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Baking and sharing cookies are popular holiday traditions because they come with that genuine homemade feeling. Plus, there are so many tempting cookie varieties that nearly everyone has a few favorite holiday cookie recipes that they love.Now here’s good news for you: you can enjoy making and eating holiday treats that are not only delicious but also healthy! We’ve given over a dozen holiday cookie recipes a healthy makeover so you can join in the fun. They’re all so sweet and delicious that you’ll be proud to give them as gifts—and only you will know they are made with better-for-you…

I have never been a morning person. As much as I try to get into the habit of waking up at the crack of dawn (and believe me, I’ve tried), I just can’t do it. When my alarm jolts me awake, I quickly slap the snooze button, snuggle back under the covers, keep the drapes pulled shut, and, if I’m lucky, I fall back asleep. Unless there’s some reason I have to get up, I repeat this pattern approximately X times.I’m not the only one trying to delay the inevitable as long as possible: In a recent study, roughly 69%…

Do the changing seasons sometimes leave you feeling down or overwhelmed? Many people struggle with emotional fluctuations as the calendar flips from summer to fall and winter. Seasonal depression is a common problem that can sap your energy and disrupt your life during certain times of year.   The good news is that there are steps you can take to cope with these feelings. In this blog post, we’ll discuss signs of seasonal depression as well as six tips on how to ease the symptoms in a healthy way.   What is Seasonal Depression?  Seasonal depression, also known as Seasonal Affective…

National Handwashing Awareness Week will be observed Dec. 3–9, so this is a good time for a reminder that washing your hands is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading illness. Keeping hands clean can prevent 1 in 3 diarrhea-related illnesses and 1 in 5 respiratory infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hand-washing is an easy way to prevent infection. As you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands. You can infect yourself with these germs by touching your eyes, nose or mouth, or spread them to…

from plant-dyed sweats to propolis-spiked lollipops, we’ve gathered together sustainable gifts for kids that you’ll love as much as they do! We love these Slumberkins toys that teach emotional health lessons and the Things Are Looking Up card deck for daily family connections. Drop more natural kids gift ideas in the comments!12 Cool Sustainable Gifts For KidsThe Sunday Collective Sets | (Shown above) Sunday Collective’s TSC Naturals line uses an organic dying process to create soft, muted, and environmentally friendly essentials.  Every hoodie, T and pair of shorts is cozy, non-toxic and every day wearable.Stapelstein Originals | (Shown above) European-made…

The holiday season can invite unwelcome guests into your life, such as loneliness, money problems, family demands and unrealistic expectations. The stress and anxiety that accompany those issues can lead to sadness and depression. But Debbie Fuehrer, a clinical counselor at Mayo Clinic, has some tips to take back your holiday happiness. Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (1:00) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: “Mayo Clinic News Network.” Read the script. Most people expect the holidays to be a happy, jolly time. But that doesn’t match reality for everyone. “Maybe your…

As with raw eggs, uncooked chicken can contain salmonella and other disease-causing germs. So should you wash chicken before cooking it? For years, experts have urged caution and good hygiene practices when handling raw pieces of the bird. Many people thought they were doing precisely that by washing their chicken before cooking. Then, in 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they were doing the exact opposite. Should You Wash Chicken? “Unless you want to spread germs around your kitchen that can make you sick, never wash raw chicken,” says Samantha Thoms, MPH, RDN, a registered dietitian in…

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide by Dec. 8 on a new therapy to treat sickle cell disease using gene editing technology called CRISPR, which stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Approximately 250 million people worldwide carry the gene for sickle cell disease. It affects those with roots in Africa, Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere, Saudi Arabia, India and Mediterranean countries. In the U.S., sickle cell disease is most common in the African American community.  Dr. Asmaa Ferdjallah (ESS-mah fer-JALL-ah) a pediatric hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant physician, is the medical director of Mayo Clinic Children’s Center’s Comprehensive Pediatric Sickle Cell…

Cuticle oil can help keep your nails healthy, hydrated, and protected. You can find affordable options at most drugstores or online. You have your base coat, top coat, and hand cream — but what about those cuticles? Using cuticle oil is a great way to keep your nails hydrated, healthy, and protected. Here’s the deets! 💅 Four best benefits of cuticle oil Cuticle oil is often forgotten, but it can make a big diff in your nails’ overall health and appearance. Think of it like chapstick for your cuticles. Here are the four best benefits of cuticle oil: Hydrate Dry, cracked skin…

What is caffeine? Caffeine is a naturally occurring substance in coffee beans, guarana seeds, kola nuts, tea leaves, cacao pods, and many other plants. When consumed, it acts as a psychoactive drug, meaning it alters your state of mind. More specifically, it stimulates your nervous system, making you feel more alert. Caffeine can affect your mood, making you feel more nervous, irritable, or anxious, for example. As a stimulant, it can also have physical effects, temporarily raising your blood pressure and breathing rate. You might associate caffeine with coffee and energy drinks. However, it appears in a variety of products,…