Winter’s chill is upon us already, and the months ahead can feel very long — but you can fight off the winter blues with a few health tips. One major problem with Beijing’s winters is the dry air. Beijing’s extremely low humidity indoors and outdoors will dry out everyone’s skin and throats. Many of us …

I often lecture people on exercise, and I frequently mention how 150 minutes a week of “moderate” exercise can be just as healthy as 90 minutes of heavier exercise. But what’s the difference between light, moderate and heavy? The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) defines exercise intensity in three ways: percentage of maximum heart …

Here’s a very common expat question: is riding a bike in a city helping or harming your health? Fortunately, someone researched this exact question and now we can breathe with some relief, as the verdict is in: biking is beneficial. The article was just published in Environmental Health Perspectives journal and is an essential read for …

(Click here for part one, with tips #1-5…) Tip #6: To Every Thing, There Is A Season. Beijing has a surprising variety of all four seasons, which I think is a great thing. Spring and fall, the best times of year here, are unfortunately short, but in general you can expect the same seasonal variations …

Since this is a wellness blog, I feel a constant urge to get readers more enthusiastic about one of life’s pleasures — exercise. Here’s yet another article from the New York Times (Personal Health – Studies Show Further Health Benefits of Exercise) which details the latest medical literature regarding exercise’s many benefits for: Cancer Heart …

After many years of practicing medicine, I must admit that weight loss is one of the hardest goals for anyone to achieve, and that doctors have very little to offer in terms of prevention and really effective treatments. The main advice is always diet and exercise, but many people report that they do a lot …

It’s the new year, and many of you have made your annual pledge “to exercise more”. Well, before you break the promise yet again, here’s an inspiring list of the benefits that exercise can do for you — much more than just helping you to lose weight.

This week I already mentioned how exercise can relieve anxiety; now there’s even more good news on exercise (like we needed any). This latest New York Times article examines a recent study that examined children and assessed whether more exercise meant better sleep. Here’s a good quote:

We all know that exercise is crucial for long-term health, and most of us realize that we feel mentally healthier and more relaxed as well. But is there evidence that exercise helps your mental health and relaxes you? Yes, there is! The New York Times has yet another good article on health, this one discussing Why …

Are you as lazy as I am? Do the words “gym membership” fill you with terror? Are you one of the many expats who say, “well, doc, um, since I’ve been in China my exercise routine is way down”? 加油! I can vouch that I fit that category! And of course, I have a host …