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Brooklyn Decker Bares Her Body in Bikini Bottoms

Lauren Turner — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:10:15 PDT

Brooklyn Decker shows off her abs and sunny smile on the cover of Women's Health. She's promoting her upcoming action movie, Battleship, and chatted with the magazine for their May issue. Brooklyn talked about her husband Andy Roddick and shared how she fits in workouts with her busy schedule. Here's more from Brooklyn in Women's Health:

On her husband: "Being married to Andy has given me a new appreciation for my body. He’s taught me that it’s not how thin you are that matters. It’s how your body performs, how it endures wear and tear."
On her crazy schedule: "[I'm in] a state of perpetual jet lag, which means there are days when working out is the last thing I want to do. If I stop wanting to work out, then I'm going to be in some serious trouble."
On model Marisa Miller: "When I was a rookie in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Marisa had already been in it for years. But unlike a lot of models who get very territorial, Marisa rooted for the new girls. If there was a job she couldn’t do, she’d pass it on to me. That’s real grace."

3 Reasons Why You Should Kick a Diet-Soda Habit

Michele Foley — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 02:33:02 PDT

Last week's controversial report linking soda consumption to cancer is more evidence indicating that the popular fizzy drink may not be the best choice for a healthy lifestyle. Even if you go the healthier route by choosing sugar-free diet soda, you're still not off the hook. Here are reasons to kick (or at least cut back) your daily diet-soda habit.

Weight gain: While researchers have yet to agree on the exact reason, studies show a link between diet soda consumption and weight gain. Study results indicate it's one of two reasons: most diet-soda drinkers already follow poor lifestyle habits that lead to excess weight gain, or artificial sweeteners confuse the body, causing it to crave the one thing it was deprived of - real sugar. Based on these recent studies, it's safe to say that diet soda alone is not going to make you fat, but it may be smart to limit your intake and view it as a vice, rather than a healthier alternative.
Risk of disease: Recent studies show that a diet-soda habit can increase your risk of stroke, osteoporosis, and type two diabetes. Early studies show diet-soda drinkers are 61 percent more likely to have a stroke, have four percent lower bone mineral density, and are more at risk for developing type two diabetes.
Damaging to the body: If you're a fan of your kidneys or teeth, now might be the time to curb your diet-soda habit. In a study, women who drank two or more diet sodas per day had decreased kidney function by about 30 percent. On top of that, the phosphoric acid in soda, dissolves the calcium in tooth enamel, weakening it.

If quitting this daily habit seems impossible to you, follow this 28-day plan to stop drinking diet soda for good.

Battle PMS With These Foods

Fitness Magazine — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 04:06:30 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Fitness Magazine here on FitSugar!

Are you plagued with period pain, fatigue, or other symptoms that turn you into a zombie for the week? Get relief by upgrading your diet. Here, experts share the foods that can boost energy, beat cramps, banish moodiness, and more.

Iron-Fortified Whole-Grain Cereal

Many women, especially those who consume very little meat or are vegetarians, don't get the iron they need. This saps their energy and makes it difficult for them to concentrate, says Karen Ansel, RD, an American Dietetic Association spokesperson. "For women with heavy periods, iron is even more important because they lose larger amounts with each monthly flow. Iron-fortified whole-grain cereal is an easy way to get your daily dose." Ansel recommends looking for a box that provides at least 25 percent of the daily value for iron, then chase it down with a glass of orange juice - its vitamin C will help you absorb even more iron. At dinnertime, if you're craving iron-rich red meat, go ahead and have some, says Marissa Lippert, RD. Just stick to a lean cut (flank steak or tenderloin) and a 3- to 4-ounce portion.

More foods after the break!

5 DIY Health Checks That Could Save Your Life

Shape — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:38:25 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Today there are tests for almost everything. Luckily, these five health checks don't require waiting in line to see a doctor or filling a prescription that may or may not be covered by your insurance. Read on for five DIY health checks you can perform that might just save your life.

Get Smart About Soy

Health — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 04:48:14 PST

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Health.com here on our site.

There are so many ways to get this good-for-you protein into your daily diet. Here's how to do it - and why you absolutely should.

By Sally Kuzemchak, RD

If you bypass tofu at salad bars, skip the meatless dishes at Chinese restaurants, and avoid edamame when you're out for sushi, well, it's time to give soy-based foods a second look. "Whole soy foods are a great substitute for meat," says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Their healthy protein content makes them a good option even if you're not one of the growing number of people going "flexitarian" or opting to eat less meat.

Here's your guide to making this legume a regular and great-tasting part of your diet.

Soy 101
All soy products are made from soybeans, mostly grown here in the United States. You can buy whole soybeans dried or canned, or in the produce section or freezer aisle as edamame, the common name for soybeans picked before they're fully mature. (Edamame can be purchased either in pods or shelled.)

Health.com: The 10 best foods for your heart

Beyond whole beans, soy takes on a number of different guises. Roasted soybeans are sold as soy nuts or ground into soy nut butter. Soybeans can be soaked in water, cooked, and filtered to make soy milk and soy yogurt. Adding a coagulant to soy milk curdles it, producing tofu, which ranges in texture from "silken" (very soft) to "extra firm," depending on how much liquid is removed.

Soybeans can also be fermented into a paste called miso (the base for miso soup) or a cake or patty called tempeh, which is often used in place of meat in sandwiches or grilled and eaten on its own. Finally, soy can be found in many packaged foods - such as frozen meatless burgers, cereals, and energy bars - often in the form of "soy protein isolate," meaning it's mostly the protein from soybeans you're getting.

Keep reading for more on soy.

FDA-Approved One-Time Laser Treatment Removes Cellulite

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:20:27 PST

From lipo to smoothing creams to compression leggings to procedures that freeze fat, there's no shortage of cellulite treatments out there. Some are invasive and some insanely expensive, and many take time to work.

Now there's a new cellulite treatment on the block that's gained recent FDA approval for use in the US since Jan 30, 2012 (used in Europe since early last year). Cellulaze is the first one-time laser treatment approved by the FDA to diminish cellulite. When the connective tissue bands under your skin stiffen, it causes the fat cells they surround to become larger and push up into the skin, which causes that dimpled look. Cellulaze is different from other procedures because it treats the fibrous bands beneath the skin, which prevents them from pulling down and causing the uneven appearance. The technique also stimulates collagen production, which thickens and adds elasticity to the skin.

Keep reading to learn more about this procedure and to find out how much Cellulaze costs.

A Reader Answers: Can Exercise Help With Migraines?

Fit Community — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:52:16 PST

FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV wanted to know: can exercise help with migraines? She asked an expert and posted the answer in our Fit Community.

Today's post comes to us from special guest contributor and medical expert Paul Rizzoli, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School:

When you’re prone to migraines you’re forced to think through whether or not something you do will invite a headache into your life. Exercise is definitely one of those things. Should you skip a workout because you feel a migraine coming on? Or is it better to push through in the hopes a little sweat will make you feel better?

Most headache specialists recommend exercise and an increase in overall physical activity to their patients. However, to date, there’s skimpy evidence to support the idea that working out actually guards against migraine attacks. A few studies have shown that taking regular exercise can reduce the severity, though not the number of headaches.

Keep reading to see what studies say about exercise and migraine relief after the break!

Are Your Birth Control Pills Safe?

Shape — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 04:06:17 PST

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

Last year during my annual exam, when I complained to my doctor about my terrible PMS, she was quick to pull out her pad and give me a prescription for the birth control pill Yaz. "You're going to love this," she said. "All of my patients that are on it think it's the best. It's even helped some of them lose weight!"

Less PMS and not having to worry about my weight? I was sold, even though I'd only intended to talk to her about lifestyle and/or diet modifications since my birth control needs were already taken care of. Before I stopped into the pharmacy, however, I looked up the pill online (Paging Dr. Google!). The results were anything but the lovefest I'd been promised. In fact, the information I found scared me so badly that I never filled that prescription.

Am I Normal? Your Top Six Sex Questions Answered

It quickly became evident that I wasn't the only woman concerned when Yaz and it's sister pill Yazmin, two of the most popular pills on the market, came up for review by the FDA after reports that the manufacturer may have hid and minimized critical health risks. But is the hysteria warranted?

Find out how safe birth control pills are after the break!

Lies Women Tell Their Doctors

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:28:54 PST

When seeing your doctor, gynecologist, dentist, or other specialist, women often get asked some tough questions like, "Do you smoke pot?" or "How many sexual partners have you had in the past year?" Whether it's because we're embarrassed, don't want to get lectured, or don't want to be judged, women tend to bend the truth a little in the exam room. However, it may be at the expense of their own health, since small fibs can sometimes have life-threatening consequences. Here are eight common lies women tell the person in the white coat.

Bizarre Health Products You Could Benefit From

Jenny Sugar — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:56:40 PDT

It's easy to pass judgments on healthy products since so many of them seem gimmicky, ineffective, or totally ridiculous. I would never use ear candles, not only because they don't remove ear wax, but also because flames near my hair scare the bejesus out of me. But not all bizarre-looking products are useless. Here are six products that seem a little "out there," but I can assure you from experience that they've really helped alleviate health issues and benefited my well-being.