Viewpoint: Oklahoma can avoid being a top 10 obese state, but lawmakers need to act

Oklahoma lawmakers should send HB 2381 to the governor’s desk for his signature, which will create a healthy workforce, reduce health care cost and ensure a healthy Oklahoma....

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Can You Name the Warning Signs of Stroke? Think FAST!

Warning Signs of Stroke...

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Does Your Ability To Do Pushups Predict Cardiovascular Risk?

Are Results From a Push-up Test Associated With Future Cardiovascular Events?...

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Health Disparities Among African Americans

Is being Black in America bad for your health? Our team takes a closer look at the health disparities among African Americans and what can be done to improve their health....

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Texas Legislature Adjourned: Children of Texas Have a Bright Future

The 86th Legislature has officially adjourned, and the Governor will now review over 1,429 pieces of legislation that have arrived on his desk for his approval or veto. Many of the proposals promoting physical activity and children’s health were passed and now await Governor Gregg Abbott’s signature. Read more for a quick synopsis of those key measures supported by The Cooper Institute that remain law or will soon become law....

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Improve your posture and reduce back and neck pain

There are numerous lifestyle factors related to back and neck pain such as poor posture, improper biomechanics, poor flexibility, muscle weakness, upper body obesity, and smoking. Easy-to-Do Assessments Postural Alignment: From a side view of one’s posture, correct alignment consist of an imaginary vertical line that would pass down through the ear lobe to the top of the shoulder, the top and center of the hip, straight down the thigh bone, the knee, and slightly in front of the large, lateral, protruding ankle bone. Deviations from this alignment might be a forward head position, rounded sh...

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Beat the "Cold" Weather with Healthy Living

As cold weather approaches, so does cold weather. If you’re anything like me, as the temperatures drop, my immune system seems to drop as well. Although flu prevention is promoted widely, the common cold seems to sneak in under everyone’s radar every year. So what exactly is this common cold and how can it be prevented? Common colds are an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract caused by a viral infection. The most common cold viruses are rhinovirus infections that often occur during the fall and spring seasons, and coronavirus which is more common during the winter. They are spread from...

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Healthier Fast Food Options Do Exist!

It is almost impossible not to eat out, but if you are watching what you eat, don’t worry, there are still some healthy options out there for you in a world where the fast food industry is growing rapidly. Rarely is it healthy to consume a meal that is of low nutritional value and high in Trans fats, saturated fats, sodium, and calories, but there are ways to make healthier choices when eating out! Some quick tips when it comes to eating out are to make careful menu selections, drink water with your meal, “undress” your food by special ordering what toppings or sauces you want on your meal, an...

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Move More, America!

Are you one of those people who routinely exercises at least three hours a week – but also spends most of your days sitting behind a desk? It’s awesome to achieve the recommended minutes for physical activity each week, but an earlier blog encourages those who are sedentary throughout the day to move more as exercise alone might not be enough for their health. Most individuals recognize that  physical inactivity has been shown to increase the number of deaths from all-causes, as well as from heart disease and cancer. But what about individuals who meet the physical activity recommendations bu...

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Trick or Healthy Treat?

Halloween is upon us. Whether you’re walking door-to-door for neighborhood hospitality or doing the Transylvanian twist at a party this year, I am haunted by an earlier post that offers recommendations for healthier treats and reminds us to snack in moderation. With a little over a week until the trick-or-treaters show up at your door step, you’ve probably started to think about making the trip to the grocery store to buy bags of candy. Or, if you’re like me you’ll be making a second trip to the store because your family already ate the candy that you bought to hand out! While I’ve vowed to n...

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Blood Vitamin D Levels and the Risk of Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

As you might have heard, vitamin D is nicknamed ‘the sunshine vitamin’. Skin exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays triggers a metabolic pathway which ultimately results in production of the active form of vitamin D. In the past, it was thought that the only important function of vitamin D was to increase absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the gut into the blood. By increasing blood levels of these two minerals, they become more available to the bones. More recently, it has become more clear that improving bone health is just the tip of the iceberg with regard to the many functions of v...

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It's the Great Pumpkin!

Did you know that pumpkins are at their peak in October? You may have noticed the pumpkin patches that have popped up in your neighborhood or in your local market. A previous post pops to mind with the various (and yummy!) ways to incorporate pumpkin into your healthy eating habits. My first experience eating pumpkin other than in breads, desserts, and pumpkin soup, was having it grilled with a little bit of olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled on top. Oh my goodness, it was heavenly. It made me realize that there was much more to pumpkin than I had realized. I now use pumpkin in all sorts...

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