
The Gut Bacteria and Depression Connection
Research is increasingly showing a mind-body connection. Did you know, for example, that depression could be a result of bacteria in your gut? In 2012, scientists at University College Cork discovered that brain levels of serotonin, or the ‘happy hormone,’ are regulated by the amount of bacteria in the gut …

Women and Depression: Treatment Options
It’s been called the common cold of modern emotional life. And like treatments for the modern cold, there are many treatment options for this challenge. The Mayo Clinic suggests that about twice as many women as men experience depression, meaning about one in four or five women develop depression at …

Acupuncture – A Complementary Therapy With Promise
Acupuncture is an ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) involving thin, flexible needles inserted at certain points along the body – typically called ‘meridians’. The idea being that the insertion of these needles at these predetermined points can help restore the optimal flow of energy – called ‘qi’ (pronounced: …

Why Women Crave Chocolate—and How to Increase Your Willpower
You’re doing so well on your diet. You’re controlling your portions. You’re choosing healthy foods. You’re exercising. You’re losing weight. But then that stressful week happens. Your boss asks you to stay late. Your car breaks down, and your kids need you to drive them to extra practices. Your dog …

The Long-Term Effect of Weight Teasing on Girls
Jennifer Leslie was always the tallest kid in her class, but also the heaviest. She was never an unhealthy eater, but was constantly ridiculed for her size. Once puberty hit, Leslie grew more height-wise and thinned out, but was still larger than many kids her age, so the teasing didn’t …

Breakthrough Research Shows Black Women Need More Vitamin D
You may have seen our last post on vitamin D. We talked about how many women may not be getting enough. Researchers have called vitamin D deficiency a “pandemic,” stating that a lack of sun exposure (which is required for the body to make vitamin D) as well as low …

Coffee is Good for Breast Cancer and You
Coffee has actual health benefits, and may even protect against breast cancer recurrence, a recent study out of Sweden has found. No, this message is not sponsored by Starbucks, which will no doubt benefit as well. Health Benefits Coffee comes from a bean, or a whole plant source, which means …

Kate Spade’s Death And A Disturbing Increase In Suicides
Fashion designer Kate Spade’s death Tuesday has reminded Americans of the enormous toll of suicide, a growing problem that claims nearly 45,000 lives a year. Suicide rates in the U.S. have risen nearly 30 percent since 1999, according to a report released Thursday from the Centers for Disease Control and …

Your Brain On Yoga
Yoga, yoga, everywhere. It’s in your magazines, on your YouTube playlist, in your favorite sitcom and definitely in a class near you. Your friends do it and so do all the celebrities. From yoga pants to yoga bumper stickers – it’s hard to avoid the yoga craze. Will your New …

Sleep Apnea May be More Dangerous for Women than for Men
When it comes to heart attacks, a woman’s symptoms are subtler than a man’s. Whereas a man may have fierce chest pain, a woman may feel nauseated, tired, and out of sorts. It took us decades to discover the difference. Meanwhile, women may have had fewer heart attacks then men, …