Bad Habits That are Good for You

Katie's Take The midlife crisis has become a pop culture catchphrase, we have seen it depicted in books and movies: middle aged men buying flashy cars or women dating younger men. But does the concept of a midlife crisis actually exist? Psychologist Susan Kraus Whitbourne talked with Katie Couric to debunk the myth of the …

Katie's Take A positive pregnancy test will change the lives of expecting parents forever, and the journey can seem overwhelming. Pregnant women can be bombarded with advice and are given endless options for resources on maternity dos and don’ts. To help us navigate the prenatal voyage, Katie talked with Alison Bernstein, …

Katie's Take We may have all sought the Fountain of Youth at one point or another. But it may be easier to find than you may think. Chief Health and Medical Editor for ABC News, Dr. Richard Besser, met with Katie Couric to share some simple tips on living a long and full life. It [...]

Katie's Take Taking a seat in the dentist chair goes far beyond maintaining a healthy smile. Our mouths are the gateways to our bodies and can tell us more about our health than we may think. A dentist can detect nearly 120 medical conditions in their early stages. Dr. Jonathan Levine, an oral health expert [...]

Katie's Take March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Katie Couric wants you to get screened! After losing her husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer in 1998, Couric co-founded The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. …

Katie's Take If you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, you are not alone. But there may be time slipping through your fingers that you can get back each day. All you need is a little organization. On average, people waste around 40% of their workday due to poor organization. To help [...]

Katie's Take “Sit up straight!” A meme that is easier said than done! But the benefits of straightening up can have a lasting effect on our bodies and minds. Katie Couric sat down with Tara Stiles, named “Yoga Rebel” by the New York Times and owner of Strala Yoga, to talk about how simple stretches [...]

Katie's Take It’s a delicate time – if not every parent’s worst nightmare - when a child enters puberty. Not only are their bodies changing physically, but hormones are raging and bad moods are in full swing. Katie Couric spoke with Dr. Barbara Greenberg, parenting expert and clinical psychologist, all about how parents …

Katie's Take You know the saying, "Everything in moderation." It turns out that may be true for our bad habits, as well. I spoke to Dr. Ryan Fuller, a clinical psychologist, about the positive impact some of our bad habits may have if we keep some control over them. For example, I'm a procrastinator. Always [...]

Katie's Take It’s Monday morning, and the day begins with a moment of panic. “Where are my keys?” As the search begins, the clock is ticking and you're already late for work. After turning over pillows, opening drawers and even checking the trash can, you find them in your bag…where they've been all along. As [...]

Katie's Take Remember those old commercials for Lubriderm, "See you later, alligator?" The wintertime has many of us feeling a bit reptilian, dry and flaky. All that cold, dry air is the culprit. I spoke to Dr. Lisa Airan, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist practicing in New York City, whose remedies provide a soft …

Katie's Take When the typical cough or cold strikes, the average person can recognize how to ease the pain, but what about when it comes to more serious health issues? Not everyone can think like a doctor, which is why a checkup is necessary every now and then. Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Senior Medical Contributor at [...]

Katie's Take It’s a new year and whether that means you’re in the middle of a career change, seeking a promotion at work or debating starting a new business, Laura Fredricks, author, speaker and the Expert on The Ask sits down with Katie as she talks about the top “New Year, New You” questions you [...]

Katie's Take These days, most Americans spend about an hour choosing a doctor, less time than we spend choosing a car or a refrigerator. Dr. Archelle Georgiou, Physician and Strategic advisor to HealthGrades.com, says that most times, people confuse convenience with quality. When looking for a doctor, many people just wonder …

Katie's Take Acupuncture may be an ancient Chinese practice, but it's only been in the U.S. since the 1970s, and most of us probably don't fully understand what it is or how it works.  In other words, what's the point? (Get it?) While it's still considered an "alternative" form of medicine, it's gaining acceptance in [ …

Katie's Take Somewhere between Edith and Archie Bunker and June and Ward Cleaver you'll find all the rest of American couples.  Not fighting constantly, but not on a permanent honeymoon, either. The average couple argues 312 times a year.  Sometimes it's about big things like money and child raising, but most of the time …

Katie's Take Between parties, family get-togethers and, for many of us, lots of travel, it's no wonder people are prone to gaining weight during the holiday season. In fact, Americans gain, on average, between one to two pounds from Thanksgiving and Christmas!  I spoke to fitness and Pilates expert Brooke Siler to get a …

Katie's Take We've all heard the statistics.  Half of all marriages end in divorce, and that number rises to 67% for second marriages. But before you're singing that old country song "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," what are the telltale signs that your love is on the rocks, and how can you fix the problem before it's too late? [...]

Katie's TakeIf you've ever been skittish about trying online dating, here's a statistic that might help you take the plunge: 17% of marriages this year began on the Internet. In fact, at least 40 million Americans have tried online dating. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're all doing it correctly, so we got a few …

Katie's Take Stress is an inevitable part of everyone's life and while many of us just grin and bear it, there is, in fact, a science behind stress …and, believe it or not, we actually need small doses of it to function. I spoke to Cindy Ackrill, who is from the American Institute of Stress [...]

Katie's Take It seems like every grocery store has a shelf (or several) of gluten free products these days.  It turns out roughly three million Americans suffer from Celiac disease, a disorder which makes it difficult to digest gluten…a protein component found in certain grains. To learn more about the symptoms and consequences …

Katie's Take Some friendships last a lifetime, but the truth is most don't.  In fact, the average friendship only lasts seven years. I sat down with psychologist and friendship expert Dr. Irene Levine, author of "Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup with Your Best Friend," for some tips on how to make an "unfriending" …

Katie's Take As any parent of a high school senior knows, 'tis the season for college applications.  I went through the process once with Ellie and will again next year with Carrie.  Time flies! Turns out college admissions are more competitive than ever.  A million more students are applying compared to 20 years ago, and …

Katie's Take At what age should you start to teach your kids about money and personal finance? The truth is, it's never too early.  These are critical skills that we all need, but they aren't a part of the curriculum at most schools which is why it is important for parents to instill good habits [...]

Katie's Take What role can parents play in helping their child succeed in the classroom? I asked education expert Carol Davis, who says parental involvement is fundamental to a child's education and it's all about striking the right balance and establishing a partnership with teachers early on. Numerous studies have shown …

Katie's Take The dating world can be tough for anybody, but dating as a single parent presents some unique challenges. Martine Byer is a psychotherapist and author of "Sex and the Single Parent," and she sat down with me to talk through all the ins and outs of these potentially tricky waters.  First, she discusses [... …

Katie's Take Remember that old song by the Carpenters, "Rainy Days and Mondays?"  Sometimes feeling down or experiencing a case of the blues can be chalked up to a bad day, but sometimes it's something more serious. Psychotherapist Dr. Ellen McGrath defines depression as a mood disorder that is biological, psychological …

Katie's Take When should you start planning for your retirement? The answer is…yesterday.  In short, it's never too early to save for the future. Unfortunately, a third of all Americans don't even have a savings account and just 23% of people under age 29 have a retirement plan. Alexa von Tobel, CEO of the personal [.. …