Blog Posts by The Editors at Sharecare

Just-released government statistics confirm that ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is more prevalent than ever before, increasing over the past decade from 6.9% to 9% among children ages 5 to 17. With nearly 1 in 10 kids being diagnosed with ADHD, and more adults learning they have it, too, it's become commonplace to blame it for everything from bad behavior to a messy house. Everyone, from friends and neighbors to Hollywood celebrities, has something to say about it, much of it with no basis in science. Here to help you get your facts straight, the top 10 misconceptions about ADHD:

Myth #1: Only kids have ADHD.

Although about 10% of kids 5 to 17 years old have been diagnosed with ADHD, at least 4% of adults have it, too -- and probably many more, since adult ADHD is often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. That's partly because people think only kids get it.

Learn more about how ADHD symptoms create different challenges for adults.

Myth #2: All kids

No doubt about it: With one in three Americans now labeled overweight, "thin" food sells. Restaurants are adding low-cal choices to their menus, processed foods are being reformulated to be "healthy," and the diet food home-delivery business is booming. So why isn't weight loss getting any easier? Blame these five sneaky diet wreckers:

1. Good food gone bad. Fruit, veggies, and whole grains are the backbone of nearly every weight loss plan. But that doesn't mean you can eat your fruit blended into sugary shakes called "smoothies" or candied into "fruit chews." And those veggie chips? Most are still salty, greasy, and calorie-laden. Oily pasta dishes flecked with a few carrots and broccoli bits shouldn't be allowed to call themselves "salads" -- even if they use whole-wheat noodles. Skip all of the above, and enjoy your fruit and veggies whole and your noodles without oil (a little pasta water or broth will keep them from clumping together). Then, lose belly fat without

Who doesn't want to get maximum benefits from minimum workout time? Truth is, you can get more muscle-strengthening bang for every rep by doing one simple thing: paying attention to your form. Plus, you'll cut your risk of strains, sprains, and tweaks. Another truth: Good form is way more important than how fast you move or how sweaty you get. Here are 12 ways to be smart about strength training, from RealAge experts Mehmet Oz, MD, and Michael Roizen, MD:

1. Think Botox. Keep your face relaxed, smooth, and tension-free, not squeezed into creases. Need help? Try these stress-reducing techniques.
2. Look out at eye level. Looking forward, not down, keeps the back of your head lined up with your spine, so you don't strain your neck.
3. Relax those hunched shoulders. Drop 'em as low as they will comfortably go, pulling your shoulder blades back slightly while you do it, away from your ears. Between sets, unkink your shoulders by rolling them forward five times and back five

You have to choose snacks carefully when it comes to satisfying your hunger. You want to keep hunger and hypoglycemia at bay without sending your blood sugar into orbit. Healthy, high-fiber, slowly digested snacks produce the best of both worlds, helping to curb hunger while producing a steady release of blood sugar. Just remember to balance snacking by reapportioning your meals so you're not adding calories to your day (which would mean more blood sugar than your system needs). Here are eight smart snack choices for satisfying the munchies while keeping blood sugar steady. They also happen to be delicious.

Get more health tips from RealAge:

• Is your lifestyle making you older than your years? Take the RealAge test.
• Distracted? Having trouble getting things done? Take the ADHD test.
• Heat or cold? Here's how to use both for relieving aches and pains.
• Tackle the tough stuff: Take this advice on talking with your kid about sex.
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Toothbrushes haven't changed much in 200 years: handle, head, bristles . . . but you'll find myriad variations on these basic elements whenever you hit the oral-care aisle of your local drugstore. And the styles of flosses, threaders, and picks are unending. Do you really need all the bells and whistles? Or will that bag of free goodies you got from the dentist do? We've got some in-the-know advice on how to choose your dental tools.

Falling in love may be easy, but staying there? That can be a whole other challenge, especially when one of you is forgetful, impulsive, and inattentive. In other words, when one of you has full-blown adult ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) -- or even a mild case.

If you have ADHD (or maybe if you're just an obsessed multitasker), you might not realize how deeply it can affect your relationship. Here are some ways to minimize the effects. With a little extra self-awareness, some mutual accommodation, and the right information, you can help your love thrive.

Communication breakdowns. Feeling distracted and fidgety in difficult, emotional moments makes it hard to hear your partner and express yourself. If either of you sometimes feels misunderstood or resentful when the talking gets tough, these simple moves can improve your heart-to-hearts:

• Turn off all electronic devices. No TV, no Pandora, no texting beeps, no e-mail dings, no digital distractions.

When you think of stress, you probably think of major life-disrupting events: job loss, identity theft, financial ruin, serious illness. But the small stuff can add up to big stress effects when there are enough of them. In fact, studies suggest that, taken together, the accumulated annoyances of everyday life may be the biggest stressor you face.

Take this quiz to find out whether the small stuff is doing you in.

Daily Life Equilibrium Calculator

Think of a typical day, and rate on a scale of 0 to 3 how much the items below contributed to your stress level. Many will qualify for both aggravating and satisfying feelings. For example, your kids' progress in school makes you proud, but their behavior at the dinner table makes you grit your teeth. Rate each item on both the "aggravation" and "satisfaction" sides.

0 = None, or not applicable
1 = A little bit
2 = Quite a bit
3 = A great deal

Whip up this fancy, frothy bev, just like the stars drink, but without the stratospheric price tag. Get full recipe here.

Get more health tips from RealAge:

• Is your lifestyle making you older than your years? Take the RealAge Test.
• Distracted? Having trouble getting things done? Take the ADHD quiz.
• Heat or cold? Here's how to use both for relieving aches and pains.
• Tackle the tough stuff: Take this advice on talking to your kid about sex.
• Is diabetes sneaking up on you? This test will help you spot it.