The start of the school year is right around the corner, and as much as we are looking forward to a campus buzzing with students, it’s important to take advantage of the last week of summer before the business of the academic year comes back in full force. Whether your version of relaxing involves yoga, [...]

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The UW Combined Fund Drive is partnering with Every Monday Matters, a nonprofit committed to inspiring a new normal where people understand how and why they matter — to themselves, to the community, and to the world. And that starts with you! We are excited to offer you tools to make it happen. Each month, [...]

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It's a quiet afternoon in summer quarter, and Gary Hsieh is wearing shorts and a T-shirt. He rode his bike to work this morning — for the first time — and now he's sitting across from a 3-foot-tall package from Amazon. "This is an under-desk elliptical," he says, slapping the top of the bulky box. He’ll pedal it beneath his feet as he types, burning calories with each keystroke. Hsieh, an assistant professor in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE), is trying to solve a problem. "I’ve gained too much weight,” he says.

Diverticulosis is a condition that develops when small “pockets” protrude out of a weakened colon wall. As people age, they become more at risk of developing this condition. By the age of 80, close to 70% of population could be affected. In most cases, diverticulosis remains asymptomatic unless these “pockets” are infected or inflamed. It [...]

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It can be freeing, in many ways, to come to work on the University of Washington campus without a car. You don’t have to find parking, or pay for it. If you find yourself somewhere other than your usual work location at the end of your day, you don’t have to wander back to your [...]

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In the first article of this two-part series on sugar, we looked at the history and science of natural sweeteners. Sugar is an energy source, so it burns off easily in moderate doses — less than 10 teaspoons a day, says the American Heart Association — but most of us consume way more than that. This surplus sugar often sticks around in our bodies, enlisting in the fat reserves instead of the energy infantry. But what if we could stop sugar from sticking around?

As I scroll through my Facebook newsfeed each Sunday evening, I encounter endless articles about meal planning. “7 ways to eat healthier this week,” is a familiar headline. “Secret to clean eating habits” is another. But how do the thousands of homeless or impoverished families in Seattle find nutritious meals? How do people who can’t regularly afford [...]

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Congratulations on making huge strides to a healthier you during the Summer Throwdown! As someone who is working hard to lose baby weight and get back into shape, I know how tough it can be to stay consistent with healthy eating and exercise habits. Your skin, hair, and nails may not have gotten the memo about your new workout routine, but don’t let that hold you back from achieving your overall goals! Here are my best tips for healthy skin while you work out this summer and beyond!

It's probably better to skip dessert, you tell yourself as the waiter brings the check, but let's just take a peek at the menu. Soon you're three spoonfuls into a bowl of vanilla ice cream, and there's a triple-fudge brownie waiting patiently for your attention. You smile in delight with each bite, then twinge with regret for your poor belly. Months from now you'll curse yourself as you sink into a dentist's chair and grasp an armrest with trembling fingers.

Whether you’re a seasoned yogi or you struggle to touch your toes, join us in celebrating National Yoga Month this September! From relaxation to stress relief to strength building, yoga's many benefits promote a happier and healthier lifestyle. Apart from getting you moving, practicing yoga can improve your mental health by making you stronger both mentally and physically. So why not give it a try? To celebrate, we’re teaming up with the UW Mindfulness Project, an organization that aims to create a mindful culture on campus. During the whole month of September, you’ll find a variety of yoga-centered activities (in-person and virtual) to help you get centered.

Have you ever felt great after working out? Not just proud of yourself, but physically great? Chances are you have. That's because moving your muscles releases chemicals in your brain. But there’s more benefit to your brain cells when you work out than just those sweet, sweet endorphins many people crave. When people feel happy, their productivity increases, their relationships improve, and they get better at coping with the challenges and unpredictability of life. For week five of the Summer Throwdown challenge, we're going to look at how working out can boost our brain health.

It’s the kind of trip you find on bucket lists. In two weeks, Taso Lagos and 29 students will fly to Athens, Greece, where they’ll stroll through ancient streets and watch the sun set over the Mediterranean Sea. "Walking in the same place as Aristotle, Plato, and Socrates is a great thrill," said Lagos, the director of the Greece study abroad program. “Saint Paul and some of the early Christians were there, as well.”