Naturalpath

• You know omega-3s are good for you, but is one source better than the other?

• Follow these visual tips for flatter abs without the complicated moves.

• We think of chocolate as comfort food and a new study shows it’s more relaxing than we thought!

• For a food with a not-so-great rap, this item is a surprising health weapon.

• Can’t resist your favorite junk food? Try giving it a healthy upgrade.

• This unexpected benefit of exercise just might get you out of bed on those mornings.

• Think you know how much sugar is in that food? Test your know-how with this quiz.

• You asked us: what’s the story with peanut butter containing hydrogenated oil?

Sweltering summer days can mean more grease on your face than in your tube of sunscreen. Vanquish the oily sheen with a trip to the grocery store:

Citrus splash:

Add 1/4 cup finely grated lemon peel (an astringent and clarifier) and 1/4 cup finely grated grapefruit peel (unclogs pores) to a cup of hot water. Add a cup of fresh mint leaves. Boil for two minutes until peels are soft and slightly translucent. Let cool, then strain liquid and pour into a bottle for a refreshing splash. Refrigerate. (Keeps up to 3 weeks.)

Tomato dose:

Smash a cherry tomato (balances pH levels and tightens pores) and add an equal amount of plain yogurt. Leave on for 10 minutes.

Cucumber fix:

Coarsely chop half a peeled cucumber (cools inflammation and tightens pores) and blend until smooth. Apply liberally and leave on for 15 minutes.

Sushi solution:

Eel, seaweed, and rice are packed with vitamin B (good for oily skin), so chow down on some unagi. Not a sushi fan? Cheese and egg yolk are also vitamin B sources, so try a breakfast scramble.

Whether you’re hosting a barbeque or cooking a small dinner, keep these tools and gadgets on-hand for added convenience and foodie fun:

Prep

can be the most arduous step, so do several jobs at once with this chop, weigh and measure station, which will ensure you’re cutting just the right amounts. If you’re dealing with fruits and veggies with peels or skins, use this scooper to easily remove the flesh and even get creative with shapes. Baking dessert? Pour your batter into a cakesicle mold for a fun, pre-portioned treat.

Working the grill

isn’t fun when you have to go fishing for the small items that fall in, so cook veggies on a grill-top fry pan instead. When it comes to kabobs, circle-shaped skewers will save room on any round plate, or use these sustainable bamboo skewers if you want to make eco-bobs.

Heading to a pool party and wish you could erase pounds stat? Never fear, proper posture is here! These tips from Janice Novak, author of bestseller Posture, Get It Straight!, will have you looking and feeling better (with fewer neck and back pains):

Mirror image:

Start by catching a glimpse of your profile in the mirror: you should be standing with your ear, shoulder, hip, knee and ankle all aligned in a straight line. This 1-minute technique erases inches off your mid-section (comes in handy when you’re sporting an itsy bitsy yellow polka-dot bikini).

Don’t be a heel:

While strappy sandals are de rigeur in summer, it’s time to retire them. Any heel above an inch-and-a-half affects how your weight-bearing joints (read: ankles and knees) fit together and ultimately cause the upper body to slump forward.

Straighten out your breathing:

Work on your breathing and your posture will automatically improve. Start by inhaling, then exhaling through your mouth (imagine blowing air out through a straw) and think about pulling your belly-button toward your back.

For more of Novak’s exercises and tips, visit www.improveyourposture.com.

Heat stroke is no joke – the result of dehydration (loss of electrolytes), it causes your body to lose its ability to regulate temperature. Here’s how to stay cool (and safe) when the mercury is high:

Eat light meals

and avoid foods that are tough to digest (like meats and heavy sauces).

Skip drinks that pull water from your system

(coffee, soda, tea and alcohol). Long travel day? Drink up! The car can be a killer.

Limit yourself to a short period outdoors

if you aren’t accustomed to heat or humidity.

Prehydrate:

Drink 16 ounces the night/morning before outdoor events. Keep drinking regularly every 20 minutes during activity. If you are thirsty, it’s too late! Clear urine is the sign of hydration.

Time your exercise:

Work out early, or after 6pm.

Dress for the weather:

Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

Bring props:

Use an umbrella, wear a hat and SPF of 15 or more.

And during extreme weather, skip the outdoor workout. It’s not worth the risk.

• Finally – an easy technique scientifically proven to double your slim-down success!

• Fish contains healthy fats, right? This popular variety is a surprising exception to the rule.

• Swimming is a great workout, but find out why it could actually make you gain weight.

• What do you really know about calories? Get the must-know fundamentals.

• Find out the simple trick that’ll give you a butt lift during the exercise you’re already doing.

• You don’t always have time for a square meal, so here’s how to make one out of energy bars.

• When you want to drink something other than water, pick one of these top 10 healthy beverages.

• You asked us: do cheap and expensive wines give you the same health benefits?