Have you ever dropped a coveted piece of food, only to pick it right back up, citing the "five-second rule"? I've always wondered whether this cultural phenomenon could actually contain an iota of truth. If something's only been dropped for a moment, does that mean it potentially picked up fewer germs? A recent New York Times article sets the record straight. The five-second rule should really Read more

When I used to get sick as a kid (picture vomiting, diarrhea, fun times), my mom would serve me up bowl of yogurt while going on about the benefits of re-populating the good bacteria in my gut. Fast forward twenty-something years later and it dawned on me after a recent bad bout of bronchitis that I may be running low in the bacteria department. Here's why. My doctor prescribed antibiotics for Read more

Sometimes, even when we do our best to destroy germs in our home, they know the right places to hide and fester. Damp environments like bathrooms and kitchens are the perfect places for bacteria to thrive. In order to keep our homes healthy and happy, there are a few common items that should be replaced regularly. Check out the list below to see if it's time for any of your items to get Read more

I must confess: I don't wear a ton of makeup, but I don't go completely bare either. A little powder, some mascara, a touch of lip gloss, and I am good to go. Regardless of your daily beauty regimen, cosmetics can be pricey, so I don't blame you for not replacing your products regularly. But makeup does have shelf life after all. Beauty products should be tossed on a regular basis because Read more

I thoroughly wash apples, pears, and strawberries before eating because that is what you do with produce with no peel. My mother taught me this as a small child. With food borne illnesses seemingly on the rise, it's recommended to do a solid rinse and even a scrub to produce that you do peel like cantaloupe and potatoes. The majority of fruits and vegetables are seriously manhandled from harvest Read more

Scrubbing the handle on your fridge and all the light switches with germ-killing cleaners may be on your to-do list when Spring cleaning this year, but those aren't the only germ-infested areas in your house. Prevention magazine has a list of places you don't want to skip when scrubbing: Kitchen faucet. The screen on your faucet is perpetually moist and dark — the perfect environment for Read more

When it comes to fruits and veggies, I usually don't buy prewashed, precut, preanything. It seems too gimmicky and way lazy on my part not to slice my own apples. I make an exception for salad greens. I know it's hypocritical of me, but salad greens are pretty dirty, and I hate having to break out my cumbersome salad spinner. So yeah, I give in and buy the prewashed bags of mixed greens from the Read more

Germs are everywhere. Swine flu, regular flu, our homes, the gym — there's no escaping the little buggers. One of the best ways to protect yourself is still the easiest: wash those hands! If you're like me, you probably believe that the hotter the water, the better. Not so, says a recent study. Conducted by scientists with the Joint Bank Group/Fund Health Services Department, the study looked Read more