Sweet benefits of basil

Thursday, September 15, 2011 0 comments

Corbis

Corbis

By Leslie Barrie

From busting stress to clearing your skin, this herb has some serious mind-body benefits.

Blemish eraser
Clear up that breakout with basil! The herb's oil helps combat the bacteria that causes pimples, according to a study in theInternational Journal of Cosmetic Science.

Try this blemish-fighting fix from aesthetician Rena Revivo, chief executive officer of Spa de Soleil: Boil a handful offresh basil leaves in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes; let the liquid cool. Dip a cotton ball into the liquid, pat it on your breakout zones, wait 10 minutes, then splash with water; repeat once or twice a day.

Note:
 If you're pregnant or breast-feeding, discuss basil usage with your doc.

Health.com: How to treat (and avoid!) summer skin problems

Stress stopper
Feeling frazzled this summer? This herb can mellow you out. "Holy basil has antianxiety effects," explains botanist James Duke, PhD, author of The Green Pharmacy. It contains phytochemicals that studies suggest may lower cortisol, a hormone secreted when you're tense.

Simmer down on a hot, harried day by adding the herb to your iced tea: Add 2 or 3 leaves (per serving) while your tea is steeping. Lounge chair optional.

Health.com: 3 ways to relax and refresh this summer

PMS fix
You may want to eat more basil during that time of the month: The herb is a super source of iron—a little more than 2 cups of chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried provides 10% of your daily value, making it on par with spinach.

Eating it during your period can replenish some of the iron lost when you menstruate, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, author of The Flexitarian Diet. Sprinkle some sliced basil over chopped pineapple (which helps combat bloat).

Health.com: 10 ways to beat PMS

Inside-out cleanser
If you overate at a backyard barbecue or threw back too many margaritas, break out the holy basil, which "has been found to help detoxify the liver," says Elizabeth Trattner, an integrative health-care practitioner in Bay Harbor, Florida. The morning after, whip up some body-cleansing pesto to top your feel-better food of choice!

Did You Buy a Wedding Dress Smaller Than Your Real Size?

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Source: Did You By a Wedding Dress Smaller Than Your Real Size?

Kim Kardashian is on a wedding diet and fitness plan, and she's enlisted the help of celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson to help her fit into her wedding dress, according to OK Magazine.

The magazine says that Kim is hoping to drop a few dress sizesbefore her upcoming wedding to Kris Humphries, and is on a serious mission to make that happen.

According to the magazine's source, in order to fit into a size-two dress for her upcoming wedding, Kim will be following Tracy Anderson's strict regimen of a low-carb diet (1,200 calories a day of mostly green juices, broth-based soups, and protein bars) along with resistance training and cardio for two hours a day, six days a week.

Kim Kardashian's wedding diet and fitness regimen sounds like a full-time ordeal. While getting in shape and feeling your best is an important goal for any occasion, we hope Kim doesn't stress herself out or turn to unhealthy practices just to be able to fit into her big white designer dress. What about you? Did you (or would you) buy a wedding dress that was smaller than your actual size for your big day? Take our poll here.

Shhh! Give noise pollution the silent treatment

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The world is getting louder, and all that racket can have serious consequences for your health. Here's how to handle the increase in noise pollution and find a little peace for body, mind, and even soul. By Holly Pevzner

My husband's snoring is a health hazard. Or so I learned last year, when I bought a jar of earplugs and found out that I could pay for them with my flexible-spending account. According to medical experts, nighttime quiet is as important to my well-being as wearing eyeglasses or getting my daily vitamins, and even low-level noise prevents deep, restorative rest. Noise also contributes to high blood pressure, strokes, circulatory problems, and distracted thinking. Plus, anecdotally at least, it makes us cranky.

Lately we seem to be on the run from unwanted sound. There are more than 500 kinds of noise-canceling headphones on Amazon.com, and the iPhone White Noise Lite app has been downloaded more than 10 million times. Writer George Prochnik'sIn Pursuit of Silence ($16, amazon.com), published last year, is a 352-page historical and scientific examination of why society has gotten louder and how we can quiet down again.

See More: 3 Quick Ways to Reduce Stress

"I felt there was less of the silence I had always found necessary and wondered whether I was just getting grouchier," says Prochnik, who lives in New York City. "I started asking people what about city life bothered them most, and noise was always near the top of the list."

The scientific evidence that noise damages our health is stronger than ever, he adds. "I think we're seeing noise tied into a host of other problems of the age—problems of attention, aggression, insomnia, and general stress," says Prochnik. "Noise is now our default position as a society. But I believe we have to make an effort to build a passionate case for silence."

See More: 8 Health Shortcuts That Work

The Sound and the Fury

Out of approximately 111.8 million households accounted for in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2009 American Housing Survey, about 25.4 million reported being bothered by street noise or heavy traffic. The World Health Organization recently published a study of the relationship in Western Europe between environmental noise and health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cognitive impairment, sleep disturbance, tinnitus (chronic ringing of the ears), and plain old annoyance. According to the findings, about 1,629 heart attacks that occur in Germany each year are caused by traffic noise.

Even hospitals, the places we go to heal, have gotten louder. A 2004 Johns Hopkins University study found that average daytime hospital noise rose from 57 decibels in 1960 to 72 decibels in 2004. Blame the cacophony of PA announcements, beepers, heating and cooling systems, people talking to one another, and people talking into equipment activated by voice recognition.

See More: 6 Doctor-Recommended Remedies for Back Pain

And of course any discussion of the upsurge in public noise has to include the cell phone, which has made it possible for all of us to converse endlessly, anytime, anywhere. "We spew noise pollution into our phones, and all that noise only makes us noisier," says Bart Kosko, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, who has written a book on the scourge of sound, entitled Noise ($25, amazon.com). It's worth noting that we may be deaf to our personal contributions: In a 2006 Pew Research Center poll, 82 percent of respondents said they had encountered annoying cell-phone chatter in public, but only 8 percent said they had noticed their own phone habits irritating others.

Things aren't much better underwater. Acoustic scientists at the Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory, in University Park, have found that North American right whales are calling to one another more loudly. Most likely that's a result of the commotion produced by commercial shipping.

See More: Solutions for Everday Overindulging

Alarming Developments

All this hubbub is bad news for the human brain and nervous system, which, evolutionarily speaking, aren't used to noise. "Over millions of years, we evolved in quiet environments," says Kosko. "If you heard a loud noise, it was probably something like an animal roar and meant danger was near." An encounter with a tiger, say, would set off a cascade of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, to help mobilize our bodies to fight a threat or flee from it. The same thing happens today when we hear a car alarm.

"When you're disturbed by noise, your body reacts as it does to any stressor—your heart beats faster, your blood pressure increases," says New York City environmental psychologist Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., who has been studying noise for more than 30 years. "Being surrounded by noise can affect you even when you don't realize it." To wit: In a study published in 2000 in the Journal of Applied Psychology, clerical workers were divided into two groups. One group was placed in a quiet room, the other in a space as noisy as a typical open office. The noisy-office workers had elevated levels of the stress hormone epinephrine and were significantly less motivated to try to complete challenging cognitive tasks. Yet few of them reported feeling especially stressed.

See More: How to Care for Sport's-Related Injuries

"When you're faced with a threat—and that's how your body and mind perceive noise—you automatically prioritize other functions for survival's sake," says Paul Salmon, an associate professor of clinical psychology and a codirector of the Biobehavioral Laboratory at the University of Louisville, in Kentucky. The primitive, reflexive circuits of the brain take over, while the regions involved in higher cognitive functions, such as planning and decision making, become less active. So, yes, when the kids are screaming, you actually might not be able to hear yourself think.

The Silent Treatment

Before you run screaming, listen to this: We can fight the assault of noise without crawling into an isolation tank. The latest research indicates that short periods of quiet can help us put ourselves back together again.

Most of the scientific studies on the benefits of silence focus on meditation, the practice of just sitting quietly and focusing on breathing. According to recent findings, brief periods of meditation can lower blood pressure and reduce pain. Meditation can even enhance cognitive performance; in one study, middle-schoolers who meditated were shown to have higher test scores. Studies from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and other medical schools have revealed that meditation can increase activity in the left side of the frontal region of the brain, the area associated with a more positive emotional state.

See More: 17 Ways to Safeguard Your Heart

"Silence and meditation aren't exactly the same thing," says New York City meditation teacher Harshada Wagner. "In meditation, you start with silence—or at least quiet, since total silence is almost impossible. Then, within that quiet, you turn attention to a deeper part of yourself. It's really a silence from demands." Wagner believes that the biggest misconception about meditation is that when we do it, we have to cease all thought, a virtually impossible proposition. "The mind is like an ocean," he says. "You're never going to still it. But the goal here is just to give yourself a break."

To make meditation "a little deal, not a big deal," says Wagner, start with a five-minute session. Sit in a comfortable spot (yes, it can be the couch), close your eyes, and focus on your breathing, which should be "natural and easy but deep." Starting at your toes, relax your entire body, working up to the top of your head with the in breath, then traveling back down again with the out breath in one continuous motion, like an undulating wave. With every wave, feel your body letting go of tension. "Don't worry about your mind—it may keep thinking," says Wagner. "Try to let go of your to-do list. If you fall asleep, it's fine. There's no wrong way to meditate."

See More: A Thorough Examination of Medical Clinics

Silent Partners

Silence can mean more than just shutting out the world. "It can also connect us to one another," says Katherine Schultz, the dean of education at Mills College, in Oakland, and the author of two books about silence as a classroom teaching tool. The subject first fascinated her as a teacher and a principal in Quaker schools. For the Quaker faith, silence is a cornerstone; in a worship service, participants sit quietly and speak only when they are moved to. "I learned that out of silence, both children and adults often spoke and thought more clearly and creatively," says Schultz. She is on the board of a Quaker camp and says that when discussions get intense, one member may prompt the others to stop and sit in silence. "There's often an incredible shift in the conversation as a result," she says, "because we start reflecting, not just reacting."

See More: 10 Painless Changes You Can Make for a Green Home

Sometimes, ironically enough, we have to be quiet to communicate with each other, says Schultz: "Teachers are taught to count to 10 after they ask a question because it's uncomfortable to sit in silence—you immediately start to think that no one is going to answer. But that wait time is what gives more students space to participate."

The Point Is Mute

When writer Anne LeClaire decided to spend at least a day each month without talking, she realized "so much of what I would have said wasn't particularly necessary anyway." The author of Listening Below the Noise ($14, amazon.com), LeClaire started the silent days 19 years ago as part of a "quiet little project" during a hard time when the mother of a close friend was dying. "There's a correlation between silence and slowing down," she says. "The assault of noise and busyness creates this false urgency. Now I'm calmer but also more energetic—a feeling that carries over into the nonsilent days."

See More: How to Solve 9 Sleep Problems

There are ways that the rest of us can weave quiet into our lives, says LeClaire: We can turn off the car radio, take a walk without music, cook or do some other chore in silence, or retreat to the bathroom (where one's family is less likely to invade) for a silent soak. We can take a half-day sabbatical from technology. "Or once a week, find a quiet place where you can sit and listen to nothing," she says. "Five minutes is good. Thirty minutes is even better."

LeClaire likes to think of silence not as emptiness but as space. "Imagine a page of words. If we took away the margins and the space between the paragraphs, we would have just a page of black," she says. "It wouldn't be prose anymore. Without silence, our lives don't make any more sense than that page."

The Best Snack on Earth?

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Men's Health has proclaimed full-fat cheese, of all things, the king of snacks. Sounds crazy, right? After all, cheese is often the first thing to go on a low-fat diet. It's high in fat and makes its oily presence known on pizza, cheeseburgers and other enemies of the weight loss war. Still, there is a strong case for eating full-fat cheese.

Cheese is satisfying

Alan Aragon, the Men's Health Weight-Loss Coach, says his clients actually see a reduction in appetite when they mindfully eat flavorful varieties of cheese. The protein/fat combo plus truly unique flavors and an endless array of choices could really make full-fat cheese a dieter's best friend.

Lack of taste means lack of interest

Following the mantra of low-fat dairy gets you "mass-produced, vacuum-sealed cheeses" which result in loss of taste and eventually loss of interest. Especially for the foodies among us. And what is the real difference anyway? 20-30 calories in most cases. Plus, you are never going to get an aged Gouda or a truly tart Greek feta in a reduced fat version.

Our advice: Invest in an affordable kitchen scale and weigh each piece of cheese, aiming for a 1-ounce serving (about 100 calories) to start. Enjoy with some crisp veggies or fresh fruit. Choose from Men's Health's list of favorite cheeses and take a glance at our pick for 13 cheeses you need to know. But don't stop there. Try the cheese menu at your favorite restaurant instead of a sugary dessert.

The bottom line: Put cheese back on the menu.

What happens to your body after you drink a soda every day, for a long time

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Thinkstock

Thinkstock

Sugar rushes and caffeine highs followed by a depressing energy crash are what happens to your body if you drink a soda right now, but plenty of Blisstree readers actually seem to be okay with that. Some of you think it's alarmist to compare a caffeine and sugar rush to doing drugs, and some just don't really care about the slump they'll find themselves in after drinking 39 grams of sugar, but what makes us really worried about a soda-slurping habit is what happens over the long term.

Here's a quick snapshot of you, in a few years, after drinking soda on a regular basis:

You'll Be Fatter: According to research in the Nurse's Health Study, which monitored the health of 90,000 women for eight years, drinking a single soda every day of the week added 10 pounds over a four-year period.

The 50 Best Cookie Recipes on the Internet

You'll Probably Have Diabetes: In the Nurses' Health Study, women who said they drank one or more servings a day of a sugar-sweetened soft drink or fruit punch weretwice as likely to have developed type 2 diabetes during the study than those who rarely consumed these beverages.

You're Much More Likely to Develop Heart Disease: According to a study published in 2007 in Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, subjects who drank a soda every day over a four-year period had a 25% chance of developing high blood sugar levels and a 32% greater chance of developing lower "good" cholesterol levels. The Nurses' Health Study found that women who drank more than two sugary beverages per day had a 40% higher risk of heart attacks or death from heart disease than women who rarely drank sugary beverages.

You're Probably Also Less Healthy In Other Ways: Several studies, including the 2007 study published inCirculation, suggest that diet sodas have some of the same effects on health as regular sodas, despite having none or very little of the sugar. Why? Drinking soda is typically part of an overall lifestyle that's not very healthy: We know you don't like us to compare drinking caffeine and sugar to substance abuse, but when it comes to your lifestyle, some think that soda is just like a gateway drug.

11 Ways to Kick Stress to the Curb

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Credit: lululemon athletica

Credit: lululemon athletica

By Jennipher Walters, www.FitBottomedGirls.com

While a little stress can sometimes be a good motivator to get you moving or complete a project at work (just think of all those papers you wrote in college at the last minute—or was that just me?), too much stress is bad, news bears. Not only can it wreak havoc on your mental state (anxiety, ahhh!!!), it can also disrupt your sleep, increase carb cravings, store more fat in your belly and generally make you pretty miserable. Which pretty much stinks. So read on for our top tips to say good bye to unnecessary stress!

11 Tips to Kick Stress to the Curb

1. Move your body. This is pretty obvious but exercise is mad-good for reducing stress and getting those happy endorphins going!

2. Focus on one thing at a time. Multitasking is great and all, but it's not very efficient when it's making you crazy, is it?

3. Sleep! good night's rest makes everything better, so be sure to make hitting the hay a priority.

4. Talk to yourself like your best friend. Are you your own worst critic? Retrain that brain and love yo'self!

5. Mediate. This isn't just for the hippity-dippitymediation is for everyone. And the good news? There's no right or wrong way to do it. So just try it!

6. Understand stress' effect on your body. When there's too much, stress can be a nasty beast. Learn howstress can affect your weight and cause cravings, so that you don't just think you've lost all self control. It's body-chemistry, baby!

7. Eat the right foods. A clean and healthy diet can help your body deal with stress. As can these little extras!

8. Just say no. If you're spread too thin, it's time to start doing what you love and saying no to the rest—despite any and all obligations. It's hard at first but gets easier once you feel the results of your nay-saying.

9. Try yoga or Pilates. If you want to calm those racing thoughts, there's nothing better than a calming yoga or Pilates workout that gets you more in touch with that mind-body connection. You don't even have to leave your home for it!

10. Do it. No really, do the horizontal mambo, tango, two-step. Whatever you call it, sex reduces stress!

11. Laugh out loud often. Whether it's a funny movie, chatting with a hilarious friend about your ridiculous day or watching one of our fit funnies or belly laughs, a good giggle-fest always makes everything better.

Feeling better already? We thought so! Tell us your favorite way to de-stress in this poll! —Jenn

What to eat for breakfast? Find out what Michelle Obama and 5 health experts eat

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By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D., Nutrition Editor, EatingWell Magazine

Last week, when I went to the USDA in Washington, D.C,. to attend the unveiling of the new food icon—MyPlate—to accompany the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, I also met Michelle Obama (!). Full disclosure: I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and it was brief, but long enough for me to ask the First Lady what she ate for breakfast that morning.

So, what did she have for her a.m. meal? Scrambled eggs, turkey sausage and fresh grapefruit. Delicious, healthy and nearly in line with MyPlate. She was missing her grains and dairy. She fell short on vegetables, too, though if she doubled up on her fruit servings that would have counted as a sufficient substitution for a vegetable serving.

Don't Miss: 6 Expert Food Rules to Follow

This made me—and some other editors in the EatingWell office—curious... What do other nutrition and health experts eat—and how do their breakfasts compare to MyPlate?  

In case you're curious about what I eat for breakfast: My typical weekday meal includes: oatmeal (made with water) with fresh or frozen fruit mixed in (whatever's on sale that week) and a dash of maple syrup; plus, two cups of coffee with skim milk.

How my morning meal compares to MyPlate: I ought to step it up in the fruit or vegetable department and consider swapping one of my coffees for a latte to get a little more protein and low-fat dairy.

Healthy Breakfast Recipes to Try:
Breakfasts That Fight Fat
3 "Magic" Breakfast Ingredients to Kick-Start Your Metabolism
Breakfasts for 350 Calories or Less
4 Health Benefits of Coffee (and 4 Cons to Consider)

Here's what 4 more nutrition and health experts put on their breakfast plates:

David Katz, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.M., F.A.C.P., EatingWell advisor and director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center.
What he eats for breakfast: "My breakfast—most days—is a mix of berries (blueberries, raspberries and blackberries) with whole-grain cereals (usually Nature's Path Multigrain and/or Heritage; and possibly some other, such as Ezekiel's Golden Flax), possibly some other fruit, such as diced banana or apple, and nonfat Greek yogurt."

How his morning meal compares to MyPlate: "The meal is more berries than anything else, all of the grain is whole grain and the nonfat Greek yogurt is the dairy and protein shown on MyPlate. I would say my breakfast aligns well with MyPlate, but in many ways surpasses it. It's not half of the grains that are whole but all. The nonfat Greek yogurt is about the most nutrient-dense dairy product there is—and berries are particularly nutrient-dense fruits. A breakfast of champions...or so I hope!"

Rachel Johnson, Ph.D., R.D., M.P.H., EatingWell advisor, professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont, Vice Chair of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee and a member of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Science Board 
What she eats for breakfast:
7:30 a.m.: Starbucks grande nonfat (extra-hot) latte
9:00 a.m.: Whole-wheat 100-calorie sandwich thin with almond butter and maple pumpkin butter
11:00 a.m.: Heart-to-Heart whole-grain cereal, fresh strawberries and blueberries with skim milk
 
How her morning meal compares to MyPlate: "I hit everything on MyPlate—fruits (strawberries, blueberries); vegetables (pumpkin); whole grains (sandwich thin); protein (almond butter); and dairy (skim milk)."

Karen Ansel, M.S., R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and co-author of The Baby & Toddler Cookbook (Weldon Owen, 2011).
What she eats for breakfast: A cup of coffee with 1% milk, a small glass of calcium-fortified orange juice (sometimes I'll have berries instead), a glass of 1% milk and a bowl of oatmeal with a tablespoon of ground flaxseed.

How her morning meal compares to MyPlate: "As you can see, noticeably absent are the vegetables... As it turns out, we don't have to [eat vegetables at breakfast]. The sample meal plans [at choosemyplate.gov] contain several breakfasts, which suggest double servings of fruits instead of a fruit and a veggie. Some of the sample breakfast meals also swap in milk for protein, which is great because most of us don't have the calorie allowance at breakfast to eat all of these foods plus a glass of milk to boot. It looks like my weak link is in the produce department. Next time I'll be drinking that juice and eating those berries too."

Bonnie Taub-Dix, M.A., R.D., C.D.N., author of Read It Before You Eat It and weight-loss expert in New York.
What she eats for breakfast: Banana-almond muffin, cottage cheese and yogurt.

How her morning meal compares to MyPlate: "My muffins are made with 100 percent whole-wheat flour and contain banana and almonds (healthy fat), my cottage cheese and yogurt are non- or low-fat dairy and my cottage cheese is also protein. I fell short in the vegetable department and, honestly, I think that most people will do the same at breakfast. It may just be important to emphasize fruit in the morning and focus on veggies at lunch, dinner and snacks."

Which Workout Burns More Calories?

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From kayaking to surfing to hiking—find out how many calories you burn during these and more popular outdoor sports.

Running vs Swimming

The winner: Running
Swimming has many benefits, including giving you a great full-body workout while keeping it easy on your joints. But, if a super-high calorie burn is what you're after, you're going to have to sweat it out. Running at a 7-mile per hour pace for one hour burns nearly 700 calories, while swimming at 50-yards-per-minute burns around 550 calories per hour. 

Biking vs. Inline Skating
The winner: Biking
Turns out two wheels are better than eight. Ride to the office at about 12 to 14 miles per hour for one hour and you'll burn around 560 calories, approximately 60 more calories per hour than inline skating.  Whatever way you roll, we suggest keeping a continuous speed and not coasting for maximum burn.

Frisbee vs. Beach Volleyball
The winner: Beach Volleyball
Get that game going! An hour-long game of beach volleyball will burn about 484 calories, while that Frisbee toss will only burn approximately 208 calories per hour. 


RELATED: What Kelly Ripa Eats (Almost) Every Day

Kayaking vs. Surfing

The winner: Kayaking
Both kayaking and surfing are great for your core and your arms, but kayaking actually burns more than 100 more calories per hour, 346 compared to surfing's 208, so pick up that paddle!

Hiking vs. Horseback Riding

The winner: Hiking
Horseback riding is a great core workout, but for the ultimate calorie burn you'll want to hit the hills without the horse. Hiking burns 400 plus calories per hour, while horseback riding only burns around 270. Just make sure you have a good pair of hiking shoes (check out our favorite gear here!) or your hike and your calorie burn won't get very far.

The Workout that Burns 30% More Calories

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Conde Nast Digital Studio

Conde Nast Digital Studio

Erin Kurdyla, SELF magazine

With the official first day of summer just around the corner, what better way to blast through a weight loss plateau than taking your runs off the pavement and to the sand of your favorite beach? You'll love the cool breeze, the ocean mist, and the 30% more calories you'll burn. Want to know how to safely make the transition off-road, we did! That's why we asked Crystal Milligan, Private Trainer at The Sports Club/LA, to share a few Dos and Don'ts to make the most of your beach workout.
 
Tips for Running on the Beach:

 
1. DO start on the hard sand, near the water, first.  It will be best to ease yourself into sand running, otherwise your joints and calves can become unusually sore.  Keep in mind though, ultimately sand running is much better for your joints than running on pavement--it's much softer than asphalt and builds great stability in your knees and hips.
 
2. DO make sure you're running on an even path and not on a slant. Again this can wreak havoc on your joints and throw off the alignment of your spine.
 
3. DON'T expect to run as fast as you usually do.  Your body has to work much harder, when running on the sand and your pace will be slower, as a result.  Don't fret! It's worth it! You're burning approximately 30% more calories running on the sand vs. the road.
 
4. DON'T forget to protect yourself from the sun and heat! Slather on some of that SPF 30 and bring a small water bottle.  There's nothing worse than feeling light headed from dehydration or having a burn on that slimmed-down body!

How His Depression Affects Your Health

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Ever noticed that when your partner feels depressed, it rubs off on you? It makes sense that the mood and physical health of the person you spend most of your time with affects you to some extent, but it can have a bigger impact on your wellbeing than you realize. 

No one feels happy all the time, and depression can seep in slowly. You may not even notice the growth of your partner's sadness. At first, they may have regular complaints about work or financial worries. Gradually, though, they may stay home frequently, sleep all the time and lose interest in activities. You may even say to yourself, who is this person I once knew so well? 

If you are in a relationship with someone who is depressed, you're at risk for mirroring their habits and mindset. In other words, you could become depressed, too. Here's what you can do to care for yourself while taking care of your partner. 

The Arthritis/Depression Link
  • Practice self-compassion. What you're going through is difficult. It's all too easy to think that your partner is the one feeling all the pain, but living with someone with depression can be very taxing and tumultuous. Allow yourself to realize that.
  • Talk to your partner. Don't just sit back in silence while your notice your partner slipping away. Pick a time when neither of you are particularly stressed out or upset to sit down together. Tell your partner what you're noticing, whether it's changes in their behavior, patterns or attitude. Make sure to listen to your partner's response. Encourage your partner to seek treatment. But don't push. Sometimes it's better to back off and try again later.
  • Join a support group. There are many people living with someone who's depressed. Getting together in a supportive and confidential environment allows you to share your experiences and will help you gather strategies from others. It can help you feel less alone.
  • Find a restorative and relaxing hobby. Take a yoga class or practice meditation. A mindful activity can help you distress and face your situation with a calmer attitude.
  • Set aside alone time for yourself. It's too easy to get sucked into the trance of handling all aspects of life without a break, and going from one thing to another too fast. Give yourself an hour of alone time per day, if you can, with some "me" time doing what you enjoy, whether it's reading, writing, or exercising. 

Emily Jacobson writes about health for ThirdAge.com

Is Your Mattress Making You Sick?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 0 comments

The scary news that bed bugs might be carrying drug-resistant bacteria, including the superbug MRSA, provides all the more reason to make sure your mattress is as clean as it can be. But even if you don't have bed bugs, your mattress could still be causing you to feel sick—and it might even trigger asthma symptoms in those who suffer from dust allergies.

If you consistently wake up with watery eyes, a scratchy throat, or a runny nose, you might be allergic to your bed.  According to Web MD, dust mite droppings are among the top allergens that trigger asthma symptoms and aggravate allergies. And your mattress and pillows are prime hiding places for these common allergens.

Luckily protecting yourself from both germ-ridden bugs and dust mites is simple. Follow these steps to make sure your place of rest is as clean as can be.

1.    Invest in hypo-allergenic mattress covers.

Experts suggest covering your mattress and pillows with plastic or vinyl casings that seal in dust mites and other bugs so you don't inhale them. This step is especially important for those with asthma or severe dust allergies.  According to a 2003 study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, those who used dust mite-proof mattress and pillow covers were able to reduce their asthma medications. In addition, hypo-allergenic casings also protect against mold, which is another common source of allergies.

Luxurious Bedding That Makes a Statement Too



2.    Replace old, uncovered mattresses.
If you're sleeping on an old mattress, chances are it's crawling with dust. In fact, according to Web MD, the average mattress will double in weight in ten years due to dust mites and their waste. Yikes!


3.    Wash bedding often in hot water.
Unlike cold water, washing sheets and other bedding in hot water will kill dust mites. Sheets should be washed once a week, while comforters can go one to two months between washings.

Eye-Catching Decorative Pillows



4.    Keep your bedroom clean, cool, and dry.

Dust mites and other allergens thrive in warm, humid places. Keep your room below 77 degrees F and consider investing in a dehumidifier in order to create an inhospitable environment for allergy-causing bugs and a comfy, clean place for you

5 Ways to Lose Weight without Diet Pills

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by Jessica Smith, REDBOOK

Most diet pill advertisements, these drugs can do everything from give you more energy to help you drop pounds in record time. And we're buying it – according to a recent CBS News report, Americans are spending over $35 billion a year on weight loss products. But what these supplement companies don't tell you is that most of their "success stories" are actually paid participants whose job it is to lose weight on a strict diet and exercise plan. (And believe it or not, a recent FTC investigation found that one popular diet pill brand had evidence from a study that found subjects lost more weight taking a placebo than the actual diet pill.)

Related: "I Went Undercover on America's Cheating Website"

So why not save some money, and potential health risks, and lose weight without the pills? Here are five ways to get the power of a pill (sans supplements) and speed up your weight loss naturally:

1. The Diet Pill Claim: Curbs your appetite.

Get it the drug-free way: Drink water instead! It's free, simple, and it works: a recent Virginia Tech study found that women who drank two glasses of water before every meal lost more weight than those who took diet pills to curb hunger.

2. The Diet Pill Claim: Speeds up your metabolism.

Get it the drug-free way: Sorry folks, but the best way to rev your metabolism is through exercise. "Do some heavy resistance training or HIIT (high intensity interval training)," suggests Michele Collier and John Dull, co-creators of the "Supreme 90 Day" system. "After just one session of HIIT, your metabolism can stay elevated for up to 18 hours after."

Related: The 18 Most Annoying Male Habits Explained

3. The Diet Pill Claim: Increased energy.

Get it the drug-free way: Spice up your meals! "Spicy hot foods and condiments increase circulation and increase metabolism," says Dr. Lynn Anderson, creator of the "Aero*Boga" DVD. "When you increase circulation to your brain, it gets charged and you get energized." Anderson recommends adding salsa, red pepper and a little horseradish to meals.

Related: 5 Things Super-Happy Couples Do Every Day

4. The Diet Pill Claim:Cuts cravings.

Get it the drug-free way: Got a craving for chocolate that just won't quit? Take a whiff of peppermint. One study done at Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia found that subjects who regularly took sniffs of peppermint throughout the day consumed 2,800 calories less per week than their non scent-smelling counterparts. Researchers believe this may be because when our brains focus on a strong scent (such as peppermint) our focus is shifted away from the food we may be craving.

Related: 5 Dresses Every Woman Should Own

5. The Diet Pill Claim: Reduces calorie intake.

Get it the drug-free way: Eat in volume. If you like to eat, don't fight it! Instead, indulge in low-calorie, high-volume foods like broth-based soups, popcorn or large salads. A recent study published in the journal Appetitefound that subjects who consumed soup before a meal ate 20 percent less calories at mealtimes than those that didn't.


Jessica Smith is a certified fitness lifestyle expert and creator of the 10 Pounds Down DVD series.

Injury-proof your gardening

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Istockphoto

Istockphoto

By Milena Damjanov

Getting on your hands and knees to plant, bending over to water—gardening can wreak havoc on your body. Sidestep mishaps with these tips from P. Allen Smith, author of the Garden Homeseries.

Health.com: Plant a healing herb garden

Protect your back
Plant your garden in raised beds and containers—it's easier on your back than bending way over to the ground.

Health.com: 5 quick ways to stop back pain

Get a grip
Pad the handles of tools with grip tape or foam rubber; this makes them easier to handle and prevents blisters.

Get your blood flowing
Warm up before you start gardening by walking or stretching. And don't do the same task in the same position for too long—that can lead to muscle and joint pain or repetitive-motion injuries.

Health.com: Walk a little, lose a lot

Keep it toxic-free
Reduce your exposure to pesticides by adding plants that repel bad bugs. For instance, garlic plants keep aphids away.

6 foods that make you feel fuller, faster

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Add olive oil to your weekly menu to feel fuller, faster.

Add olive oil to your weekly menu to feel fuller, faster.Credit: sxc.hu/pyong, pyong

Still can't kick those mid-afternoon cravings? If you're determined to stick with a healthy diet this week but are still battling hunger pangs throughout the day, it's time to stock up on foods that will make you feel fuller. Remember that very strong cravings for a certain food could mean your body has a deficiency of certain nutrients. Seeking out foods that will satisfy your appetite without exceeding your calorie quote for the day can be tricky. Fortunately, Mother Nature has provided us with dozens of foods that contain plenty of nutrition and will fill you up quickly -- without a calorie overload.

These six foods can make you feel fuller, faster:

1. Boiled Eggs

A boiled egg is high in protein and fat. Just one boiled egg can make you feel comfortably full for a few hours. Chop one up to add in your afternoon salad or enjoy one for breakfast with whole grain bread or cereal to say goodbye to hunger until lunch time.

2. Fatty Tuna or Salmon

Tuna, salmon and oily fish are high in Omega-3s, an essential fatty acid that is not only good for brain but can also keep you feeling fuller, longer. Add some tuna or salmon to your salad or enjoy grilled salmon filets for dinner a few times per week to get your fix.

3. Olive Oil

Olive oil contains oleic acid and healthy fats which can make you feel more satisfied. Add some olive oil to your salad dressings or enjoy some whole grain bread slices dipped in olive oil to keep hunger pangs at bay. Just a teaspoon of olive oil is all you need to feel fuller after your snack or meal.

4. Avocado

Another food high in Omega-3s, avocado packs a nutritional punch and can make any salad or sandwich that much more satisfying. If you're tired of the usual salad or sandwich routine for lunch, whip up some homemade guacamole with fresh avocado, or enjoy this addictive dip as a snack in the middle of a busy day.

5. Oatmeal with Lowfat Milk

A small bowl of old-fashioned oatmeal with lowfat milk can help to curb cravings for sugar-laden carbs. This healthy whole grain is rich in fiber and the protein content from the milk can help you feel satisfied for the next few hours. Add some flavor with a natural sweetener, cinnamon or even some cocoa.

6. Nuts

Walnuts, almonds and pine nuts are your best bet for taking care of those cravings for salty foods. Make some healthy granola bars with a handful of these nuts to keep hunger in check. Adding these nuts to your favorite baked goods or even sprinkling them on salads can help you feel fuller and more satisfied. As long as you're not overdoing it, the fat in these nuts won't add inches to your waistline.

High-fiber, low-fat foods loaded with nutrients are your best bet when you want to keep hunger at bay. Make sure you include these six foods in your weekly diet to nix cravings and extreme hunger for good.

 
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