During the winter, we’ll usually reach for a bowl of soup instead of a big dinner salad, or an oven-baked meal rather than something grilled. Why is that? Chinese Medicine Chinese medicine has the answer. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), winter is considered to be a ?yin? time: a period of rest, reflection, and chilly… Read more »

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, store displays are stacked high with the treats that seem to be synonymous with the season: cinnamon hearts, romantic conversation candies, and, of course, chocolate. Not too healthy?or is it? You may be in for a (pleasant) surprise. Although there’s certainly no health factor in red-dyed, artificially flavoured… Read more »

When we were young, our parents nagged us to eat our vegetables. Now media coverage has upped the message; It’s no wonder that we feel a pang of guilt when passing over the bowl of steamed vegetables with dinner or opting out of the salad option at a restaurant. But while fruits and vegetables are… Read more »

We’ve all heard of picture-perfect skin, something that for many of us seems an unattainable dream. However, it may not have to be?and the solution isn’t ?Fotoshop by Adobé.? Whether You’re contending with skin blemishes, irritation, or just the harshness of winter weather, there are some natural ways to help bring that healthy glow back… Read more »

Environmental sustainability is a hot topic these days. We seem hooked on the insatiable use of non-renewable resources; our planet is in jeopardy, and our daily habits predict a dire future. Amid increasing media coverage of sustainable living, Athabasca University’s Centre for Psychology has released the timely PSYC 465, Psychology of Sustainability. The course gives… Read more »

This article originally appeared September 30, 2011, in issue 1937. Sleep: we all crave it. And yet It’s something that many of us have difficulty getting, or at least getting well. This article explores the mystery of sleep, including why It’s so important for health, how to recognize the warning signs of insomnia, and how… Read more »

Christmas cookies. Fruitcake. Eggnog. Festive cocktails. Filling dinners with family and friends. For many of us, the Christmas season can take a toll on our digestive system (harming us in both the short and longer term). The holiday aftermath doesn’t need to be about discomfort, though. In this article, we’ll look at some easy, practical… Read more »

AU’s Newest Spanish Course Takes a Unique Approach Athabasca University’s Centre for Language and Literature has launched a new Spanish course: Textual Analysis and Composition (SPAN 330). This three-credit humanities course requires SPAN 301 as its prerequisite, and is offered through individualized study, with an online component. How does SPAN 330 differ from AU’s other… Read more »

Have you ever pondered the air you breathe? It may be invisible, but It’s not as clear as you think?even indoors. A dizzying number of items in our houses and offices are constantly off-gassing volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, into the air. These VOCs are toxic in various degrees, and some are associated with (or… Read more »

Many of us may have hoped that our recent bouts of chilly, rainy weather were just a slight blip in an otherwise mild fall forecast. However, the local weather forecast seems to suggest that the daytime temperatures will remain in the single digits, and there’s cold rain on the horizon, too. It seems like the… Read more »