Here’s a breakdown of how the U.S. food pyramid has changed , based on the newly released 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (1/7/2026). These updates represent the biggest shift in federal nutrition advice in decades, and the pyramid itself has been completely inverted . What does this mean? It means that a solid discussion with your health care provider is in order. Your doctor or dietician can explain what these changes mean for you, especially if the pyramid is s

Happy 2026 Everyone! This year BCBZ celebrates 9 years on the web, providing support and training suggestions for fans of tai chi and those seeking a calmer life. In 9 years this site has never been filled with ads or asked for contributions. This site does not offer items for sale. Is it possible that there will be advertisements or something similar in the future? Perhaps. Web sites are not free to create or maintain. Many hours of research are committed to this site. I am

Here’s a clear, grounded explanation of what a VO₂ test is and why it’s widely considered the gold standard  for measuring aerobic fitness. 🌬️ What a VO₂ Test Measures A VO₂ max test  measures the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise . It’s expressed in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). During the test: You wear a mouthpiece connected to a metabolic cart  that analyzes the oxygen you inhale and the carbon

Anyone that follows this site is here for a reason. You are interested in Tai Chi, a healthy diet, nature, yoga, or travel. Perhaps you want to learn more about the commonalities between different world religions . Many pages and blog posts on this site recommend that each person, in their best interest, should consult with a health care professional before starting an exercise program or making a change to their diet. That advice still holds because this blogger is no

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Let's talk first about the history of the holiday and then move on to how to navigate it! Thanksgiving began as a harvest celebration in the early 1600s and evolved into a national holiday in the United States in 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it a day of gratitude. 🌽 Early Origins Religious roots in Europe:  The idea of “days of thanksgiving” comes from English traditions during the Protestant Reformation, when special services

A diet that’s mostly vegetarian but includes some meat and fish is often called a flexitarian diet . It’s a flexible approach to eating...

Spend one hour watching this podcast and your understanding of the behavior of others will evolve. It starts dark and ends hopeful. The...

Yoga and tai chi are both mind-body practices with roots in ancient traditions, offering similar benefits like stress reduction, improved...

Coming soon - International Chinese Martial Arts Championship in Orlando, Caribe Royale Resort, Florida, weekend of June 27-29, 2025....

Doctors tell patients, in particular women, "I recommend weight bearing exercise." What is missing is a specific recommendation of the...

Imagine, if you will, not the quiet stillness of space, but the fiery dance of colossal stars, living out their magnificent lives in the...

Meditation, mindfulness, and problem solving are all interconnected in fascinating ways—like pieces of a puzzle that, when put together,...

Protein requirements for adults vary based on factors like age, sex, activity level, and overall health, but there are general...

The vast majority of us know (I hope) that there are additives in our food. Some additive names we can easily say and some are...

Happy New Year Everyone! Yes, this blogger has been MIA. The last month was spent traveling across the country and in those four weeks,...

There is an article in the New York Times by Jen Murphy that includes short video instructions on how to test your mobility. It's very...

Sardinia Minestrone "A bountiful dish that is eaten every day for lunch by some of the world’s longest-lived families in Sardinia, Italy....

Dear Students, On Monday (10/7/24) when I arrived at the fitness center to teach our weekly class, I was informed that the company was...

Hello and Welcome! Maybe you visit this website on a regular basis and maybe this is your first time here. Either way, here is a review...

Taekwondo at the Paris 2024 Olympics will be an exciting event! The competitions will take place from August 7 to August 10, 2024 at the...