I bet you have a few habits you would like to break, or better yet, a few personal traits – maybe anxiety or depression -- that you would love to kick to the curb, too. Hey, we all do! Those ticks are just part of our pesky human existence. Luckily there are various tools we all can use to help ease the excess stress we face every day. One great tool is meditation.

We all want to lose a few pounds to look smashing in our swimsuits or squeeze into that adorable pair of skinny jeans. Most women -- and many men -- are perpetually self-conscious about our muffin top or bulging thighs. In the case of people who are truly overweight or obese, however, the concern over weight is about more than just vanity. If you're one of these folks -- and there are millions in the United States -- losing as little as ten pounds can literally help save your life, or at least, extend it by a few years. So, instead of obsessing over how you look in the mirror, think about the health consequences of excess body fat and what you can do create a leaner, healthier you. 

My great-aunt Marlene lived to see 96, but she wasn't really present for the final five years. She didn't remember my sister, my father or me when we went to visit her at her nursing home in the Bronx -- although she was always thrilled to see us, she would take several guesses at our names before we finally revealed our true identities, and meaningful conversation was nearly impossible. It must have been difficult for Marlene to live in such a cloudy world, and I hope not to suffer the same fate. Some cognitive decline may be inevitable in old age, but there are also numerous tactics to keep your mind sharp and have a healthy brain for life -- and you bet I'm using them.

It’s Monday morning: is your head groggy, your attitude foul and your mood lower than a lizard’s belly? Did you have trouble waking up, getting up, staying up and perking up? Would you turn around and go back to bed right now if you could? Are you snapping at your dog, your computer or your co-workers?

Each year, America invests nearly $1 billion on non-prescriptive digestive remedies. From fizzy drinks and tablets to syrups and powders, antacids are often just as necessary in the pantry as salt and pepper. The amount of money spent on digestion problems shows that we’ve come to accept it as a part of daily life. It doesn’t--and shouldn’t--have to be this way. Food combining is an underrated, albeit extremely effective, part of the puzzle to solve our digestive woes.

Last fall, many people were outraged when Stanford researchers concluded that organic food was no better because the nutrient content did not surpass conventionally grown crops. Those of us who recommend organic foods were furious that they had missed the point and misled the public.  Indeed if you read between the lines the study revealed an 81 percent lower incidence of pesticide residues in the organic foods. Nowhere is this distinction more important than when it comes to preparing for conception and during pregnancy. 

You may know it for being the most expensive spice in the world and a rare addition to home-cooked meals, but saffron is no stranger to various cultures around the globe, or to the world of nutrition. The reddish-golden colored spice packs a host of health benefits and is one of nature’s most powerful herbs.

The Environmental Working Group's 2013 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce helps consumers navigate the most- and least-pesticide sprayed fruits and vegetables. The guide also helps consumers shopping for the small children in their lives find the healthiest options for babies, too.

If you scour the internet (or your local health club), you’ll find a lot of conflicting information about when the best time of the day is to exercise. However, there really is no straightforward answer to this question. While studies may point us in one direction, the fact remains that an effective workout is also very individual and depends on your personal lifestyle. Here are some important considerations to keep in mind when planning the time of day you hit the ground running.

Showing up on time is an ability you must master if you want to be considered an adult. Millions of adults arrive on time daily despite bad traffic, breakfast spills or morning mishaps – and you can to. If you’re one of those people that can never show up on time anywhere, you probably don’t realize how much this tacky characteristic is negatively affecting your life. Some ill effects of chronic lateness are obvious, such as the train you miss because you couldn’t get ready quick enough, or the friends you piss off because you held up the entire group from eating for half an hour.