We know there’s a special mother-daughter bond when one generation passes along kitchen wisdom and beloved family recipes to the next. When Lee Clayton Roper’s mother, Sally Clayton, started to suffer from osteoporosis and memory loss, the two embarked on a project to collect and publish their favorites in A Well-Seasoned Kitchen (MLC Publishing, 2009). Originally available only in the Claytons’ home state of Colorado, the book recently has become available in local bookstores stores across the country, and is also available through online retailers. A portion of all sales benefits the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado Chapter. (Photo credit: Courtesy Lee Clayton Roper)

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We’re always fascinated by real-life medical mysteries and stories of survivors who beat the odds. So we’re not surprised that singer-songwriter Jewel wanted to host The Incurables, Veria Living’s TV series that delves into the real-life journeys of patients dealing with chronic — and often life-threatening — illnesses, especially since she has dealt with a few health problems of her own.

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We’re familiar with Anna Deavere Smith from her work on The West Wing and as hospital administrator Gloria Akalitus in Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, and were aware of her accomplishments as a playwright (Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992). So we were excited to hear that she’s bringing her acclaimed one-woman play Let Me Down Easy — an exploration the modern health care system and the way we deal with illness — to Great Performances on PBS Jan. 13 at 9 p.m. ET.

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The yoga community has been abuzz since an article called “How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body” was published Jan. 5 in The New York Times Magazine. The excerpt is from an upcoming book called The Science of Yoga: The Risks and Rewards (Simon & Schuster, 2012), by William J. Broad. The section that ran in the Times looked at the risk and severity of yoga injuries. What stuck with us were the gruesome anecdotes: yoga-induced popped ribs, hip replacements, nerve damage and strokes.

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After seeing Black Friday reports of pepper spray, looting and brawls, we weren’t surprised to hear that 87 percent of Americans report stress while holiday shopping. About 55 percent say that driving-related issues, such as navigating traffic and finding parking, are among the top stressors. So we’re happy to report that Ford is offering a Hands-Free Holiday Giveaway, which promises an escape from the stresses of the season. Through Dec. 23, simply submit a foolproof way to escape holiday stress on the contest Facebook page, and you could win an American Express $25 gift card.

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We recently had the opportunity to hear integrative physician Andrew Weil, M.D., author of the new book Spontaneous Happiness (Little, Brown and Co., 2011), speak about the toll that the 21st century’s frenetic pace takes on the body and brain. For one thing, overstimulation leads to increased production of the “stress hormone” cortisol, interfering with memory formation and leaving us anxious and upset — feelings that can be amplified by December’s holiday crowds and the pressure to make merry. To reclaim your sense of control over holiday madness, Weil recommends a simple breathing exercise.

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Today is the Great American Smokeout, but smokers won’t get any preaching from us. We know how annoying nagging can be — especially when you’re trying to quit and on edge already. Kicking the habit is one of the hardest things we’ve ever done. So we just want give a virtual pat on the back and a vote of confidence to those who are quitting today and share some tips and tools from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and American Lung Association.

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We recently learned that one in six Americans is affected by a brain or nervous system disorder — an estimated 50 million — according to the American Academy of Neurology (AAN). We personally know people affected by the most well-known disorders: Alzheimer’s, migraines, autism, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, ALS and stroke. The annual Neuro Film Festival, a short-film competition to raise awareness about neurological disorders and the importance of research, is an inspiring call to action.

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We knew “the talk” was coming when our mothers determinedly entered our rooms, clutching a copy of a certain book. As we leafed recently through the updated version of Our Bodies, Ourselves (Touchstone, 2011), first published in 1971, we no longer saw it as a bellwether of impending adolescent embarrassment but now as a rich, reliable, multi-layered resource, helpful to women no matter where they are on the reproductive spectrum.

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Of all the events and fundraisers held every October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we look forward most to Les Girls cabaret, where Hollywood stars put on a saucy musical show to raise money and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Coalition. The 11th annual revue on Oct. 17 raked in $450,000 from ticket sales, pledges and silent auction bids, bringing the NBCC that much closer to its goal of ending breast cancer by 2020.

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