, Sacramento Bee
Symptoms of seasonal affective disorder
Although your symptoms are clues to the diagnosis, not everyone experiences seasonal affective disorder in the same way. Common symptoms include:-- A change in appetite, especially a craving for sweet or starchy foods-- Weight gain-- A drop in energy level-- Fatigue-- A tendency to oversleep-- Difficulty concentrating
Why vitamin D is important to prevent illness
Ten recent bits of research about vitamin D: - In a study of 1,739 Boston residents in 2006, Harvard Medical School researchers reported earlier this year that people deficient in vitamin D face up to twice the risk of a heart attack or stroke as those with higher levels.
Signs of teen suicide: hopelessness, worthlessness
WARNING SIGNS OF TEEN SUICIDE- Talking about suicide - Talking about hopelessness and worthlessness - Being preoccupied with death - Suddenly being happier and calmer - Making unusual visits or calling loved ones unexpectedly - Making arrangements or putting affairs in order - Giving things away
Look for these warning signs of teen depression
WARNING SIGNS OF TEEN DEPRESSION- Feeling sad almost every day - Losing interest in most activities - Feeling anxious or irritable - Having trouble concentrating or remembering - Feeling tired - Feeling guilty - Sleeping too much or too little - Eating too much or too little - Medically unexplained aches and pains
Our 10 least fit presidents
The 10 least fit presidents:1. William Howard Taft (1909-1913): He became stuck in the White House bathtub several times. By some accounts, he weighed 370 pounds. He did exercise occasionally -- horseback riding. Poor horse.
Our 10 fittest presidents
The 10 fittest presidents:1. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809): This dude was buff -- tall, sinewy, virile. He was an avid walker and horseman on his Monticello estate. He walked until his 83rd birthday.2. Teddy Roosevelt (1901-1909): He wrestled, boxed, fenced, rock-climbed, engaged in jujitsu, played tennis, rode horseback and hiked. Still, he died at age 60.
Good stuff
Besides her state-of-the-art appliances, Joan Leineke invests in unusual gadgets and specialty food items for whipping up dishes such as homemade quesadillas with duck confit.Check it out:
Her five favorite things
Joan Leineke doesn't hesitate when asked what makes her kitchen her kitchen."Now that's a question I don't have to think twice about," she says.Her five favorite things:1. Wine-storage unit. It keeps bottles at the appropriate temperature. She says: "Wine is always ready for opening. Different ones for different servings at dinner."
Toe the line for safety
DO:-- Look for flip-flops made of high-quality, soft leather. This material, unlike plastic or foam, will minimize the potential for blisters and other irritation.-- Look for flip-flops that carry the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, which bases its recommendations on flip-flops that allow for the most normal foot function and promote foot health.
Recipes for the grill
PEACH-GLAZED CHICKEN THIGHSServes 8This is a simple way to glaze chicken. The recipe is from "Barbecue Nation: 350 Hot-off-the-Grill, Tried-and-True Recipes From America's Backyard" by Fred Thompson (Taunton Press).1/3 cup peach preserves2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

