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Showing posts with the label Women;s Health

Top 10 Health Tips for Women

Let's face it, ladies: Doctor visits are short. And they're getting shorter. What if your doctor had more time? She might tell you the same things that OB-GYN Alyssa Dweck, MD, co-author of V Is for Vagina, wants you to know. Consider Dweck's tips your prescription for a lifetime of wellness. 1. Zap your stress. "The biggest issue I see in most of my patients is that they have too much on their plates and want to juggle it all. Stress can have significant health consequences, from infertility to higher risks of depression, anxiety, and heart disease. Find the stress-reduction method that works for you and stick with it." 2. Stop dieting. "Eating healthy doesn't mean you have to forgo your favorite glass of wine or a piece of chocolate cake now and then. The key is moderation. Get a mix of lean proteins, healthy fats, smart carbs, and fiber." 3. Don't “OD” on calcium. "Too much absorbed calcium can increase the risk of ...

What to Look for in an Energy Shot

Those new little bottles at the checkout counter promise so much more than five-hour energy. They’re packed with amino acids (same as fish!), herbs (herbal!), and miracle compounds from the Amazon (exotic place-name!). It’s all very “plant-based” and “enlightened”—buzzwords that will help drive the global energy-drink market up to an expected $85 billion over the next six years. They’ll give you energy for sure, mostly thanks to straight-up caffeine—about ten times more per ounce than coffee. But do all the other ingredients make them healthier than a regular energy shot? We analyzed the four most popular ingredients—from the just-trendy to the just-might-work—in these new-gen energy shots.  Guarana People in the Amazon consume the seeds of this fruit when they need an energy surge. They contain four times as much caffeine as coffee beans, but the wake-up effects may be even stronger: “Guarana contains additional bioactive compounds that prelim...

How to Not Have a Period

The beach vacation you have been looking forward to for months. The 22 hour plane ride to Tokyo. Your honeymoon. What do these things have in common? They never fail to fall during your period. “Surely, if we can put a man on the moon, then we can get rid of periods?” You wonder in frustration, as you pack extra sanitary gear in your bag. The answer is “yes”. If you are extra nice to your neighborhood gynecologist, she can likely help you with your period predicament. The menstrual cycle is a result of a delicate hormonal dance. Estrogen coaxes the ovary to make an egg and prompts the lining of the uterus to thicken. After the egg is released, progesterone halts the growth of the lining, and the uterus waits for the arrival of an embryo. When no embryo arrives, progesterone production stops; it’s this lack of progesterone that triggers the vacation-ruining period. Altering these dance steps with some additional hormones can usually result in a delay in the cycle until a more op...