Eating healthy food is usually considered a good thing, but sometimes so-called healthy behavior can take a dangerous and compulsive turn. There’s a word for this phenomenon: orthorexia. The term was coined by Steven Bratman, M.D., and it refers to an obsessive fixation with righteous eating. While orthorexia is not an official clinical term—unlike anorexia […]
Start the New Year off in seasonal style: Shop brand-new retailers and dine at delectable new restaurants at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie. With an inviting park-like atmosphere amid 130 specialty retailers, two theaters, and an array of dining choices, the Skokie shopping center is the North Shore’s premier destination to experience four seasons of […]
Whether you’re facing an empty nest, dealing with a career crisis or just feeling “stuck,” asking the question, “Where do I go from here?” can be a loaded one. Getting help from the right source is key to successfully moving up or moving on. Life coaches can be a great resource to help you set […]
After her husband went to rehab for his drug addiction in 2003, Marta Maranda did something very unusual: She checked herself in. Sober. “Rehab was the last place I thought I would end up,” she says, adding that she has never even had a cup of coffee in her life. “Checking myself in was the […]
Despite the fact that acupuncture is virtually painless, the thought of someone sticking needles into various parts of your body is unnerving for most people. The fact is that acupuncture, while once perceived by many as an “alternative” therapy, is becoming more conventional, to the extent that some insurance companies now even cover it. Why […]
The holiday season is upon us, and so is the traditional list of “to dos” that creates stress even before the first Salvation Army Santa rings his bell or the first Chanukah candle is lit. Paired with the joy of the season is the inevitable anxiety of getting it all done: the greeting cards, decorating, […]
If you’re anything like me, the only time you encountered soy growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s was while consuming Chinese take-out. Even though soy has been integral to Asian cuisine for centuries, it was virtually nonexistent in the typical American diet until about 15 years ago. In fact, for a long time the […]
There are enough health scares in the news today to cause anxiety in just about everyone: Ebola and enterovirus strain D68, to name just a couple. But while Ebola is still (and hopefully will remain) an unlikely epidemic, the potentially virulent D68 has set off alarms among parents and health-care providers. Enteroviruses, which are common […]
There was a time when smoking was touted as a healthy endeavor. The marketing machine behind the tobacco industry took years to topple. Today, drinking soda—especially diet soda—can be viewed as good for you. It’s also a myth. Lots of healthy people drink soda on a daily basis. However, in clinical practice, I’ve seen a […]
After countless days basking in the sunshine, the end of summer is begrudgingly nigh. Kids are back in school, and, as they say, winter is coming. Say sayonara to summer with these Labor Day philanthropic events, and use your extra time off to celebrate and support your peers. 1. Cheer on the Chicago Women’s Half Marathon. […]
