The holiday season brings joy – but it doesn’t have to bring unwanted pounds. Whether it's your mom's eggnog or Aunt Judy's homemade holiday cookies, it can be tough to pass up those favorite holiday foods you taste only once a year. After all, ’tis the season to indulge, right?

Before you reach for that next gingerbread cookie, think about this: Extra pounds can affect more than your ability to fit into your holiday party apparel – being overweight can also increase your risk for cancer and other diseases. This holiday season, choose to put your health first. To stay well, the American Cancer Society recommends:

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is encouraging anyone with memory concerns and those interested in learning about brain health to take part in its 10th annual National Memory Screening Days on November 13 and 14.

Thousands of sites nationwide will be offering free, confidential memory screenings and educational materials about memory problems and successful aging on these days.

There will be a screening at the Kmart Pharmacy Health and Wellness Center in the Jasper store from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on November 14. Their phone number is (812) 482-9442. 

The benefits of exercise go far beyond a better-fitting pair of jeans. A well-rounded exercise regimen can aid in the prevention and treatment of a number of ailments, including high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes, and is beneficial to your overall health and well-being. Throughout the year, you are encouraged to talk to your physician about what exercise can do to improve your overall health or combat a specific problem.

Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center offers "Fit It In," a program aimed at helping you establish a beneficial exercise routine.