GravityEight

Americans are fascinated by cooking---if someone else is doing it.  Since 2004, the prime-time audience for the Food Network has increased 55 percent to l.06 million viewers nightly, and names like Rachael Ray, Paula Dean, and Bobby Flay have become household words.

The alarm goes off.  We stagger out of bed, wolf down our breakfast bar, and head out the door to face another day.  True, we’ve only had five and a half hours of sleep instead of the eight hours we probably need, but a quick stop at Starbucks and a double shot of espresso will take care of the problem.  Right?

In the past, the label “gluten-free” meant little to most of us. If we noticed the phrase on products during visits to the grocery store, we didn’t think about it. For the one percent of Americans who have celiac disease, however, this has never been the case; for them, avoiding gluten was a life-saving measure, and finding foods that didn’t contain it was a constant struggle. 

Don’t let the gray hair fool you.  With a membership of 40 million plus, AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, is a force to be reckoned with.  

Can you see your feet (no cheating….you must be standing up)?  If not, you may be playing with fire, say You Docs, Michael Rozen and Mehmet Oz.  They list “belly fat” as fast becoming Public Enemy No. 1 

Pat Hairston really loves animals, especially her Airdale Terrier, Delta Mae.  She also wanted to get involved as a volunteer in her local area.  While at an azalea festival, Pat discovered Carolina Canines for Service (CCES), and realized it was the connection she had been looking for.   She began volunteering in the office, and after watching a team training session and seeing a person with limited mobility get matched with a service dog, she was hooked.