Traditional croissants made with butter; Prets version uses margarine and sunflower oil. Photograph: Martin Lee/Rex/Shutterstock

Pret a Manger will next week become the first major high street coffee chain in the UK to sell vegan croissants, as consumer demand for plant-based foods continues to soar.

Its brand new product uses margarine and sunflower oil to recreate the buttery, light texture of the traditional French pastry.

Pret sells more than 20m croissants every year, and following months of development and customer requests, its food development team created a vegan recipe for the breakfast staple, traditionally made with 55% French butter.

Costing from 1.70, the very berry croissant filled with a jam-style berry compote and dusted with sugar will go on sale in all 389 branches from 7 January. It will join the traditional plain, almond, jam and chocolate versions on the bakery counters by Prets tills.

Hannah Dolan, Prets global head of food innovation, said the new product would appeal to customers participating in Veganuary embracing a plant-based diet for the whole of January as well as those seeking to reduce their dairy consumption or keen to try something new.

Over the past couple of years weve worked hard to introduce new vegan and veggie options, she said. We knew from talking to our customers that it was time to bring more choices to the breakfast menu. The very berry croissant is just the beginning we are looking forward to sharing more plant-based innovations with customers in 2020.

In the UK retail sector, vegan croissants have typically only been available from small independent cafes or niche brands. In November La Boulangre launched a range of vegan croissants and pain au chocolats made with shea butter. Individually wrapped to be warmed at home, they are sold by Sainsburys, Ocado and Morrisons for 2.75 a bag.

Other popular pastry snacks have already had successful transformations. On Thursday, the UKs largest bakery chain Greggs unveiled a meat-free version of its popular steak bake, a hotly-anticipated oven-mate to its vegan sausage roll which went on sale in January 2019.

In October, Pret announced that it was giving its most popular sandwiches a high-profile vegan makeover. The new chuna mayo baguette (with chick peas replacing tuna), VLT (with roasted shiitake mushroom rashers in place of bacon), eggless mayo baguette and hoisin mushroom wrap went on sale initially in its five standalone Veggie Pret shops. However, if they prove very popular with customers, they will be rolled out to the main chain too.

In a further fillip for customers seeking plant-based options, Pret will announce that from next Tuesday, it is dropping its charge for dairy milk alternatives: with barista-prepared hot and cold drinks, oat and rice-coconut milk will be offered free alongside soya milk.

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Pret puts vegan croissants on the menu - The Guardian

If youre in desperate need of a new recipe on rotation after one too many tomato soups and grilled cheeses, I have the perfect addition to your lineup: a vegan Mexican stew thats loaded with plant-based protein.

Bethany Ugarte, the blogger behind Lilsipper, has been eating menudoa tradition Mexican soupduring the holidays for as long as she can remember. While the main component of the original version is cow stomach, she remade it with all vegan ingredients to reap the benefits in a healthier way. And the star of the show is none other than everyones favorite legume: chickpeas.

With 39 grams of protein per cup, chickpeas are an excellent source of nutrition. Put together with vegetarian both, tomatoes, kale, and a splash of metabolism-boosting hot sauce, you can create a simple meal in minutes. The next time you want to cuddle up with a cozy stew, whip up Ugartes easy recipe.

Ingredients 3 cups chickpeas (pre-cooked or canned) 4 cups water 4 cups veggie broth 1/4 cup Franks RedHot Sauce 1 18 oz. jar diced tomatoes 1 cup fresh dinosaur kale, chopped black pepper to taste

1. Warm all soup ingredients in a pot. 2. Once warm, garnish as desired.

For another healthy plant-based recipe, try this immunity broth:

These are the best plant-based proteins that wont mess with your digestion. Then check out the only 7 spices you need to create a million flavor combinations.

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This Mexican stew is loaded with proteinand its 100 percent vegan - Well+Good

When you think of the most Googled recipe of 2019, what comes to mind? Well, if a perfectly crisp cauliflower crust, creamy pasta dish, or mouth-watering dessert came to mind, youre wrong. It was actually shepherds pie. Yep, the bland-looking dish packed with minced meat, gravy, and mashed potatoes.

If youre a bit surprised me too. But clearly people are really into their shepherds pie! Id really like to one-up those many searches with a healthier, prettier, and completely vegan vegan shepherds pie thats loaded with plant-based protein. And leave it to Ella Mills, the plant-based cookbook author behind Deliciously Ella, to do just that with her take on the traditional recipe that uses sweet potatoes and black beans, leaving you energized after devouring the dish rather than weighed down.

This is my favorite Shepherds pie recipe, and its such a crowd-pleaser. Ella Mills of Deliciously Ella

This is my favorite Shepherds pie recipe, and its such a crowd-pleaser, she wrote on her website. The beans are sauted with red onion, garlic, maple, coriander, lime juice, spring onions, mushrooms, and tomatoes until theyre soft and full of flavor. Then theyre baked under a layer of sweet potato mash.

Vegan shepherds pie takes more of a time commitment than something like pasta, but the finished product is impressive. Between the wholesome ingredients, herbs and spices, and many protein- and fiber-filled plants, this recipe is 100 percent worth the hype.

For the full recipe, head to Deliciously Ella.

For another healthy vegan recipe, try this Mexican corn salad:

These super easy vegan recipes can be made using nothing but your air fryer. Then go for the paleo-vegan recipes that can be made under 10 minutes.

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The vegan version of the most Googled recipe of 2019 is packed with protein - Well+Good

The first wealth, Ralph Waldo Emerson famously said, is health.

The slow living lifestyle, which focuses on adopting slower approaches to aspects of everyday life, will permeate into the health industry, and is likely to rule the coming decade. Born in Italy, slow living is a conscious, intentional, mindful, and organic way of life that aims to promote balance, ease, and sanity, and lower stress.

Last decade saw the rise of high-intensity interval training, the keto diet, and wearables. This year will be about slowing down be it stress levels, workouts, diets, drinking habits, and more. Our list of the top 2020 health trends reflects this shift.

With rising awareness that rearing livestock has significant environmental and human cost, there has been an increase in vegetarianism and veganism across the world.

As DJ Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet, says: Its more about getting the benefits of eating more plants without having to follow strict diet rules. Its about just eating what works for you without labeling it.

Till now, most trainers recommended high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involved short, intense bouts of exercise that promised kept your metabolism revved up for hours after your workout. But slowing down is likely to bring in high-intensity, low-impact interval training (HILIT).

Top trainers are now rooting for HILIT as it ensures strenuous workouts while preserving bodies for longevity and ensuring proper recovery.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has awoken us to the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle by listing physical inactivity as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally.

Reason enough for many companies to incorporate standing desks and meetings into their offices. Research shows that long walks and extended hours of standing can lower body mass index and cholesterol levels, improve blood sugar and posture, and lead to more energy and core strength. The war against sitting is on, and will continue through the decade.

Umpteen studies have revealed that sleep deprivation can fuel depression, apart from health consequences like stroke, diabetes, and heart disease.

With realisation of the impact of sleep on overall health peaking in 2019, the next few years are likely to see the 40 winks grow into 60, 75, and may be 90! In the US, nap bars places where professionals can head to grab a quick power nap during the workday are cropping up.

India may not have them yet, but sleep is certainly on everyones mind.

Terry Cralle, a registered nurse and sleep clinician who co-authored Sleeping Your Way to the Top: How to Get the Sleep You Need to Succeed, writes: The trend from here on out will be to value sleep, prioritise it, maximise, and optimise it. We will likely look for more and better ways to optimise sleep quality by way of better sleep surfaces (mattresses, pillows and bedding), better soundproofing, natural lighting, better pajamas, better schedules, and more respect for our need for sleep.

For many years now, gyms have been the go-to place when it comes to staying fit. But home workouts are now becoming de rigueur as people, strapped for time, try to make fitness fit into their daily lives.

Were all set to see an increase in sales of home gym equipment, streamed fitness content, and on-demand workouts. The rise of InstaTrainers will see many more fitness enthusiasts turn to free or subscription-based personalised or nearly-personal plans from online trainers.

Many of us will cancel gym memberships, as on-demand workouts seem more accessible, inclusive, flexible, and easier to fit into busy lifestyles. The home workout, likely to be a huge fitness trend, can also be credited to more professionals working from home.

Tired of vacations that leave you wanting another vacation? This could be the year of getting away from packed-to-the-gills holidays that dont leave you revived and rejuvenated.

And with sleep becoming an area of focus, the wellness vacation could well metamorphose into a new holiday: the sleepcation. A vacation dedicated to help you get the shut-eye you need, this break it could be a couple of days to a week or even more will help repay your sleep debt" and return to work relaxed.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has said that wearable tech will be the top trend in fitness in 2020.

Wearable tech has become ingrained in todays culture, and the industry shows no signs of slowing down, said ACSM Past President Walter R Thompson, the lead author of the survey and associate dean in the College of Education and Human Development at Georgia State University in Atlanta.

Smart watches, activity trackers, sleep trackers wearable tech will continue to trend as people get keener to track all aspects of their life. Having fitness-related data handy is also likely to help inspire us to do more.

Apart from these seven trends, others that are likely to stay on top of our minds in 2020 include the turn-it-off movement that exhorts people to opt for digital detoxes; the joy of running that will be discovered by thousands of new runners; a conscious choice of sober curiosity, advocated byRuby Warringtons Sober Curious, which states that hangovers and alcohol may be keeping you from living your best life; and circadian-synced intermittent fasting, which can help with weight loss, longevity, and reducing major disease risk.

Were at the end of the first week of 2020, and its time to pick which of these trends will be part of your resolutions this New Year. Get healthy, get wealthy!

(Edited by Evelyn Ratnakumar)

(Photos: Shutterstock)

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[2020 Outlook] Top health and fitness trends to get you in the best shape - YourStory

SPRINGFIELD During the 29th Annual Downstate Illinois Occupational Safety & Health Day (DIOSH) on March 4 in Peoria, the Governors Award for Health and Safety will be presented to a person who has made significant contributions to occupational health and/or safety.

You can nominate someone or yourself for this prestigious award through January 31, 2020. The nomination form is available at http://www.dioshday.com. The Illinois Department of Labor is a cosponsor of DIOSH Day, which will be held at the Peoria Civic Center.

Worker safety is a core mission of the Illinois Department of Labor, and we know health and safety is a priority for private and public employers. This is a great chance to give your health and safety advocates recognition for their important work. I urge you to consider nominating a worthy individual, said IDOL director Michael Kleinik.

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DIOSH Day is for employers, employees, and all others interested in safety and health. Experts in the field will present numerous sessions on the most current issues in safety and health today. The Illinois Department of Labor, other governmental agencies and private vendors also will provide information and materials in a large exhibition area.

1989: Pat and Rodney Williamson are ready to dine. Owner Leonard Losch looks on at Ellen Kay's.

1992: A bicyclist pedals along East Rudy Street where a row of new duplexes were built, next to a subsidized housing project.

1959: In an effort to better serve the growing needs of the Midwest, Southwest and Far West market for flexible metal hose and tubing the American Brass Co. built its American Metal Hose Division plant in Mattoon.

1963: A new line of paving equipment is exhibited by the Mattoon Blaw Knox plant at the Construction Equipment Exposition and Road Show, Chicago.

1988: Burtschi is the first store in Illinois south of Springfield to offer Hummel figurines.

1959: The Eastern Division of the CIPS is completing a move into the new building in Mattoon. The structure has 36 offices and 23,000 square feet of office space.

1991: The CTA office is carpeted, air conditioned, well-lit and features work stations designed around employee needs. Telemarketers generated $435 billion in sales last year. For each customer who says yes, 99 say no.

1977: Acquisition of the Douglas Nursing Center will complete another phase in Wesley Tower's total care package.

1985: aerial view of downtown Mattoon.

1992: A group of children wait in line to challenge the winner to a game of tether ball at the E. Rudy Street housing project.

1950: Proof that flash photography has become a national hobby is the Mattoon plant of the General Electric Co. which manufactures flash bulbs almost exclusively. A few incandescent or regular light bulbs in larger wattages are made here also.

1965: The school is housed in the former Humble Oil Co. building on Route 45 on the south side of Mattoon.

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Nominations needed for Governor's Health and Safety Award - Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

One in three Americans would give up sex for a year to instantly reach their fitness goals, according to new research.

Thats not all theyd be willing to do a survey of 2,000 Americans found a quarter of respondents are so desperate to reach their fitness goals that they would even be willing to spend a week in jail to achieve them in the blink of an eye.

The study examined respondents attitudes on fitness, well-being and what motivates them, revealing that 68 percent feel so overwhelmed by maintaining a fitness routine that they would rather avoid starting one altogether.

Six in 10 also reported they just dont know enough about health and fitness to start their own routine.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of AI fitness and lifestyle coaching app Freeletics, the survey also found that 67 percent dont know which healthy habits they should create and maintain in their lives.

To make things easier three in four respondents said a personal trainer would help them reach their fitness goals more efficiently.

Sixty-nine percent of those polled say the only thing that would get them in shape is the help of a personal trainer, but the price tag seems to be dissuading.

Seventy-six percent of those surveyed said they wished getting a personal trainer was more affordable.

It turns out social media is actually playing a large role in motivating Americans to exercise; just over three-quarters of respondents reported following fitness influencers to keep them going.

Another 85 percent of respondents said they motivate themselves by comparing their progress through photos and measurements and even selfies.

Despite these motivators, respondents admitted to some common reasons to justify not exercising and maintaining healthy habits.

Topping the list of excuses was the classic I dont have enough time (35 percent).

Twenty-six percent of respondents also reported that they worry they may be past the point of no return saying theyre just too unfit already.

Its important to find an exercise routine that works for you and your schedule, but its equally as important to train your mind too. If you reduce stress and sleep better, youll also perform better.

Complementary training of both body and mind positively impacts all-round performance and how quickly and effectively you reach your goals, explained Dr. Peter Just, Team Lead Coach Experience at Freeletics.

The stronger your skills and mindset, the stronger and more successful you can become both physically and mentally.

Perhaps connected with the 35 percent of respondents who dont have enough time, a quarter of those surveyed also said theyre too stressed to exercise and maintain healthy habits.

This checks out too, as respondents reporting feel stressed an average of three days a week. Eleven percent of respondents even said they felt stressed five to six days a week.

Americans are taking action to combat this, however, with respondents reporting they meditate an average of 4.6 hours a week and 65 percent reported practicing mindfulness and meditation is a top priority for them.

And when it comes to mindfulness practices, over half of those surveyed said they look to this to manage stress.

However, one of the top barriers to practicing mindfulness was a busy and distracted mind (47 percent).

Combining body and mind training has always been a part of the Freeletics vision to help people become the greatest version of themselves, said Freeletics CEO Daniel Sobhani.

Our Mindset Coaching will teach people the fundamentals and help them build a lifelong foundation for health and personal development.

By combining this with our adaptive, personalized workout plans, people will be more likely than ever to truly succeed on their health and fitness journey. We believe training your body and mind is one of the greatest investments you can make, so now we are making it as easy as possible for anyone.

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The crazy things Americans would do to reach their fitness goals - New York Post

Health and fitness expert Samir Becic has a New Years resolution for the entire city of Houston.

I want to make Houston one of the fittest cities in America, he said. I cant tell you how motivated I am to make our great city the healthiest.

As with any resolution, a list of excuses can pop up. For example, Houstonians often complain about the climate or the lack of opportunities for fitness, Becic said. Unlike colder places, however, Houston is an ideal place for an active life, he said, with parks that make it easy to get outdoors.

Becic was recently named Houstons health czar by Mayor Sylvester Turner. Before founding Health Fitness Revolution and ReSYNC Fitness, he served as fitness director for Bally Total Fitness.

He has observed firsthand the wave of individuals signing up for gym memberships in January and February, ready to tackle their New Years resolutions. Then that excitement goes down, and suddenly they disappear, Becic said. By April, they stop coming completely.

His goal is to make fitness a year-round lifestyle of Houstonians.

Sticking with resolutions can be an ideal way to focus on self-care, said Ashley Garza, who founded,with Heather Hazen, Cormentum Health and Wellness in west Houston. As health and lifestyle coaches, Garza and Hazen recognize that committing to change is both mental and physical.

Everybody should take time to invest in themselves, Garza said. We all need to recharge.

Health experts in Houston have a number of tips for making resolutions stick:

1. Start slow. Its a marathon, not a sprint, Becic said. Its step-by-step. Keep in mind that better health is a process, he added. That means setting small, realistic goals, like losing 6 pounds in a month instead of 30 pounds. Becic also recommends starting with shorter work-outs in the gym, and adding five minutes at a time. Starting slow and being steady can help reduce injuries and exhaustion, he said.

The same is true of diet. Instead of eliminating everything all at once, make minor changes and work toward being healthier. Jill Sechi, owner of Wellness Coaching and Nutrition Therapy, has similar advice. A lot of resolutions are very broad and overwhelming, she said. Youve got to make sure your goals are realistic and small.

2. Celebrate small successes. Feelings of anxiety and depression surrounding weight loss often prevent people from working out, Becic said. Positive reinforcement for even small wins can help. Realistic goals make celebrating small successes easier, he said. For example, be excited about losing 10 pounds instead of beating yourself up for not losing 40. When you achieve something, you feel better about yourself, Becic said.

3. Develop patience - and flexibility. Reaching your goals takes time. Becic recommends being prepared to wait longer to see lasting results. Expect six to eight weeks to make up for a year of an inactive lifestyle, he said.

Garza added that sometimes success means being able to handle change. Find ways to cope, she said. If a goal isnt perfect, modify it and continue on a path to better health. Sechi said that setting manageable goals can be difficult. Instead, she recommends spending time reflecting on values. Values are not something you can accomplish, she said. Instead, look at ways to continually work toward the values that define you.

4. Find a partner. A number of individuals want to be healthier in the New Year. So you have plenty of partners to choose from, Becic said. Have a friend, and you can each motivate each other to stick with it. Hazen and Garza serve as each others accountability partners at Cormentum Health. Youre not in it alone, Garza said.

5. Narrow your focus. Be specific about your resolutions, Garza said. Once you gain momentum, you can go on to another, she said. Having too many goals can dilute your ability to conquer any, Becic said. Often people pick multiple goals at once, he said. Why stress yourself out? Pick one goal at a time. Be specific about what you want and hone in on that, he said.

6. Write it down. cCmmitting to a resolution with pencil and paper makes for a stronger commitment in general, Hazen said. Written goals are important, she said. Not only does it serve as a reminder, but it also becomes an affirmation. It helps you think, I can do this, she said.

7. Learn to love yourself. Hating what you see in the mirror is never helpful, Becic said, even if thats why you want to change. He recommends saying, I will change my body, but I will love myself in each phase.

8. Make time to rest. The body requires rest to become healthier, Becic said. Getting the proper amount of rest is essential. You need sleep, Becic said. He recommends getting seven to eight hours each night.

9. Hydrate. Its not simply the amount of water that matters. Its also how and when you drink it, Becic said. He recommends getting about a gallon a day. Every time you feel hungry, drink one big glass of water, and wait 10 to 15 minutes, he said. Most times, youre not hungry. Youre just thirsty, and your brain cannot tell the difference. He also suggests not drinking too much during a meal to promote healthy digestion and to reduce bloating.

10. Think about your triggers. Since behavioral change has a mental and emotional component, Hazen recommends exploring the root causes of behaviors. What makes a person smoke when theyre trying to quit? What makes you go to the pantry and grab a Twinkie? she asks. Thinking about triggers can make individuals better prepared to address and avoid them.

11. Eliminate stress. Stress can prevent rest and self-love - and even stop individuals from going to the gym or eating properly. Find the reason why youre stressed, Becic said. Start meditating, and getting in tune with yourself. He says to spend time to find whats causing stress and how to destress. Then, take that calmer path.

12. Make it fun. Becoming healthier doesnt have to be a bootcamp - even if thats your preferred fitness program. Hazen said that making small changes and seeing success can be rewarding. Change doesnt have to be painful, she said. It can actually be exciting.

Lindsay Peyton is ReNew Houston's Transformation columnist.

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Houstons fitness czar offers tips for sticking to healthy resolutions - Houston Chronicle

COLORADO SPRINGS It's the first day of the new year and that means people across the world are making those New Year's resolutions.

Two of the most popular ones - to eat healthier and lose weight.

We all know how easy it is to make those goals and then a few months later become stagnant. We're told that usually happens due to a lack of support, knowledge, not seeing results, or getting discouraged. In speaking with local businesses we learned some simple tips to help you stay the course in 2020.

When it comes to fitness Chelsea Secord, general manager at Crunch Fitness North Colorado Springs, said, "The commitment to this isn't a quick fix. It is going to be an ever-long process."

While everyone's fitness journey is different she said, "The first step is just starting, just making that decision."

Beyond that - getting the right kind of support.

"We are doing a fitness challenge, a 60-day challenge where you get that support that people often lack."

That program - combining group fitness training, personal training, and lots of check-ins. No matter what kind of routine you choose make a plan and understand it's a lifestyle change.

Secord said, "Be nice to yourself, but never ever, ever get stagnant up here or in here and the rest will follow."

A healthy diet is also just as important as a solid exercise routine.

Dan Fuhr, founder of Cafe Red Point, said, "Our big mission here is to serve food that leads to health and wellness, and increases performance."

He started the business about three years ago and is now working to serve up fresh and lean food options for his customers.

This year he's trying to promote "tips of how to get more vegetables in your diet...spinach, kale, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives...how to make eating more of a ritual...whatever you can do to get off eating processed, packaged food that's going to improve your health dramatically."

That means putting the screen down and making it a priority to eat with other people and actually prepare meals yourself.

"I know a lot of people don't like cooking so like just set one day a week I'm going to find a new recipe on the internet, I'm going to buy all the ingredients and I'm going to make it for myself."

Putting these nutrition and fitness steps into motion - they may just take you beyond this new year.

Secord said, "This is 2020. It's one year, but it could be 20 years you add on to your life."

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Covering Colorado How to keep healthy eating and fitness New Year's resolutions Caiti Blase 9:40 - KOAA.com Colorado Springs and Pueblo News

Have you made your New Years resolutions yet? If not, there is still time. Among the most common resolutions are changes to improve health, including quitting smoking, losing weight and starting an exercise program. Some people set specific goals, such as losing 20 pounds or running a marathon, while others take a more general approach, like eating healthier or getting in shape. Either way, these are excellent goals, but they should not be your only New Years resolutions.

Your resolutions should also include the things you need to do and change to achieve these goals. For example, losing 20 pounds is a good goal for many people. But what that really means is learning about a healthier way to eat, shopping for and preparing appropriate meals, finding time to exercise each day and focusing on turning these behaviors into lasting habits. These behaviors would make for excellent resolutions that would lead toward the weight loss goal.

With this in mind, here are a few resolutions that can help you achieve your health improvement goals:

Be realistic. Many people fail to keep their New Years resolutions simply because they don't set realistic goals or aren't realistic about what it will take to meet those goals. For example, running a marathon is an ambitious goal for almost everyone, especially someone who doesnt exercise at all. It is possible that someone could get in shape to run a marathon, but it will take a long time. A resolution to work up to jogging five days per week, with a goal of completing a 10k run is more realistic and achievable.

Focus on learning. Making most health behavior changes involves learning as much as doing. Something as simple as eating healthier meals requires learning about the nutrients that make some foods healthier than others, learning to read food labels to select healthy foods, and learning how to cook and prepare healthy meals. If your resolution is to learn about healthy eating, you will be able to achieve that goal and be well on your way to eating a healthier diet.

Manage your time. Most health improvement projects require taking time to learn about, implement and maintain those healthy behaviors. A major reason that people fail to really get started with or sustain a weight loss or exercise program is time. If you resolve to manage your time to include exercise or meal preparation in your daily schedule, you will be much more likely to meet your goals. Trying to add these new activities as extras to your already-busy days will inevitably lead to them getting squeezed out.

Plan ahead. Most people already know that changing health behaviors can be challenging, even under the best circumstances. Its no wonder that holidays, travel and other life events can complicate or even derail an otherwise successful diet or exercise program. Make it your resolution to think about what you can do before, during and after these (and other) disruptions to your routine to keep yourself on track. Planning ahead and thinking what if can make the difference between giving up and catching up on your diet or exercise program after a vacation.

The idea of making resolutions that are steps in the process leading toward a goal instead of the goal itself may be new to you, but focusing on the changes you need to make rather than the outcome may be the step that helps you keep your resolutions, achieve your goals and make 2020 a happy, healthy year.

Brian Parr, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at USC Aiken where he teaches courses in exercise physiology, nutrition and health behavior. You can learn more about this and other health and fitness topics at http://drparrsays.com or on Twitter @drparrsays.

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HEALTH AND FITNESS: Making real resolutions | Features - Aiken Standard

Two stories out of Indian Country duked it out this week for most depressing. The first is about a woman who went into an IHS hospital because of a cough. Her X-ray revealed signs of cancer, but no further tests were done. Her journey with the system reveals the deep quality of care issues that have plagued the agency for years. The sad thing is, our people dont have a choice. Thats all that is there, saidHarold Frazier, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe leader.

Meanwhile, the federal government is just catching up to the fact that indigenous women not only face chronic violence at much higher rates than other populations, but theyve also been disappearing in numbers that constitute a crisis. What does that mean, then, for the ones that are found? Families grappling with the trauma they experienced are left without resources or help to put their lives back together.

With plenty of targets for public outrage, the FDA so far has avoided much scrutiny over what role it played in the opioid epidemic. Recently unearthed documents, however, show there was lax oversight at the agency over programs designed to curb the misuse of the pain pills. And even when the deficiencies in the program became apparent through its own review system, the FDA still failed to address the flaws.

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Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes - Lincoln Journal Star