Don’t Just Wear Green, Eat It!

Traditionally, St. Patrick’s Day is heavy on the Guinness , whiskey , potatoes, and corned beef. Together these things are not a picture-perfect recipe for health. Heck, even alone many of these items aren’t so good for you. You can still get into the spirit of today’s celebration by eating a bevy of healthy, green foods. With this kind of diet, you won’t even need luck - you’ll have good health on your side! Source: Getty Images View Slideshow ›

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Don’t Just Wear Green, Eat It!

Alexa Fishback on Right Way to Snack

We are pleased to announce our first ever guest blogger, nutritionist Alexa Fishback . Since the Get Fit For 2010 challenge this week is all about healthy snacking , we asked Alexa for tips on maximizing the nutritional power of your snacks. The good news? You should have two snacks every day, in addition to your breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The bad news - you probably already do. But maybe one snack comes in the form of mindlessly grabbing a handful of M&M’s off the reception desk in your office and the other grazing on some pretzels and a Snapple from the work fridge. At the end of the day, these options are highly caloric and not very satiating.  The solution - plan ahead for two snacks every day , one small snack (0-100 calories) and one more substantial snack (100-200 calories) - to keep your blood sugar levels stable between each meal, to give you the energy you need to get through the workday, and to prevent overeating at the next meal. If you can, plan to eat two of these three snack options in some form every day - fruit or veggies (raw, dried, or cooked), nuts or nut butters spread on whole wheat crackers, bread or fruit/veggies, and/or a cup of yogurt or cottage cheese. Like what you’re hearing? Then be sure to enter our Get Fit For 2010 community contest and challenge, by sharing your fave healthy snack in our Get Fit group. A year of personalized nutrition plans by Alexa is part of our fabulous grand prize . Source: Flickr User gcfairch

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Alexa Fishback on Right Way to Snack

5 Ways to Slow Down Meals

Eating quickly can lead to weight gain , because you end up devouring substantially more calories than you would if you ate more slowly. Downing food fast can also cause unfortunate digestive distress . Here are some techniques to slow down your meals and enjoy your food without needing to loosen your belt. Source: Jupiter Images View Slideshow ›

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5 Ways to Slow Down Meals

5 Good Morning Stretches

Instead of hitting the snooze button in the morning, I take the extra 10 minutes to stretch. It’s a great way to get the juices going in the morning and ease away any stress or tension from the previous day’s activity or a funky sleeping position. Since stretching before breaking a sweat is debatable, I keep my morning stretches simple - I don’t even have to leave the bed to do them! Try this simple stretching sequence when you wake up tomorrow to get your blood flowing and your body primed for your day. Source: Jupiter Images View Slideshow ›

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5 Good Morning Stretches

Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms

Winter is slowly receding, and in many places Spring has sprung, even though the official start date doesn’t come until the end of the week. With Spring weather comes blooming plants, trees, and shrubs, and with those lovely flowers comes pollen, the irritant that brings on hay fever. I lived for years in denial of my seasonal allergies and pretended that I had a cold . . . a cold that never ended. I have wised up and since allergy season is upon us, or will be soon depending on where you live, I thought it might be useful to compare the symptoms of the common cold with those that accompany seasonal allergies. Itchy nose: Although allergies and colds both produce a runny nose and congestion, allergies create the dreaded itchy nose . The itch generally occurs in the back of the nose and is difficult to “scratch.” Folks suffering from “nasal pruritus” (the fanciest way in the world to say itchy nose ) often scrunch up their faces, like a bunny, to try to alleviate the itch. The sneeze: Sneezing frequently, and sometimes quietly, is common with allergies. Allergy sneezes are an attempt to remove allergens from the nose. Sneezes from colds tend to be loud, deep, and infrequent, attempting to clear the bronchial congestion down in the lungs. Unfortunately, the list of symptoms is a bit longer, so read more. Runny eyes: While eyes might occasionally water with a cold, they will run profusely with allergies. Mucus color: Mucus, aka snot, is generally clear with allergies, whereas with a cold it tends to have a color - yellow to green . Dark circles under the eyes: This symptom is sometimes referred to poetically as the ” allergy shiner .” These “shiners” are caused by the inability of veins in the area to drain due to chronic nasal congestion . It is like a traffic jam in the area under your eyes. Common colds do not cause these. If you are living in allergy denial, hopefully, this list will help you figure out that you do indeed have hay fever, and need to leave the weeding and lawn mowing to someone else for now.

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Allergy Symptoms vs. Cold Symptoms

Wanna Do a Handstand? 7 Moves to Get You There

It looks like many of you are like me, and have always had a secret desire to learn how to do splits . Handstands are another “trick” I’ve always wanted to be able to do. I guess seeing acrobats in the circus as a kid sparked my interest. If you have your heart set on getting upside down, here are seven moves to practice. Do them in this sequence, trying to master each step before moving on to the next one, and you’ll be walking on your hands in no time! View Slideshow ›

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Wanna Do a Handstand? 7 Moves to Get You There

The Stars Work It Out For a Good Cause

While most of Hollywood was swept up in Oscar fever, a few stars traded in their tuxes and gowns for Nike gear and competed in the Roselyn Sanchez Triathlon For Life instead. Kellan Lutz and AnnaLynne McCord were just two of the stars who ran, bike, and swam their way to charity in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Actress Roselyn Sanchez organized the triathlon to raise funds for two Puerto Rican children’s groups: San Jorge Children’s Foundation and La Casa Cuna de San Juan. Other celebs that joined the fun include Eric Winter, Nick Lachey, and Vanessa Milano. The triathlon consisted of two courses: the Sprint (swim 750 meters, bike 12.4 miles, run 3.1 miles) and the Olympic (swim 1500 meters, bike 24.9 miles, run 6.2 miles). To see more pics of the triathlon and the afterparty, read more. View 13 Photos ›

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The Stars Work It Out For a Good Cause

Eat the Pain Away

You are what you eat, at least that’s the old adage. It’s also one I believe in - what you put into your body has a big affect on how you feel. There are foods that fight fat , detox foods , and foods that help you get stronger . There are even foods that help you sleep better and look fresher . Adding to the list of foods that fuel with a purpose are foods that help ease pain. Whether it’s a headache, post-workout soreness, or an injury, these foods will help ease the pain away in a totally natural way. View Slideshow ›

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Eat the Pain Away

Gear Review: Beyond Yoga Spring Line

Although it may still be chilly or snowy in your neck of the woods, it’s March, and that means Spring is not too far away. You can celebrate with some new Spring-inspired fitness gear in bright colors and uniquely fresh designs, like these from Beyond Yoga . The company sent me some pieces from its new Spring Collection: a Supplex Shirred Cami ($73) in Blue Ice, a Supplex Long Curve Jacket ($124), also in Blue Ice, and a pair of Supplex Knee Length Leggings ($66) in Graphite. My new outfit looks so adorable, and it feels so supportive and easy to move in. I was instantly inspired to exercise the minute I slipped it on. I know these items seem pricey, but the Supplex fabric feels so much more luxurious than less expensive fitness gear. It’s unbelievably soft and on the thicker side, so it’s not at all see-through and is very durable. I’ve had clothes from Beyond Yoga for a while, and even with frequent sweat sessions and washings, the colors and material look exactly the same as the first day I wore them - really! These are the kinds of clothes you’ll enjoy for years, and that makes it worth the dough. Check out the other new items in the Spring line when you read more. View 9 Photos ›

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Gear Review: Beyond Yoga Spring Line

DrSugar on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

DrSugar is in the house! This week she’s teaching us about digestive issues. In last week’s column, I answered a great question from a reader who was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) by her physician. I addressed her question regarding Candida infection of the gastrointestinal system but felt that a separate column on IBS was warranted, given its common prevalence and media attention. As many as one in five adult Americans have symptoms of IBS, making it one of the most common disorders diagnosed by doctors. It occurs more often in women than men; the onset of the symptoms occurs before the age of 35 in over half of people with IBS. To learn more continue reading.

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DrSugar on Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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