Kathy Summers, health, fitness and nutrition writer

Welcome! I write about health, fitness, nutrition and the environment for national consumer magazines and custom publications. My articles entertain, inspire, and inform readers so they can meet life's challenges with healthy and sustainable actions. Of course, sometimes I get so busy writing I forget to follow all the good advice. I also write about extraordinary people living inspired lives--and that inspires me. Please check back often for updates. And tell me what you think. Samples of my work:		About me: My writing has appeared in many national magazines, a few health websites, and five nonfiction books including Hometown Heroes (HarperCollins, 2007). Coming soon: Natural Health Magazine: I enjoyed writing this big feature on how lifestyle choices affect your whole family's health in unexpected ways. It highlights three families who made simple changes to reap big rewards. Look for it in June 2008. Fit Pregnancy Magazine: I wrote my third annual "go green" cover story. This one features three moms who are making the world a little greener in unique ways. Look for it in June 2008. Rodale Books: I recently contributed to Prevention's Symptom Solver and Prevention’s Diabetes-Proof Your Life. Both books will be in bookstores later in 2008. Ghost Writing: I ghost-wrote a bunch of chapters for the sequel to a best-selling book by a prominent doctor. The topic is "green" and "healthy" but I can't tell you more because, shhhh, I'm a ghost! About you: Are you an editor, publisher, agent or communications director with an assignment? Let's talk. Are you a reader with a personal concern or new twist on an old topic that hasn't been covered yet? Tell me about it.
	Lost in Translation Alternative Medicine (Cover Story) In Leaves of Grass Walt Whitman wrote, “I sing the body electric,” and he was right about one thing: The body’s electrical messages to the brain—not the brain itself—color our world. But what if your body’s messages misfire, as they do in children with Sensory Processing Disorder? Then Mozart might sound monstrous, and a barefoot walk in the grass could feel like a walk over ...
	The Path to Endurance Experience Life (cover story) Jim Vranas isn’t the kind of guy who just sits around. The 82-year-old World War II veteran and scientific glassblower (he made the first glass model of the DNA molecule) has always been on the go. That is, until about a month after his retirement 10 years ago. “One morning I got up and tried to put on my socks, and ...
	It's Easy Being Green Fit Pregnancy (Cover Story) During pregnancy, making simple lifestyle changes can lessen your exposure to toxic chemicals. And while the most environmentally correct options may not always seem like the most practical, baby steps add up. Here's how to reduce, reuse, and recycle your way through all three trimesters and ...
	Cities Go Kyoto Alternative Medicine Cities of every type and political stripe are reducing greenhouse gas emissions--even without the US signing the Kyoto treaty. Starting at the local level, where pollution often begins, citizens and city officials are working together to create action plans. You can see it in ...
	Annual Quizzical Pilates Style Does the science of health and wellness leave you feeling confident or confused? To give your health news knowledge a quick check-up, check out this quiz--twenty questions and answers to help you brush up on the latest science in fitness, nutrition, and healthy ...
	Tired? Try Some Sushi Health A common thyroid gland disorder can pile on pounds, sap your energy, and leave you achy, bloated, and moody--all at once. The problem: hypothyroidism, or when you're low on thyroid hormones. Experts now think lifestyle changes--even a little sushi--may help prevent or delay it. If you have warning signs ...