I made the switch to all-natural shampoo and conditioner a few years back. Not only do I like the fact that they're made with "a perfectly balanced blend of botanicals," as the bottle states, but I also like that they're made without animal testing. As I was washing my hair the other day, I went to pour some Nature's Gate Herbal Conditioner in my palm, and I saw Quaternium-87 in the list of ingredients. To me that sounds more like a show on the SciFi channel canceled after one episode than a "botanical" ingredient to me.

To find out what it is, read more

If you run outside, chances are high that you have encountered some hills. Hill work is considered one of the building blocks of running because it builds strength. So don't avoid the challenge of the natural incline.

When running uphill, it helps to follow the biking strategy. Cyclists prepare for their climb by shifting into an easy gear for the ascent. Runners should switch gears too. Instead of trying to attack a hill maintaining the same pace as you would on flat terrain, slow down. Your energy output while running uphill should remain the same as it was before you started your ascent. Your breathing should not speed up and your heart rate shouldn't either. While you might be moving more slowly, you're using your energy more efficiently, so you can keep on running, which really is the point.

When I am running uphill, my mantra is "slow and steady wins the race." I may be a tortoise, but I am still running.

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Eating your dinner blindfolded may be the key to gaining control over your portion sizes. Now don't worry I'm not talking every night, just one meal.

Last night, my mom told me that she and my dad each took turns eating dinner blindfolded. They felt they were overeating, but were not sure if maybe they were just really hungry. So they tried this blindfold experiment to find out if their sense of fullness was somehow visual. One person would put the blindfold on and eat until he/she felt full; then the blindfold was removed. In both cases they both unknowingly stopped eating without finishing their plates — something they rarely do otherwise. Now they just fill their plates with less food, listen to their stomach a lot more, and don't feel bad for not finishing eating every last bite.

The experiment intrigued me and I am begging my husband to do it with me too. I am wondering if I sometimes ignore my stomach's cues telling me I am full in an effort to please my eyes (and emotions) and finish my plate. Try it out and let me know what you find.

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DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

Dear DrSugar,
I have a friend who lives in the warm suburb of Fairfield, CA, and commutes to foggier, colder San Francisco every day. She is wondering if the daily climate switch from hot and dry weather to the foggy cold is making her sick, or at least more vulnerable to cold and flu? I am curious too. Is it a myth?
– Friend of Sniffles

To see what DrSugar has to say about the connection between abrupt and drastic changes in the weather and the common cold, read more