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How can you tell if your protein bar is actually healthy or doing more harm than good?As their name suggests, protein bars contain a significant amount of protein.  They can be a a convenient small meal or snack, especially when you're on the go. Many protein bar manufacturers claim their bars can help you lose weight, build muscle and give you a much-needed energy boost. Not only that, but protein bars can be a great substitution for vegetarians who should eat a variety of protein-containing foods each day. If you're a vegetarian, you know that you need to be conscious of what sources you are getting your protein from. Vegetarian or not, you have to be careful. A lot of protein bars, or "nutrition" bars, can end up being more like candy bars, since they harbor stealth ingredients like hydrogenated oils, saturated fat, sugar, and sugar alcohols, and can be very high in calories.  How can you tell if your bar is healthy or doing more harm than good? Dr. Wayne Scott Andersen, MD, unwraps the health-food hype and lists the ingredients to look for, and shares the nutritionist-approved protein bar options. 

What is the motive when flirting at work? Is it simply fun and playful? Or is there an ulterior motive?Have you heard of the term "work girlfriend/boyfriend"? This typically refers to a co-worker who flirts platonically during business hours, without any romantic intentions. Flirting to advance one's career is widely regarded as taboo. But between colleagues - without a reporting relationship - it may be more acceptable. It is certainly more common. And it's understandable. You develop relationships and bonds with your co-workers. Professional relationships often involve mental and emotional support. You may even consider your "work boyfriend" a confidant, and be thankful that a vent session to them can help relieve a stressful day. Enjoying innocent flirtation might even have a positive effect; it can benefit your self esteem, making you feel confident and better about yourself. Philosophers have theorized that all communication is goal-oriented. What, then, is the motive when flirting at work? Is it simply fun and playful? Or is there an ulterior motive? What are the boundaries you need to have in place when flirting at work and where do you draw the line? A survey conducted by CareerBuilder.com in 2011 found that 38 percent of workers said they had dated a co-worker at least once during their career. Vault.com ran an office romance survey for seven years, and found that in 2011, 59 percent of employees had dated a colleague at least once during their career. Matchmaker and dating coach, April Beyer, shares the rules and etiquette to flirting at work.

Oftentimes you mistake love for power, causing your relationship to become a power struggle... and unhealthy. But how can you walk away?In every relationship there are some really good days and some really bad days. Even if all is fair in love and war, how do you know when to keep fighting through or to walk away? You might see plenty of warning signs and red flags throughout a relationship, yet you stay with your significant other anyway. You hate to quit, because quitting is for losers... right?  There can also be numerous reasons why you stay, although your justifications don't make sense to the people outside of the relationship and sometimes even yourself.  Many couples experience a cognitive distortion in relationships that often involves the push-pull behavior: a chronic pattern of sabotaging and re-establishing closeness in a relationship without appropriate cause or reason.  Oftentimes you mistake love for power, causing your relationship to become a power struggle. But who is really in control?   Do you feel like you have the influential power to change someone? If the relationship is abusive, do you feel that you need to forcibly fix the situation to regain control? April Beyer, a professional dating coach for over 15 years, talks about why you might stay, and how to break free from an unhealthy, vicious cycle.

One in 10 teenage girls and 1 in 20 adults display symptoms of an eating disorder, but never get help. Why? And might someone you love be at risk?Is your relationship with food a problem?  According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, it’s estimated that eating disorders affect over 11 million people in the U.S. Studies have shown that at least 1 in 20 individuals (1 in 10 teenage girls) have displayed key symptoms of anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, but never address the disorder because they don't fully meet the diagnostic criteria. If this is the case for you, you may be "almost anorexic." Assistant professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, Jennifer Thomas, PhD, is joined by co-author and survivor Jenni Schaefer to share their book, Almost Anorexic. The book examines Jennifer's clinical experience with case studies and the latest research, combined with Jenni's personal recovery story. They also discuss scientifically based strategies to help change unhealthy eating patterns.

Introduce the world's best fermented foods into your own kitchen with easy tips and recipes.In recent years, the popularity of probiotics has grown. If you're not taking them, you probably know someone who is. But that's just one piece of the digestive health puzzle. In his guide, The Essential Book of Fermentation, bestselling author and organic gardening expert Jeff Cox explains why fermentation is key for overall good health. Then he shows you how to bring the world's best fermented foods into your own kitchen with easy tips and recipes. Our intestines are like an "internal composting system," and the balance of healthy bacteria (probiotics) and yeast in fermented foods makes for a healthy gut and strengthens your immune system, says Cox. Cox talks about his book and shares tasty tips to improve digestion and overall health. Bonus! RealAge Tip 3 Fatigue-Fighting Foods

Join Dr. Roizen and his expert guests for the latest health news, wellness advice and most up-to-date research from around the world.World-renowned physician, Dr. Michael Roizen, MD, continues to update your understanding of the meaning of health by providing an in-depth review of the most impactful health headlines.  Joined by his co-host, Joe Galuski, they discuss the health news that matters most to you. The duo is later joined by author of twenty books on food, wine, and gardening, Jeff Cox. Bonus! RealAge Tip 3 Fatigue-Fighting Foods

Blue corn is loaded with the same type of antioxidants as blueberries and tart cherries. But, is it healthy? Or potentially harmful?Blue corn is one of the oldest varieties of corn. The Pueblo Indian tribe in the Southwestern United States was using it at least as far back as 1540 when Spanish explorers discovered the region. The bluish hue comes from anthocyanins – the plant-based antioxidants also found in berries and cherries. The problem however, could be the corn itself. Dr. Mike will discuss the pros and cons of blue corn.

How can YOU help stop the growing epidemic of prescription drug abuse?Prescription drugs, specifically pain killers, are now the most abused drug in the United States. How did this happen and what can you do to help stop it? Dr. Steven Walker, mental health expert, joins Dr. Mike to discuss the problem of prescription drug abuse and offer solutions to this growing epidemic of abuse and disability.

Allen Anderson helps people discover and benefit from the miraculous powers of animals.Allen Anderson and his wife Linda are pet-expert speakers, authors, and founders of the Angel Animals Network. They help people discover and benefit from the miraculous powers of animals. Dedicated to promoting human-animal companionship, Allen and Linda donate a portion of proceeds from their work to animal rescue organizations and sponsor fundraising activities. Allen joins Dr. Mike to discuss his non-profit organization, the Angel Animal Network, and shares how you can make a difference in both your life and the life of a needy animal.

From lowering your disease risk to improving your mood, pets really can make you a better person.Studies have shown that people with pets have lower blood pressure, higher good cholesterol, less insomnia and a better overall outlook and mood. Allen Anderson, founder of the Angels Animals Network, joins Dr. Mike to discuss the medical and social scientific proof supporting your pets as “better people makers.”

Dr. Mike uncovers the truth about a study published in May 2012, suggesting calcium supplements increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.A study published in May 2012 showed that calcium supplements may increase risk of cardiovascular disease. This study tracked almost 24,000 Europeans and suggested that people taking only calcium supplements were about twice as likely to have a heart attack. The problem: It’s only half of the story. Join Dr. Mike as he uncovers the truth behind this study, and shares reasons why calcium is so important to your nutritional regimen.

Those colorful detergent packets could be a real source of danger in your home. Learn how to protect your kids from potential harm.How long has it been since you went through your house looking for poisons that your toddler could get into? Have you thought about the laundry room? Those pretty, colorful little packets you buy for convenience could be a real source of poison in your home. Kids might think they look pretty, even like candy... but they can kill just as easily as if your child drank cleaning solution. Special guest, Dr. Melissa Arca, shares safety advice for detergent packets and other hidden sources of poison around your home. Remember, it's all about the health and safety of your children.

With the stresses of everyday life, it may feel like you get further and further away from your family. But there are simple ways to reconnect.After a long day of work, running errands, shopping and all the other things parents do, it may seem impossible to reconnect with your family. Time slips away and the children get bigger. They seem to have so many of their own activities and plans that they too have time issues. But at the end of the day, you need to find a way to reconnect and get to know each other again. Fortunately, there are a few simple ways to sync as a family. Special guest, Dr. Melissa Arca, shares with you the best ways to have true family time that will bring love and satisfaction to your busy lives.

Minority kids have been shown to be at a disadvantage for medical care. Could they also be at risk for a missed autism diagnosis?Minority children have been shown to be at a disadvantage for certain medical care. Could they also be at risk for a missed autism diagnosis? We now know that early diagnosis is essential in order to get kids into effective interventions as soon as possible. So it's concerning that Latino children might be less likely to be diagnosed with autism at an early age. And it raises the question... have similar issues been found with other minority populations? Fortunately, all is not lost. According to special guest, Dr. Katie Zuckerman, this difficulty in early diagnosis may be overcome by promoting language-appropriate screening, distributing culturally appropriate ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) materials to Latino families, and improving the availability of specialists. By providing physicians with support in screening and referral for Latino children, it could help improve early diagnosis in this population. If you are experiencing obstacles in screening and diagnosis for your children, don't miss this informative segment to find out how you can get the best care for your family.

Phthalates are found in food containers that you probably use every day. But could they be dangerous for your kids' health?Phthalates are found in food containers that you probably use every day. But could they be dangerous for your kids' health? In some groups of adolescents, the appearance of these environmental chemicals has been associated with insulin resistance. And insulin resistance has been linked to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. So, in effect, could the products you're feeding your kids eventually lead them to these potentially deadly diseases? What products contain phthalates and how do they get into your body? Dr. Leonardo Transande, MD, joins Melanie Cole, MS, to shed some light on phthalates in your home and how they might be hurting your child's health. He also shares alternatives to phthalate-containing plastics for food packaging, such as waxed paper and aluminum foil.