Snooki’s writing a book, but who is going to read it?

8 essential vitamins for us ladies.

Maaajor cuteness at TJ Maxx/Marshall’s right now!

When your mom wants to be cool….. (AKA, Dina Lohan Syndrome)

Shia Labeouf’s got beef with who?!

5 steps to being a sexier new you!

Kanye kicked ASS on SNL this weekend!

Are you a working student? Here’s some motivation to keep on keepin’ on.

As we all head back into our routine of late night partying studying, coffee seems to be the obvious pick-me-up to get us out of bed and into life come morning time. You know a venti glass of water isn’t going to give you the necessary push to get you through that 8am lecture.

Yet, with more and more scientific studies rolling through (each one conflicting with the one before it), many are starting to wonder if coffee is really helping or hurting the mind and body. So, before you pick up another pot cup of java, consider these pros and cons cited from the Pacific Northwest Foundation.

PROS

1. “Caffeine speeds up fat metabolism during exercise while conserving glycogen and glucose thereby maintaining brain activity and reducing hunger.”

Wait, coffee actually makes your workouts more efficient, allowing you to burn more calories and kick those hunger pangs? Jackelyn says: Hollaaaa! Although, be careful – too much caffeine and exercise can make you feel jittery and result in poor performance. But a nice cup of coffee before hitting the gym could be just the boost your body needs.

2. “Coffee may reduce the incidence of kidney stones by increasing the flow of urine and decreasing its concentration.”

Even if you haven’t had one, anyone who knows anything understands that kidney stones can hurt. A lot. If coffee can help prevent the pain I say, “bring on the lattes!” Read More »

If you’ve been a CollegeCandy reader for some time, you know we run our Intro to Cooking series every week, where even the most kitchen-shy co-ed can find easy, yummy recipes to please her suitemates (and sweet tooth!). Well, we’ve changed up the syllabus for Intro to Cooking: you’ll still get the fabulous recipes you love, but we’ll be including background nutritional info on specific ingredients that are must-haves in every college girl’s pantry.

This week’s ingredient: Kale!

If you’re sick of spinach and balk at Brussels sprouts, kale may just be the leafy-green vegetable for you! It’s a sweeter vegetable that is jam-packed with nutrients for very few calories. Among it’s all-star roster of vitamins are A, K, and C (just 2oz will give you more than your recommended daily value) as well as manganese, calcium, fiber, and iron. And at 70 calories per serving, you can’t miss.

Easy Meals

1. Liven up your omelet by adding chopped kale (available in the frozen foods aisle for convenience) and some goat cheese to two eggs, and serve with salsa.
2. Coat some kale leaves with extra virgin olive oil, set on a baking tray and bake at 375 for 10 minutes for crispy, crunchy kale chips.
3. Wrap some deli meat (turkey is my fave!) around your kale chips for extra protein. Read More »

Talking with your doctor isn’t always easy. Whether you are afraid she will judge you, you just don’t feel comfortable sharing the intimate details of your life between the sheets, or you can’t think straight with a speculum between your legs, many people get tight lipped in the doctor’s office. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have questions.

We thought we’d help and every Thursday our friend Dr. Lissa Rankin will be answering your questions. The ones you couldn’t ask your doctor in person. Just leave your questions in the comments, or send em over to us. (We’ll keep it all anonymous for you.) Dr. Lissa will answer anything – really, anything – about sex and other lady things. Don’t be shy; she’s waiting for ya!

Q: I know it’s pretty typical in college, but I always feel tired and lethargic.  I try to eat as healthy as I can, but even adding nuts and more protein to my diet isn’t working. I was wondering if you had any ideas of things I could do (specific vitamins/things I should be eating) that will help me feel more awake and less foggy on a day to day basis. Thank you.

A: If you’re feeling tired much of the day, you’re not alone. Fatigue and lack of energy are probably the most common reason patients come to see me at CLEAR Center of Health (www.clearcenterofhealth.com), the integrative health center where I work.  Even if the rest of your life is going brilliantly, if you feel tired all the time, it’s enough to sap you of your mojo.

While it may be tempting to grab a triple shot caramel macchiato to get you through, that’s only going to make matters worse. Here are a few natural tips to help you feel more vital. Read More »

Dr. Mark Hyman is the best doctor you’ve never met. He is a best selling author and is smart yet realistic with his approach to health, wellness and weight. CollegeCandy got the chance to talk to him about all things health that you should know.

After reading his book UltraMetabolism, Dr. Hyman had me convinced to follow his 3 week detox. It seemed impossible, but I figured if Britney could make a successful comeback when all odds were stacked against her, then surely I could follow this seemingly impossible feat for 3 weeks, no sweat. No dairy, no gluten, nothing artificial, nothing processed, no simple sugars, no peanuts, no eggs. No CAFFEINE. What?!

It’s been a challenge and while I’ve had a few slip ups here and there, this chick right here who was going to Starbucks twice a day is now sipping… decaf. I’m not bloated, my skin does not look like I belong in 7th grade and I wake up in the morning with energy. Such a weird concept, I know. I urge you to read this interview then pick up UltraMetabolism and his newest book, The UltraMind Solution and give it a try.

And even if you don’t, at least promise me you will give up the Splenda and 100 calorie packs. Read More »

So you’re on your way to the beach to have the greatest spring break ever. You’ve worked hard to get that body bikini-ready all semester long, and now you’re ready to show it off.

You could pack chips, sandwiches and candy to get you through those grueling hours of sunbathing, but why not bring along some yummy nutrition bars that help your figure and make your taste buds happy?

Here are my recommended top 5:

Gnu Flavor and Fiber Bars

Does your mouth water every time you smell the cinnabons at the mall? Do you have a hard time not finishing the whole bag of raisins once you start? If either of those apply to you, then you’ll love the Cinnamon Raisin bar. It’s only 130 calories and gives you 12g of fiber, already half of what you need per day! It is definitely my favorite, with Chocolate Brownie coming in second. The Banana Walnut is good for all you nut-lovers out there, and the Peanut Butter is a great substitute for everyone’s favorite (and surprisingly high calorie) PB&J sandwich. Plus, your heart will be thanking you for the lack of added sugar and artificial ingredients. All-natural, all the way.

Pros: flavor, fiber, and filling!

Cons: The price. And the Orange Cranberry bar. It was very… citrusy. Read More »

The letter D is the fourth letter of the alphabet. It’s also one of the most important things you want for your body so your bones don’t deteriorate and so you don’t look like one of those Twilight vampires.

What do I mean, you ask? Well, I’m talking about vitamins. Specifically, Vitamin D.

Did you know that this D-elightful vitamin increases calcium absorption and thereby helps encourage healthy bone growth? It has shown promise in helping to prevent certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and osteoarthritis.

The Institute of Medicine currently recommends an Adequate Intake (AI) of Vitamin D of 200 International Units (IU) for adults under age 50 (that means you!). As new studies continue to showcase vitamin D’s potential benefits, more scientists are calling for increased recommendations, some suggesting as much as 1,000 IU!

That number seems high at first, but considering that a fair-skinned person can manufacture 15,000 IU or more of vitamin D in as little as 30 minutes of sun exposure, it’s not that hard to get. In case you don’t like the outdoors, though (or it’s just too cold during winter), here are some easy ways to make sure you get enough D in your life: Read More »

“Americans for Prosperity” push their  no stimulus petition.

Martha Stewart doesn’t like your family and your clutter.

The science of smooching.

Westminster pups get the LOL effect.

Runway looks for under $100!

Got milk? Chris Brown doesn’t.

Crimped hair is back… I wish I were joking.

The Jolie-Pitt angels terrorize a hotel.

Katherine Heigl, and T.R Knight quit Grey’s. Say it ain’t so!

7 deadly dating sins and how to avoid them.

Who needs vitamins?

Whenever I’m tired I run to my nearest Starbucks for a Venti coffee. Or, if I’m desperate, to the local 7-11 for a Sugar Free Red Bull. Those trusty little guys have gotten me through many a finals, hangovers and long days of class.

But maybe I’ve been doing it all wrong. Maybe instead of dumping my hard earned cash into coffee and energy drinks I should have turned to placentas. Mmmm. That’s what men and women are doing in Japan. Health spas have popped up all over the place offering people an IV drip of various vitamins and placenta extracts to improve the health and body of the recipient.

Even men are getting a daily dose of placenta juice.

According to some, placenta is good for treating fatigue, menopause, healing wounds and even restoring liver cells! It’s like a wonder drug; a cureall! Except that it’s gross. I mean, it’s placenta. You know, the gross stuff that comes out after a baby?

I don’t care if that stuff causes immediate weight loss and the ability to make me look like Blake Lively; there is no way in hell someone is pumping some woman’s placenta into my arm.

Would you do it?

Where other energy drinks barely deliver what they advertise – giving you a quick rush accompanied by a feeling of spacey-ness and lack of concentration – E-Boost picks you up while providing the B12 necessary to boost your mental alertness and immunity levels.

I’ve never been a coffee drinker and energy drinks are either too surgery, giving me a pounding headache or taste like ass but E-Boost tastes great (very similar to orange-flavored Gatorade or Tang!).

I never realized how unproductive I am between 11:30AM and my 2PM lunch break until I threw down a packet of E-Boost. It allowed me to properly organize the day’s tasks and start knocking them off from top to bottom. I was a first time user that got hooked right away. Read More »