health Archives - The Philly Files

August 28, 2020

Quick, easy and delicious school night meals

When it comes to back-to-school season, whether students are heading back to the classroom or learning from home, one of the biggest challenges for…

August 18, 2020

3 tips to support your pet’s immune system

Up to 70% of a pet’s immune system is contained within his or her digestive system. “The digestive tract has immune cells that provide…

August 15, 2020

Strengthen mental health by embracing culture

One in five U.S. adults experience mental illness each year, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and adult African Americans are 20%…

August 13, 2020

5 ways to save big on everyday essentials

With many Americans spending more time at home, they are also using more common household items such as cleaning supplies, pantry items and snacks,…

August 11, 2020

Fire safety for furry family members

If you have a fire escape plan in place for your home, you’re steps ahead of many Americans. According to the National Fire Protection…

August 10, 2020

Don’t ditch these doctor visits

We usually decide it’s time to head to the doctor when we’re sick and in need of medical attention, but the key to staying…

August 8, 2020

How you can help find a solution to COVID-19

The human immune system holds important clues about how people naturally detect and defend against disease. For COVID-19, many people have been able to…

August 8, 2020

New food trends can save time and money

As families continue to adjust their meal routines amidst a worldwide pandemic, there are trends you and your loved ones can follow to improve…

August 4, 2020

4 things to consider before adopting a pet

Across the country, people are fostering and adopting furry friends more, with the number of animals in foster homes 43% higher than it was…

August 3, 2020

Give these 9 sleep hacks a try

You’ve heard all about good sleep hygiene (go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, evening weekends; avoid screens and…

August 2, 2020

5 tips to build resilience in school-aged children

Resilience — the capacity to prepare for, adapt to and grow through disruption, trauma and loss — is a skill many parents want for…

July 31, 2020

Video: Protein-packed peanut butter breakfast

Recipes that are both nutritious and flavorful can help bring your loved ones together at the family table. Power up your family meals with…

July 30, 2020

5 tips for creating a low-maintenance home

Because most people are spending more time at home than usual, ensuring your living spaces are clean and uncluttered can make being home more…

July 28, 2020

4 mood-boosting benefits of pet ownership

While there are many ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, pet ownership offers a plethora of mental and physical health benefits and adds value…

July 27, 2020

Keep your family moving!

While juggling work and family, remember research shows active parents raise active children. So keep your family moving by making fitness a priority in…

July 26, 2020

Emotionally preparing your children for back-to-school season

Between sheltering-in-place, online learning and time away from friends, many children will need a little extra support as they head back to school this…

July 25, 2020

Create a family-friendly ‘staycation’

5 ways to fill your home with happiness With summer vacations looking a little different this year, infusing new energy into playtime – and…

July 24, 2020

Support your immune system with grapes

Boosting immune function through a healthy diet has become an important new focus for many people these days. One key dietary recommendation is to…

July 21, 2020

4 ways to help transition pets to post-quarantine routines

As states ease COVID-19 restrictions and people get out of the house to return to work, pets around the country may see their daily…

July 20, 2020

All about asymptomatic COVID-19

What does it mean to be asymptomatic? SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — can produce a range of clinical manifestations. Some people who…

July 18, 2020

“The Pill” turns sweet 60

Celebrating groundbreaking moments from six decades of the birth control pill, empowering women to prevent pregnancy on their own terms.

July 15, 2020

The perfect wine for hot weather and summer foods

With our outdoor spaces now ensconced in hot weather, we find ourselves reaching more often for sauvignon blanc. Its crisp acidity and citrus, herbaceous…

July 14, 2020

4 tips for working from home with your pet

One of the perks of working from home is more time with your pets. While it can be exciting to have your furry friends…

July 13, 2020

Drop the quarantine 15! (Those may be the pounds you gained.)

If you’ve gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, you aren’t alone. The “Quarantine 15″ — weight gain some folks have experienced since stay-at-home guidelines went into…

July 12, 2020

Get ready to roll safely into summer

During the summer months, personal vehicles tend to cover a lot of ground between travel and daily commutes. However, consistent rolling, turning and braking…

July 11, 2020

4 tips for planning a summer family vacation

As stay-at-home orders ease, many families are eager to get out of the house and hit the road for a summer trip. However, vacation…

July 10, 2020

Video: Family fun with fudgsicles

Planning snacks you can enjoy with your children is a winning parenting strategy for spending more time together while creating tasty treats. Take it…

July 9, 2020

8 tips for safely operating battery-powered tools

Battery-powered power tools make it convenient and efficient to tackle chores around the house and job site. While batteries eliminate the risks associated with…

July 7, 2020

Safety in the sky with emergency air ambulance transportation

For many types of medical emergencies, time is a critical factor. The faster a patient receives critical care, the greater the chances for a…

July 6, 2020

Mild Coronavirus case? 8 tips to recover at home

Coronavirus is still infecting people across the globe, with most who develop symptoms exhibiting mild illness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and…

July 3, 2020

Snack hacks that really pop

If spending more time at home than usual has you reaching for snacks more often, keep some quick, flavorful options on-hand to help fuel…

June 26, 2020

Video: Fire up the grill for smoked… fruit!

As summer grilling season sets in, Americans grab their tongs to take advantage of backyard barbecue opportunities. In addition to classic cookout fare like…

June 17, 2020

The best bottles of wine as Father’s Day gifts

We don’t think anyone will dispute the fact that the last several months have been challenging. For many the challenge has been struggling with…

June 16, 2020

Can your pet catch Coronavirus?

You have probably seen and heard a lot about coronavirus and how to keep you and your family safe. But what about the other,…

June 15, 2020

Solving puzzles boosts mental health

Fears of contracting Coronavirus coupled with strict shelter-at-home measures are causing all of us to be stressed. Studies show adults and children have elevated…

June 14, 2020

Go ahead, make his day!

Dad-approved gifts for Father’s Day An entire day dedicated to dear ol’ dad may not be enough to show the depths of your appreciation,…

June 9, 2020

Help teens manage mental strain

COVID-19 may have begun as a physical health crisis, but like their parents, children, teens and college students (or young adults) are likely to…

June 7, 2020

Smart summer skin care

Get back to basics with warm weather skin care tips If you’ve ever noticed how thirsty you get when it’s hot outside, that’s because…

June 5, 2020

Family foods with a weight loss focus

Losing weight and focusing on a healthful diet may lead you back to the same tried-and-true tricks, however, conventional wisdom doesn’t always pay dividends….

June 3, 2020

Nothing says welcoming each other and warm weather like rosé

Despite the death and economic chaos brought on by COVID-19, we are searching for normalcy in our world – a time when we went…

May 26, 2020

Balancing medical discovery and respect for patients

Tissue and blood samples taken from patients can hold the keys to biomedical discovery. But the research community must consider patient privacy, a new…

May 23, 2020

COVID-19: Finding safety when home isn’t safe

As cities across the globe began to lock down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of domestic abuse began to rise. In Seattle, one of…

May 22, 2020

Comfort food consumption on the rise

As families spend more time at home, Americans are finding comfort in a surprising source: bread. In fact, a 20-year trend of declining grain…

May 20, 2020

Planning for warm weather wine, post-pandemic

As we write this column, the black cloud of the Novel Coronavirus continues to wreak havoc on the health of our citizens and the…

May 19, 2020

Cotton and silk make best face masks when worn correctly

If the fit is right, face masks made of a combination of high thread-count cotton and natural silk fabric or a chiffon weave can…

May 18, 2020

Could inactivity cause Coronavirus?

Dr. Felipe Lobelo is sad but not surprised the Coronavirus pandemic appears to be taking a greater toll on African Americans and Latinos. The pandemic and…

May 17, 2020

Pa. primary election deadlines approaching, including vote-by-mail

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania’s primary election will be held two weeks from Tuesday, but you only have until this Monday to register if you…

May 15, 2020

Video: A spring salad celebration

Fresh fruits and veggies are often the flavors of spring, and you can bring them all together by celebrating National Salad Month with a…

May 13, 2020

Property project: Clearing weed killers and chemical fertilizers for healthy vines, delicious wines

Plus, reducing the causes of wine-induced headaches In our wine education programs we often get asked about sulfites and whether they are to blame…

May 12, 2020

CDC adds 6 new Coronavirus symptoms to list

Six new Coronavirus symptoms have been added to a list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new symptoms include: chills repeated…

May 9, 2020

5 weekend tasks for a week of healthy eating

We know it isn’t easy to prepare home-cooked, healthy meals every night of the week, but your chances of success are much higher if you’re not…

May 7, 2020

$6.8 million in Pew grants to help 38 Philadelphia-area nonprofits overcome COVID-19 emergency

PHILADELPHIA — Millions of dollars are going to help dozens of area health and human service organizations. The Pew Charitable Trusts announced it’s going…

May 6, 2020

More wine on the mind: Q&A from recent seminar

There may not have been another time when people were so interested in wine. Sales show quite an uptick in consumption in recent years,…

May 4, 2020

How does Coronavirus affect pregnancy?

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread, pregnant women report concerns about how COVID-19 could affect them and their unborn babies. Current guidelines from the Centers…

May 3, 2020

5 tips for 1st foods for babies

Ask any parent what he or she remembers most about a child’s first year and you’re likely to hear quite a bit about sleep…

May 2, 2020

Q&A: How to fight Coronavirus transmission under home quarantine

Health care providers and researchers are learning a lot about coronavirus and how it spreads. Public health messages emphasize the importance of frequent, thorough hand washing…

May 1, 2020

Video: Serve a protein-packed salad

A salad can fill an empty stomach for nearly any purpose, from an al fresco snack to a family appetizer. When combined with protein…

April 29, 2020

Wine for Mom can complement acts of appreciation on her holiday

Since the Coronavirus struck the United States, there has been a heap of well-deserved praise for the sacrifices of first-response teams, medical workers, grocery…

April 28, 2020

Increased hand washing requires special attention to skin

One of the best defenses against the spread of coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, is hand washing. But frequent rubbing and scrubbing can take its…

April 27, 2020

7 ways you could be making your spring allergies worse

The days are warming and the flowers are blooming. You know what that means: It’s time for spring allergies. And it may sound crazy, but…

April 25, 2020

‘It impacts weight, sleep and mental health’: What you need to know about your thyroid

Michele Adams is quick to say, “I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus,” but it took her being hit by a car…

April 24, 2020

Unleash your inner home chef

With many Americans staying home, the pressure is on to maintain fun and variety in the kitchen, so family meals don’t get boring. However,…

April 23, 2020

Get away without going away

5 family staycation ideas that won’t break your budget Family vacations are a great way to bond and take a step back from the…

April 22, 2020

Going to grill? Which wine should you sip with your steak?

We used to think of “comfort food” as a dish to ward off the chills of winter – stews, soup, hearty pastas. Now, the…

April 21, 2020

4 ways to help nurses during the Coronavirus pandemic

America’s nurses are on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus, providing safe, quality, compassionate and nondiscriminatory care to those they serve, many…

April 20, 2020

Welcome to the world of evolving microbes

In 1945, when Alexander Fleming, the father of penicillin, received the Nobel Prize for Science, he noted that microbes evolve and would soon develop…

April 18, 2020

3 things to know about asthma

More than 25 million Americans suffer from asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health Interview Survey. This chronic condition…

April 15, 2020

Eating, and drinking more wine, while stuck at home? You’re not alone!

Why some wines are less expensive, plus examples and a free seminar As we continue to hunker in our bunkers, there is every indication…

April 13, 2020

Yoga: Good for body and mind

Could yoga be the missing piece to your whole body health puzzle? Many people experience increased energy and lower stress when practicing yoga regularly….

April 12, 2020

Tap into employer benefit resources in times of uncertainty

For many American workers, how they do their jobs dramatically changed with the spread of COVID-19. Some have shifted to working from home while…

April 11, 2020

5 tips to fight sleep deprivation

Despite a desire for perfect sleep, Americans are not even close to getting the recommended eight hours a night, and 1 in 4 Americans…

April 10, 2020

Now is the time to teach at-home nutrition

With a lot of parents facing the challenge of keeping housebound kids happy and healthy, this is the perfect time to teach kids the…

April 3, 2020

4 steps to better health with black foods

Get your antioxidants from black foods Remember those sayings you grew up hearing: once you go black … the darker the berry …? When it…

April 1, 2020

Wine, memories and making plans

As we write this column, most people are confined largely to their homes as the Coronavirus continues to spread across the country. Like you,…

March 31, 2020

Coronavirus: Should you be worried?

So far, according to official World Health Organisation reports as of March 29, the Wuhan novel coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV, has sickened 638,146 people and led to…

March 30, 2020

7 ways to boost immunity

As coronavirus runs roughshod across the country, having an immune system functioning at its peak is critically important. Vitamins and supplements may promise to…

March 29, 2020

A spring cleaning to-do list

Spring cleaning often lands in a perfect spot on the calendar to serve as an annual reminder of your regular home maintenance to-do list…