It may officially be summertime, but many of us still aren’t getting enough of that fabulous “sunshine vitamin,” vitamin D.

Vitamin D helps prevent osteoporosis, depression, and prostate and breast cancers. Vitamin D levels in the body have also been shown to affect diabetes and obesity. So it’s one of the most important - yet underrated - nutrients around, and the sad fact is that most of us (myself included!) are deficient in it. A recent blood test at my doctor’s office showed that my vitamin D levels were almost HALF of what they should be!

Our bodies naturally produce vitamin D when sunlight touches our skin — hence the nickname “the sunshine vitamin.” But unfortunately, most of us don’t get enough sun these days to generate the amount of vitamin D our bodies need.

Many people avoid the sun due to skin cancer concerns, or they …read more of Sunshine in a Pill: Vitamin D here

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t experience stress from time to time, and for some people, hard-core stress has become a part of their daily lives.

A lot of us have just excepted that we’re super stressed out and that’s the way it has to be. But I’m here to tell you that that’s a myth! Can you avoid stress for the rest of your life? Absolutely not. But can you reduce your stress, and more importantly, change the way you REACT to your stress? Absolutely!

Here are 3 tips to help you manage your stress levels. They may seem like small steps, but I promise you: if practiced regularly, these tools can help you reduce your stress, feel more inner peace, and feel more balanced and energized overall.

Tip #1 - Stress doesn’t happen to us because of other people, other events, or outside circumstances. At this point lot of people are thinking I’m crazy here, but let me explain: Stress is just your REACTION to a situation, person, or event, and we have a choice whether or not we want to feel stressed. …read more of Holistic Solutions for Stress Management here

Coffee is a hot topic among health experts and java drinkers alike. Proponents of the brew claim it’s heart-healthy because coffee beans have antioxidants, can lower your risk of diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, and help with headaches (along with a slew of other random health benefits being touted online).

But others argue that it messes with hormonal levels, increases cortisol levels (the “stress hormone” that can lead to weight gain, heart disease, and diabetes), can worsen insomnia, and let’s not forget how addictive it is!

Whatever your thoughts on coffee are, no one can argue that too much of it is a good thing. In general, I recommend keeping to one cup a day or less. …read more of Coffee: A Healthy Brew? here

I recently attended the “Green Product Expo” in Times Square. Open only to the media, the expo showcased new, innovative, eco-inspired products of all kinds.

From cloth diapers to organic vodka, there were fun green products galore!

Here are some of my favorite eco-treats that I encountered at the Expo:

Green Girl Tote Bags: Unlike some other re-usable eco-bags, these totes are cute enough to be mistaken for a fashionable handbag. Green Girl’s stylish bags are lightweight-yet-sturdy, large without being bulky, and have a comfortable strap that stays put on your shoulder. …read more of New Green Products here

The skin is the largest organ in the body, and it’s responsible for a large percentage of our body’s daily detoxification. Our skin alone eliminates over a pound of waste acids each day! But sometimes toxins get stuck in the subcutaneous fat and fibrous tissue underneath our skin, increasing cellulite, causing lymphatic fluid build-up, and creating an overall imbalance in the body.

You can assist your skin in the detoxification process (and therefore help your body to “breathe” a little easier) in just a couple minutes each day by doing a simple technique known as “dry brushing.” Dry brushing is an easy way to stimulate detoxification by providing your body with a gentle internal massage from the outside in.

Have you ever seen those long, wooden brushes with natural hairs in the drugstore or health food shop? …read more of Sensational Skin: The Detoxifying Benefits of Dry Brushing here