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When parents die other than a good death, their legacy of departing lasts a lifetime for the living; often with painful emotional and economic consequences.When parents die other than a good death, their legacy of departing -- plus memories of the event -- last a lifetime for the living, often with painful emotional and economic consequences. Katy Butler's Knocking On Heaven's Door stand outs as a dead-honest personal story that doesn't attempt to hide the anger, denial and even cowardice of family members as they cope with the unimaginable... the death of parents. Butler rails against the implacable insistence on life at any cost that drives the medical establishment into creating the worst kind of death possible. In this segment of Body Language, host Christopher Springmann and author Butler also discuss the crucial role that advance directives can play in insuring a good death, one that meets everyone's expectations and needs. The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization is singled out as an extraordinary resource for free information on pre-planning, caregiving, grieving and state-specific advance directive forms.

Learn easy ways to dodge tempting foods that quickly add extra pounds.When the weather gets chillier, you may be tempted to load up on heavy, comforting foods. Not to mention the holidays, when no one passes any judgment on the second serving of pie you dive into. If not too careful, all the hard work put into getting a summer body can go to waste, or your waist, for that matter. Americans typically gain around one pound between Thanksgiving and New Years. Even though this number doesn't seem like that big of a deal, this weight accumulates through the years and can contribute to more weight gain in the future. It also doesn't help that every year your metabolism slows down, making weight loss a harder goal to reach. Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson shares all the fattening foods to avoid this fall to help get you through the rest of the year without gaining a pound.

Can spicy foods really boost your metabolism? Or is that a big myth?If you're trying to lose weight, cut back on calories, eat healthier or all the above, the answer may be in the spices you're using in your food. Capsaicin, is the active component in chili and jalapeño peppers, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, and hot sauce that gives these items their heat. It has been shown to help boost your metabolism. Capsaicin is also known for reducing levels of hunger-causing ghrelin, a hunger stimulating amino acid which contributes to you indulging way more than you should. Studies have shown that by incorporating ingredients that contain capsaicin, you can provide a temporary rise in your metabolism up to eight percent greater than your normal metabolic rate. Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson explains why spicy foods are such a hot commodity right now, and if they really boost your metabolism.

Raw honey is a natural and beneficial way to cure allergies while building a stronger immune system.When you're suffering from allergies, or feeling under the weather, your body loses essential vitamins and nutrients that are needed to stay healthy. One alternative to taking medicines that may have their own side effects is incorporating local and raw honey into your beverages, food or just by itself. Raw honey is honey that hasn't been heated, pasteurized or processed in anyway, leaving the honey in its most natural form. The benefits come because you are eating the natural nutrients that help promote digestive health and stabilize blood pressure. Raw honey also has powerful antioxidants to eliminate allergies and can be used for skin wounds or rashes. When eating raw honey that is local, it can benefit you even more. Local raw honey contains pollen that is specifically in your area; therefore it can help with local seasonal allergies. In this segment of Staying Well, Dr. Wayne Scott Anderson shares the multiple benefits you receive from buying and eating local and raw honey.

New standards for power plants are to take place at the end of September, as part of the President's Climate Action Plan.The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) recently rolled out the updated greenhouse gas standards for new power plants, as part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan to reduce climate change. The new standards will act as a way to cut carbon pollution from new power plants and reduce climate change to improve the overall health of Americans. The proposal, announced under provisions of the Clean Air Act, sets separate standards for new gas-fired and coal-fired plants. The standards will limit the number of pounds of carbon that can be released per unit of electricity produced. This will restrict gas plants that are larger than 850 megawatts to 1,000 pounds. Environmentalist, Spokesperson for the Blue Bulb Project, Founder, CEO and President of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit, "Living Lake Global Community Center," Lia Mari shares what the new EPA standards mean, as well as if it will actually impact the fight against climate change.

If your eyes feel irritated, itchy or dry at the end of the day, your technological devices may be to blame.Texting and playing games on your smartphone, streaming movies on your tablet and the hours spent behind your work desk staring at a computer screen are all examples of how technology has become a part of your everyday life. Unfortunately, they may be doing some harm to your eye health. If your eyes feel irritated, itchy or dry at the end of the day, your technological devices may be to blame. New research shows that an estimated 3.2 million women and 1.7 million men over the age of 50 suffer from dry eye symptoms each year. Now ophthalmologists are seeing the same symptoms in younger generations and are blaming the use of technology. Eye Care Specialist and LASIK surgeon, Dr. Richard Nordan, shares why your smartphone and other technological devices can affect your vision, as well as how to prevent symptoms before they become a serious issue.

The bitter truth about sweet soft drinks is that they are linked to one of the most deadly cancers known to man.You know that soft drinks aren't healthy for many reasons — one of which is triggering weight gain. However, a study conducted in Singapore should have you even more concerned. According to the study, drinking two or more sodas a week increased the risk for pancreatic cancer by 85% compared to non-drinkers. Interestingly, the study was based in a country whose populace, like ours, tends to enjoy an occasional soft drink. So, if you like sodas and other soft drinks, what are you to do? Join Dr. Mike as he shares how to make your own healthy alternative -- right in your own home.

Learn how to uncover the hidden truth of unhealthy "health food" pitfalls and avoid them altogether.Let's say you're committed to eating healthier, and maybe you even start exercising. Your shopping cart now contains whole grains, multi-grains, baked chips, high-fiber cereals, juices, and nuts. Good stuff, right? Hold on there, maybe not. Unfortunately, many healthy foods may not be so healthy after all. Food manufacturers do an incredible job of hiding the truth about many of their so-called "healthy" products. Join Dr. Mike to learn how to uncover the hidden truth of unhealthy "health food" pitfalls and avoid them altogether.

Although the human body is relatively adept at managing acute stressors, chronic stress can produce a variety of harmful effects.Chronic unremitting stress can increase your risk of suffering from a barrage of anxiety- and pressure-related diseases, ranging from high blood pressure and dementia to depression. Chronic stress also increases your risk for some types of cancer and may lead to premature death. According to reports by the American Academy of Family Practice, nearly two-thirds of doctor's office visits are related to stress; yet most conventional doctors offer no real hope. So, what is the answer? Dr. Kathy Gruver joins Dr. Mike to explain the many dangers of chronic stress, as well as offer some tips for relieving the pressures of daily life.

Avoid artificial sweeteners at all cost – they have been linked to many adverse health effects.Artificial sweeteners seem like attractive alternatives to sugar since they add virtually no calories to your diet. Adding to the allure, you only need to use a fraction compared to the amount of regular sugar you'd normally use for adding sweetness. But there's a seriously big catch — they're dangerous and they're showing up everywhere these days, even in foods considered to be otherwise "healthy." Despite mounting clinical and laboratory evidence pointing to dangerous health consequences attributed to artificial sweeteners, the government has now decided that they are safe. Special guest, Kathy Gruver, joins Dr. Mike to give you the low-down on artificial sweeteners, including which ones you should be aware of -- and avoid.

Permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes contain dangerous chemicals that have been linked to serious health problems — including cancer.In this day and age, you would be hard-pressed to find a woman who hasn't colored her hair at least once in her life. If you're like many women, you have a standing date with either your stylist or your take-home bottle of color... typically every 4-6 weeks. You may want to re-think that regimen. Permanent and semi-permanent hair dyes contain dangerous chemicals that have been linked to serious health problems — including cancer. The most dangerous hair dye chemicals are Arylamines. They can be absorbed through your scalp or even inhaled during application of hair dye. Arylamines have been established as risk factors for bladder cancer by several clinical studies, including one conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. So, if you're a hair dye enthusiast, you might want to take a closer look at your favorite brand. Join Dr. Mike to learn where all the dangers lie, and if there is a healthy alternative.

Are you part of a medical home? It can be the best health care you and your family have ever received.The care provided by a medical home is the kind of care we all want and deserve. It is the way your child's pediatric health care team approaches providing care for your child. A medical home means that: your pediatric team knows your child's health history, they listen to your concerns and needs, as well as the needs of your child. This team also works in partnership with you to make sure that the medical and non-medical needs of your child and family are met... and so much more. Just as you make regular home improvements, you can make improvements to your child's medical home as well by working closely with your doctor's office. Join special guest, Dr. Jennifer Lail, and host Melanie Cole as they share a few things to think about and to discuss with your child's primary care provider in order to make your medical home experience the best it can be.

Don't let your children be subject to ads that may endanger their health.Do you often hear your children say, "Mommy I want that!"... because they saw it on TV or elsewhere in an advertisement? Are you worried that ads for cigarettes might have that same effect? You should be. A study in the October 2013 journal Pediatrics, researchers worked one-on-one with more than 2,400 5- and 6-year-olds in Brazil, China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Russia, asking them to match logos with pictures of products. Eight cigarette brand logos were included. Overall, 68 percent of the children could identify at least one cigarette brand logo. This is becoming a very real, very scary problem. Special guest, Dr. Dina L.G. Borzekowski, shares the best advice on how to teach your children about the reality of advertising and how to separate the hype from the truth.

Do you have a child with special health care needs? Are you getting the best care you can?Do you have a child with special health care needs? If so, you know it's not an easy road when it comes to all aspects of life. However it may raise some concerns specifically when it comes to the medical care of your child. Are your child's needs actually being met by your doctor and other health care professionals? What do you need to think about when navigating the health care system and keeping track of various specialists, test results and treatment options? When is it appropriate to involve your child in his or her own health care decision-making? Dr. Jennifer Lail joins Melanie Cole, MS, to help answer all of these questions and more in this informative segment.

Is it safe to work out when you have cancer? Learn which exercises are beneficial and which ones may be harmful.If you have cancer, or are recently in remission, you live with challenges every day. Sometimes, it would be nice just to feel "normal" again. And, perhaps normal for YOU means working out. But is it safe to exercise when you're battling cancer? Which exercises are safe? Which might be harmful and cause further damage? Will working out make you feel better or worse? Special guest, Dr. Kathryn Schmitz, PhD joins Melanie Cole, MS, to go through the exercises that are safe and effective for cancer patients. Schmitz shares how you can use them to feel better and speed your recovery.