KAY SAGER

“Yes, we do pour a proper Guinness,” proclaimed Executive Chef/Owner Michael Ward of Erin’s Isle Restaurant and Lounge, “but the pub is really a bar, a lounge.” Confused? Technically, a true Irish pub serves specific ‘pub grub,’ which does not ...

We’re a finicky lot when it comes to food. Many equate healthy with unappetizing. If we omit butter and heavy sauces, it will be bland. Or we get in a rut eating the same things and never try something different. ...

March was a tough month for our waistlines. St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Spring Break noshing and Easter feasting were the primary culprits (did you eat your way through the Ides of March too?)

Easter already? Peak season, Spring break, and many edgy, impatient, disgruntled people on the roads, in restaurants, and grocery stores. Reality check. This happens every year so let’s all take a deep breath, relax, and be more accommodating than we ...

Last week I discussed the physiological aspects of immersing yourself in water and the changes that occur within your body. I also mentioned several studies that substantiated healthful effects for the cardiovascular system and kidneys.

Tranquility, invigorating, refreshing… whatever term you choose, the undeniable pleasure of immersing ourselves in water is a conundrum. Why do we feel so serene and what exactly happens to our body as we sink down into aqua? Physiological changes occur ...

Why does immersing ourselves in water make us feel so good? Note the serene faces of those sinking into a hot tub or the exuberance of children splashing in a swimming pool. Bad moods and crankiness seem to dissolve in ...

Hippocrates said, “Speaking generally, all parts of the body, which have a function, if used in moderation and exercised in labours to which each is accustomed, become thereby healthy and well-developed, and age slowly; but if unused and left idle, ...

Pay attention. Doing something is better than doing nothing if you observe a cardiac arrest. It’s imperative to act immediately because the chance of survival plummets by as much as 10 percent every minute.

In fitness, three key words ending in “y” are mobility, agility, and flexibility. We strive to maintain these modules for independence and a better quality of life but we need to add adaptability and versatility for an overall enhanced wellness… ...

Hooked on the popular “Biggest Loser” TV show? Apparently, many faithful viewers are since it’s back for another run and I believe now there is also a spin-off version involving twins. Maybe triplets next time? I admit I’ve never watched ...

Think you’re food savvy when it comes to portion size, best sources of certain vitamins, and optimum way to refuel after a tough workout? Take the following quiz to see how knowledgeable you are in these areas.

We’re all familiar with the disease-fighting benefits of broccoli, peas, beans, tomatoes and their ilk, even if we don’t regularly devour them. But consider the following often ignored color pleasing winter vegetables that not only boost our immune system during ...

What is your preference for sore aching joints and muscles? Do you pop an analgesic or slather on a non-prescription formula like Icy Hot or Ben-Gay? How safe are those topical muscle-soothing gels and creams? Just because you buy a ...

In case you missed what seemed to be earth-shattering news, people are more concerned about their finances than fitness entering the New Year.

If you’ve ever had a massage, you know how relaxed and tranquil you feel afterwards. Your stress melts away and you have an overall sense of well-being. But now there is scientific evidence indicating massage is actually beneficial to our ...

Persnickety, perhaps … but I’ve had “flat-on-my-back-with-a-bucket-next-to-the-bed” food poisoning. I’ve also endured typhoid fever compliments of a Florida lake but that’s another article. So I’m cautious about putting anything in my mouth without first inspecting it and that starts with ...

Perhaps you missed these thought provoking medical briefs this past year. Some were front-page news while others were buried in back of a paper or appeared only in medical newsletters. They are worth considering and could affect your heart health.

Holidays are a time for overindulgence — especially Thanksgiving. Food is the focus whether we’re stressing about preparing it for our guests or anticipating stuffing ourselves before collapsing into a cushy chair to recover.

I am going to ‘lighten up’ this week and not talk about “gloom and doom”, as a friend refers to some of my columns such as the environmental toxins series.

Most of us are storing between 400 to 800 chemicals in our bodies, mainly in fat cells. Last week I discussed menacing neurotoxins— those most detrimental to the brain— but many other hazardous toxins have short and long-term effects.

Environmental toxins can be tricky. You can't smell, feel, or see many toxins, although they permeate our water, food, and air. We don't ponder their affects until later, when we develop a chronic plight after years of exposure.

Have you had a dose of hydrogen sulfide gas today? Never mind, there are thousands of environmental industrial chemicals out there, ready to alter your nervous system and brain.

You’re tired but invigorated after your workout, whether it’s pumping iron, a brisk walk, or a swim in the pool. You know you’re improving your health, but do you wonder what is actually happening inside your body?

I never did understand the anti-carbohydrate mania. Reducing or eliminating the simple variety, such as candy bars, donuts, etc., makes sense but we need the complex ones for energy. As with most everything, this controversy has come full circle and ...

Is your kitchen making you fat? Are there sugary snacks gracing the counter calling your name? Do you watch TV while dining on large 12” plates? If you answered, “yes” to any but the kitchen question, you’re probably ingesting more ...

With the alarming increase in childhood obesity, parents and fitness instructors are devising innovative ways to get kids active. Some parents are even hiring personal trainers for their less than robust pre-schoolers.

Now that school has started, children are once again participating in their favorite sport. Coaches educate kids about safety but unfortunately, accidents do happen. An injured arm or leg will sideline the participant until the limb has healed, but what ...

Our bodies are amazing machines. If we treat them right, they will act accordingly. Healthy nutrition and regular exercise are imperative for maximum performance.

What a dilemma. You’re pondering the selection of ice cream and frozen fruit bars. You’ve got to have something cold and refreshing to get you through the afternoon. You scan labels — reduced fat, light, no sugar added, real fruit. ...

The gooey power bar used to be the only one out there. Its’ purpose was to enhance an athlete’s performance. Now the $3 billion industry is seducing us with slick advertising, innovative marketing and an array of taste tempting energy ...

You’re 20 minutes into your fitness walk on a sweltering August day. You take a huge swig of your 32 ounce Gatorade and wonder if you’ll have enough for the hour-long workout.

Proper nutrition fuels the brain and this is especially important for children. To provide optimal brain function, they need a healthy variety of food. Unfortunately, many parents fail to realize that children’s developing brains are extremely sensitive and require a ...

Unfortunately, unless in a hospital, the survival rate for cardiac arrest is a somber 1 to 3 percent; 325,000 Americans die each year from our nation’s second leading cause of death. Could this staggering number be reduced if a simplified ...

It has been a dietary staple in Asian countries for thousands of years. Soy, often touted as a low-fat miracle bean packed with quality protein, is native to southeastern Asia and actually, a member of the pea family.

Every year more than one million people in America develop skin cancer and approximately 10,000 die from it annually, according to the American Cancer Society. That is more than one death per hour nationwide.

Does your hair and face reveal anything about your health? Should you worry if you experience hair loss, pale inner eyelids, a swollen tongue, or sunken cheeks?

Summer in Florida, the Fourth of July, kids out of school, and lots of outdoor activity.

Each time we move, we rely upon muscles to hold us steady, and others to actually move us.

According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is the most common cause of job-related disability in the United States, costing us about $50 billion a year in treatments.

Last week I wrote about common causes of back pain that are mainly preventable. This week I will explain more complicated conditions that cause a lot of discomfort and debilitation.

Every year: $55 billion. That staggering amount is approximately what we spend for back pain and disability in the U.S. Although 60-80-percent of adults experience lower back pain at some point during their lives, about 50-percent suffer within a given ...

In Florida, it’s almost always swimsuit weather. Not so for our neighbors to the North who are finally peeling off the layers. Some are discovering one of those extra layers is permanently attached to the body.

Do not dismiss abdominal exercises. Do them correctly along with an aerobic workout and you will have a toned tummy.

Male hormones can get out of whack, too.

There is a plethora of weight-loss products and programs that sound too good to be true (and usually are). Unscrupulous marketers promote and sell the aforementioned, targeting approximately 70 million Americans trying to lose weight. Are you one of the ...

Whether you are the “weekend warrior” or a regular exercise participant, at some point you’ve overworked a body part and wondered if the pain was significant.

I was having a convivial conversation with a couple of vacationing men today and musing about the content for this week’s column.

As we age, it’s common to lose some of our hearing. According to a Mayo Clinic publication, about one-third of Americans over the age of 60 have lost some of their hearing.

If you’re a regular reader of this column, you know I often mention the importance of exercise, proper diet, and weight control. If heart disease, diabetes, and a myriad of other health related problems aren’t enough incentive to manage your ...