Blog Posts by Vitamin G, Glamour Magazine

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

Warrior Pose 2Sure, we're already in the clutches of cooler weather, but that doesn't mean we can't fantasize about the beach, right? Cue the sound of crashing waves...

Not only is surfing excellent exercise (there are even on-land classes that mimic surfing, which makes sense--have you seen how strong surfers' bodies are?), it requires serious arm, back, shoulders, and core strength to stay upright on your board.

The Sanctuary at Two Rivers, an eco-yoga retreat in Costa Rica that was founded by actress Perrey Reeves (Ari's wife from Entourage!), is hosting a Yoga and Surfing retreat December 1-7 (plus there are other yoga/surf events throughout the year)--uh, yeah, sounds amazing and I am cursing my current state of being landlocked.

Anyway, these are some of the yoga moves that Sanctuary uses to help get its surfers strong and balanced... and ready to ride the waves. You might know

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Downward Facing Dog: for

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Downward dogs, oms, deep breathing may seem like a healthy move to you and to me, but to a group of parents in Encinitas, California, well, not so much. Let's discuss the surprising controversy...

As the Los Angeles Times reports, some parents of children in Encinitas, California, aren't happy about a local yoga studio's $533,000 grant to teach yoga in nearby public schools (the grant would also teach nutrition, healthy living principles and even gardening). The sticking point? The opposing parents say that adding "the ancient practice of meditative exercise to the school curriculum is tantamount to religious indoctrination into Hinduism."

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While school officials have promised that there is no religious angle to the program, cited yoga's many (many!) health benefits, and agreed that parents can pull their children out of yoga classes if they'd like, that wasn't enough for a group of outraged parents who hired

by Lexi Petronis, Glamour

Yep, there it is: "Christmas cookie" in a headline. We are officially headed into holiday season. But I have a new plan I'm going to try out this year: I'm going to focus on my midsection now, instead of January 1. And I'm definitely turning to this book for help.

One of my very favorite dietitians, Erin Palinski, R.D., has just published a new book: The Belly Fat Diet for Dummies. It's filled with all kinds of good-for-your gut tips and recipes, and even includes a doable, reasonable 14-day plan to cut the pounds from your stomach area that I am totally into--I've been keeping the book on my kitchen counter for quick reference, honestly. Here, Erin was kind enough to share some of the words of belly fat-busting wisdom:

1. Get spicy with belly-burning seasonings
"Seasonings like cayenne pepper contain thermogenic properties that boost your metabolism, helping you to shed body fat. Animal studies have also indicated that capsaicin may decrease insulin

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Permission to chow down! The latest nutrition indicates that this popular supplement may be a colossal waste of money and time...

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So, if you want to get plenty of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, it looks like you may want to eat fish now and then. After a recent major review of research, scientists report that spending money on fish oil supplements may not only be a waste of money but also a waste of time.

According to the New York Times: "The data showed that eating two to four servings of fish a week reduced stroke risk by 6 percent compared with eating one serving or less, and having five servings a week reduced the risk by 12 percent. But the results of the randomized trials that had used omega-3 supplements showed no significant effect on risk."

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Another example of how eating real food is so much better for you than popping a pill!

Do

OK, get close to your guy and take a whiff! Here's why...
by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Not to get too TMI here, but I've always loved the way my husband smells. Kind of woodsy, clean and, well, just Jason! And, good news for moi: My habit of breathing in his "scent" maybe a healthy move for our relationships, say experts.

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According to researchers in The Netherlands, couples who are in tune with their partner's scent may be able to read their emotional cues better. In the study, the scientists found that women and men were able to mirror expressions of fear, for example, when they smelled the scent the body gives off when experiencing a fear response.

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The idea here is that scent makes us more empathetic, understanding and close. Kind of fascinating, eh?

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by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Salad is a weight watcher's best friend, or is it? New reports claim that something about certain salads may be contributing to obesity--and it has nothing to do with fat or calories...

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Could your salad be ... making you fat? Well, according to new and somewhat startling research reported by Rodale, certain pesticides (or rather, fungicides) used on crops may effect genes that play a role in the development of obesity. The study, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, hints that the real risk may be for pregnant women. The researchers speculate that chemicals, like the fungicides the study takes aim at, may be especially detrimental to developing babies and may predispose them to obesity.

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Obviously, this news is preliminary, and it's not the final word on organic vs. conventional agriculture, but I'll be honest: This is enough to tip the scales for

by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Good news for yogurt lovers! Your favorite snack may help you ward off this health condition...

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Researchers in Canada say that yogurt and other probiotic-rich foods may be a wonderful way to reduce your cholesterol. In the study of 127 adults, they found that after 9 weeks, those who took a twice-daily probiotic supplement (with about the amount of live cultures you'd find in a serving of yogurt) had an almost 12 percent reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol.

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That's big news for people who are trying to reduce their cholesterol and risk of heart disease and who may not be interested in taking medication to do so.

Do you eat yogurt daily? Other probiotic-rich foods or supplements?

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by Sarah Jio, Glamour

Have you ever taken a pregnancy test? Health experts are discussing a surprising topic--whether a pregnancy test can diagnose, or just hint at, the presence of certain cancers...

Fox's medical expert Dr. Manny Alveraz wrote about a surprising case of a man who took a pregnancy test and, well, tested positive. "Recently, an anonymous user posted what he thought was a funny story to the popular social news site Reddit, describing how his male friend took a pregnancy test--which came back positive," he writes. "After many commenters urged the man's friend to go the doctor, it turned out the friend actually had testicular cancer."

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Um, so what's going on? "What a pregnancy test measures is a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). ... [T]here are some cancer cells that also produce beta hCG. These cancers include some that are particular to males like testicular cancer, but also ones