(Photo: Jupiterimages)
By Matt Hickman, Mother Nature Network
More from Guest Bloggers blog

Most folks know the basics of why we blink: It cleans and moisturizes the eyes while protecting them from irritants. Everyone blinks. And then there's the forced one-eyed blink, the wink, that's used as a form of body language to say, "Hey there, good lookin'." Unless used by a non-threatening grandparent, the age of the wink as a come-on has definitely, well, come and gone.

At first blush, blinking may not be the most riveting topic, but there are a few things that you probably don't know about the rapid closing and opening of the eyelid. Below are six facts, myths, and blinking-related oddities that were interesting enough to keep our eyes open.

1. Women (supposedly) rule when it comes to blinking: Although the "women blink more" rumor is difficult to back with scientific fact, it's popularly believed that female blinkers are more prolific than their male counterparts, blinking twice as much. Numbers

Read More »from Six fascinating facts about blinking

By Michelle Kiefer, The Daily Meal

Everyone knows fast food isn't good for you. But what if there were ways to eliminate some of the fat and calories from your favorite cheeseburger? Do you really have to go cold turkey from the drive-thru, or are there ways, with a few concessions, to make eating that Whopper or Big Mac, if not healthy, perhaps a little less damaging to the waistline. By identifying ingredients that contribute the most calories to iconic fast foods, it's theoretically possible to single them out, and order low-calorie (or at least, lower-calorie) versions of your most favorite guilty pleasures.

To do this, you have to look closely at your food. Really closely. You have to examine the nutritional information nested on fast food websites and read ingredient lists that contain things, you might argue successfully, no human should ever eat. You start to learn things you might not want to know. And indeed, researching how to make 10 fast food favorites more healthy

Read More »from 10 healthy fast-food makeovers

By Trystan L. Bass

More from Green Picks blog

Natural beauty is a wonderful idea, but sometimes a gal needs a little help. We're not opposed to a touch of makeup or a bit of hair styling, and there are many great, eco-friendly brands available. However, fashion magazines and stylists (not to mention sales clerks) may try to convince you that you need tons of different tools and gadgets to make yourself look beautiful.

So many products on the market seem redundant, ridiculous, and perhaps even harmful. We toured the beauty shops online and found some of the worst offenders -- avoid cluttering up your bathroom with this junk, and you'll feel lighter and more gorgeous immediately!

Check out Yahoo! Green on Twitter and Facebook.

Read More »from 13 useless beauty tools

By Melissa Breyer
More from Care2 Green Living blog

For many of us, a morning without coffee or tea is a like the proverbial day without sunshine. For me, much of it is about the ritual. OK, who am I kidding? It's about the caffeine. Mmm, I love caffeine -- that naturally occurring alkaloid found in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of more than 63 plant species worldwide. But at what risk do I indulge in my morning coffee and afternoon espresso?

Caffeine is most famous for its role as a stimulant and its ability to delay fatigue. I clearly get a boost of energy and clarity, as had been scientifically proven. But caffeine has also acquired a bad-boy reputation -- an unfair one, perhaps? Extensive studies into its safety show that there are still many misconceptions about caffeine. Allow me to tackle some of the myths surrounding my beloved alkaloid.

Myth No. 1: Caffeine is addictive
Reality: Well, this depends on what you consider "addictive." Caffeine is a stimulant to

Read More »from Seven myths about caffeine

By Arricca SanSone

By now you've probably got the hang of recycling the easy stuff, like newspapers, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes. But what about other frequently used items, such as appliances, game systems and cell phones? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, in 2009 about 54% of our waste (243 million tons!) ended up in landfills. Surprising, right? Luckily, "everything we use comes from some natural resource," says Marti Matsch, communications director of the nonprofit recycler Eco-Cycle in Boulder, Colorado. "If we can turn items back into raw materials, we won't have to consume additional natural resources to create new products." Read on for easy ways to skip the dump and give common household items a new life instead.

Kitchen Appliances

If you've recently updated your kitchen, you probably have a few working appliances-like a toaster, microwave or refrigerator--to spare. If they're less than eight years old (some must be less than five years old),

Read More »from Surprising Ways to Recycle Everyday Items

By Sarah B. Weir
Posted Mon Aug 8, 2011 1:58pm PDT
More from Green Picks blog

(Photo: Getty Images)Tennis elbow, anyone? According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, sports-related injuries skyrocket in the summer. Trips to the ER rise accordingly, but less severe bumps, twists, aches, and pulls can often be treated at home with an OTC anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and the application of ice or heat.

The rule of thumb is that ice reduces inflammation and has an anesthetic effect when applied immediately after a soft-tissue injury. Heat, on the other hand, promotes healing when applied about 48 hours after the injury first happened and also comforts chronic pain.

The Mayo Clinic explains that swelling occurs when broken capillaries around a soft-tissue injury leak blood and serum. This can lead to stiffness and pain. Ice reduces this initial swelling. Heat causes capillaries to widen, but after a couple of days (once the swelling has gone down) it has a soothing effect and

Read More »from Summer injury Rx

(Photo: Getty Images)By Sarah B. Weir and Lori Bongiorno
Posted Mon Aug 8, 2011 2:04pm PDT More from Green Picks blog

Guess how much protein is in a juicy, 8-ounce cheeseburger washed down with a milkshake? This single meal contains two to three times as much as most people need per day.

It's no great surprise that Americans chow down on a lot of protein. We love beef and consume about 67 pounds per capita annually (that's four times the international average). The popularity of low-carb regimes such as Atkins has also made meat the go-to food for dieters.

In fact, the average person eats about double the amount of protein that their body requires, according to the results of 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How to fulfill your daily protein requirement

The human body uses protein to repair damaged cells and to build new ones. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition at NYU and author of What to Eat,

Read More »from How much protein do you really need?

By Becky Striepe
More from Care2 Green Living blog

(Photo: Becky Striepe)

The temperatures around here seem to keep rising! Rather than reaching for the thermostat, you can cool yourself from the inside out with a yummy summer popsicle.

Store-bought frozen treats are often full of added sugars and artificial colors and flavors, but when you whip up your own iced snacks from scratch, you have total control over what's going into that freezer and your body. Not only are homemade pops healthier, but you can get creative and whip up unexpected flavor combinations that will wow your friends and your family.

Typical popsicle molds are made from plastic, but if you're trying to keep plastic out of your kitchen, you have a couple of options:

• Paper-cup method: Pour your ingredients into a paper cup and place a tongue depressor in there. To get at the pop, just peel away the cup.
• Stainless-steel method: If you're going to for a no-waste situation, you can look into stainless-steel

Read More »from Unique summer popsicle ideas