Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: ThinkstockBy Lynn Andriani

The "What Is This Stuff, Anyway?" Laundry Supply
Not only do dryer sheets contain toxic chemicals (this Scientific American post explains just what's so bad about them), but they're also an unnecessary laundry expense. There are cheaper, safer alternatives, depending on why you use the sheets. If you just like the scent, toss a lavender sachet into the dryer with your clothes or linens. If you use them to soften your laundry, pour a half-cup of vinegar into the fabric-softener compartment of the machine. And if static is your issue, throw a tennis ball in with a load--it'll help keep the pieces of clothing from clinging to each other.

RELATED: What to Ask Before You Buy

The Phone You Never Use
A landline can cost between $180 and $480 every year, so it isn't surprising that more people are dropping the service. As of June 2012, 34 percent of U.S. households had gone wireless-only, according to the U.S. National Health Information Study, and the

Photo: ThinkstockBy Jenny Bailly

The Cause: Puffiness

The Cure: Undereye bags cast shadows that make you look exhausted no matter how well-rested you are. First, cut out salt and alcohol, which lead to water retention and exacerbate swelling. Sleep on an extra pillow to drain the fluid that can accumulate around the eyes when you're lying down, and if you still notice puffiness in the morning, try a cold compress. Many of Wechsler's model patients--as in, the frequently photographed (not necessarily perfectly compliant) women who fill her waiting room--chill a teaspoon in ice water, then use it to firmly massage the fluid down and away from their undereye area before their fashion shoots. If the puffiness is present all the time, no matter what you do to reduce it, you are probably dealing with fat pads that protrude with age; unfortunately, they can only be removed by a plastic surgeon through a procedure called a lower blepharoplasty.

The Quick Fix: Trace an

Photo: Marcel ter Bekke/Getty ImagesBy Nancy Kalish

We'd never get between a java lover and her favorite pick-me-up. But for all the potential benefits of coffee--from decreasing your diabetes risk to protecting against Parkinson's--research shows that the brew isn't without its dangers. Luckily, there are simple ways to avoid them. Read this before you pour your next cup.

RELATED: Green Tea Taste Test

If you have high cholesterol...use a paper filter.
Every cup of unfiltered coffee (think French press) contains cafestol--"the most potent cholesterol-elevating substance we know of in the human diet," according to researcher Marie-Louise Ricketts, PhD, of the University of Nevada, Reno. One study found that drinking roughly four eight-ounce cups of French press coffee every day for four weeks could increase your cholesterol by about 8 percent. To remove most of the cafestol, brew your coffee with paper filters (single-serve options, like Keurig K-Cups, already have them built in), because they're more effective at

Photo: ThinkstockBy Valerie Ross

Breakable Rule #1: Use "I" statements, not "you" statements, when talking about a complaint.
Sticking to emotion-focused "I" statements rather than accusatory "you" statements ("I feel upset" rather than "You make me so mad") has helped couples communicate more clearly and calmly for decades now. But there's a third option that may be even better, a 2009 study found: "we" statements, like "We need to find time" or "We should give it a shot." When longtime couples were discussing a sticking point in their relationship, those who used more "we" words (we, us, ours, and so on) acted more positively toward each other, showed fewer physical signs of stress, and were happier in their marriages overall. "You can use your language as an indicator of the current state of your relationship, like a gas gauge on your car," says Robert Levenson, a social psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, who co-authored the study: Lots of "we" words and you're likely doing

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

You've been firing on all cylinders at work.

It seems counterintuitive, but when we feel proud of past accomplishments (like after a glowing performance review), we're more likely to reach for junk food, according to a study published in the Journal of Consumer Research. However, if we're feeling excited and hopeful (maybe thinking about how our presentation is going to kill it at next month's conference), we're more likely to resist the candy and opt for something good for us, like fruit. "When an individual is happy or proud, they tend to get more sucked up in the moment," says study author Karen Page Winterich. "Hopeful people are more focused on the future and the goals they would like to achieve--such as losing weight or eating healthier."

You're drinking out of the wrong shape of glass.

Ever notice how those beers at your favorite Friday-night pub seem to go down so easily? It may not have anything to do with the type or the taps or the kind of

Photo: Remain DesignsBy Oprah.com

Krystal O'Mara
31, founder, ReMain Eco Designs

Her Product: O'Mara's modern furniture and lighting fixtures, fashioned from recycled bike parts, include side tables made from rims and sconces built out of spokes and hubs.

RELATED: Eco-Friendly Design Tips

Her Story: After quitting her hotel sales job in Amarillo, Texas, three years ago to spend more time with her son, O'Mara started her own interior design business. When she volunteered to donate a piece of furniture to a local bike race's charity auction, she made the piece herself using recycled bike parts. The small end table she created by bolting together old rims and spokes inspired her to gather more parts from local bike shops. Soon she'd taught herself to weld and added chandeliers and lamps to her repertoire. "I grew up on a farm where we reused everything," she says. "I love saving these old bike parts from the landfill." (remaindesigns.com) -- Arianna Davis



Photo: Marko Metzinger/Studio D



Kristy Lewis
32, cofounder, Quinn Popcorn

Her

Photo: ThinkstockBy Kelly DiNardo

Yet another reason to say "namaste": A small 2010 study found that regular yoga practice may reduce inflammation in the body. "Inflammation, which can be triggered by stress, can worsen allergy attacks," says immunologist Gailen D. Marshall Jr., MD, PhD, who recommends yoga to his stressed-out patients.


We asked yoga instructor Sara Gottfried, MD, for the three best moves to help you feel better.

Alternate-Nostril Breathing

A 2008 study found that alternate nostril breathing-one of the most common breathing exercises in yoga-can increase your body's relaxation response.

Try it: Cover your right nostril and inhale through your left for a count of ten. Hold your breath for five seconds. Then cover your left nostril and exhale through your right for a count of ten. Inhale through your right nostril and hold for five seconds. Cover your right nostril again and exhale through your left. Do three more rounds.

RELATED: 6 Things Women With Gorgeous Skin Do Every

Photo: ThinkstockBy Candace Braun Davison

In Your Office's Vacation Policy
More and more companies are allowing employees to "sell" back their unused time off at the end of the year, according to The Wall Street Journal. The money is treated like an extra paycheck--with regular tax deductions--but you can also choose to receive it as a 401(k) contribution or donate it directly to charity. For the average American, that's an extra two days' pay each year.

RELATED: 7 Ways to Create a Gorgeous Bouquet with $10 or Less

At Your Local Gym
There's a new way to motivate yourself to hit the gym, and it's almost as powerful as your friend announcing that she ran into Ryan Gosling there. Some health insurance companies will pay you to work out. UnitedHealthcare, for example, reimburses members $20 for every month they visit a fitness center or YMCA at least 12 times. (Planet Fitness, one of UnitedHealthcare's participating gyms, offers memberships for $10 per month.) Similarly, Anthem will