Stress can affect your body in many different ways, but studies are now showing that it won’t affect your ability to get pregnant. According to the British Medical Journal, women who experience emotional distress while going through IVF treatment for infertility would not compromise their chances of getting pregnant. For a long time, many women believed their chances of conceiving would be hampered in the same way a menstrual cycle could be delayed because of stress. The study was an review of other studies from around the world regarding infertility, and more research is needed to determine if there are other biological factors that may inhibit some from getting pregnant even with treatment. Since many couples choose to stop treatment because of how stressful it can become, this new information should help women who are looking to have a child breathe a sigh of relief.

For more information please visit the British Medical Journal website.

xx, Valis Vicenty

Keep the sanitizing wipes handy the next time you go grocery shopping! A recent study from the University of Arizona found that 50% of shopping carts have E. Coli and other bacteria, including fecal matter, on the handlebars. This is more bacteria on shopping carts than there is regularly found in a public bathroom and can lead to bacterial infections such as salmonella and staphylococcus.

Though supermarkets have already made accommodations by placing disinfecting wipes near shopping carts even before the study was published, it reinforces the need to keep everyone’s hands clean, including your little ones.

For more information, please visit UANews.org.

xx, Valis Vicenty

Acupuncture has been persisting as a treatment for weight loss, especially in Western countries. However, it’s important to understand that acupuncture alone will not magically help you shed pounds. Acupuncture reduces levels of anger, depression, and anxiety, so in turn you relax and collect your emotions. It’s this increase in self-control that acupuncture offers that may help control eating habits. Additionally, it can aid in suppressing the appetite. While acupuncture is meant to serve as a support system and extra push for those who are trying to lose weight, not as a means to an end; people who used acupuncture in this way stated that it did make their struggle to lose weight easier! So if you’re looking for a little boost to help you along, give acupuncture a shot (pun totally intended).

We were recently in a health food store satisfying our intense craving for a smoothie when the owner asked, “Have you had your fish oil yet today?” “Umm, no,” we replied curiously. Before we could object, we were presented with a goopy, nearly glowing yellow substance on a plastic spoon. Not wanting to be rude and refuse the foreign fish oil that had been poured, we reluctantly tried it.

It really wasn’t that bad (and didn’t taste the slightest bit fishy)! We know that fish oil has an endless number of heart-healthy benefits, but did you know that it also promotes joint, immune, eye, and skin health, as well as healthy bones, hair, nails, and mental health. And apparently it even relieves PMS?! Not surprisingly, we didn’t notice any immediate differences in our health from the single spoonful we sampled, but we’re eager to add it to our diets. The supplements also come in pill form, if the thought of spoon-feeding yourself the oil irks you out a bit.

Our parents have been shoving multivitamins down our throats for years. The first ones we recall were Flintstone chewables in a variety of shapes and flavors. Eventually we moved on to decidedly more grownup gigantic vitamins. Although 90 percent of women under forty don’t get the vitamins and minerals they need from their diets alone, almost half of women under forty don’t take a multivitamin to make up for it. If you’re active, your body requires more vitamins and minerals than the average person, so you’ll need it even more. Not only will popping a multivitamin every day give you energy and curb cravings, but it will also lower your risk of breast cancer, keep your heart healthy, and help you stay fertile. The amount of multivitamins on pharmacy shelves can be overwhelming, so when choosing one, be sure to pick one with at least 600 IU’s vitamin D, 18milligrams iron, and 400 micrograms folic acid—all of which are important for women. And if you’re scared of swallowing large pills, you’ll be happy to know that chewable vitamins (even in gummy bear form!) are widely available.

You’ve probably heard by now about the numerous health benefits of green tea: heightened mental alertness, weight loss, lower cholesterol levels, UV protection, and lower risk of cardiovascular disease. It even protects against cancer, Boston University researchers concluded. The scientists conducted a study of the effects of green tea on breast cancer development in rats, in which they found that the rats given green tea developed tumors later than those who were water-fed, and their tumors were lighter and less invasive. The Boston University study is just one of many that have found that green tea has anti-tumor effects. However, it’s important to note that in order to receive the benefits, you’ll have to consume five cups of green tea per day. If you can do that, drink up! If you don’t love the taste of green tea, or if five cups seems like overkill, don’t worry—it’s available in pill form as well, even caffeine-free!

You’ve always heard that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but did you really ever know why? The majority of people have probably figured it was just because they’re loaded with vitamins and minerals, but in fact there’s much more! The skin of an apple is packed with quercetin and naringin—flavoniods that protect lungs from pollutants, improving lung function and reducing the risk of lung cancer. Besides reducing asthma symptoms and the risk for lung cancer, apples can also reduce the risks for breast cancer, colon cancer, liver cancer, and Alzheimer’s. As a low-calorie, fiber-dense fruit—apples are also great for weight loss. Not hungry? Make a green apple face mask instead! Surprisingly, the simple at-home remedy helps replenish moisture and smooth fine lines.

A demanding career, a new husband, and life in the spotlight doesn’t stop actress JoAnna Garcia Swisher from staying balanced and in control. And she’s joined forces with global healthcare leader Merck in the Let’s Go There campaign to make sure other women are able to do the same.

As modern women, we often find so much on our plates that it can be difficult to prioritize and balance the aspects of our lives; the Let’s Go There campaign aims to challenge women to get real about their wants and needs. Although a new study shows that 72% of women refuse to settle for anything less than what makes them happy, there is one health decision that often gets pushed aside: birth control.

When half of women using hormonal birth control admit they rarely evaluate how it fits their lifestyle needs, and a staggering 70% of women would change something about their current hormonal birth control, it’s obvious that most women have some serious thinking to do about their own methods.

The Let’s Go There campaign invites women to join their Facebook community to learn more about this important health decision, learn a few tips on how to speak to your doctor about your options, and to check out JoAnna’s story in this exclusive video below.