Category Archives: Beauty & Health

It’s easy to disregard urine as waste because you flush it down the toilet every single day. But your urine is a lot more valuable than you think, so it’s time to take another look at the toilet bowl.

Dr. Howard Miller, a urologist at the Mount Nittany Physician Group, says the color, smell and appearance of urine can be clues into your overall health.

“Most individuals want to aim for urine that is a clear, pale yellow with no strong odors as this indicates a healthy and well-hydrated state,” he says.  “Darker yellow and strong [smelling] urine may indicate that one’s body isn’t getting enough water.” Continue reading →

An ancient Ayurvedic Indian system of healing, originating from the Vedic culture of India, is teaching us a completely “new” way to go about oral hygiene – not to mention a supposedly natural way of whitening teeth. Oil pulling has become a major health craze here in the U.S. as of late, but many people have never heard of this remedy. So what is it exactly?

Oil pulling is a practice in which you take a spoonful of coconut oil or sesame oil and swish it around in your mouth, going back and forth from the front to the back of your teeth for 20 minutes. Once the 20 minutes is up, spit the oil into a trashcan, not the sink because it can clog the drain if it solidifies. Oil pulling helps remove unwanted bacteria in your mouth, so once you’re finished with the process, make sure to thoroughly rinse your mouth out. Continue reading →

Just because spring break is over doesn’t mean that you should be taking Pokey Sticks and pints of Ben & Jerry’s to the face. This chia seed pudding is so light, fresh and sweet that it practically tastes like summer on your tongue. The recipe comes from Giada de Laurentiis and Food Network magazine.  It is perfect as morning meal or even as a dessert replacement when you are having a sugar craving. And the best part? It’s less than 200 calories. Continue reading →