Collier County Healthiest in Florida 2nd Year in a Row!

Collier County has retained its healthiest county ranking in Florida for a second year in a row, which is being attributed to lifestyle and improved access to medical care, according to an analysis by a leading private philanthropic organization.Lee County experienced a two-place drop to 23 among the state’s 67 counties while it ranked 21 last year, according to the analysis by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the nation’s largest philanthropic group focused on improving the health of Americans. The analysis was done with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.This is the second year the county health rankings has been done nationwide to help communities see where they stand in their state and where to focus efforts for improvement.After Collier, the other top healthiest counties, in order, are Seminole, St. Johns, Sarasota, Martin, Clay, Leon, Miami-Dade, Okaloosa and Broward.The 10 counties with the poorest health are Union, Putnam, Madison, Gadsden, Levy, Baker, Dixie, Hamilton, Washington, and Glades.

Couples who work out together likely to remain together

In light of Monday's sweethearts' holiday - Valentine's Day - why not do something that will show your special someone just how much you love him or her all year long? Of course, I mean work out together.

What better way to show how much you love someone and care, than to do something that will keep them healthy and fit for years to come. OK, maybe I am reaching just a bit, but research shows that couples who exercise and workout together do have higher success rates. So what is the secret to this success? Find something you and your partner can do together, even if one of you is much more fit than the other.

Phys Ed: The Benefits of Exercising Before Breakfast

By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

The holiday season brings many joys and, unfortunately, many countervailing dietary pitfalls. Even the fittest and most disciplined of us can succumb, indulging in more fat and calories than at any other time of the year. The health consequences, if the behavior is unchecked, can be swift and worrying. A recent study by scientists in Australia found that after only three days, an extremely high-fat, high-calorie diet can lead to increased blood sugar and insulin resistance, potentially increasing the risk for Type 2 diabetes. Waistlines also can expand at this time of year, prompting self-recrimination and unrealistic New Year’s resolutions.