By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
Is this just someone's way of trying to get us to stop shopping?
Related: Need a running plan? Try one of ours!
A new study by the organization Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families and the Washington Toxics Coalition has found that receipts and paper money contain high levels of bisphenol A (a.k.a. BPA), a potentially toxic chemical most often found in hard plastics and in the resin used to line metal food and soda cans.
Unlike the BPA found in hard plastics, the BPA on thermal paper -- i.e. receipts -- isn't chemically bound. Instead, it's a film that's easily transferred to your hands or your paper money when you shove it in your wallet.
So just how dangerous is dirty money?
Related: How to look younger in one month
Over the last decade, studies by major health organizations have linked BPA -- even small amounts of it -- to breast cancer, prostate cancer, obesity, premature puberty and infertility. It's considered an endocrine disruptor, meaning it
Blog Posts by Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine
Is Your Money Making You Sick?
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Work + Money – Mon, Dec 20, 2010 11:43 PM ESTWho are the Happiest Celebrities of 2010?
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Work + Money – Mon, Dec 20, 2010 9:50 PM ESTBy Ashley Mateo, SELF magazine
With the end of the year fast approaching and tomorrow's paperback release of Lucy Danziger's Nine Rooms of Happiness, we reflected on the year's happiest celebrities. Check out our picks, and let us know who gets your vote!
Read More »from Who are the Happiest Celebrities of 2010?The NEW Truth About Artificial Sweeteners
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Fri, Dec 17, 2010 10:15 PM EST
Read More »from The NEW Truth About Artificial Sweeteners
By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
Not sure how to sweeten your morning coffee? While your best bet is to use nothing at all (after a few weeks, you'll probably like it better that way), new research on artificial sweeteners has broadened your options once again.
Related: 34 De-stressing Snacks for Weight Loss
The FDA has given the thumbs-up to sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Nutrasweet) and even saccharin (Sweet'N Low), which was once warned to possibly cause cancer in rats.
Then there are the new so-called "natural" sugar substitutes, stevia (Trivia and PureVia) and SUSTA (Olympic swimmer Dara Torres is a spokeswoman).
And then, of course, there's old-fashioned sugar. With all of these choices -- and the health risks (obesity, diabetes, heart disease) associated with too much sugar -- what's a sweet-toothed gal to do?
We spoke to registered dietician Kristin Kirkpatrick, wellness manager with the Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic, to get the truth.
Related: How to look divine4 Holiday Recipes We Stole From Celebrity Chefs
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Shine Food – Thu, Dec 16, 2010 7:51 PM ESTBy Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
Comforting and traditional, yet a tad surprising, these 4 delicious dishes are sure to delight even your pickiest relatives. Plus, we found the perfect cookie to leave for Santa.
How to Transform Your Body with Olivia Wilde's TRON Trainer
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Work + Money – Thu, Dec 16, 2010 7:11 PM EST
Read More »from How to Transform Your Body with Olivia Wilde's TRON Trainer
By Ashley Mateo, SELF magazine
To play Quorra in Disney's TRON, Olivia Wilde said, "I completely physically transformed my body. I have never looked like that before and I will never look like that again." Makeover your body with a workout from Wilde's trainer!
Related: 8 Moves to Perk Up Your Boobs
In TRON: Legacy's computer-animated world, Wilde's character is a catsuit-wearing warrior who saves lead actor Garrett Hedlund's life when he crosses from the real world into the game world. Not surprisingly, her action-packed role (and that outfit!) required Wilde to be in tip-top physical shape.
Celebrity trainer Patrick Murphy, who trained the actress for TRON, says, "Many of the stunts and fighting scenes Olivia had to shoot demanded her to be in shape, strong and very stable with superb balance. Olivia has a dancing background and moves with grace, but I knew that we needed to gain some muscle mass and strength, stamina and overall body balance and coordination."
Related: Need a5 Perfect Cookbooks for Everyone on Your List!
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Shine Food – Thu, Dec 16, 2010 5:58 PM ESTBy Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
The five cookbooks on our list to Santa are not only packed with yummy, creative recipes, they're also pretty to look at (a definite requirement for making our shelf!). We guarantee that they'll thrill the hungry peeps left on your list.
The 5 Hottest Workout DVDs of 2010
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Wed, Dec 15, 2010 8:44 PM ESTBy Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
Not sure which living-room workout is for you? Our list of the 5 hottest fitness DVDs of 2010 has something for everyone -- whether you want a flat belly or a workout that will transform your entire body from head to toe.
Read More »from The 5 Hottest Workout DVDs of 20108 Ageless Hollywood Hotties (And How To Look Like Them!)
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Wed, Dec 15, 2010 6:53 PM ESTBy Ashley Mateo, SELF magazine
Certain Hollywood stars have an timeless elegance--these eight may have grown up since their on-screen debuts, but they look as young as ever. Flip through our slideshow, and pick up tips look younger every day!
From Jessica Biel to Michelle Obama: Our 4 Health Heroines of 2010
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Healthy Living – Tue, Dec 14, 2010 11:08 PM ESTJenny Everett, SELF magazine
From Jessica Biel to Michelle Obama, these inspiring ladies did amazing things to raise awareness about health issues that affect women around the world. Check out our health heroines, and then tell us about yours!
Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn?
By Healthy SELF, SELF Magazine | Fashion – Mon, Dec 13, 2010 8:35 PM EST
By Jenny Everett, SELF magazine
In one of the early seasons of "Mad Men," the ad execs at Sterling Cooper had an epiphany: Every woman is either a Jackie Kennedy Onassis or a Marilyn Monroe.
Related: How to look younger in one month
We're not convinced that every woman can be boiled down to a stereotype, but a new book, Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Timeless Lessons on Love, Power, and Style, explores this concept in impressive detail, helping you figure out which gal-camp you allegedly belong to. You might be surprised: Not every sexy blonde is a Marilyn and not every brainy brunette is a Jackie.
When it comes to style...
You're a Marilyn if:- Every outfit shows off your waist. No matter what your dress size is, you meticulously cinch a belt, bow, etc. around the tiniest area of your torso.
- You aren't shy. You know what your best feature is -- be it long legs, elegant arms, gorgeous hands or perfectly perky boobs -- and you aren't afraid to flaunt it.
- You're carefree. You
