Though you may have heard the term "serotonin" and that serotonin and mood are linked, you may not know what serotonin is or why it’s important. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter – a chemical substance produced in the brain that sends nerve impulses to the synapses of other cells. Not only are serotonin and mood tied together, serotonin influences much more when it comes to your health.

One of the healthiest ways to lose those excess pounds is to increase your metabolism. When you increase your metabolism, your body converts food to energy more efficiently. Since approximately 60 percent of our metabolism is used to process the food we eat (day-to-day activity and exercise make up the remainder) eating foods that naturally increase your metabolism is a smart start for slimming down for summer.

While most of us would like to think that our house is kept clean and tidy, it might come as a surprise to learn about the harmful toxins that lurk in some of the most innocuous places in and around your house.

Are you forgetting where you put your keys a lot lately or having trouble remembering names or a commonly used phone number? Menopausal women often complain of fuzzy thinking, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating; and research is now confirming what women have claimed for years, that memory and learning are affected during menopause.