It’s this little thing I do: I like “collecting” things that, traditionally, have been considered bad for you…but turn out to be healthy. Girl’s gotta have a hobby! Anyway. Here’s my lovely little roundup of vices you should be indulging in. 1.Shopping. Oh yes, it’s true. In a recent study, seniors who shopped every day had […]

I’ve been reading a lot about happiness lately, and it turns out there’s a whole lot of science behind what makes us happy. And more research being done all the time. There is an excellent argument to be made that happiness is the one true goal. The one thing we all crave–the deep meaning underneath […]

One of my all-time fave indulgences is going to the spa. To me, it’s heaven. It’s relaxing, it’s pampering, and it’s rejuvenating. Are you with me on this? Well, it gets better. Researchers are starting to discover that spa treatments have bona fide health benefits. The origins of spa reach back to our earliest civilizations: ancient Egyptian, Greek, and […]

In the short term, inflammation is not a problem. It’s the body’s normal response to injury, and it’s a healing response. It’s also part of our immune system, and how we fight infection. But when inflammation doesn’t shut off like it should, and becomes chronic? That’s a problem. Why inflammation is bad for you We’re not […]

Who doesn’t love wine? In my opinion, it’s truly the drink of the gods. So how awesome was it, years ago, when research started revealing the health benefits of wine? Most of us know wine is full of antioxidants, and is great for preventing heart disease. No secret there. But I recently found a couple of benefits that […]

So you feel, well, okay. But is okay good enough? Could you do better? Time to be honest…with yourself. Because prevention, in my book, is far better than waiting for symptoms to appear. Below you’ll find some questions to answer. Now, this is not a multiple choice quiz, with a cute classification scale at the end. These […]

Looking for some easy, non-diet-ish ways to lose a little weight? Read on. Eat mints right after a meal. The powerful flavor will cut your appetite, sending a message to your brain that the meal is done. The sweetness will curb an urge for dessert. Deal with cravings. Most cravings will pass in 15 minutes. When you […]

Coffee has long been one of my favorite indulgences. Actually, let’s be honest. I can’t get through my day without visiting Starbucks. Even so…my sipping usually comes with a teeny bit of guilt. Reasonable? Turns out, probably not. In fact, it looks like I just might be doing myself some good with my daily dose. There’s a growing […]

Ah, stress. Who isn’t stressed out these days? It seems like we’reall suffering time starvation, stretched between too many obligations. There’s work, family, school, dentist appointments…and all those pesky bills that keep arriving. So. How bad is stress for us, exactly? Bad. Thing is, short term stress isn’t inherently harmful. It’s important for our bodies and brains to have […]