If you’re a healthy eater, your plate probably consists of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables; the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends at least five servings of fruits and veggies a day for the average adult. However, it’s not just what makes up your dinner, but also what’s on…
Talia Green
Writer
Talia Green studies Creative Writing and Linguistics at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. Most recently, her poems have appeared in the Alloy Literary Magazine, the Outrageous Fortune, and the Ear Literary Magazine. She is also the copy editor of the Emory-based literary magazine, MR MA’AM.
All of Talia’s written work, as well as her original music, is featured on her personal blog, InTaliasWords.com.
Entries Talia Green
Workaholism: Maybe it doesn’t get as much of a negative rep as it deserves. The American Psychological Association defines it as an addiction, a “syndrome comprised of high drive, high work involvement and low work enjoyment.” While working hard is positive, when are you working too hard? How might your…
Unless you’re already diagnosed, you’re most likely not too familiar with Graves’ disease. It’s an autoimmune disorder, one that influences the function of the thyroid: the butterfly-shaped gland in your throat that controls your body’s regulation of energy. The condition commonly leads to hyperthyroidism (when your thyroid gland is overactive,…
Chest pain isn’t fun— it can strike out of nowhere and, unless you know you have a certain condition which triggers attacks, it can be difficult to pinpoint a cause. According to the Mayo Clinic, chest pains can appear in many forms and at various degrees of intensity: Sometimes it…
You misplaced the keys. Your mind slipped, and you totally forgot about your appointment. You can’t remember where you left your phone… again. Memory loss is a scary thing, and it can really interfere with your daily life. While memory loss becomes more prominent as you age, it can happen…
When it comes to our vision, certain things are left to chance: Some people are biologically gifted with 20/20 vision, and others are practically born wearing glasses. However, there are ways to effectively maintain your eye health, regardless of hereditary factors. While it’s common for eyesight to worsen with time,…
Your twenties are filled with important milestones: For many, it’s the first time you’re living out of the house, or independently from parents. Your twenties are also the time when you begin (if you haven’t before) to financially support yourself. This can seem daunting, especially after two-plus decades of, well,…
According to WebMD, the average adult has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on their head and loses up to 100 of those hairs every day — and there are plenty of healthy reasons for those strays to fall. It’s when you start seeing clumps of hair clogging your shower drain…
If you and your partner have been struggling to get pregnant, you’re not alone. According to the American Pregnancy Association, infertility affects 1 in every 6 American couples. Roughly half of those cases account for female infertility, or when the cause of infertility exists in the woman. While there are…
Nowadays, we’re bombarded with the constant cancer warning; it seems like everything does, or can, lead to cancer. Many foods we consume and products we use contain carcinogens or substances and exposures that could be cancerous. Luckily, the American Cancer Society has published an up-to-date list of the known human…
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States alone live with a mental illness. And all too often, the importance of mental health is overlooked when standing next to physical wellness. But mental wellness is a factor that influences every area…
You wake up one morning and notice a few black and blue marks on your hip. You try to remember what you did yesterday to cause the bruises, but nothing comes to mind; we’ve all been there. According to Healthline, bruising occurs when small vessels, or capillaries, break under the…
Success - personal, professional, and academic - takes more than just passion. It takes energy and determination; it takes discipline and focus; it takes concentration and memory. And while there’s no shortcut to cultivating these skills, there are foods you can eat that can help fuel your brain to function…
If you’re diagnosed with asthma, you know how serious and terrifying its attacks can be. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, asthma is the result of inflamed airways in your lungs. During an attack, these air passages swell, constricting your ability to breathe. If you suffer…
Most of the time, pregnancy is a smooth process. It’s long, laborious, but it results in the delivery of a new life. However, certain factors might make this process a little bumpier. According to the American Pregnancy Association, a pregnancy is considered high risk when extra care is needed to…
It happens to even the most flawless of belles: the dreaded face bloat. There are a number of reasons it could happen: water retention, weight gain, hormones. While there’s no magical mask you can slip on to instantly de-bloat, there are tricks to try that may help reduce the puffiness.…
We all have our go-to stress snack: mine, for example, is a big bowl of Reese’s. Yeah, not the healthiest choice. While reaching for our comfort foods when feeling anxious might grant us momentary relief, certain nutrients might be more effective in taming our stress. And by being mindful of…
If you’ve ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI), you know just how uncomfortable - even painful - the infection can be. According to the Mayo Clinic, a UTI develops in your urinary system and could occur anywhere in the urinary tract: particularly in the urethra or the bladder. If…
Nowadays, improving posture is a constant struggle; so much of our time is spent hunched over laptops, books or cell phones, and we must mindfully realign ourselves throughout the day. Not only does the conditioned shoulder-hunch look painful, but according to the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative, musculoskeletal back pain…
Mold. It’s a silent, sneaky offender: a problem in most homes without making much of a noise until it actually becomes a health hazard. In fact, those fungi hiding in the moist environments of your home might be the reason you’ve been feeling sick. When exposed to water-damaged buildings (WDB),…
To our chagrin, stress is unavoidable. It’s an inevitable fact of life that we must learn to live with, even when it translates into our physical well-being; not only can too much stress result in headaches, muscle tension and digestion issues, but it can also lead to weight gain. When…
You hear “broken heart,” and what do you think of? Sadness, right? Emotional anguish that’s perhaps intense, but treatable with a bar of chocolate and the passing of time. We think of heartbreak as painful, but brief; a condition from which we are ultimately able to recover. And most of…
If you’ve ever had a pinched nerve, you know it can be one of the most uncomfortable experiences. According to the Mayo Clinic, it happens when too much pressure is applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues. The buildup of pressure messes with your nerve function — and that’s where…
Do you ever stand too quickly and hear a pop from your kneecaps? Or how about when you stretch and your shoulders crack so loud, you’re worried your neighbors will hear? You’re not alone. In fact, most people experience it, and it becomes more common as you age. What really…
A healthy morning ritual begins the day right: It sets the day rolling in a positive direction from the get-go. Small “first thing” habits, despite how insignificant they might seem, often govern how the rest of the day follows, particularly in terms of diet and weight loss. Here’s a list…
Even if you’re a frequent sufferer of migraines, you might not be so familiar with the term “ocular migraine.” According to the American Migraine Foundation, it’s a term that refers to a number of different migraine subtypes. All of the subtypes, however, are linked by one feature: they are all…
Type 2 diabetes is a widespread epidemic in the United States. According to the American Diabetes Association, it’s the most common form of the disease, affecting more than 9.4 percent of the entire population. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you have a problem using insulin or the hormone produced…
When the ingredient list for most cosmetics looks like chapter books in another language, it can be tough for anybody to maintain healthy skin. It can be extra difficult for people with a heightened sensitivity, constantly worrying about which products will cause redness, blemishes and other adverse reactions. Luckily, you…
We’re all well aware of the importance of exercise; remaining active is essential to your health at any age. However, as you get older, it gets more and more important to maintain your fitness through daily activity. Regular exercise can not only significantly increase your life expectancy, but it can…
You wake up constantly in the middle of the night to pee. You can’t sit through a movie without a few bathroom runs. You let out a cough and… well, that’s not the only thing you let out. Bladder problems can be embarrassing, but are just as important to investigate;…
Your arteries are like highways. When functioning properly, they allow for the delivery of oxygenated blood throughout your body. Healthy arteries are open, smooth and traffic-free. However, some people develop clogged arteries, or arterial plaque, blocking the flow of blood throughout their body. When this buildup of cholesterol happens in…
No tongue is the same — we all have different bumps, patches and spots that, most of the time, don't point to anything serious. However, sometimes, certain sensations or physical characteristics in your mouth might indicate an underlying concerning medical condition. Read on to learn what your tongue might be…
You eat a balanced diet, you’re as active as ever, you visit your doctor regularly and everything seems to be in order. And still, you’re starting to get a little soft in the midsection. Why is that? Unfortunately, middle-age weight gain is a thing, particularly for women. According to the…
Every woman is different, and every body is different. That means that the timing of our periods can be like clockwork for some, and can seem completely random for others. However, it’s important to note what our “regular” cycle is (whatever that means), and to stay attuned to anything out…
While some of us have more sensitive tummies than others, we’ve all experienced the symptoms of indigestion, at one point or another — the runs, the bloating, the gassiness. Even if you think you’re eating healthy, certain foods can really impact the function of your digestive system. Plus, along with…
We’re all aware of how important it is to stay attuned to our heart health, at any age. However, as we grow older, we increase the risk of developing something called an aortic valve calcification, or a calcium buildup in the heart. According to the Mayo Clinic, this nasty condition…
Your body reacts to danger by kicking into an evolutionary-based “fight or flight response.” In this state, your brain releases two hormones: adrenaline, the hormone which revs up your heart rate and boosts your energy, and cortisol, which promotes the release of glucose into your blood and gives you a…
Iodine. It’s a mineral essential to a healthy body: It’s used by the thyroid gland to help produce hormones central to brain development, growth, healing and metabolism. Because our bodies can’t produce iodine on their own, we need to get it from supplements or from the food we eat (for…
Be it due to stigma, embarrassment or fears of indecency, as women, we often don’t pay enough attention to our breasts. But the thing is, our boobs are not only essential (and beautiful!) parts of our body, but they also can tell us a lot about our health. Being attentive…
Lymphoma, the cancer of the lymphatic system, is one of those conditions whose symptoms manifest silently; its warning signs are often so subtle that the condition can remain undetected for a dangerous period of time. The lymphatic system is an integral part of your immune system; it’s your body’s primary…
The American Heart Association considers hypertension a “silent killer,” a serious condition whose symptoms often provide no immediate indication that anything’s wrong. Despite its inconspicuous symptoms, nearly half of American adults live with this condition, one that causes damage to the heart, kidney, eyes and circulation without raising many red…
We’ve long known that regular exercise is essential in maintaining a healthy heart. But how much is “enough” exercise? And which exercises are most effective for cardiovascular health? A new study published in the Journal of Physiology reports that all you need is 30 minutes of exercise, two or three…
Maybe you’re preparing for your upcoming trip to the shore. Maybe you have an event coming up and want to slim down to feel good in your new dress. Maybe you’re just trying to be more mindful about your health, and are starting to incorporate fitness into your daily routine.…
The heart, such a diligent laborer in your body, goes about its business without exhibiting many signs to the outside world; at its best, it functions effortlessly. Sadly, it’s often not until one goes into cardiac arrest that he or she experiences heart trouble, and recognizes something's awry. According to…
For most healthy women, vaginal cancer isn’t so high up on the list of conditions to detect: it’s rare, and none of its symptoms are particularly unique to this sneaky killer. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, while all women are susceptible to contracting vaginal…
According to Healthline, more than 60 million Americans are affected by heartburn. It’s one of the most common symptoms of acid reflux, a condition where acid rises up from the stomach to the esophagus. While, normally, a ring-like muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter prevents stomach acid from rising, individuals…
When was the last time you took Mom out to dinner or treated Dad to a movie night? We know - so many factors could have influenced the accumulation of weeks, months or even years since your most recent visit home. However, maybe it’s time to plan that long-awaited homecoming;…
Our immune system is our body’s main defense force. It allows us to stand strong in the face of infection and disease, resisting the spread of dangerous illnesses. The problem is, sometimes this army of cells, tissues and organs doesn’t work the way it should. With a weakened defense force,…
Maybe he was the man who took you to your first basketball game or ballet practice. Maybe he was the one who grounded you for staying out too late or scolded you for that grade you got on your finance exam. Maybe he was the guy who gave you the…
You’re down by the shore, and you want to keep that body you built back at home. Vacation doesn’t have to sabotage your fitness regimen; in fact, sand and water workouts can be incredibly effective if executed correctly. Here are five workouts that can help you maintain that beach body…
We all recognize the importance of maintaining our body’s well-being: we invest in gym memberships; we experiment with the latest health trends; we drink soup when we’re sick and take vitamins when we’re healthy. But with all the attention paid towards exercising our bodies, we often forget the importance of…
Picture the mind as a starry night sky. Each star represents a thought, and there are millions of negative and positive ones happening at the same time. The challenge is determining which ones shine the right light. Are we focusing on the negatives or the positives? Successful women know how…
Bleeding disorders can afflict anybody: at any age, of any sex, with various degrees of severity. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bleeding disorders pose a heightened threat to women, affecting not only their immediate well-being but their reproductive health as well. If left untreated,…
Coming home from a stressful day at work, all you want to do is decompress: grab a tub of ice cream, lift your feet up on the couch and melt into a good book. But, if you really need to relax, try soaking in a salt bath. Due to the…
For some women, cramping during menstruation isn’t overtly out of the norm. Heavier periods are regular for many, and painful intercourse every so often doesn’t lift any red flags. That’s why, as the Endometriosis Foundation of America reports, it takes on average 10 years to correctly diagnose endometriosis, a condition…
Unless you’re predisposed to kidney complications, you probably don’t give due diligence to those tiny organs located on both sides of the spine. Whether or not you think about them all that much, the kidneys play a major role in your digestive health. According to the American Kidney Fund, those…
A stroke is one of those scary conditions that require immediate attention. Occurring when the blood supply to the brain is cut off, the stroke is ranked by the American Stroke Association as the fifth major cause of death in the U.S. and one of the leading causes of serious…
Dementia is a condition that strikes close to home, my maternal grandmother was afflicted by severe memory loss. As her dementia became more severe, her memory dwindled to the point of forgetting my name. However, my family quickly recognized how music could be used to trigger, and perhaps even improve,…
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports uterine cancer as the fourth most common cancer among women in the United States. While other types of uterine cancer exist, cancer in the cells which line the uterus - also called endometrial cancer - is the most prevalent form, with…
Your immune system is your body’s most critical defense mechanism. It is the essential network of tissues, organs and cells which shields your body from intruders, protecting you from disease and infection. But, what happens when there’s a kink in your armor? According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine,…
For such a tiny gland, the thyroid plays an essential role in a number of bodily functions. Located right below the Adam’s apple, this butterfly-shaped gland produces hormones necessary for metabolism and brain activity; so, when your thyroid is out of whack, a number of necessary bodily functions are thrown…
Summer’s already here, it’s already sweltering outside, and you’ve already tried it all: the crunches, the sit-ups, even the waist-trainer everyone’s talking about. And still, that belly bulge won’t budge. I mean, you love your love handles, but a little less of them won’t hurt when you have to squeeze…
According to an article published by the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, it’s estimated that around 1 in 75 women will develop ovarian cancer in their life. 1 in 75 women. That’s roughly 22,280 new cases of ovarian cancer per year, deeming it one of the deadliest and most dangerous of…
