Articles by

Acne 101: Tackling troubled teen skin

Laura Owens — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:00:00 -0800

Most of us are hit with zits at some time in our lives. Blemishes and acne can pop up on our face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. It isn’t a serious health risk, but severe cases can cause permanent scarring on the outside — and inside.

Vaccines for high school and college freshmen

Laura Owens — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:01:00 -0700

Vaccines continue to perplex parents concerned about protecting their children against serious diseases yet who want to avoid potential adverse reactions and immunological side effects. Here is some vaccine information for parents to ensure their teens are up to date on their vaccines before they head back to school.

Understanding your teen’s nutritional needs

Laura Owens — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:00:00 -0800

Childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing. But with a little guidance, even the most junk-food obsessed kids can create a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Eat your way to less anxiety

Laura Owens — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:08:00 -0700

If you are what you eat, you might as well use food to make Y-O-U feel good. However, we’re talking foods that boost your brain, not artery-clogging, instant-gratification, waist-widening fare. When it comes to brain chemistry, certain foods are known to increase serotonin, the mood-elevating, sleep-assisting brain chemical, while some foods help lower anxiety and increase focus, courtesy of their ability to elevate GABA, the brain’s natural chill pill neurochemical. Who knew food could relieve stress and bring on a sense of calm? Here’s how to eat your way to less anxiety.

Is hormone replacement therapy right for you?

Laura Owens — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:32:00 -0700

Flip through the health section of your newspaper and you might see another dire warning about the dangers of hormone replacement therapy. But before you run for the menopausal hills and suffer through another day of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and low libido, get the facts. HRT can, in fact, be very safe and, for many women, radically change how they feel -- for the better.

Jumpstart a healthy lifestyle

Laura Owens — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:48:00 -0700

Every change we want to make starts smack dab between our ears -- with how we think about accomplishing our goals. Here are some ways to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle sooner rather than later.

Early signs of digestive problems in women

Laura Owens — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:14:00 -0700

When there's inflammation, constipation or any distress, your intestinal tract can’t do its job. Listening to your gut’s SOS is a sure way to cure what ails your belly and to prevent potentially serious health hazards down the road.

Probiotics benefit children’s health

Laura Owens — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:37:00 -0700

Probiotics aren’t just to help women avoid that oh-so predictable yeast infection after a round of antibiotics. Children, research finds, can also benefit by having their digestive system in balance. Here’s why you should consider probiotics for your kids.

3 Tips for warm foods on cold nights

Laura Owens — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:10:00 -0800

Craving comfort foods to ward off frozen feet? A bowl of steaming fare can insta-melt the icicles from a tired body and warm you up from the inside out. Light a fire and snuggle with a family picnic dinner. Or make it a romantic dinner a deux and hunker down with your honey and try sipping and cooking with luscious liqueurs to get the warm and tinglies all over.

10 Seductive foods

Laura Owens — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 05:01:00 -0800

Some foods are sensual, appealing to our senses with sexual appearances and enticing scents, while others -- the aphrodisiacs -- make actual changes in the body that elevate libido. Sweet, salty and spicy flavors are often the faves to rev a woman up in bedroom. Here are 10 seductive foods you can try to spice things up!

Creative ways to use chocolate for a romantic night

Laura Owens — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:46:00 -0800

Few foods make you feel as sexy as the rich, creamy decadence of the ancient sweet indulgence we call chocolate.

5 Party tips for stress-free entertaining

Laura Owens — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 04:26:00 -0800

Finally, the fa-la-la holiday festivities are over. But if you felt more jittery than joyful hosting your own parties, the beginning of the New Year is the perfect time to re-think your entertaining approach. Here are five stress-free entertaining tips to help you host first-rate parties that you truly enjoy.

What your cholesterol test isn't telling you

Laura Owens — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:50:00 -0800

Heart disease has become the number one killer of men and women in the United States, killing more than 500,000 people each year. Being heart-healthy is priority one for many health-savvy women. But this fact might surprise you: nearly half of the people who have heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels. While it's easy to think eating the good stuff, getting to the gym and passing your cholesterol test with flying colors puts you at lower risk for heart disease, that's not always the case. But take heart, a new test called the Vertical Auto Profile offers a more detailed look into your lipid profile and may even save your life.

Turmeric: Help or hype for heart health?

Laura Owens — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:35:00 -0800

You've likely heard of - and have even eaten - curry, and perhaps you've also heard that turmeric, the yellow spice that gives curry powder its warm color, is good for your health. Research suggests spicing up your diet with this Indian spice to ward off chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, Alzheimer's and cancer. Turmeric has become especially well-known from research that links turmeric to heart health. But is turmeric truly the super spice it's hailed to be? Can it really ward off heart disease in a single dash? Should some people even avoid consuming it at all? Keep reading to find out if all the curry over turmeric is well-founded or if it's just another -œmiracle food- getting undeserving hype.

Could testosterone boost a woman's libido?

Laura Owens — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:26:00 -0800

Not feeling so sexy in the sack lately? Take heart. Low libido is common, it's curable, and it's natural for the big O to go AWOL at certain points in a woman's life. There are as many ways to give your sultry side a lift as reasons your sex drive might be stuck in neutral. Could the male hormone testosterone be the answer?