DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions. Dear DrSugar, I just had lab work done as part of my routine physical. My HDL cholesterol level is really low — 30. I am really scared. What can I do to improve the number? Is it possible to make it go up? —Freaked out about HDL This is a great question since cholesterol problems are quite common in Americans. High Read more

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 Read more

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site. Tea — does it really fight cancer? Lower cholesterol? We filter the research to find out which health claims actually hold water. By Kate Lowenstein The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you'd think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful Read more

I've never met a vegetarian (myself included) who hasn't been asked a hundred times, "Are you getting enough protein?" But this isn't the only thing vegetarians need to watch out for. Avoiding meat means you need to pay special attention to your diet to make sure you're getting other essential nutrients as well. You also need to be careful about overdoing it with meat alternatives and dairy Read more

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! The surprising ways you turn healthy foods into diet disasters By Nancy Rones, Prevention 1. Your marinades pack a big fat punch You're wise to choose skinless grilled chicken, but be careful with condiments. Barbecue sauce is filled with sugar, which equals calories (about 94 per 1/4 cup). The healthy move Ditch Read more

Not all fats are bad for you; in fact, incorporating healthy fats into your diet can actually be good for you! The general rule of thumb is that good fats are liquid at room temperature and bad fats are solid at room temperature. Therefore, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats fall into the good fats category, while saturated and trans fats fall into the bad fats category. Unlike saturated Read more

When you find a preworkout snack that gives you energy without causing digestive upset or cramps, you've got a winner. A simple banana has always treated me right before exercising, and here's a way to add an exciting little twist. It's a perfect snack because the banana offers easily digestible carbs, the almond butter boosts the protein content, and the shredded coconut adds iron, vitamin C, Read more