Jake Newby
8 Ways to Stop Holiday Stress Before It Starts
The holidays are as stressful as they are joyous. When it comes to shopping, traveling, decorating and family time, here are ways to mitigate the stress.
Find Your Fit: Barre Fitness Keeps Your Joints ‘Nice and Happy’ With Low-Impact Strength Training
Barre is a blend between ballet-inspired movements, Pilates, yoga and weight work. It's a strength training exercise that promotes flexibility and functional strength. And as one Southeast Michigan trainer can attest, it also creates a sense of community.
Foodie Focus: Bell Peppers are the Hero at the Detroit Pepper Company
Every stuffed pepper option at the Detroit Pepper Company starts off meat-free. Guests have the option to add cheese or meat to any of the signature stuffed peppers or entrées found on the East Detroit fast casual restaurant's menu.
How Weather Affects Your Lungs and COPD
COPD exacerbations occur most often when people living with the condition experience extremely cold or extremely hot and humid temperatures.
What is Sharenting? The Risks and Dangers of Oversharing Online
We all love to document moments with our children that mean a lot to us, but oversharing pictures and information about our kids online carries serious risk. The term for this habit is "sharenting."
What are the Benefits of Breathwork?
The basic principle of breathwork practices is to view the breath as a calming tool that accesses deeper states of awareness, healing and relaxation. Here are some techniques and benefits.
Veteran’s Day: Michigan Events, Ceremonies and Celebrations in 2024
More than 550,000 veterans of the United States Armed Forces call Michigan their home. Across the state, many cities, towns and municipalities will celebrate Veteran’s Day with parades, fairs, races and more.
How to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in Michigan
November is Native American Heritage Month. These Michigan sites and landmarks celebrate the rich and important history of Native Americans. Check out this list of Native American-owned businesses to support as well.
Find Your Fit: Bounce Your Way to a Great Cardio Workout Using a Mini Trampoline
Bounce is a cardiovascular-based, mini trampoline workout offered at fitness studios across Michigan. You can also do it at home. Before trying it, read what Ypsilanti-based fitness instructor Sarah Kreiner has to say about Bounce as a workout, and what beginners should know before they try it.
Foodie Focus: First Bite Endears Itself to Ann Arbor with Vegan, Organic and Gluten-Free Breakfast and Lunch Options
Locals and out-of-towners alike form a line out the door at First Bite each weekend. The breakfast and lunch restaurant's fresh, organic offerings mesh well with anyone's diet, and is popular among vegans and vegetarians.
Does Apple Cider Have Health Benefits?
Apple cider is a beloved fall beverage, but is it healthy? Learn more about its pasteurization process and nutrition value, here.
Detroit’s Pie-Sci Pizzeria Builds a Vegan Following with Plant-Based Pizza Options
Pie-Sci pizzeria on Trumbull in Detroit challenges the notion that vegan pizza fails to stack up to its meat and dairy-based counterparts.
The Benefits of ADHD Management Tools
Whether you respond better to digital resources like smartphone apps or materials like planners and sticky notes, ADHD management tools can help in a variety of ways.
Foodie Focus: Summertown Fresh Bar Fills a Fast and Healthy Restaurant Void in Corktown
Summertown Fresh Bar's additive-free smoothies and juices, and ever-expanding healthy breakfast and lunch programs, have endeared the restaurant to its Corktown neighbors since 2023.
Find Your Fit: Sneak a Full-Body Workout in at the Playground With These Tips
If you are one of those people that struggle to fit a workout into your busy schedule, you can be efficient and accomplish two things at once by working out on the playground while looking after your kids.
“I Had to Get Comfortable with the New Me.” Michigan Woman Reflects on Breast Cancer Battle
Rebecca Adams’ HER2-positive, stage 3A breast cancer diagnosis came as a shock. Extensive research and lifestyle changes helped her persevere.
Chartreuse Kitchen & Cocktails Settles in As One of Detroit’s Most Beloved Farm to Table Restaurants
Chartreuse was ahead of the "farm to table" curve when it opened in 2015. Clean, quality food, innovative dishes and an emphasis on hospitality have made it one of the most successful "new" restaurants to open in Detroit in the past decade.
Shed Calories and Build Friendships: POUND Fitness Combines Cardio, Pilates and Drumming
POUND is a cardio-based workout that incorporates Pilates, core strengthening and arm and leg movements. But you won't just burn calories; instructor and Grass Lake resident Crystal Scott can attest to POUND's mental benefits.
Do Prebiotic Sodas Benefit Gut Health?
Low-calorie prebiotic sodas have burst onto the scene in recent years. They claim to promote good gut health, but how credible are those claims?
Ken Hayward Reflects on Opportunities Baseball Granted Him After Induction Into State of Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame
Before he led BCBSM's social mission and community affairs efforts, Ken Hayward was an incredible college baseball player. He didn't realize it at the time, but his years as a ballplayer shaped his future in a major way.
Cooking with Que: Detroit Restaurant Owner’s Cooking Classes Show You How to ‘Eat to Live’
Converting to a vegan diet was a gamechanger for Quiana Rice's health. The lifestyle change set her on a career path and mission to help others choose cleaner ingredients and develop healthier cooking and eating habits.
‘It’s Not Something That Has to Stop Them:’ Grand Rapids Mother Discusses Daughter’s Tumultuous Journey with Juvenile Arthritis, Offers Advice to Others
Paisley Taylor of Grand Rapids was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis a few years ago. The diagnosis has sparked a passion for advocacy in Paisley's mother, Taylor, who knows the condition does not define her daughter.
Breadless in Detroit Turns the Afterthought into the Centerpiece with Healthy, Innovative Sandwich Concept
Breadless uses super-green vegetables like Swiss chard and kale to conceal savory, chef-inspired sandwich recipes. The fast casual restaurant has become a much-needed health food option in Detroit.
9 Iconic Michigan Ice Cream Parlors to Visit
From the upper peninsula all the way down to Jackson, Michigan is dripping with iconic ice cream parlors. How many of these classic Michigan ice cream spots have you tried?
Fourth of July Fireworks in Michigan: 10 Displays to Check Out in 2024
Looking for the best fireworks in Michigan in 2024? There are destination fireworks displays and festivals all over the state between June 26 and July 4.
Find Your Fit: Badminton is a Full-Body Workout with Mental and Cognitive Benefits
Badminton has been around for centuries, but we don't often think of it as a recreational sport we can play locally. Ann Arbor's Kim Yeow shares tips and discusses the sport's benefits and communal qualities.
Music Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease
Music therapy experiences may include singing songs, playing instruments, writing music, or listening to music and analyzing the lyrics. Music therapy interventions can address a variety of health care and educational goals.
Detroit Juneteenth Celebrations in 2024
Metro Detroiters can meaningfully celebrate Juneteenth 2024 in Detroit in a multitude of ways, from festivals to special dinners to educational events.
Can Gardening Improve Mental Health?
On top of growing your own food and plants, you could be relieving stress and improving your attention span every time you get in the garden.
5 Tips to Avoid Loneliness While Working from Home
Working from home has obvious benefits, but many of us who work remotely know it can also breed loneliness. These tips encourage movement and socialization. They may help you break up the monotony of the remote work day.
Find Your Fit: Qigong’s Low-Impact, Full-Body Movements and Mindfulness Techniques Can Benefit Older Adults
Qigong is part mindful activity, part exercise. Its low-impact, repetitive nature has made it an increasingly popular workout for older adults.
Aster Farm to Table Restaurant in Midland Focuses on Seasonality, Sustainability and Community
Beef from Stoney Grove Farm in Rodney. Whitefish caught in Lake Erie. Fresh tomatoes from Good Stead Farm in Hope. Michigan's incredible farming community is highlighted in every dish at Aster.
The Foodie Focus: Spotlighting Michigan Restaurants Focused on Clean Eating
The Food Focus series is coming to AHM this spring. Each month we'll chat with different restaurant owners in Michigan who prioritizes clean ingredients, sustainability or just general healthy eating. Let's dig in!
Find Your Fit: What is Tabata?
Tabata was originally created as a training method for the Japanese Olympic Speed Skating team in the early 1990s. But the HIIT-style workout is practiced in gyms all over the United States today. Here's what it's all about.
Opening Day in Detroit: Saginaw Super Fan Sammie Telder Never Misses a Game
Saginaw native Sammie Telder doesn’t miss many pitches, swings or catches during the 162-game regular season. She can't wait to see how her Tigers perform this year.
Find Your Fit: What You Need to Know About Rucking, from a Michigan Resident Who Fell in Love with it
Osceola County resident Donnie Dwyer gravitated toward rucking for its low-impact, resistance-based nature. More than just a sneaky good workout, rucking's communal element has been a boon to Dwyer's social life.
Mindful Parenting: Celebrating Inchstones
We're used to celebrating our children's big milestone moments. But it can be valuable for both the parent and the child to celebrate the smaller triumphs, too.
Find Your Fit: WERQ Dance Fitness is for Everybody and ‘Every Body’
Fitness instructor Monica Sanders is one of the pioneers of WERQ, a nationally-known style of cardio-based group exercise that originated in the Midwest.
Nordic Walking Provides a Full-Body Workout
Nordic walking incorporates hand-held poles that propel you forward. This surprisingly tough workout gets your back, chest, core, shoulders and arms engaged.
50 Black-Owned Restaurants to Try in the Detroit Area
This list of 50 Black-owned restaurants in the Metro Detroit area need to be on your radar, if they're not already. How many have you eaten at?
7 Detroit Black History Sites to Visit
These historic Detroit sites and landmarks document both the triumphs and hardships of Black Americans who have ties to the city.
Get to Know Michigan’s Woody the Woodchuck Ahead of Groundhog Day
Woody the Woodchuck isn't just a Michigan legend; she's known nationwide. With a personality as big as her appetite, it's easy to see why Woody is such a treasure.
Why Walking Your Dog is Healthy for You, Too
Did you know dog owners are 34% more likely to fit 150 minutes of walking into a week than non-dog owners? The benefits only begin there.
This German Football Fan was a Foreign Exchange Student in Michigan 26 Years Ago. He Returned to Watch Detroit Win a Playoff Game.
Detroit's feel-good playoff run has been a blast for the city to follow. The team even has support overseas, as evidenced by this former Michigan foreign exchange student from Germany's unlikely tale.
Find Your Fit: What is the 12-3-30 Workout?
Even the biggest cardio detractors might find some fun in the 12-3-30 routine. This 30-minute aerobic challenge took the workout world by storm in 2023.
What is the Goldilocks Rule for Social Media Use?
Many of us can afford to shave down the amount of time we spend on social media. It's also a useful professional tool, and can be a boon to our social lives in small doses. Balance is key.
New "Find Your Fit” Series Will Spotlight Fun, New Workouts Every Month
Discovering a new workout can spark motivation when the gym routine gets stale. In 2024, A Healthier Michigan's "Find Your Fit" workout series will feature fun, unique and trending exercises that you can try at your pace.
Should I Cold Plunge Before or After a Workout?
Cold plunges can be a complementary recovery method to vigorous exercise. But exactly when should you take the plunge? Here's what the research suggests.
How to Treat Your Weekend Like a Vacation
When your weeks feel cyclical and repetitive, try treating a weekend like a vacation. Here's how to unplug, unwind, and get into that vacation mindset.
Benefits of Walking Backwards
It may sound a bit silly, but walking backwards is a great way to incorporate varied movement into your workout. When done safely, it's an exercise that works muscles you don't normally work.
Detroit-Area Entrepreneurs in the Non-Alcoholic Industry Offer Dry January Steps for Success
Trying Dry January? The month-long challenge can be mentally trying. Some of the people at the forefront of Detroit’s "sober curious" movement have some advice.
10 Family-Friendly Winter Break Activities in Metro Detroit
Looking for things to do during the kids' winter break? These indoor and outdoor ideas should ignite the holiday spirit in the whole family.
Winter Festivals in Michigan in 2024
Looking for festive winter events to attend? The Michigan winter festivals on this list take place between January and March of 2024.
5 Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah in Detroit in 2023
Celebrate the Jewish “festival of lights” by attending one or more of these five Hanukkah celebrations happening in or around Detroit.
‘Alcohol is Not Your Friend:’ BCBSM Medical Director of Behavioral Health Digs into His Passion for Advocating Against Alcohol Abuse
Dr. William T. Beecroft has advocated against alcohol abuse for much of his 40-plus-year health care career. Here, he reflects and shares some candid thoughts.
Health Benefits of Wallyball
Looking for fun activities this winter? Stop your search at wallyball. Similar to volleyball, this fast-paced indoor sport has plenty of health benefits to offer.
5 Winter Things to Do in Michigan
Activities are easier to come by in the summer than in the winter. We know this. But exciting winter activities in Michigan aren't as limited as you may think. Here are five fun ideas.
Vegan Thanksgiving: Metro Detroit Restaurants, Food Trucks With 2023 Holiday Menus
Detroit area vegans rejoice! There’s a long list of metro Detroit and Michigan restaurants offering 100% plant-based Thanksgiving meals.
Pros and Cons of Vegan Cheese
Thinking of switching to vegan cheese? The plant-based product has its fair share of health advantages compared to dairy cheese. But it has its drawbacks, too.
Metropolitan Bar + Kitchen Owner Proves You Don't Have to Drink to Run a Successful Bar
Seven years ago, Ashley Price decided to stop drinking. Now the owner of a popular bar in Detroit's West Village, Price is proving you don’t have to drink alcohol to run a successful bar.
Falls 5Ks in Michigan
Are you ready to run this fall? The list of 5Ks happening all across Michigan in October and November is long. Here's where they are and how to sign up.
What is Intuitive Eating?
When you eat intuitively, you listen to your body. You trust it to let you know when you are full and satisfied. You also reject the new fad diet of the month. Here are the benefits and risks.
15 of the Best Haunted Houses in Michigan
Michigan is home to some of the most creative, elaborate and downright horrifying haunted houses in the country. Here are 15 of the best!
How I Stay Healthy in College
School is back and so is the juggling act that comes with life on campus for college students. BCBSM'S 2023 corporate communications interns recently shared their diet, exercise and self-care regimens.
More or Less Non-Alcoholic Store Brings Inclusivity to Grand Rapids Consumers
Whether you don't drink any alcohol or you want to go N/A for a certain upcoming occasion, More or Less in Grand Rapids has something for you. The store's owners built their brand with inclusivity in mind, and it's working.
Get Your Garden Ready for the Fall with These Tips
Between weeding, relocating certain plants and testing soil, your garden needs a lot of maintenance at the end of the summer. These seven tips should help.
Dry Bars are Rare in Michigan. But There’s One Inside This Oak Park Coffeehouse.
For Oak Park and Berkley locals, Oak Park Dry is quickly becoming a go-to spot for great music, great coffee and great N/A mixed drinks.
Jackson’s Zero Bar & Lounge Brings the Party to Michigan Events and Celebrations Without Alcohol
One had the dream, one had the drinks: the woman-owned Zero Bar & Lounge adds to the growing list of alcohol-free social options in Michigan.
Does Sunscreen Expire?
Sunscreen can lose its efficacy when improperly stored or owned for too long. Soak up this information so you can soak up the sun safely!
Absence of Proof Detroit Appeals to Detroit’s Sober Curious Crowd with Non-Alcoholic Events
Absence of Proof offers “a night off of drinking.” The NYC-based company is now in Detroit with pop-up hangout options for the sober curious.
Mother’s Day 2023: Michigan Events to Celebrate with Mom This Year
From Detroit to Holland to Kalamazoo, there are Mother’s Day markets, outdoors events and live shows happening all over Michigan in 2023.
Sober Curious Series: Spotlighting Michigan Dry Bars, Businesses and Social Networks
In 2023, AHM will dig deeper into Michigan’s sober curious movement. Dry bars, alcohol-free pop-ups, N/A products and mocktail menus are all on tap.
5 Ways to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo Across Michigan in 2023
No matter where you live in Michigan, family-friendly Cinco de Mayo celebrations are happening across the state between April 29 and May 7.
Signs You Might Need a Personal Trainer
Personal training may be worth looking into if you recently recovered from an injury, need help with form or have certain fitness goals in mind.
102-year-old Detroit Baseball Superfan is with Team Through ‘Good and the Bad’
The Detroit Tigers may not be a dominant force in Major League Baseball in 2023, but 102-year-old Eva Martin will be watching anyway.
Is There a Healthy Energy Drink?
Some trendy new energy drinks market themselves as healthier alternatives to the brands we’ve come to know. Are they actually healthy, though?
Forming a Healthy Relationship with Food: West Michigan Dietitian Discusses Keys to Conquer an Eating Disorder
Finding “food freedom” should be a goal for anyone battling an eating disorder, according to an experienced dietician from West Michigan.
Do I Need to See a Doctor if I Have a Cold?
Most bouts with a cold can be handled at home, but other times your body may send warning signs that professional medical help is needed.
What is a Food Sensitivity Test?
Food sensitivity tests may give us clues about what causes certain digestive issues. But they are not FDA-approved. So how accurate are they?
Cold Weather Clothing Tips: Gear to Wear and How to Layer
It might be time to shop for winter hats, scarves, jackets and boots if you haven’t already. Here are the best fabrics out there to keep you warm this winter.
Transitioning from a Vegetarian Diet to Eating Meat
Contemplating eating meat again? Ethical and dietary reasons may give you pause, but these tips can help ease the transition.
What is a Healthy Weight?
Determining a healthy weight depends on what is proportionate to a person’s size. BMI is not perfect, but it can help indicate future health risks.
What Sleep Tracking Can Tell You About Your Health
Sleep tracking technology can provide valuable information about sleeping patterns, but they’re not the end-all, be-all.
Why is the First Five Minutes of a Workout So Hard?
There’s a science behind what the first five minutes of exercise does to your body. Don’t let it deter you from a great workout.
Metro Detroit Vegan Restaurants to Try
Finding tasty, plant-based food in Detroit has never been easier. The vegan restaurants have developed stellar followings and reputations.
What is Make Up Your Mind Day?
Make Up Your Mind Day occurs every December. Do you know what it is all about? If you are the indecisive type, observing this day could help.
5 Winter Sports to Try This Year
You’re probably familiar with ice skating and skiing, but if those don’t move the needle for you, these other Michigan winter sport ideas should.
Cold Weather Camping: Tips and Essentials
Packing the proper layers and a quality tent are crucial to any winter camping trip. So are these hacks. Are you prepared?
Why Binge Drinking Even Once a Week is Bad
If you make a habit out of binge drinking, you could expose yourself to these specific short and long-term health problems.
Rage Rooms: Do They Help or Hurt Your Stress?
Smashing old dishware with a baseball bat can be cathartic in the moment, but rage rooms may not be a long-term solution for stress relief.
Are You Doing These Things to Prevent Skin Infections at the Gym?
Read this list of five skin infections commonly caught at the gym and what you can do to prevent catching them.
Winter 5ks and Turkey Trots Happening Across Michigan in 2022
Bundle up in your coziest winter fitness gear and take part in some of the Michigan winter 5K’s and Turkey Trots happening this year.
Planthropie Cheese and Dessert Shop is Michigan’s First Plant-Based Cheesery
A maternal health issue sparked Rua Francis Oshana’s journey into veganism, which led to the opening of an all-vegan cheese and dessert shop.
How Early is Too Early to Decorate for Christmas?
Is it after Halloween? Is it after Thanksgiving? How early is too early to decorate for Christmas? We dive into it here.
Vegan vs. Vegetarian: What’s the Difference?
There are are differences and nuances to vegan and vegetarian diets, and both face challenges in acquiring certain nutrients.
10 Everyday Ways to Maintain Strong Lungs
Avoiding cigarettes and keeping indoor pollutants out of our homes are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to maintaining strong lungs.
The Difference Between Static and Dynamic Stretching
Certain stretches should be done before workouts and certain stretches should be done after workouts. This guide should provide clarity.
Best Health Apps for My Smart Watch
If you’re a smart watch owner with the fruit-shaped logo, these apps can help you track your physical activity, sleep, calories and more.
Virtual Reality for Mental Health and Anxiety
Virtual reality exposure therapy helps you face your fears in a safe, no-stakes environment. Here’s what to know about this relatively new treatment method:
How Much Protein is Too Much?
The amount of protein we need is based on our body weight and activity levels. Consuming too much protein could present health risks.