Want your Fourth of July menu to sizzle without exploding your waistline? Then check out these fun, healthy recipes I found for you to try this Independence day. Read more…

Ever wonder if those weight-loss programs through your employer really work? New research from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine finds employees who take part in the programs shed at least a modest amount of weight compared to those who don’t participate. But the study did not show whether they keep the weight off.

It’s already been linked to reducing your risk of certain cancers and other health problems. Now Greek researchers say if you have a few cups of green tea every day, it may help prevent heart disease. The study shows green tea improves blood flow and helps relax arteries.

He used to weigh 1,234 pounds. Now after two years of diet, exercise, and medical care ABC News reports Manuel Uribe has dropped more than 520 pounds and he’s determined to shed many more.

Has anyone else been following this story? It caught my attention when I read Manuel had gained so much weight that he couldn’t even leave his bed for years. How awful would that be?

He’s still bedridden, but things are definitely getting better. A year after Manuel started his diet and exercise routine he left his room for the first time in five years - his bed was taken outside, just in front of his home in Monterrey, Mexico.

And now Manuel is engaged to Claudia Solis (that’s her in the picture). His goal is to one day be able to walk again… and walk Claudia down the aisle.

Manuel’s doctors want him to lose a total of 1,000 pounds. He’s more than halfway there! You can do it, Manuel!

I love this story - it’s so inspirational. And to know he has found love makes me smile.

Ummm… what? Now the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is saying tomatoes may not be behind the salmonella outbreak that has made hundreds of people sick since April? If it’s not the tomatoes, then what is it? The CDC is not sure. How frustrating is this? Not only to all of us who are being extra careful about eating tomatoes, but to the tomato growers who are losing so much money because of the scare. Read more…

From the burger joints to the fancy eateries, New York is now the first city in the country to go trans-fat-free. About a year and a half ago, the Board of Health voted to ban the artery-clogging fat from the city’s restaurants. Today, the ruling goes into full effect. Read more…

Do you drink milk every day? New research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds having as little as one glass of lowfat or fat free milk could help protect your heart. Researchers found adults who had at least one serving each day had 37 percent lower odds of poor kidney function linked to heart disease compared to those who drank little or no lowfat milk.

Here’s more proof that carrying weight around your middle can be dangerous. A new report from the National Institute on Aging finds even if you’re at a normal weight, having a big stomach could be deadly. Researchers say the way fat is distributed throughout the body - especially at your waistline - may be even more important than how much you weigh.

A few weeks ago, I told you about a study that shows how abdominal fat can also increase your risk of dementia.

Ahhh… summertime. Mmmm… ice cream. I’m a big fan of both! So, lucky for you, I’ve taken some time out of my busy schedule to sample a few frozen treats. I know, I know - it’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it right? I’ve got some great news, too - I found several that are big on flavor but low in calories. Read more…

How festive is this? I ran across this recipe from Family Fun just in time for the Fourth of July. Not only does it look great, it’s also easy to make and it’s healthy. Read more…