Blog Posts by Oprah.com

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

The 10-Minute Cure for Monkey Mind
We know you don't need a study to convince you of the mind-quieting potential of meditation (didn't we all read Eat Pray Love?), but this one's pretty impressive: A group of Boston University researchers analyzed the results of 39 studies with 1,140 total participants to assess how effective mindfulness-based therapy really was (they admitted in their conclusion that they were initially skeptical). They found that this type of meditation is legitimately effective in treating not just anxiety, mood disorders and depression, but also cancer and other psychiatric and medical conditions. The icing on the cake: just a few minutes will do the trick. And a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that meditation can lower stress in less than a week.

Recommended dosage: Try these 10-minute mini-meditations that are meant to be incorporated into your day.

RELATED: 8 Meals to Help You Chill Out After a Crazy

Photo: Thinkstock

By Corrie Pikul

Fill Your Bottle With Water, Not Bacteria

Remember to fill your water bottle from your tap at home. Secret swab tests at gyms across the country have discovered bacteria thriving on water fountains that could cause lung, skin and eye infections. One test by a cleaning company even determined that the gym's drinking fountains were germier than the toilets.

Extra time: 2 minutes

Use Your Phone As A Motivator (And A Moneymaker)

Make a digital entrance. Apps that help you track how much and how often you exercise, like RunKeeper, Fitocracy, MyFitnessPal and Nike+, can be a kick in the pants to work out longer, harder and with more enthusiasm. Thank the Hawthorne effect -- the tendency to act differently when you believe your actions are being observed (even if the only observer is you). As a feel-good bonus, apps like Plus 3 Network and Earndit also allow you to accrue points that translate into charitable donations or gift cards and discounts -- just

By Lynn Andriani

Eating your vegetables has never been easier (and neither has polishing off a bowl of rice), thanks to these fuss-free dishes.

Photo: ThinkstockBy Corrie Pikul

"A twitching eyelid is a sure sign that you've got too much on your plate."

Stress could be causing your eyelid to make you look like an overenthusiastic flirt--but so could fatigue or even dry eyes, which affects half of women over 40, says Anne Sumers, MD, a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Sumers says that while ophthalmologists like her see at least three patients every week with eyelid spasms, there's no clear consensus on what causes them. However, experts are sure that these twitches aren't a sign of a serious problem. Sumers says that it may help to get more rest, to try lubricating eye drops or to take a vacation from work--but even if you do nothing, she says the spasms should go away on their own in four to six weeks (at the most).

"Taking deep, slow breaths can help you calm down when you're feeling panicked and overwhelmed."

It makes sense that when you're short of breath, you should try to

Photo: ThinkstockBy Amy Shearn

The Pinterest-Pretty Wedding at the Italian Villa

No, you're not imagining it. These days, one in four couples ties the knot in a far-flung locale rather than the local country club, according to a study by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. In other words, 24 percent of nuptials are now destination weddings, up from 20 percent in 2009, and the chances are good you'll be invited to one of them. Even assuming your hosts follow the etiquette suggested by TheKnot.com's Destination Wedding site and provide you with free events and transportation during the festivities, you're still going to be on the hook for your own airfare, hotel rooms, restaurant meals, kenneling pets at home and so on. So remember what a joy it is to be able to share this blessed event as you set aside the $1,500 or so it will take to make it happen.

Fixing Your Forever Boots

In the 18th century, people generally had one pair of shoes that they repaired and wore and repaired ad infinitum.

By Dr. Mehemet Oz

Just as our bodies change over time, so should the way we care for them. Follow these 24 smart strategies for eating, sleeping, and everything in between, and you'll live happier and healthier ever after--starting right now!

Photo: ThinkstockBy Amy Shearn

Mistake #1: Leaving the Romance Out of the Weather Report
Okay, grab a hanky--or 14--and watch this video from StoryCorps about an extraordinary 27-year-marriage that ended in terminal cancer. The takeaway, in case you didn't watch it, or missed it as you collapsed into a puddle, is that Danny wrote Annie a love letter every day. Every single day. His love letters were simple notes. He calls them "romantic weather reports." "To my princess: The weather out today is extremely rainy... " begins one of them. You know you're going to talk about the weather. There's nothing wrong with that. Or there doesn't have to be anyway. Not when the weather is relayed in the language of love.

Mistake #2: Having Your Heart-to-Hearts on the Side
You know who really understands what you're going through? Your best girlfriend, who happens to also be a much-decorated First Date Veteran, or else is also married to a workaholic, or is in whatever relevant way your romance

Photo: Getty ImagesBy Dr. Mehmet Oz

Umckaloabo Root Extract
Used by Germans as a cure for respiratory woes. One study found that people with sinus infections who were treated with an herbal drug made from the plant's roots saw their symptoms nearly disappear in just three weeks.

Ginger Tea
Used in traditional Chinese medicine to calm sore throats and ease upset stomachs. It's also believed that ginger can act as a decongestant to clear nasal passages.

RELATED: 5 Ways to Bring Yourself Back from Burnout

Hot Black Currant Juice
Used by the Finnish to stifle sniffles and soothe the respiratory tract. Black currant berries are packed with vitamin C and other antioxidants that help boost your immune system to fight infection.

KEEP READING: 25 Superfoods to Incorporate Into Your Diet Now

More from Oprah.com:
• Dr. Oz's Smartest Strategies for Feeling Great at Every Age
• 4 Money Addictions to Break Now
• Vegetarian Recipes Even Carnivores Will Love
• 7 Ways to Relieve Stress in Under an Hour