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Health & Fitness

BCBSM MDM Healthy Breakfast

Tips for Healthy Breakfasts for Kids

As the stresses of instating a routine for your children are typically always ongoing, it’s easy to reach for pre-prepared, processed foods instead of cooking. However, convenient foods can often pack your child’s diet with unnecessary calories, carbohydrates, and refined sugars. A proper diet at any age consists of a balance of protein, vegetables, grains, fruits and dairy with the right… 

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What Pregnant Women Need to Know About Folic Acid

Folic acid helps humans form new cells. From hair to skin to nails, your body is in a constant state of growth – and internally, in a constant state of maintenance. Men and women need folic acid in their diets – but once a woman becomes pregnant, folic acid becomes especially critical as it plays a key role as the… 

Easy, Healthy & Delicious Breakfast Idea

Omelet in a Mug This recipe is perfect for starting your day off with a solid source of protein and nutrients. You can modify it to include any vegetables or frozen vegetables you would like. Eggs help raise your good cholesterol, HDL, improve your eye health, and provide many vitamins and minerals. They also help you feel full longer, which decreases… 

Microwave Do’s and Don’ts

Craving a bag of popcorn or in a pinch to reheat last night’s leftovers? Microwaves are probably your go-to appliance in these situations but are there times when you shouldn’t use the convenient appliance?  While they may seem magical by rapidly cooking food and having meals ready in minutes, you should be cautious of cooking certain foods in microwaves. The… 

7 Steps to a Healthier Kitchen

Want to make healthier food choices? Start by revamping your kitchen. Create an environment for success in the New Year and beyond. Identify your goal: What do you want to achieve? You must have a clear understanding of what your goal is and why. Nothing happens overnight, but with consistency comes progress. Take inventory: The first step in making a change is… 

Small Ways to Brighten Someone’s Day

Sometimes even the slightest action can make someone happy. Here are some of the ways members of the A Healthier Michigan team participate in random acts of kindness during the holidays: Alyssa: As someone who is always in a rush to get from one place to another, I find solace in my favorite random act of kindness: picking up trash I… 

Chewy Cherry Baked Oatmeal for Heart Health

Think heart-healthy recipes can’t taste good? You need to try this yummy breakfast dish. The recipe is courtesy of Graceland Fruit, one of the largest single providers of infused dried fruits in the world, with operations located in northern Michigan. Here’s what they had to say about what makes this recipe tasty and good for you: “Graceland dried cherries boast more… 

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MTHFR & Chronic Illness: What You Should Know

As humans, many of us get sick, but some of us get sick and stay chronically sick. It’s either one thing or another, and like you, I’ve always wondered why. A few years ago, I discovered information about MTHFR, which is our detox gene. MTHFR is an abbreviation for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid homocysteine… 

Sleeping Bear Dunes Celebrates 50th Anniversary

This year marks the 50-year anniversary for one of Michigan’s treasured natural destinations, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is known for its dunes towering 400 feet above Lake Michigan. You can marvel at its beauty in the summer by taking a nice hike along the trails or going for a canoe ride in the… 

caffeine

Fact vs Fiction: How Caffeine Affects Your Health

There’s a lot of competing information out there about caffeine and its effects on the body. Depending on who you ask, it’s either a wonder drug that can cure everything or a destructive and harmful substance you should never consume. With so much information vying for our attention, it’s difficult to suss out the truth. Here are the facts about… 

7 Healthy Habits to Maintain Throughout the New Year

The most popular New Year’s resolutions are often related to health and finance. This includes plans to eat better, exercise more and save money. Yet, approximately 80% of resolutions fail by February. To increase one’s chance of success, avoid overly ambitious goals and embrace a realistic approach. Here are seven healthy habits to implement throughout the year: Create a Budget: Proper budgeting can support both…