Posts

Showing posts from December 26, 2016

Dear Mark: What Does High HDL Mean? and Is Exercise Good or Useless for Weight Loss?

Image
Today’s edition of Dear Mark is a relatively brief two-parter, but it’s a good one. First, I answer a question about HDL. Is higher good? Is higher (sometimes) bad? How does a person make sense of all the seemingly conflicting information? Then I explain how two statements about exercise and weight loss can be simultaneously correct and apparently contradictory. Is weight loss effective or useless for weight loss, or what? Let’s go: I’m not sure I understand the HDL one. So higher HDL could lead to cardiovascular issues, but higher HDL is a byproduct of a healthy lifestyle? I think I’m missing something. Does anyone understand this to explain it? Allow me to provide more details. Higher HDL is complicated, and before we can interpret its health implications we must understand the many roles it plays in immune and cardiovascular health. HDL reduces and neutralizes oxidative, inflammatory agents that damage LDL particles and lead to atherosclerotic lesions in our arteries. They

Host A Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve

Image
Ever try getting a babysitter on New Year’s Eve? I would rather save the dough and spend the special night in with my kiddos. To keep my kid’s happy, I’ll invite friends and family and their youngsters to join in on the celebration. As a host, this means planning a menu that’s kid and adult friendly — plus some entertainment for the kids so the grownups can relax. Check out these family-friendly dishes that will make everyone happy! Family-Friendly Bites Shrimp-Pineapple Skewers Prosciutto-Wrapped Crudité Healthy Mozzarella Sticks Crisp Crab Cakes Mini Meatballs   Family-Friendly Desserts Dark Chocolate Brownies Red Velvet Mini Cupcakes Chocolate-Dipped Hazelnut Shortbread Chewy Sugar Cookies Chocolate Covered Strawberries   Kid-Friendly Mocktails Eggnog Slimmed Cranberry Spritzer Spiced Virgin Apple Martinis Mixed Citrus Spritzer Sparkling Shirley   Don’t Forget….Kid-Friendly Activities One of the most important rules when hosting a New Year’s Eve bash with the

The Final Days of 24 Days of Togetherness + Our Christmas!!!

Image
Hi, friends! I hope you had a very merry Christmas! Ours was absolutely awesome. Now, I realize why parents love Christmas so much. Qman didn’t totally understand Santa, but he was sooooo excited about the “prizes” he received. Seriously, what a fun couple of days. I kind of wish Christmas was twice a year! Ok, so let’s recap our final days of 24 Days of Togetherness . I seriously can’t believe it’s over. What a whirlwind month! In case you missed Days 1-18, you can read the recaps here ! DAY 19: Visit Santa Claus We went to The Christmas Place in Abington to visit Santa Claus, and Qman wasn’t sure what to make of him. He sat on his lap and basically looked him up and down for a good 10 seconds… like, who is this strange man you want me to meet? Haha! Quinn eventually asked him for “cars” for Christmas and then received a small candy cane once it was all over, so I’d say this year’s Santa visit was a success! DAY 20: Drink eggnog DAY 21: Give Quinn a $5 Christmas present Chewba