Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

Hair & makeup: Start out with an exfoliant to get rid of dullness. Look alert by dotting silver shimmer in the inner corners of eyes and right above eyebrow arches, and widen peepers by darkening and lengthening brows with a pencil. For an instant facelift, draw hair into a ponytail.

Wardrobe: Wear colors that you know warm and flatter your complexion. To distract eyes, pile on some heavy metal or sparkly bling.

Go wild: Before you head out, briefly hang upside-down from your sofa or bed to get blood flowing to your face. And above all, embrace the holiday cheer! After all, the holidays only come once a year.

Stay Healthy Over the Holidays

Holidays are both some of the most joyful times of the year and the most stressful. Between shopping, worrying about money and attending holiday parties, you need to take care of yourself first more than ever. Follow these tricks to look refreshed and ready to conquer the world.

Set the stage: During party season, avoid salty foods and stay hydrated to decrease puffiness. Keep a bag of peas in the freezer to reduce under-eye bags in an emergency, or try green tea bags steeped in cool water.

Stay tuned for more tricks to help you survive the holiday season.

Are "healthy" nail polishes really necessary?

There are three ingredients in nail polish you should avoid:

Formaldehyde
Used as a preservative in beauty products and known to cause itching and burning (and is classified as a possible carcinogen by the EPA). Countries like Japan and Sweden have banned it completely.

DBP
Or dibutyl phthalate, makes nail polish flexible and exposure to it has been shown to cause birth defects in animal studies.

Toluene
Used as a solvent, is a toxin particularly harmful to the nervous system.

All three of these ingredients score a 10 (the highest) in the skin toxicity database and are linked to cancer, as well as other health consequences. Luckily, there are many brands now available that offer all the pretty, without so much of the toxicity.

Need a memory boost?

Give yourself some short-tern help by:

• Paying attention: really listen to a name when being introduced. Repeat it out loud and make a comment about it (e.g. "Catherine, is that a C or a K?")

• Using linking tools: Attach new information to information you already know.

• Picturing it: Visualize a silly or strong image that you associate with someone (e.g. what animal does s/he remind you of?)

For help in the long-term:

• Make like a vegetarian: Blueberries, strawberries and anything green and leafy (especially spinach) contain brain-boosting compounds.
  

• Stress less: Exercise reduces stress hormones that can impair memory.
  

• Work your mind: Keep on your toes with brain power games like crosswords or sudoku.

Are Sore Muscles Cramping Your Style?

Here are some quick fixes to get you working out pain free:

• Stay hydrated- this will flush muscles of any lactic acid buildup (the root cause of evil soreness).
• Stretch, stretch, stretch. Then stretch some more. Short on time? Start your workout with an easy 5-minute routine.
• Go bananas- potassium helps balance the body's fluids and heal muscles more quickly (bonus: the carbs keep you fueled).
• Give it the cold shower- taking an arctic dip immediately after a workout will help decrease muscular inflammation.
• Don't be afraid to work it- a low intensity, light cardio workout for 20 to 40 minutes will get blood flowing, which combats soreness.

Prevent Alzheimer's Disease Now

While there isn't any surefire way to prevent Alzheimer's disease, there are some things you can do now to lower your risks.

Working out regularly, watching your blood pressure, and stimulating your brain with new challenges have all been shown to reduce the risk for Alzheimer's. New research suggests that keeping your cholesterol in check could also defend against the disease. In a study of 9,700 men and women, scientists found that those with the highest total cholesterol levels in their 40's were more like to develop Alzheimer's later in life.

Also, try to follow a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and foods high in fiber and omega-3s.

Get Healthier Almost Instantly

Not one, not two, but five just-released studies found that vitamin D has wide-ranging benefits, from keeping your bones and heart healthy to reducing the risk of breast and other cancers. Yet, up to half of all women just don't get enough of it. Just 5 to 30 minutes of sunscreen-free afternoon sun on the arms and legs three times a week (paler women need the least time, darker the most) will help your body produce the vitamin D it needs.

If you live north of Texas, winter rays aren't strong enough to trigger vitamin D production, so experts suggest eating D-rich foods like salmon or taking a supplement. Most agree 800 to 1,000 IUs of D3 per day is enough.

Make Room For Your Workout Time

• Do you have a calendar for deadlines and events? Pencil in your workouts and cross them out when completed. Seeing them in writing makes you feel more committed.
• Find a gym close to the office or home. When you're rushed, getting there and back won't feel like a big ordeal.
• Invite a friend to join your or sign up for a class. When there are other people who expect you, it's harder to back out.
• Stock up on exercise DVDs. If you don't have time for the gym, you can at least get a great at-home workout.
• If you have to miss exercise time, commit to do office mini-workouts to make up the difference. Forgo the elevator, do laps around the floors, or walk the last leg of your commute home.

Brighten up Your Workspace

One potted plant might be all you need to feel better at work.

Researchers at Texas State University found that people who had a plant in their offices rated themselves as more satisfied with life and work that did those without them.

Bonus: there are also dozens of plants that are great for filtering toxins out of the air thereby improving the air you breathe. Black thumbs fear not: there is a plethora of hard to kill plants available. Try any version of dracaena, golden pothos, a peace lily, or for big impact, try a Boston fern.

Get Clear Skin With Murad Acne

If you're fighting what seems like a never-ending battle against acne and blemishes, try Dr. Murad's acne treatment regimen. It's long been offered in spas throughout the country as the best treatment for acne. Murad acne products have been scientifically proven to address all of the factors that cause breakouts, from balancing oil production to soothing inflammation, without over drying skin.

You can now get a 30-day supply of the Murad acne regimen for just $29.95, and your satisfaction is guaranteed. Try this wonder product and you won't be disappointed!

Small Tips for Big Weight Loss

If you're a snacker throughout the day, the best thing you can do for yourself is to have a power snack prepared. Mix three different kinds of beans and sprinkle in some low-cal Italian dressing for a delicious snack all week long.

Also, whenever you eat, be mindful. Eat without doing anything else- no TV, no reading, no working. Try chewing a strong-flavored gum like cinnamon while you're cooking to make sneaking a taste less appealing.

Another small trick to stay mindful of snacking? Tighten your belt. When you feel a craving and temptation to gorge, tighten your belt a notch as a reminder of the size you'd like to be.

Small Tips for Big Weight Loss

One of the biggest culprits of weight gain is not what we eat, but what we drink. Unfortunately, so many of the beverages, even those with healthful looking advertisements, contain high amounts of sugar, causing us to pack on the pounds.

Be mindful of what you're drinking, and try to make it count. Have a V8 or tomato juice instead of a Diet Coke. If you can't live without your favorite fruit juice, dilute it with water to reduce the calories.

Small Tips for Big Weight Loss

Get Watered Down

A recent German study showed that drinking water burns calories. Drinking two cups of cold water- no warmer than 72 degrees- used roughly 25 calories. Drink a liter a day and you're talking five pounds a year.

Go Smaller

This is one of the best little secrets for big weight loss. Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate. Studies show that putting your portions on smaller dishes means you’ll end up eating less at a meal.

Small Tricks for Big Weight Loss

Drink More Milk

Milk does do a body good. Consuming 1,800 milligrams of calcium a day could block the absorption of about 80 calories. Fill your coffee mug with skim or 1 percent milk, drink it down to the level you want in your coffee, and then pour in your caffeine.

Buy Cut Veggies

They may cost more, but they'll pay off in the long run- you're much more likely to grab a palmful of veggies for snacking than other, less healthy food.

Small Tricks for Big Weight Loss

If you're watching what you eat and hoping to drop a few pounds or many, every calorie can count. The following tips and tricks may not seem like much, but they can actually have a huge effect. If you add up these small changes over time, they'll translate to a leaner, stronger you.

Blot.
Use a paper napkin to blot a teaspoon of fat off a pizza slice. At one slice a week, that's more than a whole cup of fat you won't eat this year.