As a resident of Sedalia, I am excited that the city government is considering a smoke-free ordinance.

(StatePoint) You may remember your parents telling you to turn off the television and go outside or read a book. But these days, it’s harder than ever to separate kids from media devices, especially as their options become more mobile.

Bothwell Regional Health Center will hold a Surgical Weight Loss Seminar on Wednesday in the Bothwell Education Center.

(NewsUSA) - Five to 10 percent.

(StatePoint) There may be some credence to the old saying that “beauty comes from within.” Scientific research shows that the appearance of your largest, most visible organ -- your skin -- can be directly affected by the vitamins, nutrients and minerals you feed your body.

(BPT) - Grapes from California are in abundant supply throughout the summer, which is welcome news for those seeking a healthy, refreshing snack. They’re also a boon to the home cook: grapes provide bright color, a sweet-tart flavor and a refreshing burst of juice to warm-weather dishes.

(BPT) - There’s nothing like the smell of a home-cooked meal wafting through the kitchen for hours and hours – that is, if you have time to prepare such a meal. Since most of us don’t have that sort of time on a daily basis, many time-pressed cooks are rediscovering pressure cooking: an age-old cooking method that makes mealtime fast and easy.

(NAPSI)How much do you know about the honey bear bottle in your pantry? With recent confusion over pollen and filtration, the National Honey Board (NHB) wants to clarify any misconceptions surrounding this natural ingredient with harvesting, filtration and nutrition facts about honey. With more than 300 varietals of honey in the United States, honey adds its own unique profile to every recipe. Plus, honey has many benefits before and after it gets to the pantry.

(BPT) - Warm weather offers many sweet delights, from trips to the beach and more free time, to seasonal foods and soirees with family and friends. Unfortunately, many of the foods we commonly associate with spring and summer are high in added sugars. Hidden sugar in summer foods can make it a challenge to regulate calories and stay on track with your health goals.

(BPT) - Many women cite a number of external factors that can trigger sensitive skin flare-ups, including harsh ingredients, weather and makeup. What they may not know is that lifestyle choices can also influence the health and appearance of their skin.

(BPT) - If you’ve ever felt sick or battled a bug, you may have asked your doctor for an antibiotic. Ever since the advent of these wonder drugs, these medications have one common goal: fight bacteria in the body to help maintain a healthy immune system. As new medical breakthroughs emerge, the role of antibiotics has also evolved and helped patients dealing with anything from ear infections to serious lung infections like pneumonia.

(NAPSI)If youre like most people with a mixed-breed dog, you may sometimes be surprised at certain behaviors and wonder just what breeds make up his ancestry. After all, experts on genetics contend that the dog is, at this point, the most diverse species of mammal. The many breeds recognized today are the result of careful selective breeding for functional attributes deemed beneficial to their human owners including hunting, guarding and herding, and desirable physical characteristics such as skull shape, size, and coat variation.

(BPT) - Warmer temperatures often mean a busier social calendar. So whether you’re planning a meal to enjoy al fresco, or whipping up a sweet treat for a neighborhood block party, it’s a great time of year to experiment in the kitchen.

(BPT) - Parents often use the adage “You are what you eat!” to encourage children to make healthy food choices, but the saying is equally true for mature adults. Providing your body with a variety of nutrients lets you feel your best, and may even prevent disease and help you live longer.

(BPT) - What if you could program the future of your child’s health as simply as you program your alarm clock? Push a button, choose a selected wake-up time, click and you’re done. It’s not quite that simple, but studies show that what a woman eats just before and during pregnancy will impact the health of her child for the rest of his or her life. It’s an area of research called fetal programming.

Dustin Bales plans to combine his love of humanitarian work and engineering during a two-year stint with the Peace Corps in Uganda.

(NAPSI)—Show your love for mom by looking after her health with the gift of heart-smart cooking.

(NAPSI)Looking to add some color to your dinner table? Decorate your plate with canned fruits and vegetables, which are packed with nutrition and provide garden quality all year long.

(NAPSI)—An estimated 72 million Americans are affected by obesity, with nearly one out of three affected by excess weight. Yet, according to some experts, a weight loss of even 5 percent may improve health and reduce risks of some diseases.

(NAPSI)—Consumers continue to show that they have a healthy appetite for nutritional supplements. According to a recent study sponsored by Wells Fargo Securities, LLC Equity Research Department, more than 76 percent of Americans regularly take a vitamin or supplement.

(BPT) - The 2012-2013 school year brought a new curriculum to school cafeterias across the United States. For most of the country’s 17,000 school districts, it was an accelerated class, requiring the complete revision of school menus, from ingredients to food pairings to recipes, to meet the new USDA nutrition guidelines.    

(BPT) - “Do as I say, not as I do,” has never been an exemplary parenting style. As childhood obesity has more than doubled over the past 30 years, the need for an active lifestyle has never been greater. If parents make fitness a priority, chances are their kids will too.

(StatePoint) New research continues to conclude what many cultures knew hundreds and hundreds of years ago -- berries are good for our health. With researchers indicating that berries can aid in fighting heart disease and help preserve brain and eye health, many nutrition experts are advising diners to fill their plates with a rainbow of berries.