hypoallergenic, there are some dog breeds or types of pets are better choices for hopeful pet owners who have pet allergies. The cause of most pet allergies is not the pet itself, but the dust and dander that gets trapped in their fur, or allergens they carry inside on their fur.

When the body encounters allergens or foreign substances that trigger an immune response, it is known as an allergic reaction. The immune response that is triggered affects the skin, manifesting as irritation, redness, scaliness, hives, swelling, and more symptoms of an allergic reaction on the skin.

An awe walk is a hike or walk focused on enjoying and taking part in the natural world around you. To take part in awe walking, all that is needed is to focus on the world around you and awe-inspiring aspects of nature while you walk.

It’s time to get those Mother’s Day plans in order. Here are some food and activity-based ideas that the whole family is sure to enjoy.

This West Michigan town is known for its spring tulip displays. Here are some insider tips on scenic spots to see them in full bloom.

15 million Americans struggle with social anxiety disorder specifically, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. This can be an obstacle to regular life and comfort, with most adults with social anxiety reporting moderate impairment from their symptoms or anxiety.

May 6 to May 10 is Teacher Appreciation Week this year. It is common to celebrate teachers during this week with events, gifts, and an outpouring of appreciation and respect for teachers and their work. Here are some examples of acts that students and parents can use to show their appreciation for teachers.

Skin allergy tests can help care teams determine what allergies or sensitivities a patient may or may not have, based on the reactions and results to the test. There are three main types of skin allergy tests given: skin prick tests, intradermal skin tests, and patch tests.

It can feel like a constant effort to keep your kids eating healthy meals. Kids can also be notoriously picky, for a variety of reasons. Read on for some ideas for creating healthy meals for your kids and tips on getting kids to eat healthier.

It is common sense that being around nature, fresh air, and pleasant images or aromas from plants can be soothing. But are there actual healing benefits to healing gardens?

Ready to break out your clubs? You’re not alone. Here are some popular public golf courses to check out across the state.

Most commercially available and mass marketed ginger beers are simply ginger drinks or fermented ginger drinks without alcohol. Ginger beers that contain alcohol are labeled as alcoholic ginger beers.

The long-term effects of alcohol use do not go away as soon as you stop drinking or alter your drinking habits. Some noticeable changes and markers of recovery may show up as soon as days or weeks after beginning abstinence from alcohol.

When a panic attack hits, one can feel out of control or in extreme danger. Anxiety over the panic attack or attempts to avoid or prevent an oncoming panic attack can add to the feelings of urgency and panic.

Silent walking is the idea of a focused, silent walk without listening to music, podcasts, conversation, or other activities often used during runs or walks. The goal of silent walking is to focus your mind and body on the walk, on the world around you, and to use the walk as a meditative experience.

National Walk at Lunch Day is the perfect excuse to get outside after lunch and rack up some steps. Do it every day and the health benefits will rack up, too.

Vaccines prevent more than 2.5 million deaths each year and protect not only those receiving the vaccine, but also everyone around them, particularly those with weakened immune systems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Autism affects the way a person communicates and interacts with others. It does not affect all people equally, rather there are varying degrees of severity.

Karaoke fits the bill when it comes to many of the preferences Gen Z has for exercise. Karaoke can be a great group workout or exercise, it is a social and communal activity, and it can easily be done at home, at work or in social settings.

What you eat can have a significant effect on your stress levels and risk of chronic stress. Proper nutrition is an important element to handling stress and anxiety. Learn more about foods that can help manage stress and anxiety.

Microplastics are a concern to the environment and for human health. Americans on average consume between 75,000 and 120,000 microplastic particles a year. Read on for some suggestions on how to reduce your microplastic exposures through some lifestyle and consumption changes.

Michigan has an abundance of beautiful spots spread out across both the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. In the springtime, try heading to a corner of Northern Michigan known as the Cherry Capital of the World.

Ready to lower your blood pressure and feel more relaxed? Indoor plants might be a worthy investment. Let’s look at how they can make you feel better – and why.

Coloring has been found to be a therapeutic or meditative activity for many and can have multifold benefits, especially for adults with high levels of stress or anxiety.

The primary dangers related to sleep for infants, and risk factors for sleep-related infant deaths, involve the positioning of the child while sleeping, the materials and environment the child sleeps in, temperature, respiratory inhibitors and choking hazards. There are a few basic standards or rules to go by when setting up a safe sleep environment for your baby.

Exercise snacks are short periods of intense workouts, usually only two to minutes. The idea behind energy snacking is to have a few of these brief, intense workouts interspersed throughout your day.

What you eat certainly is directly tied to your health and wellness, but so is the time of day you eat. This is true especially when it comes to timing the largest meal of your day. How food affects your body can depend on the time of day it’s digested.

Adults 65 and older need at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, such as walking, but also at least two sessions of strength training a week. Besides moderate exercise and strength training, balance training and exercises are also recommended routinely for older adults.

Certain fruits and veggies are in-season in Michigan between March and September. Learn about each one and find out how long each growing season lasts.

Yes, biological age is real, but understanding the term and what is meant in comparison to chronological age is important. It's impossible to stop or slow time; as the years go by, you chronologically age.

The use and overuse of alcohol limits and inhibits your overall level of health and fitness. Alcohol suppresses many of your body’s main functions to different extents and can affect your ability to recover from illness and injury.

An exciting spring break can be found right here in Michigan. Here are six destinations to get you started.

There is not one color of noise that has proven best for sleep. Rather, each color of noise has unique qualities and affects different listeners in various ways. To better understand how color noises can help you with sleep or other activities, it’s best to understand how color noises got their names.

This spring, make sure you make time to get outside and play. And there’s nothing that says springtime fun like the bevy of Michigan festivals you can put on your calendar.

For a long time, there has been sentiment among runners and doctors that long-distance running, especially long-term and regular running, would predispose runners to arthritis or joint issues as they age. However, there's evidencethat challenges this long-held belief.

Make the most of the wonderful weather by getting your body up and moving. Springtime outdoor workouts can reinvigorate you after a long cold winter. Make sure you are staying healthy and moving this spring.

Look out for these 5 telltale signs that spring has hit Michigan. Whether you've been waiting for the blooms, for baseball starting up, or to get some ice cream from a Michigan ice cream stand, make sure to enjoy spring while it is here.

It will likely be easier to go through the time change with your baby if you take some steps ahead of time to prepare you both for Daylight Savings Time. These methods work to both “Spring Forward” and “Fall Back” for Daylight Savings Time if you adjust the sleep schedule in the right way each time.

International Women’s Day is set aside for us as a society to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of women, including their social, political, economic, and cultural impacts. This day developed from a long tradition over the past two centuries of protests and celebrations by women laborers and women’s rights champions.

These healthy pregnancy snacks incorporate many key nutrients and are also easy to prepare, transport and eat whether at home, work or on-the-go.

White strawberries are sweeter than red ones and can even smell tropical. Here’s what you need to know about this cream-colored fruit.