Paula Owens seems to indicate that flu vaccines are “unnatural” and harmful in her Dec. 5 column (“Boost your immune system naturally,” AFN). Unfortunately, what is “natural” in our world is vaccine-preventable diseases killing many adults and children. I doubt that Ms. Owens has cared for children, pregnant women or elderly folks on a ventilator with the flu, or watched someone die from this preventable illness. A “natural” case of the flu carries a many times higher risk of Guillain Barre syndrome than taking the vaccine.

Get fit fast with Paula Owens' three week online exercise and weight loss program designed to give you the tools you need for the results you want.

Get fit fast with Paula's ongoing online exercise and weight loss program designed to give you the tools you need for the results you want to change your body and transform your life....lose fat, increase muscle and flatten your abs. Paula Owens is a nationally recognized, highly credentialed fitness expert, Master of Holistic Nutrition and author of The Power of 4. For more information, visit www.PaulaOwens.com.

Get fit fast with Paula's ongoing online exercise and weight loss program designed to give you the tools you need for the results you want to change your body and transform your life....lose fat, increase muscle and flatten your abs. Paula Owens is a nationally recognized, highly credentialed fitness expert, Master of Holistic Nutrition and author of The Power of 4. For more information, visit www.PaulaOwens.com.

Paula Owens’ book, “The Power of 4,” has been rated No. 1 in the Health, Diet and Fitness category on Amazon.com. Owens has been an Ahwatukee Foothills resident for 20 years. She is a nutritionist, fitness and fat loss expert and natural health practitioner.

Paula Owens, Nutritionist, Fitness Expert, Weight Loss Coach and Author

In her second book, Ahwatukee Foothills resident and fitness expert Paula Owens hopes to share the secret to permanent weight loss and a healthy lifestyle.

This grilled chicken kale salad is delicious, nutritious, and super easy to make. The addition of fresh mint, basil and cilantro give this salad a wonderful taste and healthy blend of herbs.

Lose fat, increase muscle and flatten your abs with nutritionist and fitness expert, Paula Owens. This is a 21 day online exercise and weight loss makeover program that can be done from anywhere in the world. Work harder and smarter in just 45-50 minutes a day. For more information visit www.paulaowens.com.

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.

While most of the U.S. is struggling with high obesity rates, some local health experts agree that in a health conscious community like Ahwatukee Foothills, over-exercising has become an issue.

Paula Owens, nutritionist, holistic health practitioner, fitness expert and author presents "14 Days to a Leaner, Healthier You" on Jan. 22, 2011 at the Ahwatukee Community Swim and Tennis Center, located at 4700 E. Warner Road. Revitalize your mind and body with this information packed seminar where I'll share my secrets to help you look and feel your best ever. The seminar tuition is $99. Sign up before Jan. 5 and bring a friend for free! For more information, please visit www.paulaowens.com.

Despite the bad rap that saturated fats have, there’s a lot of evidence indicating that saturated fat is essentially good for you. The real harmful and unhealthy fats include trans fats, hydrogenated fats and vegetable oils.

We are all familiar with the fact that chemicals, particularly pesticides and herbicides, have negative side effects. The United States and international government agencies have acknowledged that different pesticides have been linked to a variety of health problems including hormonal disruption, skin, eye and lung irritation, birth defects, weight gain, nervous system toxicity and cancer. Many times, the negative effects of pesticides can take a long time to show, and by the time symptoms are clear, a lot of damage may have already been done.

More than 300 million people worldwide experience severe or debilitating headaches. Migraines alone affect 9 percent of the U.S. population and cost $1 billion a year in direct medical expenses. The incidence of individuals who suffer migraine headaches has increased by 50 percent within the last 20 years with 75 percent of migraine sufferers being women.

Despite the bad rap that saturated fats have, there’s a lot of evidence indicating that saturated fat is essentially good for you. The real harmful, unhealthy fats are trans fats, hydrogenated fats and vegetable oils.

HEALTH ADVICE