Ayurvedic medicine originated in India more than 5,000 years ago - ”and even then healthy eating was important. John Douillard, PhD, host of the new DVD, Ayurveda for Weight Loss ($20), offers these three tips for shedding pounds Ayurveda-style.

1. Honor mealtime
Turn off the TV and step away from your desk when it's time to eat. By focusing on your food, you'll be less likely to overeat.

2. Eat seasonally
Seasonal foods eaten at the right temperature (warm when it's cold, cold when it's warm) may boost your metabolism. For example: Eat berries in the spring, chilled watermelon in the heat of the summer, warm steamed veggies in the fall, and chili or stew on those cold winter days.

3. Rethink dinner
Make it a small, supplemental meal, like soup or salad, and eat it before 6 p.m. This approach extends your body's fasting time before breakfast and helps you burn more fat.

Source

1. Dave Foreman, ND, RPh, member, Vitamin Shoppe Health Advisory Board; host, The Herbal Pharmacist, Sirius satellite radio, channel 114

Eat ginger
"It increases intestinal blood circulation and speeds up digestion to help ward off nausea. Studies comparing ginger's effectiveness with a placebo showed it to be much more helpful in reducing motion-sickness symptoms."

Nutritional Rx
Take 1 g of ginger powder capsules every 3 to 4 hours, starting at least 2 hours before travel, for the duration of the ride. Pregnant women should ask their doctors first.

2. Karen Siegel, LAc, MPH, owner, Acupuncture and Nutrition Clinic in Houston

Get a wrist workup
"A well-known point in traditional Chinese medicine is Pericardium 6, located on the inside of the wrist. Studies show that P-6 pressure can help alleviate nausea, vomiting, and other motion-sickness ailments."

Acupuncture Rx
Get an acupuncture or acupressure treatment on the P-6 spot the day before a trip. Acupressure bracelets like Bio Bands ($11.95; biobands.com) also stimulate P-6.

3. John D. Cahill, MD, travel medicine services codirector, St. Luke's - “Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City

Patch things up
"Fluid movement in the inner ear tells the brain your body is imbalanced. The prescription drug scopolamine prevents movement detection, decreasing nausea symptoms. It's commonly used as a small skin patch placed behind your ear, and it's well tolerated."

Medical Rx
Apply 4 hours before travel; reapply after 72 hours if needed. Side effects may include dry mouth, drowsiness (don't use if you're the driver), and decreased urination.

Source

Forget Post-it notes - ”cell phones are the newest way to remember your doctor's appointments and health goals. Check out how three companies are using text messages to help you stay well.

• INTELECARE ( intelecare.com) For $5 a month, you'll receive unlimited text message, e-mail, or voice mail reminders for prescriptions and appointments.
  
  
• QUITEXT (quitext.com)Trying to kick butts? For $20, QuiText will send supportive tips and advice your way every day for six weeks. A recent study from New Zealand's University of Auckland found that smokers who used a similar program were twice as likely to quit as those who didn't.
  
  
• SENSEI (sensei.com) After logging your weight-loss goals and personal details, such as food and exercise habits, you'll receive daily meal recommendations and weekly grocery shopping lists - ”as well as restaurant menu options and motivational notes - ”for $6 a week.

Source

Check out these proven ways music can do wonders for your well-being:

To Fend Off Colds: Belt out a song. After performing, singers had higher levels of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA), a protein that defends against respiratory infections, reveals a study from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. Opening your mouth wide may stimulate production of IgA. Serenade yourself!

To Soothe Stress: Keep the beat. People who participated in a weekly hour-long drum circle had lower stress levels, a study in the International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship reports. Drumming is stress-busting, relaxing exercise (akin to brisk walking(; plus, the group camaraderie can help banish burnout.

To Snooze Soundly: Cue up a classical CD. Listening to relaxing music for 45 minutes before bedtime will help you drift off to sleep faster, a study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing notes. A tempo of between 40 and 72 beats per minute is the most sedating, but any tune you find soothing may help.

Source

Hands-free doesn't equal safe: Simply listening to a caller on your cell phone while behind the wheel reduces the amount of activity in the brain region associated with driving by 37 percent, a study in Brain Research notes. Lending an ear diverts your brain, leaving you at risk of making driving errors. Dial pals or answer calls only during pit stops.

Source

If you have food items in your fridge that you don't utilize, try the recipe tool at CookThink.com. Type in a food or spice, and CookThink will create a list of recipes that incorporate that item. Whip up the dish without worry-all the site's recipes have been kitchen-tested.

Source

The prevailing cellulite theory? When the upper layer of skin isn't firm enough, fat pushes through and causes the dimpled effect, says New York City dermatologist Bruce Katz, MD. What's more, poor circulation in the skin may exacerbate the problem. But there is hope for smoother legs: Techniques that stimulate circulation and collagen production produce the best results. Here, what's new.

Topical creams
Various ingredients - ”including caffeine, retinoids, alpha-lipoic acid, and antioxidant vitamins - ”claim to firm skin, smooth out bumps, and improve circulation. Products with caffeine and retinoids seem to produce the best results. "Caffeine most likely alters the water content of the skin and helps lessen the bulging effects, but the results are temporary and stop when you stop using the cream," Dr. Katz explains. Try Zia Natural Skincare Ultimate Body Firming Treatment ($17.95) or Bliss FatGirlSleep ($38).

TriActiv laser
This noninvasive device combines laser energy (to increase circulation) with suction and massage (to stimulate collagen growth). An initial series of 10 to 15 sessions can sig­nificantly reduce the appearance of cellulite, Dr. Katz says. It's not a permanent solution, though, so monthly maintenance treatments are recommended. Each treatment typically costs about $125 to $150; it's available at dermatologists' offices and day spas.

Thermage CL
Radio-frequency energy heats the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, which, in turn, stimulates new collagen growth and helps improve the elasticity of skin. You should see progressive improvement from a single treatment over six months to a year. It requires no anesthesia; the most typical side effect is temporary redness. You'll pay about $3,000 for the single treatment; it's available at medical spas and laser centers.

SmartLipo
With SmartLipo, which uses local anesthesia, a laser is inserted into the skin via a small tube to melt fat and thereby eliminate cellulite. This treatment can actually result in a permanent solution, Katz notes, since it not only removes excess fat but also tightens skin by stimulating new collagen growth. One session, ranging from $3,000 to $5,000, is needed; it should be performed by a derm or plastic surgeon.

Source

Former MTV VJ and FitCeleb Susie Castillo, 28, has been making the rounds on the motivational speaker circuit since being crowned Miss USA in 2003. Susie also wrote the new book Confidence is Queen: The Four Keys to Ultimate Beauty Through Positive Thinking.

"I gave a lot of talks about achieving goals, which helped me realize just how important inner strength is."

Here, she shares her top three tips for achieving self-esteem:

Click here to continue reading

The tiny seeds in grapes are packed with wrinkle-fighting antioxidants and super-softening oils. No wonder the fruit is turning up in so many cutting-edge skin-care products.

Guilty pleasure
A grapeseed-based oil that contains flecks of (real!) gold? Linden Leaves Gold Oil ($42.95) makes you feel rich all over.

Lavish lather
The subtly scented L'Occitane Grape Shower Oil ($22) transforms into a foam that cleanses and moisturizes.

Soap-free suds
Don't let the mousse-like texture of Caudalie Instant Foaming Cleanser ($26) fool you. This gentle, purify­ing cleanser is free of irritating soap, making it perfect for the sensitive set.

Happy hour
Finally, a cocktail that makes you look rested. Nature's Gate Have A Vine Day Chardonnay Hydrator for Daytime ($24.95) packs potent antioxidants to lift and smooth your skin.

A natural pick-me-up
Instantly revive your complexion with a spritz of Juice Beauty Hydrating Mist ($22), an organic blend of soothing white and red grape juices.

Soft touch
Wave good-bye to dry, cracked hands with Burt's Bees Thoroughly Therapeutic Honey and Grapeseed Oil  Hand Creme($10).

Mood-boosting moisture
The tangy scent of Origins Gloomaway Grapefruit Body Souffle ($27.50) revitalizes your senses, while grapeseed and apricot-kernel oils soften your skin.

Source

Health helper
The grains used to make beer contain silicon, which boosts bone density, says Katherine Tucker, PhD, a senior scientist at Tufts University. Dark beer also contains antioxidants that reduce your risk of heart disease. Enjoy up to one glass a day.

Sole soother
The yeast in beer softens weary, callused feet. Try this treatment from Milk + Honey Spa in Austin, Texas. Pour 1 bottle of lager into a tub of warm water, and soak 10 minutes. Massage 1 cup Epsom salt and the juice of 1 lime onto feet and legs. Rinse and relax.

Cook's companion
When braising meats, try adding 1 inch of brown ale (such as Newcastle) to the pan. Beer tenderizes the meat and adds great flavor, says Frances Largeman-Roth, RD, Health's senior food and nutrition editor.

Garden aid
Slugs eating your veggies? Set a beer trap, says Felder Rushing, author of Passalong Plants. Fill a container with beer, cut a small hole in the lid, and bury it in your garden; lid should be flush with the ground. Slugs, drawn to the hops, will fall in.