Blog Posts by YouBeauty.com

Go nuts!

As nutty as it may sound, eating a handful of walnuts, pecans or pistachios every day could help ward off an expanding waistline. It could also boost your heart health and lower your risk of several diseases, according to two 2012 studies. Not too shabby, right?

MORE: Eight Fatty Snacks That Help You Slim Down

The first study, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, looked at 13,292 men and women and compared their weight and risk factors for certain diseases. What the researchers found was that those who ate at least one-quarter ounce a day of tree nuts (almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts) had a lower body weight, as well as a lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, compared to non-nut-eaters.

What's more, the researchers also noted that regular tree nut eaters had higher levels of HDL cholesterol (the good kind) and lower levels of C-reactive protein, a marker for

Wear makeup, look younger—it's really that simple.

When we look at a person's face, we can tell a lot about them. Our brain makes snap decisions as to whether the person is male or female, attractive or not, or young or old. Dr. Richard Russell, a psychology professor at Gettysburg College, studies the cues to health, age and beauty hidden in our faces. "I'm trying to understand how we recognize other people and make judgments about them based on their facial appearance," he explains.

His previous research found that increased contrast between our eyes and lips and the skin surrounding them was perceived as more feminine. (Read all about those fascinating findings here.) His latest results, published in PLoS ONE, found that this contrast is also an indicator of age.

MORE: What Makes Makeup So Effective?

Russell and his team first analyzed 289 faces ranging in age from 20 to 70 years old. As people got older, they noticed, the color of the lips, eyes and eyebrows lightened while the skin of the face generally darkened.

Are those tests doing more harm than good?

When you're in grade school, the last thing you want to do is take a test. Study? No thanks! In adulthood, we take different kinds of tests-blood work, mammograms, colonoscopies and pregnancy tests. You don't have to cram, but they're generally not fun and the results can be real nail-biters.

Unlike your school-aged self, the grown-up you might think the more tests you get, the safer and healthier you'll be. (Though that voice in your head right now is the child inside you yelling, "More tests?! No way!"). That way if you need to lower your LDL cholesterol or get more vitamin D, or if you have a disease, you can start addressing the issue right away. Well, you might want to take it easy on the test-taking. Just as we said in our last column about vitamins and supplements, science is proving that too much of a good thing isn't always so good.

QUIZ: Are You Doing the Right Things for Your Health?

Before you start prepping for your next exam, take a look at these tests you

When it comes to vegetables, the golden rule says: "Eat dark and leafy." But just because a vegetable isn't a powerhouse "green" doesn't mean it can't bring a lot to the table. "There's a misconception that if something isn't dark green, then it's not good for you," says Jackie Keller, author, nutritionist and founding director of NutriFit. But are so-called "filler foods"-low-calorie vegetables that fill us up but aren't known for their nutritional benefits-worth the stomach real estate? Turns out, yes. "Most 'filler foods' have a high water volume and make you feel full, and people who eat high water volume diets are more likely to be at a healthy body weight," explains Keri Glassman, R.D., author of "The New You and Improved Diet," and founder of Nutritious Life, a nutrition practice based in New York City.

What's more, these eats can help keep you hydrated. "By eating high water volume veggies, you add more water to your diet, and by 'eating' your water you get additional

Well, you really are what you eat (or don't eat).

You already know that a healthy diet is synonymous with healthy skin. But what about vegan diets? Can you chalk up a youthful, glowing complexion to ditching chicken and ice cream? Whether you nix animal products for health reasons, ethical reasons or both, we got the lowdown from our experts on how this affects your pretty face.

So what exactly does meat do to our skin?

QUIZ: Is Your Diet Helping or Hurting Your Skin?

For starters, it can be loaded with saturated fat, which increases the risk for cardiovascular disease. Unhealthy arteries means your skin isn't getting the glow-inducing nutrients it needs to stay healthy. One study found red meat consumption in particular is positively associated with increased inflammation in the body, which worms its way into your skin to break down collagen and elastin (the building blocks of a youthful complexion).

It may even contribute to breakouts, according to one study that concluded acne is linked, in part, to our western

Whether or not you feel like it, your daily activities really do add up.

If heading to the gym fills you with dread-and any number of "not today" excuses-you don't necessarily have to suck it up and just do it. That's because a new study shows that everyday activities can be just as beneficial as hitting the treadmill or doing your circuit training routine-minus the cash, sweat and annoying machine hoggers.

MORE: Strength Train at Home-No Equipment Required

Researchers from Oregon State University evaluated a federal survey of more than 6,000 American adults and their physical activity levels. All participants wore accelerometers to track their movement throughout the day. Part of the group took part in structured gym workouts, while the others simply stayed active throughout the day by doing simple chores around the house and running errands. After four consecutive days of wearing the device for at least 10 hours a day, the results were surprising: Small bouts of activity-even just one- and two-minute increments totaling 30 minutes per day-were

A little TLC will get your frazzled strands smooth and shining again.

As with your complexion, the products you choose to cleanse and condition can make all the difference when it comes to good hair health. "Strands are just as sensitive as skin to the cumulative effects of UV rays, humidity, air conditioning systems and other external aggressors," says Melissa Harvey, a New York-based consulting trichologist (hair scientist) with hair growth company Bio Follicle.

MORE: BB Creams Make the Jump to Hair Care

Skincare Ingredients Turned Hair Care
Hair care companies are infusing their shampoos, conditioners and masks with skin-worthy ingredients (from argan oil to sunscreen) to boost the overall appearance of your strands. The new L'Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare collection, for example, includes five shampoos and conditioners (ranging from moisturizing to color protecting) and seven treatments, each formulated with a patented amino acid-protein blend. The concentrated ingredients promise to strengthen hair follicles from root to tip and

The verdict? Eat up!

We Asked: Lisa Drayer, M.A., R.D., is a nutritionist and the author of "The Beauty Diet" and "Strong, Slim, and 30!"

The Answer: Eggs have been slammed and praised, and slammed and praised again. But research suggests they won't raise your cholesterol-and in fact, might even boost your health.

MORE: Where Does Cholesterol Come From?

A landmark study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that healthy men and women who eat one egg every day are unlikely to have a substantial change in heart disease or stroke risk. Another study showed that when people with metabolic syndrome (a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease) ate three eggs a day as part of a weight-loss diet, their cholesterol levels improved.

MORE: 10 Foods That Help Lower Cholesterol

Cholesterol is found in the membrane of every cell in your body. The waxy, fat-like substance is necessary for the production of hormones and vitamin D, and it is vital for digestion. You often hear