Berry season is right around the corner, and if a big bowl of strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries didn’t excite you before, maybe this news will: eating at least two servings of berries per week can help delay age-related memory loss in women. A recent Harvard study followed 16,010 women over the age of 70, finding those who ate berries slowed memory loss by almost three years . Researchers cite the plethora of antioxidants packed into these small fruits as being the reason. If preventing memory loss weren’t enough, here are five more reasons why you should up your berry intake. They help with weight loss : Berries are loaded with the antioxidant anthocyanin, which has been shown to alter the activity of genes found in human fat cells, making it more difficult to put on weight. Blueberries, specifically, have been shown to diminish stubborn belly fat . They are good for your brain : Investigators with the US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston found that the polyphenols in berries help the part of the brain that takes care of regular maintenance and “housekeeping.” Blueberries and strawberries were said to contain the most polyphenols. They are good for your eyes : Berries, especially blueberries and raspberries, contain lutein, which is important for healthy eyes and sharp vision. They help protect against disease : Berries are brimming with carotenoids, an antioxidant that has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Other phytonutrients in berries have been shown to protect against heart disease, diabetes, and arthritis. Those deep hues pay off tenfold when it comes to maintaining the health of your body. They help slow down the aging process : The powerful antioxidants in berries prevent free radical damage in your body, and less free radical damage means slowing down the aging process to help you live longer! Amped up for berry season yet? Mix things up by making one of these healthy berry recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktail hour!

Health reasons to stop using Vaseline on your lips and skin – Blisstree Safe ways to get your yoga on and stay injury-free – HuffPost Healthy Living What to order to keep Chinese takeout healthy – Shape Work out the kinks at your desk with these office-approved stretches – Real Simple Yum! Tortilla lasagna is low in calories and big on taste – Vegetarian Times The sad truth behind a broken heart and related health problems – Yahoo! Shine

Avoid sugary foods. Cut back on carbohydrates. Skip dessert. If you’re at all interested in weight management and well being, you’ve probably been advised to follow one or all of these adages. But, how you apply this advice is as important as whether you follow it at all. For instance, if you avoid wholesome fruits Related posts: Healthy Shopping for Organic Food Whole Grains and Organic Vegetables Pesticide Shopping Guide

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Prevention here on FitSugar! Is your food loaded with toxins and chemicals? Here, simple swaps to protect yourself By Anne Underwood Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they’re organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today’s food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what’s safe – or not – to eat. We asked them a simple question: “What foods do you avoid?” Their answers don’t necessarily make up a “banned foods” list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health – and peace of mind. The Best Packaged Foods to Shop For 1. Canned Tomatoes Fredrick Vom Saal, PhD, an endocrinologist at the University of Missouri who studies bisphenol-A, gives us the scoop: The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people’s body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. “You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that’s a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young,” says vom Saal. “I won’t go near canned tomatoes.” The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings), such as the brands Bionaturae and Coluccio. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes, like Trader Joe’s and Pomi. Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe. Low-Sodium Alternative Dinner Options Keep reading to three more foods to avoid.

Television commercials advertising chewing gum tend to focus on superficial reasons to use their products. Often times, flavor is the central selling point. Fresher breath is frequently cited as part of the sales pitch as well. Lately, other novel marketing strategies such as multiple flavors per pack and unexpected flavors such as apple pie, mint-chip Related posts: Xylitol for Dental Health Chewing Gum for Stress Relief Erythritol and Xylitol News Green Tea and Periodontal Disease Best Of Aromatherapy News

Boo-tifully delicious Halloween cookies PopSugar LA: get a color change at Demi Moore’s favorite nail salon Simple tip: leftover melted chocolate makes easy bark Muppets OPI nail polish: see the best colors! Books to help us understand domestic violence Channel Fall’s Anglo trend like a prep-school pro Cheap and cheerful sofa facelifts – starting at $40 See the Pretty Little Liars dressed up for Halloween! Getting back on budget: how to escape a downward spiral 5 toppings and stir-ins that make yogurt healthier Howl-oween photos of pups with pumpkins Halloween costumes for Internet meme addicts Pink cozies up to baby Willow on set Video: Lindsay Lohan handcuffed and jailed for violating probation

13 ideas for cooking the surprising superfood bell pepper – DailySpark Just in time for Halloween: 6 health reasons to eat candy – Self Good news for red wine lovers: it may stop breast cancer growth! – Shape The ups and downs of paleo pancakes – Fitnessista Listeria recall expands; bagged lettuce recalled too – Prevention Gluten-free goodies that kids and adults will love for Halloween – Fit Bottomed Girls Satisfy your sweet tooth with these guilt-free snacks – Real Simple Get baking with this skinny snickerdoodle recipe – Vitamin G Healthy and tasty grillables: barbecue chicken burgers – Peanut Butter Fingers Source: Flickr User chascar

Some nights, you can’t resist your craving for an ooey-gooey bite of your favorite pizza. A basic slice of cheese pizza clocks in around 270 calories , but if you order your pie with toppings, check out how many calories they add to your slice.

After pregnancy and giving birth, I now understand what all the fuss is about kegel exercises. I thought strengthening my pelvic floor muscles was about improving my sex life (which isn’t top on your to-do list when your belly is expanding), but when I laughed and more came out of me than roaring giggles, I started doing kegels right then and there. Moms and mothers-to-be aren’t the only ones dealing with bladder control issues. Some women experience issues below the waist when they work out. Geez. As if chafing, bacne, and blisters weren’t enough on the list of unwanted side effects of exercise. Now we can add incontinence. When you exercise, the pressure in your abdomen increases, which puts extra pressure on your bladder , so it makes sense that a little wee might leak out. Other types of movements that put pressure on the bladder such as sneezing, coughing, and laughing can also cause dribbles. This is known as stress incontinence , and the good news is that there are ways to prevent it. Keep reading to learn how.

You got up early, grabbed a quick snack, slipped on your sports bra, and headed out for a half-hour run. You burned a whopping 295 calories! Check out the list below to see what Summer treats you can feel good about indulging in after your awesome workout. Half cup of Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla Ice Cream: 230 calories One cup Haagen-Daz Raspberry Sorbet: 240 calories Medium Dunkin’ Donuts Caramel Mocha Iced Coffee with cream: 260 calories 16 oz. Starbucks Strawberry Smoothie: 280 calories Four twin popsicles: 184 calories Six cups of watermelon: 276 calories One slice of cheese pizza: 272 calories Half a soft pretzel: 244 calories Veggie burger with cheese: 300 calories There are more treats, so read more to see what else you can enjoy.