Health

Feature

• Is Your Skin Spot Cancerous? The Skinny on Moles

  Skin cancer's not just for dads and grandpas. Herewith, our guide to catching those sketchy spots early.

• 5 Colors to Pile on Your Plate

  Eat your colors -- each has a purpose, from improving your mood to boosting your energy. Here, learn to color your way to health.

• Ramp up Your Summer Pickup Game Performance

  You never know when you might get drafted to play basketball, flag football or even toss a flying disc. Here's how you can be better in each.

• Give Your Feet a Makeover

  Do you wear sneakers all summer long to avoid your friends' collective heaving? Our podiatrists solve the stink and other common foot problems.

• Olympic Hopefuls: A Roundtable Discussion (Part 1)

  Ever wonder what it takes to be an Olympic athlete? In Part 1 of our series on Olympic hopefuls, MLT writer John Hanc gets the lowdown on fitness and nutrition.

• The No-excuse Guide to Teeth Whitening

  Don't let cost or confusion stand between you and a beautiful smile. Whatever your budget, there's a teeth-bleaching method out there for you.

• Stoke Your Competitive Fire!

  Lance Armstrong wasn't born a champion. He made himself into one, and so can you.

• Keeping Bedbugs at Bay

  Media hysteria notwithstanding, bedbugs are not the end of the world. Our expert entomologists tell you how to live and let live in these bedbug times.

• The Stubborn Belly-fat Solution

  Working out like crazy ... but still carrying around a spare tire? We tell you why -- and how to get rid of it.

• Get a Jump on Your Fitness with Plyometrics

  Want to be quicker, more explosive, stronger, and more balanced? Here's a plyometrics program that will get you there.

• Plan to Ski or Snowboard? Strengthen up Now!

  Get physically prepared to hit the slopes by doing this winter-sports workout now, and be ready to rip it up when those first flakes fall.

• How to Make First Pick at the Team Tryout

  Whether you're going out for a school or amateur team, a squad for football or bowling, here's how to make the cut.

• The Best Fall Sport for Cardio

  Which fall sport gives you the best cardio workout -- and thus, the greatest heart fitness? We declare a winner.

• Winning Water-sport Workouts

  Want to be the best surfer, boogie boarder, windsurfer or water skier out there? Try these three easy strength- and endurance-building workouts.

• Triumph With Your Own Beach Olympics

  Don’t just lie there in the sun: Set up these summer contests, which will keep you fit and having fun.

• Conquer the Biggest Mud Runs

  Take an obstacle course, add earthly sludge, and you've got the hottest new fitness challenge. Here's the 411 on the biggest mud runs and how to prep for them.

• Turn Women on -- With Your Skin

  Want to make sure your skin is irresistible to the touch? Just follow this guide on what women love about men's skin to find out how to get it.

• Find Your Best Softball Field Position

  You're playing league softball but aren't sure which position to go out for? This softball aptitude test will tell you which softball field position is best for you (and your team!).

• How to Throw a Ball Farther

  It's softball season! Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike LaLuna reveals how to add distance and velocity to your throws.

• Play These Video Games to Perform Better … in Life

  The proof is in: Video games improve physical and mental skills that come in handy in the real world. Here's what to play to get an edge.

• Fit Your Bike For the Perfect Ride

  Want to get more out of cycling? You’ll need to make your bike an extension of you. Here’s how.

• Get Strong With Olympic Lifts

  Looking to achieve tremendous gains in strength, speed and agility … like an Olympian? Try Olympic lifts, weight training techniques sure to chisel you into a gym warrior.

• 25 Ways to Have the Best 2010

  Here’s the only article you need to read to be fit and healthy in the new year -- and beyond.

• From Frat Brothers to Fat Brothers

  If staying lean is a struggle, you just might be hanging out with the wrong crowd. Here’s how to stop your friends from making you fat.

• 6 Ways to Fight the Flu for Real

  You don’t have to let the cold and flu season have its way with you. Boost your immune system now.

• The Ready-for-anything Workout

  Want to be fit enough to conquer Tibet’s highest mountains? Or maybe “just” pass a fireman’s fitness test? All you have to do is master this exercise regimen.

• Go From Stick to Thick

  It's tough to bulk up. But even “hard gainers” can add muscle if they follow these crucial tips.

• The Joy of Nuking

  If your stove’s a stranger to you, fear not -- you can make quick and healthy meals -- such as salsa-smothered turkey meatloaf -- with that old counter standby: the microwave.

• Don’t Brave the Summer Sun Till You Read This!

  Think it’s wimpy to slather on sunscreen, wear hats and avoid the brightest outdoor rays? Then you better be man enough to stare down melanoma, the most common form of cancer for young adults.

• Live Healthy Now -- Have More Sex Later

  Think what you do today has no bearing on your sex life tomorrow, or the day after? Think again.

• Alert: You’re Pushing Yourself Too Hard

  Taxing your body to its limits: Cool. Suffering cardiac arrest and heatstroke: Not so much. Here, the top four warning signs.

ExpertQA

• What should I do when I get a sports injury? Apply ice? Heat? Ice and then heat? I'm totally confused.

• I heard that sunscreens with higher SPFs than 30 don't make a difference. Is that true, or should I be using the highest SPF I can find?

• I keep stuff in my refrigerator for a long time. How can I tell when something's gone bad without getting food poisoning?

• Is there any way to prevent the flu when the seasons change?

• I've heard that you shouldn't eat carbs after 4:00 p.m. if you want to lose weight. Is this true?

• I want to strengthen my core, but I'm just not a yoga or Pilates kind of guy ... and there's no way I can afford a personal trainer. What can I do at home or at the gym that will give me the same benefits?

• I’ve heard I should never borrow my girlfriend’s razor. Is that true -- and if so, why?

• After dieting and exercising for two months, I'm starting to notice real results. I know how to get through the holidays -- choose the healthy items on the table, eat sensible portions, etc. -- but it's a lot easier said than done. How do I make myself actually do it?

• I recently read a study about how some people in the UK only wash their sheets three times per year. That seems pretty gross, but I’m wondering … how often do I need to wash my sheets to maintain good hygiene? After all, I wouldn’t mind saving money on laundry (and less washing would probably help the environment too!).

• Sometimes my suntan lotion seeps into my eyes and ... oh, man, the burn! Needless to say, it's not always easy to get to a sink at the beach to wash the stuff out. How do I prevent sunscreen from going into my eyes?

• I often suffer from facial redness and dryness. (Let’s just file this under the general irritation category.) Is there anything I can do to reduce these maladies?

• I’m 24 years old and still have acne. Why is this and when will it stop?

• How does aftershave work, scientifically speaking?

• Now that the vernal equinox is arriving, is there some kind of grooming equivalent to "spring cleaning"? Maybe some way to give my skin and hair some extra attention?

• I recently read a study about how some people in the UK only wash their sheets three times per year. That seems pretty gross, but I’m wondering . . . how often do I need to wash my sheets to maintain good hygiene? After all, I wouldn’t mind saving money on doing laundry (and less washing would probably help the environment too!).

• I have a lean bone structure. Does this mean my muscles will also be on the small side? Will I never be able to build bulk that competes with big-boned men?

• I use my MP3 player so often that I’m surprised the earbuds haven’t become permanently attached to my ears. Should I worry about hearing loss? How much music can you listen to before you start going deaf?

• What’s the deal with ingrown hairs? Why do I get them, and more importantly, how do I get rid of them?

• I’m trying to stay in shape by participating in cardio activities (running and cycling). The problem is, afterward, not only do I want to eat more, I want to eat stuff that’s bad for me (usually food filled with fat or sugar). This seems counterproductive. How can I avoid this syndrome?

• I want to run faster to improve my sports performance, but some of my friends say you're born with a maximum running speed. Is that true, and if not, what can I do to get quicker?

• I want to make sure I'm operating at optimum physical performance. Can my doctor help me get there? If so, what kinds of tests should I ask him to perform to make sure my body is perfectly "calibrated?"

• Does stretching really help prevent athletic injuries?

• Does how your skin looks reflect what you eat? If so, how will I know if a certain food will be good or bad for my skin?

• Is it possible to protect myself from the sun this summer while still keeping my acne under control?

• I'm a smoker, which is a huge turnoff to a lot of girls. I'm going to quit on my birthday in September but want all the help I can get. What's the latest research?

• My nipples are feeling sensitive. I'm a guy! Is this weird?