7 Natural Health Cures that Really Work

You don’t always have to reach for the medicine cabinet when your body ails you.

Here are 7 ways to treat common conditions without a prescription:

1) Shrink Fibroids with Milk. A recent study showed that 4 glasses of milk a day can help reduce growths by 30%.

2) Treat heartburn with almonds. Eating a handful of almonds can help relieve heartburn and acid reflux within about 15 minutes due…

10 Easy Ways to Reduce your Daily Sugar Intake

Are you struggling with weight loss? Sugar may be the reason you aren’t losing weight. Reducing your daily sugar intake can help with everything from weight loss, to improved energy and immunity, along with a lower risk of diabetes and cancer. With added sugars in almost all packaged food, you’d be surprised at how much hidden sugar you could be consuming on a daily basis. The average American consumer 135…

Finding Peace in the Kitchen Sink

You’ve heard about the importance of meditation and it’s connection to better health, reduced stress levels and even lowered risk of heart disease. But who has time to sit on the floor in a lotus position and meditate for hours each day like a Buddhist monk? The good news is you can meditate through everyday activities like household chores such as washing dishes.

The magic isn’t in washing the dishes…

Get clear skin with… Magnesium?

Besides playing a lead role in your body’s muscle and metabolic functions, magnesium helps draw out impurities in your skin balance hormones, effectively treating blackheads and acne.

Here are a few ways to try magnesium to help clear your skin:

Use an Epsom Salt toner. Dissolve 1 tsp. of epsom salts into 1 cup of hot water and stir. Once the solution is cool enough to apply, use a cotton ball and…

Oh Baby! Top Do’s and Don’t for improving your fertility

Trying to have a baby? Here are some do’s and don’ts for improving your fertility:

Do eat more fruits, veggies, beans and vegetable oils. Linoleic acid (an omega 6 fatty acid) may help the body produce substances that help with ovulation and fertilization. A recent Harvard study found that 79% of infertile couples had a “lower-than-average intake of foods high in antioxidants” (i.e. fruits and veggies).

Don’t eat too much fish. Experts…

10 Ways to Prevent the “Twenties’ 20″ weight gain

Looking for more motivation to start exercising? Here’s yet another reason: a new study shows women gain an average of 16 pounds from their 20s into their 30s, but that regular, brisk exercise can prevent the gain.

Women gain an average of 20.5 pounds over 16 years according to a study of more than 18,000 post menopausal women done by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health. The findings from…

8 Satisfying, Filling Foods for Weight Loss

70 percent of dieters say that hunger is their number one obstacle when it comes to weight loss. We say – when you are hungry, you should eat something!

If you are trying to lose weight, you don’t have to exist on celery sticks alone. In fact, skip all that ‘diet food’ in general (i.e. those “reduced fat” cookies) – it’s mostly processed stuff and it doesn’t help curb the…

Are fiber supplements as good as the real deal?

Metamucil got a makeover! These days super models now sell Benefiber (this sure isn’t your grandma’s supplement anymore!), and many products are now touting “added fiber” as a bonus on the package.. which made us wonder: do fiber supplements offer the same benefits as the naturally occurring fiber filled stuff? Not really. There is no evidence to support fiber supplements’ ability to lower your risk of heart disease or obesity…

Too much planning can be detrimental to your workout!

Did you know that following strict pre-programmed workouts may be holding you back? According to a recent study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, participants who were told they could choose what exercises they wanted to do showed greater strength gains than those that were given a specific workout program. The reasoning? When the exercisers were able to choose their moves, they could choose easier moves for some…

Fitting in Fitness: Why less can mean more

As a personal trainer, I am constantly approached by people at their wits end, complaining that while they are watching what they eat and exercising like crazy, they still can’t lose weight.

I have also watched these same people exercise at the gym – “exercising like crazy” means clocking in 60 minutes of cardio most days. They choose the same cardio machine, plunk down on it, and pull out their…

Making Time for Yourself: 4 easy ways to actually make it happen

Your appointment book is overflowing, last weekend was jam packed with errands and lessons, and you just forgot your best friend’s birthday. Right now, the thought of making time for yourself just makes you chuckle.

Life may have you running on overdrive, but it really isn’t impossible to make time for yourself. And I’m not talking about escaping to a spa retreat, or anything dramatic like that. I’m talking about…

Get in Shape without Breaking the Bank: 4 Budget Friendly Fitness Ideas

Times are tight, and spending money on a gym membership can be tough to justify with your current budget. But you don’t have to spend a lot to get in, and stay in, shape! Here are my top four tips for getting fit without breaking the bank:

Share a trainer. If you really need expert help or workout advice, many personal trainers offer group training or small group class rates. Gather…

4 Common Fitness Mistakes that keep you from seeing results

Mistake #1: Only doing cardio and avoiding weights to lose weight. This a huge and common mistake I see women making all the time! Lean muscle is the key to increasing your metabolism. It becomes especially important as you age, because muscle mass drops by 6% every decade after age 40 – decreasing metabolism, lean mass and overall strength. I recommend circuit training to keep your heart rate up and…

Eating & Exercise: Before or After?

Should I eat before working out or after?

While several studies do support the idea that exercising on an empty stomach burns more fat, it may not affect the overall amount of fat lost. And exercising out on an empty stomach can be a recipe for disaster – you are less likely to have the energy to make it through your workout and will probably end up ravenously eating afterwards.

And…

Get Out of Your Own Way! 5 tips to elevate your quality of life – TODAY!

1)    CREATE A VISION. Whatever your goal is (to lose weight, to run a 5K, to gain muscle strength) create a mental picture of yourself having already achieved it. What will you look like, feel like, and move like when you have accomplished that goal? Living as if you are already there makes realizing your vision something you focus on daily.

2)    KNOW YOURSELF. Understanding who you are as an…

Menopause & Weight Loss: How to Lose Weight during hormone changes

Weight loss isn’t always a breeze, and menopause certainly doesn’t help! Many women experience gain weight during menopausal changes. And losing weight isn’t just for vanity’s sake- gaining weight after menopause increases several health risks, including your risk for breast cancer.

There are some things you can do to help reverse weight gain, and to feel healthier and more energetic during this time.

Here are experts’ top three recommendations for…

Banish belly bloat!

Whether it’s caused by water retention or gas buildup, most of us have struggled with belly bloat at one time or another. Here are three easy ways to banish bloat, and wear that bikini or zip up those skinny jeans with confidence:

1) Skip diet sodas and artificial sweeteners. Most women drink diet soda because they think they are helping themselves stay slim. Besides the fact that diet soda is strong…

Cooking is making a comeback!

Need another reason to skip eating out? Besides saving time and money (cooking at home can cut your food budget by more than half), it can help you lose more than a pound a month without that much more effort. A University of Arkansas study showed that people who eat out often consume about 900 calories more per week than those who eat their meals at home (given the portion sizes…

Beat the heat: 3 Great Ways to Save this Summer!

Beat the heat with some great bargain hunting! And there is no need to pay full price, or even full sale price, when shopping this summer.

Here’s the skinny on some great savings tools:

RetailMeNot.com: This site features coupon codes, printable coupons and grocery coupons all in one place! You can also join in their community to get the inside scoop on bargains from other savings savvy shoppers.

Promotional Codes.com: Want a…

Always Ask the Turtle

Always ask the turtle by Gloria Steinem: “On a field trip, while everyone else was off looking at the meandering Connecticut River, I was paying no attention whatsoever. Instead, I had a found a giant, GIANT turtle that had climbed out of the river, crawled up a dirt road, and was in the mud on the embankment of another road, seemingly about to crawl up on it and get squashed…

Is your TV making your pants tight?

Did you know that:

The average person watches four hours, 35 minutes of television each day.

The average American home now has more television sets than people. There are 2.73 TV sets in the typical home and 2.55 people.

Australian researchers found that each hour a day spent in front of television is linked with an 18% greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and an 11% greater risk of all causes…

Have your Ice Cream and Eat it Too!

An ice cream cone is a summer staple- and it doesn’t have to be off your list if you are trying to lose weight! In fact, a cone may help you control your portion size. A recent evaluation by Good Housekeeping Magazine found that most ice cream servings (in a cup) are anywhere from 11-48% larger than their posted size, meaning you could be consuming between 100-175 more calories than…

Skip the diet pills – water is more effective for weight loss!

Trying to lose weight? Ditch the diet pills, appetite suppressants or ‘fat burners’ – not only are most ineffective, some are downright dangerous and they all trick your body into an unnatural state. If you need an effective weight loss tool, here’s one that really works -and it’s free and good for your body: WATER! A recent Virginia Tech study found that when overweight adults on a diet who drank 16…

Healthy Up Your Hamburger!

Did you know that May 28^th is National Hamburger Day? In honor of this unique holiday, and the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend, we thought we’d share some tips on how to better your burger – just in case you are gearing up for a cookout this weekend.

And while you may not think of a burger as a health food, it’s actually a pretty decent choice when it comes to getting…

Get Fit for Under $5 This Summer

Summer is a great time to get your body, and your budget, in shape! Here are a few great ways to get fit without breaking the bank.

You can get fit for next-to-nothing with these ideas:

1)    Download A Fitness App -or two – (cost: $0.99-$1.99 each): Get in a good workout –with or without the gym- with the exercises (available for different fitness levels) with deftfitness ($0.99). Or turn…

Quick Fit: Resistance Band Workout

Click here to view the video: Quick Fit Resistance Band WO

All you need is a resistance band (medium to heavy strength). Need one? You can purchase one here.

The Workout: Circuit through each exercise, doing a full minute of reps (or 30 seconds per side). Repeat the circuit 1-3x (depending on how much time you have), anywhere from 2-4 days a week for best results.

Move #1 – Squat to Alternating Overhead…

Get Smart with Salt!

Salt…it’s one of those things you ALWAYS have in the cupboard. But did you know how many other things you can do with that crystallized form of sodium chloride?

Here are 5 new ways to shake up your salt usage:

1) Keep faux flowers clean: place them in a plastic baggie of salt, shake and volia!

2) Preserve the life of your milk: add a pinch of salt to your…

Here comes Summer! Get Bikini Ready with these simple tips

Summer’s almost here.. do you know where your bikini is? There’s no need to dread that bathing suit! Enjoy your summer, and your bikini, this year with a few simple beach-body-ready tips:

1)    Eliminate excess water weight with lemon. Squeeze lemon juice into your water throughout the day for a natural diuretic. Drink at least 8 glasses a day, more if you are very active or sweating. You’ll stay hydrated during…

5 Favorite 5-Ingredient Dinners

Who says cooking has to be complicated and time consuming? These meals can be made 30 minutes or less, and only use 5 ingredients. Trust us, you’ll have these meals on the table faster than you can say “delivery”.

Here are 5 of our 5-ingredient favorites:

#1: Apricot Lemon Chicken from Cooking Light.com.

All you need: 1 tsp. curry powder, four 6-oz. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, 1/3 cup of apricot spread…

Natural cleaning swaps (that really work!)

Spring cleaning? Stay green, clean and non-toxic with these natural cleaning swaps (that really work):

Instead of PLEDGE, try 1 tbs. of lemon juice mixed with 2 tbs. of olive oil. wipe down wood surfaces with the solution using a cloth, then buff to shine.

• Instead of WINDEX, pour 1 cup of white vinegar and 2 cups of water into a spray bottle to clean windows and mirrors.

Instead of Tidy-bowl,…

Life give you lemons? Skip the lemonade and try this!

Did you know that lemons can:

1) Cleanse your body. Add lemon slices to a pitcher of water for an internal cleansing. Lemon juice can aid in digestion, alleviate constipation and help cleanse the liver by prompting your liver to increase its bile production. It has even been known to help cure the hiccups and gallstones.

2) Cure a sore throat. Because of its antiseptic properties, lemon juice can help combat…

Weight Loss Rules You can break today!

If we have learned anything about weight loss over the years, it’s that there are NO steadfast, unbreakable rules. Finding your way to a healthy weight (and maintaining it) is about finding out what works for you.

Here are a few rules we’ve learned to break and why you should too:

Rule #1: No dessert.

What is life without dessert? If sweets are important to you, make other exchanges. For instance,…

Try this herbal cleansing energizer: Cilantro

Did you know that fresh cilantro contains something called carboxylic acid, which research has shown to bind to heavy metals like mercury and help carry them out of the body? Removing toxic metal build up can help relieve fatigue, depression and even joint pain. Add cilantro to your favorite homemade guacamole, shrimp or black bean recipe. Keep herbs fresh in the fridge longer by storing them in a glass of…

Stop these energy wasting habits – today!

Are your daily habits draining you? You could sabotaging your energy level – without even knowing it! Check out our list below and find out how to turn your old habits into energy boosting new ones this week:

1) Old habit: checking emails every time one pops into your inbox.

Energy boosting habit: Schedule email blocks into your day.

It’s tempting to open every email that ‘bings’ into your box, but dealing…

5 Ways to Better Balance your Day

Ah, balance. That beautiful word seems to be a goal for all of us, but in real life – you know, the one that’s full of work assignments, endless phone calls, dirty laundry, kids’ schedules and social events- finding it is not as easy as it sounds.

Balance refers to being in state of harmony, where all aspects of your life maintain a certain sense of symmetry. And, while there…

Water: Just how much is enough?

We’ve all heard the “eight 8 oz. glasses of water” per day recommendation. But is that true for everybody? What about if you sweat a lot? And does drinking soda and tea count?

Water is often recommended to aid in weight loss, and for good reason. Being even mildly dehydrated can leave you feeling tired and sluggish. Thirst can also be disguised as hunger, causing you to overeat instead of…

On and on, on the beat goes: Workout Music Suggestions & Selections

As anyone who has ever forgotten their ipod during their regularly scored workout can tell you, some days its just torture without your favorite songs to get you through. Music can make all the difference in the world to your workout routine, and even more to your results. Studies have shown that the right song, played at the right time, can move you to push harder and go longer when…

Black food is good for you?

Black food is good for you? According to registered dietitian Sharon Richter, the answer to that is yes!

Richter says, “When talking about nutrients I suggest eating a colorful plate such as watermelon, carrots, broccoli, and pomegranates reflecting their antioxidants. Black may not be as bright, but many dark foods are loaded with nutrients”.

Check out what these ‘black’ foods can do for you:

Black Beans: these guys are packed with antioxidants and…

Quick & Easy Feng Shui for Kitchen Health

The kitchen is often the heart of your home  – a place where creativity, health and family can thrive. But if you have been using your kitchen as storage space, an office, or anything but the kitchen, it could be contributing to anxiety, stress and even health or weight problems.

In feng shui, food represents both health and wealth. And the space where you prepare your food should be an…

5 Simple Ways to Live Healthier, Longer & Lighter!

No need to start a complicated strict diet and exercise routine in order to lose weight and be healthy. When it comes to your health, keep it simple!

Here are five easy ways to improve your health and weight loss success today:

1) Floss Daily. Research shows that flossing regularly may actually reduce your risk of heart disease and help prevent certain cancers. Spending the 30 extra seconds it takes to…

How to Get Healthy, Glowing Skin – All Year Long!

Going to the gym, talking on your cell phone, touching your face mindlessly- your busy day takes a toll on your skin. And depending on your activity level, as well as the climate you live in, you may be fighting breakouts even as an adult.

You don’t have to suffer with embarrassing, painful acne, and you don’t have to order ProActiv to fix it. We asked esthetician Lauren Braha, owner…

Easy Ways to Start Cleaning Up Your Life – Today!

You started the week with a beautifully clean house, and then somehow, magically, by the middle of the week it seems all chaos has broken loose!

We’ve got a few simple things you can do today to help get (and stay) clutter-free during the week:

1) Manage your mail. This goes for electronic mail too! If your inboxes are overflowing, it’s hard to tell what needs your attention first. Apply the…

5 Simple, Gym-Free Ways to Lose Weight

1) Eat eggs for breakfast daily. A 2008 study by the International Journal of Obesity showed that overweight adults who ate two eggs for breakfast, as part of a reduced-calorie diet, lost 65% percent more weight, showed a 61% greater BMI (body mass index) reduction and felt more energetic than those who ate a bagel (with equal calories) for breakfast. Eggs also help level out blood sugar, provide energy boosting protein…

5 Things To Feel Great About!

1) The sun! Studies have shown getting daily sun exposure allows your body to produce Vitamin D, which can cut your cancer risk by 60 percent, and help prevent heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis. Boost your vitamin D levels naturally by eating foods like eggs or organ meats and try to soak up the sun for at least 15 minutes a day.

10 Great Ways to use Olive Oil (outside the kitchen)

You know that olive oil is good for you. You may have heard the news that olive oil can help prevent heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol (LDL), and raising good (HDL) levels. You probably also know that olive oil is full of antioxidants (particularly phenols) and unsaturated fat. And that it may reduce the risk of colon cancer, has shown to have a beneficial effect on ulcers, and even…

Beneficial Bacteria: Why You Should Be Taking Probiotics

Look down any grocery store aisle, and chances are you can find at least one item fortified with probiotics. They come in pill form, in yogurts, even sauerkraut. You may even be taking them already or consuming them in food without even realizing it. So what exactly are ‘probiotics’ and what can they do for you? Well, these little bugs have a lot of healthy benefits. And, during this cold-and-flu-holiday-eating-and…

Walk to a Flat Belly – Fast!

Walking is one fantastic option for cardiovascular exercise. It not only improves bone density and mental function, but it is also great way to burn calories with minimal impact. Combine walking with abdominal work, and you are on your way to tightening and toning your entire body.

One of the best ways to up your workout intensity (besides changing your speed and terrain) is to activate your abdominal muscles while…

Getting your Zzzz’s: How to Sleep Better – Tonight!

Having trouble sleeping lately? Insomnia is more common than you might think. Whether a sleepless night for you is rare, or if you toss and turn on a regular basis, there are a few things you need to know to help you get a good night’s rest.

Some of the main reasons you aren’t sleeping well could be:
Hormones. For women, everything from your menstrual cycle to pregnancy to menopause can…

VODKA: 3 Great Ways to Enjoy It At Home (without a shot glass!)

Yes, you read that headline correctly- we are promoting VODKA on our health and fitness site. But not for the reasons you might think- we wanted to share with you some of the interesting and useful ways you can use this strong spirit around the house (without actually drinking a sip!).

My three favorite uses for Vodka:

1) Use it as a laundry aid. Because Vodka is a disinfectant, it can…

It’s Time: Clean Out Your Fridge in 3 Simple Steps

What is that dangerously foul odor hovering in your kitchen? Is it the garbage? No. Is it the dog? No. It seems to be coming from.. the FRIDGE! Yes folks, the holidays are wayy over, and your refrigerator desperately needs your help.

You can get this done today, in 3 easy steps, that should take 30 minutes or less:

STEP 1: TRASH. Just how long do leftovers really last? Not as long…

The instant weight loss secret you haven’t tried!

Cleaning out your closet can help you lose weight? In a way, yes! The idea behind the Living in Thin™ concept is live in a place where you just flow – there is no wasting energy or time, because you have a full and fulfilling life to lead. How much time do you waste every morning/evening deciding what to wear because your closet is full of too many various clothing…

Recipes: Cooking Healthy, Easy Meals

You can cook healthy, easy meals! Here are a few of our favorite light & quick recipes:

Apple-Raisin-Almond Oatmeal
½ cup of quick cooking oats
¾ cup water
½ chopped apple
2 tbsp. raisins
2 tbsp. sliced almonds
Cinnamon & Brown Sugar (to taste)

Cook oats and water in microwave, about 2 minutes. Stir in apple, raisins, almonds, cinnamon and brown sugar.

Creamy Tomato Basil & Spinach Soup
1 tbsp.…

Make the Bed Today: It’s Good For You!

Before you rush out of the house this morning, do one simple thing that could help you boost your immune  system, give you more energy, and even lengthen your life:  MAKE YOUR BED.

And just how does something like moving pillows and sheets around help you get healthier?

It helps boost your immune system. Did you know that your bed is a haven for dust mites and small bugs? When your…

Can Green Tea Really Speed Up Your Metabolism?

Green tea is often touted as a great “metabolism booster”, but just how effective is it? Green tea offers  numerous health benefits (it’s full of anti-oxidants, amino acids and has the perfect jitter-free caffeine level).  And while it can help increase energy expenditure and thermogenesis (the calories burned by the body  during the digestive process), the extra calories burned per serving are barely going to cover the honey or  milk you…