Blog Posts by Tips on Healthy Living

Olympic distance runner Kara Goucher ran through her entire pregnancy, including the day she gave birth. But you don't have to be a pro; most pregnant women can continue to run happily, healthfully, and moderately. Here's how, from Kara Goucher's Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons.

First Trimester
Keep running. Running doesn't cause a miscarriage!

Depending on your symptoms, your weekly mileage and pace may not change much this trimester.

These common symptoms can interfere with running:
Fatigue: Listen to your body. Cut down mileage or the number of days you run if you need to. You can increase both when you feel better.
Breast tenderness: Wear two running bras or buy a larger size.
Nausea/vomiting: Eat frequent snacks during the day. You can keep a protein bar by your bed for first thing in the morning. Try vitamin B6. You may need a prescription for antinausea medication from your ob-gyn.
Bleeding: Stop running until evaluated by your provider.

By Amy E. Goodman
Author of Wear This, Toss That!

It's been a while since you hit the beach, right? Here's a quick list to make sure you have the standby staples and helpful new accessories in your beach bag.

Avoid raccoon eyes post-swim. Before you head out (since you'll honestly only need to apply once-isn't that refreshing?) here's a fabulous new liquid eyeliner that's impervious to beach challenges like water, sweat and oily skin: Aqua Liner by Make Up For Ever (15 shades, $23).

The trend is big, bigger and biggest when it comes to the It Bag this summer: the carry-all tote. But retain some sense of proportion and make sure that your bag isn't bigger than you. A good rule for petites is not to have the width of the bag dip much farther than beyond your hipline or it will indeed engulf you. Add the requisite towel and water bottle and you're ready for a day in the sun.

If you want to share your tunes, try Pottery Barn's Speaker Beach Cooler with MP3 player that

It can be overwhelming to sort through all the information about birth control. Here's a breakdown of your options from YOU: The Owner's Manual for Teens: A Guide to a Healthy Body and Happy Life, by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

If partners discuss contraception - as opposed to the boy simply assuming that the girl is taking care of it - they are more likely to adhere to it. Guys, ask your partner what form of birth control she is using, and also take responsibility by using a condom, the first contraceptive method on our list. As for same-sex sex, contraceptives aren't necessary, but disease prevention (condoms) are a must.

Condoms: They reduce the risk of STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) but are only 85 percent safe in terms of reducing the risk of pregnancy. If a condom does not break and is used 100 percent of the time, it is 100 percent effective. The problem is not with the condom, but with the consistency of using the condom. Occasionally they

Not speaking to your BFF? Liz Pryor, Good Morning America's advice guru and author of What Did I Do Wrong? When Women Don't Tell Each Other the Friendship Is Over, dishes on what to do when your friendship hits a rough patch.

I remember thinking how lucky I was to have found a friend like Maggie. I had moved to Los Angeles from my all-American roots in suburban Chicago. I was positive that not a soul I'd meet would go deeper than the color of her hair, and - boom! - along came Mag, real to the bone. Smart, tough, and my kind of funny. We became the kind of friends women live to have. We spent endless hours contemplating life and love and books and men. I was newly married and she was a budding actress. Our lives were perfectly opposite.

The arrival of my first baby was a thrill beyond what either of us ever imagined. We reveled in the baby's every move. The first time my daughter laughed she was sitting on Maggie's lap. We thought she was choking; we panicked in sync like

Honesty, not avoidance, is the better course of action, says Liz Pryor, Good Morning America's advice guru and author of What Did I Do Wrong?: When Women Don't Tell Each Other the Friendship Is Over.

My friend Rooney had majored in psychology and obtained a master's in sociology before joining the ranks of television producing. She now wanted me to meet an old friend with whom she'd gone to school, Dr. Susan, a practicing psychologist with a specialty in counseling women. I called her, and arranged to meet for lunch.

She was sitting at the table when I arrived, nicely dressed, much younger and hipper than I'd imagined. We greeted and after a few moments, I could see Dr. Susan was not only sharp, she also had a great sense of humor. I took advantage of an opening at the end of a funny story about Rooney and decided to get to my subject.

I explained that I'd become interested in the topic of women and friendship, specifically how women end friendships with each other. I shared

The good news? The whole process takes only about two minutes, although you may feel slightly uncomfortable. Find out when you need to get a full pelvic exam - and when you don't - with this step-by-step guide from Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D., authors of YOU: The Owner's Manual for Teens: A Guide to a Healthy Body and Happy Life.

Pelvic exams aren't necessary unless you have a specific problem; they're not even necessary for a physician to prescribe oral contraceptives. In fact, many sexually transmitted infections are diagnosed by a simple urine test and sometimes by a vaginal swab. You don't even need a pelvic exam to make sure that you got rid of an infection.

However, if you have extreme lower abdominal pain, are pregnant and not sure of the dates of your last period, have been sexually assaulted, or have an unusual discharge with some abdominal pain, your doctor may decide to perform a pelvic exam.

In a pelvic exam, you get put in a really awkward

A good diet improves your health, but also boosts your energy. Create a shopping list of these must-have endurance foods recommended by Dr. Mike Moreno, author of The 17 Day Diet: A Doctor's Plan Designed for Rapid Results.

1. Beef, extra lean: High in iron, a mineral that improves memory, alertness and attention span.

2. Beets: Contains phenylalanine, an amino acid that helps relay signals from one brain cell to another.

3. Blueberries: Excellent source of antioxidants and "anthocyanins," compounds thought to help protect brain cells from toxins, improves use of glucose in the brain, and promotes communication between brain cells.

4. Broccoli: Packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that help protect brain tissue from toxins.

5. Carrots: High in beta carotene and other natural substances that help protect brain tissue from toxins.

6. Chicken: High in tyrosine, an amino acid required for the production of the alertness chemicals dopamine, epinephrine and

What to do about body odor and sweating? Get solutions from YOU: The Owner's Manual for Teens: A Guide to a Healthy Body and Happy Life, by Michael F. Roizen, M.D. and Mehmet C. Oz, M.D.

If you smell funkier than a Black Eyed Peas track, there's probably a good explanation. But the actual composition of your sweat is based on your genes and the food you eat. For instance, garlic will pass quickly into your skin and share itself with others. Also, our major sweat glands, or eccrine glands, release a sterile solution that attracts smelly bacteria in some people. These secretions are stored in coiled circular glands that cover our entire skin surface. Washing frequently helps, but sometimes a quick course of topical antibiotics, from your doctor, followed by a probiotic is the best anti-odor solution.

I sweat so much that I soak my shirt, and it's really embarrassing. What can I do?
Hyperhidrosis, or excess sweating, is a common plight among teens and adults. It can happen in