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Oh, cranberry, how do we love thee?  Let me count the ways.

In the health arena, you make our hearts go pitter-pat--and not just because you may lower bad cholesterol and increase good.  You're also packed with immune-boosting antioxidants, urinary health-protecting antibacterial properties, and even--if you believe one Rutgers researcher--a compound that prevents plaque from binding to your teeth.  Super-food, anyone?

But Foodie Friday is about more than mere healthy eating, it's about feel-good, taste-great foodie joy.  And there, we're smitten too.  Because not only do you contain a major dose of pectin, which, once released, brings you from firm fruit to delectable, just-burst gel in mere minutes.  You're also so perfectly tart so as to act as the perfect foil in sweet desserts, and a delightful zing to savory dishes.  Is there anything you can't do?

I'm lucky enough to live in cranberry country--New England--where my store stocks several brands of local berries fresh from the bog.  Seeing as how 'tis the season for all things cran, I thought I'd share my 5 favorite ways to enjoy this tiny super-fruit.  What are yours?

5 Ways to Enjoy Cranberries

1.  Drink 'Em.  Cranberry juice + sparkling wine + lime juice = fizzy, tarted-up perfection.  Also, you know cranberry juice is a chief ingredient in a Cosmo, right?

2.  Sauce 'Em.  As if I have to tell you.....boil a bag of crans with a cup of water, a cup of sugar, and the zest of an orange.  Some crystallized ginger never hurt anyone either!

3.  Bake 'Em.  Toss in a handful of cranberries to your apple pie filling, or use them instead of blueberries a crumb cake or breakfast bread for little bursts of tart-sweet goodness (note: you may need to adjust the sugar because crans are so tart).

4.  Savor 'Em.  Concocting a wild rice, quinoa, or wheat berry salad?  Try some chopped roasted vegetables, dots of goat cheese, and a handful of dried cranberries.  A splash of lemon juice, a few glugs of olive oil, and you're on your way to Savory City!

5.  Snack 'Em.  Dried cranberries are pleasantly chewy, super-sweet, and very happily eaten by the handful with salted nuts, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips, and any other dried fruits you like.  Wait, did I just describe a trail mix?  Take dried cranberries with you on a fall hike or winter snowshoe, and you'll be rarin' to go!

Still hungry? Click here for more Foodie Friday tidbits.

(image via: http://www.goodguide.com/)

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Many of us were surprised to read that the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) is recommending that women get their first mammograms at age 50, not 40--and, more shockingly, that doctors stop advising women to administer monthly self-exams on their breasts.

For followers of health trends, though, the recommendations are not so shocking.  There is an ongoing debate on the delicate line between "early detection" and "over-treating" in many aspects of health care, notably prostate cancer, in which men are often diagnosed and treated for cancers that run almost no risk of killing them.

Now, the arguments are being made that early mammograms save too few lives--and yield too many false positives--to justify continuing recommending them. 

This article in this morning's New York Times reported on skeptical reactions to the news--and many women saying that they would simply ignore the recommendations and continue to take preventative screening measures in their own bodies.

Fresh Living readers, what do you think?  Are you skeptical?  Relieved to get a 10-year free pass on mammograms?  Enraged at the idea of missing the chance to save even one life?  Tired of a preventative test-happy health care system?  Looking forward to your comments.

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If you're concerned about Swine Flu or H1N1, check out this list of tips that my stepmom passed along. It's allegedly from an unnamed registered nurse. Some of these are the same old yadda, but others were new to me and make a lot of sense. Many blessings for a healthy, flu-free season!

The International Diabetes Federation is sponsoring tomorrow, November 14, as World Diabetes Day 2009.  Here at Fresh Living, we care deeply about those of you who are living with diabetes, and we are always on the lookout for the smartest ways to manage the disease through natural diabetes remedies, lifestyle changes, and self-care.

Not too long ago, we published a gallery of mind-body techniques for natural diabetes care.  Here are 3 that you might try today to get on the road to controlling your diabetes naturally:

3 Natural Diabetes Care Tips

1.  Guided Imagery: Imagining yourself at the beach or another favorite place can help tame tension, but you can go further to control diabetes by visualizing the anatomical details of healing. In diabetics' bodies, blood sugar builds up to unhealthy levels because the cells can't properly use insulin, a hormone that helps bring sugar from the blood into the cells.

Cleveland psychotherapist Belleruth Naparstek suggests imagining the insulin acting like a key that unlocks the doors of the cells and lets the cells take in the fuel they need.

2.  Laughter: Tickling your funny bone is a great stress-buster, and a 2003 study in Japan found that laughter can help manage diabetes. Researchers measured the blood sugar levels of 19 diabetics after they attended a serious lecture, and on another day after they enjoyed a comedy show. Although they ate similar meals on both days, the participants had lower blood sugar after a few laughs. For more mirth in your life, spend time with friends who make you laugh, watch funny movies or sitcoms, or just play with your pets.

3.  Journaling:  Expressing yourself on paper is a good way to release feelings that you might otherwise hide or suppress. Researchers at Syracuse University and elsewhere are currently studying whether writing about traumatic or stressful experiences can reduce diabetic symptoms and improve emotional well-being in diabetics.

Try writing about something that's upsetting or troubling in your life, either past or present, for roughly 20 minutes a day on three or four consecutive days. 

Click here for the rest of the natural diabetes care gallery.  And do share - how do you manage diabetes with lifestyle and self-care methods?

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I just started an elimination diet, and I'm having a hard time. If you have food sensitivities or allergies, how do you keep your bliss around food, especially at the beginning of having to make changes in your eating habits?

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in America, killing around 437 people every day. In honor of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, I've compiled some resources from around Beliefnet to help raise awareness, encourage conversation, and offer support.

Swine flu prevention is about two things, really--smart practices that don't put flu germs and your mucous membranes in the same place at the same time, and keeping your immune system strong enough to fight off any bugs that might sneak in the door.

The Boston Globe reported this week that the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston is suggesting some significant changes to the Mass service to try to stem the spread of swine flu.  Click here for the whole article, but here are...

It's only October, but this is about the time Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD--depression that hits in fall and winter) can creep in. So if you're one of the millions of sufferers (like me), what can you do to nip...

Seventy-five million.  That's how many people in the US, Europe, and Japan are estimated to be affected by osteoporosis, the bone disease that leads to increased risks for fractures as we age.Today is World Osteoporosis Day, an awareness-raising effort by...

This weekend came news that a third person has died following an October 8 sweat lodge ceremony at the Angel Valley Retreat Center near Sedona, Arizona.  The tragedy is frightening and incomprehensible: people in search of healing were instead...

When I woke last night for a bathroom run, my foot crashed into an errant boot I had left on the floor. Nothing like a stabbing jolt of pain at 4am! Now today I'm home sick (I've also got...

This morning, I went to the dentist and was told I needed to have my annual x-rays updated.  Ok, I said, but after a about 10 bite-beep!-change-film cycles, I asked why the hygienist seemed to be taking more shots than...

"What would you do if you knew that every good thing in your life depended on your getting enough rest? Because it does." - Martha Beck, "Steering by Starlight" Last winter I was sick pretty much from December to...

We are proud to offer an extensive array of supportive features in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  But as one of our authors, Lori Hope, points out in this powerful guest post, it can be difficult to be...

Yesterday, I wrestled all day with an acute case of fidgety-itis.  The squirms.  The squiggles.  The heebie-jeebies.  The bouncy-leg tango.I have no idea where my inability to sit still came from.  It was a rainy day, usually an energy-suppressor.  Work...

Microsoft has unveiled a new online tool, developed by Emory University, to help you decide whether your flu-like symptoms warrant a trip to the doctor's office.  This is a major issue for many people, as doctors' visits can be frustrating...

You guys, there comes a time.  A time when you realize that if something is toxic--a food item, a relationship, a town--it's not your job to detoxify it.  A time when you reclaim control of the space where you live,...

What's better on a chilled fall or winter morning than a bubbling pot of oatmeal?  I try to have a bowl for breakfast 2-3 times a week during the cold months (when I'm not eating my favorite peanut butter...

Today begins Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and to honor those whose lives have been touched through this disease, I searched out 5 quotes about survival.  Because that's the goal.  That's the goal.5 Quotes About Survival"Through humor, you can soften some...

Yesterday was an exciting day--our new dining room furniture arrived.  It's beautiful, and we quickly figured out how we wanted to lay it out and started dreaming about Thanksgiving dinner.  But then we opened the doors of our new sideboard.Pee-yew! ...

I know, we're living fresh-ish--it's all "Sparkling water with lemon, please!" But sometimes the ice cold beer or tasty sake-tini or simple a glass of antioxidant-rich wine just calls. And calls, and calls.... I know for me, since chemo, any...

You may have read or heard about (or maybe you saw it live) the on-camera accident last week in which "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien suffered a mild concussion.  He had to stop taping the show, then he was taken...

Every time I go to my dentist, I ask him if he's heard any new conventional wisdom on how to get rid of canker sores.  And every time, he responds by giving me a lecture about how research dollars are...

Last March, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement calling the ancient Japanese healing practice of reiki "superstition" that "finds no support either in the findings of natural science or in Christian belief."The issue largely disappeared from most...

It's Foodie Friday, and with the weather all crisp and cool, my mind is my favorite daily drink--tea.  Not the leaves themselves, though, but the vessel in which we boil the water to make this healing, warming beverage.  What is...

We try to keep it positive here on the FL, so pardon while I take a whine break--there's a little man or three dancing around my sinus cavities, throwing pepper, spraying water, and generally wreaking Gremlin-like havoc. It's unclear to...

Did you see the article in yesterday's New York Times about the clean water crisis in Charleston, West Virginia and around the country?  Here are some of the alarming take-aways from this exhaustively-reported piece:"Most of today's water pollution has no...

Our blog sister Diana Butler Bass on Progressive Revival had this to say about last night's health care speech by President Obama:"Tonight was about the moral "we."  President Obama delivered a hope-filled speech that called us to stop being part...

We've largely steered clear of the health care debate on Fresh Living (read why here), but I felt inspired to post this MoveOn.org video that's making the blogosphere rounds.  Not because we endorse the public option, necessarily, but because it's...

My blog brother Rabbi Brad Hirschfield wrote a post this morning called "Senator Kennedy Did NOT "Lose" His Battle with Cancer." Amen. I saw that New York Times headline myself today and it made me cringe.  It's no secret that our culture is all about winning,...

Sigh. A while ago, my friend Jenn from the Tiny Choices blog expressed skeptism that SIGG bottles were all that safe, preferring to sip from glass or stainless steel. But I was like, "Oy, really? Another thing to worry...

The flu is a winter problem, right?  Wrong!  I just learned that worldwide, there have been 150,000 confirmed cases of swine flu this summer, and with school starting again soon, the co-mingling of kids, adults, and germs is once again...

Fresh Living is, as you know, a holistic health blog.  But we've--so far--refrained from a single post about the biggest health-related issue before the chattering class: health care reform.  There are reasons for that, including our desire to focus more...

Ok, so I am possibly a little quiz-happy these days.  I think it's a symptom of summer, a time when I either want to be outside riding my bike or inside (if I have to) exercising my brain.My latest quiz...

Want to hear something embarrassing about my morning?  Our kitchen designer was here with some guys to measure and template out the countertop.  They arrived at 8:30, and we were chatting and making decisions about where to put the seam...

Sigh. Adam Yauch a.k.a. MCA from the Beastie Boys announced yesterday that he has cancer. MCA! So sad. I was practically weaned on their first album, License to Ill. Their scrappy, ironic, funny-white-kids-rapping routine almost made 7th grade bearable. They started...

With the wild weather we've had so far this summer, it's been a weird year in my garden.  Except that I've enjoyed one victory that I've never before been able to accomplish--the pot of mint I started in the spring...

Have you checked out our bevvy of health quizzes lately?  We've just spiffed them up with a new design, and if you're the personality quiz type, you'll definitely want to check them out.Here are my 5 favorites, for your quizzing...

Did you know that allegedly you can walk into any Starbucks and request free spent coffee grounds to enrich your garden or compost? Me either! I haven't actually tried this yet, not having a garden and all, but the...

'Tis the season for outdoor activities....and their inevitable accompanying health concerns.  Mosquitoes come with many, from the plain old itch factor to West Nile Virus and EEE.  How can you protect yourself without bathing in DEET or other crazy chemicals?There...

I recently had to have blood drawn, and as per usual with me, the area quickly turned a beautiful shade of black-and-blue.  Just in time for summer!When I went to my acupuncturist a few days later, she gave me a...

The economic downturn is real. Unemployment is high, business is down, people are grapping with horrible realities of home loss--these are scary times. There's an overall tone of gloom. Here in NYC people are extra-crabby on the subway (I hearby...

Reports are spreading (the NY Daily News and ABC News so far) that "Charlie's Angels" '70s heartthrob Farrah Fawcett's long struggle with cancer might be coming to an end.  News reports say that friends and family are gathering at her...

A new study is out touting the health benefits of a Mediterranean diet.  This will come as no shock to those of you who have already seen our fabulous gallery, "The Health Secrets of the Mediterranean Diet," but what's interesting...

I can't decide how exactly to react to this Boston Globe article about how some fitness buffs are, because of skin cancer fears, keeping their workouts indoors this spring and summer.On one hand, I get it.  Members of my family...

Though the product has not been recalled, federal regulators are warning consumers that using the popular homeopathic cold remedy Zicam might be dangerous--or permanently harmful--to your sense of smell.  The New York Times reported on the warnings sent from the...

I ran across this fascinating article last week in the New York Times about the questions that arise--and the possible benefits--when doctors interact with patients on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.  On the questions front, Dr. Pauline W....

Interesting news out of this weekend's The American Diabetes Association meeting--the association is recommending a new standard in the way that doctors test for and diagnose diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes.Currently, two tests are used to diagnose the condition.  The...

Elizabeth Edwards, in Boston over the weekend for a gala at Mass. General Hospital, gave a brief interview to The Boston Globe in which she talked about the kind of support that she's enjoyed through her years-long battle with breast...

When I first heard about them, the idea of "laughing clubs" struck me as sad--is our society so joy-deprived that we have to scheduling in time and space just to laugh?  But the more I learn about them, the more...

A while back, Holly created a wonderful gallery we've posted about, The 15 Hidden Health Secrets of Lemons. It was such a huge hit that the folks at My9, a local NYC-based station, wanted to included it in their Power...

We all know that changing to energy-efficient, compact-flourescent lightbulbs can significantly lower our carbon footprints.  But did you know that these bulbs, while "green" in the energy-usage sense, actually contain mercury, a toxic metal?This makes the bulbs potentially dangerous to...

The latest in several studies on how meditation affects the brain (and thus our lives) found that meditators' noggins actually have more gray matter in certain areas than non-meditators. According to Dr. Belleruth Naparstek, those spots are associated with "emotional regulation...

"American teenagers sent and received an average of 2,272 text messages per month in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Nielsen Company -- almost 80 messages a day, more than double the average of a year earlier."I was...

Last week I wrote about how to prepare for scary medical tests as I personally ramped up for my annual CT scan that makes sure I am still free and clear of the cancer stuff. But now that I'm in...

How's your Temporomandibular Joint feeling today?  Many of you, I suspect, are struggling with tension, pain, and other issues related to this little joint that sits in front of your ear where your upper and lower jawbones meet.Some of you...

In my two years of seeing an acupuncturist, I've mainly focused on the needle work; I've only rarely taken herbs, and when I did, I got these little pellets that were as easy to take as a pill.Recently, though, I've...

You may have heard about this case--a 13-year-old boy, Daniel Hauser, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and started chemo, but then his parents stopped treatment for religious reasons and said they'd be taking care of it naturally. Well, a judge ordered...

Doesn't it seem like some days, news headlines are dominated by cancer?  Here's what jumped off the screen today--two stories that highlight the tragedy and bravery, the horror and human triumph, of the disease:-- A 10-Year-Old with Breast Cancer -...

"Move over, green tea? Recent studies indicate that coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Alzheimer's, colon cancer, and diabetes compared to non-drinkers, and they're also less apt to die from heart disease."  So begins Dan Fields' wonderful new...

We all know there is no such thing as a safe tan. The National Institutes of Health has placed ultraviolet radiation, both from the sun and from tanning machines, on its list of known carcinogens. We also know the incidence of...

It's that time of year again for me. Testing time. Ye Annual CAT Scanne. Like the Olde Time Ice Cream Shoppe. But with doctors and isotope-laced Crystal Lite instead of ice cream. Um, yeah. See? Testing time makes me...

Recently I had the pleasure of taking a yoga workshop with Mariel Hemingway and her good friend Sara Ivanhoe. It was an intense afternoon, full of flowing asana with a specific focus on Patanjali's first yoga sutra -- Atha Yoganusasam...

I used to date a man who was an obsessive hand-washing-germ-chaser-awayer, especially in airports.  The good news is that we traveled a lot.  The bad is that every time I used a public restroom I got the questions:  "You didn't...

There's a story in the New York Times this week by a doctor who regularly sees patients go into work with 100-plus degree fevers. She confesses to doing the same. Her (not very convincing) moral: Stay home! Especially in the midst...

Since it's national "Eat What you Want" Day, I'm going to have to agree with my fellow blogger Valerie, who believes "everyday should be eat what you want day."   Why not let the wisdom of your body (and your...

Today is Eat What You Want Day, a holiday created by Thomas and Ruth Roy--folks who make e-cards, sell herbs, and designate "quirky" holidays so we have "more reasons to celebrate."It may sound a tad reckless in light of all...

Last night I watched the Michael J. Fox ABC special Adventures of an Incurable Optimist -- a companion piece to his new book, "Always Looking Up." Fox's goal: to figure out why some people are optimistic and how being...

Alzheimer's Disease now affects the lives of more than 50 percent of all Americans, an incredible statistic.  To share the stories of those living with and caring for those with the disease, HBO has created an amazing 4-part documentary series...

My husband and I are preparing for a kitchen renovation, and we are eagerly in search of materials that won't hurt the planet or our health in order to give us a beautiful cooking and eating space.  For countertops, cabinets,...

Our Holly whipped up these great swine flu prevention tips. They echo what the CDC, WHO, and President Obama have been saying: Stick to the basics like these solid, calming reminders for keeping swine--and every--flu at bay. Things like being mindful of...

As regular FL-ers know, I've been sick most of the looong winter and cooold spring. About a week ago it looked like I was getting ill again and the healer I just started seeing suggested downing some of Dr. Schulze's Supertonic. I...

Swine flu is spreading, and fears and concerns about its devastating potential is spreading even faster. Whenever I find myself living in "what if" instead of "what is," I find it helpful to measure my fears against facts to put...

Nothing like a good swine flu epidemic to trigger our natural tendencies as humans to panic, worry, and fret. "Swine flu" is one of the most googled terms right now. From what I can tell, people definitely have their...

"APRIL is the cruellest month,breeding Lilacs out of the dead land,mixing Memory and desire,stirring Dull roots with spring rain.Winter kept us warm, coveringEarth in forgetful snow, feedingA little life with dried tubers." -- T.S. Eliot, The Wasteland Though I...

The news of the Swine Flu outbreak is scary stuff. Especially since it's not yet contained or fully known or tracked down yet. Yikes. Add it to the list of worries. Sigh. On a much lighter and somewhat related note, we...

The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization are both urging basic flu-prevention practices as they try to stop the spread of swine flu. But given that cold and flu season is feeling so two months ago, I thought...

A new study presented last week at the American Association of Cancer Research found that people who eat grilled meat that is cooked to the point of being charred or burned on the outside are 60 percent more likely to...

It's actually time for refreshing drinks here in the Northeast. Who knew? Well, I stumbled across this recipe whihc might be just the thing--it sounds delightful and uplifting. From Prevention.com. It's part of their unfortunately named "Flat Belly Diet"...

For some mid-day inspiration, check out this sneak peak video from an upcoming ABC primetime special ("Adventures of an Incurable Optimist" airs Tuesday, May 7) from actor Michael J. Fox, who has battled Parkinson's Disease since he was 29 years...

Who among us doesn't love to tuck into a plate of spaghetti slick with olive oil and fragrant with garlic, or studded with tomatoes and redolent with basil?  Ooh, those Mediterranean foods.  It may not be news to you that...

Holly's great post on "Feel Better Day" reminded me how it's so easy when we're ill--either from a passing cold or a long-term disease--to slip into the emotional dumps. But it's not necessary to feel blue while your body is healing....

Don't you love random "holidays?" Things like "Happy Hump Day" or "It's my half-birthday" are really just excuses to declare to the world, "I want to feel good today!"  But they do the trick, and I think we need more...

There are some fascinating health developments to report on this week.  Here are 3 to think about:Are electronic health records going too far, too fast? There are a proliferation of new tools designed to empower patients and give them--and their...

As home remedies go, this might be the most widely known/practiced/recommended.  But why does gargling with warm, salty water help soothe a sore throat?  Since I'm doing this multiple times a day--and since I feel like it helps--I decided to...

I knew this day would come...the day I had to once again face the scritchy, gag-gy nightmare that is known to most people as a throat culture.  When I was a kid, throat cultures were screeching, Mom-bribing-with-candy-rewards, "We need more...

Yesterday, I tried really hard to focus on the positive aspect of losing my voice and being consigned to silence while I recover my health.  But today, as I re-read the post I thought, "Can I take that back?"  Clearly...

So here's my story: I'm sick again.  A sinus infection in January.  A 2+ week cold in March. And now, starting on April Fool's Day, a new virus that comes with laryngitis, a cough, and a fever.  I went to...

April is Autism Awareness Month, and the Beliefent blogosphere is buzzing with conversation about it.  Be sure to visit our dedicated Autism Awareness Month page to read blogger thoughts on everything from the connection between autism and astrology to questions...

"You probably know that eating right, being physically active, and managing your weight are important ways to prevent and treat diabetes. But did you know that reducing stress can also help keep your blood sugar levels in check? When you're...

Last night, The Biggest Loser brought back contestant Nicole, who after being eliminated near the beginning of the season lost an amazing 87 pounds at home and earned a spot back on the ranch.But (spoiler alert if you DVR'd it!)...

Again? It was spinach, then peanuts, and now pistachios. After a batch of trail mix tested postive for salmonella, about a million pounds of the apparent pistachio culprit were recalled from stores. And consumers are now on "pistachio watch." According to a...

I am what's called a "sensitive body."  If I get a cold, it lasts two weeks.  If there's a side effect listed on a medication, I get it.  If I get a stomach bug, run for your life.  This is...

All I can say is oy. This is really sad. Yesterday the U.S. Catholic Bishops came out against Reiki as a healing modality. They call the ancient Japanese Buddhist practice "superstitious" and without scientific merit. Unfortunately this means a lot of...

Valerie's post on "The Power of the Period" has brought forth so many personal, funny, moving reader stories of the first time "Aunt Flo" came to visit. Reading them, I had a major flashback not to my first period, which...

Today we're deep in detox mode, sharing our ideas for how to cleanse your body, home, and spirit this spring. But what about the major detox diets you've seen on bookstore shelves and celebrity mags?  Are they part of a...

                                                         Does it go back to cave times--this urge to purge body, home, and soul as soon as winter starts to wane? Did Cathy Cavesister look at all the pelts in her closet each March, shake her furry head and...

There's been a flurry of celebrity illnesses and injuries this week, and two of them jumped off the screen (sigh...remember when things used to jump off of pages?) because in both cases, humor seems to be part of the healing.First,...

I have a cousin who's a homeopath, and for months she'd been asking if she could "give me a bath." I'd heard about--and been intrigued by--the practice, which is different from a standard homeopathy treatment in which remedies are taken...

We try and steer away from politics here, but we are openly swooning over the Obamas' decision to grow a vegetable garden on the White House lawn. According to The New York Times, it will have 55 varieties of vegetables,...

Lots of health items in the news this week.  For your perusal, thoughts, and comments:Religious people who are suffering from terminal cancer are three times as likely to pursue aggressive, life-prolonging treatments like mechanical ventilators than those who do not...

Whether yours was harrowing or joyful or both, unless you're a guy who missed the fun, you probably remember your first period. I'm excited to read "My Little Red Book," a new collection of 92 anecdotes from women of...

The swirling news rumors about Natasha Richardson took the worst possible turn yesterday: the family friend who  told People magazine "there is no chance" for the actress' recovery after a ski accident turned out to be right. Richardson died at...

Radio shock jock Don Imus made public his prostate cancer diagnosis today.  As I shared last week, my dad got that same news last summer.  Seeing the words "prostate cancer" anywhere, but especially on the news, give me a little...

The most exciting thing about having a blog is getting feedback and having interactions with readers--you! We love love love when you comment and share your stories with us and each other, so please, keep it coming. It's especially cool...

There have been several news articles this week about prostate cancer, with which more than 186,000 American men will be diagnosed this year alone.First, Reuters reported today on a University of Southern California study that showed that taking folic acid...

Thanks to all of you who shared your secret home remedies for the common cold.  There were so many great ideas, we couldn't keep them all to ourselves, so we created a Beliefnet feature to share your wellness tips with...

Last week, CNN published a list of "secrets" we shouldn't keep from our doctors. Among them:If you feel depressed or anxiousIf you did not follow instructions the doc had previously given youIf you have problems peeing or poopingThese are good,...

There are many reasons to rejoice when we "spring forward" and turn the clocks ahead, as we did Sunday morning.  But at least one major study has shown that the spring time change may actually increase the risk of a...

The latest in our series of yoga galleries asks you to make today "Take Your Yoga to Work Day."  I am particularly excited about this feature because it's by Liz Owen, my own wonderful yoga teacher (her gentle Iyengar class...

I promise to stop blogging about my soul-clogging headcold (if it promises to go away...ok? it's a deal!), but I did want to share some cool acupressure wisdom I picked up yesterday at my acupuncture session.  You might already know...

Alas, but this snowy day is beyond my ability to enjoy (oh, Valerie - snow ice cream!).  Instead of dancing among the flakes, I am shuffling around the house and blowing through piles of tissues, sidelined by a completely soul-clogging...

Holly, I feel you and your sniffles! I've caught every little bug this year (thanks, stress!). But, in general how I kick a common cold is the following (oh and I am sooo not a medical professional, so definitely check with your doctor...

Quick, help!  Sore throat/runny nose emergency!  I need your ideas for how to kick this cold out of Dodge, like NOW.I wouldn't be so alarmed about a winter sniffle, except that I am scheduled to visit my newborn nephew this...

It's shaping up to be an interesting week in health news.  Here are 3 tidbits that jumped off the (web)page at me:A daily glass of wine--or any other alcoholic drink--is a major health risk for women.  According to a new...

A new 8-year national study of postmenopausal women is reporting that taking multivitamins makes no difference in whether women develop cancer or cardiovascular disease.  The study finds that the better predictor of fighting cancer and being heart healthy is the...

I love Holly's post about her Chi-Patronus. I love the idea that we have spirit protectors from the natural world. There are two kinds, I think--external and internal. There's the Native American or shamanic idea of a Power Animal--that...

Remember the "Patronus" spell, which takes a different form depending on the person who casts it in the Harry Potter books and movies (Harry's is a stag, Hermione's an otter, etc)?  That's how I've been thinking about what it feels...

Reader jestrfyl posted on The Health Secrets of Lemons that limes are just as healing as lemons--and more intensely flavored.  I say amen, J - which brings me back to chicken soup.Seriously!  Vietnamese cuisine has long paired limes (and basil,...

Today is my 4th Cancer-free-aversary. When I was 31 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Went through being sick, biopsy surgery, chemo, hair loss, temporary early menopause, a year of fatigue, the works. So it is with great pleasure that I...

I've been sick. One of those loooong lingering flu/cold/cough things that you think is gone until, boom, it's not. For like a month now. Last week I got an actual allopathic doctor diagnosis--so validating: Viral Bronchitis. When I put...

It's a citrus-y day here at Fresh Living, so I can't help but suggest you check out the lemony freshness of this fantastic gallery we published:The 15 Hidden Health Secrets of LemonsGot acne? Anxiety? Stomach ache? The flu?  The answer...

Deep into winter as we are, it's time to get your Vitamin C on.  How to choose which kind of orange to stock up on?  Here's a brief guide to the major types you'll see at the store.NavelThe "navel" of...

Who can say where food aversions come from?  My worst one is turmeric, the element that gives yellow curry its, well, yellow-ness (confession: I'm shuddering just thinking about it).  There's no good reason why I don't care for the look,...

A study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that regular hypnosis reduced the frequency and intensity of hot flashes by 68 percent in a group of breast cancer survivors. The women also reported a lessening of anxiety,...

I remember the moment I kicked the coffee. It was at our cheesily named college lounge, The Java Joint. I had been up writing some sort of paper, probably about the role of misogynistic archetypes in top 40 songs or...

My blog sister Holly just wrote about her ban on male doctors. I can totally relate. Even though my pediatrician, Dr. Rappaport was a lovely man, many subsequent male doctors in my early life were condescending, dismissive, and down-right rude....

Therese writes often on Beyond Blue about the mental health benefits of exercise, Kathy Smith has shown us the myriad benefits of a walking regimen, and we all know that both our physical and emotional bodies benefit from even a...

"Integrative medicine" is probably a term many Beliefnet readers are familiar with. It attracts people who aren't about to give up the idea that their doctors should have MD degrees, but who want a more holistic approach to healthcare that...

In my previous post, I alluded not-so-subtly to my preference for female doctors. Writing about it like that made me wonder if that's something I should challenge a bit.  The first doctors I ever remember going to as a child...

Most of us grew up thinking of the family doctor as a person you can count on to know you (and your body), be available to you, and to help you navigate the health care system. But in a world...

Is my chi flowing? Are my meridians open? Are my chakras balanced? Are my joints fluid? Is my weight normal? Is my hair lustrous? Are my gums pink? Do I feel well?From the big picture of how our bodies function...