Blog Posts by Self Magazine

Dairy dynamo or sugar bomb? We have the scoop on yogurt! Tap into all of its benefits with this guide to choosing the ideal yogurt for your health.

By Sarah Burns

Spoon your way svelte.

Yogurt has belly-flattening abilities. People on a low-cal diet that included fat-free yogurt lost 81 percent more ab fat than did those on a similar plan that didn't include yogurt, a study from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville found. The balance of carbs and protein can keep blood sugar levels steady and stave off hunger, while calcium may help your body store less fat.

Size up your cup.

To guarantee your yogurt's slimming powers, stock up on 6-ounce selections that have these calorie caps: 90 for nonfat plain, 110 for lowfat plain and 130 for flavored. Plus, avoid lowfat types with more than 1 gram saturated fat.

Bonus tips: Nutrition information on your favorite yogurts.

Be on sugar patrol.

Six ounces of most plain yogurts have about 12 g of natural milk sugar.

Fine lines may show first on your face, but other parts of you can also reveal your age. In fact, a joint study from the University of Göttingen in Germany and Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati found that women whose décolleté and arms appeared healthy and even-toned were thought to be a decade younger than their face alone suggested. The easiest way to turn back the clock below your neck is to swap your usual bar soap for a hydrating body wash such as the star skin pamperers above. "Emollients plump lines and add radiance, the calling card of youthful skin," says Francesca Fusco, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. Lather up!

More from SELF:

• Three simple ways to revitalize your hairstyle
• 8 foods that combat fat!
  
• Video: Let Jillian Michaels train you!
• SELF's 2010 Health Handbook!
  
• Things every woman should know how to do

Your eyes may be the window to your soul, but your hair can provide a surprisingly accurate view of your well-being. Five factors that count!

By Joanne Chen

1. Medication

It's normal to lose about 100 hairs a day (what you typically find in your shower drain and brush combined). If you're suddenly shedding more and your life or mood hasn't changed drastically, check any new meds you're taking. Progesterone, a hormone found in some forms of birth control, as well as vitamin A derivatives (like the acne Rx isotretinoin) can shut down follicles and trigger hair loss. Other possible culprits: depression meds and heartburn helpers. Ask your doc if you should try a different contraceptive (like one with an alternate form of progesterone) or if health issues could be to blame (a thyroid problem, for instance).

Get healthier, younger-looking hair--now!

2. Hormones

High levels of estrogen bring fringe benefits: dewy skin and shiny hair. Estrogen works by blocking a by-product

Ache? Pain? Sprain? Which pill works best for what ails you? With more than 75 percent of us taking over-the-counter painkillers at least once a month (per a Self.com poll), it's key to know the safest and most effective choice.

By Lee Helland

Acetaminophen (found in Tylenol)

Best for:

• Fever
• Mild to moderate musculoskeletal pain
• Mild to moderate back pain
• Mild to moderate headache

Pain-signal reducer

How it functions isn't well understood, but acetaminophen may block COX-3, a protein that helps send out the body's pain signals. It's not as potent as some other OTC painkillers such as naproxen and ibuprofen, so it's typically effective only for low-intensity aches. If you've had alcohol in the past 24 hours (or plan to), hit the brakes: Too much acetaminophen and alcohol can damage the liver. An advisory committee to the FDA has proposed lowering the maximum daily dose from 4 grams (which may be too much for some people); watch these pages for the

They show up at my office every week: young women suffering from nagging knee pain. The most common cause is patellofemoral pain syndrome, which you feel under the kneecap and is often due to overuse and misalignment. Before you resign yourself to having "bad knees," though, take a look at two of the most typical scenarios. A few changes could ease your aches for good!

By Lisa Callahan, M.D.

Case #1: The jogger

Does this sound familiar? A woman, seeing bathing suit season coming around the corner, suddenly decides to begin running again after a long hiatus over the holidays. She digs out her old, beat-up tennis shoes from the closet, starts jogging around her neighborhood for 30 to 45 minutes every morning-and within a few weeks shows up with achy pain in both knees that worsens every time she runs. Her complaint: "I guess I'm not meant to be a jogger."

Dr. Callahan's prescription

I call this "the trap of toos": too much, too soon, too often, which results in overuse.

New studies imply that higher D levels may combat depression and cancer. Is it a miracle nutrient or an overhyped supplement? SELF seeks D truth.

Why is D a hot topic?

We know that D helps bones store calcium. Now research shows that higher levels may reduce incidence of colon cancer, says Walter Willett, M.D., nutrition department chairman at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. Studies also suggest higher intake may help prevent breast cancer and lift mood. Many experts want to up the adequate intake (AI) based on this data and because sunscreen users may be low. (UVB rays help you make D.) But others say too much D may raise the risk for some diseases (e.g., pancreatic cancer in smokers).

How much D do I need?

The current AI for women younger than 50 is 200 international units daily (the amount in 2 cups of fortified milk). But many scientists say a healthier intake-enough to help protect against cancer and other diseases-is closer to 800 IUs. The government

Prettify this oft-neglected zone with these easy tips. The result? You'll look hands-down gorgeous!

By Roopika Malhotra

Hydrate as you lather

Washing often with antibacterial sanitizers that contain alcohol can dry out hands. In fact, even with soap, they can lose about 25 percent of their natural moisture with every rinse, finds research from Dove in Trumbull, Connecticut. To renew the suppleness of skin, use a milky, sulfate-free soap instead. Lock in moisture with a petrolatum-rich lotion.

Heal ragged hangnails by massaging them with an oil-based cream (we like Ahava Cuticle Cream, $14) morning and evening to repair damage from dehydrating polish changes, filing and buffing. To neaten cuticles, gently push them back with an orangewood stick once a week. Trim any stubborn remainders with a small nail clipper.

Related: Your 2010 beauty time-saving solutions!

Bolster nail strength

Avoid polishes that have toluene, formaldehyde and

You know you have insomnia when it takes longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep, or if you wake up multiple times a night and toss and turn for a half hour or more, at least three times a week for a month. But it's rarely just insomnia: In 75 percent of cases, another health concern is at play. Tackle the source, and the sandman will follow.

Restless legs syndrome

Symptoms of this neurological disorder include creepy-crawly leg sensations and an uncontrollable urge to move legs. They worsen at night, and moving the legs relieves them temporarily.

What it feels like Every day, often right before she goes to bed, Katy Doench feels the weird tickly feeling in her thighs and toes that has bugged her since she was a child. "I feel as if I have to stretch my muscles, but I can't stretch them far enough to make the weirdness go away," explains the 31-year-old professional quilter in Cincinnati. "Walking up and down the stairs sometimes eases the sensations long enough for me to get