Blogs

To Your Health
fruit in water
Tips for staying hydrated during the heatwave
Staying hydrated is a concern all year round, but especially in the summer when it is hot outside....
White women in crop top shirt
8 ways to help your gut - that aren't food
From occasional constipation or diarrhea to chronic digestive conditions, like Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD) or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD...
hand weights next to healthy foods and tennis shoes
5 ways to reduce your risk of stroke
In honor of Stroke Awareness Month, we reviewed the signs and symptoms of strokes in our last blog from April 26 (...
Image of people with arthritis. Person with arthritis in knee, fingers, lower back, upper back and shoulders, ankle, hip, wrist and knee
Follow these tips: Reduce the risk of arthritis
Arthritis is a condition in which one or more of your joints become inflamed, often leading to stiffness, soreness, swelling, and in some cases, pain...
learn the signs of stroke. Act FAST and call 9-1-1
Act F.A.S.T. in response to stroke
Did you know that May is National Stroke Awareness Month? While we may not think about strokes often, they are one of the leading causes of death and...
Gray background with two pink hearts side by side
Celebrate love and prevent heart disease
February is not only the shortest month of the year but is also considered the month of love by many. Whether you express that love by fostering...
Shot of person during falling in snowy winter park. Woman slip on the icy path, fell and lies. Danger of season trauma.
Prevent falls this winter
Winter signals the changing of yet another season. As the temperatures drop and snow blankets the landscape, snow and cold weather lovers embrace all...
Image of chalkboard with the word Diabetes. Surrounding the chalkboard are the items: dumbbell, stethoscope, scale, medication, fruit, oatmeal, diabetic measuring device
November is Diabetes Awareness Month: reducing your risk
More than...
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Live Well. Eat Well.
Eggs in wood and wire box
Make use of your extra farm eggs
"I have more eggs in the summer than I know what to do with," said a community member calling into my office. If you have...
a line up of dairy free milk options and milk splatter over top
Exploring dairy and dairy-free alternatives: A guide to your options
June is Dairy Month, a perfect time to explore the wide variety of dairy and dairy-free options available. Whether you enjoy traditional dairy...
Red and golden beets with stems and leaves
Eating beets from root to stalk
How foods are prepared and the part of the food you eat makes a difference in enjoyment. Beets are an excellent example, since we can eat from root...
Slow cooker with kidney beans
Kidney Beans and Slow Cookers
Slow cookers, commonly known by one of the brand names Crock-pot®, are a popular kitchen appliance used to make a variety of soups, stews, desserts,...
Cutting board with different types of sliced citrus
Eat all the varieties of winter citrus
I so enjoy the big variety of citrus that comes to stores in winter. Stocked with more than oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit, I'm seeing...
a table displaying ingredients for baking
Embracing the art of baking: Celebrating National Baking Month
As January unfolds, it's not just the winter chill that warms our homes; it's the delightful aroma of freshly baked treats that fills the air....
Child mixing food in bowl while adult holds onto bowl
Let's make cookie bars (and adapt a cookie recipe)
A few things happened that day I wanted to make cookies. I didn't want to make individual cookies - or multiple dozens of cookies. (Too much time...
food on table
Gluten-free, low sugar, no fat... Thanksgiving?
Gluten-free, low sugar, no fat — doesn’t that sound like a yummy Thanksgiving dinner? We could be describing a trend in modern dieting; however, what...
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Community Health
metal bins with art supplies
Stress the arts to promote health
The arts play an important part in our lives and health. Creative expression and art appreciation connect us to the world and help us learn, teach,...
Multiple ambulances
Xylazine: Approved for Animals, not Humans
Substances, such as heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl are all ones that the public may know can be bought and consumed illicitly....
plate with a colorful vegetable salad
Spring Forward with a Plant-Based Diet!
As New Year’s resolutions start to fade and the approach of summer suddenly comes into view, it is easy to get discouraged with trying to eat...
Woman holding a heart made of white light
Embrace the end of the year compassionately
As we approach mid-December, you may feel the hustle and bustle of the season weighing you down. For some, it may be the stress of extra social...
Orange and yellow candy corn swirled cakes
Celebrate a healthy Halloween with these 5 tips
October is the official start of the holiday season. Many children love dressing up and trick-or-treating for Halloween, but Halloween can also be a...
three friends sitting together, supporting each other
Let’s work together to end the overdose crisis!
International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31, and this year’s theme is “Recognizing those people who...
pile of donuts
Reset your palate to lower your added sugar intake
One simple (yet not so simple) thing we can do to improve our health is to lower our added sugar consumption! Many of us consume more added sugars...
three women laughing and having good time
Connecting with others is beneficial to our health
It is commonly known that food and water are vital for human survival. While someone can go a day or two, or even a few without either, the body will...
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Refill Your Cup with Self-Care
Finding freedom in the every day
There are as many different types of freedom as there are ways to experience freedom. Many can relate to the feeling of freedom a day off work brings...
Seeing beyond duality
How often do you find yourself caught up in “either/or” thinking? You might notice yourself thinking everything in life is either a success or...
Five ways to speak your truth
Truth be told, how often do you honestly respond to the question “How are you?” For many of us, the response “fine” or “good” might simply come out...
Four ways to treat yourself compassionately
It is not uncommon to treat your friends and loved ones gentler than you treat yourself. In fact, research demonstrates 84% of people are kinder to...
Light your fire of transformation
As we experience warmer temperatures, the sounds of birds singing, and the first spring blooms, we may also feel the desire for our own inner and/or...
Nourishing yourself
The oxford dictionary defines nourishment as “the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.” Have you given much...
Finding your base of support
When it comes to support, everyone experiences it in different ways. You may feel professionally supported by your supervisor or colleagues,...
Taking care of your energy body
On a daily basis, you are probably pretty aware of your levels of energy. We often comment on having a lot of energy, or feeling like we could use...
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Health Insights Illinois
Strong body, strong mind: Can exercise reduce your risk of Alzheimer's disease?
You know exercise is good for your heart, lungs, muscles, and bones, but recently experts are finding increasing evidence showing that exercise is...
Picture with programs in Mental Health offered by IHD
May Is Mental health awareness month, and IHD recognizes the importance from its programmatic core.
As a society, we are starting to recognize that mental health is just as important as physical health. Events in recent years have led stakeholders...
Family
Measles awareness: Protecting you and your community
What is measles?  Measles is a severe respiratory infection that causes rashes and fever. It is very contagious. Measles can be dangerous,...
Two black women in their sixties walking together outside
Let's walk! Take the first step to improve your health
Spring has sprung and now that the days are longer and the temperatures are warmer, there is one simple thing we should all be doing – walking!...
Cancer awareness ribbons
Cancer awareness
February is National Cancer Prevention Month. In the United States, cancer is the second leading cause of death. Illinois saw nearly 66,000 new...
women holding a board saying you are strong
Cervical health and mental well-being: A woman's path to wellness
Cervical Health and Mental Well-being: A Woman's path to Wellness Cervical and mental health are two crucial aspects of overall well-being for women...
5 tips to decrease S.A.D.: Light therapy, vitamin D, sleep routine, exercise regularly, reduce caffeine and alcohol
Overcoming SAD: Preparing for darker mornings and later sunsets
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a kind of sadness that often manifests itself in the late autumn and early winter. This is because the...
Person performing a concentration bicep curl with a dumbbell
Move to improve: Using exercise to prevent or manage diabetes
Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in Illinois and in the U.S. It also doubles an individual’s risk of heart disease or stroke, the first...
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