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When beauty bummers like chapped lips, hangnails, and ingrown hairs pop up, your first instinct is to try to get a handle on the issue immediately. And as it turns out, taking matters into your own hands can be quite effective—if you know how to do it correctly. Find out what it takes to make these ugly situations do a 180 as soon as they start. The issue: Nail fungusYour DIY solution: When you start seeing spots, soak your nails in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 5 parts water—fungus can’t live in an acidic environment....

Experts say despite your best efforts, there are some things that you may not even realize have a huge effect on weight loss. Here are 12 that may be messing with your slim-down plans: You’re sleep-deprived. According to a Gallup poll, 40% of people get less than 7 hours of sleep each night. Without that precious shut-eye time, the stress hormone cortisol— as well as blood sugar and insulin—all rise, which can make you feel hungry....

What’s in My Coffee? Common impurities in your cup include: • Açaí seeds • Barley • Brown sugar • Chickory • Corn • Cocoa seeds • Seed husks • Soybeans • Rye • Rice • Tricticale • Starch syrup • Wheat • Sticks Yep, you read that last one right: sticks. The researchers say that additives are introduced at the harvest when growers pick the beans and carelessly (or intentionally) gather twigs, sticks, whole coffee berries, and even dirt....

[sidebar] You can also customize the pulp and fiber content of your brew using easy-to-adjust settings and filters. Not in the mood for a smoothie? The Hurom is great for blending baby food, soups and nut milks, too. Then there’s the 10-year warranty, nipping buyer’s remorse in the bud. But if, unlike us, you’re not sold, we’ve got two more of our favorite juicers. Bottoms up! Norwalk Hydraulic Press Juicer 280 ($2,495; norwalkjuicers....

But lots of converts also have a complaint: The pretty pots and sticks just don’t last as long as their conventional counterparts (because they’re missing the chemicals that make them cling). 9 Essential Natural Sunscreens “It’s just something that everyone will have to learn to expect,” says celebrity makeup artist Katey Denno, who gets stars like January Jones and Christy Turlington ready for the red carpet. “There are no crazy intense polymers in the natural world that will equal long-lasting color....

Black, Purple, and Brown Generally, the darker the tomato, the more acidic its flavor.Cherokee Purple is winey and sweet. Tomato guru Craig LeHoullier, who grows 100 varieties annually in Raleigh, NC, says it’s the perfect tomato because of its lush, intense, well-balanced flavor and natural disease resistance. It produces early, heavy harvests, and its flesh is a dusky, luscious purple with green marbling.Black Sea Man ripens earlier and tastes almost as good as Cherokee Purple....

According to a comprehensive Michigan State University review, eating legumes can reduce the risk and severity of life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and several types of cancer. Beans may even help you lose weight—all that fiber helps create a feeling of fullness that keeps you satisfied longer. To reap all these benefits, you need to be, well, a bean counter: Dietary guidelines call for us to consume at least 3 cups a week—three times the measly 1 cup we usually manage....

“I see so many clients who believe they have to do abdominal exercises to change their abs,” Perkins says. “Yet strengthening the muscles that make up your six-pack won’t actually lead to a flatter tummy. Yes, you need a strong core for balance, good posture, a healthy back—the list goes on. But for aesthetics, ab exercises aren’t your best bet.” Instead, Perkins suggests lowering overall body fat—something that will ultimately help to whittle your middle—with the help of cardio (try these 14 walking workouts to burn fat and boost energy), full-body strength training, and a clean, whole foods-based diet....

That’s when the trouble starts. After a coworker asks him for the details of his diet, my client suddenly finds himself in a heated interrogation. Doesn’t your nutritionist know red meat causes cancer? And that potatoes cause diabetes? Shouldn’t he tell you to eat less salt, to prevent high blood pressure? The upshot: Myths just made my job a lot harder. That’s because nutrition misinformation fools people into being confused and frustrated in their quest to eat healthily, even if they’re already achieving great results....

Single-Leg Squat Standing with your feet together and arms by your sides, shift your weight onto your right foot. Rest the toe of your left foot next to your right foot for balance. Keeping your back straight, bend at your hips and knees, and slowly sit back onto your right leg, raising your arms straight in front of you as you lower (hold onto the back of a chair for balance, if you need to)....

The good thing is, most back pain isn’t caused by a serious medical condition, but rather everyday habits like poor posture, exercise, or simply sitting too much. (This is the one most essential move you can do to counter sitting all day.) By strengthening the core and releasing tension and tightness around the upper and lower back, you can usually ease the pain—and even prevent it. The Pilates exercises below will connect you to your deep core muscles so they can support your back and remove strain there....

[sidebar] More from Prevention: 5 Outdoor Workouts That Blast Calories