The flu is officially an epidemic. Here's how you can fight the flu and recover faster.

By Rachael Anderson

The flu has officially reached epidemic proportions in the U.S., pushing many of our nation's hospitals to the brink. Health experts say this year's strain -- the H3N2 virus -- is exceptionally easy to catch and spread. And in a perfect storm of contagion, there's a highly infectious stomach bug going around and the worst outbreak of whooping cough in 60 years.

What can you do if you come down with the flu? Mehmet Oz, MD, reveals his top flu essentials to stop the spread of the virus and help you recover faster.

How to Stay Healthy All Year

Essentials #1 and #2: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen
Dr. Oz recommends you alternate between the two. "This combination of drugs targets different receptors and delivers a one-two punch to fevers," says Oz. "And by alternating them, you actually protect against overloading your kidneys or your liver." Oz recommends you take acetaminophen first. Four to six hours later, take two ibuprofen. Four to six hours

Try to avoid sharing things when he's sick.So…we're in the worst flu season of the decade. Not only that, sucky colds have been circulating, too. Fabulous. So are you screwed when your guy gets sick? Not necessarily. Nieca Goldberg, MD, director of the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health, gave us some tips on how to avoid your dude's illness.

By Emma Barker

1. Keep Your Lips to Yourself
The flu is mostly spread through spit and mucus, so definitely don't kiss him. Since the odds are high that he's carrying germs on his face, too, it's prob best to avoid smooching him on the cheek as well.

2. …But You Can Get Busy
That said, if he's feeling up for it, you could get intimate and be okay. Just know that if you're that close to you him you're probably breathing his germy air, too, so it's safest to stick with a position like reverse cowgirl where your mouth is facing away from him.

Related: The Benefits of Being Intimate

3. Air Your Dirty Laundry
If you're sharing a bed with your man, wash the

Meredith Melling Burke, Vogue magazine

The end of the month is approaching and if you haven't already renewed your gym membership (or downloaded one of these apps to keep you on track), we're providing a little motivation to help you reinvigorate your fitness routine. From stylish gear to on-the-go classes, here is everything you need to start a healthy 2013.

More from Vogue:
Angelina Jolie Through the Years in Vogue
Best Virtual Workouts
Beauty Looks for All Ages
10 American Beauty Brands

Smoking can shave 11 years off a woman's life -- but quitting before age 35 can get most of them back. (Photo: Getty Images)We already know the toll smoking can take on a our health. Women who smoke are at higher risk for stroke, cataracts, osteoporosis, early menopause, menstrual problems, and several different kinds of cancer. Now, a new study shows that smoking takes about 11 years off of a woman's life -- but if you quit smoking early enough, researchers have found, you could get most of that time back.

Related: 6 Ways Quitting Smoking Will Make You Prettier

According to study co-author Tim McAfee, director of the Office on Smoking at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States.

25 Ways to Stop Smoking

"There's the old saw that everyone knows smoking is bad for you," McAfee told the New York Times. "But this paints a much more dramatic picture of the horror of smoking. These are real people that are getting 10 years of life expectancy hacked off - and that's just on average."

The study, published Wednesday in the New

Whether you've been a bunhead since birth or you've got two left feet, get fit in and out of the dance studio with these fun workouts.

by Noel Duan, Teen Vogue

Learn some sweet moves for the dance floor while building strength and flexibility by taking some dance-inspired fitness classes. Whether you prefer busting a move in a group class, training in the comfort--and privacy--of your living room, or working with a partner, you can find a dance workout suited for your needs. Many of these fitness programs incorporate a variety of dance styles with a combination of pilates, yoga, and resistance training, so you'll never be bored as you boogie to the beat.

Dance fitness classes tend to be suited for all levels, so don't be intimidated if you can't tell your first position from your fifth. As long as you keep to a regular practice, you'll be mastering harder moves in no time. As with any fitness regime, make sure you tell the instructor of any physical limitations or injuries you may

by Keith Wagstaff, DETAILS

courtesy of brogayoga.comIntroducing broga, one of the Collins English Dictionary's top words of 2012 (it's up there with totes amazeballs, Gangnam Style, and fiscal cliff). In the United States, Broga is a trademarked technique developed by two yoga enthusiasts from Massachusetts, basically amounting to (you guessed it) yoga for bros. They're not the only ones creating classes built around poses for today's inflexible male. But is it a real phenomenon or just a meaningless buzz word like bromance or manscaping? Whether it's legit or not, it's popping up in yoga studios across the country, at places like the Cobra Club in Brooklyn and the Pad in San Francisco. But before you bend over backward for what might be a passing trend, we weigh the pros and cons of stretching it out with the boys.

See more: The Best and Worst Vending-Machine Snacks

No, Bro: Don't get us wrong-we totally support men doing yoga. It can help you de-stress after a long day at the office, make you more flexible,

Sarah-Jane Bedwell, SELF magazine

Legumes might just be the most confounding superfood. Are they beans? Are they nuts? Well, a legume, commonly called a pod, includes several types of plants within the Leguminosea family including peas, peanuts, lentils, beans and alfalfa. An important point to note: All beans are legumes, but not all legumes are beans. Make sense? Good. But the most important takeaway about these babies is that they provide major nutrition benefits. They are one of the best and cheapest sources of protein in the plant kingdom, making them a near-obvious choice for vegetarians and vegans looking for said fuel. Plus, they are packed with nutrients including iron, phosphorus and folate, all which contribute to healthy blood. Oh, and they're high in fiber, too. If that doesn't motivate you to eat your legumes, try some of these fresh meal ideas to whet your appetite.

Cripsy Lentil Rotini: Skip the meat or shrimp in your pasta and add lentils instead for a rich,

Tula Karras, SELF magazine

1. Gets You Motivated: Fitbit One ($100; Fitbit.com)

This souped-up pedometer also tracks cals and hours slept, and wirelessly uploads your stats into charts on your phone and computer for constant feedback.

Why You'll Love It: "The setup is so simple, and the site is super easy to navigate. My favorite part: I get rewarded with badges when I hit milestones like exceeding 10,000 steps or climbing 10 sets of stairs. It makes me want to move as much as possible." --Amanda Woerner, SELF assistant editor

2. Makes Your Run More Fun: RunKeeper (free; iTunes)

The do-it-all app gives updates on speed and distance, and prompts for interval training. Runs are saved and mapped to share (if you want to) on Facebook or Twitter.

Why You'll Love It: "I set my audio alert to tell me my pace every mile. Knowing that it's tracking me encourages me to speed up. And with the GPS capability, I can do a 5-miler on vacation without getting lost." --Sara