Trust Health Magazine for all Your Health Information

Health is a magazine that is a highly respected source for health information. It covers all aspects of health and well being in an easy-to-read format. The articles cover a wide range of subject matter including fitness, weight loss, wellness, nutrition, beauty and fashion. It also covers relationship issues, spirituality, stress and anxiety as well as alternative medicine. The information is up-to-date and thoroughly researched. You won't find any quackery here. This is a magazine that you can trust. The magazine often put a name and face to the topic to make the subject more interesting. I am a long-term subscriber and enjoy reading the entire magazine from cover to cover. All the topics are useful and relevant. The magazine targets women 30-55 years old. One of its main competitors is Prevention Magazine. I subscribe to both magazines because both are excellent.

Health Magazine has teemed up with Harris Interactive to explore women's approach to their health and well being. Headline News consults Health Magazine for their aired health information. Along with Life Books, Health Magazine compiled a 224-page interactive guide to the most popular diets called, "The Diet Advisor" ($20.) With all this interest in current research, you can be sure that you are getting the best current medical advice. I have chose the current issue to comment on; it is the summer issue covering July and August.

Every issue contains an Editor's Note, Letters, Buyer's Guide, Contributors and Updates on the Website. In this issue the editor discusses the findings of Health Magazine's recent study of 3,000 American Women, called, "Women in Motion." Women reported that they were satisfied with their lives, have a positive outlook and are optimistic about the future. Family is still their primary focus. They want good family relationships and long-term health and well-being. Health and wellness motivate their major life decisions.

For the most part, Letters from readers request further clarification on health advice covered in past issues. Many comment on the timeliness for them of the information they received in the magazine. They are mostly complementary. Others give additional information omitted in the articles. They are always interesting.

Although Health is a mainstream magazine, it does stir up controversy sometimes. Recently, two subjects seem to invite a flood of letters both positive and negative. Readers either applauded the report in the May issue on the possible ban of vibrators in Alabama or they were appalled by it. There were strong feelings on both sides of the issue. Another controversy arose in April over the topic of kid's allowance. The magazine reported that the average kid's allowance was $50 a week. They based their information on a federally-funded study called National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. I agree with the readers: $50 seems too high for an average allowance. Unfortunately, the magazine didn't report what expenses the kids covered with their $50 weekly allowance.

The Buyer's Guide lists all the harder-to-find items mentioned in the magazine. It lists companies, toll free numbers-when available-and Websites. In fact, the magazine gives sources throughout the magazine for the clothes and makeup used on models. There is nothing more annoying than reading about a terrific product or fashion item and not being able to locate it.

I was pretty amazed at the qualifications of the staff writing the magazine. The Editorial Advisory Board is filled with members of the medical community. Many fields are represented. No wonder the advice is so good.

There are three columns each month but they differ from month to month. Ask Us Anything (sometimes called, Just Ask Me) has the editor(s) answering readers' questions. This month the questions were on chapped lips, the dangers of fertilizers and fasting. In, Good Question, a doctor answers questions on allergies, foot swelling on airplane flights, omega-3 eggs and tubal ligation. Sacred Ground reports on how readers connect with their spiritual side. All answers are always helpful and well-researched.

A regular department in every issue is Healthy news. Four sections cover various health topics such as herbal supplements, organ transplants, soy, swimmer's ear and lots more. Each month the topics are different. All are concise and well-written short bits of information. Sometimes there is a short test or quiz to make it more interactive. This month has questions about eye myths since August is National Eye Exam Month.

Healthy Looks has three articles on a variety of topics. This month's topics included, brighter teeth, sunscreen, summer makeup and shorts for different figures. In past issues, concealers, elbow treatments, safe tans and trench coat smarts were covered. Articles are always interesting and informative.

In Body Work, a different part of body is chosen for workouts. This month it is the hips. Other months covered shoulders and upper arms. The magazine promises you'll see results in 6 weeks. Readers report that the workouts achieve results for them.

There is always a Food Department. This month the Food Department discusses the interesting topic of gender-specific food. There is a chart that rates various foods in the marketplace aimed at women. Other topics here are green tea, Mayo-Clinic's Weight Loss Pyramid Light and Eco-labels on canned salmon. An earlier issue discusses the health benefits of bananas.

Fitness covers the value of exercise for strong bones. An earlier issue discusses the health benefits of gardening. Forty-five minutes of vigorous gardening equals 30 minutes of aerobics. Fourteen lawn care activities are listed with the calories they burn. Next time I'm stuck raking fall leaves (127 calories burned in 30 minutes) I won't complain about the work. This month's topic was about the best exercises for flattening the tummy. An accompanying article lists three ab exercises that really work. Photos help ensure you do them correctly.

In Remedies, there is a debate about ephedra. Another topic covered recently was information about a new allergy test that doesn't involve pinpricks. Under Relationships there was a discussion about how tough it is to say goodbye to your childhood home. An earlier issue recently talks about marriage support groups. An article in the Mind Department points out the healing power of forgiveness. Another month the topic was Alzheimer's. The Healthy Cooking Department has 6 recipes for simple summer dinners. One that sounds good is Caribbean-Style Chicken with Tropical Salsa. Cooking hints and techniques are also given. Let's Get Personal covers sensitive topics like sexuality, sexual fitness, breast-cancer screening, infertility and cures for cramps among others. Physicians write the articles and they are excellent. All these departments are interesting to read with lots of helpful information.

Seven other feature articles complete each issue. This month the interesting topics covered include: 73 summer beauty tips, factors that influenced 19 women to get healthy, how traditions medicine and alternative medicine have joined forces, yoga, scents and their effects, good nutrition and recipes for dishes using fowl. This month I read all seven articles as I usually do. I enjoyed all the articles.

The July/August issue has 184 pages just like all the single month issues. I dislike wading through so many ads, although they are colorful and eye-catching. Just to get to the Table of Contents you have to wade through 8 full-page ads. The cover does not list the page numbers of the listed articles, either. The covers, however, are always attractive. Young models usually pose for the covers but they are well under the age of most readers. There are an abundance of great photographs that helps to make the topics interesting. Topic titles are catchy and invite curiosity. The layout of the magazine is attractive and eye-catching.

I thoroughly recommend this magazine for anyone interested in finding out more about current health topics. Although a medical encyclopedia is excellent for home reference, the information inside gets dated quickly. Health is a great magazine at an inexpensive price that can supplement your medical knowledge. The magazine and the Website state clearly, however, that readers should not use information as a substitute for regular professional health care. For more information about any of the topics listed here, you can visit the Website at www.health.com. It has lots of information this month on popular weight loss diets.

Health Magazine is published by Time Inc. It publishes 10 issues yearly. Cover price is $2.99. Subscribe for $19.97. Or better still, visit the Website and get two issues free when you subscribe. I pay $15.97 for my subscription through EBSCO Subscription Service. I feel that Health Magazine is well worth the price.