Browsing: Health & Wellness

Some Mississippi traditions are built on competition. Others are built on community. And then there are the special ones—like Biloxi’s annual Arbor Day Run—that manage to do both while making room for everyone along the way.

Kristi Phelps of Gautier knew at an early age what she would do for her career.

As a child growing up in Pascagoula, Phelps always knew that she would be a pharmacist. She had even written about that goal in a journal in the third grade. This year she will celebrate 30 years in the profession.

After the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, my house, kitchen, and nutrition often need a reset. I’m looking for warm, comforting, low-energy ways to nourish my body and get the new year off to a veggie packed start. The holidays are wonderful. They are full of family and yummy foods. But these foods are often very rich and low in fiber which leave me feeling sluggish and in need of some lighter fare that is still comforting and low effort.  Soups are a perfect way to tick all these boxes. Soups are warming, comforting, a great way to use up veggies from the fridge and don’t take a lot of active cooking time. My favorite soup in the new year is a hearty lentil vegetable soup.

OXFORD, Miss. – Aggressive cancers can use blood vessels like roadways, speeding through the body and finding new places to grow. But new research shows that a drug in clinical trials may help stop the spread of cancer before it reaches its destination.

Miss. Gulf Coast – Singing River Health System will host blood drives throughout December at all hospital locations. The community is encouraged to donate blood in an effort to save lives. As a token of appreciation, all donors will receive a $10 e-gift card.

Seafood in Mississippi is still very fresh in December. Many popular Gulf species are in or near their peak season.…

November holds a special meaning across our state. It’s a month dedicated not only to Alzheimer’s Awareness, but also to the countless families who quietly shoulder the privilege and the weight of caregiving. And this weekend, the Mississippi Delta is opening its doors—and its heart—for an afternoon built around connection, resources, and hope.

Thanksgiving has a way of bringing out the classic comfort foods like mashed potatoes laden with butter, marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, and thick, rich gravy. But what if the side dishes could deliver all that warmth and nostalgia without the post-meal sluggishness? This year, give your table a refresh with vibrant, lighter sides that celebrate seasonal produce and deep Southern flavor. 

MOSS POINT—A sea of pink crossed the Escatawpa River October 25 in a show of solidarity supporting breast cancer research for the annual Bras Across the River that always rounds out Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

A new exercise and nutrition initiative is challenging Mississippians to improve their health and fitness, one step at a time.

You might not think of apples as a native crop to Mississippi. Yet, our ancestors, living on homesteads from the Delta to the Gulf Coast, would have enjoyed apple varieties adapted to their specific climate. Your great-great-grandparents would never have seen or recognized today’s popular apples, such as Red Delicious or Granny Smith. Thanks to fruit explorers and orchardists, some of Mississippi’s heirloom apples are making a comeback. 

In Mississippi, summer doesn’t give up easily. The afternoons are still sweltering, but just this week I have started to notice a faint crispness in the morning air. Fall is on its way and that change of season felt especially sweet when a friend left me a basket of homegrown pears on my clinic doorstep. Their golden skins freckled and fragrant. After enjoying a few fresh, I turned the rest into smooth and spicy pear butter, filling the kitchen with the scent of cinnamon and simmering fruit.

Back to school means back to fast-paced schedules and dinner plans staying up in the air. Even though today’s busy lifestyle makes eating together a challenge, it’s worth the effort, even if it’s a few times a week. Studies show that eating with others offers numerous benefits, including nutritional, health, social, and mental advantages. When it’s families that gather around the table together to eat regularly, research supports that it can reduce the risk of depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse, while increasing self-esteem and resilience in children.

Summer is officially here in Mississippi! That brings long, hot days and if you have kids, a lot more hungry mouths to feed all day long. Maybe it’s because I’m a mom to two teenage boys, but they are always hungry. That leaves me looking for ways to be creative with snack options that are yummy but that also meet some serious nutrient gaps that Americans often have. A balanced snack usually clocks in around 200-300 calories (or up to 500 calories depending on your overall health goals) and should contain some complex carbohydrates and either protein or healthy fats or both. 

Across the state, residents are commonly referred to physical therapists to regain function after injuries, surgeries, falls and chronic pain. But a national study warns that some patients may soon face longer wait times — or longer drives — to get the care they need. 

A new downtown health clinic is offering an alternative to traditional health care — one designed for those who often go without it. 

Hall Health, which opened May 8, provides primary care without requiring insurance. Patients pay a flat monthly fee and get unlimited visits, longer appointment times and direct access to their doctor — a model aimed at reducing costs and improving outcomes for uninsured and underserved residents.