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When my family goes on vacation, the biggest stressor is figuring out the game plan for meals. We all love going out to dinner, but it can get far too expensive to do so every night. Yet, we don’t really want to spend a ton of time cooking while we’re on vacation either. The kitchen is unfamiliar and small, and the equipment at rental houses isn’t always the best (looking at you, dull chef’s knives). But despite those challenges, my whole family appreciates the effort that goes into a home-cooked (vacation-cooked?!) meal. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios My Mom’s Vacation Dinner…

Throughout the history of psychology, a number of important issues have been debated regarding human development. These issues include: Do genetics or does the environment have a larger impact on development? Does development occur slowly and smoothly, or do changes happen in stages? Do early childhood experiences have the greatest impact on development or are later events equally important? Keep reading to learn more about these basic questions surrounding developmental psychology and what many psychologists today believe about these issues. Nature vs. Nurture The debate about whether inheritance or the environment has a bigger influence on development, known as the nature…

When we think about improving our lives, we often focus on things like career success, financial goals, or personal health. But strengthening your friendships? That’s a real power move.   But being a good friend doesn’t always come naturally, especially in a world that keeps us busy, distracted, and often spread way too thin. The good news? Friendship is a skill you can work on and get better at—just like anything else. We asked mental health experts what it really takes to be a better friend—and how you can deepen the friendships that matter most. What Makes a Good Friend? Being…

Monitoring bowel health and your stools is important for everyone, but even more so for people with ulcerative colitis, says Alan Moss, MD, the chief scientific officer at the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and a professor of gastroenterology at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.“For people living with UC, paying close attention to stool patterns — frequency, consistency, blood, urgency, and nighttime symptoms — and sharing those details early with your gastroenterology team is one of the most powerful ways to stay ahead of flares,” Dr. Moss says.If you encounter any of the changes below, tell your IBD…

Dietitians suggest oats, barley, farro, wild rice, quinoa and sorghum to help lower inflammation.Rich in fiber and plant compounds, these grains support gut and metabolic health.Add whole grains to a plant-rich diet with lean proteins and healthy fats to fight inflammation. While it’s a normal biological process, chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with an increased risk of several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. One small change that can add up over time? Eat more anti-inflammatory foods, like whole grains. Rich in fiber, antioxidants and phytonutrients, certain whole grains may help support a healthy inflammatory response. According…

Family get-togethers throughout the year are a part of my family’s DNA. But it’s the unofficial kickoff to summer—aka Memorial Day weekend—that is one of my favorite times of year because it means summer barbecues and weekly family get-togethers are on the horizon. For me, those family potlucks occur on a lake in the rolling hills of West Virginia, where my aunts, uncles, and cousins travel in for a weekend of food and fun.  Getting together each week makes for incredible memories—but it also means the days leading up to the weekend are full of menu planning. I love hamburgers…

Social Media Doesn’t Necessarily Hide Your Real Personality Justin Lewis / Stone / Getty Images When we think about social media, we often assume that most people are presenting an idealized version of their lives. It’s easy enough to do since we can choose what we want to share (or not).  Whether it’s filtering a selfie before we post or begging a friend to untag us in a photo that’s not very flattering, we do have the ability to curate the image that’s associated with us online. We also get to more tightly control what we say—for example, crafting a…

Visceral fat is found in your abdominal cavity and surrounds vital organs like your stomach.Excessive visceral fat increases your risk of chronic diseases like heart disease.Research has shown that coffee can help reduce visceral fat. Body fat serves all sorts of valuable functions in your body, from storing certain vitamins to keeping you warm. But there’s one type of body fat that’s not-so-friendly for your health: visceral fat. Inside your abdominal cavity, this form of adipose tissue (fat tissue) surrounds critical organs, such as your stomach, liver and intestines. Fortunately, there’s one drink that can help you reduce visceral fat.…

Whether you work a nine-to-five job, work remotely, or stay at home with the kids, everyone needs an effective method for managing their day. After all, perfectionism, procrastination and the myth of multitasking are all very real dangers that can keep even the most productive people stuck in one place. So, how do you take control of your schedule and really get things done? This is where time-blocking aka time-chunking comes in. At a Glance Sometimes we have so much on our plates that we get discouraged or overwhelmed and end up doing nothing at all. Even though life throws…

But if you turn up the heat to sauté or stir-fry, White says to keep cooking time short “to help avoid excessive heat that can break down nutrients.”[10]Grilling and BroilingThough grilling uses high heat, this cooking style is less likely to leach the healthy compounds out of your veggies than some other options.“From a nutrition standpoint, grilling uses high heat with no added water, which helps retain many nutrients that are normally lost through boiling or simmering,” says Leverich. But the intense heat can break down some heat-sensitive vitamins, like vitamin C and B vitamins.[10] “Still, when it comes to…