Lifting weights does more than build strong bones. Strength training can also contribute to heart health by building lean muscle mass, which helps to burn extra calories, keep blood sugar in check and improve cholesterol levels.

So it isn’t brain surgery, as the saying goes, but in its own special way it is incredibly therapeutic.

It’s Adopt-a-Patient, an effort supported by Einstein employees to bring a bit of warmth to inpatients throughout the system—during a  time of year when they’re spending their days in hospital beds instead of spending time at home celebrating the holidays.

And by warmth, we don’t mean just an act of kindness—we mean the real thing.

Every year for the past six years, Adopt-a-Patient, managed by Einstein’s Office of Development, has raised funds to provide inpatients with a special gift. Last year, it was a blanket. In this, the seventh year, patients will receive a variation on that theme—a “Hug-Me” blanket, which is a kind of wraparound blanket with sleeves.

 (Ric G. Cuming, RN, MSN, EdD, CNOR, NEA-BC, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, shows one off.)

“It’s not just useful inside and outside the hospital,” says Development Associate Fran Gress. “It’s a metaphor for how we want patients to feel inside and out.”

With holiday season upon us, many people are thinking about getting that first family pet. After all, what lights up a child’s eyes more than their first puppy or kitten?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently launched a revised Healthy Pets Healthy People website, caring for a companion animal has many proven health benefits, including reducing blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness. Pets can also increase opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities.

“The bond between animals and humans is part of our evolution, and it’s very powerful,” says Ann Berger, MD, MSN, a physician and researcher at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Md.

December can be stressful. It often brings extra social and financial obligations. It can cause a breakdown of healthy eating and exercise habits. It can also leave you feeling lonely or depressed. But you and your family can adopt some new traditions that may help ease the season's stress and make your holidays healthy and happy.

Your Physical Health

When the holidays become more than you bargained for, your health can be compromised. And stress can put extra demands on your body. Here are some tips on keeping up your health during the holiday season:

• Don't do too much. Give yourself some time to relax.
• Share the workload. Let everyone play an active role. Make the holidays a family affair so you're not burdened with all the work.
• Set priorities. You can't do everything. Say no to some of the demands on your time.
• Simplify your life. Be less elaborate this year. Relax your housekeeping and holiday preparations.
• Continue to exercise. Don't let your regular routine lapse.
• Eat healthy foods. Limit your consumption of high-fat holiday treats. Serve healthy fare at your family's holiday party.

Diet can make or break your sports performance. Here's how to start eating like a top athlete today.

Think of your body as a high-end luxury car and your food as the gasoline. Your body is a complex of many moving parts, and your body needs premium “gas” to run most efficiently and effectively.

These six amazing foods will keep your engine running:

Quinoa: Quinoa is a gluten-free grain loaded with complex carbohydrates and protein. This special combination of macronutrients makes it perfect for eating both before and after workouts. In one serving (1/2 cup) of quinoa, you’ll also get about half of your daily magnesium intake, which can help support bone and heart health, making it perfect for athletes.

Lyme disease is a particular threat in Pennsylvania this year, because disease-bearing ticks have been found in all of the state’s 67 counties. The State Health Department began an awareness campaign last month, called “Don’t Let a Tick Make You Sick.” Robert Fischer, MD, is doubly qualified to talk about Lyme disease: he’s an infectious disease doc at Einstein Healthcare Network and he once had Lyme disease and didn’t know it.

Dr. Fischer woke up one day years ago “feeling like death warmed over,” he said. He had a severe headache, a fever of 102 and ached all over. Dr. Fischer thought he had the flu or a wicked sinus infection, and he missed several days of work at Einstein.

“After five days, I started feeling better so I went to take a shower,” he said. “As I’m toweling off, I see I have bright red blotches all over my body. At that point, I realized I have Lyme disease.”

And no, he didn’t have a red bulls-eye rash, the symptom that’s been cited as evidence of Lyme. “Typically, it’s a big red blotch,” he said, and only one third of the time does the rash appear to be a bulls-eye.

In the market for a new pair of running shoes, tennis shoes, cross trainers or just plain old sneakers?

The right footwear is essential to an active lifestyle and can help to prevent blisters, calluses and foot, ankle or leg injuries.

These tips can keep you a step ahead:

Shop at Specialty Shoe Stores

There are a host of athletic shoes on the market, with special shoes made for walking, aerobics and running, just to name a few.

In each category, there are shoes made for support, control and pronation needs (if your foot rolls inward or outward).

Finding a comfortable shoe that meets your requirements can be tricky, so it’s best to consult an expert at a specialty athletic shoe store.

The shop’s knowledgeable staff can measure your feet, analyze your gait and recommend certain shoes for your needs.

Einstein Expert Dispels Myths about Diabetes

The National Institutes of Health estimate that diabetes affects 25.8 million people of all ages — represent ing 8.3% of the U.S. population. Seven million within this group are undiagnosed. In Philadelphia, the number of people with diabetes rises to nearly 11%.