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 Healthy Mom - Matters of the Heart |
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By: Rachel Rabkin Pechman,
Women with chest pain are less likely than men to be treated for a heart attack by paramedics, says a University of Pennsylvania study. Why? Mainly because they have different heart attack symptoms. To protect yourself, learn these signs of heart problems in women:
• Pain or tightness on ...
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| Featured Articles |
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Boost Cell Safety  |
| You’re racking up the minutes on your mobile phone—conference calls for work, playdate plans, gossip with the girls. But is that safe? Maybe not, according ... |
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| Avoid a "Mac"cident |
| Move over, carpal tunnel. Computer-related cuts, bruises and even head injuries that resulted in trips to the ER increased by a whopping 732 percent from ...
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| Good Vibrations |
| If all you have in your sock drawer is, um, socks, you may be missing out. Using a vibrator (both during intercourse and solo) is ... |
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| Beat Belly Bloat | |
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Flat tummy tips
Drink Water
Surprisingly, water actually helps flush extra fluid from your body (especially useful when you’ve got PMS). Try adding lemon, since citrus is thought to soothe your stomach.
Skip the Soda
Avoid carbonated beverages as much as possible. All the bubbles in your glass make their way ...
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| Lower Your Colorectal Cancer Risk | |
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An ounce of prevention
Colorectal cancer isn’t just for grandparents anymore. The incidence of the disease shot up 28 percent among white women ages 20 to 49, according to a study published by researchers at the American Cancer Society comparing data from 1992–95 and 2002–05. Talk to your doctor about early screening (before age ...
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| Spotlight on...Folic Acid | |
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Update on a vital nutrient
January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month—are you getting enough folic acid? Long known to reduce the risk of spinal birth defects in fetuses, the right amount of folic acid is essential if there’s a chance you could become pregnant. Experts recommend that all women of childbearing age get at ...
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| Holiday Overload | |
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Stress relief for the "most wonderful" time of the year
Decking the halls, shopping the malls, fielding the mother-in-law calls. Is it any wonder your goodwill toward mankind is a little lacking? To help you focus on the happiness of the holidays, Carol Kauffman, PhD, director of the Institute of Coaching at Harvard Medical School, offers these stress-relieving strategies.
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| Stay Slimmer at the Office | |
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A little effort goes a long way
Few working moms have time to pack a homemade salad and go to the gym during lunch. But, luckily, you don’t need a major overhaul to be healthier. Even small changes at work can help, says a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine . Researchers found ...
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| Winter Skin Saver | |
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Soothing solutions
Cooler weather is great for many things—cute sweaters, a snuggle fest with the kids, roaring fires. It is not, however, great for your skin. Going from whipping winds to indoor heat can leave you feeling dry and flaky. November is National Healthy Skin Month; celebrate with this easy routine from ...
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| Is Your Java Jolt Legit? | |
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Is coffee energy psychological?
You’re useless in the morning until you get a cup of caffeine into your system. Or are you? The kick you believe you get from coffee may be all in your head, according to a recent study published in the journal Psychopharmacology . Researchers from the University of Vermont College ...
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| Beat Back Pain | |
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Non-invasive therapies that work
Whether you’re slouching at your desk or giving piggyback rides, your back takes a beating every day. Acupuncture and similar treatments can help to relieve chronic back pain, according to a recent study published in Archives of Internal Medicine . Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD, lead author of the study, filled ...
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| Twitter Yourself Trim | |
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High-tech health helpers
If you’re only using social networking sites to spy on your high school crush, you may be missing out on a weight-loss weapon. These sites can drive you to drop pounds faster, says Stefanie Barthmare, a psychotherapist with the Methodist Weight Management Center in Houston.
Facebook
Create a support ...
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| Soda Addiction | |
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Soft drink news
If you find yourself running to the vending machine for cola fixes throughout the workday, you may want to kick the habit—and fast. Two new studies link drinking regular soda with increased health risks in women. Women who down two or more cans per day are almost twice as likely ...
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| Get Fit with Fido | |
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Another reason why dogs rule
A dog may be man’s best friend, but this furry family member can be mom’s best workout buddy. “Dogs are great exercise partners and stress relievers,” says Dawn A. Marcus, MD, author of Fit as Fido: Follow Your Dog to Better Health . Research suggests that owning a canine can ...
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| Keep Your Computer Clean | |
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Healthy workplace
You’re meticulous about hand washing in the office, but according to a University of Arizona researcher, you might not realize that the typical desktop, keyboard and computer mouse harbor far more bacteria than the average toilet seat. Gross! To guard your health and your hardware, try SpillSeal Washable Corded Antibacterial ...
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| Prevent PDA Pain | |
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Work & Health
BlackBerrys may make it easier to email your boss from the sidelines of your child’s soccer game, but all that tiny-keyboard typing can cause finger, hand and wrist pain. What to do? It might be tricky, but instead of always holding the PDA in two hands and typing with both ...
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| Save Your Scalp | |
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Beauty Buzz
Prepping for a day at the beach with kids includes packing cool drinks, heaving umbrellas into the trunk and slathering sunscreen onto wiggling little bodies. It’s no surprise, then, that you might forget something as you finally smear some SPF on yourself—your scalp. “It’s important to protect the top of ...
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| Sugar Addict | |
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Ounce of prevention
Ever feel like you might need a 12-step program for your sugar habit? Well, you may be onto something. Researchers at Princeton University found that when hungry rats regularly binged on large amounts of sugar, their brains underwent chemical changes similar to those caused by abuse of substances like nicotine, ...
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| Sticky Chicken Drumsticks | |
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From our new 5-ingredient recipe series!
The kids can help you shake up the ingredients before you make this easy recipe from chef Curtis Stone, author of Relaxed Cooking with Curtis Stone: Recipes to Put You in My Favorite Mood .
1/4 cup soy sauce
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup honey
12 chicken ...
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| The Açaà Berry | |
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The latest superfood
You’ve probably heard enough about the healthy antioxidants in blueberries and pomegranates to make you, well, berry bored. But now there’s a noteworthy addition to your fruits-with-benefits list: açai. (pronounced ah-sigh-ee), a purple Brazilian berry that’s popping up in packaged foods, drinks and, recently, beauty products. its antioxidants, protein and ...
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| Music for Heart Health | |
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Did you know that good tunes may help your ticker?
Whether you prefer to blast Beyoncé or sway to Sinatra, your iPod could be the key to improving your heart health, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. When study participants listened to music that made them feel good, their blood vessels expanded by ...
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| Mood Booster | |
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Why happiness is contagious
If you’re happy and you know it, pass it on. In a study that analyzed the happiness of nearly 5,000 individuals over 20 years, researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego, found that joy is a collective phenomenon that spreads through social networks. One person’s ...
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| Are You a Cyberchondriac? | |
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High tech tools can be a mixed blessing
If you’re convinced your headache is a brain tumor or those stomachaches mean you’ve got cancer, chances are you’ve been spending too much time surfing medical sites. “Though the Web has an abundance of medical information, it has the potential to increase anxieties,” explains Eric Horvitz, PhD, MD, principal researcher ...
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| What to Expect When You're Expecting and Working | |
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New title focuses on being pregnant and on the job
At last—a book just for the working mom-to-be! The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book , by Marjorie Greenfield, MD, offers health advice for those pregnant on the job. It answers an array of questions such as:
How do I handle first-trimester queasiness on the job? Assemble an Early Pregnancy Relief ...
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| Grape Expectations | |
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The low-down on this nutritional superstar
Grapes, in their many forms (fruit, raisins and oh, yeah, wine!) provide plenty of health benefits, but now there’s yet another reason to love these vine-picked treats: They’re heart smart. Researchers at the University of Michigan (UM) compared rats who ate a combination of green, red and black grapes as ...
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| Your Brain on Exercise | |
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Yet another great reason to get a move on
Breaking a sweat is good for your waistline and your work, according to researchers at Leeds Metropolitan University in the U.K. in their study, six out of ten people said that their time management skills, mental performance and ability to meet deadlines improved on days when they were physically active. ...
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| At-Home Stress-Busting | |
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DIY spa-quality treatments
A day at the spa sounds blissful, but these days it may be stressful on for your budget. Beauty companies feel your pain and are coming to the rescue with an array of affordable goodies to help you indulge in the comfort of your own home. Some of our favorites: ...
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| Wrist Relief | |
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Steps for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome
Logging hours of computer time is not only bad for your back and eyes—it can also wreak havoc on your wrists, because bending them during repetitive motions like typing puts pressure on a nerve that can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. To soothe symptoms like pain, numbness and tingling in fingers, ...
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| Recession-Proof Your Mood | |
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Women and stress
No doubt you’re concerned about the unsteady state of the economy. Who isn’t? But it seems that it’s a bigger stress factor for women than for men. The American Psychological Association’s (APA) recent Stress in America survey shows that 84 percent of women are anxious about the economy, compared with ...
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| Lovely Foods | |
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These ten superfoods can make you more beautiful
One secret of beautiful skin, hair, nails and teeth lies way below the surface, says nutritionist Lisa Drayer, RD. in her recent book, The Beauty Diet , she explains why certain foods “enhance your appearance from the inside out.” The top ten:
Blueberries: these are bursting with ...
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| Migraines | |
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Coping with this all too misunderstood affliction
As an overstretched working mom, you’ve probably had your share of headaches—and probably worked and parented right through them. But how do you work your way through a migraine, the neurological disease that often includes extreme head pain, nausea and sensitivity to light? Not easily. In fact, a study from ...
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| Snack-Pack Attack | |
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It's still all about portion control
If you’re watching your weight, you probably know that portion control is key. So you might be pretty thrilled about all those mini snack packs on the market, which let you indulge in calorie-controlled amounts of chips, cookies, candy and more.
These may work for some, but new research shows ...
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| Bra-Buying 101 | |
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Picking a flattering and comfy foundation.
’Tis the season for some hot new lingerie. But if you buy the same bra size you’ve been wearing for years, you might be one of the estimated 70 percent of women who wear the wrong size or style for their body, according to bra manufacturer Bali. Beyond a less-than-flattering ...
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| Recession-Proof Spa Treatment | |
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A classic treatment ready for its comeback
Epsom salts may seem like something from your grandma’s day, but it’s actually a potent way to melt away modern-day stress. And it’s a lot less pricey than most spa treatments and skin-care products ($3 to $5 for a 64-ounce carton). “When absorbed into the skin, Epsom salts—a naturally occurring ...
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| Face Off | |
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Hair removal options
Whether on your chin, upper lip or elsewhere, even a few facial hairs can be so bothersome. Here, your best options for de-fuzzing, according to Francesca Fusco, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. Laser hair removal uses light to target ...
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| Nutty News | |
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The amazing almond & bottled water update
You’ve no doubt heard some of the recent raves about almonds: They are loaded with the antioxidant vitamin E; offer monounsaturated fat, believed to help lower cholesterol and improve heart health; and have a balance of fiber, protein and fat that experts say makes the most satisfying snack—especially if you’re ...
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| Stand Up on the Job | |
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A good reason to keep active at work
Working moms may race around a lot, but many of us also spend hours with our butts planted in our chairs. Besides burning fewer calories sitting than we do standing, we’re upping our risk for certain diseases, says a study from the University of Missouri–Columbia. Researchers there found that prolonged ...
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| Licorice to the Rescue | |
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Fight mouth pain naturally
The 20 percent of Americans who suffer from painful canker sores may find relief in a surprising source: licorice—but that’s licorice root extract, not Twizzlers. Researchers from the University of Washington in Seattle applied an adhesive patch infused with licorice root extract over the canker sores of one group of ...
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| Java Jolt? Just Inhale | |
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Good news for sleepy coffee lovers
The phrase “Wake up and smell the coffee” may now need to become “Smell the coffee and wake up,” according to two recent studies. When researchers from Seoul National University in South Korea exposed sleep-deprived rats to the aroma of coffee, they saw a change in brain activity indicating that ...
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| Fast Is Fine | |
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Sexual healing on the fly
Good news for the time-crunched: Sex doesn’t have to be long to be enjoyable, says new research out of Penn State Erie. The survey of 50 sex therapists that was reported in the Journal of Sexual Medicine revealed that three to 13 minutes is the optimal amount of time for ...
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| Tidy Up, Get Happy | |
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The upside of housework
Next time you’re up to your elbows in dishes or tangled in the vacuum cord, think of it as therapy. A recent study of 20,000 men and women from University College London (UCL) found that a mere 20 minutes per week of any physical activity, including housework, gardening or sports, ...
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| Blemish Blues and Faux Sugar Alert | |
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New blemish busters and the scoop on artificial sugar
You thought you got rid of it back in high school, but acne can still be an occasional problem for 50 percent of adult women. That said, there are more treatments available now than when you were a teen. In addition to over-the-counter products, another effective blemish-busting option is a ...
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| Bickering Has Benefits | |
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The upside of spousal spats
The next time you and your spouse have a blowout, look on the bright side: Exchanging a few not-so-nice words may be good for you, says a new study from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Researchers there followed nearly 200 couples for 17 years and found that ...
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| Berry Good for You | |
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Health news
It’s not just an old wives’ tale that cranberry juice can prevent urinary tract infections, say researchers at the University of Stirling in Scotland. They analyzed ten studies on the subject and found that cranberry juice and capsules significantly reduced the incidence of this painful infection. But the power of ...
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| Not So Sweet | |
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Saving the skin you are in
You already know your sweet tooth is bad for your abs and thighs. Now, experts suggest it may age your skin. Some dermatologists believe that when we eat sugar, we get wrinkles thanks to a process called glycation. “This is when sugar molecules in your body bind to collagen and ...
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| Nighttime Allergy Defense | |
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How bedding can affect your health
How often do you replace your pillow with a new one? If you’re allergic to dust mites, those microscopic creatures that live in pillows, mattresses, sofas and clothing, you should change your pillow every two years or at least put a barrier between you and the pesky mites with allergy-proof ...
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| Plump and Protected | |
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Don't skip your lips!
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and though many of us are good about slathering sunscreen on our face and body, we often forget to shield our lips. As many as 63 percent of us leave our lips unprotected, according to a study from the University of Texas Medical Branch ...
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| New in Skin Care and Workouts | |
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Environmental protection for skin plus a body booster
A New Rating for Skin Care If you see "EPF" on your moisturizer rather than "SPF," it's not a typo; it's actually a new rating scale. EPF, which stands for Environmental Protection Factor, measures how well a product's topical antioxidants protect skin not only from the sun but also ...
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| Banish Neck and Shoulder Pain Plus New Study on Eating and TV | |
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Stress Relief and Diet Savvy
Self-Help for a Sore Neck Need a quick fix for shoulder and neck tension? Try these easy do-it-yourself strokes from Rich Poley, author of Self-Massage for Athletes ( www.selfmassageforathletes.com ). For neck and shoulders Place one hand on the opposite shoulder, with the heel of your hand by your ...
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| Boost Your Memory with Exercize plus Yoga to-Go | |
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Mind/body connections
Proven Memory Booster You've probably heard that regular exercise improves your memory. (You just can't remember where you heard it!) Now, new research reveals why: Exercise targets a region of the brain associated with age-related memory decline, and imaging shows a growth of neurons in this area following a ...
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| Chill Out for Health, Muscle Soreness & Caffeine plus more | |
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How to combat stress, relieve pain and prevent Alzheimers!
Chill Out, Mom! Most of us dream of a little downtime. But a new study from Ohio State University has found that even when women get time off from office and household tasks, they don't feel any less rushed. And married moms reported feeling rushed more than twice as ...
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| Healthy Bites & the New Pilates | |
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Grocery guidance & a new fitness craze
Grocery-Cart Makeover We know eating the right foods is key to staying healthy, but do we really know how to interpret nutrition labels and buy what's best for our bodies? New research suggests that shopping with a nutrition expert could help improve our diets and ward off illnesses like ...
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| Mind/Body Back Treatments | |
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Back in business
Back in Business
Your hipbone's connected to your backbone. And your backbone's
connected to...your brain, according to a recent report in the journal
Health Psychology . Researchers reviewed 22 studies on back pain, which
included study participants who'd suffered an average of seven and a
half years, and found that mind/body treatments ...
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| Protecting Your Peepers | |
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Fast fixes for dry eyes
Are your eyes often red or dry? Or do they sting, burn or feel gritty at work? You may have dry eye syndrome, an often hard-to-diagnose condition that affects more than 20 million Americans. Prolonged computer use, reading and exposure to heating, air-conditioning and dust can contribute to this condition. ...
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| Sleep Aid | |
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When Kids Don?t Snooze, You Lose
We know that our children’s sleep problems, such as night wakings and resisting bedtime, can leave us exhausted. But beyond fatigue, these may also take a toll on our overall physical and emotional health. A large-scale survey from the Royal Children’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne in Australia found ...
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| Summer Skin, Blackberry Thumb & More | |
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Smooth skin, steep away your cares, and take care of your thumbs!
Skin-baring season will soon be here, so start prepping now with these beauty tips from Doris Day, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. If you're considering laser hair removal, now's the time to begin, since you need several sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. You may need ...
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| Meditation & More | |
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Meditation, Soy & More
Mind & Body The Magic of Meditation Need a little pick-me-up around 4:00 p.m.? Meditate. Recent research out of the University of Kentucky suggests that meditation can boost alertness and focus more effectively than a nap. In one study, subjects' reaction times were tested after 40 minutes each of ...
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| Skin Solutions | |
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Hey, it's still winter, which can play tricks on your body-outside and in. Here are smart strategies to keep your family's skin and hair sleek and bodies in the pink, so you'll be ready to spring forward!
The weather outside is still frightful, and, alas, your family's skin is vulnerable. If everyone seems to be itchy, have dandruff and/or suffer chapped lips and hands, try these ideas to get your family through winter's end with rosy cheeks and healthy skin all over. Problem: Dry skin, winter ...
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| Eat For Energy! | |
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How to eat right for an energy boost
Working moms need a lot of stamina—don't we know it. So we need to eat right on the job, something we often don't do. (Your body deserves better than that chips and Diet Coke lunch.) Form healthier habits with energizing tips from Lisa Drayer, RD, a New York City-based nutritionist: ...
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| Beat the Winter Blues | |
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You can do something about seasonal depression
Q: Every winter, my mood takes a nosedive. Is there really such a thing as the "winter blues," and what can I do about it? A: Winter blues, also known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a real condition, "a depression that occurs yearly, usually starting in fall or winter ...
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| How Long Will This Keep? | |
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Leftover food safety & Flu-fighting tips
Big holiday feasts often mean lots of leftovers. To make sure you
don't serve up harmful pathogens with your postholiday turkey and
trimmings, read these smart food-safety tips.
Turkey Slicing up the entire
bird exposes it to more germs, so just carve the portion you're having
for Thanksgiving dinner. Eat the ...
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| Breast Cancer Breakthroughs | |
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In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here's the latest good news about breast cancer prevention and detection.
There's a safer prevention drug.
In a comprehensive North American trial, the osteoporosis drug
raloxifene has been found as effective as tamoxifen at reducing the
chances of developing invasive breast cancer in at-risk women 35 and
up—but with less risk for uterine cancer, cataracts and blood clots.
Digital mammography is ...
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| Psych Yourself Up for Fitness | |
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Shape up Insurance
The latest secret to getting the most from your workout: your
attitude, according to a study from the University of Michigan.
Researchers found that women who broke a sweat just to lose weight or
tone up did almost 40 percent less exercise and walked 2.5 times less
than those who worked out for ...
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| Mealtime Strategy | |
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Fresh Take on Takeout
Q: As a busy family, we often order dinner from restaurants. Is there any way to make takeout healthier?
A: Make takeout lighter and leaner by adding quick things from home
like a bag of prewashed salad greens or microwavable frozen or canned
vegetables, suggests Linda Spangle, RN, a ...
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| Bye-Bye Belly Fat | |
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Lose it Now
Q: I've gained some weight, and most of it's around my belly. Why is that, and what can I do about it?
A: It seems to be a female phenomenon: As she ages, the typical woman
gains about one to two pounds per year, and it often lands around ...
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| Don't Let Stress Win Out | |
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When life gets too fast-paced, chill out with these easy ways to a calmer and healthier you.
Q: I'm constantly juggling, which can be stressful. How can I relax more?
A: For most of us, stress is a fact of life. In a recent national
health study, 78 percent of women said that they regularly experience
stress or anxiety. Research indicates that working moms are the most
highly stressed ...
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