Blog Posts by SHAPE magazine

by Valerie Berkowitz R.D., for SHAPE.com

Could this be causing all your health problems?Many women are unfortunately familiar with fatigue, recurring sinus infections, irritability, and a stuck scale. You may blame it on anxiety, allergies, stress, or bad genes-but it could be something else.

Candida albicans-tiny yeast organisms like fungi and mold-may seem harmless, but yeast overgrowth (YO) packs a powerful punch and is responsible for issues that affect almost every body system. While vaginal infections are readily ID'ed, when yeast is prevalent on the skin or in gut and mouth flora and the symptoms are more general, it is not as easily diagnosed. After all, how often do you feel moody or depressed, lack focus, or suffer from headaches, post-nasal drip, rashes, or eczema that won't seem to go away?

It's not totally your fault: The environment we live in creates a breeding ground for yeast overgrowth. A weakened immune system due to the overuse or misuse of antibiotics, steroids, and antibacterial soap; use of birth control

by Cristina Goyanes for SHAPE.com

Are you eating too much plastic?You already know that microwaving your leftover chicken stir-fry in its plastic container is a major no-no, but that's not the only way to end up with a mouthful of chemicals.

An alarming new report from the University of Texas Health Science Center and the U.S. government suggests that most popular supermarket foods-including dairy, meats, condiments, drinks, and pizza-may be contaminated with a variety of plastic chemicals called phthalates. These chemicals are commonly used as plasticizers (what makes plastics soft, rubbery, and less breakable) in items such as fragranced shampoos, detergents, cleaners, lotions, and shower curtains. But now researchers are saying that some small amounts of the stuff may be traceable in your favorite packaged foods too.

"When phthalates get added to plastics, they don't fuse into a new atom, so they stay separated, which means they can leak out and get picked up through the air, skin, water; they're everywhere and

by Jay Cardiello for SHAPE.com

This simple, effective workout will give your metabolism a boostIf you've been dreaming of a past body--you know, the one you had before you gained that college weight, got married, had a few kids, or discovered chili-spiked chocolate--wake up and face reality: You can reunite with your former physique. All you need is this simple, effective workout that will give your metabolism a kick in the butt and help firm up yours.

How It Works: For each exercise, perform as many repetitions as possible in 60 seconds. Do not rest between moves.

You'll Need: A 3- to 5-pound dumbbell (or you can alternate between using a towel or heavy shoe or boot).

1. Row Kickbacks: Holding the dumbbell in your right hand, come into a pushup position. Keeping abs and gluteus region tight, in one explosive movement, simultaneously row right arm up toward chest, driving elbow past your back, while raising left leg to parallel with the floor. Pause for 1 second, retract, and repeat. Perform for 30 seconds before repeating with left hand and right

by SHAPE editors

Cure any exercise-related ill with these natural remediesHas an exercise-related affliction halted your sweat sessions? These remedies will have you on the mend...without meds!

The problem: Back pain
The Fix: Yoga

Activities like running, cycling, and golf put pressure on the spine, which can exacerbate backaches. For relief, hit the mat: In a recent study published in Archives of Internal Medicine, 60 percent of people who practiced yoga for 75 minutes weekly reported less lower-back pain after three months. Get the benefits at home with a DVD like Yoga Tune Up Quickfix Rx: Upper & Lower Body ($30; yogatuneup.com).

The problem: Muscle cramps
The Fix: A New Breakfast

Dehydration often causes charley horses and side stitches, but poor circulation and a slow digestive system are culprits too. To prevent spasms, top cereal with a teaspoon of cinnamon, a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, and half a cup of lowfat milk, advises Susan Kleiner, a SHAPE advisory board member.
"Cinnamon opens blood vessels, flaxseed moves food through

by Alanna Nuñez for SHAPE.com

Is PMS a bad sign?Cramping, cravings, and exhaustion tend to be expected by women before Aunt Flo's visit, but more and more experts agree that these symptoms aren't normal. In fact, some think that what passes for PMS may be a hint that something's off in your body.

"We often joke about it," says women's health specialist Alisa Vitti, author of WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Life, and Become a Power Source. "We chalk it up as part of 'being a woman,' but the reality is that PMS is really a sign of an imbalance between your levels of progesterone and estrogen."

Your Monthly Cycle, Explained

Your menstrual cycle is divided into phases: The first is your actual menstruation. On the first day of your period, your estrogen and progesterone start at rock-bottom levels and rise steadily, which can boost your brain's production of serotonin. Surprisingly, you may find yourself feeling more upbeat, productive, and social than you do

by Aviva Patz for SHAPE.com

These seemingly simple fibs could be harming your health!According to a Columbia University survey, more than half of women ages 25 to 49 routinely withhold information from their physicians. And really, who hasn't stretched the truth just a little when pressed about personal details, whether it's how often you floss or when you last hooked up with a new guy?

"People don't want to be scolded or judged," says Barbara M. Korsch, M.D., a professor at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California and author of The Intelligent Patient's Guide to the Doctor-Patient Relationship. "And often, they're simply embarrassed to talk about subjects they see as taboo." But honesty is the best policy at the doctor's office: If you've made one of the following misleading statements, you could be seriously sabotaging your health care.


1. Half-truth: "I don't smoke"

Truth: You bum a cigarette from a colleague now and then.

Consequences: More than one in 10 people who take at least an occasional drag hide the

by Heidi Pashman for SHAPE.com

Were we wrong about read meat?Saturated fat and cholesterol have long been the culprits in heart disease risk, but they may not be isolated criminals, according to a new study by the Cleveland Clinic.

Red meat is abundant in a compound called carnitine, which researchers found boosts levels of the chemical trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Not good because TMAO promotes hardening of the arteries, a.k.a. atherosclerosis. Interestingly, carnitine didn't have the same affect on everyone in the study: Those who ate meat normally (omnivorous) produced much more TMAO than vegans or vegetarians after eating red meat.

While this doesn't change the already-established association between red meat and heart disease risk, it does reveal a new step in the process as to why there is a link and expand our understanding of how regular meat consumption affects cardiovascular health, researchers say.

And carnitine is not just found in red meat. It is also found in energy drinks and bodybuilding

by SHAPE Diet Doctor Mike Roussell, phD

How much protein do you really need?Is it true your body can only process so much protein at once?

No, it is not true. I have always found the idea that your body can only "use" a certain amount of protein funny, as what happens when you go over that number? Does it pass through your system undigested?

Protein and how much you need is a very misunderstood topic, most likely because we have traditionally looked at how much protein we need in our diets based on preventing a deficiency and not the optimal amount. If you are looking to ensure you get adequate levels of the essential amino acids, then you will need somewhere between 50 to 60 grams of protein each day. I know many nutrition professionals who believe taking in more than that is a waste.

But I'm going to bet that you are not reading SHAPE to help prevent nutritional deficiencies-you likely want to slim down, train harder, perform better, or all of the above. For this we need to look beyond deficiencies and look at what