Women should aim to get between 25 and 30 grams of fiber a day. It keeps your digestive system happy and also helps prevent breast cancer. If you have high cholesterol, getting your fill of fiber has also been shown to lower the LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in your blood. Is there anything fiber doesn’t do?

We are all in agreement that fiber is good for us, but have you ever wondered if one fiber — soluble or insoluble — is healthier? To answer that question, you need to know the difference between the two. Soluble fiber binds with fatty acids and lengthens the time it takes for your stomach to empty, so sugar is released and absorbed more slowly. This helps regulate blood sugar levels, and also allows your body more time to absorb essential nutrients from your food. Insoluble fiber adds bulk to your stool, which is key to regularity. This type of fiber also controls and balances the pH levels in your intestines, which helps prevent colon cancer.

Each type of fiber benefits the body, but only you know which type your body needs more of. I’d say that if you have issues with constipation, aim to eat more insoluble fiber. If you’re concerned with regulating your blood sugar levels, go for for soluble fiber. To learn which foods are good sources of each, read more.

When your alarm goes off in the morning, do you curse its very existence and hit the snooze button eight times before you actually pull yourself out of bed? If you’re not a morning person, there’s no way you could begin to understand how other people can wake up early and fit in an hour workout before getting ready and heading off to work. Yes, some people are just naturally perky in the morning and prefer sweating it out in the a.m., but then there’s the rest of us who make a point to work out in the morning because it’s the only time we can fit it in. 

If you find that you’re skipping out on exercise altogether because you’re too busy, have meetings, have family obligations, or are just plain exhausted, then morning workouts might be just the thing you need. How can a non-morning person turn into a morning exerciser? Learn a handful of ways to become an early riser when you read more.

1. Get to bed early the night before. Even if you’re one of those rare people who can survive on less than five hours of sleep that is not enough snooze time if expect to wake up and have energy for a morning workout. That means you can’t go to bed at midnight and expect to rise and shine at 5 a.m. Get into the habit of going to bed early enough so you get at least eight hours of zzz’s.
2. If you’re not sleepy at night, try limiting your caffeine during the day, and be finished with your last caffeinated bev by 4 p.m. Warm baths, a cup of tea, and ditching the TV and computer use before bed can also encourage you to relax and fall asleep more easily.
3. Creatively motivate yourself. When you’re cozy under your sheets telling yourself you feel great after you exercise will probably not help you jump out of bed. Get creative with your means of motivation. Make a new workout playlist, or get excited to wear your new sneaks. Conjure up the image of that cute guy you’ve seen at the gym lately. Get psyched about a tasty new breakfast idea. If you have something you’re looking forward to once you wake up, you’ll find it impossible not to get out of bed.
4. Make a date and set a time. You know you love Boot Camp and your gym only offers it at 6:30 a.m. Make an appointment with a trainer or plan to meet a fitness buddy at the park to go for a run. Scheduling morning workouts is a surefire way to get you there.
5. Reward your morning exercise efforts. Either give yourself a little treat after each morning workout or make a goal to exercise every day, Monday through Friday and on the last day, buy yourself a new fitness top, get a pedicure, or go to the movies with a friend. Rewards are huge motivators, and thinking about the pleasure that comes after your hard work may give you that emotional push out of bed.

Do you work out in the morning? Is it easy or hard for you?

Before buying a pair of new running sneaks, you can learn a lot about the kind of runner you are and the needs of your feet by checking out the condition of your old sneakers. According to an article in the March issue of Runner’s World, here are some things you should look for before sneaker shopping:

• Heel alignment: Place your sneaks side by side on a flat surface and look at the heels, checking to see if your sneakers lean to the right or to the left. If they lean inward, it’s a sign that you’re an overpronator. If they lean outward, then you’re an underpronator. Neither is a bad thing, but when looking for your next pair, you should find ones that support how you pronate.

For more details on what to watch out for, keep reading.

• Midsole wear: Turn your sneaks over and look at the midsole. Look for creases, excessive wear on certain parts of the sole, or if one shoe has more wear than the other. It could give you clues that one of your legs is longer than the other, or tell you that you’re overstriding. An appointment with an orthopedist might be your best option before splurging on your next pair of kicks.
• Upper stretching: Now look at the tops of your sneaks. If the fabric is wrinkled and overstretched in certain areas, it’s a sign that the shoe isn’t giving you enough motion control. This means you may not be getting enough arch support or that the shoe is too wide in the front and your foot is shifting from side to side. You want a snug fit, so while shoe shopping, look for a pair that supports the shape of your foot best to ensure your feet are locked in place.

I suggest shopping for sneakers at a specialty running store and taking your old sneakers with you. Chances are someone there can read the sole of your shoe and suggest a style or brand to suit your foot.