Blog Posts by Health.com

Getty ImagesBy Su Reid-St. John

So you've heard it a million times: Walk more! Aim for 10,000 steps a day! But taking the stairs instead of the elevator will only get you so far. Steal a few of these fresh tips to help you rack up your mileage. (Looking for a great way to track those steps? Click here.)

1. Pace the room while waiting at the doctor's office.

2. Grocery shopping? Make an extra tour around the perimeter aisles before checking out.

3. Use the restroom one floor down (or up) at work instead of heading for the one just down the hall.

4. Ditto with your coffee.

Health.com: 9 easy ways to sneak in more vacation

5. Hide the remote so you have to actually get up to change the channel. Better yet, turn off the TV.

6. Instead of fighting other drivers for that single open spot near the door, do your blood pressure a favor and park several rows away.

7. Walk around the block while your kid is taking dance class/playing soccer/whatever.

8. Get off the bus or subway one stop early.

9.

Getty Images

By Julie Upton, RD

A new report issued last week warned us that, if trends in the U.S. waistline continue as they are, 50% of our population would be obese by 2030. There are many reasons why overweight and obesity are such problems right now. Some research suggests that we've grown more comfortable being overweight and that being overweight has become "normal," while being of an ideal weight may appear to be "underweight."

CorbisBy Aviva Patz

Every year, sneeze sufferers swear: "This is the worst allergy season ever." And they're right. "Pollen levels are increasing, pollen seasons are getting longer, and more people are developing allergies," says Estelle Levetin, PhD, chairwoman of the aerobiology committee for the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

In fact, this year's fall allergies (affecting at least 12 million Americans) will likely last up to 27 days longer than average in the northernmost parts of North America, going even into November in some spots, a new study suggests.

Health.com: The 10 worst plants for your allergies

Sneezes from the seasons
While spring and fall allergies cause the same symptoms (sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny nose), their triggers are different.

Spring allergies, which run from February to late July, are brought on by pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds. Fall allergies go from mid-August through the first autumn frost, and are chiefly set off by pollen

Getty ImagesAnti-aging breakthroughs so amazing they save you time, money… even surgery. By Elizabeth Brous

Handheld light beams. Micro-pulse vibrations. The latest skin-transforming gadgets and treatments may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but don't let the high-tech flourishes intimidate you: These "skinovations" are actually making it easier to get younger, flawless-looking skin, without having to deal with prescriptions or invasive procedures. And that's no science fiction.

Breakthroughs that…Save you from RX hassle! New over-the-counter lotions deliver (almost) the same benefit as their prescription cousins-without the wait time at the pharmacy counter.

Gentle Spot-Lighteners
Derm-prescribed skin-bleaching creams often contain a skin-irritating ingredient called hydroquinone. Now there are new, non-hydroquinone-based OTC lighteners that are less likely to produce a reaction, says Tina Alster, MD, clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center in

Getty ImagesBy Alyssa Sparacino


The notoriously outspoken bad boy of the food scene is at it again.

Last week, No Reservations star Anthony Bourdain told TV Guide how he really feels about some of the Food Network's biggest celebrity chefs, including Rachael Ray, Guy Fieri, and most notably, Paula Deen, whom he called "the worst, most dangerous person to America."

The professional chef, author, and restaurateur went on to bash the Southern cook for her unhealthy recipes and her influence on an already-obese America. (He ended, poignantly, by saying Deen's food "sucks.")

By Amanda MacMillan

If you're sleeping somewhere other than home, beware. Bedbug prevalence is on the rise, and hotels and motels are some of their favorite hangouts.

These pesky critters can cause severe itching and welt-like bites, and it's costly to get rid of them if they follow you home. What's more, research suggests they can cause financial distress, anxiety, and social isolation.

But no need to get depressed just yet. With these easy tips, you can cut your chances of critter trouble while on the road.

More from Health.com:

Make Any Hotel Room Healthier

How to Sleep Better in Hotels

6 Tips for Beating Jet Lag

By Ella Quittner

Let's face it: The rules of weight loss-eat less, move more, treats in moderation- are a drag. And they don't fit with most dieters' quick-fix, thinner-by-dinner expectations. Cue diet crutches: tricks, based on scant science, that may speed up results. So if a friend swears that munching on grapefruit gets her into skinny jeans, or a coworker credits ice water for his sleek physique, should you try it too?

Not so fast. Some diet crutches are helpful, some harmful, and some won't do much either way. We asked registered dietitians for the bottom line ("skip it," "try it," or "do it right") on the most common diet crutches.

More from Health.com:

16 Little Ways to Lose Big Pounds

Best Superfoods for Weight Loss

25 Shocking Celebrity Weight Changes