A space for evidence-informed wellness resources and ongoing learning!

I guess we now can call Summer officially here and for a few different salad recipe suggestions, Pinch of Yum blog offers 45 Light + Bright Healthy Summer Dinners for some interesting salad and bowl ideas. If you’re hosting a summer party or just spending time with family & friends and looking for some refreshing mocktail ideas (my new obsession), theeverygirl.com has recipes for 16 Refreshing Summer Mocktails You’ll Want to Sip All Season Long.

One recipe that isn’t particular summer related, but I need to try is Walnut Butter. It seems pretty easy, so since I’m stuck working this holiday weekend, I’ll take a break, give this a try, and let you all know how it turns out!

Hope everyone has a safe and fun July 4th holiday!

As always sending positive wellness vibes to anyone who logs on and reads this…

June 26, 2026 - Green Power: How Spinach and Kale Could Cut Risk of Chronic Lung Disease - Edith Cowan University, Australia
”Researchers from ECU's Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute looked at the two main forms of vitamin K in our diet: K1, found in foods like spinach, kale and broccoli, and K2, found in meat, eggs and dairy.” The study “…tracked more than 179,000 adults over a decade and found that people who ate more vitamin K1-rich green vegetables had better lung function and were less likely to develop COPD…"

June 17, 2026 - Strength Training Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk in Women - American College of Cardiology
”Findings show that heart health is better understood by looking at overall movement habits, rather than focusing on single behaviors alone, and resistance training can result in additional health benefits when incorporated into an active lifestyle.”

May 26, 2026 - Maintaining a healthy heart may require regular doses of positivity - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
”Positive psychology interventions such as mindfulness, gratitude journaling and optimism training can consistently improve blood pressure, inflammation markers and other cardiovascular disease risk factors within a matter of weeks, a recent study found. However, since these benefits are associated with lifestyle changes such as eating healthier and greater physical activity, the researchers suggested that ongoing reinforcements may be needed to stay on course long term.”

May 7, 2026 - Limit ultra processed foods (UPF) to lower risk of heart disease, say experts - European Society of Cardiology
”Adults with the highest UPF consumption have up to a 19% higher risk of heart disease, a 13% higher risk of atrial fibrillation, and up to a 65% increased risk of cardiovascular death, compared with those with the lowest consumption.”

April 29, 2026 - Coffee doesn’t just wake you up — it may help protect your body from aging - Texas A&M University
“Now, new research from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) suggests that compounds in coffee may work, in part, by activating a receptor in the body known as NR4A1 — a protein increasingly recognized for its role in aging, stress response and disease.”