Balance is a vital component of health and physical performance and is essential for activities of daily living like climbing stairs or carrying heavy loads. Balance also improves athletic performance, allowing athletes to move and transfer energy more efficiently. Balance is especially important for older adults hoping to reduce the risk of falls and injuries.

Have you ever thought about how often you make decisions about your food and how much time you spend eating every day? Because food is such a large part of your day, why not pay attention to it more when you sit down to eat? This is when mindful eating can help you slow down the pace of your eating and help make you more mindful of your food choices naturally.

Nutrition labels are required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide accurate serving sizes, calories and fats per serving as well as specific details about vitamins, nutrients and added sugars. When you’re trying to eat more nutritious foods, cut refined carbs, avoid gluten or steer clear of genetically modified foods, nutrition labels provide a wealth of useful information.

The second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans was released in late 2018. The new guidelines reiterate best practices for physical activity and shed light on new research findings related to physical activity’s impact on growth and development, sleep quality, brain health and much more. Here’s the bottom line: Physical activity improves health during all stages of life and is good for the entire family. Read on for three reasons why physical activity should be a family routine.

Eat better. Get more sleep. Stress less. Feel happier. Be more productive. Have more energy. Hydrate adequately. The list of what it takes to be healthy and fit can seem both long and overwhelming.

Change is the only guarantee on the journey to becoming a new mom. In a short period of time, new moms experience emotional, physical, psychological and lifestyle change. The postpartum period, in particular, is often a delicate and emotionally taxing time for new moms. Everything is new and the healing process has just begun. New moms might be eager to “bounce back” and return to their pre-pregnancy state of physical fitness and emotional health, but the time period after baby arrives is often more challenging than anticipated. As health and exercise professionals, we need to care for our postpartum clients and help them navigate their new world by focusing on a positive mindset and the goal of being fit for life.

Often overlooked in program design is the importance of incorporating exercises for maintaining bone health. Bones function in the body to provide structural support, protect internal organs, enable movement, store minerals and produce blood cells. Therefore, strong and healthy bones are essential to maintain these functions for overall health and well-being.