Two old friends paid me a visit last week. The first slipped in without a word, freezing my mind for an instant, like the shock of ice cream gulped down too eagerly on a hot day. As we visited for a while, I noticed the familiar voice is edged with a steely insistence, somehow sharpened rather than blunted by a hunger for news of trouble, and the scent of brewing chaos. By God’s grace and through His perfect timing, there, just in nick of time, was another beloved friend knocking on the door of my heart, gently enfolding me in loving arms. This beloved voice speaks quietly, yet perfectly clearly, sharing a different story, at once both old and fresh. The voice carries words brimming with abundant life, like a lush oasis in an otherwise barren and hostile desert. Such is the power of moments of fear to paralyze our senses, and to leave us feeling isolated and lost. Such is the power of the unparalleled peace found through our faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord, in the comforting words of Scripture.

If you’re just a casual swimmer, you probably don’t have to adjust your diet before jumping in. But that’s not the case with competitive swimmers, who must constantly watch what they eat and drink. You can learn a lot from swimmers’ consumption patterns — particularly if you’re an investor.

While shopping at your favorite grocery store, it can be hard at times to find 100 percent gluten-free items.

If your goal is to lose weight, look and feel your best and live a healthy, vibrant life, be aware of the damaging additives and synthetic chemicals in the foods you buy and eat. Seventy-five percent of the average American diet is from processed and packaged foods, which equates to approximately 10 pounds of additives eaten annually.

Eating right and healthy, and happy living are all a matter of mindful thinking, said local mindful eating expert and author Dr. Michelle May.

From the moment chocolate was discovered it was considered a valuable, divine and decadent treat. The first chocolate candies were invented in the 1860s by Cadbury, who was also the first to market them in a heart-shaped box for Valentine’s Day that same decade.

If the number of failed New Year’s resolutions are any indication, eating healthy in a fast-paced world still isn’t all that easy.

Smiley is a 7-year-old female Beagle that Arizona Beagle Rescue (AZBR) rescued from the Humane Society along with sister, Stripey. Sadly, their family lost their home and could no longer care for the two dogs. Smiley’s foster mom says she is very sweet, lovable, and does what she’s told. She is housebroken and doesn’t mind a crate. Recently, Stripey found her forever home so now Smiley is seeking hers. She’s a little overweight, but is on a strict green bean diet with daily walks. She likes to cuddle and gets along with other dogs and children. Smiley does like to bark, but quiets down when told to.

How many times has this “Medical Advice” column reported a change in prevailing medical recommendations? Here we go again. Humpty Dumpty could certainly identify with the angst a humble egg currently has to deal with. Talk about self-esteem issues. For years, eggs have been slashed from “healthy” diets because they were considered too loaded with fat and, therefore, a leading contributor to heart disease. The general recommendation was no more than two eggs per week. Even yours truly ascribed to that theory and personally was responsible for instructing her patients in that direction.

From raisins to onions to acetaminophen, the typical Ahwatukee home is filled with items that can be toxic to pets.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the No. 1 cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. The top risk factors, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, diabetes and obesity are poorly treated, often with toxic pharmaceutical drugs, and most patients never reach their goals. There are also more than 400 coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and mediators now proven.

Bean is a sweet, rare brown kitty who answers with a meow to her name. She’s seeking someone to help her stay on her diet, as she has gotten a little “fluffy.”

Gift giving in February is fraught with danger for any guy. Don’t give chocolate if she’s on a diet, but if you don’t give chocolate you might be implying that you think she’s fat. Jewelry has to be precisely the right style for your beloved, without her telling you what she wants. The card can’t be funny; it has to be romantic, but it can’t be schmaltzy.

Among the leading health issues, most people automatically think of breast cancer as the No. 1 killer for women.

Pita Jungle

Los Angeles   •   Dogs and cats can’t brush, spit, gargle or floss on their own. So owners who want to avoid bad pet breath will need to lend a hand.

A quick Google search yields no fewer than six bicycle rental shops with addresses in Phoenix, expanding the search to include neighboring cities brings the total to a couple dozen shops.

As January has once again excited us with a new beginning, a fresh start, and a chance to reinvent ourselves for the new year, we decide to pull out our resolutions list. The fact that we feel like the new year means a fresh start, we have the utmost motivation and drive to start knocking out our resolutions and making positive changes that range anywhere from eating healthy, exercising more, spending more quality time with the family, and even work on paying down our debts. Yet for some reason, every year our drive and motivation seems to fizzle usually around March or April.

With a simple “recipe” of a low-calorie diet and an hour of exercise everyday, one Ahwatukee Foothills couple lost more than 130 pounds combined in a year’s time.

After the holidays thousands of people make New Year’s resolutions. Included at the top of this list is getting healthier, fitter and losing weight. The majority of people who make New Year’s resolutions give up on their goals within four to six weeks.

Everyone could use a little help keeping those New Year’s resolutions to slim down. But if it means the government limiting junk food, the response is an overwhelming, “No.”

Are you a celebrity watcher? A magazine clipper? A list maker, supplement taker, whole grains baker? No matter what kind of person you are, there’s a new diet cookbook to help lay the foundation for that inevitable New Year’s resolution.

Chuckles is a very handsome 3-year-old Beagle ready to entertain one and all. When he was rescued he was so scared and very, very thin. He’s eating a healthy diet now and just starting to put on weight. Chuckles is very shy at first when he meets new people and other dogs, but all he needs is some love and a new forever home to make him happy.

Back during my days at Gourmet magazine, my many duties included teaching cooking classes. I used to tell my students — especially the cooking-impaired ones — that if they made sure to greet dinner party guests with a special homemade drink, they would always win, no matter what else happened that evening.