Blog Posts by Health.com

IstockphotoBy Kimberly Goad

If you didn't know better, you might think that all the energy necessary to get through the ups and downs of an average day could be found in a powder, a pill, or a suspiciously small can. If only! But here's the good news: getting-and, more important, keeping-your energy level high is a breeze. Just take a look at these expert tips and tricks on the single best way...

1. To get your first energy boost of the day: Eat a little something
Studies show that breakfast-eaters enjoy more energy and stay in a better mood throughout the day than their breakfast-skipping counterparts. But we're not talking just any breakfast. "Muffins, granola, and croissants are energy zappers," Los Angeles-based dietitian Ashley Koff, RD, says. "They're high in sugar, sodium, and less-healthy fats, providing carbs but rarely protein. So you get superhigh in the morning, and two hours later you're picking yourself up off the floor." Instead, aim for an energy-balancing mix of high-quality

Getty ImagesBy Jennifer Goldstein

The world's most gorgeous colors-the deep ocean blues, earthy forest greens, fiery sunset hues-also happen to be the most flattering. Yet many of us avoid these makeup shades, finding them daunting. We get it: Any type of color on the face can be scary.

But there are palettes out there that can do wonders for your looks, according to New York City makeup artist Emily Kate Warren. "Once you find the right makeup shades, you'll be amazed at how they wake up your entire face and make your skin glow," she says.

Health.com: Get personalized skin care advice from our beauty editor!

To figure out which hues are most gorgeous on you, we developed three nature-inspired color categories that almost all women fall into: Sun, Ocean, and Earth.

Read the descriptive statements for each group on the following pages to see which you belong to, then check out the corresponding tips to discover a beautiful new look. Yes, it's that easy.

Are you a sun?
You'll look great in these

By Leslie Barrie

Freezing temps? Check. Gray skies? Check. Crabby mood? Check again.

But not for long! It may be gloomy outside, but your outlook doesn't have to be: "There are
simple things you can do to stay positive," says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness. "It's important to keep your mood up because it can help you avoid everything from gaining extra pounds to feeling lethargic."

Try these techniques to stay sunny all winter long-no trip to the Bahamas required!

Health.com: 7 signs of seasonal affective disorder

Step #1: Winterize your workout
It can be tough to muster the motivation to make it to the gym when the temperature is below zero. But "exercise can boost your mood, and you need that lift even more during the winter," says Patricia Laguna, PhD, a professor of kinesiology at California State University, Fullerton.

Laguna suggests that you give yourself some incentive. Jot

CorbisBy Leslie Barrie

This festive beverage helps your heart, smooths your skin, and more!

Health booster
Top off that flute-your ticker will thank you! Champagne and other sparkling wines can reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke because the polyphenols (plant chemicals with antioxidant properties) in bubbly help lower your blood pressure, a study from the University of Reading in England found. Sip a glass once a week to reap the benefits, says Jeremy Spencer, PhD, the senior researcher. Just don't have more than one a night-as with any booze, over-imbibing hurts your health.

Health.com: 12 nights of delicious drinks

Skin salve
Another reason to say cheers: Champagne's carbon dioxide may help tighten your skin, and its polyphenols combat redness. Soak in this soothing bath suggested by Kristin Fraser Cotte, founder and CEO of The Grapeseed Company: Combine 1 cup powdered milk and 1/2 cup Epsom salts in a bowl; add 1 or more cups of any sparkling wine (no need to splurge on the

By Amanda Gardner

A good night's sleep tends to leave you feeling refreshed, alert, and upbeat. According to a new study, it may also make you look healthier and more attractive to others.

To test whether there's a grain of truth in the notion of "beauty sleep," researchers in Sweden took photographs of 23 men and women ages 18 to 31 after they'd slept for eight hours. They then repeated the process, except this time the researchers kept the volunteers up for 31 hours straight after allowing them to sleep for just five hours the previous night. (For both snapshots, participants were instructed to wear no makeup, keep their hair loose, and perform the same grooming beforehand.)

Health.com: 7 tips for the best sleep ever

When the researchers mixed up all the photos and asked 65 people to rate how attractive, tired, and healthy the study participants looked, the photographs of the well-rested people scored significantly higher. Compared to their well-rested selves, the sleep-deprived

CorbisBy Jennifer Matlack

Finding a lump in your breast may leave you in a cold sweat. But here's a reassuring fact: It usually isn't cancer. What could it be? We talked with two breast experts at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute to find out all about breast symptoms and tell you what to do about them. Talk to your doc about any changes in your breasts.

Health.com: 25 breast cancer myths and misunderstandings

Soft lump
The symptom: A soft, smooth, round lump (like a grape) that moves a little when you press on it and may cause pain when touched; it can be small or large.

Could be: Cysts, or sacs filled with natural fluid.

Caused by: Hormone changes around your period. As many as 30 percent of women between 35 and 50 get them.

What to do: Get an ultrasound to see if the lump is filled with fluid or is solid (and possibly cancerous). Your doctor can insert a needle to drain fluid and relieve pressure if the cyst is painful (although it may come

CorbisBy Gail Belsky

When sleep disturbances persist for longer than a month, it's important to identify any underlying causes. Consider whether these common triggers could be contributing to your restless nights.

Pain
In one study, 15% of Americans reported suffering from chronic pain, and two-thirds also reported having sleep problems. Back pain, headaches, and temporomandibular joint syndrome (problems with the jaw muscles) are the main causes of pain-related sleep loss.

Health.com: The pain and sleep catch-22

Mental illness and stress
Insomnia is both a symptom and a cause of depression and anxiety. Since the brain uses the same neurotransmitters for sleep and mood, it's often hard to know which starts first. Stressful situations or events, such as money or marital problems, often kick off insomnia that can become a long-term problem.

Snoring
If you are one of the 37 million chronic snorers in the U.S., your buzz saw may be no big deal; an estimated 30% to 50% of Americans snore,

Getty ImagesBy Leslie Barrie

To reduce your risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge. "All the studies on cancer and nutrition point to eating plant-based foods for their phytonutrients and other special compounds," says Richard Béliveau, PhD, chair in the prevention and treatment of cancer at the University of Québec at Montreal and author of Foods to Fight Cancer.

Aim for five to nine daily servings of all kinds of fruits and vegetables-especially these six superstars.

Broccoli
All cruciferous veggies (think cauliflower, cabbage, kale) contain cancer-fighting properties, but broccoli is the only one with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body's protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals, says Jed Fahey, ScD. A recent University of Michigan study on mice found that sulforaphane also targets cancer stem cells-those that aid in tumor growth.

Helps fight: breast, liver, lung, prostate, skin, stomach, and bladder cancers

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