Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.
If you happen to be the guardian (I hate the word "owner") of an animal, go to your kitchen and check the calories on the nutrition facts label for his food. I'll wait.

Back already? Surprise: There was no such nutrition facts label, was there? In fact, manufacturers never put the caloric content on the label of dog food or cat food. They do, however, tell you how many cups or cans to feed your animal companion, and guess what -- it's always more than they need. I think the exact same thing is going on with us two-legged folks.

Volunteering at our local Humane Society and caring for a room full of rescued cats is keeping me and my little boys plenty busy and happy this summer. It may also be helping our hearts.

Researchers have found a correlation between cat ownership and a decreased risk of deadly heart disease. While we don't own our very own cat, we do engage in many of the tasks that cat owners practice. And so maybe, if we're lucky and keep at our community service project, we'll enjoy a 40% lower risk of one day dying from a cardiovascular condition.

Caring for cats can make you more energetic and happy, say researchers. I believe it. My seven-year-old is very content while petting, brushing, and loving the cats we visit. And while having any pet companion is good for both physical and emotional health, it seems cats do the trick better than dogs do. Maybe it's because there are more cats owned in the United States -- there are 90 million compared to 74.8 dogs. Makes sense. There are 90 some cats in our Humane Society cat room. There were about 10 dogs last time we visited. Clearly, there's more cat work to be done.

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It seems that just about everything in this world can hurt us. We are inundated with reports about the dangers of every possible disease, diet, behavior, and cataclysmic event known to man. And, these reports of danger oddly seem to come just after hearing reports that the opposite of that danger is actually the real danger. It can all quickly become quite convoluted and a bit overwhelming, really. Thankfully, there's new research out of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis that suggests a very straightforward way to reduce at least one of our risks.

Based on a study on the effects of pet ownership on heart health, researchers discovered that you can cut your chances of suffering a myocardial infarction by as much as 30 percent just by taking care of a cat. The finding, from a 10-year study of more than 4,300 Americans, suggests that pets are a great means of stress release for their owners. In fact, one study presented in 2005 at a meeting for the American Heart Association meeting revealed that a single 12-minute visit with a dog improved the heart and lung function of people with known heart problems.

If you're interested in finding a pet that's in need of a good home, and in reducing your risk of health problems in the process, click here to be taken to a nationwide directory of animal shelters.

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I'm all about helping my family follow a healthy diet, and by family, I mean everyone, including my dogs. I make an effort to buy a high quality dog food, do the vet visits as needed, and keep them free from fleas and heartworms. I like to treat them as well, and I often bring home treats from the neighborhood doggy bakery, and have been known to bake up some doggy biscuits for special occasions.

However, when it comes to my dogs' daily meals, I think I have to draw the line at preparing it myself. I came across a section in All Recipes where they list a number of different recipes for homemade pet food, such as Doggy Meatloaf with Vegetables and Poochie Meat Cakes (both of which take longer to prepare and bake than many of the things I make for the humans in my family).

What do you think? Does homemade dog food cross the line, or is it a great option for pet owners who wish to have more input in their dogs nutrition?

(If you do opt to make a change in your pet's diet, please discuss it with your vet to ensure your furry friend will receive the proper nutrition!)

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The health benefits of pet ownership are well-documented -- lower blood pressure and less stress among them. But not everyone is able to keep a pet. Allergies, lifestyle, and restrictions on pet ownership in living spaces can prevent animal lovers from having a pet of their own.

In Tokyo, it's especially hard to keep a pet. The market for apartments is competitive, and landlords are increasingly banning pets from their properties. But a new cafe allows people to reap the benefits that pets can offer, without all the hassles that pet ownership can bring. At the Calico Cafe, customers can drink coffee, order snacks, and shop for a variety of goodies, all while enjoying a cuddle and a purr from the stores many cats.

Would a similar business be popular in the U.S? What do you think?

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The majority of Americans have, or have had, a pet as part of their family. Studies have shown that having pets can be really good for your health (lowering heart rate and reducing blood pressure and cholesterol) but pets, like all animals, can also carry disease. If you don't take the right precautions you and your family could end up getting really sick. The very old, the very young, pregnant women, and anybody with a compromised immune system are at the most risk, but anybody could catch any number of nasty things. Here are a few pointers for avoiding pet-related illnesses:

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Fellow pet lovers know the joy that a animal can bring to your life. Whether it's a dog, cat, or less popular but equally loved animal, pet ownership has been shown to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve quality of life. Some people even claim that their dogs have helped them to lose weight. What else can a pet do for your health and well-being? According to eDiets:

• A dog can help you feel more secure on your daily walk.
• Pets help children develop higher self-esteem and build confidence.
• Kids who own pets are generally more involved in activities like hobbies, chores, and sports.
• People who suffer from heart disease and own pets have longer survival rates than those who are pet-free.
• Seniors who own pets tend to be more active and need less medication.
• Pets -- especially dogs -- may help you be more social.

(Of course, pets are also a huge commitment, requiring time, energy, patience, and money. So running out to get a pet when you aren't at a place in your life where you can care for one will only increase your (and your pet's) stress levels.)
What about you? How has your pet improved your well-being?

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Fortunately for THIS LADY, being allergic to cats is not a problem (although living in a house filled with 130 cats clearly is). However, it turns out that even if you're not allergic to cats, their dander can still cause some breathing difficulties for people with asthma and other types of allergies.

A European study found that the dried skin and shed fur of cats, which is basically what makes up dander, can cause breathing problems in people who don't have feline allergies. If you happen to have such similar symptoms around cats, the obvious solutions would be to just stay away from cats. Also, closing your windows may be a good idea if your neighbor is a cat owner, as dander can travel from their home to yours.

Now, go enjoy the clip I linked to above, will ya!! 130 cats??? That's just ridiculous. It looks like a cat mosh pit in that house!!

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I don't think it's any surprise anymore that pets can be a great thing for the health of older adults, especially seniors living alone. But for those on restricted incomes (and that's quite a few) the cost of owning a pet can simply be too much. But the Humane Society in Colorado Springs, CO is making a difference in the lives of pets and people through a program called The Senior Citizens Pet Companionship Program. The program not only does the obvious of matching up seniors with happy companionship animals as new pets, but it gives them an annual allowance to help offset the costs of caring for them.

One 77 year old woman named Joan lost almost 40 pounds, stabilized her diabetes, and feels happier and less lonely since adopting a little Jack Russell Terrier named Monty through the program. Now doesn't hearing a story like that just give you the warm fuzzies?

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There is definitely a difference between good stress and bad stress, and the way that you handle the bad stress will often determine if you're happy, healthy and generally well-balanced or worried, depressed and edgy. Obviously we all handle the various stresses related to work and family life differently, but have you ever wondered just how well you deal with stress?

This quick quiz aims to give everyone an idea of their stress style, or how well they handle stressful situations. I scored an 18, which puts me at the bottom of the 'Control Freak' category. Apparently, my fellow control freaks and I find that the best way to deal with stress is to do whatever we can to control the situation. Those with the lowest scores are labeled "Cool Cats", and are possible the best at dealing with stress as they take things in stride and make plans to deal with demands.

Finally, there's the "Nervous Nelly" who manages stressful situations by finding distractions. When something comes up, nervous nelly's will often deal by going for a run, eating, upping their caffeine consumption and getting tense. If you'd like more information on each of the stress styles, as well as ideas on how to better deal with stress based on your type, take the quiz here.

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Pets have been shown time and time again to benefit people's wellbeing by helping to lower stress, relieve anxiety, and even boost our immunity. In a nutshell, here are some of the great things our furry friends do for our health:

• Dogs and cats are allergy fighters. Studies have shown that children who grow up in households with pets have a reduced risk of developing allergies and asthma.
• Dogs are date magnets. This is not one I would have guessed would be on this list, but it's true that dogs are natural conversation starters and can help people find new friendships and relationships.
• Pets greatly benefit the aged. Whether it's a dog getting an elderly person out for a short walk or a cat curling up on the lap of an Alzheimers patient, studies have shown that animals have a way of improving the quality of life (and sometimes the length of life!) for older adults.
• Pets are good for their owner's mental and spiritual health. People with debilitating diseases and high stress jobs have been shown to suffer less depression and lower blood pressure when they own and love a pet, and petting your cat or dog has been shown to release positive and calming brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.
• Pets benefit your heart. Not only do pet owners generally have fewer symptoms and risk factors for heart disease (like cholesterol) but also people who do suffer heart attacks tend to survive longer afterwards if they're pet owners.

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I've never been a big cat person. They've always creeped me out just a little bit -- like they know something that I don't.

And given this news, it appears that my fears aren't completely unfounded.

Oscar the Cat, who lives at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence, Rhode Island, can sense -- within hours -- when someone is about to die. Oscar's sense is so accurate, in fact, that when he curls up for an extended visit with a resident, Steere House staff make begin making preparations to call the family and take care of the body.

Though no one knows exactly why Oscar can tell when someone is about die, most suspect there's some biochemical explanation. Regardless, the fact that he's there is a comfort to patients and their families.

So maybe cats aren't that creepy after all.

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I am incredibly allergic to cats. They make me sneeze, my skin gets red and itchy when they rub up against me, and -- worst of all -- they seem determined to snuggle with me.

According to recent research, it seems my allergies may stem from exposure to cats at an early age. A German study has found that children who come in contact with higher levels of cat allergen before age 2 may be more allergic later in life.

Although, by age 6, this no longer seemed to be an issue.

However, researchers were quick to point out that -- regardless of age -- family history is the strongest indicator of whether or not your child will end up allergic to cats or other animals. The good news is, that even if you come from a family prone to cat allergies, you may be able to prevent, or reduce these reactions by keeping cats out of your home until your child is a little older.

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Earlier this year I was absolutely thrilled when the city I live in finally joined almost every other city in North America -- and some of Europe -- and banned smoking in public places including pubs, bars and nightclubs. As a non-smoker, not only did I hate breathing in toxins secondhand but I also couldn't stand coming home and having my clothes and hair reek of smoke. Even many of the people I know who do smoke supported the ban for similar reasons. It's one thing to smoke, but its another to be surrounded by it.

I thought the bans seemed like a positive move all around. However news out of the UK claims that one group could be seriously harmed by smoking bans -- namely the pets of smokers. Apparently dogs and cats suffer just as much from secondhand smoke as humans and can wind up with the same diseases. The worry is that since people can no longer smoke in public places, they'll get their fix at home much more often.

So for anyone out there who smokes and has a beloved pet, think about them before lighting up. If you refuse to smoke around your kids, why not treat your animals with the same respect. Or better yet, give quitting a try because in the end everyone will be better off!

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Recently I posted about a Finnish study that suggested that cat and dog owners are more likely to be obese than their petless counterparts. After nearly 100 comments in which I was politely, and, at times, very unpolitely chastised for reporting this "offensive" position, I've learned one thing: people really love their pets.

In keeping with the theme of love, and hopeful reconciliation between myself and dog owners everywhere, I'd like to respectfully bring your attention to the Big Dog/Big Loser contest. From January 18th to April 12th, Dr. Anne Chauvet from the Pet Rehab and Performance Center is hosting a competition between 10 obese dogs all trying to get rid of the puppy fat. By following the competition, pet owners of all sizes can get the info they need to whip Fido into shape.

Because remember, a healthy loved one is the gift that keeps on giving.

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