Healthy Patriotism

Today I was shopping. I suffer from a syndrome that I call "Shopping Induced Low Blood Sugar," or SILBS. I headed for Boston Market, because I knew I could get a relatively healthy snack quickly and cheaply. I got a piece of chicken (dark meat) and two sides: green beans and mixed vegetables. A cup of coffee. I sat down to eat. It looked good!

There were lots of other people enjoying their food.   But, something was wrong! Danger was in the air... I could smell it! I looked around. Everyone else was calmly eating. I glanced surreptitiously at the plate belonging to the older gentleman sitting across from me. Everything on that plate was beige. Turkey. Mashed potatoes. Stuffing. Corn. No colorful vegetables in sight!  Over there, a woman, semi-hunched over her plateful of beige, accompanied by a huge cup of soda. Behind me, a mom with two young kids. One had mac and cheese and corn. The other had turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy. No veggies. Next to me a young lady was complaining about Boston Market's policy of omitting salt shakers on the tables. (Instead of the shaker is a card that explains Boston Market's concern over their customers eating too much sodium. It further explains that if one wants salt, it's over there by the beverages.)

Now, if I had seen one of my fellow patrons catch on fire while they were dining, would I have run over and tried to help? Of course. If I had seen one of them later, getting ready to jump off a bridge, would I have tried to talk them out of it? Of course. Yet there I sat, helplessly watching a roller coaster ride with a broken track. Nobody else saw it, and nobody else would listen to me, or believe me, and the ride was about to end horribly for a whole train of people.

The roller coaster was filled with people heading for a health crisis. According to statistics, at least half of the people in this room were either already suffering from at least one chronic illness that could potentially kill them. Although the rate of obesity for adults in America is 30%, every single of of the people (including the children) in this room were at least overweight.

Should I have gone over to the gentleman next to me and quietly suggested that he might want to have a plate of vegetables to go with all that gray stuff on his plate? Should I have offered to get the kids some green beans? Should I have just stood in the middle of the room and screamed, "WHERE ARE YOUR VEGETABLES??" At best, I would've probably been called a busy body and told to shut up.  If I'd persisted, there would've probably been restraints involved, maybe even a police officer or two. 

Look. I am concerned about these people on a personal basis. And if I thought speaking to them would help, I would. But the fact is, they are contributing to problem bigger than themselves.  

Everyone is concerned about the price of healthcare in America and the topic makes for some pretty contentious debate about how it should be handled. But there seems to be a very big disconnect between "the price of healthcare" and personal responsibility. When people overeat, don't exercise, and otherwise neglect their health, they are going to get sick. Their  insurance is going to have to pay for them to go to the doctor regularly and often, get tests, and if things get really bad, have surgery or other invasive procedures. Of course these higher costs to the insurance companies are passed on to everyone in the form of higher premiums.  If they don't have insurance, and can't pay for their healthcare, the costs are  passed on to the taxpayers one way or another. 

More than half of Americans now have at least one chronic condition. These chronic conditions comprise 75% of all healthcare spending. And it doesn't stop there. When someone becomes chronic, the dominoes start to fall. People start missing work, leading to less productivity to the tune of $153 billion a year. More money lost.

 Getting people to stop smoking, eat good food (but not too much!), and exercise is a constant mantra of your primary care providers. But I wonder, if we told our patients that being responsible for their health is patriotic, that would make a difference? 

Medicare Open Enrollment Begins October 15

With the open enrollment period coming up (it runs from October 15-December 7) you might be one of those who is considering a switch from original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan (or vice versa), or from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. I happened to run across this great article from Consumer Reports that gives you lots of tips, whether you're signing up for a Medicare plan for the first time, or you've been a recipient for years wondering if you're on the best plan. Check it out! As you probably know, Consumer Reports accepts no advertisements, so you can be assured their advice is unbiased.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Our Hancock office is bedecked and beribboned in pink this month and we're wearing our pink t-shirts on Casual Friday. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. You'll be seeing a lot of pink ribbons this month! There are also a number of organizations that are planning events to raise awareness, as well as raise funds to help women prevent breast cancer,and to help women with breast cancer cope with it.

The Breast Cancer Awareness - Cumberland Valley Inc is one such organization. They provide free early detection and after-diagnosis support programs such as support groups for women with breast cancer and their families, a telephone hotline, and they provide wigs, hats and turbans to those undergoing chemotherapy. They have events scheduled throughout the year to raise funds for these valuable services. One of their biggest is coming up on October 20th: The Step N Stride Against Breast Cancer. Walkers and Zumba dancers are asking sponsors for donations. Our staff is participating with Zumba instructor Rene Kesecker's team and would love our patients to help sponsor us! You can email Bibi Hahn for information, or stop by our office and check out all the information on display here.

Trampolines: A no-no

When we drive by a house with a trampoline in the yard, my first thought is "There's an accident waiting to happen." I know of at least two trampoline accidents, neither one of which was serious, thank goodness, that actually happened on the same trampoline. Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics has come out to formally warn that trampoline devices are too dangerous for children.

I got to wondering how trampolines were invented. The first known trampoline devices were probably used by the Inuits, who used to throw each other through the air to land on a walrus skin! Probably the first practical use of a trampoline-like device, invented in 1887, was the life-nets you see in old movies used to save people in high buildings from fire. Folklore suggests that we get the name "trampoline" from the circus performer du Trampolin who first started using the device in his show, although there is no real evidence to support this. On the contrary, it probably comes from the Spanish word "trampolín," meaning "diving board."

In 1936, trampolines began being produced for athletic gymnastic tumblers, but soon trampolining became popular on its own. Several sports and games were created using the trampoline. Then during World War 2, a more serious application was found for the trampoline: the United States Navy Flight School started using them to train pilots and navigators; it was thought the trampoline would help develop better spatial orientation. As the years went by, several competitive sports were created for the trampoline, and since 2000, trampoline sports have been included in the Olympics. 

The urge to have trampolines at home created a market sometime in the 70's. Visions of nurturing a budding Olympian's talents, giving the kids a physical activity they could enjoy at home were certainly well-meaning incentives to getting one. However, these benefits don't begin to outweigh the problems caused by the injuries the trampolines create. First of all, the home trampolines are not as sturdy as the professional ones built for competition. The safety nets do little to prevent injuries; they may prevent a child from falling out of a trampoline, but the net does nothing to prevent someone for falling incorrectly, or crashing into another trampoliner. Most people jumping on a trampoline have no prior gymnastics training; knowing how to fall, having core strength and balance are extremely important. Would you just jump on a balance beam and expect to be able to walk across it with no problem? Remember, the trampoline was originally designed for athletes!

Some of the injuries associated with trampolines include concussions, fractures of the spine and legs, strains, sprains, and dislocations. Younger children are the most susceptible, especially when there are multiple people on the trampoline at once. 

Please think twice before you buy a trampoline, or allow your child to bounce on a friends' trampoline. If you decide to go ahead, please be sure there is always adult supervision no matter how old the children. Don't allow more than one kid on at a time. Verify that your home owners insurance covers trampoline injuries (there have been cases where a home owner has had their insurance cancelled because they had a trampoline!) 

Great Websites for the Whole Family!

We had the pleasure of meeting with our Healthy Kids representative from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene today, Trish Guiles. Usually these visits are tedious, full of news of coding changes and additional hoops we'll have to hurdle in order to get paid. I was pleasantly surprised today by Trish's bubbling personality and good news, including this wonderful website I just had to share with you. "Chop Chop" is chock-full of recipes for every meal throughout the day, including snacks, desserts, and beverages. I love the colorful photos for each; it all the more inspires me to make something when I see what the finished dish will look like. I was really happy to find a recipe for Kale Chips -- these seem to be ubiquitous these days, arriving as a side on every other restaurant dish I order these days it seems - so I was curious how to make them. 

She also recommended a website that emphasizes not just healthy eating, but ways to get active as well. Let's Move. For example, a page on getting families to include more physical activity in their lives encourages families to facilitate a safe walk to school a few times a week. This might not be possible in our rural area, but how about this? Maybe, next time you drive the kids to school, you could park the car a block or two from the school and walk the rest of the way? I see so many parents waiting in cars to pick up their kids from the bus. How far could they possibly live from the bus? Maybe a walk is in order there, as well. I especially liked the hint to not allow anyone to "sit still during TV commercials." I wonder if running out to the kitchen for a snack counts?!

So how about checking out those websites next time you're cruising the internet. They're just a click away from here!

Come to our Ribbon-Cutting and Open House!

The Astonishing Benefits of the 2012 Walk Across Maryland

“The benefits of regular walking are astonishing!” reports Walk Across Maryland organizer, Dr. Matthew Hahn. “Studies show that walking regularly can lower a person's risk of diabetes; decrease the need for medications; decrease arthritis pain symptoms; improves the chances of survival with some cancers; reduces the risk of stroke; and can decrease the risks of developing Alzheimer's disease. Regular walking can even improve your sex life! So, if any of that interests you, and it should, you should participate in the 2012 Walk Across Maryland.”

The 2012 Walk Across Maryland will be held on Saturday, September 29, at 9 AM, in Hancock, Maryland. Participants are challenged to walk across the entire state of Maryland, along the length of Pennsylvania Avenue, from the MD-PA border to the C & O Canal (1.7 miles). Local police will escort the walkers. Area residents are reminded that they may experience traffic delays along Pennsylvania Avenue between 8:45 am and 9:45 am, and to plan their trips into Hancock accordingly.

Free tee shirts are being provided by Meritus Medical Center, and will be available to the first 200 participants to arrive. Parking for the Walk Across Maryland is available at the Hancock Assembly of God, and shuttles will be available to transport walkers back to the start area after the walk.

BIG BIG BIG NEWS!

Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine is bringing its "new way to practice old fashioned care" to Cumberland, Maryland!  
In response to a shortage of physicians and health care providers in that area, Dr. Nelson will head the new Cumberland office, while Dr. Hahn will continue at the Hancock office. We will be opening the new office in phases to best serve our patients in both locations. We have hired a Nurse Practitioner to work with Dr. Nelson in the Cumberland office. Terry Harvey, CFNP MS, will be working full time in the Cumberland office, while Dr. Nelson will continue to see patients in the Hancock office until our new Nurse Practitioner can begin work in Hancock. Amber Morrow, NP, will begin working full-time in Hancock sometime in the late Fall. Phil Nelson will be managing the practice in the Cumberland location.

We will begin registering patients for the new practice beginning September 17th. Patients can make appointments, which will begin October 1. You may call to register or download the forms from our website and fax or email them to the new practice. Phil Nelson's email address is pnelson@hahnandnelson.com.

An open house for the Cumberland office will be held on September 30.

The address for the Cumberland practice is  30 A North Mechanic Street, Cumberland, Maryland 21502.  
The phone number is  240-362-7265, and the fax is 240-362-7266. Our website, www.hahnandnelson.com will be updated with all the information you need soon.
Please call us with any questions or concerns. Watch this blog and our Facebook page for more news!

Next stop, Hollywood?

From the Morgan Messenger, 8/22/2012

He isn't just a doctor, he also plays one on TV. Or in this case, in the latest film produced by Roman Pictures, "Signals 2." Although he was originally supposed to have a non-speaking role as described in the photo, Dr Hahn ended up providing medical advice for the film, which was shot in the old War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs. In addition to his "medical training" from the TV show "ER," patients can be assured that he also has a medical degree from George Washington University! Don't  be surprised if the next time you come into the office, you're met with the greeting "Action!"

Check your Sources, please!

During election years, things can get very contentious. No matter whether you're a member of the Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Green Party, or whatever, you must think before you believe! Here's an example. One of my friends on Facebook posted a letter, supposedly from Blue Cross Blue Shield, that states that in 2014 under "Obamacare," Medicare monthly premiums will rise to $247 (more than double what they are now). When I see something like this that even smells like it might be a story, I go to FactCheck.org, a non-partisan website that vets all kinds of stories for factual content. What did it say about the letter from "Blue Cross Blue Shield?"

"Medicare officials project the basic premium will be less than half that. But the law will eventually cause 14 percent of seniors with incomes over $85,000 a year ($170,000 for couples) to pay higher “income-related” premiums, up from 5 percent currently."

And furthermore,

"Actually, only 27 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are paying the basic rate. The rest — 73 percent — are paying less under a “hold harmless” provision triggered by the lack of a cost-of-living increase in Social Security this year or last year. Most are still paying $96.40.

As for the future, nobody can say with precision what the basic Part B premium will be next year or the year after, let alone in 2014. The premium is set each year at a level calculated to pay for 25 percent of the cost of the coverage. Medicare officials do keep close watch on the trends, however. And when we contacted Medicare’s Office of the Actuary, we were given these projections — the most recent available — which are current as of the president’s budget for fiscal year 2012 issued in mid-February:

Medicare Part B Standard Premium (projected, February 2011)
2012 $108.20
2013 $112.10
2014 $117.10

Source: Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Office of theActuary

Please feel free to  bookmark the Factcheck.org site and use it before believing for truth that next chain letter, or worse, before you click the forward button on your email and spread untruths. The truth will set you free!

Happy birthday to us!!!!!

It's our third birthday! We are so happy, and feel so grateful, to be celebrating our third anniversary in this community. Thank you, all, for the support and the trust you've given us. We look forward to serving you throughout many more years.

Congratulations to all!

Congratulations to everyone who ran or walked in the Child Awareness Walk/5K Run on Saturday, April 28th in Hancock. We're proud that many of our patients participated in this event. Several of them placed within their age category: Beth Demory placed 3rd in the 26-35 group; Kirk Layton placed 1st in the 36-45 group; Paul French placed 1st in the 46+ and our own Dr. Hahn placed 3rd in that group as well! We're proud of you all and proud of our community for supporting this cause.

It's official - we're a home!

We wrote last year about our practice becoming a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH). Just recently we earned national recognition from the National Committee  for Quality Assurance. This required our practice to reach and document certain benchmarks. Studies have shown that this model can cut medical costs, and lead to increases quality of care and satisfaction among providers and their patients. The article about Hahn and Nelson's recognition is here, and you can read more about the PCMH model in this article.

Dr Hahn's New Article in Maryland Academy of Family Physicians

In case you weren't aware, not only is your doctor an accomplished medical practitioner, he is also an avid promoter of the Ideal Medical Practice model that Hahn and Nelson Family Medicine exemplifies. His team at Oxbow has developed a state-of-the-art Electronic Medical Record software program that facilitates much of the record keeping at our practice. He's also the Western District Director of the Maryland Academy of Family Practice, and a member of their Technology Committee. And as you can see in this article, he loves to write about what he believes.

Tanning? Think again!

This time of year, I am still startled when I see someone with a golden tan. The first thing I think is, "Wow that person is so lucky - they got to beat the March doldrums somewhere sunny and warm!" The second thing I think is, "I wonder if they know how the sun damages their skin."
Sun damage is the number one cause of wrinkles. TANNING IS A SIGN OF SKIN DAMAGE. It's evidence that the sun has penetrated and damaged the skin's support structure. The ultraviolet rays of the sun damage fibers in the skin called elastin. The weakened elastin causes the skin to lose its elasticity. When the skin is stretched it loses its ability to rebound. The result of this is a wrinkling effect in areas of the face which are most usually stretched, like the eyes, mouth, and nose. This applies to damage your skin received naturally under the sun, or on a tanning bed. If you think tanning beds are safer than tanning under the sun, they aren't. In fact, most tanning beds emit mainly UVA rays — which may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.


I don't want to appear vain, but people often mention that I look younger than my 56 years. I have used a sunblock for as long as they've been selling them: my skin moisturizer has an SPF of 15, and if I'm going to be out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, I apply a sunblock with at least 30 SPF. 


Now and then I'll use one of those self-tanning creams. The newer ones are good and moisturize your skin at the same time. Here are some reviews. I've tried the Jergen's, and at least for my skin, it looks good. 


So think twice before laying out in the sun or on a tanning bed. Do you really want the wrinkles that are inevitable, and maybe even flirt with skin cancer? The wrinkles will last a lifetime, whereas a tan only lasts a few days. 

Thought for the day

Political Cartoon: "Drip, Drip, Drip" by Matt Wuerker, Politico

Don't Drink that Soda!

I have to admit, there are times when I absolutely crave a Diet Coke's effervescent sweetness. However, that craving has been tempered more and more lately by bad news about drinking soda. We already know the toll that soda can have on those who are overweight, and we've seen people lose dramatic weight by simply dropping soda from their diet.


However, there is more we should all be aware of. I read this article the other day. Here's some of what I learned:

• Apparently the phosphoric acid in soda can lead to more rapid aging. A 2010 study found that the excessive phosphate levels found in sodas caused lab rats to die a full five weeks earlier than the rats whose diets had more normal phosphate levels. Too much phosphoric acid can challenge the heart and kidneys, lead to osteoporosis, and muscle loss.
• Did you ever wonder why colas are brown? It's nothing natural, that's for sure! Two contaminants in the coloring, 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole, have been found to cause cancer in animals. Just 16 micrograms per person per day of 4-methylimidazole is enough to pose a cancer threat, and most popular brown colas, both diet and regular, contain 200 micrograms per 20-ounce bottle.
• Then there is Mountain Dew, the bad boy of all sodas. Its excessive sugar is well-known by dentists to cause cavities. And how about this? The BVO (bromated vegetable oil)  which is added to keep the flavoring from separating from the drink, is also used as a flame retardant in plastics! So while you might get some cavities from drinking the stuff, well, maybe you'll be able to take up firewalking.  Unfortunately, this chemical has also been known to cause memory loss  and nerve disorders. 

So what to drink instead? For starters, there is water. I'm one of those people, however, that just can't get excited about water. So if I want caffeine (which is half the reason I like my Coke), I drink coffee or tea, hot or cold. Then, if it's something sparkly and sweet that I want, I pour a Pellegrino or other sparkling water, and splash in some pomegranate or other juice. 

Spring into Spring!

Spring is coming, and I can already feel the energy. It didn't hurt that we had such a mild winter; personally, I didn't feel like hiding in my bear cave all that much this year. And now that spring is officially coming in just a few weeks, I see that new workout classes are springing up almost as fast as the crocus!

Rankin Fitness Center, besides their already popular Zumba class (Thursdays at 7:00), is offering several new classes. I've just updated our Yoga post to include their new Yoga classes:

• Gentle Yoga for Seniors on Wednesdays and Fridays at 9 am
• Yoga for Stress on Mondays at 7 pm
• Workout Yoga on Wednesdays at 7 pm

Also new at Rankin is Bellysima! I've been raving about this bellydancing class ever since I started taking it two years ago. Bellydancing isn't just about wearing a pretty hip scarf and shimmying, although it's definitely a part of it. Bellydancing will teach you how to isolate muscles that you didn't even know you had. Angela Petry's instruction concentrates on technique rather than fancy footwork and choreography, so you can really get to know your core. The class encourages grace, good posture and coordination. It's a fun class to take with a friend, so bring someone along! I think this is a wonderful class for teenage girls because along with everything else, it teaches girls to  be proud of their bodies, and to carry themselves well, all taught in a fun atmosphere. Because you'll be progressing with each lesson, rather than "dropping in," you should sign up for a session rather than a single class. Luckily, the Bellysima class is being offered at three different times, so you should be able to find one convenient for you:

Tuesdays 10:30-11:45

Wednesdays 3:30-4:45

Wednesdays 5:30-6:45 

Classes are $65 for an 8 week session for non-members, $32.50 if you're a member. If you just want to try the class, you can drop in for $10 (non-member) or $5 (member). 

Angela has a Facebook page, so check it out!

Rankin Fitness Center has some other ongoing classes, such as Judo, Silver Sneakers, and Weight Watchers, and of course, the wildly popular Zumba class taught by Rene Kesecker. Give them a a call at 304-258-555 or stop by. They have some great membership deals going on now too!

Well, it's just how we roll.

Yes Virginia, doctors still DO make house calls... and more. Here's the text you'll find under the link:
January 13, 2012, Morgan Messenger

Dear Editor:

I would like to let everyone know about an act of Christmas kindness by one of your neighbors.

I’m from Arizona and recently spent the holidays at my sister-in-law’s farm in southern Morgan County. Just before Christmas, recurrent kidney stone pain caused me to plan an emergency return to Tucson to get treatment from my doctors.

As I was making flight reservations, Dr. Matt Hahn, a friend who was visiting my brother-and sister-in-law, interrupted and offered to arrange local treatment. Not only did he go out of his way to arrange an ER visit, he took several hours out of his Christmas Day to drive us to the hospital and stay with my wife and I during the visit. Afterward, he lined up an appointment with a local urologist to have the stone removed the following day.

I was blown away by the amount of time and effort that Dr. Hahn put out. He and his wife, Bibi, who was especially gracious even though we occupied much of her husband’s Christmas Day, are incredibly generous people. You’re very lucky to have such people active in your community.

Jim Delaune
Tucson, Arizona

Yoga in Berkeley Springs

Winter is a great time to start or re-start your yoga practice. We tend to sit a lot more in the winter time, whether it's because we don't like the cold, or there just isn't as much going on this time of year. Yoga is a wonderful way to get back in touch with your body, and to still the mind. I've been trying to fit a few more Yoga workouts into my week lately. It feels good, and anybody who thinks Yoga is for sissies hasn't done it. Plank pose alone strengthens your core, your back, and of course, your arms. Downward facing dog and pigeon pose feel like heaven after you've been sitting all day.
For those of you who haven't been exercising regularly, yoga would be a good place to start. Yoga naturally makes you aware of your body, and helps you remember to breathe while you move. A good instructor will make gentle corrections to assure that your poses are good for you.
And for those of you who already have an exercise routine going, good for you! But don't forget, cross training is key to a strong, healthy body. Yoga will help you stretch your muscles and further strengthen them.
In Berkeley Springs, we are blessed with several really great instructors, all offering different techniques. A good instructor will be able to teach most levels of yoga to one class, but you should always let your instructor know if you're a beginner. Here's a list of all the Yoga classes I was able to find out about in our area:

Joyce Morningstar  and Lee Barrons Classes are held at their home studio. Call 304-258-6247 for information. Individual classes $10 / 8 classes $55

• Tues                      Gentle Yoga       7:00-8:15
• Thursday             Vigorous Yoga   7:00-8:15
• Friday                    partner yoga      7:00-8:15
• Sat                          Gentle Yoga       9:00-10:15

Marcie Fleeharty   Classes are held at the Board Office Annex Building. Must sign up by registering with Morgan County Adult and Community Education. Contact Laura Hovermale at 304-258-2430 ext 19 or 20. Classes are $50 for 10 weeks beginning  January 23.

• Monday               Basic Yoga           4:30-5:45
• Monday               Yoga Fusion        6:00-7:15

               

Christina Page Classes are held at the inMotion Dance Center. Call (540)535-6188 for more information. Classes are $15 for drop ins, or multiple class cards are available at a discount. Private classes available as well.

• Thursday             Alignment based Yoga   9:00-10:30          

Evelyn Garcia Classes are held at the  Presbyterian Church Social Hall. Please call  (304)258-9069 before attending.  Classes are $8 in advance  or $10 at the door. Evelyn is also available for private classes.

• Monday               5:30-7:00

Rankin Fitness Center now offers Yoga classes. Each class is 45 minutes in length and each class costs $5 for members and $10 for nonmembers.

• Wednesdays and Fridays 9:00 am Senior Yoga
• Mondays 7:00 pm Yoga for Stress
• Wednesdays 7:00 pm Workout Yoga

You can also find tons of Yoga workouts on DVDs, and on Youtube. Personally, I wouldn't use these until I had taken Yoga from an instructor and got confident with the poses. I do have a few that I like. I'll post these later on. If you have some favorites, please let me know! I might want to give yours a try.

Namaste!

E-Reading for your health

We could open our own medical library at our house. Medical journals are piled up on the coffee table, brochures for health products languish on the kitchen counter with the rest of the mail, and yes, health magazines are stacked in the bathroom too. Maybe that's what happens when you're married to a doctor.

As most of you know by now, I love technology. Those journals and magazines? They're my husband's. I prefer to read current events, including health and fitness news, online. I love how I can use links in an article to explore a topic in more depth... or open a new browser window and Google an author to find out what else they've written.

I make sure I read at least little bit of health news every day as I scan all the international and national news, entertainment gossip, the weather, and politics. Being in the know about new health and fitness developments and discoveries is exciting and useful.

There are many ways you can make any kind of reading more available on the web. Of course you can always bookmark your favorite news sites, blogs, and other sources.

Google and Yahoo both use widgets to make information appear automatically on your personalized Google or Yahoo page. I've added a "widget" to my Google page called The World's Healthiest Foods. (If you don't use iGoogle, you can also just read The World's Healthiest Foods by itself.) Every week this widget focuses on a healthy food (this week's is broccoli), and usually includes at least one recipe for that food.

Many news sites allow you to customize what kind of news you see once you've created a (usually free) account. Today while reading the news on the MSNBC website, because I've added the Health section to my customized page, I found an article on getting the starch out of my dinners.

In addition to links found on web pages, there are lots of websites that will email  free subscription newsletters. Shape Magazine, a mainstay of the fitness reader, has many email newsletters to help you stay motivated and smart: Just go to this website, check the boxes for the newsletters you want, and fill in your email address.

If you got an iPad or other tablet for a gift this holiday season, there are so many apps out there that it'll require a whole new article to explore just a few of the health and fitness-related. But here are some links to get your started:
iFit: 50 Coolest Fitness and Health Apps for the iPhone (most of these can also be used on an iPad as well)
Top Ten iTunes Health Apps of 2011
For example, I was excited to find a Yoga app that lets me design my own routines. The tablets open a whole new exciting dimension and lots of possibilities.

I think keeping health and fitness news in my digital life can't help but be a reminder to stay on a healthy track. If you're reading this blog, chances are you like to get your information online, too. Please share with us if you find something interesting!