Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: Mauricio AlejoBy Emma Haak

Your job is killing you.

"It's hard to tell a patient she needs to find a new job, especially in this economy. But stress can have serious cardiovascular consequences. I recently had a patient with palpitations, so I had her wear a device to monitor her heart. One day I noticed a potentially life-threatening arrhythmia and called her immediately: She told me her boss had just asked her to work harder than she was already working. When I explained what that stress was doing to her health, she decided to change jobs--and a month later, felt so much better. The bottom line is, if you don't change the situation that's causing the stress, you're putting yourself at risk for stroke, heart attack, even sudden cardiac death."
--Annabelle Volgman, MD, medical director of Chicago's Rush Heart Center for Women

The sun is bad for you, period.

"Some people believe they look healthier with a tan, or that they need UV rays to get vitamin D, even though you can get enough D fromRead More »from 5 Things Doctors Wish They Could Tell You

Photo: ThinkstockBy Suze Orman

Bad financial information doesn't come only from scammers; even our loved ones can unwittingly steer us wrong. That's why knowing what not to do with your money is often your biggest asset. In general, there are two little words that should set off everybody's suspicion meter: Trust me. Anyone who gives you this line--whether a financial adviser or your significant other--is disrespecting you. You should never entrust a money decision entirely to someone else. I know, I know: Sometimes you'd rather pass the buck. But remember, we're talking about your security, your future, your peace of mind. It's one thing to hire an investment adviser to help you choose funds for your IRA, or to cheerlead a spouse as he or she sets up a 529 plan to help pay your child's college tuition. It's quite another to tune out completely.

Find an hour or so a month to peruse a personal finance Web site or a magazine like Money or Kiplinger's, which will keep you up-to-date on the basics. The

Read More »from Suze Orman: The Financial Advice to Avoid at All Costs

By O, The Oprah Magazine

Photo: J Muckle/Studio DBy Kate Rockwood

If You Like Heath Bars Try...

Amy's Organic Andy's Dandy Candy in Crunchy

Bits of almond and a coating of deep, dark chocolate balance the sugary English toffee at the center. ($2.50 for 1.5 ounces; amys.com)

Photo: Nigel CoxIf You Like Milky Ways Try...

Whimsical Candy La-Dee-Dahs

Made by hand in small batches, these white-chocolate nougat and sea-salt caramel pinwheels dunked in dark chocolate are a swirly two-bite alternative to the boxy bar. ($6.50 for three; whimsicalcandy.com)

Photo: J Muckle/Studio DIf You Like Caramels Try...

JJ's Sweets Cocomels

Handmade with coconut milk and organic brown rice syrup, these caramels are buttery, transcendent--and vegan! ($9 for 12; jjssweets.com)

RELATED: 8 Desserts You Can Make in Just 10 Minutes

Photo: Nigel CoxIf You Like Life Savers Try...

Brooklyn Hard Candy

Traditionally, hard candy is created by

Read More »from Candy for Grownups

Photo: ThinkstockBy Lara Fox and Hilary Frankel

1.Be sensitive to the fact that she's sensitive to everything. Teasing, even if it's meant well, can really upset her--especially if it's focused on her changing body.

2. Don't say, "As long as you live under my roof, your room is my room." Her room is her escape and comfort. You take that away by claiming ownership of it.


RELATED: Home Makeover: Restyle Your Bedroom Nook

3. Pick your battles. If she wants blue hair and a 2 a.m. curfew, deny the curfew request; her hair will grow out. The fights worth fighting are the ones that affect her safety.

4. If you want her to call you from a party when her ride has been drinking, you need to tell her in advance that you won't judge her on the way home (even if she's been drinking, too).

RELATED: Who's In Control Around Here? (Hint: It Should Be You!)

5. When she's rude, it's because she wants you to take the bait. The best thing you can do is calmly walk away and let her know you're available to talk when she's

Read More »from 6 Ways to Survive Your Teenage Daughter

Photo: Marko MetzingerBy Amanda MacMillan

If the sense of accomplishment you get from painting a room is followed quickly by the need to open a window, consider this: That noxious smell comes from volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, which the paint can continue to emit for months. Some of these chemicals, like formaldehyde and benzene, have been linked to respiratory problems and even cancer, and others damage the ozone layer.

While low-VOC paints have been around for years, early formulas were often hard to spread and less durable than conventional ones. Even when brands claimed to be zero VOC, some colorants bumped up levels significantly. "Finding true zero-VOC paints is now easier than ever," says Annie B. Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home. "A number of companies offer milk- and clay-based formulas that work beautifully." Next time you reach for a brush, go a little greener by choosing one of these eco-friendly products.

RELATED: 3 Ingenious Ways to Decorate Small Space

Best

Read More »from An Eco-Painting Primer

Photo: Gentl & HyersBy Kate Rockwood

Q: I didn't have time to stop at the grocery store. What can I make for dinner?

"People are always surprised by the healthy, tasty meals you can pull from pantry ingredients," says Melissa d'Arabian, host of the Food Network show Ten Dollar Dinners (her cookbook by the same name was just published). The trick, she says, is to get adventurous with ingredient swaps--say, replacing meat with canned beans or fresh vegetables with frozen. "Familiar flavors are comforting, but don't hesitate to present them in a new package," she says. In her dinner-friendly variation on the Mexican breakfast dish huevos rancheros, d'Arabian substitutes spaghetti for the usual tortillas. When serving, break the egg yolk and mix it into the salsa for a silken pasta sauce that's light, fresh-and wholly original.

RELATED: Huevos Rancheros Spaghetti Recipe

Photo: Gentl & HyersQ: What's the easiest way to throw a dinner party that accommodates everyone's diets?

Trying to find one dish to satisfy

Read More »from Your Biggest Cooking Questions-- Answered

Photo: Beth BischoffBy Corrie Pikul

Your Goal: Find an "Emergency" Routine You Can Do Anywhere

You need a portable routine to squeeze in between scheduled workouts--something you can easily do in your living room, a hotel room or the spare room at your parents' house (where you'll be staying during your next visit). This routine by New York City celebrity trainer Joel Harper builds muscle, creates flexibility and keeps your fitness level up without requiring any equipment. Best of all: You need only 20 minutes.

Photo: ThinkstockYour Goal: Work Out at Least Four Times a Week

You feel the most pumped to work out at night, but deadlines, family, friends and Mad Men have made it hard to stick to a schedule. Try picking an evening class (maybe even a pricey yoga or spin session) and treating it like a meeting or a social obligation. When you have a regular fitness appointment, you schedule the rest of your life around your workout instead of trying to fit your workout into your life, says

Read More »from How to Be Your Own Trainer