Health,Medical,Wellness,Medicine

Get the Look: Reese Witherspoon on the Tennis Courts

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 02:08:13 +0000

Inject some bright fun into your Spring tennis wardrobe by taking a cue from Reese Witherspoon , who continued her resolve to stay fit during her pregnancy with a game of tennis earlier this week. Shop a similar look below! From top: Babolat Aeropro Plus GT Tennis Racquet ($189); Asics black racerback top ($24); Nike Victory Shape Sports Bra ($42); K-Swiss Front Pleat Skirt ($55); K-Swiss Bigshot tennis shoes ($125); Adidas Woman’s Elite Hat ($20).

Be Wary of Chemicals: The Safest Sunscreens on the Market

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:42:05 +0000

It’s hard enough to remember to put on sunscreen when you leave the house, but now you also need to make sure your sunscreen is safe to use. The Environmental Working Group has just released its 2012 Sunscreen Guide , and in order to make the list, a sunscreen must be free of oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate, not have an SPF above 50, and must be broad spectrum (protects against both UVA and UVB rays). What’s wrong with oxybenzone? Although it does a great job of absorbing ultraviolet rays, some studies show that it can be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream. The Environmental Working Group and toxicology experts believe this can disrupt hormones, damage cells, and potentially lead to skin cancer. Other experts disagree, like the American Academy of Dermatology, and oxybenzone has been FDA-approved since 1978 for use in children older than 6 months. Keep reading to find out what else you need to consider when buying sunscreen, and for a list of the safest sunscreens on the market.

Excerpt from:
Be Wary of Chemicals: The Safest Sunscreens on the Market

Victoria’s Secret Model Erin Heatherton’s "Golden Combination" For Staying in Bikini Shape

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:38:00 +0000

Erin Heatherton is the face of VSX , the fitness line from Victoria’s Secret. She models swimsuits for the company too, and with bikini season fast approaching, we sat down with the athletic model to learn her secrets for staying fit. Watch the video to learn what Erin considers the perfect workout and what she eats on cheat days.

Read the original:
Victoria’s Secret Model Erin Heatherton’s "Golden Combination" For Staying in Bikini Shape

Healthy Dose Link Time: How to Take Care of Your Body When You Overindulge

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:16:05 +0000

Go a little crazy with the cookie jar? Tips for everyday indulging – Real Simple Check out what the first lady grooves to while working out – HuffPost Healthy Living Have your cake and eat it too! Strange diet methods that really work – Shape Cool down this weekend with these immune-boosting healthy smoothies – Prevention From Rihanna to Jennifer Lawrence, see how the stars get in action-hero shape – Self 6 wonderful reasons to challenge yourself with ashtanga yoga – Mind Body Green Get crackin’! 5 ways to eat with egg whites – Fit Bottomed Girls A CrossFit-inspired workout you can do just about anywhere – Peanut Butter Fingers

Read the original post:
Healthy Dose Link Time: How to Take Care of Your Body When You Overindulge

Drinking Coffee, Decaf or Not, Has Health Benefits

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:51:01 +0000

The benefits and risks of coffee are often debated, but a new study has found that coffee drinkers may be better off sticking to that cup of joe: in fact, having two cups of coffee a day may just help you live longer – even if it’s decaf. The latest coffee study followed 400,000 healthy older men and women and is the largest study to ever look at the benefits and risks of coffee. Of the study group, 42,000 did not drink any coffee, about 15,000 drank more than six cups a day, and the remaining study participants averaged two to three cups. After following the group for almost two decades, researchers found that those who drank coffee lived longer than those who didn’t; men who drank two to three cups of coffee were 10 percent less likely to die at any age, and women who drank the same amount were 13 percent less likely to die at any age. The biggest risk reduction was seen in women who drank four to five cups a day. The findings aren’t a reason to force yourself to drink coffee; after all, the benefits are small, and too much caffeine can make you feel wired, anxious, or irritable, and may increase your risk of heart conditions. But the good news is that the study didn’t find any differences between drinking decaf and regular coffee, so if you’re a coffee fan but hate that wired feeling you get when you drink too much, have a cup of decaf in the afternoon - it just may help you live longer. (And if you don’t like coffee, there’s always green tea !)

See the original post:
Drinking Coffee, Decaf or Not, Has Health Benefits

Bad Choices You’re Making With Healthy Foods

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:02:33 +0000

We have the best intentions when we choose healthy foods to nosh on. But eat them the wrong way, and you could be missing out on valuable nutrients or getting more calories than you bargained for. Here are six good-for-you foods commonly eaten in not-so-healthy ways. Source: Thinkstock and Flickr user stevendepolo View Slideshow ›

High-Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Stupid, Omega-3s Make You Smart

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:56:36 +0000

As if you needed another reminder to stop eating processed foods: a new study has found that foods high in high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) can make you stupid . But there’s good news, too: eating foods high in omega-3s can help combat loss of brain function. The study looked at different groups of rats that had been trained on a maze. After a few days on the maze, some of the rats were fed an HFCS-sweetened solution as their drinking water for six weeks, with some also receiving a diet high in omega-3s. After the diet, the rats were tested on how well they could recall the maze. The researchers found that the rats who ate the omega-3 diet were faster at completing the maze than the other rats, whether or not they were also given HFCS. Not only that, but the rats given the HFCS and not omega-3s were the slowest at completing the maze, and their brains showed a decline in activity and memory function. This latest lab study is yet more evidence that processed foods can mess with our minds (other studies, for example, have linked fast food to depression ) and that a diet high in omega-3s can help protect your brain from aging and mental decline. Ready to swap that fast-food burger for a mind-sharpening meal instead? Here’s a list of vegan sources of omega-3s and five staples of the omega-3-rich Mediterranean diet .

Here is the original:
High-Fructose Corn Syrup Makes You Stupid, Omega-3s Make You Smart

How to Turn Your Freezer Into Your Best Weight-Loss Tool

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:25:04 +0000

Open most people’s freezers and you’re likely to see a pint of ice cream and TV dinners. While these foods may be freezer staples, they’re not helping you on your quest to lose weight. But, when used right, the freezer is the perfect weight-loss tool for you. Source: Flickr User dobrych and Flickr User armigeress View Slideshow ›

More:
How to Turn Your Freezer Into Your Best Weight-Loss Tool

Overlooked and Underappreciated: How to Use the Rowing Machine

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:25:42 +0000

The rowing machine can be intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it’s an effective way to spice up your cardio routine. But while the rowing machine, also called an ergometer, is a calorie buster (about 280 calories in 30 minutes for an 130-pound woman) and a good leg and core workout, improper form can lead to back injuries if you’re not careful. Read on for our tips on proper rowing form. Before you start, there are a few things to note about using the rowing machine. Make sure you wear formfitting clothes, otherwise you risk getting fabric caught in it while working out. Don’t set the resistance too high – experienced rowers generally use the rowing machine at 3-5 during their workouts, so setting the machine at 2 or 3 is perfect for a beginner. Keep your strokes per minute somewhere in the low- to mid-20s as well. There are different ways to measure your workout, so use the change display button on your machine to track your strokes per minute, calories burned, kilometers traveled, or your split (how many minutes it takes you to travel 500 meters). Beginning Position For your first row, set the resistance low while you figure out your form, then slowly ramp it up on subsequent rows. Secure your feet on the pads with the straps tight enough so your feet don’t move around as you slide. Bring your knees up and slide to the top of the machine. Grab the handle using an overhand grip, but don’t hold too tightly. Pull the handle with you as you slide to the end of the machine. Your legs should be straight, but knees should still have a slight bend in them so they aren’t locked. Lean back slightly and pull your hands up to your chest, holding the handle so it is right below your breasts, with elbows pointing down against your sides. This is the position where you should begin your workout, and it’s also your ending position once you complete a full stroke (see below). Keep reading for the rest of our tips for proper rowing machine form.

Office Weight-Loss Tip: Set Up an Eating Schedule

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:21:07 +0000

Busy nine-to-fivers have schedules that don’t leave much wiggle room for anything but work. Getting wrapped up in a project often leads to skipped snacks and meals. A growling stomach, headache, and fuzzy brain make you realize you should have eaten lunch an hour ago, and since you’re famished, you reach for the first (and probably not-so-healthy) food you can get your hungry hands on. Prevent work weight gain and keep your productivity levels high by setting up a schedule for snacks and meals. After having breakfast at home, here’s a basic schedule you can follow once you reach the office. 9:30: Morning snack 12:00: Lunch 3:30: Afternoon snack Be sure to eat breakfast a couple hours before your morning snack and dinner a couple hours after your afternoon snack. Adjust the schedule to meet your needs and stick to it. (It may help to set up reminders on your computer or phone so you don’t forget.) Before heading to work, prepare healthy snacks - like these 150-calorie DIY snack packs – and lunches -here are some tasty vegetarian sandwiches – so you can avoid grabbing greasy fast food or that homemade brownie your co-worker brought in. An eating schedule may seem a little too rigid (or like you’re back in elementary school), but planning ahead is the best way to keep you on the healthy eating path. Source: Flickr User SweetOnVeg

See the original post here:
Office Weight-Loss Tip: Set Up an Eating Schedule