Blog Posts by Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

As the days get colder--and our outdoor workouts get less sweaty--it's easier to overlook the importance of staying hydrated. And while you may feel fine with drinking less water, your body disagrees: Getting enough water is just as important in the fall and winter as it is in the summertime. (Just ask your dry skin and chapped lips!)

If you're not likely to tote a water bottle around when it's freeeeeezing out, opt for these seasonal strategies. And if even if you do carry yours everywhere, these easy tricks will help you get some extra H20.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Eat your fluids. Fruits and veggies are packed with water, and according to Angela Ginn, RD, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, that high water content adds volume and keeps you satisfied without the calories. Low-cal soups are also a great way to sneak in some extra water.

See more: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

Warm up your

Read More »from 4 Ways to Stay Hydrated This Winter

Graeme MontgomeryJenny Deam, SELF magazine

Buffy Martin Tarbox is a hip, smart public relations professional in San Francisco. She volunteers for the local AIDS Foundation, and on weekends she scoots around the Bay Area in her baby-blue VW bug helping rescue wounded wildlife.

She is also armed.

Tarbox says her Smith & Wesson handgun is just like any other modern accessory in her life, along with her designer heels and handbag. "My personal satisfaction is that I can take care of myself," she says. "I don't need to rely on a man to protect me."

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

But is Tarbox, or any woman, truly safer with a gun? Pro-gun forces want us to think so: They have aggressively promoted the idea that guns level the playing field against a stronger foe. Manufacturers have made weapons lighter and barrels shorter so they're easier for smaller hands to shoot--or to tuck into a purse or stylish holster. Sellers have customized handguns and rifles with pastel colors and

Read More »from Would You Buy a Gun?

Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine

Now that Superstorm Sandy had passed and the power is (presumably) up and running, you're probably wondering what to do with that stockpile of cans in your cupboard, that is, if you've already donated whatever you can. If you haven't, do that first! The good news is not only that you can create inexpensive, healthy dishes with those staples laying around in the pantry, but that sometimes those readily available canned foods are actually better for you, too.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

WILD SALMON: Wild canned salmon that's packed in water is a nutritious staple chock-full of Omega-3's--great for keeping that noggin of yours healthy--as well as bone-density boosting calcium and Vitamin D. Did we mention it's less expensive, too?
Make it Tonight: Combine drained salmon bit Greek yogurt and a bit of light mayonnaise and lemon juice for salmon salad or combine it with quinoa, feta and fresh veggies for a Mediterranean salad!

See more: Foods

Read More »from Canned Foods: Better Than Fresh?

Nicole Yorio Jurick, SELF magazine

You guys, ban the notion that to-go food is no good. It is possible to eat takeout that's filling, nutritious and reminiscent of that Philly cheesesteak or slice(s) of pizza that you adore. No judgment-just suggestions!

The indulgence: Sesame Chicken with Broccoli (1,117 calories, 37 g fat) Good to know: One order of Chinese food is typically enough to feed three people. The swap: 1 1/4 cups moo goo gai pan, 2/3 cup brown rice and a side of steamed broccoli (517 calories, 25 g fat). The logic: Sesame chicken has three strikes against it: It's deep-fried, swimming in a sugary sauce and made from high-calorie thigh meat. Moo goo gai pan uses leaner white meat and a light, broth-based sauce. Adding broccoli and brown rice makes it the ideal combo of healthy carbs, veggies and protein.

See more: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

The indulgence: Philly Cheesesteak with extra Cheez Whiz (754 calories, 52 g fat) Good to know: The Philly favorite has as much fat as 19

Read More »from Easy, Healthy Takeout Food Swaps

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

Trying to get in the mood? Forget about lighting some candles or reading a naughty passage from Fifty Shades. To heat up your next nookie session, look no further than your iPod, says a new study from streaming music site Spotify. A good 40% of people surveyed said that listening to music is more likely to get them in the mood for sex than actually being touched by their partner. And the number one song considered to be even better than sex may come as quite a surprise!

See more: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

"Music can activate the same pleasure centers of the brain that also respond to much less abstract rewards such as food, drugs or indeed sex," explains Daniel Mullensiefen, PhD, co-director of the Music, Mind and Brain program at Goldsmiths, University of London, who surveyed 2,000 men and women of all ages in the UK on behalf of Spotify.

See more: Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

The researchers also quizzed study participants

Read More »from Is Music as Satisfying as Sex?

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

So you finally got your pretty little paws on an iPhone 5. (Lucky you--many of our staffers are waiting with bated breath till their contracts run out.) Surely you have Facebook, Instagram and your other fave apps lined up on the home screen, but what were you planning on filling your brand-new extra row with? We've got a few SELFy suggestions. Got an iPhone 4? Don't worry--these will work for you, too.

See more: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

1. Blissify Me ($2.99): The makers of Angry Birds--seriously--have combined modern technology with what the developers call "ancient wisdom" to turn guided meditation into a fun how-to game. Earn virtual jewels and unlock lucky charms while relaxing your body, calming your mind and reducing stress.

2. Sleep Time ($0.99): Everyone knows how important consistent good sleep is to your health, but that's hella easier said then done. This app helps you track, change and improve your sleeping behaviors by sensing Read More »from 4 Health and Fitness Apps

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

There's a sweet treat waiting for you in orchards, farmers' markets and grocery stores all over the country this month that's delicious on its own, may help you lose weight and works in a ton of either savory or sweet dishes. So take a break from your everyday apples-and pick up some pears instead.

See more: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

Pears pack in a good dose of fiber (about 5.5 g per medium-sized fruit!), leaving you feeling fuller for longer after eating, say SELF contributing editors Stephanie Clarke and Willow Jarosh, registered dietitians and co-founders of C&J Nutrition. "Plus, part of that fiber is soluble fiber, the kind that can help keep your cholesterol down and your heart healthy," they add. Pears are also good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and phytonutrients that protect against aging and disease.

Pears can be eaten straight off the tree, but the real fun begins when they're grilled, poached, roasted, and sliced

Read More »from 5 Ways to Enjoy Pears

April Daniels Hussar, SELF magazine

It seemed like this election season would NEVER end, but end it will very soon, if you can actually believe it. Tuesday, November 6th is the date we decide who will sit in the Oval Office for the next four years-here's what you need to know.

See more: Yoga Moves for Flat Abs

The most important thing you need to know? "Every vote does matter," says Chrissy Faessen, V.P. Communications and Marketing at Rock the Vote, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is to engage and build the political power of young people in the U.S. "Even in the 2008 elections, candidates won by a couple hundred votes," Faessen says. Plus, "you'll be voting on local, elected officials who control decisions about the types of resources that are going to your state," she says.

Also on the table? State and local issues. For example, four states will be deciding on marriage equality--people in Maine, Maryland and Washington will vote on ballots seeking to

Read More »from Election 2012: What You Need to Know