By Kristy Ojala
In her book The Immune System Recovery Plan, Dr. Susan Blum, one of the most sought-after experts in the field of functional medicine, shares the four-step program she used to treat her own serious autoimmune condition and help countless patients reverse their symptoms, heal their immune systems, and prevent future illness. I found her quizzes and tips very helpful and I wanted to find out more about how we can live better-and be nicer to our poor, poor guts.
First of all, thank you for your book. If I hadn't picked it up at work, I wouldn't have been able to start taking charge of some major health issues I was not aware of. Your quizzes are very helpful. Why are so many of us in the dark about our diet and the importance of a "healthy gut"?
Dr. Susan Blum: Because we are in the midst of an obesity epidemic, and also a self-image crisis, everyone is very focused on being thin and counting calories. This is just the wrong way to look at food. One of my
Why You Need to Clean Your Gut, Now
By Tips on Healthy Living | Healthy Living – Mon, May 13, 2013 9:55 AM EDTStop Fat Talking—It's Hurting Your Friendships
By YouBeauty.com | Healthy Living – Mon, May 13, 2013 9:25 AM EDT
Talking badly about your body is never a good look.When was the last time you told your friends you thought your butt looked too big, or explained how much you wanted to lose just five pounds? How many times have you played verbal tennis, volleying back and forth about your body issues?
Ninety-three percent of women do it, no matter their weight. It's a bonding ritual-or at least that's how it seems, both to women everywhere and psychologists who study body satisfaction. But emerging research on fat talk-those disparaging comments about your own weight and body-suggests that, far from endearing you to other women, it could make them like you less.
To test what women really think when others fat talk, Alexandra Corning, Ph.D., a professor of psychology and director of Notre Dame's Body Image and Eating Disorder Lab presented 139 college women with one of four types of photos. The photos were of either thin or overweight women, accompanied by a caption relating either a fat-talk statement or positive
Read More »from Stop Fat Talking—It's Hurting Your FriendshipsZOE MOON ASTROLOGY WEEKLY HOROSCOPE FORECAST May 13-19
By Zoe Moon | Healthy Living – Sun, May 12, 2013 4:45 PM EDT
zoe moon astrologyMonday and Tuesday this week will aid you in tackling anything you have going on at home or with moves, roommates or family, parents or renovations, real estate deals or security needs, so plan on motivating on these needs now.
Monday this will align nicely with what you do behind the scenes. This may involve research, strategies, artistic approaches, some romantic tryst, spiritual interest, or dealing with institutions. You should be able to cement a financial, sexual or divorce matter relating to home or property as well.
Read More »from ZOE MOON ASTROLOGY WEEKLY HOROSCOPE FORECAST May 13-19Happy 27th Birthday, Lena Dunham! 27 Reasons We Love Her
By Elise Solé, Shine Staff | Healthy Living – Fri, May 10, 2013 5:00 PM EDTOn Monday, "Voice of a generation" icon Lena Dunham turns 27! In honor of her big day, here are 27 reasons we're happy she's a famous person.
Read More »from Happy 27th Birthday, Lena Dunham! 27 Reasons We Love Her
1) Because on Friday, she tweeted: “Rule: if you call me fat I block you. There just aren't enough days on this earth. Let us do on twitter what we couldn't do in high school!”
2) Because even though she’s wildly famous, she still acts like a dorky fan at fancy celebrity soirees.
3) Because she convinced Judd Apatow, king of lad mag comedy, to pay attention to women and invest in her HBO hit, “Girls.”
4) Because she’s not afraid to play ping-ping topless on television (as you do).
5) Because she's been nominated for four Emmy Awards and won two Golden Globes for “Girls.”
6) Because she’s a native New Yorker.
7) Because she didn’t have a fighting chance of being boring: Her mother is a photographer who arranges dolls and doll house furniture to create “disquieting domestic tableaux” and her father is a painter of “overtly sexualized pop art.”
8)
Start your day right.One of the biggest problems that physically active women experience on a daily basis is maintaining high enough energy levels to be able to excel at work, exercise and socializing. If you find that, after work, your thoughts tend to run more toward getting home as quickly as possible to pass out on the couch for the night rather than hitting the gym for a high-intensity workout, you're in need of a diet makeover and some fatigue-fighting foods.
What you eat during the day will have a significant impact on your energy levels, so it's vital to eat the right foods at the right times.
Here are the best fatigue-fighting foods to concentrate on.Steel-cut oatmeal with egg whites
You need some fatigue-fighting food to start your day off and to make sure you have enough energy to carry you through the morning, and you really can't go wrong with some steel-cut oats and egg whites. The steel-cut oats slowly digest in the body, so they will break down over time rather than
Read More »from 7 Foods that Will Fight the Morning BlahsThe Filthiest Place in Your Office is Not Where You Think
By AskMen | Healthy Living – Fri, May 10, 2013 1:08 PM EDT
The filthiest places in the office include keyboards, fridge handles and the break room sink.Yesterday, you may have taken judgmental note that your colleague Steve didn't wash his hands on his way out of the bathroom, but it turns out the bathroom's not even the filthiest place at the office. Yes, indeed, a new study has found that there are far worse bacteria-infested areas in the workplace.
Read More »from The Filthiest Place in Your Office is Not Where You Think
Research led by Dr. Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, swabbed 4,800 different workplace surfaces while testing for adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a common molecule found in bacteria and mold cells. An ATP score of 100 or less was considered clean, but if it reached 300 or more, it was considered porno casting-couch dirty.
So what were the filthiest spots? The break room sink faucet was at the top of the list, with 75% of them being deemed bacteria-covered. And that sponge you use to wipe down your plates and forks before using it? Most are chock full of E. coli.
Not far behind were microwave door handles -- 48% had scoresExclusive: Adriana Lima’s Top 10 Beauty & Fitness Tips
By Beauty High | Healthy Living – Fri, May 10, 2013 12:33 PM EDTBy Alyssa, Beauty High
Read More »from Exclusive: Adriana Lima’s Top 10 Beauty & Fitness Tips
Adriana Lima It's no secret that Adriana Lima is one of the most beautiful women on the planet, and even though she looks glowing and flawless with minimal makeup, she's certainly learned a trick or two while on set at shoots for Victoria's Secret, countless editorials for the likes of Love, V and Vogue Paris and backstage at fashion shows. Since she's such a pro, we asked Adriana to give us her top 10 beauty and fitness tips that keep her looking effortlessly gorgeous everyday.
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1. Pile on the black mascara for lush lashes every day. "My secret for mascara is that you just keep applying on and on and onespecially in the summer, I never take my mascara off, I just keep adding on and I think its beautiful. Sometimes I even like to take the brush and purposely touch the skin around the lash line so it looks a little messy. Apply on the top and the bottomfor me, the more you apply the better."5 Reasons You Should Eat More Fish
By The Daily Meal | Healthy Living – Fri, May 10, 2013 12:19 PM EDT
Read More »from 5 Reasons You Should Eat More Fish
Facts and recipes that will motivate you to eat more fishIt's almost beach season, that means eating healthier. It's not rocket science, and yet so many people struggle with finding a way to eat better. To help you improve your diet, we're giving you a few reasons that'll make it easy, and more delicious, to follow through with your goals, and it's all about fish.
Sure, we've always known about the positive connotations that go along with eating fish. The protein-heavy meat has less calories than beef and chicken; it's rich in omega-3 fatty acids, calcium, and vitamin D and B2; and it's full of healthy minerals such as iron and magnesium. Along with the immediate health benefits of eating fish, it's also known for preventing a long list of diseases, making the consumption of fish well worth your time.
Check out these 10 Celebrity Fad Diets
So we're giving you seven reasons why you should be eating fish, and just to get your taste buds singing, we're sharing seven delicious recipes from Fornelletto Cucina & Wine Bar in Atlantic City, N.J.10 Easy Tricks to Avoid Vacation Weight Gain
By Woman s Day | Healthy Living – Fri, May 10, 2013 12:04 PM EDT
Read More »from 10 Easy Tricks to Avoid Vacation Weight Gain
Enjoy a getaway without packing on poundsBy Karen Asp
Hello, vacation! You're ready to kick back and relax, maybe sip a few margaritas by the pool. Heaven, right? Until you step on a scale and realize you've toted home more than just kitschy souvenirs. About two-thirds of frequent travelers say that exercising and eating healthy while on the road is stressful, according to a TripIt survey. So what's a weight-conscious jetsetter to do? Follow these 10 simple strategies when you're planning your next getaway. Photo by Thinkstock
1. Book accommodations with a kitchen.
Rent a condo or hotel room with a kitchen, mini-kitchen or at least a mini-fridge (which may cost a small fee), so you can stock healthy foods. "Then, you can eat some of your meals in, which can be healthier since restaurant meals tend to be larger and higher in calories," says Molly Morgan, a sports specialist dietitian in Vestal, NY, and author of The Skinny Rules. Since dining out's part of the fun, Morgan suggests eating breakfasts and lunches in your roomWe Tried It: Jennifer Aniston’s Weird “Cupping” Therapy
By Daily Makeover | Healthy Living – Fri, May 10, 2013 11:28 AM EDTBy Megan Segura, Daily Makeover
Read More »from We Tried It: Jennifer Aniston’s Weird “Cupping” Therapy
Jennifer Aniston stepped onto the red carpet with cupping marks on her back. The first time I learned the term "cupping" was in 2004 when Gwyneth Paltrow showed up in photos with what appeared to be circular hickeys on her back. Recently Jennifer Aniston turned up on the red carpet with similar marks, piquing my interest once again. After all, if cupping was good enough for two of Brad Pitt's exes, then it must be good enough for me.
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Cupping is not exactly new. It's an Eastern medicine practice that is often used in conjunction with acupuncture to treat everything from stiff necks and shoulders to respiratory problems. The belief is that when you have these problems, it's caused by blood that's stagnant, and the cupping helps get your blood circulation moving, not unlike a deep tissue massage.
I wasn't worried about testing out the treatment until a co-worker asked me if they would be doing something called blood cupping (the name alone scared me!), a process where an
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