Bridging the gap between research and real life
The weather has been so cold and snowy in Ithaca this winter that the local visitor’s bureau jokingly began promoting the Florida Keys on their web site with a header that reads, “That’s it. We surrender. Winter, you win.”
Unfortunately, my family stayed in frigid Ithaca during last week’s winter break. But all of the hub-bub about escaping the cold weather made me think about the evidence on vacation and positive health effects. [Read more…]
Sleep is one of the holy grails of feeling good each day. Get too much and you may feel groggy and sluggish. Get too little and you may feel irritable, depressed, anxious, unable to focus and plain old sleepy In fact, a growing body of evidence shows that sleep problems increase one’s risk for chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes. [Read more…]
Evidence established long ago that reading to young children – especially if you engage in a dialogue with them while you’re reading – helps them develop language skills and prepare for school.
Now the American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a new policy encouraging doctors to talk with parents about reading aloud to children, and providing books to low-income families at pediatric well visits. [Read more…]
When my son started kindergarten last year, I was astonished at how little of his lunch he actually ate. I would pack a nutritious meal displayed in a cute, compartmentalized tray, and often he only took a small bite of each item I packed. [Read more…]
If I drive past the local business park around lunchtime, I typically see at least three or four groups of people walking outside. The practice seems like a good idea. It provides light aerobic exercise, gets people outside to soak up some Vitamin D, and can serve as a social hour if you’re walking with friends and colleagues. [Read more…]
The autism spectrum is a group of brain disorders that results in communication difficulties, repetitive behaviors, sensory issues, and problems with social interaction.
Approximately 1 in every 68 children born in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. And an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. have an autism spectrum disorder. The data show that this is a growing problem. Statistics indicate rates of the disease have increased by up to 17 percent in recent years. [Read more…]
On a daily basis, we are surrounded by unrealistic images of women: celebrities on the covers of gossip magazines, animated cartoons depicting attractive female characters, and models advertising beauty supplies, to name a few. How do all of these images affect how women view their own bodies? [Read more…]
Love and marriage aren’t typical topics that come to mind when you think about evidence. But Cornell gerontologist and EBL-founder Karl Pillemer found a way to use data to distill the best advice about love, relationships, and marriage. [Read more…]
Christmas cookies are my worst dietary weakness. If they’re in the house, I can’t help but munch on them. So I’m coming back from a lovely holiday break at least a few pounds heavier than before. [Read more…]
It’s that time of year when many people think about giving to charities. Some make donations for tax-purposes before the end of the calendar year. Others incorporate giving into Christmas traditions, or make an effort to spread some holiday cheer to the less fortunate. [Read more…]
With a slew of holiday parties this week, cookies to bake with my children, and goodies coming from the neighbors, I paused for a few minutes to look back at EBL’s tips on avoiding holiday weight gain. This evidence-based advice still applies! [Read more…]
The town where I live – Ithaca, NY – had six inches of snowfall this week during a school day. The snow storm prompted a vigorous debate among a group of moms about whether children should wear safety belts on school buses. [Read more…]
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
