Health

BPT Dieting trends are all the rage these days, but the truth is, they’re nothing new. One of the earliest dieting fads on record goes back nearly 200 years. In 1820, Lord Byron gave birth to the celebrity diet icon with his Vinegar and Water Diet. Despite its ill effects, his popularity fueled the frenzy…

Read More

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar and Jennifer Agiesta Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama celebrated when sign-ups for his health care law topped 8 million, far exceeding expectations after a slipshod launch. Most Americans, however, remain unimpressed. A new Associated Press-GfK poll finds that public opinion continues to run deeply negative on the Affordable Care Act,…

Read More

BPT Nothing says “summer is here” like a fresh salad bursting with garden-fresh vegetables, herbs and flavors. So how do you toss some zing into your salad to get your family and friends craving more? Follow these five simple steps to create eye-popping, mouth-watering and crowd-pleasing bowls of healthy and delicious salads. Many shades of…

Read More

ABOVE PHOTO: North African Salad BPT With warmer weather, more people turn to fun outdoor activities, especially after a long cold winter. Diet and exercise are the key ingredients of a healthy lifestyle, and fresh salads and other summertime delicacies abound. One particularly healthful diet trend is the Mediterranean diet, so named after the tastes and…

Read More

By Welansa Asrat, M.D.  Too often, by the time African American women seek mental health treatment, the illness has progressed to a much more severe stage than is seen in other demographic groups. Resilience is a strength that develops through the experience of overcoming adversity, but there is a limit to what any of us…

Read More

ABOVE PHOTO:  Members of City Council pose with staffers of the Philly Play Summer Challenge displaying their proclamations.  (Photo courtesy City of Phila.)   Philadelphia City Council kicked off the next phase of the popular Philly Play initiative by recognizing May as National Physical Fitness Month during the Thursday of Council meeting on Thursday. Philly…

Read More

Dear Savvy Senior, What does Medicare cover when it comes to eye care? I currently have good vision insurance through my employer but will lose it when I retire. Looking Ahead Dear Looking, Many retirees are unclear with what Medicare does and doesn’t cover when it comes to eye care. The good news is that…

Read More

BPT Chronic kidney disease affects one in 10 Americans age 20 or older, according to the CDC Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Managing the disease through diet and other lifestyle changes can help people delay or even prevent the most serious consequence of kidney disease: kidney failure. Yet because the disease is often without…

Read More

By Michael Rubinkam Associated Press NORRISTOWN, Pa.  — When a 6-foot-5, 270-pound man with a history of violence broke out of a mental health ward near Philadelphia and tried to withdraw money from a bank, a confrontation with police seemed likely. But Lower Merion Township police officer Matthew Freind used his mental health training to…

Read More

By Connie Cass associated press WASHINGTON — It’s not too late to get covered. A few routes remain open for those who missed the health care law’s big enrollment deadline. Millions may be eligible for a second chance to sign up for subsidized insurance this year. And people who get coverage after the deadline can…

Read More