Blog

Protect Your Back When Seated

Posted: 05/19/2012

Practicing good body mechanics -- even when you're seated or at rest -- can help prevent future back pain and injuries. Pay attention to these:Your chair: Your best choice is a straight-backed chair in which you can sit up straight, with your shoulders back and in line with your hips. If your chair doesn't have low back support, add your own with a small pillow or another type...

Help for Difficulty Breathing....Do I have asthma?

Posted: 05/15/2012

Having trouble breathing is terrifying. Nonstop coughing or wheezing not only frightens you in the moment but also makes you super vigilant even when you’re feeling fine.Some people with asthma say that being afraid of having an attack can be nearly as disabling as actually having one.If you have episodes of shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, or chest tightness, take...

Why Sitting Too Long Can Kill You

Posted: 05/07/2012

If you spend most of your time sitting -- say, at the office all day, then lounging on the sofa all evening -- can exercise make up for it? Not really, according to new Australian research.A recent study followed more than 200,000 adults age 45 and older for three years. Those who sat 11 or more hours per day were 40% more likely to die than people who sat fewer than 4 hours...

5 Tips to Get a Fast Metabolism

Posted: 04/28/2012

Your metabolism is like a combustion engine. It turns food into fuel, and it's responsible for producing, maintaining, and destroying material substances that drive vitality. Every part in your body depends on the metabolism of calories for energy.After the age of 20, your metabolism begins to decline. But you can keep your pistons popping with high-octane fuel, and a regular...

Lose Weight with the Buddy System

Posted: 04/22/2012

The secret to doing anything hard (e.g., losing weight, quitting smoking, exercising regularly) is not to do it alone. When you're trying to lose weight or break a bad habit, having a friend who's going through it too is genius. When one person goes off the rails, the other gets 'em back on track. That's why we're long-time fans of the buddy system. There's often no better weight...

Prevent Heart Attacks by Eating Fresh Fruit and Vegetables

Posted: 04/13/2012

Let's say there's heart disease all over your family tree. You'd likely feel genetically doomed, right? That makes this good news even better: One of the most common causes of inherited heart disease is a nasty gene called 9p21, and major recent research shows that what you eat can prevent a heart attack.Just go to the grocery store and pile your cart with fresh vegetables and...

7 Steps to a Happier, Healthier, and Longer Life

Posted: 04/09/2012

You deserve true happiness. In fact, your emotional and physical health depends on it. Positive emotions not only feel good, they also reduce stress-related risks for heart disease, cancer, and more. Follow these 7 steps to happiness and good health:1. Use positive self-talk. Trade self-put-downs (e.g., What an idiot I am!) for encouraging words (e.g., Nice going! I'll do better...

Beans: The High-Protein Food That's Healthy and Cheap

Posted: 03/31/2012

Here's why beans always make our best-foods list: They're a healthy, cheap source of protein that'll reduce your risk of heart disease and cancer, lower your blood sugar, and flatten your belly.Yep, beans do all that and more. Here are 5 ways beans help your waistline, heart, and blood sugar:Reduce belly fat. A recent study found that beans' soluble fiber chases away deep-down,...

Boost Metabolism with Spicy Foods for Weight Loss

Posted: 03/27/2012

Want to boost your metabolism, burn more fat, and lose weight faster? Add spicy fare to your diet.That's right. Adding spice, such as hot peppers, to your food not only boosts your calorie-burning metabolism, it also curbs your appetite, so you'll eat less at each meal and stay satisfied for longer.Hot and Spicy Calorie BurnCapsaicin, the active ingredient in such hotties as...

The Best Workout to Blast Belly Fat and Lower Blood Sugar

Posted: 03/17/2012

There's a new champ in the fitness ring with a one-two punch that would send Sugar Ray Robinson spinning. It's an exercise combo that helps you burn fat and lower blood sugar better than either exercise alone.The dynamic duo? Aerobics and weight training. Do two of our favorite things: speed walking and a little resistance work. Even if you do the absolute minimum -- 5 days of...