FitSugar

5 Harmful Pet Toxins Lurking Around Your House

Sara Yoo — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

Pets face many of the scariest hazards out on the street: speeding cars, aggressive animals, and inconsiderate people are just a few of the terrors that keep us pet parents up at night. But some of the most terrifying dangers come from items lying around our own homes. Last year, the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center fielded over 165,000 phone calls from panicked pet owners worried that their companions had been exposed to toxic substances. Here are the top five things you should lock up tight, and it doesn't hurt to keep the ASPCA's 24-hour hotline (888-426-4435) handy for your own emergencies.

A Doctor Dishes: Which "Superfoods" Are Worth the Cost?

LearnVest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Most people you speak to these days are trying to stretch every dollar as far as possible - even the ones they spend buying apples and oranges.

Food prices are expected to increase yet again this year, and food manufacturers are making portions smaller without reducing prices. Not surprisingly, a recent Rasmussen poll found that 93 percent of adults report paying more for groceries now than they did a year ago.

So how can we supercharge our grocery dollars and get them to do overtime for us?

Yes, some foods are obviously a better nutritional deal than others (think apples vs. potato chips), but there’s another class of foods that blows the rest of the field away in terms of nutrients and health-protecting qualities: superfoods.

Superfoods can help prevent diabetes and heart disease, repair damage to your body’s cells, and more. But before you go piling them into your cart, know that some superfoods are better nutritional bargains than others. As a doctor and a mom, I’ve sleuthed out which ones are worth the extra cost in terms of their long-term health benefits. Below is the scoop on which ones may help you age better, ward off cancer, and more.

What to Know Before Buying Superfoods

Before we dive into what to buy, there are a few important things to remember about consuming these foods:

Eating foods fresh and in their natural state, especially fruits and vegetables (rather than in pill or powder supplement form), usually allows us to absorb the greatest amount of their nutrients. The way a superfood is processed or cooked can significantly lower its antioxidant content.
If the superfood can’t be eaten fresh, look for easy and appetizing recipes containing it. No matter how “super” a superfood may be, if you don’t know how to cook it, you’ll probably let it go to waste.

Are Superfoods "Good Buys" If I’m Shopping on a Budget?

Read on to find out.

8 Foods to Boost Baby's Brainpower

LilSugar — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:56:00 PST

Expecting mamas have a long list of foods they can't consume, but luckily there is also a whole slew of goodies she can enjoy that may actually help boost her growing baby's wellness after he or she is born. Pregnant women who eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids will not only improve their own health, but they are also helping to support their baby’s brain and eye development and function. The March of Dimes recommends that pregnant women aim to get at least 200 milligrams of DHA every day, so here are eight foods high in omega-3 fatty acids to boost baby's brainpower.

8 Steps to Being Happy Without Spending a Dime

Emily Co — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:10:54 PST

Happiness is something you can't put a price on, and it's something you shouldn't take for granted. Despite what you think, no fancy car, flashy bling, or other material possessions will make you happy. True happiness has to come from within and just like most things in life, it takes effort and hard work to achieve it. Here are eight simple steps to becoming a happier person:

Stop being materialistic: If you find joy in things, that happiness will be short lived. Because what you have will never be enough, and things can always be lost or broken. Wanting what you don't have will create unhappiness, so you should always be content with what you do currently have.
Not defining yourself with a title: Just like material possessions, titles can always be lost. If you define yourself by an occupation or a role you carry, such as a doctor or being a mother, you may feel lost if the title was taken away from you. You need to find happiness in your own self and just be happy about being you.
Getting rid of your clutter: Having too much clutter in your house can take a toll because a disorganized mess can cause inner turmoil and stress. Take steps to reduce the clutter in your home by throwing out, donating, or selling items you don't use or need.
Meditating: Meditation is an extremely powerful tool. In fact, scientists have found that people who have trained in meditation have different brain activity than those who haven't trained. They respond better to situations that would cause us to lose emotional control.

Read on for more.

See the World Unite Against AIDS

Annie Scudder — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:15:49 PST

Every year on Dec. 1, people worldwide unite to commemorate people who have died from HIV/AIDS, who support those living with the disease and bring awareness for prevention. The first event was held in 1988, but the cause is just as urgent today - 33.3 million people around the world are living with the disease. During his remarks today, President Obama took a hopeful tone, saying "We are going to win this fight." Take a look at how people lent their support to that effort around the world now.

To the Rescue: How to Check Your Pet's Temperature

PetSugar — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:19:58 PST

OK, now that you're aware of how to check your dog's pulse, let's move on to temperature taking. The easiest way to do this is with an ear thermometer like the Pet-Temp Instant Ear Thermometer ($40). It measures the infrared heat waves coming from the ear drum. Pet-specific versions are best because they have a long probe that can fit deeply in the ear canal.

The other option is to use a rectal thermometer like this Vet-Temp Rapid Digital Thermometer for Pets ($15). Coat it with a water-based lubricant, insert about one inch, and wait for the finishing beep. While it's a cheaper option, if your pet dislikes this process, you will need to have someone else hold him and distract him while you measure the temperature. See the normal ranges for both cats and dogs when you

The Next Nine Months: Postpartum Exercise Time Line

LilSugar — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 07:03:10 PDT

It's no secret that pregnant women easily put on a few pounds each month until their bundle of joy arrives -unfortunately getting rid of that weight is not so effortless. Along with eating right, exercise is a sure way to getting your body back to the way it was pre-baby. Our basic postpartum exercise time line helps you determine how and when to slowly add exercise so that you can watch the number on the scale drop as your baby grows.

Good For Wallet, Bad For Health: Avoid These 5 Cheap Foods

Emily Co — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:00:06 PDT

Sometimes it's hard living life on a shoestring budget. When it comes to meals, it's easy to just grab something convenient, cheap, and quick. Those options aren't always the healthiest and will cost you in the long run. Here are some cheap foods that are good for your budget but bad for your health.

Watch Giuliana Rancic Open Up About Breast Cancer

Annie Scudder — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:45:23 PDT

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Giuliana Rancic announced she has breast cancer this morning on Today. The 37-year-old E! host and her husband Bill Rancic, the first Apprentice winner, are used to sharing their lives on TV, and today she shared this very personal news. On the final episode of the latest season of their reality show, Giuliana and Bill, the couple decided to try again to have a baby via in-vitro fertilization. But as Giuliana recounted, she discovered she had breast cancer during a mammogram her doctor suggested she have before beginning IVF. Watch Giuliana open up about the importance of mammograms, how supportive her husband has been, and hear her explain that she still wants to have a child "because this baby has saved my life."

Sarah Michelle Gellar Chats Charlie, Marriage, and More in Health

Lauren Turner — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:09:09 PDT

Sarah Michelle Gellar struck a smiley pose on the cover of Health's October issue. She's promoting her new series Ringer, which premiered last week. SMG chatted about staying in great shape, her family, and work in between scenes on the new drama. The actress also opened up about her pregnancy and her and husband Freddie Prinze, Jr's daughter Charlie, who just visited the LA Ringer set on Monday. SMG said:

On her happiest place: "Snuggling with my daughter. Doesn’t matter where. I could be on a subway. I don’t care."
On being in her best shape: "Probably before I got pregnant - I was in really, really good shape. I think when I was doing Buffy I was a little bit thin, actually, because even though I was working out constantly, it was just the time and the age. But I was happy being pregnant, too. I’m not as critical as I used to be about my body."
On going into labor during Pilates: "And it was funny, too, because I was getting cranky, and I said to my trainer, "I’m just cranky today." She was like, "Maybe it’s because you’re going to give birth!" And I was like, "Nah, not yet." It turned out I was in labor, I didn’t realize."
On the secret to her happy marriage: "We communicate. That’s my secret. It’s not a secret, but it’s how I handle all my good relationships, whether they’re male-female or not. If you bottle things up, it explodes on you."