By Sara Altshul
I like to be prepared for anything when I travel, whether I’m headed out to my brother Jake’s house for days of holiday feasting and excellent wines, or across the country for a multicity business trip. The remedies I take along help me beat—or prevent—minor problems, fast. Read More
Couples who don’t have any luck with in vitro fertilization may want to head straight to an acupuncturist. Research out of IVF centers in Colorado and New Mexico shows that combining in vitro with acupuncture may lead to 26 percent more pregnancies—if women undergo at least 11 acupuncture treatments.(Previous research showed that a smaller number of treatments could boost pregnancy rates, but not as much.) Read More
Finally! Permission to raid the sugar bowl—but not for your morning cereal or coffee. Learn how the sweet stuff naturally does wonders for dry skin, scrapes, etc. View the slideshow.
Need relief from the winter chill? Hitting a hot shower can help you kick colds to the curb, soothe pain, and more. View the slideshow.
Facts of life: Pregnancy itself ups your pelvic-disorder risks.
Pop-music diva Christina Aguilera says she chose to have a cesarean section because she didn’t want any vaginal tears (or other surprises). It’s true that a vaginal delivery doubles the chance of having a pelvic-floor disorder. But lots of women deliver vaginally and don’t have pelvic-floor problems. Read More
As many as one in three of us suffers from bladder trouble. Here, the best remedies for lasting relief.
The days of being shy about PMS and pregnancy pain are way over. But that bladder accident or the fact that your insides feel like they’re falling out of your vagina? Now, that’s embarrassing. And that’s why millions of women may be suffering in silence. A recent study found that up to one in three women under age 54 has an overactive bladder, dropped pelvic organs, or another pelvic-floor disorder. Vaginal childbirths are often cited as a big risk factor, and being overweight ups the odds. The good news: These disorders are easy to treat, says Karl Luber, MD, a urogynecologist at Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center. Here, three clues that you may have a pelvic-floor disorder and how to find relief.
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Melanie Roach can bear a lot—twice her own 117 pounds actually, a feat she showed off at the Beijing Olympics. (She finished sixth in her weight class.) But Roach, 33, struggles with a much more challenging load at home. Three years ago her son, Drew, now 6, was diagnosed with autism. “I started thinking he would never go to college, get married, or hold a job,” she remembers. “My heart was so sad.” Read More
It’s not just for cereal anymore. This drink is packed with calcium and vitamin D, and it fights puffy eyes, dry skin, and even PMS. View our slideshow.
An extract from a South African geranium might reduce the length of your next cold by two days if you take it within 48 hours of your first symptoms. A University of Chicago study found that the plant—Pelargonium sidiodes—may weaken viruses and boost your immunity. Read More
Q: If one slice of bread has mold on it, is it safe to eat another slice from the same loaf?
A: Best to toss the loaf and start fresh. Bread is very porous, so mold can spread quickly and easily, particularly in organic products that don’t contain preservatives. Plus, mold, which has roots, could be thriving below the surface, even after you scrape it off. The same goes for meats, jams, and fruits or vegetables—when you see mold, it’s time to pitch them. (Individual fruit such as strawberries that has come in contact with moldy pieces can simply be washed and eaten. The mold in blue cheese is considered safe, too, unless you’re pregnant.) Eating a tiny amount of moldy bread isn’t likely to cause a serious illness, though it could give you a stomachache. Read More
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By Brittani Renaud
