Drinking Yourself to Dehydration?

A consumer survey says many Americans may be "drinking themselves to dehydration" by consuming too little water -- and too many beverages that rob the body of water.

The survey of more than 3,000 consumers sponsored by the International Bottled Water Association says Americans' average intake of hydrating beverages such as water, milk and juice is undermined by the nearly five servings of caffeine-based or alcohol-containing beverages respondents report drinking each day.

Scientific research shows caffeine and alcohol act as diuretics, causing the body to lose water through increased urination. While two out of three survey respondents say they know that health and nutrition experts recommend drinking eight, 8-ounce servings of water a day, one in two admits to not getting enough.

Let's Talk About Germs--Specifically, How to Kill Them

You may have seen Erin's post this morning about Purell (she's not a fan) and the bad news that she's dealing with MRSA again (we're thinking of you today Erin!!). Read her post for the specifics, but here on Vitamin G, I wanted to discuss germs, and the best way to keep them at bay--on our hands and in our bodies. Here's what you need to know.

First off, did you see this new ad campaign from Purell? It's pretty clever (and gross) and uses illustrations of hand to show just exactly what kinds of germs we carry around on them throughout the day.

OK, on to germ talk. Here's your cheat sheet:

Are hand sanitizers effective? Yes. Hand sanitizers kill most harmful bacteria and viruses. But here's a weird thing: Yours might be impotent if it doesn't contain at least 60 percent alcohol concentration. If it's any less, you're wasting your time with the stuff.

Drinking Water Can Raise Blood Pressure In Some Cases

Scientists have zeroed in on receptors in the liver that govern blood pressure rates in certain kinds of people, especially ill people and elderly people in general, even if they’re healthy.

These receptors, or regulators, are triggered by the simple act of drinking water; in response, the regulator raises the blood pressure by up to 50 points. The amount of water that triggers the response is a half liter, or 17 ounces, consumed at once.

Other people affected by the regulator include drug users and people of any age with nervous-system disorders.

After discovering these receptors, researchers at the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, in Berlin, and two other research centers in Germany, were also able to determine, through animal studies, how the receptor could be stopped from working – i.e. prevented from raising blood pressure.

Mental Health Minute: Do You Comfort Yourself With Candy?

We all have our favorite comfort foods. When I was recovering from surgery I had zero appetite (hence the weight loss), but I did turn to my go-to comfort food (toast and jam). According to some, the bad economy--and stress in general--is turning many people to sugar...

To me, tea, toast and jam is like a big hug. (And, weird but true: Jam has health benefits.) I've been adoring the new strawberry-rhubarb-rosemary jam from Breadbar, a swanky bakery/cafe in California. Mmmm.

According to this New York Times article, hard economic times are turning more people to candy. The theory: "For many, sugar lifts spirits dragged low by the languishing economy. For others, candy also provides a nostalgic reminder of better times. And not insignificantly, it is relatively cheap."

Do You Wear Sun Hats? Help Me Choose One That's Chic, Not Grandmotherly

Are you a fan of sun hats? I must admit, while I always reach for sunscreen when it's sunny, I'm not really in the habit of grabbing a hat. They've always seemed so corny (on me at least), but not anymore--I'm seeing so many cute ones everywhere. Let's go shopping...

I don't think I've really worn a hat since ... the days when my sister and I wore Little House on the Prairie-style bonnets (we loved them!). Oh, and how could I forget the huge straw hat (with a purple sash!) I bought on a family road trip in Yellowstone National Park when I was in elementary school? The thing was legendary.

Nowadays, I haven't been feeling the hat love. Maybe it's because I feel goofy in them. Maybe it's because I don't know how to wear them. Maybe it's the whole hat-head thing. Whatever. Given all a hat can do to protect our precious skin from the sun's harmful rays, I think it's time to turn over a new leaf. Plus, I spotted a pal out shopping recently with the cutest hat on and I decided if she can pull it off--so can I!

Do You Love Coffee? The Top 15 Most Caffeinated Professions

I have a friend who pours herself a cup of coffee at home and then drinks another at 9, 11, 1, 3, and 5. Yeah, basically she's caffeinating all day. While experts have recently linked coffee with all kinds of health benefits, over-caffeinating is not healthy. But, your job could be to blame. Some professions are more coffee-inducing than others, according to a new survey ...

The top coffee-drinking professions, according to a new survey from CareerBuilders and Dunkin Donuts:

1. Nurses

2. Physicians

3. Hotel workers

4. Designers/architects

5. Financial/Insurance sales representatives

6. Food preparers

Morning, Sunshine! Feeling Blue? Why Getting More B Vitamins Can Help

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? (It is Tuesday, after all, the day experts say our happiness tanks!) I had an off-day yesterday. I swear I had a dark rain cloud over my head all day long. But if you're consistently feeling down, you may consider getting more B vitamins. Experts say many of us may not be getting nearly enough, which can do terrible things to happiness ...

I read a fascinating article in the magazine Experience Life recently about B vitamins. Why do you need your B's?

*They may protect your heart.

*They may protect against cancer.

*They may help balance your mood.

Do You Have a Sister? The Amazing Thing She Can Do for Your Health

Yay for sisters! They're there for your when friends flake, partners in crime, confidants, and mega health boosters, at least according to a new study. Do you have a sis?

My sister, Jessica, is 19 months younger than me, and I can't imagine life without her. We experienced everything together growing up, and even though we're very different in many ways, we count each other as best friends. Bros are great, but nothing beats the loving support and friendship of a sister.

That's why researchers from Brigham Young University say that the bond between siblings, particularly sisters, is so powerful that it may be able to combat depression.

Need to Lose Weight Fast? Try These Healthy "Crash" Diets

Apple cider vinegar, cabbage soup, magic pills--we all know that when it comes to weight loss, there's really no quick fix. Or is there? Read about the "crash diets" that health experts turn to when they need to lose weight fast...

Even health experts fall victim to cruise-ship buffets and late-night chocolate cravings. (P.S. If you've packed on a few, sign up for Glamour's new (free, of course) program, Exactly What to Eat to Lose Weight.) So, when a top doc wants to lose some pounds--quickly--what do they do?

I loved this Prevention article with some surprising weight loss advice from experts like Oz Garcia and Madelyn Fernstrom. Here are my favorite pound-dropping ideas:

Oh Great: Birth-Control-Related Weight Gain Could Be Permanent?

Have you ever suspected that the pill--or other contraceptive products--may have made you gain weight? Happened to me! Now, one new study asserts that some of this weight gain, in certain cases, could be permanent. The details ...

When I started taking a new brand of birth control years ago, I noticed that I gained a few pounds, and I was not happy about that. I quickly talked to my doctor and switched prescriptions. Have you ever been there?

A study published in the medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology reports that women who gain weight quickly (in the first six months) after starting birth-control injections tend to experience "lasting" weight gain--gaining, on average, 22 pounds over three years. (Important note: This study did not look at birth control pills; just injected birth control.)

Do You Curse? Weirdly, It May Help Reduce Pain

What's the first word out of your mouth when you stub your toe? If it's the f-bomb, it could be medicinal! Crazy health news today: Swearing might help you cope with pain.

Do you have the mouth of a truck driver? As much as I'd sometimes like to be able to swear like a sailor when the time calls for it, every time I do throw in an expletive, I just end up spouting something really embarrassing and incoherent. I can't swear. I just sound like I'm about 10 when I do.

But, researchers in England have good news for the potty-mouths among us. Dropping the f-bomb and other four-letter words when we're experiencing pain could actually make us feel better.

Do Your Workout Clothes Affect Your Workout?

Here's my confession. The number-one reason I'm late for a workout isn't because I've overslept, or that I'm running behind in that day's to-do list, or even because the baby needed a nap later than usual. The real reason is actually sort of embarrassing...

...it's usually because I've put my favorite workout clothing someplace it shouldn't be and I have to tear through everything in the house to find it. Because I won't--can't!--work out in anything else.

I have exacting standards for my workout clothes. They must not be too tight (nor too loose), not too short (this applies to shirts, pants and shorts), not too threadbare. No shirts with high crewnecks. They must be comfortable, but not in a sloppy gray-sweatpants-you-sleep-in sort of way. And, by god, they must be cute. If I don't feel happy in my clothes, I will not have a happy workout.

Weird Health News: "Brown Fat" Could Help Make You Thin

Brown fat? I know, it sounds kind of, well, gross (why does grisly turkey meat come to mind?) But in all seriousness, researchers are now saying that the brown-tinged fat that many of us have in our bodies could be the key to weight loss...

Have you heard all the buzz about brown fat lately? A collection of recent studies, though preliminary, seem to point to some exciting news for people trying to lose weight. Brown fat, which was thought to be only found in infants (it helps keep them warm), is now thought to be found in adult bodies, too.

Why is this good (don't we have enough fat to worry about?)? Researchers now believe that this special fat, if stimulated, could help you lose more weight--maybe even an extra 9 or more pounds of "white" fat per year, without having to eat less or exercise more. Um, sign me up! (Check out this "muffin-top" workout.)

Doctors Are Ordering Tests To Avoid Being Sued

Nearly twenty percent of diagnostic tests like MRIs and X-rays are ordered to protect physicians against possible lawsuits, according to a new survey.

The survey compiled responses from orthopedists in Pennsylvania, and the results were presented at the annual convention of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Such defensive testing drives up already hefty health-care costs.

When broken down by specific procedures, 41 percent of CT scans, 56 percent of bone scans and 65 percent of ultrasounds were ordered defensively. Less than 10 percent of X-rays were ordered defensively.

 Among those most likely to order tests were surgeons who had been sued in the last five years and surgeons who had been practicing for more than 15 years.

Oprah's Making Her Employees Sign a No-Phone-While-Driving Pledge--Too Harsh, or Good Idea?

I'm a recovering Blackberry-in-the-car (well, everywhere) addict, so when I heard that Oprah is on a crusade to save her employees lives by asking them to sign a pledge promising to not text or talk on their phones while driving, I thought it was pretty smart, if not a bit bold. Here's why I think Lady O is wise to do this (and why you should make a similar no-phone-in-the-car pledge) ...

Before I continue writing, I will confess, I relapsed this week and answered a call in the car (while driving) and also texted at a stoplight. I felt horrible about this, because I know how dangerous it is to be a distracted driver--with kids in the backseat. Shame on me.

Diabetics Can Lower Heart Attack Risk

A meta-analysis found people who have diabetes but maintain low-blood sugar levels are at less risk for heart attacks, researchers in Britain say.

Dr. Kausik Ray of the University of Cambridge and colleagues said the meta-analysis pooled information from five large trials.

The study, published in The Lancet, determined there was a 17 percent reduction in heart attacks and a 15 percent reduction in coronary heart disease. The study also found a more modest trend toward reduction of strokes with intensive control of glucose levels compared with standard care.

The researchers, in contrast to smaller studies that suggested possible harm from better blood sugar control, found no adverse impact on the risk of death from any cause.

Reader Health Dilemma: "I Just Heard a Rumor That The New Guy I'm Seeing Has Genital Herpes--Now What?"

Imagine falling hard for a guy that seems perfect, only to hear through the grapevine that he's got genital herpes--a serious STI that you do not want to get. That's the dilemma of Amanda,* a Vitamin G reader in Iowa who writes for advice ...

Amanda (name changed to protect privacy), a Vitamin G reader who lives in Iowa writes with this dilemma:

"I've been going out with a guy who I really like. He's funny and good looking and treats me better than any other guy I've been with. But recently one of my friends told me that she heard from an ex girlfriend of his that he has genital herpes. I was really upset when I heard it and confronted him about it, but he just denied it. We haven't had sex yet, but we've come really close. Honestly, I'm just afraid that he's not being truthful. I don't want to get herpes! Help! What can I do?"

Diabetes Sugar Control with Diet and Exercise

Who isn’t tempted to eat sugary treats during the holiday season?  My mouth waters just thinking about the array of cookies, candies and cakes, not to mention the dishes high in calories and fat served at a Thanksgiving feast. And let’s not forget the toasts to celebrate the holiday! But these kinds of temptations are double trouble for people who suffer with diabetes. It’s challenging enough for many folks with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels stable – but even more difficult this time of year.

The good news is that diabetes experts say there are ways to keep blood sugar levels on target even through the holiday season. How? Through a double strategy: a combination of prevention and simple lifestyle changes. First, choose a healthy diet with a low-glycemic index and then combine it with a regular, stress-reducing exercise program.

Remember Mr. Bubble?

I have a very clear picture in my mind of that pink bottle of bubbles that our parents used to pour into the bath tub when my little sister and I would take baths together. Didn't every child of the 70s, 80s, and maybe even the 90s, grow up with this stuff? But wait, could Mr. Bubble be the cause of thousands of childhood UTIs--mine included?

I read a post from Tracie over at Jezebel recently about the health problems of the "Mr. Bubble Generation," or so it's called. Here's what she had to say: "As a child, I repeatedly experienced burning and irritation when I urinated, along with a constant urge to pee, way before I ever knew what a UTI was... or that it even had a name. I'm not sure that I even complained about it to my mother, thinking it was just a way of life. I was big into bubble baths, and was partial to the pretty pink packaging of Mr. Bubble."

Device May Treat High Blood Pressure

U.S. researchers say an implantable device may be a cost-effective way to treat high blood pressure and its effects.

The device, called Rheos, is being tested at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York on drug-resistant hypertension patients.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, are based on data from two large population-based studies that compare the incidence of adverse health events -- such as stroke and heart attack -- for groups of individuals with and without the device.

The researchers also projected the healthcare costs associated with those events over a patient's lifetime and concluded if Rheos continues to perform as it has in ongoing clinical trials, the device is a cost-effective way to control hypertension.

Sex Question: Can a Man Get Pimples After Giving Oral Sex?

Dear Dr. H,

Can a man get little pimples on his lower lip after giving oral sex?

Read on for Dr. Hilda Hutcherson's response.

A. While it is possible to transmit sexually transmitted infections (STI) through oral sex, the small pimples on the lower lip you describe are not the usual symptoms. Herpes appears as sores, much like cold sores, and symptoms of gonorrhea and chlamydia are often a sore throat (and sometimes there are no symptoms at all). This may just be a case of acne, but to be safe, I'd suggest that your partner consult his dermatologist or primary care physician, especially if you have an STI.

Developing Healthy Eating Habits

Getting the minimum five daily servings of fruits and vegetables is neither as difficult nor as time-consuming as you might think.

In this video, howcast.com gives you eight tips and strategies on how to easily incorporate fruits and vegetables into your daily diet to develop healthy eating habits.

Some of our favorites include:

Adding pureed vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots and celery to store-bought pasta sauce, mashed potatoes, or canned soup.

Using Romaine lettuce or other greens in place of a tortilla wrap.

Serving one-pot dishes, such as baked pasta, chili or soup in hollowed out bell peppers or squash halves.

Sex Question: Could Dirty Toilets Have Caused My Infection?

Dear Dr. H,

I live in school dorms and the toilets are really filthy. I have been getting infections--feeling itchy and having sores outside of my vagina, not inside. Could the toilets have anything to do with this?

Read on for Dr. Hilda Hutcherson's response.

A. Dirty toilets do not cause sores on your vulva or vagina. It sounds like you may have a genital herpes infection. I would suggest that you see your gynecologist for an exam and cultures--and it's important that your doctor see you when the sores are present. In the meantime, you should use condoms during intercourse and avoid sex when you have an outbreak. About those dirty toilets: Your ob-gyn can't help, but I'd definitely recommend having a talk with the folks on your floor about a bathroom cleaning schedule and protocol. You can also wipe the toilet seat and cover it with tissue before taking a seat--or using the good ol' squat technique.

Sex Question: How Can I Spice Up My Love Life?

Dear Dr. H,

My boyfriend and I have been together for five years and we don't have sex as often as we used to. He claims he's not seeing anyone else. Is there anything we can try--besides Viagra--to get him aroused and interested in sex again?

Read on for Dr. Hilda Hutcherson's response.

A. I can't tell you how many times my patients find themselves in the same predicament you're in. First know this: it's common for desire to hit high points and lows in a relationship. One woman walked into my office devastated because she and her boyfriend, who once had sex at least twice a day for the first two years of their relationship hadn't had it in two months. "Well," I said to her, "when was the last time you initiated sex?" And she couldn't even remember--that's how long it had been. I told her to take charge! The next time I saw her for a visit, she wasn't complaining. Once she started initiating sex, something wonderful happened: her partner's desire started to increase. He was turned on by feeling wanted, and by knowing that he could still arouse his girlfriend. And there are fun (and cheap) ways to bring a little excitement into the bedroom if you've been together for a while. You can stop at the grocery store, buy a jar of peanut butter, and put it in the middle of the bed. He's bound to ask you what the heck the PB is doing there--and then you two can use your imagination to figure it out! It's definitely an aphrodisiac to feel like someone intensely desires you--so show him that you do!

Choc Full of Goodness

Dark and bitter or milky and sweet ... there's nothing quite like chocolate to make a bad day better.

Luckily there are loads of reasons to enjoy the stuff, especially as this is National Chocolate Week.

Swedish scientists say people eating chocolate after a heart attack may be less likely to have another one.

And the fact that chocolate boosts brain power and lifts depression can only be a positive thing.

So, chocolate really is good for your health ... but only if it's dark.

Black Magic fans bombarded makers of the classic dark chocolate with letters pleading for its return. After two years of being off the shelves, Nestle brought the range back this year.

Sex Question: I Didn't Used to Need Lube, But Now I Do-Why the Change?

Dear Dr. Kate,

My boyfriend and I spent about a month and a half apart during Christmas. After we came back to college for spring semester, we had to buy lube for the first time because sex became so uncomfortable for me due to too much friction. Two changes coincide with the onset: I'm working out almost everyday, so I may have lost some weight. Also, I increased my bupropion antidepressant from 300ml to 450ml. Please help, I love my bf and he still turns me on but I feel different down there.

While antidepressants are known for causing sexual problems, bupropion is luckily one that doesn't. And weight loss shouldn't affect your comfort level this significantly, either. But a prolonged sex break can definitely lead to discomfort with sex-if you're having less foreplay than before, your body may not be ready for intercourse yet. The truth is, you may just need to let your body catch up with where your heart is: Be sure to give yourself plenty of time-20 to 30 minutes on average-to become fully aroused, and definitely keep using the lube.

Chocolate Chock-Full of Health Benefits

Do you have an irresistible craving for chocolate, one that you feel compelled to satisfy on a daily basis? If so, you're not alone, for chocolate seems to be a universally loved food. But what are the risks or benefits of indulging that craving?

In new research from Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Kris-Etherton set out to discover how chocolate impacts our health. For two months, the study's 23 participants ate an enviable, but carefully controlled diet that included chocolate pudding, chocolate cookies, brownies and chocolate milk, for a total of 22 grams of cocoa powder and 16 grams of dark chocolate a day.

Sex Question: What's the Cause of Nipple Discharge if You're Not Pregnant?

Dear Dr. Kate,

My sister, who is 28 years old, has experienced some discharge from her nipples for the past few years. She isn't and never has been pregnant. What do you think could be the cause of this?

There's a long list of things that can cause nipple discharge, and the majority of the time it's nothing serious. If the discharge is from both breasts, and only occurs when she (or someone else) is stimulating her nipples, it could be due to inflammation of the ducts, and usually stops on its own when she's completely hands-off-the-boobs. If the discharge is more spontaneous-not a result of stimulation-it could be from a hormonal imbalance and her doctor can check for thyroid and pituitary dysfunction. Sometimes, certain medications can also cause nipple leakage as a side effect. If the discharge is bloody or green, it could be from a tiny papilloma in one of the milk ducts (a little growth in breast tissue that sometimes punctures a duct). But any discharge that lasts longer than a few menstrual cycles should be evaluated by a doctor.

Chocolate and Depression: The Chicken and Egg Syndrome?

It's no secret that when people are feeling depressed, they often turn to chocolate. In fact, people who screen for depression appear to eat more chocolate than those who don't screen positively for depression, U.S. researchers found. But the question remains: Do people who are depressed eat lots of chocolate? Or does lots of chocolate affect your mood and lead to depression?

Dr. Natalie Rose of University of California, Davis, and the University of California, San Diego, and colleagues examined chocolate and mood among 931 women and men not on antidepressants. Participants reported how much chocolate they ate and filled out food frequency questionnaires, while their moods were assessed using a depression scale.

Cherries Have the Health Edge

Life, it seems, can be just a bowl of cherries -- and the more sour the better. Scientists say a bowl of them a day can help prevent heart disease and ease the pain of arthritis and gout.

Researchers at Michigan State University have found that cherries contain anthocyanin, a strong antioxidant that also functions as an anti-inflammatory pain-killer. The analgesic effect, in fact, appears to be more powerful than aspirin and comparable to ibuprofen, the key ingredient in many popular over-the-counter drugs.

The difficulty is first, that the cherries have to be of the sour variety, such as those produced in New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania, and people would have to eat about 20 of them at a sitting to get the recommended 12 to 25 milligrams of anthocyanin that would constitute a beneficial dose.

Sleep Challenge 2011: The 5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Sleep

This is it, the last post of Sleep Challenge 2011, my joint project with comrade-in-PJs Arianna Huffington to urge American women to stop walking around sleep-deprived and be good to themselves for once. So, what have I learned, other than that the world won't fall apart if I don't watch Letterman? Lots of things-and I think every woman should know them too. Some key bits of wisdom from my 31 good nights of sleep:

First of all, it's not just you: Most women are sleep-deprived. As soon as we announced the Sleep Challenge, women I barely knew started bee-lining across crowded rooms to tell me how zonked they were, and to share their sometimes-hilarious sleep-deprivation stories. Among the places glamour.com and HuffPo commenters have fallen asleep: "during a professional makeup application"; "movies, lectures, bars, dinners, yoga classes - you name it"; "on the elliptical at the gym"; and, horrifyingly, "on the back of a moped in Laos." (She was OK, phew.) The prize for most-highbrow confession goes to the writer Jane Smiley, who admitted that "I once dozed off on stage at a Kafka conference sitting next to Werner Herzog." And the scariest story came from a female medical resident, who dozed off in the OR (not while holding a scalpel): "Picture this, people," she posted on HuffPost. "I was standing up, decked out in sterile OR attire, doing the embarrassing head bob thing. I mean, who falls asleep during surgery?"

Slim By Summer: Get to Know Your New Favorite--Slimming--Desserts

Do you love dessert? I soooo do. I have a secret dream of becoming a pastry chef, in fact (it will never happen, but a girl can dream, right?). Nothing wrong with a slice of cake or a piece of pie now and then, but gals, in the interest of getting slim by summer time to give your sweet tooth a healthy makeover. Here's your new dessert plan...

Fruit!

I know, I know. This sounds totally boring. It is. You have to jazz up the fruit to make it feel like a bonafide dessert. So, here's what we're going to do:

Step one: Pick a fruit (strawberries, bananas, honeydew melons, raspberries, whatever).

Step two: Pick a topping (low-fat vanilla yogurt, chocolate sauce, honey or agave nectar).

Cheers for Cauliflower, Broccoli

Most of us have been told all our lives to eat our vegetables because it will make us healthy. Now dietitians have found yet another reason why we should stuff ourselves with broccoli, cauliflower and the like -- and it goes by the name "phytonutrients."

Experts at the British Dietetic Association describe these as the "disease-fighting dynamos," such as dialyl disulphides and ellagic acid, that are found in all plants. Unlike vitamins and minerals, phytonutrients are not vital to the diet -- but they do appear to offer potential medical benefits.

"Some of the many thousands of active compounds present in fruits, vegetables and other plants have now been identified and shown to have various disease-preventing actions in the laboratory," says Professor Antony Diplock of the International Antioxidant Research at Guy's Hospital in London. Meanwhile, the dietetic association has started a campaign to double the intake of fruits and vegetables to five servings a day.

Checking Your Diet at the Till

For weight watchers, experts are experimenting with a new way to keep tabs on what you eat by what you spend on food. The scheme uses your grocery shopping bills to deliver a message about the fat content of what you have just bought.

The project, funded by the Medical Research Council, uses supermarket receipts. With them, head researcher Joan Ramsey says "it is possible to calculate precisely the diet of the family."

One British supermarket chain, Tesco, is working on a way to take the idea a step further by printing the percentage of fat and number of calories in each order at the bottom of the bill. "Till receipts have been shown to be a very useful tool for helping people measure their diet," a Tesco spokesman says.

What Do You Fear About Getting Older? Here's 4 Ways It Might Be Getting Easier

We hear a lot--a lot!--about the things we should fear when it comes to getting older. Memory loss. Osteoporosis. Sagging skin. But, since we can't exactly just stop getting older, maybe we can take a look at some of the new research being done to help ease the process...

* Vitamin B12 might play a role in helping protect seniors against Alzheimer's. Researchers aren't exactly sure how yet--they do know it involves more than just taking a B12 supplement--but this could be good news for neurodegenerative diseases.

* Strawberries, blueberries, acai berries (and other dark-colored berries) contain polyphenolics, which help protect the brain against age-related mental decline.

Stinky Feet, Dry Skin? What Body Issues Do You Stress About?

Recently, when I asked you about how you felt about no-shoe policies in others' homes (such interesting responses!), one commenter honestly admitted the reason why she's uncomfortable taking hers off: stinky feet. (Hi psuajblue!) Read what she said, and tell me what about your body causes you similar anxiety...

Vitamin G reader psuajblue had this to say about her feet: "Getting a little personal, but...I have smelly feet in certain shoes! I would be sooo embarrassed to have to take them off!" More on how to tame smelly feet, from one of my past posts, here.

Love her honesty! Because, let's face it, most all of us have a part of our body that gives us a little anxiety--whether it's the hair on our upper lip, a nose that we're less than thrilled about, or flabby arms. So, don't think you're alone in this department--not for a second.

Breakfast at Your Desk: Start Your Day Cleansed and Refreshed With This Unusual Beverage

Everywhere I turn, it seems, I'm hearing about people who have given up coffee, tea, milk and juice in the morning (the usual stuff), in favor of this odd beverage that they claim makes them feel hydrated, refreshed, energized, and generally amazing. Want to try it?

I'm pretty bonded with my morning coffee, but I have to admit, after hearing about two friends--and countless celebrities (including beauty Molly Sims)--who have made the switch to hot lemon water in the mornings, I'm thinking about giving it a try.

Fans of hot lemon water (and that's as simple as it sounds: hot water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice), say it improves digestion, energy, vitality, skin radiance, and the list goes on. Of course, none of these claims are backed up by science, but I do know nutritionists and other health experts who personally subscribe to the hot-lemon-water thinking.

Breakfast at Your Desk: Something New (and Healthy) to Sweeten Your Morning Coffee

How do you take your coffee? I'm a half-and-half kind of girl. But, I'm kind of digging these new, all-natural sweeteners ...

I was recently sent a few bottles of Wholesome Sweeteners new line of flavored blue agave syrups. It's sort of a fun spin on agave, which many of us (me included) are fans of. The cinnamon and vanilla flavors are divine--I repeat, divine--in coffee or drizzled very lightly on fresh strawberries (not that they needed any extra sweetness, but the carton I bought yesterday was filled with tart strawberries--pucker!).

I like agave because it's less processed than table sugar and it's also 25 percent sweeter, which means you can use less. Bonus: it has a lower glycemic index than sugar, too, which means less chance you'll experience a sugar high followed by a sugar low.

Surprising News: A Healthy Diet May Work Like SPF, Protecting You From Skin Cancer

If I could talk every one of you into one thing this week, it would be to slowly start adopting the so-called "Mediterranean diet," (which isn't a diet at all, of course--just eating like the folks in the Mediterranean do ... lots of fish, veggies, nuts, olive oil, and healthy dairy, like Greek yogurt!). It's good for your heart, of course, may help you live longer, and has also been recently linked with a lower prevalence of skin cancer ...

Want healthier, cancer-free skin? Then be sure you're eating right.

Skin cancer is such a huge concern for all of us these days, as the rates of skin cancer are on the rise (scary), that I wanted to share this interesting news with you: By simply eating a "Mediterranean" diet, you may be effectively protecting your skin from skin cancer.

The 10 Most Embarrassing Things to Buy at a Drugstore

Buying tampons from a male drugstore clerk used to embarrass me, but not so much anymore. Tampons are a fact of life. But, somehow, buying any of the following very personal and revealing items, could be a tad cringe-worthy...

1. Maxi pads (especially the super-duper, almost-a-diaper variety you have to wear after having a baby)

2. Anything "anti-fungal"

3. Wart medicine

4. Condoms and lubricant

5. Yeast infection medicine

6. Pregnancy tests (you know the clerk is looking at you like, "is she, or isn't she?")

7. Personal wipes (because you're announcing to the world that "toilet paper isn't enough to clean this business.")

Breakfast At Your Desk: Persimmon Coffee Cake

I am so fascinated with persimmons! My husband grew up eating them when he visited his grandparent's amazing San Jose nursery where they had a big tree in the back yard. They're delicious fresh or dried--and in this coffee cake application (yum!)...

Doesn't a warm slice of coffee cake spiked with persimmons sound so yummy? Persimmons are such an exotic and nutrient-spiked fall fruit. I'm absolutely smitten and planning on giving this recipe, from the darling blog Jessica's Dinner Party, a try!

Persimmon Coffee Cake

Recipe courtesy of Jessica's Dinner Party

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup whole-wheat or all purpose flour