When you’ve got a busy school or work schedule, healthy eating can seem more like a luxury than a necessity, like it is. To help you stay on track at work, during travel and even on the weekends, we’ve researched and discovered these 100 web tools. You’ll be able to bookmark calorie calculators, instantly check portion sizes and nutrition information, connect with dieters and healthy eaters through social media sites, research recipes, and plenty more.
Calculators
Here you can figure out how many calories you need to eat each day, evaluate how many calories are hiding in your favorite restaurant meals and more.
- Food Calories and Nutrition Calculator: Select grocery items, ethnic specialties and restaurant items to figure out your calorie intake.
- MetaboCalc v1.0: Figure out how many calories you burn each day using this calculator.
- Calorie Calculator: This calculator shows you how many calories you burn during daily activities and during workouts.
- Calories Burned Calculator: Here you can calculate the number of calories burned during exercises like walking, running and biking. You’ll also find out your BMR and BMI.
- Weight Loss Calculator: Learn about calorie intake and calorie burn with this tool, which also helps you set up weight loss goals.
- Diet: Use this tool to calculate BMI, your healthy weight, daily caloric requirement, daily protein, carbohydrate, fat and iron requirements, target heart rate and more.
- UMMS Health Calculators: The University of Maryland Medical Center’s calculators measure waist-hip ratio, calories burned, diabetes, BMI, fat intake, fiber and more.
- Calorie Calculator: Figure out how many calories you burn during activities like gardening and raking, shoveling snow and playing cards.
- Quiz: Are You Getting Enough Protein?: Let this quiz help you determine whether or not you need to add more protein to your diet.
- Calorie Needs: Quickly calculate how many calories your body needs on a daily basis.
Goal-Setting Tools
Use these online tools to help you stay on track with your medical goals.
- Ideal Body Weight: If your new diet is supposed to get you down to a certain weight, first figure out what your ideal weight is by using this tool.
- Free Diet and Weight Loss Journal: This free food and fitness tracker can help you organize your healthy eating goals.
- Online Diet and Exercise Journal: This website features community forums and free space for you to record your diet goals.
- The Fat Test: This quiz will help you learn more about good fats vs. bad fats, which foods to cut out of your diet and which to introduce, and be more proactive about goal setting.
- Standard Weight Charts: Understand your frame size, muscle weight and healthy weight here.
- National Body Challenge: Discovery Health’s National Body Challenge encourages individuals to exercise and start eating more healthy foods. Register to access menu planners and other resources.
- Diet Tools: This collection of tools can help you stay on track until you meet your goals.
- iFitOne: This software program " helps make tracking your diet, fitness and weight loss simple and fun."
- TeenBodyBuilding: While this program is marketed towards body builders, it offers great goal-tracking tools, workout tips and more.
- Joe’s Goals: This easy-to-use goal tracker helps you organize work outs, home prepared meals and restaurant trips.
Calendars and Organization
The following list includes diet diaries and other tools that will keep you, your menu ideas and your calorie counts organized.
- Diet Planning: Access a diet diary and other helpful planners here.
- StartYourDiet.com: Register to access weight tracking tools, a meal planning tool, diet diary and more.
- Menu Planner: Organize your daily meals by calories, food items, portion, and total fat and carbohydrates.
- Daily Food and Activity Diary: Stay organized with this tool, which helps you record your hunger levels, motivation, serving sizes and more.
- NutritionData: "Know what you eat" by researching food and nutrition data on this site, which also lets you analyze recipes and calculate your BMI.
- NutriDiary: Organize your foods, meals and more on this site.
- My Food Diary: Access an exercise log, food and ingredient tracker and more.
- My Net Diary: This attractive, streamlined food log helps you achieve "safe, steady, long-term weight loss."
- Weight by Date: This tool can help Windows users track weight loss, keep a food journal and more.
- My Pyramid Tracker: Evaluate your food intake and exercise with this tool.
Networks and Social Media
Join other healthy eaters and dieters through these sites, which also offer recipe tips and diet advice.
- Food Count: Members in this network have access to 30,000 foods and nutrition information, diet analysis tools and more.
- DietGuild: DietGuild is designed to organize and motivate individuals who want to lose weight and eat more healthy foods. You’ll access nutrition tables, public diaries, and resources like the food pyramid and an articles database.
- The Daily Plate: Those who want to be super organized about their eating habits can turn to this site, which features a forum, groups, personal profile and more.
- NutriCoach: Create your own personal page on this site, connect with other users, watch videos and access great diet tools and nutrition information.
- Peer Trainer: Join this network to find buddies who will hold you accountable and keep you on track with your fitness and eating plan.
- SparkPeople: Here you can take advantage of community features, motivation tools and health tips. You can even join and create SparkTeams to stay on track.
- My Fitness Pal: Get tips from other community members, read articles and learn about healthy foods and snacks on this network.
- Gyminee: Gyminee is a workout and food tracker that’s also a social media network.
- fitsugar: Part of the popular "sugar" network, fitsugar is a network that features a blog with celebrity diet news, a celebrity fitness corner, community for sharing tips and food information, and more.
- 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community: Visit these forums to learn about goal setting, diet plans and more.
Articles and Guides
Check out these articles and resources that can help you understand different diets, types of foods, and eating attitudes.
- How to Read Food Labels and Nutrition Facts: Learn what you should be looking for on food labels.
- Are You a Healthy Cook?: Give your cooking style a realistic evaluation with this quiz.
- Eating Disorders and Emotional Eating Test: Make sure you’re not overcompensating with food for some emotional or mental problem.
- How do I shop for healthy foods for my diet?: This article can help you stay focused and motivated at the grocery store.
- Easing Into a Healthy Diet: If you love junk food, try the suggestions offered in this guide to help you get used to healthier eating.
- 16 Ways to Eat Healthy While Keeping it Cheap: Eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. Learn how to keep costs down here.
- Eat a Nutritious Diet: HealthierUS.gov provides this resource full of healthy foods, a list of foods to limit and other articles.
- 12 Tips for Eating More Veggies: Veggie Chic’s tips include creating a salad habit, veg up your sandwich and top pasta with tomato-based sauces.
- Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, By the Month: Bookmark this guide so you’ll always know which fruits and veggies are in season, saving you money and inspiring you to eat healthier.
- Top Ten Wellness Tips for Eating More Vegetables and Fruit: Here you’ll learn new ways to add vegetables and fruit to your diet.
Recipes and Online Cookbooks
Head to these resources for lots of recipes and meal or snack ideas that are good for you.
- Diabetes Meal Plan Recipes: From spring rolls and shrimp to Southwestern potato skins to avocado dip, find out how healthy eating is also delicious.
- Healthy Recipes: Discovery Health provides lots of healthy recipes for kids, breakfast lovers, the holidays and more.
- FoodFit: Visit this site often to get all kinds of recipes, organized by most popular, low-fat, low in sugar, vegetarian, quick meals and more.
- Healthy Cooking: From Grandma’s Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili to Morning Glory Muffins, this section of AllRecipes.com is devoted to delicious healthy recipes.
- Healthy Recipes: These recipes come from the MayoClinic, so you know they’re good for you.
- Better Recipes: Healthy Recipes: Find healthy snacks, desserts, poultry dishes, vegetarian recipes, side dishes, breads, meat and fish ideas.
- EatingWell.com: Here you can get diet and nutrition tips, as well as healthy recipes that are easy to whip up.
- Delicious Decisions: The American Heart Association’s cookbook allows you to do a recipe quick find and find heart-healthy ingredient substitutions.
- WeightWatchers Food and Recipes: Find recipes that adhere to WeightWatchers here.
- Over 100 Quick and Easy Healthy Foods: Try out recipes for foods like Santa Fe eggs, ginger yogurt with fruit, festive fruit salad, zucchini bisque and more.
Inspiration and Support
When you need a little extra motivation, use these sites and tools to keep you going.
- Healthy Weight Forum: Access inspirational quotes, read diet reviews and more on this forum.
- Chicken Soup for the Soul: Chocolate is Not the Enemy: Beliefnet’s Health page features this story to help dieters keep their perspective.
- diettalk.com: This network of dieters and healthy eaters supports each other, because "desire, dedication, determination and discipline = success."
- Weekend Diet Traps: If you’re known to binge every weekend, use this guide to help you curb your cravings.
- Low Carb Friends: Turn to this forum for support groups and recipe ideas.
- Low Carb Eating: This site "provides support for healthy, sustainable low-carb living — via community, education, and resources."
- What Did You Eat Today?: Refer to this thread on myjellybean.com for yummy but healthy food ideas and snacks.
- The Seven Habits of Successful Healthy Eating: Dietician Lara Rondinelli urges you to "make healthy eating a priority" and forget about making up excuses.
- Small Step: This government program inspires adults, seniors and teenagers to eat more healthy foods and have a healthier body image, one step at a time.
- BuddySlim: Connect with other weight loss buddies over this network, where over 429,000 lbs. have been dropped by members.
Trying New Diets
Here you can research different types of diets that inspire healthy eating, including the raw food diet, veganism, and low-carb diets.
- South Beach Diet: Get your diet profile for free on this site.
- Healthy Foods Instead of a Diet: Consider introducing new foods into your menus instead of jumping on the bandwagon of a fad diet that could actually be unhealthy.
- Veganism in a Nutshell: Learn all about veganism and diet ideas here.
- High Protein Diets: The American Heart Association goes over high protein diets here.
- Weight Loss: Reducing Dietary Fat: Learn about calories and sources of dietary fat here.
- Raw Food Chat: This network will connect you to those who adhere to the raw food diet. Registering will also give you access to articles and recipes.
- Every Diet: Get the lowdown on diets like Atkins, genotype diet, high protein dies and more on this site.
- Popular Diets Versus Dietary Guidelines: This article explores what kind of diets and eating regimes are best.
- Tips for Sugar-Free Cooking and Eating: Find out what foods are good to eat and which ones are off limits in a sugar-free diet.
- Low Carb Diet: Get recipes, facts about the low-carb diet and more on this list.
Understanding Food and Nutrition
From the food pyramid to fiber charts, these tools will teach you about food and nutrition.
- Fiber Chart: Here you’ll figure out what kinds of foods–and how much–equals the right kind of fiber.
- The Food Pyramid: Refresh your understanding of the food pyramid and how many servings of each food group you need.
- Low Carb Diet Tools: Discover how many carbs are in dairy products, vegetables, beef and more.
- Exploring the USDA Food Pyramid: This intensive look at the food pyramid will help you understand your own nutritional goals better.
- Fast Food Explorer: Find out just how many calories and fat are in popular meals at KFC, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, Wendy’s and other fast food spots.
- Calcium Assessment: Learn how much calcium you need in this quiz, which evaluates your intake and knowledge about calcium.
- Online Science Degrees Blog: Understand the science behind what you eat with this interesting blog.
- Calorie King: Find out the calorie count in foods at restaurants like Chili’s and at retailers like Costco. You can also get healthy recipes and read articles about better eating.
- Nutri-Facts.com: Instantly get nutrition information for nearly 6,000 different foods, including sausage, baby food items and even different cooking spices.
- Antioxidants food chart: This chart shows you which foods are richest in antioxidants, which are important for healthy living, good skin, fighting cancer and more.
Portion Control
Understanding portion control is a huge part of healthy eating. Let these tools guide you when you start spooning out dessert.
- Look at Three Hundred Calories: Understand portion size better when you can visualize what 300 calories is.
- Portion Control: Here you’ll find tips for measuring out portions, as well as figuring out drink serving sizes and snacks.
- Meals Matter: This fantastic tool helps you plan out meals for every day of the week, and you can also read nutrition articles, take quizzes and find yummy recipes.
- Food Portion Sizes: This illustrated guide can help you determine the real portion sizes for meat, apples, ice cream and more.
- Quick Guide to Food Portions: Here’s another guide that will help you better understand what food portions really mean.
- French lessons: Eat petite, be petite: MSNBC’s article explores how simply downsizing at the dinner table can help you lose weight.
- Understanding Portion Control: This guide explores the trouble Americans have with portion control and offers tips for eating light, even in restaurants.
- How to Avoid Portion Size Pitfalls to Help Manage Your Weight: Here you’ll get advice for managing serving sizes when you eat at home, when you eat in front of the TV, and when you eat out of the package.
- Portion Distortion: 5 Easy Ways to Downsize Your Servings: Tips here include trimming your trigger foods and to "create your own after-meal ritual."
- Nutri Diet Tracker: This system frees you from the stress and frustration of counting calories by organizing your diet with special cards.
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The Internet is full of wonderful information, and much of this information can be found in ebooks. Whether you’re looking for guidance on feng shui, or just want to know how to save money, there’s an ebook out there for you. Here you’ll find a great collection of ebooks available online for free.
Health
Brush up on your health knowledge with these ebooks.
- Asthma and Allergies: Find out what asthma and allergies are, how they’re related, and how they can be treated.
- The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci: Get a look at the complete notebooks and sketchbooks of Leonardo Da Vinci in this resource.
- Drugs, Alcohol and HIV/AIDS: A Consumer Guide: Find out how HIV is affected by drug abuse behavior through the knowledge in this pamphlet.
- Obesity: In this book on obesity, you’ll learn about good health habits like eating right and exercising.
- Working With Your Doctor: Getting the Healthcare You Deserve: This book will help you better communicate with your doctor.
- Searchlights on Health: Read all about the science of eugenics in this ebook.
- Simple Guide to Weight Loss and Fitness: In four steps, this guide will explain how you can lose weight and be more fit.
- 10 Ways to Alleviate Pain: Find out how your mind deals with pain by reading this ebook.
- Having Healthy Babies: Expectant mothers should read this book to learn how to avoid or reduce the health risks of pregnancy.
- Vibrant Health: Learn how to be healthy from the inside out with this ebook.
- Your Health: Learn about diseases and how they can be prevented in this ebook.
- 2008 Recovery Month Kit: Learn how to recover from alcohol and drug addiction with the help of this ebook.
- High Blood Pressure: In this book, you’ll learn how to prevent and care for high blood pressure.
- Energy Healing for Self and Others: Read this book and learn how to heal yourself with energetic tools.
- HIV and AIDS: Find out how HIV and AIDS can be prevented and treated by reading this ebook.
- Diabetes: In this book about diabetes, you’ll learn the essentials of the disease, including how it can be prevented and treated.
Useful Knowledge
Read these ebooks to pick up knowledge that you can put to use.
- Simple Sabotage Field Manual: Learn the art of sabotage with this ebook.
- Tame Your Brain!: Read this ebook to learn how to control your brain.
- The Practice and Science of Drawing: Harold Speed’s book explains the philosophy behind drawing.
- Camping: Prepare and Enjoy the Great Outdoors: Read this ebook to get prepared for a camping trip.
- Fifteen Thousand Useful Phrases: Consult this guide for a huge amount of phrases that you can use.
- Emily Post’s Etiquette: Emily Post’s book explains proper etiquette in a variety of situations.
Self-Improvement
These ebooks offer a wealth of information about improving your confidence, knowledge, and quality of life.
- How to Overcome Social Anxiety: Defeat social anxiety with the techniques found in this ebook.
- Affirmation eBook: Learn how to achieve your goals using affirmations with the help of this ebook.
- How to Read Body Language: This ebook explains how to read body language for business and personal relationships.
- The Seven Challenges Workbook: In this workbook, you’ll get a guide to communication skills that you can put to work at home and in your professional life.
- How to Be More Successful: This ebook explains how you can set goals to achieve what you want from life.
- Helping Yourself Heal-A Recovering Woman’s Guide to Coping with the Effects of Childhood Abuse Issues: Learn about recovering from childhood abuse from this ebook.
- The Epidemiology of Co-Occuring Substance Use and Mental Disorders: Get an overview of substance abuse paired with mental disorders through this ebook.
- 12 Fun Ways to Change Your Life: Make a difference in your life with the 12 strategies in this ebook.
- Know Your Own Mind: Get an analysis of your personality by using this ebook.
- 89 Ways to Simplify Your Life: Read this ebook to learn how to make your life easier and happier.
- The Keys to Becoming Confident: This ebook will explain in simple steps how you can become a more confident person.
- How to Feel Better: This ebook is written to help people suffering from depression.
- 5 Secrets of Motivation: Overcome inaction and achieve your dreams with the knowledge in this ebook.
- Mental Health Self-Help Book: Check out this book written by two doctors to get help with your mental health.
Family & Relationships
Read these ebooks to get guidance on interpersonal relationships and family management.
- 10 Qualities of the Ladies Man: Learn how to be the man all women want with this ebook.
- Protect Children from Drugs & Alcohol: Parents should check out this ebook that will help you keep your kids away from drugs and alcohol.
- Time-Tested Dating Secrets: This ebook will teach you how to make Internet dating work for you.
- Underage Alcohol Use: Findings from the 2002-2006 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health: In this report, you’ll learn about alcohol consumption by people from 12 to 20.
- The Bully: This book will explain how to deal with bullies, both as a child and an adult.
- 10 Deadly Relationship Mistakes That Cause Breakups: Help prevent breakups by avoiding these relationship mistakes.
- The Divorce & Custody Resource Handbook: Read this ebook to find useful resources for getting through divorce.
- 45 Ways to Be a Better Parent and Raise Well-Balanced and Responsible Kids: Get practical, effective parenting strategies from this ebook.
- 100 Dating and Relationship Tips: In this ebook, you’ll find a wealth of helpful information for creating new relationships.
- 35 Smart Dating Rules: Follow these rules for the dating world.
- Baby Tips for New Parents: Read this book for guidance on getting ready to bring your new baby home.
Food
Whip up something healthy and tasty in the kitchen with the help of these ebooks.
- Prize Winning Recipes: In this ebook, you’ll find some of the best recipes out there.
- 365 Foreign Dishes: Learn to cook a new foreign dish for every night of the year with this ebook.
- Make Pizza at Home: Don’t order delivery-save money and make your own pizza at home with this cookbook.
- The Wellness & Nutrition Landslide: Download this ebook to learn about the food you should be eating for better health.
- International Recipes: Create food from around the world with the recipes in this ebook.
Business & Career
In these ebooks, you’ll find plenty of guidance for your career.
- Who’s There?: In Seth Godin’s ebook, you’ll learn all about blog writing.
- Making Your Workplace Drug-Free: Download this ebook to learn how to keep drugs out of the workplace.
- The Small Business Checklist for Success: This ebook offers a number of low-cost business solutions you can find online.
- Insider Profits: Learn how to profit from Internet marketing and more.
- Top Ten E-Businesses for the 21st Century: Read this ebook to get ideas for profitable e-businesses.
- Poor Richard’s Top 100 Tips for Doing Business Online: Follow this ebook to find out a number of tips for online businesses.
- Go It Alone!: Read this ebook to get inspired to create your own business.
- What Do You Want to do With Your Life?: Decide what you want to do with your life using this workbook.
Feng Shui
Check out these ebooks to learn all about the practice of feng shui.
- The Top 10 Feng Shui Mistakes, and How to Avoid Them: Avoid the pitfalls of feng shui outlined in this ebook.
- A Quick Guide to the Five Elements: Learn how to use the five feng shui elements to improve the energy in your life and home.
- Wind Chimes & Water Fountains: Favorite Feng Shui Objects and How to Use Them: This ebook will give you guidelines for using feng shui objects and improving the overall decor of your home.
Finance
Learn about a wide variety of financial issues and advice in these ebooks.
- 66 Ways to Save Money: Learn about practical ways to cut costs in your daily life with this ebook.
- Estate Planning: Find out why a will is so important and how you can prepare one, plus plenty of other helpful details for estate planning.
- Ten Questions to Ask When Choosing a Financial Planner: Read this ebook to know what you should ask when looking for a professional to help you with your money.
- 7 Steps to Eliminate Debt: Take control of and eliminate your debt by following the steps outlined in this ebook.
- Living Trust Offers: The FTC commision’s pamphlet explains the details of living trusts and how you can protect yourself from estate planning scams.
- Get the Facts on Saving and Investing: This SEC document will help you learn how to save and invest properly.
- Simple Strategies for Managing Your Money: This FDIC ebook’s checklists will help you get financially fit and avoid scams.
- Building a Better Credit Report: In this ebook, you’ll learn about methods for legally improving your credit score, spotting scams, and dealing with debt.
- What You Should Know About Buying Life Insurance: In this pamphlet, you’ll find out about all of the types of life insurance, plus tips for choosing the right policy.
- How SIPC Protects You: Read this document to see how the Securities Investor Protection Corproration will help return your assets if your brokerage firm goes under.
- Building Wealth: A Beginner’s Guide to Securing Your Financial Future: The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas offers this guide that will help you build personal wealth.
- ID Theft: What It’s All About: This pamphlet from the FTC explains how your identity can be stolen and what you can do about it.
- SHOP: The Credit Card You Pick Can Save You Money: In this consumer awareness brochure, you’ll learn how to pick the right credit card for you.
- All About…The Foreign Exchange Market in the United States: This ebook explains how the forex market works in the US.
- Identity Theft: Learn about the details of identity theft and how you can protect yourself from it in this pamphlet.
- Debt Consolidation Sample Letters for Free: Find a collection of sample letters that you can use for debt consolidation in this ebook.
- Privacy Choices for Your Personal Information: This booklet will tell you how to opt out of sharing private information.
- Credit Score: The Quintessential Therapy for a Happy Pocket: Check out this ebook to learn everything you need to know about credit scores.
- Identity Theft and Your Social Security Number: Find out how your social security number can be exploited by reading this ebook.
- Tools of the Trade: A Basic Guide to Financial Derivatives: See how derivatives can be good for managing financial risks.
- Healthy Credit: In this ebook, you’ll learn about managing your credit report and score.
- Phishing and Pharming: Helping Consumers Avoid Internet Fraud: Protect yourself from internet fraud by educating yourself with this ebook.
- Taking Control of Your Finances: Learn how to save and manage money, as well as avoid common mistakes by reading this ebook from the FDIC.
- Know Before You Go…To Get a Mortgage: Read this guide to learn about mortgage information you need to know.
- Take Creditors and Collection Agents to Small Claims Court: This ebook explains how you can sue creditors and collection agencies based on consumer rights.
- What Women Need to Know About Retirement: In this ebook, you’ll learn about being prepared for retirement.
- Pathways to Getting Ahead: Young adults should read this book about asset building and policy choices.
- Interest-Only Mortgage Payments and Payment-Option ARMs: Are they for you?: This guide will help you determine whether or not you should get an interest-only or ARM loans.
- Banking Basics: The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston offers this ebook that will explain everything young adults need to know about banking.
- Consumer Action Handbook: A top-notch ebook, this handbook will help you with buying tips and resolving consumer problems.
- Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future: Set up a personal savings plan using this guide.
- Financial Intelligence Training: Become more financially intelligent by reading this ebook.
- Money Matters: Your Guide for Financial Strength: This ebook will help you learn how to set financial goals, get organized, and more.
- 401(k) Plans: This document explains everything you need to know about 401(k) plans.
- Credit Score: The Quintessential Therapy for a Happy Pocket: Learn about the importance of a good credit score and how you can make yours better with this ebook.
- Consumer’s Almanac: The Consumer’s Almanac will help you manage your money, get organized, save, and more.
- Variable Annuities: What You Should Know: Find out the details of variable annuities with this guide.
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Blogging opens up a wide community for both the writers and the readers. Blogging about women’s health bonds that community through shared experiences. The following blogs touch on several aspects of women’s health issues ranging from exercise to infertility to life after 40. Check out what these women have to share with you in the blogs listed below.
Nutrition and Special Diets
Touching on healthy ways of eating or special diets such as for those who can’t eat gluten or choose to remove unhealthy ingredients from their diet, the following blogs will inform you about nutritious eating.
- Healthy Nutrition Hints and More…. Read about food and nutrition in this blog that highlights food in the news with an emphasis on organics.
- Gastro Girl: All Things Digestive. This woman takes a look at food news and comments on it in her blog.
- Foodtherapy™. This blog discusses how food, and specifically the kind of food you eat, affects your health and life.
- Feed the Soul Nutrition Blog. With posts ranging from fresh vegetables to eating healthy on a tight budget, this blog will help you find a way to eat more healthily.
- Fear and Loathing in the Kitchen. With experience on various types of health diets including gluten and dairy-free, this blogger offers suggestions, news, and more on how eating wholesome food can help you lose weight as well as allow you to enjoy food and yourself.
- Foodielicious. Blogging about fresh produce and the benefits of cooking and eating this way, this woman will leave your mouth watering.
- Grow. Food. Love. This woman blogs about gardening and the food she prepares as a form of mental health for herself and nutritional health for her readers.
- A Gluten Free Guide. Written by a woman with Celiac disease, this blog offers recipes, suggestions for restaurants, and more for those eating gluten-free. She includes some great photos, too.
- A Life Less Sweet. This woman blogs about her family’s experience following a diet without high fructose corn syrup and includes recommendations for food as well as news on health issues and high fructose corn syrup.
- Almost Vegetarian. Follow along with this woman as she chronicles her adventures of eating healthy and mostly vegetarian–and taking her husband along for the ride.
- Bueller’s Kitchen. This blog highlights raw/living food as the woman who writes it shares her experience of overcoming health issues by following this way of eating.
Exercise
From yoga to getting fit through exercise, these blogs will guide you to better health.
- Yoga Journey/Yoga for Health and Joy in Life. Get everything yoga here from poses to news to help with specific health issues.
- Athleta Chi. With a focus on athletics and adventure, this blog serves as an inspiration for women on the go.
- Fit Bottomed Girls. These two women blog about fitness on this fun blog.
- A Dumbbell in a Home Gym. This woman blogs about incorporating exercise into her life with a goal to weight loss and better physical health.
- Every Gym’s Nightmare. Written by a woman who is a fitness trainer and ex-bulimic, this blog will help you find healthy ways to care for your body through exercise.
- Fitness Cure. Heavy on the motivation, this blogger writes about staying fit through exercise. She recently disclosed that she is pregnant, so look for more posts on staying fit during pregnancy.
- Food, Fitness, Fashion. This blog focuses heavily on fitness through exercise and includes posts on such activities as yoga and belly dancing. Looking fashionably fit also finds its place here.
- Catapult Fitness. Focusing on fitness and nutrition, this blog strives to help you lead a healthier life.
- Look, a fitness blog!. While this woman blogs about maintaining her weight goal with healthy eating and exercise, there is a strong emphasis on exercise, especially running, since she has begun training for a 5k race.
- A Marathon Leap. Follow this woman’s experience with running as she begins training and running in marathons as a "non-runner."
Infertility
For women struggling with infertility, the road can be long and difficult. Sharing these women’s experiences can make dealing with it all a little more bearable.
- living a new life with infertility. This blog about the trials and tribulations of infertility also focuses on life and knitting; wonderful metaphors for the experience of infertility.
- Baby or Bust. Follow the adventures of Brandi and Shelton as they raise money for their In Vitro procedure to help them start a family.
- Jenny from the Infertility Block. This step mom goes on a journey for a baby and writes about her infertility and fertility treatments.
- Busted Babymaker. This woman writes about her infertility and loss of 23 week twins.
- babyfruit: the miscarriage blog and motherhood diaries. Started while this woman was experiencing miscarriages, gather inspiration from this blog as the writer moves through to pregnancy and motherhood.
- Fertility Musing, Questions & Answers and News. This blog is written by a mother of six who experienced infertility and finally achieved her dreams of a family through fertility treatments.
- Infertility Drama. This woman blogs about her infertility, fertility treatment, pregnancy losses, and her current pregnancy on this blog.
- Coming2Terms. Follow the globetrotting exploits of this woman as she lives the life of infertility "in a fertile world."
- Lost and Found and Connections Abound. This is the ultimate blog for those dealing with infertility. This blog keeps those active in the infertility blog world connected and in the know with what is happening on the various blogs.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy is an exciting time for most women and can also be full of unknowns. Learn from these women who share what they went through in their blogs.
- Notes from the Nursery. This blog offers the latest news and information on pregnancy as well as baby products brought to you by HealthyWomen.org.
- Kristie McNealy, MD. Written by a medical professional, this blog offers news and updates on women’s health, pregnancy, childbirth, and child wellness.
- Let’s Talk Babies. This blog touches on the early signs of pregnancy to parenting tips and everything in between.
- The Fun Times Guide to Pregnancy. This blog touches on all sorts of helpful topics such as what not to buy for your nursery, fun online pregnancy tools, and interesting pregnancy gadgets.
- Day By Day Pregnancy. This blog offers the basics on pregnancy with daily updates.
- Mission: Impossible (or adventures in infertility, pregnancy…parenting?). Title of this blog says it all, except that the blogger just gave birth to twins, so the parenting part is about to kick in.
- Barely Pregnant. Follow the second pregnancy of this woman who has gone through infertility, fertility treatments, and loss during pregnancy.
- Child-bearing Hips. Read this woman’s blog as she chronicles her pregnancy journey.
- Motherhood Uncensored. This mother of two with one on the way writes an entertaining and popular blog.
Childbirth and Breastfeeding
The curiosity and feeling of going through the unknown doesn’t end after your pregnancy. These blogs discuss childbirth and breastfeeding.
- Have a Natural Childbirth. This blog includes amazing natural birth stories, posts by midwives and doulas, and more.
- Natural Childbirth for the "Hip Chick". This experience mama talks about childbirth and the newborn on this blog.
- Birth Ecology Project. Dedicated to gentle birth, midwives, doulas, and sustainable living, the posts on this blog will uplift and inspire you.
- Black Breastfeeding Blog. For black women who are breastfeed or expect to in the future, this blog offers information as well as the history of breastfeeding.
- The Lactivist. Read about breastfeeding, parenting, and more at this blog.
- BreastfeedingMums Blog. Out of the U.K., this blogger writes about breastfeeding, health, and nutrition.
- Mama Knows Breast. Learn about breastfeeding topics, get the latest in the news about breastfeeding, and learn about other breastfeeding blogs at this woman’s blog.
- The Beautiful Letdown. This mom writes about breastfeeding–and tandem nursing in particular.
- Breastfeeding123. Get tips, news, and support on breastfeeding from this experienced mother of three and breastfeeding counselor.
Weight Loss
These women share their ups and downs as they deal with their weight loss experiences and blog about it.
- Alycat’s Claws My WW Journey. This woman posts about her experiences with WeightWatchers and weight loss in general.
- Ranaesheart Weight Loss Blog. This woman lost 143 lbs. in a healthful way and now blogs to share how you can lose weight and maintain your health.
- The Amazing Adventures of Diet Girl. Get recipes, fitness, inspiration and more from this blogger who lost over 175 lbs. and continues her healthy lifestyle.
- DietDiva. Follow this woman’s diet journey as she tries to lose weight while trying to eat less prepackaged food and go a more natural route.
- Angry Fat Girlz. This collaborative blog written by six women exploring the world of weight loss and living life with a few extra pounds.
- Do you have an Extra Large in this?. Follow the Marshmallow as she chronicles her weight loss adventures of eating, exercise, and online support.
- Fat Girl Camp. This blog offers the ups and downs of life with fun side trips to pups, politics, and more.
- Half of Me. Almost 200 lbs. lighter and still keeping it off, this blogger offers hope and support to those struggling with weight loss.
- lose the buddha. Combining healthy eating and exercise with living a better life, this blogger writes about her weight loss experiences.
- The Shrinking Knitter. With topics hitting on weight loss, knitting, and politics, you’ll stay entertained and informed with this blog.
Health Challenges
From breast cancer to chronic pain to migraines, these blogs provide knowledge and support on a wide variety of women’s health issues.
- Keep Working, Girlfriend. This blog offers support to working women dealing with chronic illness–specifically autoimmune diseases.
- Beating Breast Cancer. Written by a husband and wife team–he’s a doctor and she’s a nurse–who went through her diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006, this blog offers tons of information and medical news.
- Bomb in My Belly. This young woman writes about life and cancer as she chronicles her experiences with ovarian cancer and her mother’s breast cancer.
- A Medical Mystery. Written by a young woman who lives with Multiple Hereditary Exotoses, this blog offers an insightful view on living with a lifelong illness and still living life.
- Buoy for Perinatal Blues & Beyond. This blog is a wonderful source of support for women suffering from PPD and their families.
- The Greatest Gift Foundation’s Blog. This blog is about helping find solutions for health issues by offering support to living organ donors.
- Chronic Pain Today. Written by someone suffering with chronic pain to offer support and solutions to other, this blog offers everything from clinical trials to freebies.
- ChronicBabe.com. Offering support to younger women who suffer from chronic illnesses, this blog is upbeat, supportive, and fun.
- Food Allergy Buzz. Find the latest news and research on food allergies with this woman’s blog.
- Free my Brain from Migraine Pain. From the silly to the spiritual, this blog offers support and resources to those suffering from migraines.
Fit and Healthy over Forty
Become inspired by these women who don’t let age define their lifestyle as they lead active and fulfilling lives.
- Fit and Fabulous at Forty the natural way. Follow along as this forty-something woman keeps herself fit and healthy through good eating, physical activity and more.
- Fabulously 40 & Beyond. This collaborative blog offers inspiration for women over forty to begin living for themselves and find their happiness.
- A Greener Tea. Get recipes, motivation, inspiration and more on this blog devoted to supporting healthy and strong women over 35.
- Bikinis and Bifocals. This blog offers a positive and empowering look at women with articles ranging from menopause to inspirational women.
- Leona Gets Fit. Follow the journey of this 41 year-old mom as she loses weight and gets fit.
- Fab Fit and 40. This woman is chronicling her goal of losing 50 lbs. in one year to honor her turning 40 on the goal date.
- Fabulous @ 50. Similar to the previous blog, this woman has given herself a goal of losing 200 lbs. prior to her 50th birthday and has already lost almost 63 lbs.
- Growing Older, Sexier, and Skinnier. This self-described post-menopausal woman blogs her way through weight loss and feeling good about her life as she ages.
- Flashfree. As the subtitle reads, this blog is "not your mama’s menopause" and offers great solutions and news on the latest in menopause research.
- Grow Older Better. This woman blogs on "older" topics such as active 90 year-olds, exercise and aging, and medical care for retired folks.
Physical Well-Being
All of these blogs focus on how women can become physically healthier with better living, exercise, nutrition, and more.
- The WELLalarm. These three women post about such topics as eating out, healthy sun screen, and yoga with an emphasis on staying physically well.
- Fitness-Health-Nutrition. Written by a mom, this blog looks at wellness through better nutrition and fitness with an emphasis on both women and children.
- Catherine Morgan’s Blog at BlogHer. Catherine posts on a variety of health topics including how the high price of gasoline impacts health, dieting and vacation, and recent food-borne illness outbreaks.
- Active Women. This collaborative blog celebrates women and their active lifestyles with an emphasis on globe-trotting adventures.
- RealSelf.com. This blog brings the latest news and information from the world of beauty, skin care, and wellness from real people, not advertisers.
- Wellness Bites. Find the latest news and research in all natural health, wellness, and beauty with this blog.
- Balanced Health and Nutrition. Get the latest news, and a bit of opinion, on healthy eating, exercise, and living.
- Eve’s Health & Fitness. Find exercise, nutrition, and diet information on this blog designed to help you become healthier.
- Fit and Healthy in the Valley. Living in Hollywood surrounded by so many living an unhealthy lifestyle, this blogger stands out from her peers as a woman trying to achieve well-being through healthy living.
- The Active Life. Follow this blog for posts inspiring women and their children to stay active, fit, and healthy.
- Fit for Adventure. Follow this woman’s progress as she gets fit so she can enjoy the kind of life she wants to live full of outdoor adventures.
- Fit on a Budget. Who couldn’t love a blog that incorporates fitness, nutrition, and freebie (or at least cheapies)?
Mental Well-Being
Staying healthy mentally is as important as physical health and these women’s blogs offer tips and inspiration to do just that.
- BeThree. Read this blog from the hip site that helps you find the best balance between body, mind, and soul.
- Rituals to Invite Balance and Well-being. This blog is a compilation of reader-submitted rituals that help maintain their well being. Feel free to add your own to the blog.
- A Highly Sensitive Woman’s New Perspective on Mental Illness. This woman blogs about her journey to mental health including her experience with medications.
- A Woman’s Guide to Saner Living. Follow this blog for tips and inspiration to help you live a more fulfilling life through a shift in perspective and thoughtful choices.
- Sally Huss–Addicted to Happiness. This inspirational blog offers reminders on the beauty of life and how to stay in your happiness zone.
- Are You "Eating with Your Anorexic?". Written by a mom who is working to dispel myths and teach families how to overcome eating disorders, this author "thinks parents deserve to know that EDs are brain disorders and that parents really can be part of the solution."
- BwhoUR. Be inspired by the posts of this woman who went from "life in the Fast Lane" to life on a cattle farm in Texas.
- Beach Walks with Rox. Join Roxanne and her dog for fun and inspiration on this video blog as they take daily walks on the beach in Hawaii.
- Becoming Your StellarSelf. Become inspired at finding the best you with this blog that focuses on improving your quality of life through better living.
- Between Us Girls. Find life lessons to help you grow into the person you seek to be.
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Having a baby is an exciting time for the whole family. In the middle of that excitement, though, are so many new experiences with your baby that you may be left wondering what to do and how to do it safely. The following list offers tips on ways to keep your baby safe and healthy so you can take the worry out of your new job as a parent and just focus on the joy of your newborn.
Feeding
One of the fundamentals to providing a healthy start for your baby is feeding. Whether you choose to breast feed or bottle feed, you will find information here to know that you are doing the very best for your baby.
- Breastfeeding. Medically accepted as the best nutrition for your baby, if you are able to breast feed, this is a wonderful gift for your baby and you as it also provides health benefits for mom and supports bonding.
- Formula. If you are unable to breastfed your baby or have opted not to do so, there are many good quality formulas to provide excellent nutrition for your baby. If you discover your baby has problems with cow milk formula, try soy or another alternate milk source.
- Burping. Burping your baby will alleviate some of the trapped air in her stomach and may make her feel more comfortable. If gentle patting on the back doesn’t do the trick, try a different position, such as laying your baby across your knees and patting her back.
- Solids. The generally accepted age to begin solids for both bottle and breastfed babies is six months, so feeding anything else to your newborn is completely unnecessary and might even be unwise due to several risk factors.
- Weight. Weight loss is common right after birth, but you want to make sure your baby isn’t continuing to lose weight. Make sure you keep your baby’s postnatal visits with his doctor to ensure he is gaining weight.
- Wet diapers. Having wet diapers is a good sign and indicates that your baby is getting enough to eat. Look for at least four to six wet diapers a day.
- Spitting up. It is not uncommon for babies to spit up a bit after eating. Keep a burp cloth or extra cloth diaper handy to clean up messes. If spitting up becomes projectile vomiting or is consistently a large volume after each feeding, consult your doctor about a potential digestive problem.
- Nutritional supplements. Supplements are not necessary for a newborn as the breast milk or formula you are feeding your baby contains all the necessary nutrients she will need. Water and juice are also unnecessary at this time.
Sleep
Regardless of where your baby will sleep, you just hope sleep comes and that it comes safely. The following tips will help you find peace of mind while your little one rests peacefully.
- On the back. Putting your baby to sleep on her back will greatly reduce the chance of SIDS while she sleeps.
- No pillows. Your baby doesn’t need pillows in his crib right now. Ensure there is less chance of accidental suffocation by leaving pillows, plush toys, and blankets out of the crib.
- Don’t overdress. Your baby doesn’t need to sleep in five layers of pajamas every night. Dress your baby in the same number of layers you wear to bed plus one extra, thin layer.
- Safe crib. If your baby sleeps in a crib, make sure it meets current safety standards and does not have wide spaces between the railings or any sharp edges.
- Family bed. Many parents opt for cosleeping with their baby. Many experts feel this form of sleeping, which has been practiced for thousands of years, can be a safe option and also provide a great bonding opportunity. Be sure you are not sedated with medication or alcohol, though, to ensure the best safety for your baby.
- Cosleeper. This device attaches to the side of your bed allowing your baby to be in a space of his own while also being close to you. There are also cosleepers that go in the bed like this one. Many parents who are not comfortable with the family bed like this option to have their baby within arm’s reach.
- Baby massage. Baby massage is an excellent way to relax your baby before putting him to bed at night. Place your baby on his back and gently rub his arms, legs, and belly with an unscented oil not made from nuts (to protect against any potential allergy problems).
- Routine. It is never too early to start a bedtime routine with your baby. Even if she is not sleeping more than two hours at a stretch, find your target "bedtime" and start your routine which may include rocking, baby massage, feeding, soft music, or whatever makes you and your baby the most relaxed.
Belly Button Care
That strange little stump on your newborn’s belly sure does require attention. These suggestions will help you care for your baby’s umbilical cord until it falls off.
- No feeling. The stump left behind after your baby’s cord is clipped doesn’t contain any nerve endings, so it is not a painful area for your baby.
- Clean. Keep your baby’s umbilical cord clean by swabbing it gently with rubbing alcohol if it becomes dirty or sticky.
- Dry. Fold your baby’s diaper down away from the base of the cord and allow air circulation to dry out the cord more quickly.
- Sponge bath. Bathe your baby with a sponge bath until the cord falls off. Once it has, then you can move to a baby tub.
- Don’t pull. Let the cord come off by itself. Resist the urge to pull it off yourself.
- Funny colors. As your baby’s cord dries up it will change from a yellowish color to brown to black. This is normal, so don’t worry.
- No swelling. A little dried blood is normal, but if the area around the cord becomes red and swollen, call your doctor for advice.
- No pus. Be sure there is no yellowish pus around the cord as this could be a sign of infection.
- No smell. If a foul smell starts to come from the cord area, call your doctor as this can also be a sign of infection.
- Two weeks. The average time it takes for an umbilical cord to fall off is two weeks, but can sometimes take a few weeks longer. See your doctor if it keeps hanging on.
Skin
From heat rash to food sensitivities, your newborn’s sensitive skin can have plenty going on with it. This list lets you know what you can expect and what is out of the ordinary when it comes to your baby’s skin.
- Cradle cap. If your baby gets a scaly, red area on her head, it’s probably just cradle cap. This common condition is not itchy or painful and will disappear with regular shampooing.
- Baby acne. With all the hormonal shifts happening in your baby’s body after birth, it’s no wonder baby acne may occur. If your baby gets a patch of small red bumps on his face around three weeks after birth, then it’s probably baby acne. Scrub gently with soap and water or just wait it out a few weeks until your baby’s hormone levels even out.
- Heat rash. Everyone tells you to wrap your baby up tightly and make sure she is warm, but over wrapping might bring on heat rash. This small red rash usually found in the folds of skin will go away without treatment, but you might need to find a happy medium with dressing your baby.
- Milia. Small white bumps on your baby’s face or the roof of the mouth are common and not harmful. These bumps, called milia, are a result of the developing oil glands and will go away in a few weeks or a few months at the most.
- Diaper rash. No matter the diapering method you use, your baby will likely experience diaper rash at some time. Usually mild, the red irritation found in the diaper area can be soothed with a balm and a little air circulation. Some experts agree a little diaper-free time on a waterproof blanket helps healing.
- Laundry detergent. Using a detergent specially marketed for babies is not necessary. These detergents usually aren’t any more gentle on the skin, they just contain special ingredients to help break down the unique proteins found in baby clothing.
- Food sensitivities. If your baby has any unexplained skin condition such as a rash, hives, eczema, persistent diaper rash, or red, itchy eyes and is experiencing other signs such as excessive crying, gas, intestinal upset then you may want to explore the possibility of a food sensitivity. Whether you are bottle or breastfeeding, your baby could have food sensitivities.
Colic
If your baby is crying one to three hours at a stretch several days a week and is inconsolable during these crying jags, he may have colic. It is guessed that at least 20% of babies suffer from colic, and physicians are not sure why it happens. Parents of colicky babies can easily become overwhelmed. Use these tips to help reduce the impact of colic on your family.
- Low stimulation. Keep your home quiet and lights low. Especially around the afternoon and end of the day, overstimulation may cause your baby more distress.
- Diet. A low-allergen formula or low-allergen diet for mom, if breastfeeding, may help eliminate some of the colicky crying.
- Swaddling. Some babies like a tight swaddling to help them calm themselves. Learn to swaddle well and give it a try with your baby.
- Warm bath. Parents sometimes find that a warm bath soothes their crying baby. If you are comfortable with it and have another adult to help you, try getting in your bathtub with your baby. You may find the warm water soothes both of you.
- Gripe water. If gas or digestive problems are contributing to your baby’s colic, a natural and alcohol-free gripe water can help your baby feel better.
- Sheepskin. Try using a sheepskin to help comfort your baby. It is super soft, helps regulate temperature, and many are machine washable.
- White noise. Many babies are soothed by white noise, which is probably similar to the womb sound they heard for their first nine months. Some ways to provide white noise are by running a vacuum cleaner nearby, placing your baby by a running washing machine or dryer, or even buying a white noise CD or machine.
- Motion. Many colicky babies are soothed by motion. Whether you try a combined rocking and swaying motion while you hold your baby, you put her in the stroller for a walk, or take her for a ride in the car, you may find that motion helps stop the crying.
- Sucking. Some babies have a strong urge to suck, so a pacifier or letting him suck on your finger may help soothe your crying baby.
- Learn coping strategies. Colic can be very hard on those taking care of the baby. Learn ways to take care of yourself while your baby is colicky. This article offers suggestions for dealing with colic as well as some helpful coping techniques.
Dressing
Some parents have likened dressing their baby to putting a shirt on an octopus. The following tips will help you dress your baby more easily, comfortably, and safely.
- Flat surface. Whether you dress your baby on a changing table, a bed, or the floor, make sure you choose a flat surface that is sturdy and stable.
- Stay close. Never leave your baby unattended while changing her. Even if you have your baby strapped onto a changing table, don’t move away from the side of the table leaving the baby in a potentially dangerous position.
- Choose your clothes wisely. Selecting clothing that is made to more naturally go on your baby such as those items with large neck openings or materials with some stretch to them will make dressing your baby easier and quicker.
- Don’t force it. If the clothes are too small or not easy to put on, don’t bend your baby’s arms, legs, fingers or toes in uncomfortable positions to get the clothes on.
- Dress appropriately. Don’t overdress your baby with too many layers. Dress your baby similarly to how you dress yourself. Also, don’t forget when it’s cold outside to cover your baby’s feet and head. Newborns can lose heat quickly.
- Watch out for zippers. Be aware when zipping anything on your baby that his skin doesn’t get caught in the back of the zipper.
- No loose cords. Clothes sold in America should not have cords that move throughout the clothes or are long enough to wrap around the baby’s neck, but be aware with homemade clothes and clothing bought in foreign countries that there are no strings or cords long enough to pose a problem.
- Make it fun. Many babies put up a fuss when it comes time for changing clothes. Make the experience a fun time by singing songs, talking in a silly voice, making funny faces, or playing games while you dress your baby.
Diapers and Diapering
The debate could go on forever between whether cloth or disposable diapers are better for both your baby and the environment. Most experts agree that there isn’t a clear answer, so going with what works best for your family is probably the best way to go. Below you will find information on diapers, diaper alternatives, and more.
- Cloth. With fun and useful diaper covers and even diaper services to do most of the hard work for you, using cloth diapers is a totally different way of diapering than it used to be.
- Disposable. Whether you are trying to reduce the amount of water used by cloth diapers and the gas used by the diaper service or just love the convenience of quickly disposing of those dirty diapers, there are tons of disposable diapers out there from high-profile name brands to lesser-known ecologically-friendly diapers.
- gDiapers. An ecologically smart combination of both cloth and disposable, this diaper alternative allows parents to flush the non-plastic insert, wash and reuse the outer cover, and provide a dry, comfortable place for the baby’s bum to rest.
- Elimination Communication. This diaper-free method may not be for everyone, but proponents of it swear it is the way to go.
- Crianza Natural. This Spanish company offers biodegradable diapers made of corn that may be what you want to use for your baby.
- Cloth wipes. Many parents opt for a simple stash of small wash clothes for cleaning up baby’s bottom. This option is great while at home and can be easily converted to taking on the go by sticking a few moist clothes in a waterproof bag.
- Disposable wipes. Whether you use a huge box for cleaning up that messy diaper or need a small handy pack to stick in your diaper bag, this option provides a convenient method of cleaning up after your baby.
- Changing table. With a waterproof pad, you can turn any flat surface into a changing table. Be sure to stay right beside your baby at all times that he is not on the floor or in a crib. Even if your baby isn’t rolling over yet, he can fall off a high surface.
Bathing
From types of baths to ways to get the job done, these tips will help you get your baby clean in safe and fun ways.
- Sponge bath. The first few baths your baby will have most likely will be sponge baths. Most experts recommend that you sponge bathe your baby until the umbilical cord falls off and, if you circumcised your son, until the circumcision is healed.
- Temperature. Once you move to a baby tub or the sink to bathe your baby, make sure the temperature of the water is about the same as body temperature. Baby skin is sensitive, so it is easy to make the water too warm. Also, make sure the room temperature is not too cold.
- Hold on. A wet baby is a slippery baby. Keep a firm grip on your baby with both hands and watch for any sudden movements that a surprised baby may make.
- Soap. Use a mild soap formulated for babies that can also double as a shampoo. Most baby soaps are tear-free, too, so it doesn’t hurt if any soap splashes in your baby’s eyes.
- Frequency. Your baby isn’t running a marathon yet, so she probably doesn’t need a bath every day. Give her a bath every few days and shampoo her hair once a week.
- Be ready. Have everything you need before you start your baby’s bath. Have a towel, wash cloth, soap, fresh diaper, and clothes nearby.
- Drying. After your baby’s bath, wrap him in a towel and gently pat him dry. Remember he cannot regulate his body temperature well yet, so get him dressed soon so he doesn’t get too cold.
- Adult tub. If you have the assistance of another person, giving your baby a bath in the adult tub with you can be a wonderful bonding experience. Don’t fill the tub too high or too warm, ease yourself in first, then have your helper hand you the baby. You can rest your baby on your legs and knees while holding on with one hand and bathing with the other.
- Safety. Never leave a baby in a tub, sink, or near water unattended. It can take only a second, any small amount of water, and an unattended baby to result in a tragedy.
Car Seats
One of the most important safety tools you can have for your baby is a car seat. Read this list below to make sure you can do everything possible to keep your newborn protected while in the car.
- Use one. Not only is it the law, it is the absolute safest way to transport your baby in a moving vehicle. Even if you don’t own a car, have a car seat for the times you will be in someone else’s car, a taxi, or other vehicle. Visit this site for a clickable map to learn the laws in your state.
- Back seat. The back seat is the safest place for your baby to ride. Never put a baby in a front seat with a passenger airbag that cannot be disabled.
- Facing rear. Your baby should face the rear of the car until he is 20 pounds and at least one year old.
- Correct seat. Make sure that the car seat you purchase is the correct one for a newborn. Each car seat lists the specifications for what size baby fits in the seat and whether it is intended for forward or rear facing.
- Good match for your car. Not all car seats work equally well in all cars and, unfortunately, the only way to know if yours is a good fit is by trying it. Buy your car seat in plenty of time before the baby comes to ensure you have a safe ride for your baby.
- Seat belt tight enough. Make sure you have the seat belt tight enough so that the car seat does not more more than an inch either way. This can be difficult, but get in there and pull very hard.
- Position harness. Check your instruction manual and position the harness where it describes the safest place should be. Not all car seats have the same harness positioning requirements. Also, make sure the harness is tight enough as described in the manual.
- Safety check installation. After you have installed your baby’s car seat and feel comfortable with how to do it, take your car to a safety check event to make sure you have done everything properly. Visit Safe Kids to find out when the next safety check event will be in your area.
Crying
A crying baby is supposed to get the attention of her parents, but too much crying can leave a new parent feeling lost. The tips below will help you discover why your baby is crying and offers suggestions to help soothe your little one.
- All babies cry. It’s important to remember that all babies cry. This is their most effective way to communicate their needs to you. Some experts believe that newborns cry at least two hours throughout each day.
- Diaper. Check her diaper to make sure it is not only clean and dry, but make sure it is on properly and not pinching or too tight.
- Hungry. Newborns eat frequently. Maybe the crying just an hour or so after you fed him means he is hungry again.
- Change of scenery. Many babies will quit crying as soon as you step outside. Pick up your baby and go for a walk on the front porch to see if that helps.
- Snuggle. After spending nine months warmly and comfortably tucking inside mom, it can be quite a shock to be left alone in a crib. Maybe your baby just needs some snuggling to feel safe and comforted.
- Right temperature. Make sure you have your baby dressed appropriately. If your baby is under or over dressed, she may be crying because she is hot or cold.
- New arms. If you’ve been trying to comfort your baby unsuccessfully for a while, your stress level may be climbing. Babies pick up on the stress and it can make them even more inconsolable. Try switching off to another person to give yourself a break and see if it helps to calm your baby.
- Go for a drive. Some babies hate being in the car and others absolutely love it. If your baby is calmed by a drive in the car, then pack up and go. You wouldn’t be the first parent to take a leisurely drive around the neighborhood at two in the morning to console a baby.
- Stroller. Try taking a walk with your baby in the stroller. Sometimes the combination of fresh air, a break for mom, and the motion of the walk can help stop the crying.
- Baby carrier. Try a baby carrier like a sling or baby wrap. Most babies enjoy being close to mom, so frequent use of a baby carrier may reduce crying.
- Overstimulation. Babies can get overwhelmed easily. If you’ve had lots of company, if there is plenty of activity and noise around, or if you’ve just had a busy day on the go, your baby may be overstimulated. Try moving to a quiet, dark place and hold him closely.
- Put baby down. If you’ve been working for a while and nothing seems to help, it’s okay to put your baby down somewhere safe for a couple of minutes and walk out of the room. Take some deep breaths and imagine you are someplace calm to help shift your perspective before returning to your baby.
Special Concerns
Almost every new parent has concerns about their baby. This list offers tips on some of the more common concerns ranging from a misshapen head to sunburn protection.
- Reflux. Many babies get reflux, also sometimes referred to as GERD, that causes pain and discomfort after eating. If you think your baby may be suffering from reflux, contact your doctor.
- Uncircumcised. Care for the uncircumcised baby’s penis is simple. Clean the outside of the penis as you would any other part of the baby’s body. Do not force the foreskin back as it will retract on its own over the next few months or years of your son’s life. As he gets older, you can teach your son how to retract his foreskin and clean properly.
- Circumcised. If you had your son circumcised, you will need to follow your physician’s instructions on care as well as keep the area clean while it is healing. Your son’s penis may be red or raw looking and he may have some discomfort during diaper changes for the first few weeks until the circumcision heals.
- Head shape. It is not unusual for a newborn’s head to look misshapen. The journey through the birth canal frequently causes a cone shape that will go away after a few days. Also, if you are placing your baby to sleep on her back, you may notice that eventually she will get a flattened area at the back of her head. Again, this is due to the soft bones in the baby’s head and will eventually go back to normal when she is not sleeping exclusively on her back.
- Jaundice. Especially in breastfed babies, it is common for a little jaundice to occur in newborns. However, if your baby’s jaundice is spreading or getting more significant, if he is running a fever, or if he is acting sick, then you should call your doctor to have him checked out.
- Blocked tear ducts. It is very common for babies to have blocked tear ducts. If you notice your baby is having excessive tearing in one or both eyes and a crust frequently forms, then she probably has blocked tear ducts. A gentle massage with a warm cloth will usually unblock the ducts.
- Sunburn. Since sunscreen is not recommended for infants under six months of age, you need to take extra precautions to guard your newborn’s sensitive skin. Always stay out of direct sun and keep a sunhat on your baby’s head and light clothing covering your baby’s skin.
- Nail trimming. Nothing can put fear in the heart of a new parent like having to trim those finger and toe nails for the first time. Go slowly and use the assistance of another adult if possible. After a bath your baby’s nails are softest and easier to cut. Always use baby nail clippers or blunt scissors.
Taking Care of Mom
One of the most important things a new mom can do for her baby is to take care of herself. If mama isn’t doing alright, then she can’t provide the best care for her baby. Take the advice below to ensure both you and your baby are off to a great start.
- Sleep. Sleep can be hard to come by in the first few weeks of your baby’s life. Don’t worry about getting those dishes done or cleaning the house. Taking the time to rest when your baby does is one of the best ways to make sure you are getting enough sleep.
- Eat. In the busy newborn phase, it may be difficult to get enough to eat. Make sure you keep plenty of easy and healthy snacks around to be able to grab quickly between baby tasks.
- Stay hydrated. Especially if you are breastfeeding, it is essential for new moms to stay hydrated. Keep a large bottle of water nearby at all times and sip on throughout the day.
- Limit visitors. All your friends and family will be anxious to visit you and your new baby, but try to keep visits to a minimum for the first few weeks. Your new family will need this time to get into the new routine and rest up.
- Take help. Time with a newborn is not a time to be prideful. If friends offer to do light housework or watch the baby while you shower or coworkers offer to bring your family meals, appreciate the gifts they are giving you and take them up on their offers.
- Postpartum depression. Be aware of the signs of postpartum depression. This disorder affects many women and is different from the baby blues that occur a few days after giving birth and then quickly disappear. Women who suffer from postpartum depression can receive help and support from other mothers and professionals alike to help them get through this tough time and protect themselves and their babies.
- Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner, friend, or family members for help. Having a newborn baby can be busy and overwhelming, so take advantage of your support network by reaching out when you feel like things are starting to become too much to handle.
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Homeopathy, a controversial form of holistic healing that uses very diluted forms of natural elements to cure ailments and diseases, is catching on in the alternative medicine world and through online health blogs. The following list of homeopathy blogs explain the processes and remedies associated with homeopathy, share news and research study findings that affect homeopathic treatments, and give information on holistic healing in general.
Explaining and Discovering Homeopathy
Get an overview of homeopathic practices, treatments, education and philosophies by reading these blogs.
- Homeopathy4Health: Myths about homeopathy are debunked on this website
- Goodscience Weblog: This blog goes into detail about how science and homeopathy are interrelated in an effort to prove the effectiveness of homeopathy treatments.
- Sue Young Homeopathy: This London writer and homeopath explains homeopathy by relating it to the works and philosophies of different writers, scientists, physicians and scholars.
- Interhomeopathy: This international blog and journal has been fostering discussion and sharing remedies for almost two years.
- Homeopathy - A New Approach: Posts feature online seminars, an encyclopedia for homeopathic terms, health studies and more.
- Hmedicine.com: Recent posts on this blog include "Classical Homeopathy versus Modern Homeopathy" and the two-part series "Homeopathy:Proven Medicine or a Placebo," which discusses one of the criticisms of homeopathy.
- Glenn Ellis’ Homeopathic Health Blog: Glenn Ellis’ blog appears on the RealHeatlh The Black Wellness Magazine website. Here, he talks about effective remedies and general homeopathic philosophies.
- Jo Rodes Homeopathy: Jo Rhodes is a scientist "dedicated to all things homeopathic." Read his blog to find out how health insurance companies view homeopathic treatments, homeopathy around the world and more.
- Homeopathy: Read the guide to homeopathy and then browse posts that discuss homeopathic healing, social and scientific acceptance of homeopathy, and more.
Homeopathy News
Catch up on news, scientific studies and trends in homeopathy here.
- Laughing My Socks Off: Here, you can read about science and health news, especially stories and studies related to homeopathy.
- PhoenixHomeopathy Blog: This blog’s mission is to inspire and help "you transform your health." Posts discuss homeopathy in popular culture and various homeopathy treatments.
- Minimum Homeopathy Blog: Get reviews of homeopathy books and CDs on this blog, as well as analysis of homeopathy and health news.
- SimiliaCare.com: This "complete homeopathy portal" features a seminar on homeopathy, photo gallery, research studies, book reviews and a lot more.
- Holistic Health Living Blog: Get holistic health news, read articles about holistic living and view photos of massage and exercise routines that can help your mental and physical body heal.
- Homeopathy News: Get "tips for a healthy life" from this blog, which also covers news and updates in the homeopathy sector.
- DocRoberts Holistic Health Blog: News stories and holistic health tips are archived in the following categories on this site: men’s health, diabetes, cancer, low back pain, headache, neck pain, and others.
- Vibrant Glow: Be sure to check out this stylish news blog that also provides "tips for holistic health and radiant beauty."
- Natural Health News: This blogger shuns the effectiveness of traditional, scientific medicines and is an advocate for natural healing.
- Natural Health and Organic Living Blog: The posts on this site analyze health studies and organic living news to share information about natural health and remedies.
- Up Date News on Homeopathic and Alternative Medicines: This blog shares all of the news coming out of the homeopathic medical and educational worlds, including international conferences.
Remedies and Treatments
For lists of remedies, treatments, and information about natural elements that help the healing process, click through this list of blogs.
- Freetochoosehealth’s Weblog: This blog gives particular attention to homeopathy as a non-addictive way to treat diseases and ailments. Recent posts include "Sensible Homeopathy’ and "Homeopathy Defined — Protect Your Right to Health Freedom."
- Homeopathy Heals You Blog: This blog is all about "the homeopathic healing journey" and has information about vaccines, what to expect when you first try homeopathy, and various treatments.
- RemedyReality’s Weblog: Find practitioners and discover how homeopathic treatments work by reading this blog.
- 4minnie’s Weblog: 4minnie’s post about "safe and effective healthcare with homeopathy" explains how this healing process works.
- Homeopathic Elements Weblog: This blogger goes over each scientific element and how it is used in the homeopathic healing processes.
- Homeopathy for Women Blog: Learn about the homeopathic lifestyle and different cures on this women’s website.
- homeopathy: Find out which elements and remedies work at different times of the year and for different ailments.
- Modern Homeopathic Blog: This website discusses treatments and remedies used with a topical Ibuprofen cream and provides information on various homeopathic processes.
- Kitchen Table Healing: Sue Geller is a certified classical homeopath and blogs about scientific studies, her own journey with homeopathy, and natural healing ingredients and elements.
- Herbal Household Remedies: Get recipes, learn how to grow your own herbs, and look up ingredients on this natural healing blog.
Homeopathy and Alternative Medicine
Turn to these blogs to learn how homeopathy and alternative medicine can offer natural, gentle cures.
- Vital Patterns: A software developer and professional homeopath writes this blog to discuss science vs. scientism, and alternative medicine and homeopathy.
- Dr. Joe’s Natural Medicine: Dr. Joe gives special consideration to homeopathy in his natural medicine blog.
- The C.A.M. Report: Read about complementary and alternative medicine treatments and news on this site, which gives "fair, balanced, and to-the-point" analysis.
- Natural Health Remedies: From diet recommendations to finding natural sources of healing vitamins and minerals, this natural living blog incorporates many of the same philosophies as homeopathy.
- Natural Health: This blog is all about natural health, alternative medicine and homeopathic treatments. Look up natural vitamins and minerals and browse categories like holistic health, homeopathic remedies, and natural health news.
- Homeopathic 365: Get information on homeopathic remedies and treatment, news, and more on this site.
- Alternative Medicine Zone: This blog "covers a wide variety of issues related to alternative medicine" and strives to debunk common myths about CAM.
- Your Alternative Health Medicine Blog: Learn about different types of alt medicine here, including natural treatments for acne and internal cleansers.
- Alternative Medicine Blog: From chronic fatigue to vitamin C, this blog focuses on natural remedies and alternative medical treatments to boost your energy and cure your ailments.
- The Natural Cures Blog: Just like homeopathy, this natural cures blog believes that traditional medicines and vaccines can be more harmful than helpful to your body.
Homeopathy Philosophy
Read about holistic healing, natural medicines and other homeopathic principles when you check out these blogs.
- Aspiration of the Soul: This blogger considers how poetry, science, nature and homeopathy unlock "the hidden secrets of the universe."
- Natural Holistic Health Blog: Get reviews of health foods, natural health remedies and more on this site that shares many viewpoints with homeopaths.
- Primal Mommies: This blog and network encourages natural child rearing, including avoiding vaccines and natural medical treatments.
- Natural Health From Answers for Your Health: Browse posts like "Marketing the Miracle Cure" and "Healing Herbs" to learn more about natural health news and remedies.
- Live Life…Organics and Your Health: While not all homeopaths follow an organic lifestyle, the philosophy of pure, natural living is similar.
- Jentle Earth Healing: Homeopathy is all about gentle healing, and this blog features natural health news and information.
- Revitalize Your Health: Continue learning about natural supplements that are good for your health and natural healing processes here.
Blogs from the Experts
Find advice and information from experts in the field of homeopathy in these informative blogs.
- Healing from the Inside Out: Blogger Pam Pappas is also a psychiatry and homeopathy specialist. Read her blog for analysis on society, health and wellness, and popular treatments.
- "LIFECARE" Advanced Homeopathy: Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad is a homeopathic consultant physician at the "LIFECARE" Advanced Homeo Clinic & Research Centre in India. Read his blog to find seminars on homeopathy, as well as how homeopathy is an effective method for treating diseases like HIV.
- Ask Dr. Luc: Dr. Luc De Schepper doles out advice and tips for homeopathic treatments. Recent posts include "Time to see remedy working" and "Pregnancy morning sickness."
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Just because the weather outside isn’t cooperating with your plans to enjoy some fresh air exercise, doesn’t mean you can’t use the time to concentrate on your fitness. There are loads of videos on YouTube that can help you learn how to do just about anything, no matter your exercise interests. Whether you’re trying to improve your skills, or learn new ones altogether, these videos can be a great way to educate yourself on a number of ways to get fit. Here are 100 to get started with to start your online exercise education.
Baseball
Learn everything you’ll need to know to play America’s pastime through these instructional videos.
- Learn to Throw a Fastball: Baseball enthusiast Karl gives detailed instructions on how to properly throw a fastball in this instructional video.
- Baseball for Beginners: Check out these videos which help you learn everything from how to stand correctly to what the finer points of the rules of baseball are.
- Baseball Coaches, Managers, and Umpires: Learn about the roles of all these people in the game of baseball through this video.
- The Basics of Baseball: These instructional videos lay out the basic elements of baseball, from the jobs of players to the equipment you’ll need to play.
- How to Bunt in Baseball: Learn how to bunt when you’re playing baseball with a little help from this video.
- How to Hit a Fastball: Turn your strikes into home runs with this video, which provides helpful hitting advice.
- Baseball 101: Follow along with this instructional video to learn how to throw, field and hit.
- How to Pitch a Baseball: This video can teach you some exercises that should help improve your pitches in baseball.
- Hitting 101: Hips vs. Hands: Here you’ll find an excerpt from the Baseball University series that gives you some advice on hitting, namely which part of your body should lead, your hips or your hands.
- Baseball Training and Instruction: This video on boosting batting average is part of a series aimed at helping you improve your game.
Basketball
Whether you’re a true novice or a regular player looking to improve your game, these videos can give you some helpful instruction.
- Learning How to Dunk a Basketball: This CBS report follows Gil Thomas, a coach who believes he can teach almost anyone to dunk a basketball. You can get some helpful tips on improving your dunking skills from this video.
- Q-Mack: Learn a Basketball Trick: Learn some moves to impress your friends in this video about doing the "freeze frame" and the others in this series.
- Basketball Tips for Women: How to Shoot Properly: Women basketball players can benefit from watching this video, designed to help them learn to shoot the ball with ease. Check out the rest of the series for help in other areas as well.
- How to Shoot a Jump Shot: You’ll have the basics to shoot a perfect jump shot after watching this instructional video.
- How to Run Suicide Drills: Increase your speed and agility on the basketball court by watching this video on suicide drills.
- Better Basketball Defense: Improve your defensive skills by taking a look at this video and the others in this series.
- Basketball Dribbling Tips and Tricks: This video will teach you how to dribble the ball without losing control.
- How to Shoot a Long Shot: Learn what you need to do in order to sink those long shots with this video.
- How to Improve Your Free Throw Shooting: Don’t let any basket-making opportunities pass you by: watch this video on what you can do to make more free throws.
- Basketball Fundamentals: Start at the beginning with the information provided to you in this video.
Soccer
Learn to play the most popular sport in the world through the instruction of these videos.
- Passing Techniques in Soccer for Beginners: Get the lowdown on the basics of passing in soccer through the helpful guidance of this video.
- Brazilian Soccer Skills: Brazil produces some of the greatest soccer players in the world, and this video and the others in the series can help take you through some of their most famous moves.
- Soccer Dribbling Tips and Techniques: Learn to move the ball quickly down the field with a little help from this video for beginners.
- How to Kick a Soccer Ball: This video can help you to ensure that you’re using the proper technique to kick a soccer ball.
- Billy Wingrove’s Learn Freestyle Football: Get some tips on how you can do fancy footwork and tricks through this clip from an instructional series.
- Throw In Technique: Learn everything you need to know about throwing in a ball in soccer with this video.
- How to Play Soccer: Player Positions: Use this video to learn what the various positions are in soccer and what each does.
- Soccer Ball Juggling Skills: Here you’ll find instruction to help you learn to control the ball better by going through juggling exercises.
- Soccer Rules for Beginners: This video outlines the rules of soccer so you can learn just how to play and what is and isn’t allowed.
- How to Train for Soccer: This video, and the rest in the series, will give you some helpful pointers for training to play soccer even when you’re not on the field.
Football
Learn football fundamentals and more from these instructional videos.
- How to Play American Football: This series of videos will take you through the basics of football including the rules, the positions and some of the strategies used in play.
- How to Drop Kick a Football: Kicking can be an important part of playing football, so make sure you know how to do it right with some help from this video.
- How to Hold and Throw a Football: Make sure you’re getting a perfect spiral by watching this instructional video.
- How to Play Football: Advanced Tips and Techniques: Those beyond the basics can benefit from watching these videos with more in depth tips for playing football.
- How to Catch a Football: Make sure you’re not blowing any essential plays with your butterfingers by watching this helpful video that will teach you what you need to know about catching and holding onto a football.
Tennis
Whether you just want to play with your friends on the weekend or hope to improve for a more competitive outing, try taking a look at these videos to build your skills.
- Learn to Play Tennis: Follow this helpful tennis video to learn a new swing, or browse through other videos from the series to learn the basics of playing tennis.
- Learn to Play Tennis: Groundstrokes: Skyler Meek from Dan’s Advantage Tennis provides beginners to tennis instruction on the most basic of tennis swings.
- Learn Tennis: This series of 49 videos covers all the elements you’ll need to learn about the rules, fundamentals and form needed to play tennis.
- The Right Tennis Grip: Ensure you’re holding your racket correctly with the information from DMac Tennis.
- How to Perform a Tennis Serve: You can’t start a game of tennis without a serve, and this video can help you learn to do just that.
Golf
These videos can help you strengthen your golf game and avoid those pesky sand traps.
- Learn Golf: Teeing Off: Start at the beginning with this video that shows you how to set up your golf shot.
- How to Grip the Club Like Tiger Woods: Learn the secrets the best in the game used to play with a little help from this video.
- How to Improve Your Golf Swing: This video discusses how you can use your driver to improve the quality of your golf swing.
- Golf Chipping and Pitching : Choosing Golf Clubs for Pitching: Knowing what club to use can make or break your golf game, so follow the tips from this video to get some help.
- Basic Golf Etiquette and Techniques: This series of videos will help you learn to play golf in a way that doesn’t bother others on the course around you.
- Free Secret Golf Tips: Viewers of this video series will learn all kinds of small ways they can work to improve their golf game.
- Golf Swing: Developing Arm Speed: Get some pointers on how you can improve your swing by giving this short video a look.
- Top 25 Golf Pro Lesson One Leg Swing No Weight Shift: This video, and the others in the series, can help you learn to practice your golf moves even when you’re not on the course.
Winter Sports
Those who enjoy getting out in the chilly winter weather to play sports will enjoy these instructional videos.
- Learn to Ski: Follow these instructional videos as they take you through step-by-step on the fundamentals of skiing.
- Ski Basics for Beginners: Those who’ve never skied before may want to check out this video designed just for newbies to the sport.
- Advanced Snow Skiing: This series of videos is directed at the more experienced skier who wants to add a few new tricks to his or her book.
- How to Ice Skate: This video shows those new to ice skating how to do a forward crossover, but other videos in the series show a wide range of simple and more complicated moves as well.
- Ice Skating Tips for Beginners: Whether you want to learn to skate to play hockey or just for some exercise, these instructional videos can help you get started on the right foot.
- How to Play Hockey: Here you’ll find a video detailing the equipment you’ll need to play hockey. Other videos in the series will take you through the rules of the game, scoring, and how to move around on the ice.
- How to Play Goalie in Hockey: If the idea of pucks flying at you sounds exciting, you may want to play goalie, and this video can show you how.
- How to Snowboard: Get the basics on snowboarding in this video and others in the series so you can hit the slopes in style.
- Learning to Snowboard: This CBS program shows what it takes to get started in snowboarding and can help you know what to expect.
- Learn to Speed Skate: Follow news anchor Mindy Basara as she gets some pointers from Olympic speed skaters in this video.
Water Sports
Take to the sea or a nearby lake with some instruction from these sports related videos.
- Learn to Surf 1-2-3: Learn the basics of surfing in this instructional video geared towards female surfers, and from the others that follow in the series.
- Wakeboarding Lessons: Cormac O’Carroll of Hawaii Water Sports Center in Hawaii gives you all the information you’ll need to get started wakeboarding.
- Learning to Surf with Surfer Joe: Check out this video series to help get a handle on the basics of surfing and what you’ll need to do to stay upright on a wave.
- Beginning Water Skiing: If skiing is more your style, try out this video series which will help you learn the basics of getting up and staying up on water skis.
- How to Water Ski: This instructional video series will help you learn what you can do on and off the water to ensure you have more fun the next time you’re water skiing.
- How to Teach Kids to Swim: While you may not be a kid anymore, that doesn’t mean you can’t take something away from these videos. They lay out the basics of swimming in an easy to understand manner.
- How to Swim Competitive Butterfly Stroke: Learn to swim this stroke by following the instructions contained in this video.
- How to Swim Competitive Backstroke: If the butterfly isn’t your thing, take a look at this video on doing the backstroke instead.
- Water Polo Basics: Learn the basic rules and plays of water polo through this helpful video series.
- Competitive Rowing Tips and Techniques: Here you’ll find information on the basics of competitive rowing, which can be a great workout for your upper body.
Yoga
Get some fundamentals and workouts from these YouTube yoga videos.
- How to Do Power Yoga: Take your yoga routine up a notch with this instructional series, which will show you how to do a wide variety of moves, including the downward dog.
- How to Do Yoga With Blocks and Straps: If you feel more comfortable doing yoga with blocks and straps, you can learn more about the process from this video.
- How to Do Office Yoga: You don’t need to go to the gym to do yoga. This series of videos will show you moves you can do at your desk at work.
- How to Learn a Handstand: Get some help doing this yoga pose with guidance from this instructional video.
- Hatha Yoga Bends and Twists: Stretch out your body with Hatha yoga. These videos can show you a variety of moves to get you started.
- How to Do Yoga Poses for Beginners: Learn some basic yoga poses from these videos.
- Ashtanga Yoga Demo: Follow along during this demo of the Ashtanga style of yoga.
- Abs Yoga for Beginners: Give your core a good workout by taking a look at this video.
- Yoga Journal Learn Yoga: This series of videos from Yoga Journal features Natasha Rizopolous. She’ll take you through a variety of poses throughout the series.
- Kundalini Yoga for Beginners: Here you’ll find a video that’s part of a series to show you how to do a number of moves that form Kundalini yoga.
General Fitness
Learn to maximize your workouts from running to lifting weights with guidance from these videos.
- How to Jog 4 Miles the Right Way: Learn how to jog for long distances without hurting yourself with help from this video.
- Weight Lifting Exercises for Beginners: These videos take you through some introductory weight lifting exercises.
- How to Lift Weights Properly: Make sure you don’t get hurt when you go to the gym by watching this animated video.
- Powerlifting Techniques: Those who want to take weight lifting to the next level can get some advice on powerlifting from this video.
- How to Use Gym Machines: Make sure you’re getting the most out of your gym workout by checking out this series of videos.
- Marathon Training Exercises and Preparation: This video, and the others in the series, will give you some idea of what you’ll need to do before you decide to run a marathon.
- Trail Running Tips: Combine your love of running with a scenic trail. This video can help you find out what you’ll need to do to get started.
- Running Tips and Techniques: Ensure your run doesn’t leave you hurting afterwards by watching this helpful series of videos that go over how to stretch, eat and more.
- How to Do Fat Burning Exercises: This cardio workout is designed to help you burn fat better and faster.
- Aerobic Exercises for Beginners: Here you’ll find a series of videos that help you learn some basic aerobic exercises, starting with turn steps.
Miscellaneous
These videos can give you advice on a wide range of sports and fitness activities.
- How to Play Volleyball: Whether you play on the beach or in a gym, this video series will give you the skills you need to get out on the court.
- How to Play Badminton: Learn the basics of the game and the footwork and swings you’ll need to play badminton from this helpful video series.
- How to Box: This video will show you some basic defensive techniques and how to deliver a good one-two punch.
- Archery Tips and Techniques: Follow along through this video series to learn how to prepare your archery equipment, avoid hurting yourself and to actually hit the target.
- How to Buy a Bicycle: Biking for exercise or just to get to work in the morning can be a great way to stay fit and have fun, but first you’ll need a bike that can do the job. This video will show you how to choose a bike that suits your needs.
- Gymnastics Moves and Routines for Beginners: This video, and others in the series, will show you how to do some basic gymnastics moves which you can improve upon later, with supervision of course.
- John Cena Teaches Wrestling: Professional wrestler John Cena shows some basic moves to students in this helpful video.
- How to Skateboard for Beginners: Learn how to stay upright on a skateboard with the videos from this introductory series.
- Learn How to Fence: Learn the art of the sword fight with some advice from this video and others in the series.
- How to Play Lacrosse: The Basics: Here you’ll find the information you’ll need to learn the basics of the game of lacrosse.
- How to Play Cricket: While not especially popular in the US, this game enjoys popularity all over the rest of the world. Learn the basics of how it’s played through this video series.
- How to Play Rugby: Get fit and have fun playing rugby with help on the rules and various plays in this informative video series.
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By Megan Jones
With air pollution, harmful pesticides and an unhealthy diet, your body is probably full of chemicals and poisons that you don’t even think about. If you want to detox your entire body, mind, spirit and life, turn to this list, which has over 100 ideas from medical professionals for removing the poison.
10 Goals for Every Day
Keep these 10 tips in mind each day for a regular detox session.
- Watch less TV: Watch less TV, if any. Your mind will be freer to concentrate on more important things than annoying commercials, celebrity gossip and superficial materialism.
- Limit your online activity: It’s pretty much impossible not to log on to your e-mail accounts everyday, but limit the rest of your online activity, including going to fluff sites and playing online games. You’ll be more productive and will probably end up using the time you would have wasted on something more important and fulfilling.
- Stop gossiping: Always thinking and spreading nasty thoughts about others brings your own mood and self-confidence down.
- Use non-toxic cleaners: Using non-toxic home cleaners helps rid your home of unnatural substances that can be harmful to your health.
- Quit smoking: Cigarettes contain over 4,000 different chemicals, including nicotine, tar, hydrogen cyanide and even arsenic, all of which are poison to your body.
- Exercise: Exercising helps purify your mind and your body by releasing aggressive emotions and endorphins. Exercise also helps your body take in more oxygen and pump your blood faster.
- Sleep better and longer: Learn valuable techniques for getting a more relaxing, effective sleep each night in order to let your body fully recuperate from the previous day.
- Introduce organic produce into your diet: Fresh, organic fruits and veggies are free of toxins that harm your body and interfere with great taste.
- Limit the number of pills you pop each day: If you have a chronic health condition, we’re not asking you to stop taking pills. But if you pop several pills every time you have a teensy headache, you’re putting way too many kidney-damaging chemicals into your system.
- Breathe deeply: Breathing deeply increases the flow of oxygen into your body and relax your mind.
Physical Poisons
From alcohol and drugs to chemicals in your beauty products, make a concerted effort to rid your body of these poisons.
- Limit alcohol consumption: While researchers have found that moderate consumption of red wine does have health benefits, drinking too much damages your liver, weakens your heart, and can make you feel tired and worn out, since it interferes with your sleep.
- Drugs: Drugs are incredibly toxic to your body and your life, weakening the immune system, causing rifts with family and friends, ruining your career and taking a major toll on your body.
- Go easy on makeup and beauty products: Consider using natural makeup and beauty products that are free of chemicals that can be harmful to your skin. Or, take a look at these tips to limiting the amount of makeup you put on each day without compromising your looks.
- Give your hair a break: Hair dyes contain a lot of unhealthy chemicals that are bad for your hair and scalp but can also be damaging when you breathe them in every couple of weeks.
- Try skin brushing: This detox strategy involves stimulating your skin in order to increase "its rate of elimination of toxic waste products, which decreases the demands placed on the kidneys."
- Consider a colon cleansing: Colon cleansings are believed to remove the body of parasites and other toxins that can interfere with digestion and general health.
- Have sex: Having sex can give you energy, help you sleep better, reduces cholesterol, reduces stress, increases the flow of oxygen to your brain, and can even be a natural pain reliever.
- Do a juice fast: Juice fasting is controversial, but it’s also a popular way to detox. Juice fasts are done with the goal of reducing animal products and cooked food products from your system in order to cleanse your body.
- Hydrotherapy: This alternative health practice can be done at a spa, sauna or even in your shower. By alternating the temperature of the water, you can reduce inflammation, stimulate your body’s circulation and remove waste from body tissue.
- Take herbs: There are a number of natural herbs that can be used for internal and external detox, like yucca root and licorice root, which are laxatives; milk thistle seed and dandelion which support the liver; pumpkin seed which expels parasites; and cranberry and witch hazel, which are anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herbs.
Social Poisons
Give your social behavior and expectations a real makeover by considering these detox tips.
- Close or increase privacy settings on your online dating profile: Online dating companies can be extremely beneficial to some individuals, but posting photos and information about yourself online can attract unsavory characters who badger you with inappropriate messages.
- Volunteer: Increase your social circle by volunteering. Doing something for the good of others is also a selfless act that is good for your conscience.
- Reconcile with family and friends: Don’t let a grudge or a fight with friends affect your conscience or your mood. Reconcile with estranged family members and friends to give your social life a detox.
- Stay in: If you’re always going out with friends, take a night to yourself and stay in. You can give your mind and body a rest from all of the external stimulations and social pressures by relaxing at home.
- Go out: On the other hand, if you’re always at home, try to go out every once in a while and be social with the community around you. Even if you aren’t out for an organized event with friends, opening yourself up to spending time with other human beings can help you feel more relaxed.
- De-stress at work: For some people, going to work means feeling stressed out as soon as they sit down as their desks. Learn to de-stress at work by staying organized and tuning out annoying or over demanding co-workers.
- Learn to tune out: Tuning out gossipy friends, media messages and moody strangers will keep your mood elevated and your mind free from worry about everything going around you that you can’t control anyway.
- Separate yourself from the pack: Don’t go along with everything everyone else is doing just because they say so. Separate yourself from the pack by doing what makes you feel right and the things that honors your life choices and long term goals.
- Be responsible: Take responsibility for yourself and your actions, and you’ll find that you end up taking much better care of yourself, physically, emotionally and socially.
- Smile: Smiling can help you focus on the positive and forget about negative thoughts and feelings that plague you.
Productivity Drainers
Mass e-mails, violent video games and even telemarketing calls are a real drain to your productivity and fill up your mind with useless garbage. Rid yourself of these poisons by taking a look at our list below.
- Improve your focus: By keeping track of your time and setting goals throughout the day, you’ll be able to stay focused on the things that matter.
- Unsubscribe to blog feeds: Clean out your inbox by unsubscribing to all the RSS feeds and newsletters that keep you away from your work and focused on unimportant things.
- Eliminate distractions: Distractions can be poisonous to your schedule and your mindset, so turn off the TV, block certain websites and unplug the phone until you complete your to-do list.
- Stay nourished: Hunger drains productivity and can negatively affect your metabolism if it’s been too long since your last meal.
- Ignore "nasty people": The Random Hitz blog maintains that "nasty people drain productivity in the workplace," so try to tune out competitive co-workers, backstabbers and the office gossip to stay focused and keep your energy high.
- Turn off the instant messenger: Unless you do business over instant message, sign off your account or create a new one just for work. Chatting with friends will keep you from your work, making you feel anxious and unprepared at the end of the day.
- Violent computer games and video games: Playing violent computer or video games is not just a productivity drain: it also fuels your mind with overly aggressive images that can affect your perspective on real life.
- Exercise your brain: Keep your brain sharp by doing simple mind exercises that can keep Alzheimer’s and dementia at bay.
- Get a spam filter: Get a spam filter for your e-mail account so you don’t have to look at crass junk mail messages all day long.
- Get an unlisted phone number: Keep your phone number out of the phone book and off of telemarketing lists so that you don’t have to stress yourself out over prank calls, sales calls and other annoying phone calls.
Meditation Tips
Meditation is an effective technique for ridding your mind and body of poisonous thoughts and energy drainers.
- Follow a specific program: Play one of these meditation guides to help you focus and relax.
- Meditate alone: Being along is an important strategy for effective meditation.
- Eliminate external discomforts: Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature and the lighting is just right for your meditation.
- Be patient: This tip will prevent you from getting too overwhelmed if you feel like meditation isn’t working at first.
Emotional and Mental Health
De-stress by opening up and acknowledging your feelings. These tips are also meant to boost your self-esteem and remove toxic thoughts that sabotage your emotional health.
- Counseling: Talk to a counselor or psychologist regularly so that you can hear yourself work through your problems. Setting aside an hour each week also ensures that you make you time to address your feelings, instead of burying them until they manifest in an unhealthy way.
- Be social: Getting out with friends or even going to a coffee shop will make you feel more connected to the community around you and can distract you from your own problems for a while.
- Open up: Share your thoughts, goals and feelings with a friend or family member to purge yourself of anxiety, self-doubt, or any other negative emotions.
- Self confidence: Give your self-confidence a boost and get rid of negative thoughts that harm your spirit and prevent you from doing the things that make you happy.
- Set realistic goals: By setting realistic goals, you’re more likely to feel a sense of achievement and triumph as you complete each one.
- Understand your body: To prevent poisonous thoughts and mental disorders like depression or anorexia/bulimia, get to know your body and your mind. Appreciate yourself for who you are and understand what triggers can set you off so that you can avoid feeling down.
Organization Tips
Staying organized will elevate your mood and keep your surroundings clean and bacteria-free.
- De-clutter: Clutter around your house and in your schedule can cause you to feel stressed, anxious and even unhealthy, if your clutter is really dirty.
- Take out the trash frequently: This tip may seem like a given, but taking out the trash instantly removes poisons and waste from your surroundings.
- Budget: Organize your budget to avoid overspending, debt, unpaid bills, unpaid taxes and other stress factors that could land you in serious trouble.
- Schedule: Prevent scheduling conflicts, missed appointments, over bookings and running yourself ragged by maintaining a calendar or date book.
- Get tech help: Use an online program like Tada Lists or Remember the Milk so that you don’t have to keep up with to-do lists floating around your car, office and home.
Simplify Your Life
By simplifying your life, you can have more time to concentrate on your health. From re-prioritizing your to-do lists to automating regular tasks like bill paying, consider downsizing in the following ways.
- Just say no: Don’t agree to run every event, attend every meeting or go to every party. Saying no can free up valuable time for yourself and prevent you from over stimulating your mind.
- Keep things perspective: Instead of overreacting to every setback, keep things in perspective. Ask yourself if the problem at hand will matter in six days’ or six months’ time. Most of the time it won’t, and you can save yourself a lot of toxic worry.
- Automate regular tasks: Set up an automatic bill pay or savings action so that you don’t have to waste time writing checks each month, and so you won’t fall behind on payments.
- Take time out: Slow down every once in a while to give your mind and body a rest by taking a long weekend, going on a relaxing vacation or just making room in your schedule for an extra nap.
- Cut back on communication: Don’t isolate yourself, but minimize the different communication platforms like Twitter, e-mail, Facebook and VoIP that you check each day to eliminate extra junk mail, distractions on welcome pages and useless messages.
Food and Diet
If you aren’t ready to start a full-on detox diet, introduce fresh, organic produce, fiber and plenty of water into your diet as a gentle and healthy way to rid your body of chemicals.
- Fiber: Fiber cleanses your body and your digestive tract, so opt for foods like whole wheat bread, brown rice, broccoli, bran cereal, corn and other raw vegetables and fruits.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a great detox agent for cleansing the liver, as it produces glutathione.
- Water: Water is one of the easiest and most effective ways to flush out your system. It’s also a good substitute for soda, alcoholic beverages and sugary juices when you’re thirsty.
- Garlic: Garlic is a great ingredient for promoting good health, especially detox, as it is rich in antioxidants.
- Organic foods: Incorporate organic foods, especially fruits and vegetables into your diet, since they are free of harmful pesticides and chemicals.
- Locally grown food: For a more socially conscious move, buy locally grown food to support your community in a green way.
- Ethical food: Ease your conscience by making sure your food was produced in an ethical way, from conditions of slaughterhouses to Fair Trade coffee growers and harvesters.
- Blueberries: Blueberries are extremely high in antioxidants and keep your brain sharp.
- Say no to junk food: Processed junk food full of unnatural sweeteners and chemicals pumps poison into your body, can cause you to become overweight, and negatively affects your heart health. Even diet junk-food is processed and unhealthy.
- Raw food: Whether you live a completely raw food and product lifestyle, or you’d like to try a raw food detox diet, raw food can be an effective way to cleanse your body of animal products and processed ingredients.
Exercise and Sleep
Getting enough of the right kind of exercise and sleep purifies both your mind and your body.
- Cardio: Besides being a major calorie-busting workout, a cardio routine is also good for anger management.
- Yoga: Yoga is one of the most popular exercises for a de-stress, detox lifestyle because it eases the mind, decreases blood pressure, increases your respiratory efficiency, helps digestion, improves focus and posture, and helps you sleep better.
- Pilates: Like yoga, pilates can boost energy and your immune system without requiring a sweat-inducing cardio workout.
- Reduce your body fat: Besides looking more in shape, reducing your body fat, which is where a lot of toxins in your body are stored.
- Swimming: The website The Natural Path describes swimming as a good exercise for detox, as it works out your muscles and heart but also "increases your breathing and your body temperature, thus aiding in your internal cleansing." Try to swim in a pool with as less chlorine as possible, or in a natural body of water.
- Sweat: Pick an exercise that makes you sweat, which cleanses some toxins from the surface of your body.
- Exercise the right way: Make sure you’re following the routine or fitness plan exactly; otherwise, you might injure yourself.
- Keep a regular sleeping schedule: This schedule should include a routine for preparing for bed and making yourself sleepy, as well as waking up at around the same time each morning.
- Exercise for sleep: Maintaining an active lifestyle can wear your body out just enough to ensure a restful sleep.
- Protect your sleep environment: Polluting your bedroom with TV, artificial light from your computer and work materials can interfere with your sleep.
Good Lifestyle Choices and Links
Make good lifestyle choices, by avoiding promiscuity, maintaining proper hygiene and considering a holistic or even macrobiotic lifestyle.
- Go organic: An organic lifestyle rids your body and environment of pesticides and may also mean that you support local growers and more ethically produced foods and products.
- Promiscuity: This bad habit increases your chances of catching an STD and feeling emotionally dragged down.
- Holistic lifestyle: A holistic lifestyle gives equal attention to your mind, body and spirit, so that you monitor the health and toxicity of every part of yourself.
- Macrobiotic lifestyle: A macrobiotic lifestyle "is a way of life based upon living in harmony with nature through a balanced whole foods diet, an active lifestyle, and respect for the natural environment," according to CrescentLife.com. Get tips for living this way by following the link.
- Go vegan: There are a host of benefits associated with a vegan lifestyle, like good nutrition, disease prevention, avoiding harmful processed ingredients, helping the environment and more.
- Oral hygiene: Your oral hygiene affects your overall health, so make sure your floss and brush a few times daily.
- Bathing: Wash off the dirt, chemicals and other toxins on your skin by bathing regularly.
- Wash hands frequently: Avoid getting sick by washing your hands frequently, which kills germs and washes off other harmful bacteria.
- Feng shui: The purpose of practicing feng shui is to balance out your elements and promote the free flow of energy, greatly reducing the toxicity and stress of any environment. Get easy-to-follow tips here.
- Pranayama: This yoga breathing exercise maximizes the amount of oxygen that goes to your brain, controlling "Prana, or the vital life energy."
- Strategic massage: Get a massage that stimulates your digestive system and increases your body’s ability to eliminate waste.
Purifying Your Environment
This list features different ways that you can purify your environment and ensure that your home, office and commute are free of all kinds of pollutants.
- Drive an eco-friendly car: An electric car is good for the environment and your health, since you won’t have to breathe in toxic fumes at the gas station.
- Walk or bike to work: Another way to prevent inhalation of gas fumes is to walk or bike to work, if you can find a route that doesn’t involve riding behind other gas guzzling vehicles.
- Grow a garden: Grow your own vegetables to cut back on pesticides and environmentally harmful packaging and delivery methods.
- Make your own household cleaning products: There are a lot of recipes online for concocting your own supply of household cleaning products, free of dangerous chemicals and chlorine.
- Composting: Recycle your waste and feed your garden by composting.
- Keep plants indoors: Having plants indoors increases oxygen production and zaps up extra carbon dioxide, purifying your air.
- Aromatherapy: Natural aromatherapy can be a great help to simple ailments and colds, and it’s also a good stress reliever.
- Throw away pet waste: Clean out the cat’s litter box and pick up after your dog, even in the backyard, to prevent the spread of bacteria that can make you and your family sick.
- Air quality: Make sure the air quality in your home or office is healthy by ventilating the rooms, changing out your air filters and using natural home furnishings and carpet.
- Sustainability: Sustainable living is an ethical and practical way to live, as it saves you money on energy costs and is good for the environment. Get tips for living a sustainable, poison-free lifestyle here.
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Even if you’re not on a weight loss program, your body craves fresh, healthy food. At the same time, you’re probably trying to balance out a sensible diet with good taste. These 100 food blogs are maintained by writers and medical professionals who understand that making good meals means incorporating flavor as well as healthy ingredients. This list has something for everybody, from hardcore dieters to gluten-free eaters to natural and organic foodies.
Diet Specific
Read this list to find blogs for the South Beach diet and other specific regimens.
- Kalyn’s Kitchen: Kalyn posts recipes that follow the South Beach diet in this colorful blog full of photos.
- Iateapiet.net: Here, you’ll find healthy "diet" food reviews and product information, from the Tropicana Strawberry and Banana Fruit Smoothie to Lean Cuisine meals to high fiber diets.
- The Zone Diet Plan Blog: Though this blog is no longer active, it contains a lot of statistics and specific information about how eating according to The Zone Diet helps you lose weight.
Yummy Recipes
On these blogs, you’ll find scrumptious recipes for healthy snacks and sensible meals.
- Diet Recipes Blog: All the recipes on this blog are for meals and snacks under 200 calories.
- Food Dosa Recipe: Find quick recipes for healthy meals here.
- Healthy Recipes: Browse through the archives to get recipes for for blueberries, meals packed with fiber, and even leftover Thanksgiving turkey.
- Diet Pulpit: This food and diet blog has tons of recipes for healthy eating.
- Food View Blog: Discover three years’ worth of yummy light and healthy recipes on this blog, from breakfast, dessert, dinner and more.
- Healthy Eating: Recent recipes on this site include summer salads and inventive recipes that introduce avocado into your diet.
- Healthy Menu Mailer: From winter vegetable soup to healthy Halloween treats, you’ll find health food recipes for every occasion here.
Healthy Snacking
Instead of reaching for candy or chips, stock your desk or your refrigerator with healthy snacks like these.
- The Healthy Snacks Blog: Recent healthy snack ideas include honey wheat pretzel sticks and cottage cheese, pineapples and strawberries. You’ll also find product reviews of popular snacks.
- Healthy Snack Box: This blog teaches readers to "cook with fruit and vegetables to make tasty, healthy and cheap meals" and snacks.
- Fruit Species: This blog is all about fruit, a smart and healthy snacking option.
- Really Useful Fitness Blog: Get ideas for healthy snacks that complement your fitness plan here.
- Healthy Diet Snacks Blog: This new blog has low-calorie snack ideas that are still yummy.
- Vital Juice Daily: This resource is packed with great ideas for being healthy all day everyday.
- The Office Diet: If you’re known to snack all through your work day, read this blog for healthy snack ideas and motivation to stick to your diet.
- Healthy Snacks for Kids: Though this blog focuses on kid-friendly foods, healthy eaters of any age will have fun reading about the importance of healthy snacking and finding unique recipes.
- The Chocoholic Health Blog: If you reach for the chocolate every time you want a snack, read this blog to learn about satisfying but healthy alternatives.
Vegetarian and Vegan
Those on a vegetarian or vegan diet will love these blogs, full of recipes, photos and tips for smart shopping.
- Fat Free Vegan Kitchen: Go through the recipe index to discover meals like vegan omelets, crustless tofu quiches, enchilada casserole and even macaroni and cheese.
- The Great Big Vegetable Challenge: This mother and her son work their way through trying all kinds of vegetables and vegetable recipes from A to Z.
- Tinned Tomatoes: Tinned Tomatoes is maintained by a Scottish blogger and features vegetarian recipes and photos for meals like Balsamic Beetroot & Chickpea Salad with Mint.
- A Veggie Venture: Find recipes for vegetarian meals like warm German potato salad, and feta-stuffed zucchini. You can search by vegetable, the author’s favorites, weight watchers and low-carb meals.
- Veggie Meal Plans: From chocolate sesame cookies to spinach and artichoke filo pastries, this vegetarian food blog has tons of great recipes.
- Savvy Vegetarian Blog: On this blog, find "news and opinion on vegetarian diet and nutrition, vegetarian lifestyle, green living, and environment."
- Veg Cooking: From nondairy ice cream to pineapple curry, this blog keeps vegetarian cooking fun and interesting.
- Andrea’s Easy Vegan Cooking Blog: Finding vegan recipes and ingredients is easy when you turn to Andrea’s blog for ideas.
- Eat’n Veg’n: Find Get recipes and vegan shopping tips on this photo-packed blog.
- Day to Day Vegan: Read about this family’s attempts to eat vegan for every meal.
Gourmet Meals and Blogs from Chefs
Eating right doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice gourmet meals. These chefs show you how to get the best of both worlds.
- Whole Gourmet: This natural foods blog is all about cooking gourmet meals and sharing grocery shopping tips.
- Health Chef Alex: Recent posts on this blog include "Viva Las Vegan!" and "Healthy Travels in London," as Chef Alex urges you to "eat your veggies!"
- Skinny Chef: Chef Jennifer Iserloh believes that you can trust a skinny chef, and on her blog, she shares recipes, webcasts and healthy living tips.
- Feel Good Eats: This blog is written by a chef and includes recipes that use natural, local and/or seasonal ingredients.
- 7 Minute Chef: Inspired by the book 7 Minute Chef: Simple Tools for a Lifetime of Health, this blog features posts about raw and vegan diets, recipes for unique and delicious salads, and product reviews of diet books, kitchen appliances and more.
Raw Food and Macrobiotic Diet
Learn about raw and macrobiotic diet lifestyles in these blogs, which also share recipes and reviews of food products.
- Raw Food: Learn about raw food products and recipes, and the raw food diet here.
- Becoming Whole: Get recipes, information about the macrobiotic lifestyle and more on this site.
- We Like it Raw: On this raw food blog, you’ll get tips on raw food cooking as well as recipes and ideas for eating out.
- The Raw Diva’s Blog: This blog is all about "raw food solutions for women," and categories include Cravings, Greens, Health in High Heels, Raw Resources and more.
- Jessica Porter’s Hip Chick Blog: Watch videos on macrobiotic cooking, get recipes and learn about the macrobiotic lifestyle in general.
Green Eating
Read below for natural, organic, locally grown, sustainable and ethical recipes.
- Nourish Me: Browse tantalizing photos of fresh, natural foods on this blog, from quick cucumber and carrot pickles to lemongrass, ginger and coconut rice.
- Local Harvest Blog: The Local Harvest community blog is no longer active, but still has great posts about traveling around the country to visit farms and local growers. Play around on the rest of the site to learn about local farmers and where you can buy fresh food.
- The Ethicurean: This blog is all about SOLE food, food that is sustainable, organic, local and/or ethical.
- The Slow Cook: While this food blog isn’t all about super healthy choices, it does encourage readers to reject fast food and more processed foods by taking "back control of the food we eat and the pace of our own lives."
- Mighty Foods: This blog covers "the who, what, how and why of natural foods," and includes product reviews, recipes, studies and trends, eco-kitchen musts and more.
- Calendula and Concrete: A Washington, D.C. blogger writes about organic gardening in this blog.
- Mostly Eating: This English foodie writes and shares recipes for healthy meals using mostly sustainable ingredients. Browse photos for truly delicious looking dishes.
- Organic to Be: Visit this blog for organic recipes for members of the entire family.
- Nature Moms Blog: This "guide to natural family life" has recipes and snack ideas that fit in with a natural lifestyle.
- Organic Authority: Get organic food recipes, organic gardening tips and general health tips for the organic lifestyle here.
Healthy Food From Around the World
If you’re in the mood for something more exotic but don’t want to give up your healthy eating choices, turn to this list.
- Figs, Bay and Wine: The Mediterranean food diet has caught on, and you’ll find recipes and photos in this sophisticated blog.
- My Tiny Plot: This English woman writes about her vegetable garden and eating fresh produce. You’ll find recipes and delicious-looking photographs of her harvest.
- MediterrAsian Cooking: Get recipes and learn about the benefits of Mediterranean and Asian dishes here.
- Blog of Herbs: Use this blog to find herbs and ingredients that help with digestion, weight loss, general nutrition, and of course adding oomph to your everyday meals.
Healthy Eating for Kids and Picky Eaters
Discover recipes, food items and ingredients that even your kids and other picky eaters will enjoy.
- The Doof Blog: Doof is Food spelled backwards, and this blog is all about making eating right fun for kids.
- Healthy Recipes for Kids: From fruit pizzas to deviled eggs to spaghetti squash, find ways to transform your kids’ favorite foods into healthy meals.
- Feed Yourself: This blog aims to show readers that yummy food doesn’t have to mean processed food or fast food. Find whole food recipes and meal ideas here, from tofu tacos to peanut butter banana muffins.
- My Husband Hates Veggies: If you’re tired of fighting with your kids (or husband) over vegetables and healthy eating, get ideas from Kitty, who’s "attempting to trick her husband into eating his vegetables" with yummy recipes.
- Healthy Snacks for Kids: From health food pizzas to tips on getting your kids to want healthy food, this blog is a great guide for conscientious parents.
- Super Healthy Kids: Read about this family’s mission to become a family of healthy eaters. You can also read recipes for apple oat muffins, healthy breakfasts and more.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
For healthy food ideas for every meal of the day, visit these blogs.
- This Mama Cooks! On a Diet: Turn to this all-in-one food blog that posts restaurant reviews, fitness news, diet trends, and of course recipes for every meal of the day.
- A Recipe a Day: Not all of these recipes are low-fat or low-carb, but most of them are made from fresh ingredients. You’ll also find a lot of fat free recipes by browsing the different categories.
- But Weight, I CAN Eat It!: This "lifetime Weight Watcher" posts about the foods she wishes she could eat as well as the healthy choices she does.
- Gina’s Weight Watcher Recipes: All the recipes on this blog, no matter how delicious and decadent they look, abide by the Weight Watchers rules. Browse by point system or meal type.
- Healthy Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle: Learn how to prepare all of your meals the healthy way by reading the posts on this blog.
Easy Meals and Real Stories
Get inspired by these bloggers, who understand that whipping up a quick but healthy dinner is important.
- Joanna’s Food: Joanna’s family became inspired to eat healthy after a medical emergency gave her a wake up call. The foods and recipes on her blog are healthy by still easy to make.
- Fresh Mouth: Fresh Mouth is the blog for one family’s "mission to eat only fresh food or processed food with 5 ingredients or less for 30 days." You’ll find recipes, fun food surveys, and inventive meal ideas here.
- Healthy Cooking: Find manageable recipes for healthy meals on this site. Recent recipes include Healthy Lentil Brown Rice Soup and Easy, Healthy Whole Wheat Pasta Meal.
- Easy Low Fat Recipes: From low fat cocktails to low fat entrees, you’ll find recipes for every day and occasion on this blog.
- Vegetarian Foodie: This author loves mixing "great food, wine, family and friends" and shares with readers how to do the same.
Gluten Free
For gluten free recipes and information, check out these two blogs.
- Gluten-Free Girl: Gluten-Free Girl has been reviewed by Newsweek and The Seattle Times, and features gluten-free recipes, recommendations for places to eat out, gluten-free cookbooks and more.
- Karina’s Kitchen: This gluten-free goddess posts recipes for banana-apricot hemp shakes, Mediterranean fish with rice and other yummy treats.
General Nutrition
Reading about nutrition should inspire you to treat your body to a healthier lifestyle. Learn about general nutrition while finding healthy recipes here.
- Eat This!: Find out how many calories are in your typical Mexican dish, get recipes for dairy free banana bread and learn about which diets celebrities are trying on this blog.
- Learn About Weight Loss: This weight loss blog focuses on healthy eating choices and how to lose weight by altering your eating schedule.
- Weight Loss Made Easy: Recent posts on this healthy food guide include "3 Healthy, Power Breakfast Choices," "High Fiber Foods" and "Healthy Snacks."
- Laurel on Health Food: Blogger Laurel shares news, recipes and general nutrition ideas for foods and ingredients, as well as healthy conditions, like sugar, coffee, leafy greens, heart disease, stress, meat, chocolate and more.
- Mark’s Daily Apple: Get the lowdown on healthy and not-so-healthy food choices on this blog. Recent posts dissect ketosis, portion control and starter recipes.
- Marc Joseph Nutrition Blog: Get inspired to eat healthy when you read this blog, which posts about omega-3 and omega-6 fats, diabetes, "the science of appetite" and even arsenic.
- NAFWA Blog: This is the blog for the Nutrition and Food Web Archive. You can read about healthy food and cooking, how nutrition affects your overall health and immunity and more.
Weight Loss
If you’re trying to lose weight, check out this list, which features blogs that combine recipes, fitness tips, healthy drinks and even health risks associated with poor eating habits.
- diet blog: This blog urges readers to "eat right. Get healthy." Recent posts include "On a Budget: 7 Tips for Healthy Food Shopping" and "Big Breakfast Diet: A Diet That Works?"
- Eating Fabulous: Eating Fabulous is a diet food with categories for healthy snacks, immune defense, fruit and vegetables, organic produce, healthy beverages and more.
- Eat4Today: This blogger dishes on food and the news of the day. Read about health risks associated with being overweight, vitamin supplements and more.
- Hungry Girl: On Hungry Girl, you can do the weekly weigh-in, read about food and fitness news, and discover Hungry Girl’s Chew the Right Thing items, like the Mexi-licious Salad Explosion and Strawberry Shortcake, which have realistic calorie counts and recipes.
Desserts
I you’re bored of eating yogurt or granola as a healthy dessert alternative, turn to these blogs which have recipes for all kinds of tasty, inventive treats.
- Diet, Dessert and Dogs: Learn to eat your dessert the healthy way when you read this blog and get recipes for egg and dairy-free butter tarts and other treats.
- The Urban Vegan: This blogger often posts about great dessert finds that are also vegan-inspired and healthier options than many other desserts.
- Weight Watchers Recipes Blog: Find healthier snack and dessert options on this blog.
- The Penguin Chef: The Penguin Chef serves up delicious recipes "for the vegan dessert lover."
- My Sweet Vegan: You can learn about the vegan lifestyle on this blog, which also frequently posts healthy dessert recipes.
Eating Out
Don’t give up your good eating habits when you go out to eat: these blogs will keep you motivated.
- We Want Clean Food!: Restaurateur, chef and former punk rocker Ric Orlando blogs about picking and choosing clean food. He shares tips for making sure your food is "clean" even when you eat out or are on the go.
- HappyCow’s Vegetarian Guide: This network posts information about vegetarian restaurants and stores all over the world, so you can eat healthy even on vacation.
Food News and Health
The following list includes blogs that offer medical advice, FDA reports, recipes, health food myths and more.
- JunkFood Science: This nurse blogs about "news on food, weight, health and healthcare that mainstream media misses."
- What to Eat: NYU professor Marion Nestle blogs about obesity, calorie counters, public health, dietary guidelines the FDA, smart foods and more.
- The Heart of the Matter — Eating for Life: Find recipes and inspiration for eating heart-healthy meals on this blog.
- Limes and Lycopene: This Australian blog "aims to cut through the rubbish, misinformation and downright silliness about health, diet and naturopathy."
- Diet Detective Blogs: Recent posts from bloggers on this network include " Oregano ingredient effective against inflammations" and " Eating Slowly Can Help You Lose Weight."
- Circle of Food Blog:Find recipes as well as food safety information and medical news here.
- Diabetic Recipes - Diabetic Meals: Diabetics can find sugar-free and other yummy recipes just for them on this blog.
Miscellaneous
Our final list features a mix of foodie blogs that will inspire you to eat right everyday.
- The BTD/GTD Blogs: You’ll learn about eating for your blood type and related diets on this site.
- Eat Right Daily: This blog is full of inspiration for homemade, fresh and generally healthy meals. Browse categories like pasta, fish, salad, poultry, dessert and others.
- Diet and Healthy Eating: Self magazine’s blog features celebrity diets, healthy seasonal recipes and ideas for eating healthy while on vacation.
- Healthy Food Journal: Read about all the healthy foods that are out there on this blog, which posts recipes and health food news.
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While working out and eating right are key parts of being fit and living a long and healthy life, what many people fail to think about is the health of their brains, the organ running the whole show. Your brain needs to get a workout too in order to keep itself in tip top shape and keep you mentally healthy for the rest of your life. Here are some ways that you can give your brain a challenge and have fun at the same time.
Fitness
Get your brain in shape while you get the rest of your body fit as well.
- Take your dog for a walk. Don’t take your usual route, however. Try going down a block you’re unfamiliar with, stopping to talk to others along the way, challenging yourself to name the birds you see or anything else that helps get you moving and thinking.
- Go for a jog. Running helps to boost levels of oxygen in your brain and helps your body to produce more endorphins, which will make you feel energized and happier, and what brain doesn’t love that?
- Play a sport. Playing a sport not only gets you up and running around but forces you to think on your feet (literally) and make snap decisions of where to run or throw the ball, keeping both mind and body in shape.
- Dance. Dancing is a fun way to get some exercise. Try learning a new dance to challenge your brain to remember the steps or find a partner for some dance floor socializing.
- Throw a ball around. Working on improving a sensory-guided movement like throwing and catching a ball can improve your brain’s visual, tactile and hand-eye coordination responses and keep them sharp well into old age.
Diet
Many foods have a big impact on your brain, so try these tasty dishes to improve your mental abilities.
- Eat a variety of foods. Cooking yourself a rainbow of different foods can help keep your brain healthy for years to come. A varied diet provides numerous vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are needed to keep your brain in top shape.
- Make some blueberry pancakes. Or just enjoy the blueberries by themselves. Either way, these brain boosting berries can have a big impact on your mind. Studies have found that blueberries help protect the brain from oxidative stress and may reduce the effects of brain impairing conditions like Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, as well as improving the learning capacity and motor skills of older test subjects.
- Drink pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice isn’t only a delicious treat — it can also help keep your brain up and running smoothly. It contains loads of antioxidants which protect the brain from the damage of free radicals.
- Have some sweet potatoes. Whether you enjoy them in a pie, as fries, or in any other form, sweet potatoes can be a great brain boosting food. These tubers, like carrots and spinach contain beta carotene which has been shown to improve brain health and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s.
- Drink water. Refreshing yourself with a cold glass of water can be a great and fulfilling way to keep your brain at its best. Like all organs in your body, the brain needs water to function properly, so keeping it hydrated is key.
- Enjoy some guacamole. Eating avocados can be a great way to improve your brain health, as they contain monounsaturated fats which improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. Hypertension is a risk factor for a decline in mental abilities, so any foods that lower this risk should help you out.
- Brew a cup of tea. Two to three cups a day of freshly brewed tea, whether hot or iced, can help enhance your memory and improve your mood and focus. Tea contains contains caffeine which when used in small amounts can be a great way to boost your brain power.
- Eat breakfast. A healthy breakfast that is. Eating cereals or toasts that contain whole grains can give you a great morning boost. They help keep your whole body healthy, especially your heart, which is incredibly important to keep blood and oxygen pumping to your brain.
- Eat dark chocolate. Indulge your chocolate cravings and improve your brain health by eating some tasty dark chocolate. Chocolate triggers the systems in your brain that pump dopamine. These systems enable learning and memory, and having a bit of chocolate can boost these, keeping your brain fit and happy.
Get Out
Don’t just sit around the house, get out and try these fun ways to keep your brain in shape.
- Visit a museum. A visit to a local museum can be a great way to challenge your brain and have a good time. Try challenging yourself to remember everything you saw and relate it to a friend or in a journal later on. Activities that force the brain to receive, remember and think hard help prevent mental decline and improve brain function.
- Memorize a song. Listening to music is not only something that’s enjoyable — it can also be a way to work out your brain. Choose a song you don’t know and work at memorizing the lyrics. Focusing on listening to the song will boost the levels of acetylcholine in your brain, improving your memory abilities.
- Go exploring. There are likely places in your own community or neighborhood that you haven’t fully explored. Seeing new things can be a great way to help your mind think about new things, and it can be a fun way to spend an afternoon so long as you don’t get lost.
- Take a trip. Experiencing new cultures, trying new foods and seeing historical places engages many parts of the brain and keeps it active and sharp, especially if you’re attempting to speak a foreign language on your trip.
- Play with a pet. Playing with a pet can make you happy, get you moving and help ease feelings of loneliness and unhappiness. A happy mind is a healthy one.
- Meet up with friends. Social interaction forms a big part of long term brain health. Those with weak social relationships have been shown in studies to have higher incidences of mental illnesses than those who maintain close social bonds.
- Go see something funny. Sometimes laughter really is the best medicine. Cognitively complex humor forces you to think and makes you happy, allowing you to have fun and pump up your brain power at the same time.
- Keep in touch with friends and family. Humans are social animals, and we need social interactions to help keep us mentally healthy. Talking with family and friends, especially those that provide mental stimulation and discussion, can be a great way to form a strong social network that can help keep you healthy for a long time.
Games and Hobbies
There’s no excuse to be bored with so many brain worthy games and hobbies out there to pursue.
- Play a video game. While it may not seem like much of a challenge, playing certain video games can actually be good for your mental health. Choose games that require strategy or problem solving or check out some that are designed specifically to challenge your brain.
- Play a board or card game. Whether you challenge a kid to game of checkers or play poker with your friends, these kind of games are great for the brain. They challenge your memory and test your math and logic skills.
- Play pool. Pick up a pool cue and get to playing a game to improve your brain health. Players must think ahead to their next moves, strategize and concentrate in order to win, giving the brain a quick and fun workout.
- Get on the greens. Golf not only gets your body moving but also allows you to engage socially with others. It also can improve mind-body coordination and uses brain power to plan shots and make decisions.
- Do a jigsaw puzzle. Puzzles are a fun and challenging way to get your brain working. You will have to think ahead, see things conceptually, and analyze things visually. Get additional benefits by working on the puzzle with a friend.
- Do a crossword. Crossword puzzles can help to boost your recall skills while improving your cognitive abilities and creative thinking. Plus, you’ll feel great when you finish a puzzle.
- Build a model. Or if you’re not into building models, choose another activity like jewelry making or photography that requires close concentration and understanding of the process of construction. Focusing on the task can engage the brain and can also be a lot of fun.
- Pursue a hobby. No matter what you’re into, whether it’s cars or gardening, pursuing a hobby can be a great deal of fun. It can also be a wonderful way to work your brain. Study up on new aspects of your hobby, concentrate on a certain task or meet with others who share your interests to get the most brain work out of your hobby.
Lifelong Learning
Keep your brain busy throughout your life with these learning opportunities.
- Learn to play a musical instrument. Or just play one you already know how to play. Music can be very challenging to the brain as it recalls how to play the instrument, read music and keep up with the tempo of the song.
- Read a book. Whether you read fluff or classic literature, reading a book can be a great and fun way to boost your mental abilities. Reading helps you exercise your cognitive skills and increases your vocabulary, not to mention providing a great way to relax.
- Watch an art film. Watching a movie that requires your full concentration to understand can be a great way to engage your brain while learning more about art and culture. Read literature about the film after you’ve seen it and think about your own responses to it to further boost the mental benefits.
- Debate. A friendly debate over the pros and cons of an issue can be a great way to keep you thinking on your feet as well as improving your logic and creativity. You’ll also get the benefits of interacting socially with someone, whether it be a friend or a coworker.
- Create mind maps. Sometimes laying out your ideas on paper can be a great way to get your brain up and moving and out of a mental rut. Force yourself to connect ideas and to think outside the box when brainstorming.
- Sign up for a daily. Whether you get a daily newsletter or just sign up for a word of the day in your inbox, this daily mental stimulation will help boost your memory, increase your mental stimulation and if nothing else help you sound smarter in conversation.
- Take a class. Learning something new can be a great way to challenge your brain and force it to think in new ways. Whether it’s learning about what wine to have with dinner or learning how to do roundhouse kicks, classes will force your brain to retain new information and assimilate new ideas and concepts.
- Learn a new language. While not everyone considers learning a language fun, it can be a great way to give your brain one heck of a workout. Acquiring a new language will help keep your brain flexible and your memory and recall skills sharp. Plus, it can be a great skill to have on your next vacation.
Relax
Stress can have an incredibly negative impact on the brain, so try these tips to relax.
- Meditate. Meditation helps to focus the brain and helps reduce the harmful effects of too much stress. Best of all, you can do it anywhere.
- Sleep in. Getting a few extra hours of sleep if you’ve stayed up late can help rejuvenate you and improve your mental abilities. So enjoy resting just a little bit longer on Saturday mornings.
- Do yoga. Yoga can be a great workout for your body, but it can also give your mind a chance to relax and recover from stress. Try taking a class or doing yoga at home to calm your mind and train it to concentrate on breathing and movements rather than worries.
- Express your spirituality. Studies have shown the embracing a faith or spiritual belief, no matter what that may be, can help reduce stress and can have many mental benefits.
- Try tai chi. Tai Chi can be a great way to get your body moving but also to relax and force your mind to concentrate on each movement in turn.
- Take a nap. If you’re feeling run down and mentally numb, a quick nap may be just what you need. Even just 20 minutes of sleep can leave you refreshed, physically and mentally.
Challenge Yourself
Make your brain workouts a personal challenge with these suggestions.
- Use your peripheral vision. Next time you’re waiting for the bus or hanging out at a cafe, try this mental exercise. Look straight ahead and note everything you can see both in front of you and in your peripheral vision. Challenge yourself to recall everything and write it down. This will force you to use your memory and boost the levels of acetylcholine, a chemical essential to focus and memory.
- Turn down the TV. Turn down your TV so that you can barely hear what is being said, and challenge yourself to listen intently to what is going on. this intense focus will challenge your brain, and it can also help improve your listening abilities.
- Take it up a notch. Take an activity you already do to work your brain like doing a crossword puzzle or a sudoku and take it up a notch. See if you can complete it faster or more thoroughly than you were able to do before.
- Try using your other hand. Most people can only use one of their hands with any degree of coordination, so make a game of using your other hand to do things like write, draw and do small tasks. This is a huge challenge for your brain as it adapts to using a part of your body differently than it’s used to.
- Combine activities. Instead of just taking a morning jog, why not take a morning jog while listening to an audio book? Combining activities forces your brain to work at doing more in the same amount of time, giving you a great mental and physical workout.
- Break your patterns. If you find yourself doing the same things, day after day, it may be time for a change. Brain health depends on novelty and the acquisition of new or different information, so change up your routines now and then to keep your brain on its figurative toes.
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By Megan Jones
Everyone has concerns about their health. Whether they worry about their risk of getting a hereditary disease or just feel they aren’t getting the right nutrition, it can be hard sometimes to figure out just how healthy you might be. While going to the doctor is the only real way to ensure you have a clean bill of health, these online calculators and tests can help you determine if you’re at risk and should consult a physician or just help you determine some fitness and health goals for yourself.
Diet
Put your diet to the test with these helpful tools.
- Nutritional Needs Calculator: Determine how many calories you should be taking in each day with this online calculator.
- Nutrition Quotient Test: How much do you know about nutrition? This test will show you how much you do or don’t know about eating well so you can improve your diet.
- Is Your Diet Healthy? Quiz: You may think you’re eating healthy but there are many foods that aren’t as good for you as they seem. Take this quiz to find out if you’re getting the nutrition you need.
- Summer Hydration Quiz: Test yourself on what it will take to keep you hydrated this summer.
- Healthy Snacks Calculator: Find out what portion size makes up a healthy snack using this online calculator.
- Daily Carbohydrate Requirement: Carbs may get a bad rap but they are what fuels your body and lets you keep going. Find out how much you should be eating each day.
- Food Calories and Nutrition Calculator: Get the lowdown on just what is in all your favorite foods using this helpful calculator.
- Nutrition IQ Test: This test lets you showcase your knowledge, or lack thereof, on a wide variety of nutrition related issues.
Fitness
Optimize your workouts with a little help from these tools.
- BMI Calculator: This calculator can help you get an estimate of your body fat percentage.
- Waist to Hip Ratio Calculator: The waist to hip ratio has been shown to be a fairly accurate indicator of health in both men and women. Find out if you fall within the healthy range with this calculator.
- Target Heart Rate Calculator: Use this tool to get an estimate of what heart rate you should aim for when doing cardio.
- Activity Calorie Burn Rate Calculator: Find out just how many calories your workout is burning using this helpful activity calculator.
- Ideal Body Weight Calculator: While everyone has a different personal ideal, this calculator can help you get an ideal of what weight you should be aiming for in your fitness plan.
- Exercise Savvy Test: How much do you really know about working out? This test can help you find out.
- Pace Calculator: Those aiming to improve their time running a mile (or several) can use this calculator to find out what pace they need to maintain to meet their goals.
- Weight Room Quiz: Weight training is an important part of any workout routine, but are you doing it right? This quiz can help expose any gaps in your knowledge.
- Walk/Run Metabolic Calculator: This calculator helps give you a somewhat scientific result of your metabolic rate based on how fast you’re walking or running.
- Age Equivalency Calculator: Tailor your workouts to your age using this calculator, which gives you age appropriate equivalents to most exercises.
Illness and Disease
These tests can help you get an idea of your risk level for certain illnesses.
- Diabetes Risk Test: Does diabetes run in your family? Find out just how high of a risk you have for becoming diabetic by taking this test.
- Hereditary Cancer Quiz: If you have several family members who’ve had cancer, it’s worth your time to take this test to determine your risk of getting the same condition.
- Stroke Quiz: Find out how much you know and don’t know about strokes by taking this quick quiz.
- Herbal Remedies Quiz: If you prefer to go the natural remedies route, test your knowledge of what herbs work best on this site.
- Cold, Flu or Allergies Quiz: Keep yourself from taking unnecessary medications by using this quiz to determine whether you’re suffering from a cold, the flu or just allergies.
- High Blood Pressure Risk Quiz: Hypertension can cause a myriad of health problems, so take this quiz to find out if you’re at risk for developing it.
- Headache Impact Test: Do you suffer from persistent headaches? This test lets you figure out just how much these migraines are impacting your life and what you can do to get some relief.
- Cholesterol IQ Quiz: See if you know what it takes to keep your cholesterol under control in this American Heart Association sponsored quiz.
- Medicine Quiz: This quiz will give you an idea of what you should be doing to take your medication properly.
- Osteoporosis Risk Test: Many older women may be at risk of developing osteoporosis. Determine your risk by taking this bone health test.
- Asthma Zone Calculator: If you use an inhaler, this calculator can help you to determine just how much help you might need from it.
- Breast Cancer Risk Assessment: Breast cancer kills thousands of women each year, so find out what your risk is using this quiz and what you can do to prevent it.
Overall Wellness
Test your general wellness with these sites.
- Real Age Test: You may not actually be that old but that doesn’t mean your body isn’t feeling older. Take this test to determine your real age.
- Wellness Inventory: Evaluate every aspect of your personal wellness using this comprehensive site.
- Sleep Hygiene Test: Sleeping well is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle, so use this test to figure out if you can’t help yourself sleep better and more soundly every night.
- Smoking Calculator: Smoking takes a huge toll on your physical health as well as your financial health. Find out just how much you’re spending to maintain your habit using this calculator.
- Life Expectancy Calculator: Get an estimate of your life expectancy based on several factors using this calculator.
- Poison Prevention Quiz: Find out how to keep your kids safe from poisonous materials around the house using this quiz.
- Arthritis Assessment Quiz: Access your risk of arthritis and your symptoms using the quizzes on the Arthritis Foundation’s site.
- Weight Impact On Health Quiz: See how your weight is impacting your health, for better or worse, by answering the questions on this quiz.
- Ovulation Date Calculator: Those trying to get pregnant can use this calculator to determine when they’ll be most fertile.
- Are You As Healthy As You Think You Are? Quiz: Take this quiz to see just how healthy you really are. You might be surprised!
Mental Health
Keeping your mind healthy is just as important as keeping your body in good shape. Use these tools to make sure you’re on track for mental well-being.
- Burnout Self Test: Feeling overwhelmed by work and home life? See how close you may be to burnout by taking this quiz.
- SanityScore: This site can help you to determine if you’re at risk for developing any mental illnesses.
- Depression Screening Test: If you think you might be depressed take this test. It will help you determine what’s wrong and assist you in finding help.
- Eating Disorders & Emotional Eating Test: Find out if you might be suffering from either of these eating related problems by taking this test.
- Anger Test: Do you find yourself constantly feeling angry? This test can help you determine if you may need to find ways to diffuse your anger to benefit your mental health.
- Anxiety Test: Stress can have a big impact on your health, and this test can help you determine how anxiety may be affecting your life.
- Resiliency Quiz: Finding it hard to bounce back after stressful events? You may have low resiliency. Take this quiz to find out.
- Adult ADD Questionnaire: Many sufferers of adult ADD go undiagnosed. You can start getting help by taking this questionnaire.
- Mania Questionnaire: Find out how manic you are by taking this short questionnaire.
- Alcoholism Screening Test: If you feel that your casual drinking may have taken a turn into addiction, take this test to find out if and where you should seek help.
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