Martin's Must-Reads

Martin's Must-Reads

By Betty Martin, Mark MartinArtsBooks
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Martin's Must-Reads episodes

  • Teen Dating Violence Awareness
    It might start off seeming like the comments come from a caring place. “Please don’t wear that shirt when we go out. I love you so much, I can’t stand it when other guys look at you.” But soon, it escalates to verbal and physical abuse or digital dating abuse, where one partner reads the other’s text messages and wants access to the passwords for their e-mail and social media profiles. February is teen dating violence awareness month. The National Institute of Justice defines teen dating
    2 min
  • Good Cholesterol/Bad Cholesterol
    Have you ever been told you needed to raise your cholesterol and thought, “but, wait, the Cheerios commercial said I need to lower it”? The concept of “good” and “bad” cholesterol can be confusing. The American Heart Association states the two types of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol to and from cells are low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL. LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can
    2 min
  • Epsom Salt Can Ease Sore Muscles
    I can remember a big milk carton style box of Epsom salts sitting in the linen closet at my grandparents’ house. Like the canister of Metamucil in the kitchen and the denture tray in the bathroom, it seemed like one of the mysteries of senior citizens that would one day be revealed to me. So I was surprised when after indulging in a massage recently, the massage therapist told me I should take a bath with Epsom salts that night. Didn’t I have at least another 20 years before I needed that? And
    2 min
  • Frostbite Can Cause Permanent Damage
    At Christmastime, Jack Frost nipping at your nose sounds cute. When you are shoveling snow in January, you worry about meeting his ugly cousin, frostbite. While hypothermia, the lowering of core body temperature, is deadly, frostbite---freezing of the skin and underlying tissues--- can cause permanent tissue damage, as well as lead to amputation and disability. The Mayo Clinic reports there are three stages of frostbite. Frostnip, the first stage of frostbite, doesn't cause permanent skin damage
    2 min
  • January is Thyroid Awareness Month
    You’ve probably heard of the thyroid gland, but do you know what it does? Most people aren’t usually aware of their thyroids unless something goes wrong. Thyroid trouble can cause a variety of seemingly unrelated problems, including drastic changes to weight, energy, digestion,and mood. It’s Thyroid Awareness Month. The Harvard Medical School Guide to Overcoming Thyroid Problems compared the thyroid to an engine. Just as an engine produces the required amount of energy for a car to move at a
    2 min
  • "Screen Time" and Children
    Did you hear that the American Academy of Pediatrics lifted its “no screens for kids under age 2” rule? Yes, it’s true! Does this mean that kids can have unlimited screen time now? In a word? No. It can be confusing when respected organizations change long-held guidelines. But when the AAP set this standard, it was 1999. There were no smartphones or tablets. No Facetime or Skype. So, the policies were updated to reflect these developments in technology, not because the AAP’s previous position
    2 min
  • Could "Meatless Monday" Be Your New Year's Resolution?
    Are you still trying to make your new year’s resolutions before the ball drops on 2017? Consider adding Meatless Monday to your list. Meatless Monday was founded in 2003 by Sid Lerner in association with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The movement sprang from a simple equation: When The Surgeon General released the Healthy People 2010 report in 2000, it specifically called for a 15% reduction in saturated fat in the American diet. Since saturated fat in the diet is almost
    2 min
  • Strength Training Can Help Manage Weight
    When we think about strength training, we often think of weight lifting and picture famously muscled people like Arnold Schwartzenegger. But, you don’t have to be a bodybuilder to benefit from this form of exercise. The Department of Health and Human Services recommends incorporating strength training exercises of all the major muscle groups into a fitness routine at least two times a week. The Mayo Clinic reports that strength training can help you develop strong bones, manage your weight,
    2 min
  • Holiday Pounds Can Have Lasting Effects
    Did you know that on average, Americans gain a little over a pound in the week following Christmas? Would it make you feel better if I told you so do Germans and the Japanese? Misery loves company. And fudge. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study in September that found Americans aren’t the only ones who put on weight during celebratory times. But, a report in Nutrition Review suggests that pounds Americans gain can have long lasting effects: weight gain during the holiday season
    2 min
  • Can Aromatherapy Be Good for You?
    What is your favorite holiday scent? Fresh baked gingerbread? Evergreen boughs? Candy Canes? Could smelling those things actually be good for you? Proponents of aromatherapy say if they are in the form of essential oils: yes. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy defines aromatherapy, also referred to as Essential Oil therapy, as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.
    2 min

About Martin's Must-Reads

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There are one million new books published each year. With so many books and so little time, where do you begin to find your next must-read? There’s the New York Times Bestseller list, the Goodreads…