Blog Posts by Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Most people tend to think decaffeinated coffee is healthier. After all, isn't caffeine marginally bad for us? Well, no, say most experts. Yes, too much isn't a good thing, but coffee, in moderation (defined as two to four 8 oz. cups per day) may actually protect your health in significant ways, according to a new study.

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New American Cancer Society research suggests that people who drink caffeinated coffee in moderation daily were about half as likely to die from oral cancers than those who were diagnosed with oral cancers and drank tea or non-caffeinated beverages.

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"Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, and contains a variety of antioxidants, polyphenols, and other biologically active compounds that may help to protect against development or progression of cancers," said lead author Janet Hildebrand, MPH. "Although it is less common in the United States,

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Lovelies, you know I'm a bigtime runner. I loooooooove it like no other. Just me, my iPod and my tennis shoes pounding the pavement--aaaahhhhh. As a runner, I've never been fitter, stronger and slimmer, and I owe my surge in creativity to running also (hello, five novels, which were all plotted out on daily jogs!).

But, in the back of my mind, I will admit to wondering if all the pavement-pounding is good for my health, especially after this slightly scary incident after running a 10K recently.

That's why I was especially interested to read a report published in the British journal Heart alleging that intense running over time may be bad for the heart.

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From NBC: "[The author of the report] points to studies that show subtle signs of heart damage in marathon runners tested right after their races have been run. And backing that up, he says, is data from the "Iron Mouse" study that found scarring in the hearts of mice forced

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

Beer!

A study by researchers at Sapporo Medical University in Tokyo (and funded by Sapporo Breweries) found that a chemical component found in beer hops called humulone may actually protect drinkers from the respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause cold symptoms, pneumonia, and bronchitis. The virus is especially rampant in the wintertime. So... three cheers for beer?

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Well--and you knew this was coming--there's a catch. There are such tiny amounts of humulone in beer, you would have to drink about 30 servings of 12-ounce cans in order to see any real protection against the virus. And if you drank that much at once, I think you'd probably have more immediate problems to deal with than a virus.

The researchers are now looking into the idea that they could add humulone to food or non-alcoholic drinks. They say that children in particular could benefit from humulone; the challenge is that it's pretty bitter, so the

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

If you're still feeling a little overstuffed with turkey and/or all the trimmings, you just might love these little tricks from Prevention to help with the post-holiday de-bloat. (Oof.) I know I do.

1: Drink from a straight glass, not a curved one
One study found that people who drink from a glass that's rounded out in the middle instead of a straight up-and-down glass end up drinking 60 percent more juice, soda, or alcohol. (That equals about 67 extra OJ calories at breakfast and 40 extra wine calories at dinnertime.) Researchers think this is because the curve of the glass makes it harder to tell when you've reached the halfway point, so it's easier to knock back another beverage more quickly. I'm not sure how true oenophiles might feel about sipping fine wine from a glass not made for vino, but hey!

2. Look forward to lunch
This one totally surprised me. Experts say that when you're eagerly anticipating a meal, your body may actually produce lower levels

by Yelena Shuster, Glamour

When you're pregnant, advice seems to come from every possible direction. We can't drown out your mother-in-law's well-meaning but totally crazy-sounding advice, but we can pass along these 11 pieces of valuable pregnancy information we wish someone had told us.

Pregnancy Fact 1: Your Headache Meds Could Double Your Miscarriage Risk
Now's the time to really take stock of what's in your medicine cabinet because there's a big difference between ibuprofen and acetaminophen-especially when you're expecting. Your risk of miscarriage increases up to 2.4 times by taking any type of nonaspirin nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen during pregnancy, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Guy Ringler, M.D., reproductive endocrinologist with California Fertility Partners in Los Angeles, says taking NSAIDs during your pregnancy can cause a small to moderate risk of congenital defects. Relax,

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

My dears, are you eating enough veggies? While all are divine for health, some are particularly good in the breast cancer-fighting department.

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WebMD reports on a recent large-scale study that found that women who ate more fruits and veggies containing the antioxidant known as carotenoids have a lower breast cancer risk.

Carotenoid-rich veggies tend to be a vibrant orange or yellow color (but not always). Your best sources of carotenoids include:

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*Carrots
*Sweet potatoes
*Spinach
*Kale
*Red peppers
*Acorn squash (yum, my favorite!)

Are you getting enough carotenoids in your diet?

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by Gina Roberts-Grey, Glamour

No, we haven't watched too many Claymation holiday specials--just stay with us here, OK? No one, it seems, is immune to the anxiety that is the entire month of December. No one, that is, except the dude in the red suit who's merry all. the. time. Here's what you can learn from the big guy.

Holiday Stress Relief Tip: Go caroling to boost your mood.
If you've caught yourself belting "Jingle Bells" or "Silent Night" in the shower, you're on your way to upping production of the brain's happiness hormones, according to Harvard University scientists. Plus, more researchers have found that even if you can't remember all the words, singing what you do know or humming the joyful tune has also been shown to help blood flow to your heart.

Holiday Stress Relief Tip: Don seasonal colors for extra confidence.
Dressing festively may feel like a reprisal of your role in the third-grade Christmas revue, but it's not just for elves. Researchers in Istanbul found that

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

I think we can pretty much all agree that it sucks to stink. But would you forgo a few swipes of deodorant under your arms for a deodorant that you eat instead?

Banking on the idea that what you eat can directly impact how you smell, Deo Perfume Candy contains geraniol, a component of rose oil that supposedly "aromatizes" as it's exuded through your skin, producing a "beautiful rose fragrance." One serving of the "nutricosmetic" candy--four pieces--contains 12 mg of geraniol, but the strength and duration of its effects depend upon how much you weigh (the four-piece serving size is recommended to someone weighing 145 pounds). The candy's deodorizing effects are supposed to last for six hours.

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Sounds... plausible, right? It must, at least to some people--both versions of Deo (regular and sugar-free) are sold out on Amazon.

But experts aren't convinced. George Preti, a chemist at the Monell Chemical Senses