Could your friends be making you fat?

If your friends are on the chubby side – there’s a good chance you’ll join them there...

A study from the New England Journal of Medicine is saying we can actually “catch” obesity from our heavier close friends. They followed over 12 thousand people and determined those of us with very close friends who are obese have a 171% greater chance of winding up obese ourselves.

If you’ve got any skinny friends – you might want to visit with them a little more. The study also found that the friend-weight phenomenon can work both ways.

Every chef has a few secret ingredients...

They prepare our meals – but we rarely ever see what those chefs are really doing behind those swinging doors...

In these cases, ignorance is bliss. The Food Network got some chefs to share some of their secret ingredients:

• Recycled bread: Most of the chefs surveyed admitted that uneaten bread from one bread basket goes right into the next one.

• Food from the floor: 1 in 4 chefs said they’d pick up food that fell on the floor, cook it and serve it.

• Vegetarian meat: 15% of chefs say their veggie dishes aren’t completely vegetarian and may contain stock or sauces made from animal parts.

• Cooties: Half of the chefs surveyed confessed to cooking while they’re sick.

Got a cold sore? Get some honey!

The next time you get a cold sore or canker sore – skip the pricey medicine and try some honey first...

A Stanford University study found a dab of unpasteurized honey, applied to a mouth sore four times a day, will help it heal 43% faster than prescription meds. Here are some other great natural remedies:

• Leg cramps: A 10 ounce glass of tomato juice once a day can ease muscle tightness within 10 days.

• Bloating: Have some pineapple. It’s a natural diuretic and a cup a day can ease bloating and gassiness within 72 hours.

• Back pain: Eating a cup of grapes can relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to the damaged back tissue – often within 3 hours!

Would you like to feel happier, smarter or more awake?

If you need to think fast – stand up straight...

Our bodies react to our moods and actions – and that can work the other way around too. Psychiatrist Dr. Martin Grotjahn says, if you're not happy with the way you're feeling, change the expression on your face or your posture. When we mimic the body language of how we’d like to be feeling, our minds will shift in that direction. Here are a few more built-in body tools we can use for some adjustment:

• If you’re feeling depressed, try smiling. It's difficult to feel sad or angry when our mouths are in a smiling position.

• If you're feeling weak and listless, stand up as straight as possible - you'll feel stronger and more alert.

• If you're sleepy, open your eyes wide -- and you'll feel more awake.

• If you're disorganized and your body movements are erratic, you won't be able to think clearly. Slow down and make deliberate movements. You'll boost your focus and brain power.

• If you feel tense, close your eyes and let your arms hang limp. That'll put you in a contemplative mood and you'll feel more relaxed. Athletes and performers often do this before taking the field or stage.

If job interviews make you nervous – relax and read on...

Even seasoned job-seekers can suffer from interview jitters...

If you’re new to the interviewing world – it’s no wonder you’re worried. Some mild jitters are perfectly normal – but it’s important not to let those morph into anxiety that might interfere with your performance. Career advisor, Linda Smith-Gaston, says put yourself in the interviewer's shoes. They’re not trying to make your life miserable - they are hoping you are "the one." It’s their responsibility to find the right person for the position and the pressure is really on them.

Plenty of preparation can take the edge off too – and a dry run can do wonders. Try role-playing with a friend before the interview with a few standard questions such as:

• Why are you the best person for the job?

• Tell me about yourself.

• What are your best/worst traits?

• Why do you want to work here?

Two more interview musts: Know exactly what the company does before you interview there – and budget more time than you think you’ll need. You don’t want to feel rushed getting into or out of the interview.

Winter flakes are falling – and I don’t mean snow...

For a lot of people, the combination of overheated buildings and cold winter air results in embarrassing dandruff...

Nicholas Perricone, author of “Ageless Face, Ageless Mind,” says if you or someone you know suffers from pesky dandruff during the winter months – stock up on walnuts. Just 4 ounces of walnuts a day helps to replenish the omega-3 fatty acids and natural oils that our scalps need to stay healthy and a little less flakey in the dry season.

If you’ll be washing your whites any time soon – I’ll tell you which way to wash which whites...

Do you wash all your whites in warm water?

We found some washing wizards to weigh in with their white washing ways:

• Bedding stylist, Steven Whitehad, says we should only wash white sheets with other white items. Use warm water but skip the chlorine bleach. That just breaks down the fragile fibers and will compromise the quality of your bedding.

• Nancy Bock, of the American Cleaning Institute, says if you’re washing white towels, you can use some bleach, but not too much. She also says we should really check our washing machine’s owner’s manual and do what it says. Different models have different methods of adding bleach.

Some people are convinced they need to use hot water to wash their whites or kill germs on loads of sheets or towels. The experts say warm water is just fine. Hot water isn’t as hot as it used to be and won’t kill more germs or bacteria – but it will cause a little more wear and tear on fibers and colors.

Dry winter air means limp static hair for a lot of us...

Our hair takes a beating in the winter months...

If yours seems dried out, limp or staticky – you might need to switch your shampoo for a while. Styling expert Paul Wharton, says non-foaming and sulfate-free shampoos are a must in winter months. He also says we should be shampooing HALF as much as we usually do. Shampooing too much strips your hair of its natural oils that help to keep it looking more alive in dry winter weather. He also says to avoid rubbing your wet hair with a towel to dry it. That roughens up the cuticles and exposes them to more damage. To keep static hair in check, stick a dryer sheet in your purse or pocket. A quick swipe whenever static strikes will smooth things out.

Pineberries are coming...

Pineapples are yummy – but they’re kind of a pain to get into...

If you love fresh pineapple – but hate wrestling with one to get inside – pineberries are coming to the rescue! They’re predicted to be the new “it” fruit next summer. Pineberries are a white strawberry with red seeds. They’re smaller than the strawberries that we’re used to and they taste just like a bite-sized pineapples. Pineberries originated in South America then made their way to France. They’re short 5 week season starts in April – but their popularity has commercial growers scrambling to keep up with the European pineberry craze and get them onto more U.S. produce shelves - so we can be popping the pint sized pineapples like pros this April – and beyond.

Good mechanics are hard to find...

Do you trust your mechanic?

Finding a new one that you really trust your car and your wallet to requires some doing. Here are some things to watch out for from industry insiders:

• Watch out for scare tactics. Warnings like “I wouldn't drive this another mile” should be raise some suspicion.

• Check for AAA or ASE certification and a state license. Reptable shops proudly display them.

• Look for a clean garage. A floor cluttered with empty oil cans, worn tires, and dirty rags is a red flag.

• Never sign a blank authorization form. Always get a signed work order with a specific estimate for each job and warranties that apply.

• It's nuts to take a car with engine problems to a shop without a good engine analyzer and scan tool. Any mechanic who says 'I don't need fancy equipment' should be avoided.

• Consult your dealer before you have work done on a catalytic converter or emissions parts. Some of these items carry a very long warranty, and free replacement is often required by law.

• It's not okay for your 'check engine' light to stay on all the time. It's probably not a loose gas cap.

Some of the most popular diet foods could be RUINING your diet.

Everywhere you look there are “diet” choices available – but some of them could actually send your weight-loss routine into a tailspin...

Reader’s Digest has a list of diet stuff to beware of:

• Diet soda has fewer calories and less sugar – but research says dieters who drink it often wind up gaining weight instead of losing it.

• Artificial sweeteners can be counterproductive. Research shows they can actually make you hungrier than natural sugar.

• Light salad dressings have less fat and calories – but are usually high in sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Check the ingredients.

• Frozen diet meals can be really misleading. Check nutrition labels for high sodium - and go for the shortest list of ingredients.

• Flavored yogurt has a lot of stuff you don’t need. You’re better off with plain yogurt and real fruit or honey for flavor.

• Baked chips usually have tons of sodium, sugar, and empty calories. They’re better than fried but don’t be fooled into thinking they’re healthy.

It’s a new year – and it’s time to clean out some old stuff. I’ll tell you what to purge first...

January is a great time to purge some pills...

The American Pharmacists Association recommends a yearly prescription sweep to get rid of what could be some dangerous clutter in your medicine cabinet. Expired medication can lose potency and be less effective. Unused drugs can be used and misused when they fall into the wrong hands.

If you’ve got elderly relatives or a neighbor – it’s a good idea to offer to help them go through their medications and make sure they have a current list of active prescriptions that could be referenced in an emergency.

Once you’ve gotten rid of any unnecessary bottles and tubes – make sure you’re storing the rest the right way. They should be out of reach of children and pets, in a room with stable temperatures and lighting and LOW humidity – which usually means NOT in the bathroom.

Do you play games at work?

If your workdays feel dull or tedious at times – a little distraction may be in order...

According to a recent survey conducted by GSN Digital, nearly 80 percent of respondents who play online games during the workday said they feel more focused on work as a result of periodic mental breaks associated with game play.

59% of people who admitted to playing games at work say they play for 30 minutes or less. We’re still waiting for the percentage results of respondents still tending their virtual gardens, crops, castles and cities.

Are brown eggs healthier than white eggs?

If you’ve heard that brown eggs are healthier than white – you were lied to...

Victoria Shanta Retelny, author of “The Essential Guide to Healthy Healing Foods,” says even though the brown eggs usually cost more, the nutrients are the same as those found in the white variety. Here are a few more food myths worth busting:

• MYTH: Turkey bacon has less fat and sodium than the regular stuff.

TRUTH: turkey is a leaner meat than pork – but you have to be careful of what is added to make the turkey taste like bacon. The salt, fat and even the calories may be the same, if not higher.

• MYTH: Fresh produce is healthier than frozen.

TRUTH: If it’s out-of-season, go with frozen. Fresh fruit out-of-season has been stored and shipped long distances and loses a lot of nutrients. Frozen fruit is frozen at peak ripeness, locking nutrients in.

 

• MYTH: Low-fat or sugar-free cookies are the smarter option.

TRUTH: If you are going to eat a cookie or treat, go for a small amount of the real thing, and you’ll be much more satisfied. The sugar-free or fat-free varieties often leave you wanting more – and they probably don’t save as many calories as you think.

• MYTH: Margarine is better than butter.

TRUTH: Depending on the type of margarine you buy, you may be spreading your toast with something more harmful than butter. Keep in mind that margarine and butter have about same amount of fat and calories.

If you’d like to look a little younger, or older, I’ve got some wardrobe suggestions for you...

What we wear can speak volumes about our sense of style – and our age...

Real Simple Magazine asked some styling pros – and these are the items that have got to go:

• Below-the-knee skirts, bow blouses, and pearls can be vogue when worn individually. Put them all together – and you’ve got Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie.

• Tying a silk scarf stewardess-style or draping it over one shoulder is an instant-ager -- even if the thing cost as much as your iPad. Try it backwards, in place of a necklace.

• Visible panty lines or an unsupportive bra can add decades to your look.

• That giant catch-all purse has got to go. Keep it in the car if you must – but pack a smaller more stylish one in there to tote your essentials. It will lighten your load – and your look.

• All-white sneakers can have an orthopedic look. Find a pair with a little color.

• That bracelet, earrings and pendant may have been sold as a set – but wearing them all together looks old. Try for contrasting baubles that complement each other.