We already know that beer does a body good, but you can’t have alcohol without food, so ditch that late night pizza and indulge some late night chocolate instead.

Here’s why:

Chocolate is good for your heart.

A bar of chocolate helps lower your blood pressure and cholesterol AND reduces your risk of heart disease. Start thinking about these things now, so in 40 years that’s at least two less pills you’ll have to be popping.

Chocolate stimulates endorphins and serotonin.

Endorphins are hormones that give us a sense of pleasure. They’re allegedly released when we exercise (I’m skeptical), and also when we have sex (this, I can believe). Eating chocolate also has the same effect. Serotonin is a natural antidepressant, which may help to explain why we ladies crave chocolate so much when we’re premenstrual.

Chocolate is rich in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are crucial for killing off free radicals that roam around your body trying to wreak havoc on your cells. Cacao, the base substance of chocolate, contains 8 times as many antioxidants as strawberries. (New diet plan: chocolate covered strawberries all the time. Hello, 100th birthday!)

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[Is it just me or is there another “revolutionary” new makeup product introduced every freaking day?! Just walking into Ulta or Sephora (or even Walgreens!) sends many chicas into fits of hysteria, reaching for the nearest brown bag to regulate their breathing. It’s all so overwhelming.

So how can you know which product – among the sea of thousands – is the best? Which does what you need it to do? Which ones are worth the extra money? Let me help. I don’t know every beauty product out there, but I’ve tested a lot of them and I’ll let you know which are worth the money and which are not.]

(Disclaimer: This product was provided to me for review purposes)

What it is: Korres Raspberry Liquid Lipsticks

“Cooling, water-based liquid lipstick rich in line-smoothing, antioxidant Raspberry & Pomegranate extracts to protect against free-radical damage and smooth lip lines for softer, more youthful looking lips.” Comes in 5 shades.

Why this should be in your bag: I love lipstick and lipgloss and this new product by Korres is almost a hybrid. Korres is known for putting out great quality products using lots of natural ingredients, Raspberry Liquid Lipsticks included. They’re chock full of antioxidants and extracts to keep you looking your best. More compact than a lipstick, but delivering super intense color, they are a great option for those on the go. I also find they apply easier than a lipstick and, similar to lots of glosses, don’t require a mirror or intense concentration to apply. They leave your lips colorful and super-shiny. Read More »

This post provided by college nutritionist, author, and all around excellent source of healthful info, Melanie Jatsek.

If I were to tell you that eating certain foods in the right combination will make you more alert and focused, would you give them a try?  How about if I told you that some of your food choices are literally draining your brain power? Would you think twice before chowin’ down on them?

The bad news – it’s true!
The good news – you don’t have to completely overhaul your diet in order to get results.

Three factors influence what I like to call your “brain power”:  meal composition (the foods that make up your meal), meal size and meal frequency. Allow me to break it all down for you: Read More »

Summer is winding down, school is starting up, alumni are still doing the same-sh*t-different-day dance. In summary, the end of August kind of blows. Which is why this week’s Intro to Cooking is throwing nutrition to the wind (sort of), because it’s time for something indulgent!

The Ingredient: Dark Chocolate

In truth, dark chocolate IS good for you. In small servings, it can lower blood pressure, due to its richness in antioxidants. Why the dark stuff, over its milk- and white-chocolate sisters? Researchers think that the milk found in the latter two varieties may temper with the body’s absorption of the healthful nutrients found in pure chocolate.

Easy recipes (do you really need an excuse?)

* Pair a few pieces with a glass of red wine (more antioxidants!) for a refined evening snack.
* Mix 2 tablespoons agave nectar with 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder for a healthier alternative to chocolate dip, and serve over pieces of apples, raspberries, and bananas.
* Toss some dark chocolate pieces in a baggie with almonds, goji berries, walnuts, and peanuts for an upscale, super-tasty trail mix for those really hectic days.

The Recipe: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
Whoever discovered the combination of chocolate and peanut butter should be given the Nobel Prize, for their contribution to countless moments of decadent dessert bliss. So if you want a cupcake that is truly a religious experience (seriously, just look at that photo), pull out this recipe from Food & Wine, and you’ll be praying to the chocolate gods in no time. Read More »

It’s officially fall, and I’m going bananas over pumpkins right now. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin pie blizzards, pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks; you name it I’m obsessing over it.  Simply the aroma of pumpkin pie baking in the kitchen is enough to send me over the edge. There is a valid reason for that, however. Well, at least for men.

According to Dr. Alan Hirsh, there is a significant connection between Thanksgiving and sex. The mere scent of pumpkin pie alone increases blood flow to a man’s penis by 40%, therefore increasing his sexual appetite. Just another reason for us women to learn how to bake, am I right, ladies?

But sexual stimulation is not the only benefit of this staple fall fruit (yes, it is a fruit). Pumpkins are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. And one cup of pumpkin will only dock you 50 points from your daily calorie intake. Also, pumpkin seeds are chock-full of protein, not to mention magically delicious. Read More »

Mmmm. When it hits your lips....

Happy National Coffee Day! You know Americans have a serious caffeine addiction when they single out an entire day in which to celebrate it. But before you check your jittery and wide-eyed self into rehab, let’s take a moment to consider the benefits of that aromatic Americano you pick up every morning at your local Starbucks.

First and foremost, coffee produces mental alertness. A pumpkin spice latte in the morning wakes you up, energizes you and improves performance, both academically and, I imagine, in the sack. And it’s legal and socially acceptable. So go on and abuse it, weary college student, no ones judging you.

Coffee is the drink of the escape artist. Things in the library getting too intense for your liking? Escape to the coffee shop for a breather. The thought of spinach in your teeth on a first dinner date worrying you? Ask him to get a casual cup of coffee instead. If avoidance is your game, coffee is your salvation.

Plus it’s loaded up with antioxidants, which are so hot right now. A cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin in the morning will make your skin a no-fly zone for free radicals.

On the same token, coffee has been proven to protect against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Evidence to be found here, here and here. So, in essence, coffee is basically the caffeinated polar opposite of Diet Coke, which will kill you, apparently.

And last but not least, a cup of coffee will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. Which, if you’re wondering, is the caffeine stimulating your bowels. Yummy.

Coffee is a lifestyle choice. Consumers of this drug, excuse me, drink of choice come together in coffee shops across the nation and discuss life, love and why over a steaming cup of their favorite brand of brain food. So celebrate this day with your loved ones, and then hit the bathroom immediately after.

New Year’s Eve, many moons ago, I spent the end of the evening hugging the toilet at my parents’ house. I recall my mother saying, in that all-too-knowing tone, “See Blair, alcohol is poison.”

“Thanks, Mom. Blahhhhh!”

At that moment, while I agreed completely, I still felt like telling her to shut up. I needed her back there holding my hair, not scolding me for drinking “poison.”

Never would I have imagined – in my wildest dreams! – later reading articles boasting, “Alcohol is Good for You!”

But here we are in 2009 and it’s been proven that wine, and now beer and liquor, provide certain benefits to the body. Read More »

You pry your eyes open as the blaring sound of your alarm clock echoes the throbbing in your head and wonder why your alarm is going off at such an ungodly hour on a Sunday when you suddenly realize, “Sh*t! Brunch with the ‘rents!”

You fling yourself out of bed as quickly as your hungover ass will let you, and as you glance at yourself in the mirror you realize that hangover is written all over your haggard face. You’ve got 10 minutes to pull yourself together and look fabulously fresh so that your folks don’t know the amount of liquor you consumed the night before (and don’t forget that greasy pizza at 2 a.m.). What do you do? Don’t fret – with a few products from Clinique, this feat is a lot easier than it sounds.

I’m personally a fan of Clinique because it’s non-comedogenic (which means it has ingredients that do not clog the pores or lead to breakouts), allergy tested and fragrance free. It’s the first skin care line developed by a dermatologist and has been using the same formulas since it was first released in 1968. I also love that it’s a more budget-friendly prestige line and offers up high-end products at much lower prices than many other upscale lines. Read More »

Not sure what to get your boytoy for Christmas or Hanukkah this year? Why not get him the gift that (supposedly) keeps on giving—a life supply of pomegranate juice?

University of California scientists have gone a step further with the whole “pomegranate juice is totally healthy” theory. According to a study that tested “53 men with impotence problems”, the antioxidants in pomegranate juice (which “increase blood supply to the genitals”) helped nearly half of the study participants perform better in the bedroom.

Besides possibly helping dudes everywhere satisfy their mate in the bedroom, pomegranate juice has also “been associated with reducing the risk of heart disease and preventing prostate cancer.”

With all this great research behind it, why not buy some pomegranate juice for all the men in your life this year? (just block out whole better-than-Viagra part when it comes to your dad) It’s tasty, healthy, and has a festive red color, making it perfect for holiday stocking stuffers! Read More »