Have I told you lately that I love almond milk. It's such a wonderful creation. Who needs to drink cow-udder juice? YUCK! Anyway, so here is just one more reason you should pass on the stuff and drink some water or throw some almond milk in your cereal! Skim milk, even more markedly than other cow's milk is associated with teen acne! And the dairy producers funded this so you know it must be true if they got bad results and had to publish them since clearly I'm sure it's not what they were going for in conducting the study. 

For years now we've been told that coffee and its caffeine should only be enjoyed in moderation because it's unhealthy, then the next week we're told it's healthy, the next week it's' not again! Well, on that roller coaster again is a study that says that coffee may indeed have a health benefit after all–if you consider a longer life a health benefit! 

I'll take it! Enjoy your java this weekend! To Life–longer ones!

Read more about the Health Benefits of Coffee!

In April this year a study was published that showed that basically women who ate berries a couple times a week slowed their cognitive decline by 2.5 years! So toss some berries in the blender in your next morning shake! 

To me this just shows how important eating healthy really is and how we can get our bodies to perform better by a diet high in fruits and veggies!!! Show me a study that says eating cow parts will do this for ya!

Read the study here!

My boss at work actually sent this video to me and I thought it was so moving. Have a look and when you take a bite of your burger or indulgence, remember that most of our favorite celebs are photoshopped!

I read an article recently telling people that taking pain medication is actually not good for you and though it relieves the pain temporarily, that it actually does you a disservice by prolonging time it takes to heal. I wish I had that article to cite to. Anyway, it said that massage was probably the most effective way to relieve the pain. Here are an additional 6 natural methods to relieve pain, courtesy of Prevention Magazine!

Check out these two great articles (here and here) explaining to all you haters why we don't need meat to survive. In fact, based on the anatomy of our bods, we shouldn't even be eating it! Yes, our ancestors did. But we aren't hunter-gatherers anymore and we have plenty of veggies to go around!

I recently received Marika's Miracles Slimming Capri Legging in the mail. Being on the heels of wedding season I am determined to get back in the fabulous shape I was for my wedding. Feeling not at my best at the moment, these came at the perfect time for me to put the leggings to good use. 

I threw them on immediately and loved them. They are the equivalent of working out with a supportive friend except instead of compliments these pants suck in your problem areas. Okay, for those of you who know me, you probably want to smack me. I am a pretty thin girl and having just gotten off the phone with my friend she assured me that I am not the target demographic. But we all have our insecurities, right? I just love how they are tight and supportive. I think these are perfect if you're going back to the gym after say a little hiatus and just need a little boost of confidence to make you not feel like a fat ass in kickboxing next to everyone else who seems so perfectly toned. 

To buy Marika's Slimming Capri or to check out other products by Marika, visit the Marika website. 

*I received these pants for free as I mentioned for review purposes but I did not receive any other compensation. All opinions herein are my own. They are not always positive but are always my own! Toodles!*

One new study just found that popcorn has more antioxidants than fruits and veggies and another found that chocolate helps you stay thin! Okay, so yes, I'm not an idiot and I realize that these studies may be flawed (seriously) but in my mind two new studies have given me a free pass to chow down on chocolate and movie theater popcorn, despite its being made with unhealthy oils! Looks like my movie nights were healthier than going to the gym afterall! Hunger Games + Large Popcorn for the second time, here I come. Try and stop me!

Click here to learn more about why popcorn is good for you and here to learn about why chocolate is a health food!

You're welcome!!!

Brush Up on Your Brushing
Like most people, you probably perform your oral hygiene routine each day without giving it much thought. Dentists recommend that we spend at least 2 minutes brushing our teeth both morning and night, but recent surveys suggest that on average, we only spend about 40 seconds. If you don't brush correctly, bacteria can build up in your mouth, leading to serious oral health problems such as gingivitis and tooth decay.

Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Your toothbrush and toothpaste are your first lines of defence against plaque. Not all brushes and pastes are created equal, though. Electric toothbrushes may clean your mouth more quickly and thoroughly than a manual toothbrush, and can be ideally suited to people who have limited manual dexterity, such as the elderly or disabled. With K&Co’s range of Phillips Sonicare, you’ll find the latest in oral hygiene technology, with features designed to make using an electric toothbrush simple and affordable.
Don't let the toothpaste aisle of your supermarket or chemist overwhelm you either. Just make you select a toothpaste that contains fluoride, which has been proven to help prevent tooth decay.

Steps for proper brushing
Brushing works best when it's done correctly. Follow these simple steps when using either an electric or manual toothbrush for healthy clean teeth and gums:

- Brush at least twice each day, preferably after every large meal.

- Place the bristles of the toothbrush where the gum meets the tooth at a 45-degree angle. This way, the bristles clean under the gum line. Make sure the bristles are touching both the gums and tooth surfaces.

- Move the toothbrush back and forth using a rolling motion. Brush the outer surfaces of 2 to 3 teeth at a time. Then move to the next group of 2 to 3 teeth and repeat. Remember to be gentle. Brushing too hard can injure the gums and make them more susceptible to gum disease.

- Use the same technique to brush all of your inner tooth surfaces.

- Tilt the toothbrush vertically to clean the inner part of your front teeth. Use an up-and-down motion with the tip of the toothbrush to thoroughly clean these teeth.

- Bacteria also grow on your tongue, so brush your tongue from front to back for total mouth hygiene.

- The total tooth brushing process should take at least 2 minutes.

- Remember to rinse thoroughly – don’t swallow any toothpaste!

*This is a sponsored post and Smartypanties received compensation for writing it but all opinions herein are my own*

I know I'm a little late on this but this honestly Coke's decision to change its recipe to reduce carcinogens (that of course it insisted for years it did not have) can't come soon enough. To me, I can't believe anyone is even still drinking soda on a regular basis. I guess that sounds preachy but, oh well. Deal with it. 

CBS reported, "The 4-MI chemical, which provides the caramel color in cola drinks, has been shown in lab studies to cause cancer in rats, but not in humans. California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment set a level of 29 micrograms of 4-MI before a product has to bear a cancer warning label." 

Visit CBS for the full article!