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We see it every New Year: The mass crowds in the gym come and then slowly fade off throughout the first few months of the year. The excitement of the New Year gives us that energy to begin great lifelong goals, but then the motivation quickly goes away. We need to shift our mindset to recognize that change is a gradual process. We don’t want to overload ourselves with unattainable long-term goals. Emma Giardini, MEd, BS, wellness coach with Lake Health Integrative Medicine, explains how to set goals you'll actually stick with all year long: 

If you're searching for a unique gift idea this holiday season, consider giving something special that promotes health and wellness. Lake Health Wellness Coach Emma Giardini shares her favorite gift ideas to help your loved ones stay well: 

The holiday season is just around the corner and we can’t wait to make holiday cookies, wear crazy holiday sweaters and spend time with friends and family. Holiday stress will develop no matter what because there just isn’t enough time for everything. But Lake Health Wellness Coach Emma Giardini offers these tips on how to reduce the stress and enjoy the holiday season:

The prescription drugs you have in your medicine cabinet can pose an unintended risk for your family. Lucille Zappitelli-Sason, MSN, CNP, a nurse practitioner with Lake County Family Practice, gives the scoop on the dangers prescription drugs (even expired and unused ones) can pose and shares crucial tips for protecting your family: 

More than 30 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and 7 million of them don’t know it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes is serious business. It can lead to heart disease; stroke; kidney failure; vision loss; amputation of toes, feet or legs; and premature death. The good news is that you can often manage diabetes with physical activity, diet, insulin and other medications. Marjorie Lang, a diabetes educator at Lake Health, knows how important it is to see if you're at risk. 

When it comes to taking care of ourselves, most women tend to worry more about the health of others than their own. Having a yearly wellness check-up may be an addition to your already overwhelming to-do list, but it’s important to make sure you're in good health before you can take care of others.

Lake Health General Surgeon Eveline Klenotic, DO, explains the importance of breast health and the facts and risk factors of breast cancer:

As we venture through life, we may start to notice that we tend to break bones easier than before. This is due to the loss of bone density. Bone density is the amount of calcium and other minerals found in your bones. We start to lose that density over time.

Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, give tips on foods and other sources that are enriched with calcium and vitamin D to help maintain your bone density.

As a parent, you want your child to eat healthy and nutritious foods that give them the energy they need to play and grow. A plant-based diet is one of these options. Spending a week at camp is a tradition that many children love – it provides new adventures, fun friendships and a chance to enjoy activities independently from their parents. If your child follows a vegetarian or vegan eating style, you may worry he or she will go hungry at sleepaway camp. Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, gives her top tips for sticking to a plant-based eating style away from home:

Childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States. Even the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes is increasing in children. Families are busier than ever, while also more sedentary than previous generations. School lunch choices are mostly processed, fatty, sugary foods.

Melinda Wivell, RDN, LD, a registered dietitian with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, discusses how a plant-based diet for elementary aged children can be a healthy alternative to the traditional American diet:

Summer can disrupt your normal routine. Summer break for kids, yard work, fairs and festivals, picnics, reunions, family vacations and a chance to enjoy longer days – summer is chock full of unique activities you don’t want to miss. This can certainly add stress as we try to fit everything in! That’s why it’s important to manage your time well during the summer, so you can focus on enjoying the season. Emma Giardini, a wellness coach with the Lake Health Integrative Medicine team, gives her top tips for getting the most out of the season with less stress: