Blog Posts by ThirdAge.com

This month, our friends at Redbook gave us "43 Ways to Look Younger." We decided to weed out the 10 best-and most surprising-and share them with you.

1. A Fruit Enzyme Peel

They suggested Philosophy the Microdelivery Purifying Peel, we personally like Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Peel. Either way, these enzyme peels give you instant glow and aren't nearly as abrasive as other peels.

2. Botanical Face Mist

Spritzing one on after applying makeup sets everything in place and leaves skin looking all dewy and glowy. We're fans of Intelligent Nutrients Anti-Aging Mist.

3. Layer Blue Mascara on Top of Black

Okay, even beauty-obsessed us were surprised by this one. Apparently, it won't look blue, but will make the whites of your eyes look clearer and brighter. Maybelline's classic Great Lash is available in Royal Blue.

4. Self Tan Before Heading to Bed

Wake up looking like you've been on vacation? Yes, please! They-and we-suggest Kate Somerville Somerville360 Tanning Towelettes.

Retirement accounts might be decreasing this year, reports CNN.

That's because the government induced break that retirement accounts received last year, which suspended rules that required older Americans to make annual withdrawals, is no longer being offered this year.

The break, which was offered due to the economic downturn, is being rescinded as the markets start to come back.

Which means if you're older than 70 ½ and possess a retirement account, you must resume withdrawing the annual minimum so that the money can be taxed.

The size of the required withdrawal, called "Required Minimum Distribution" or RMD, depends on your age and the amount of money in your retirement account.

Those who do not withdraw the correct amount of money from their account will be penalized with a 50% tax on the amount that should have been withdrawn

To avoid the penalty, Ken Hevert, vice president of Fidelity, suggests people figuring out their RMD in advance.

"With [RMDs]

The Greek philosopher, Plato, said "The good is beautiful." Indeed, he might have been talking about the healthy plate of food in front of him. The traditional Mediterranean diet -- laden with fresh vegetables, fiber-rich grains, legumes, fish, and plant-based sources of unsaturated fat such as olive oil and nuts, while being low in red meat and high-fat dairy -- is also an excellent way to keep diabetes at bay.

In fact, a recent study shows the Mediterranean diet may be an important aid in helping those fifty and older, lower their risk of adult onset diabetes - even without exercising or losing pounds.

Halle Berry: Living With Diabetes

According to a report in the journal Diabetes Care, researchers at the University of Rovira i Virgili in Reus, Spain, followed 418 adults between the ages of 55 and 80, each of whom had at least three risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure or smoking. The patients were randomly assigned to one of three diets: a

A woman can't be a sex addict, right? Wrong.

Women are sex addicted. In fact approximately 20% of those seeking help for sex addiction are females. Perhaps more women would seek treatment if they understood sex addiction and that there is treatment available for the problem.

Common Bedroom Blunders

Sometimes we think of a sex addict as a man sitting in front of a computer addicted to pornography or a male out seeking prostitutes and lying to his partner. We might think of a sex addict as a popular figure in the entertainment industry or a sports figure having compulsive rounds of infidelity and lying about it. Usually these people are men.

But sex addiction in women can show up in those ways as well. Or it can manifest in compulsive behaviors that are disturbing to the woman's life, and hard to stop. Addiction is best defined by a behavior that one tries to stop and can't, and that is continued despite negative consequences.

The Condom Conversation

Sex addiction

Miley Cyrus is too busy with her career to go to college this year, and was home-schooled anyway, so it makes sense that her parents are not participating in the tradition of fall drop-offs at institutions of higher learning. Plus, she's a rock star with two new movies so who cares whether she goes to college?

But for weeks moms of the less famous and more ordinary have been Facebooking about the trauma of leaving their kids on college campuses as if this is the biggest turning point in their lives.

Sharon Osbourne's New Talk Show About Mothers

I've had the trauma of a child leaving, but not for college.

As a teenage father, my older son did not go very far when he graduated from high school. He had to work in order to take care of his daughter, and when he had her half time, every other week, they lived at home with us. He did go to community college and had his own apartment with roommate buddies. But with me acting as co-parent to his daughter every other week,

If you're going through a tough time during menopause and are considering taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a study just released will probably have you and your doctor reconsidering the treatment. The new study, which appears in the Journal of The American Medical Association, concludes that women who take hormone therapy after menopause and develop breast cancer are more likely to have cancerous lymph nodes -- a sign of more advanced disease. They are also more likely to die from the disease than women who have never taken hormones.

Breath Test for Breast Cancer

This is the first report from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) which includes death rates from breast cancer related to hormone use. A previous study of 13,000 women showed a correlation between HRT, specifically Pempro (a combination of estrogen and progesterone) and strokes, heart disease, and increased breast tissue density. Mammograms are more difficult to read when the breast tissue is dense. The

Katie Couric, like Diane Sawyer, is a smart news anchor whose style we love. Whether she's filming a special for CBS Evening News, hosting the Stand Up To Cancer telecast, or lobbing questions at Sarah Palin, Katie's style is sophisticated yet achievable.

The 53-year-old has referred to her own fashion sense as "very Faye Dunaway 'don't f*$k with me, fellas!' from Mommie Dearest," but we say Katie's style is more American chic.

Here's how to get her newsworthy style.

Anchor Suits, LBDs, and Turtlenecks

"I always feel sexiest when I'm in a little black dress," Couric told Harper's Bazaar back in February. When an LBD isn't an option on camera, the news anchor usually wears a blazer with a matching pencil skirt or pants and a crisp button-down blouse.

Calvin Klein Zippered Sheath Dress ($128, calvinklein.com)

Tahari Arthur S. Levine ¾ Sleeved Satin-Trim Dress Suit ($160, lordandtaylor.com)

Banana Republic French Cuff Shirt (shown, $59.50,

Career change is likely to take place in midlife because values shift from external to internal goals. Conquering the outer world is not as important as mastering the inner world.

The realignment in values begins around the age of 39 and continues (nowadays) into the 50's, signaled by feelings of restlessness, boredom and dissatisfaction. Resisting the urge to break free from what has outlived its usefulness projects the inner turmoil onto bosses, clients or customers who "hold you back." The solution is to become aware of the fear that binds you to the past.

It's Never Too Late to Follow Your Dreams

Self-scrutiny takes courage, you never know what you are going to find once you start looking at yourself. But honest evaluation is how you to discover what prevents you from taking the risks that make you feel alive. Once you give fear your full attention you diminish its power over your subconscious mind.

For example, stop for a moment and think about what scares you.