These gluten-free carrot oat bran muffins could be a great way to start the day or satisfy an afternoon hunger pang. Substituting apple sauce for oil cuts calories and fat and adds flavor. Your family will love them.

(12 muffins)

Carrot Oat Bran Muffin Ingredients

• 1 c. gluten-free oat bran
• 1 c. powdered non-fat milk
• 1 t baking powder
• 1 t baking soda
• 1 t cinnamon
• 2 T artificial sweetener brown sugar blend
• 3 large eggs, beaten (alternative: egg whites or egg substitute)
• 1/2 c.

Continue reading Carrot Oat Bran Muffins at Simply Well.

You want to make the best choices you can for your family, so you choose foods you think are healthy. These products are usually labeled “all-natural,” “naturally-sweetened,” or “gluten-free.” These choices are a good thing — right?

Unfortunately, those big, bold claims on the front of packaging don’t tell the whole story.

Sugar from a natural source (e.g., honey, agave, maple syrup) has the same effect on our bodies as white cane sugar or high-fructose corn syrup.

Continue reading 14 Foods You Think Are Healthy at Simply Well.

Telehealth, also called virtual visits, has been available for years. But it took the COVID-19 pandemic for health care providers and patients to start using it regularly. Now it’s here to stay. Whether you’ve had experience with telehealth or this is your first time, these tips can help you plan for — and get more out of — a virtual medical appointment.

Continue reading Get the Most Out of Your Telehealth Visit at Simply Well.

Did you know that if you have diabetes you’re 20 percent more likely to develop glaucoma and 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts? While people with diabetes have a higher risk of blindness, there are things you can do each day to lower your chances of developing eye problems.

Everyday Eye Care

Monitor blood sugar – It’s always important to keep your blood sugar under control when you have diabetes, but it’s especially important when you’re keeping your eye health in mind.

Continue reading Do You Know the Facts About Diabetes Eye Health? at Simply Well.

We all know that ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun can have a damaging effect on our skin. But many are less aware of the connection between UV rays and the potential damage to your eyes. In fact, many don’t think about eye protection in the winter like they do in the summer months. But it’s important to protect your eyes year-round.

Continue reading Your Eyes Need Sun Protection Too at Simply Well.

The other day, my oldest son said words every parent will hear at some point or another. “I don’t want to go to school.” But, as a dad, I could tell by the look in his eyes this wasn’t one of those days where he just wanted to stay home and watch TV or play with Legos instead of going to school. There was something more going on behind those eyes that he wasn’t telling me. I was concerned for this mental health.

Continue reading A Dad on a Mental Health Mission: Reinforcing the Three Rs at Simply Well.

Use Heart Month as the reason to learn how to take care of your heart health. Heart disease is a killer, but you can do plenty to reduce your risk and prolong your life. Research shows that making lifestyle changes can lower your risk for heart disease.

Download our 28 Days to Heart Health calendar. Each day in February, make the effort to change your life for the better. You have one heart ... take care of it.

Continue reading 28 Days to Heart Health at Simply Well.

As our primary tools for getting things done, our hands — and our fingernails, by extension — take a lot of abuse. If we don't take care of them, it shows; but there is more to healthy nails than meets the eye.

Continue reading Healthy Nails Are at Your Fingertips at Simply Well.

At this point in the pandemic, you or someone you know has probably received at least one COVID-19 test. But do you know which kind of test you got and the strengths and weaknesses of these different tests?

Continue reading The Difference Between PCR and Antigen COVID-19 Tests at Simply Well.

Don't let your chips get lonely. Try a bean dip that's made with just five ingredients.

Continue reading Blender Bean Dip at Simply Well.

You may notice veins that bulge or look twisted (varicose veins) in your legs. Your legs may ache or swell, and sometimes they may feel heavy and tired, or like they're burning. You're not too happy with the way they look either. What can you do?

Don't fret. There are options (for women and men!) to help lessen the pain, prevent and improve swelling, and even boost your confidence when you put that cute dress or those golf shorts on.

Continue reading It’s Time to Get Rid of Those Painful Varicose Veins at Simply Well.

These pumpkin-cranberry bread loaves are moist and quick. Make ahead and freeze to give to visitors.

Continue reading Pumpkin-Cranberry Bread Gift Loaves at Simply Well.

Let’s talk about hemorrhoids ... a literal ‘pain in the butt!’ Hemorrhoids can be a cause of discomfort, fear and even embarrassment for many people. No one should have to “just deal” with these symptoms when there are compassionate UMass Memorial Health experts who can offer solutions.   

Continue reading Let’s Talk About Hemorrhoids at Simply Well.

For many of us, the holiday season is a joyful but stressful time of year. It can be especially challenging for people with diabetes who are trying to watch what they’re eating. One strategy to help you stick to your diet is to eat mindfully. This means paying attention not only to what you eat but also to how you eat.

Continue reading Eat Mindfully During the Holidays at Simply Well.

What better time than November to learn about lung cancer risks and the life-saving impact early screening has. Every year 200,000 Americans are diagnosed, and 160,000 die of lung cancer; this makes lung cancer the most common cause of cancer death worldwide. These numbers are startling, and it’s up to you to take the next step and be proactive before it’s too late.

Continue reading Know Your Lung Cancer Risks This Know-vember at Simply Well.

Potting training can be both a daunting task and an exciting accomplishment for children and parents. Teaching your child to stay dry through the night requires more training and readiness on your child’s part. Teaching them to stay dry during the day is a task that can be started if he or she begins to show signs of readiness, usually between 18 and 24 months. In addition to signs of readiness, it’s important that your child is emotionally prepared for this task.

Continue reading Make Potty Training Successful at Simply Well.

If you fall into one of the qualifying categories, UMass Memorial Health is recommending you get the COVID-19 booster. The booster adds an extra layer of protection, which is important since variants are causing more infections and spreading faster than earlier forms of the virus. 

Continue reading Are You Ready for Your COVID-19 Booster? at Simply Well.

Common. Preventable. Curable. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in men and women, affecting over 150,000 people in the United States every year, with numbers rising in younger individuals.

Continue reading Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Screening is Key at Simply Well.

You walk on your feet every day, forcing them to support the weight of your body. Repeated stress on your feet can cause damage over time. The right shoes can help keep your feet healthy. The wrong shoes can cause foot problems.

What’s Your Foot Shape?

To get a good fit, you need to know the shape of your foot. Do this simple test: While standing, place your foot on a piece of paper and trace around it.

Continue reading Shoe Shopping for Healthy Feet at Simply Well.

Do you think it might be time for your daughter to see a gynecologist for the first time? The world of women's health is ready to welcome the next generation of women to our ranks! Good news, we're here to help her (and you!) get through that first visit with an obstetrician/gynecologist, also referred to as an Ob/Gyn.

Continue reading What You Need for Your Daughter’s First Gynecologist Visit at Simply Well.