A Healthy Dose of humor. A Healthy Dose of engaging, interesting and fun reading. A Healthy Dose of common-sense, straightforward information about health, nutrition, and fitness that you can easily understand and put to use every day to become healthier and, if used properly, more annoying to friends and family. I know I am!

My name is Catherine Kedjidjian. Some people call me Catherine, some call me Cathy, or Cate, or CK. Obviously, I'm multi-faceted. Or perhaps I just have an identity crisis. But one thing in which I have gained clarity is how to live a healthy life – and live it very happily. In my many years as a writer covering health, nutrition, fitness, and safety, and in my years as an avid runner and cook, I have developed some routines and learned a few tricks. I hope to pass some of that knowledge to you. I also hope that you’ll spit your morning coffee on your monitor at least once during your education here.

People complain that they can't be healthy because it takes too much time, it's too expensive, too confusing, they're too tired, their dog ate their healthy food.

But I don't agree that being healthy isn't easy. It certainly is simple: Eat a wide variety of unprocessed foods, particularly vegetables, fruits, and whole grains; eat a little bit of the processed foods you really love; and move around as much as possible. If you are trying to lose weight, eat fewer calories than you expend while moving around. That’s an easier formula than anything you learned in high school pre-calculus, especially if you had Miss Griffin.

What's not easy is sorting through all the conflicting messages about healthy living that the media throws at us. I am, if not a breath of fresh air because I eat a lot of garlic, then at least a knowledgeable source who can provide clear facts, helpful tips, encouragement, and an English translation of Omega-3, all without a gimmick or a sermon. Though my Internet-ordained friend Paul might check in and add his blessing. He can bring the whole-grain communion wafers. And good red wine!

Please feel free to reprint the sample columns on this site at no charge (with copyright credit given to Catherine Kedjidjian). For information about publishing further columns of A Healthy Dose, please contact Catherine at catherine@ahealthydose.net.

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