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It's summertime, and you're active. And you know what that means -- makeup melt. You covered up that blemish and added a perfect amount of blush to the apples of your cheeks, but the moment you stepped out into the sweltering heat, you felt like all your hard work was just running down your face. Now, you're just hoping that your sweaty cheeks didn't cause your mascara to run all over.

While I can't guarantee you can keep a perfectly made-up face through a big workout, there are products available to help you look fresh and put together when the heat is on.

• Face. Start with a foundation primer. For starters, it will give your skin a nice, smooth finish so your foundation will go on flawlessly. More important right now, though, it gives your foundation a bit of "stick" -- it's designed to outlast heat and a bit of sweat with ease. I've had good luck with Peter Thomas Roth Max Anti-Shine Mattifying Gel, $35, but for acne-prone skin, your best bet is probably Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment, $39, which is designed to give you that smooth finish while treating blemishes.

Running in hot weather presents some unique challenges, and now that the mercury is steadily rising, it's a good time to make sure you're prepared for those summer workouts.

Do you know how much water to drink ahead of time, and when to drink it? Are you familiar with some of the signs of heatstroke? And are you dressing properly? Find out by watching the video above!

On a chilly winter day, hot soup often hits the spot. My problem with soup is that it rarely fills me up. Mind you, I'm a little lady and I still don't find a bowl of soup satisfying. I can't imagine how hungry a big guy would be without adding a large sandwich on the side.

I have a solution, though! For a long time, I've been adding other ingredients like cooked vegetables to canned soups to keep the calories low, the meals hot and my tummy full. It's really easy and quick and actually allows soup to become a meal in itself.

I've added my Easy to Make - Soup Dinner recipe to the online recipe book at Fitzness.com on page 32. I hope you'll give it a try!

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When the temperature soars, the last thing you want to do is slave over a hot stove. Personally, I have many days when I'm perfectly comfortable in my own home then, after cooking dinner, I feel prickly and hot and miserable. If I didn't think it was so important to feed healthful foods to my family (not to mention avoiding the high costs of eating out), I'd skip it altogether.

Shape Magazine comes to the rescue with great ideas for healthy meals with no cooking required. With so many fresh fruits and vegetables available at this time of year, there's no shortage of no-cook ingredients available to you. Some of the ideas include chilled soups and stuffed fruits or vegetables.

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My sister has high blood pressure. While lifestyle choices and medication keep her blood pressure in healthy ranges she can't seem to shake the edema. Despite her best efforts, her feet and ankles remain swollen and puffy. While my blood pressure is within healthy range, as soon as the weather gets hot and humid, I'm dealing with swollen feet, too.

Our bodies are designed to move water through our systems. Edema is a condition where excess fluid is retained between cells. There are many reasons you may have edema including immobility, pregnancy, heat/humidity, medications, high blood pressure, trauma, and kidney disease. If you have swollen feet, take heart. There are plenty of things you can do:

• Elevate your legs above heart level. You can use a leg wedge to raise your legs up while sleeping.
• Wear support socks.
  
• Increase your activity -- walking is a perfect exercise for helping edema.
• Avoid standing or sitting in one place for a long time. (If you are sitting for a while, try raising your feet up a bit.)
• Ask your doctor if a short-term course of diuretics would be advisable.
• If you're on high blood pressure medication, talk to your doctor about possibly modifying your medications. (Do not make any changes without speaking to your doctor.)
• Drink plenty of water.

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Water is good for everyone, right? Not quite. Doctors at John Hopkins Children Center are spreading the word that for babies under six months, water can be dangerous. That's because these tiniest kiddos have a strong instinct to drink. They can take in too much water, which leads to water intoxication. This affects sodium levels in the body, which can lead to mental changes, puffiness, low body temperature, and seizures.

With summer's heat on its way, it may be tempting to give your young infant water. But experts urge parents to stick with breastmilk or formula instead. Older babies can have small amounts of water, but doctors still say to stick to one to two ounces at a time and to check with your doctor first.

For tips on how to keep your baby cool this summer, check out the gallery below.

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Why am I always cold when others never are? Either my thermostat is too low or my clothes are too skimpy, say Dr. Roizen and Dr. Oz in a December 2007 Reader's Digest blurb.

Actually, body temperature is a little more complex than this, say the docs. But there are some possible explanations for my chilly tendencies. My muscles could be too inactive -- the body generates heat when muscles are active -- and I may be eating not enough carbohydrates (the 100 percent whole wheat variety, not the white flour kind). I could have hypothyroidism -- this slows metabolism and cuts down on body heat. My chilliness could also stem from low blood sugar, poor kidney function, or iron-deficiency anemia. Or it could be none of the above, because science has yet to completely unravel the mystery of body temperature.

Maybe my problem isn't a problem at all. Maybe I just need a warm sweater and a few extra blankets.

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You may not need this remedy unless you're likely to be stranded in freezing outdoor temperatures for extended periods of time. Still, you never know what lies ahead. So be prepared -- with a dose of sugar, that is.

Besides adding layers and applying heat, another speedy way to warm the body is to eat or drink something sweet, says one Alaska state trooper who coordinates search and rescue missions. Sugars help build an internal "fire," says Lieutenant Barry Wilson in the December 2007 issue of The Oprah Magazine. Sugar creates brief heat and quick energy. Keep in mind the "brief" and "quick" terminology. Make a habit out of consuming sugar and that jolt of energy will lead to an inevitable crash.

Even better for warming up: a little GORP (granola, oats, raisins, and peanuts). This combo provides more slowly-released carbs -- think of these as the fire's "sticks" -- as well as protein and fat, or the "logs."

Got sugar? Got GORP? Then you're all set.

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Each week, we'll be offering original recipes and unique ways to use those Super Foods that pack nutritional power. After all, you are what you eat -- make it count!

According to the bloggers at The Daily Tiffin, a site devoted to fun and healthy lifestyles, chili peppers are one heck of a Superfood. High in antioxidant carotenes and flavonoids and containing about twice the amount of vitamin C found in citrus fruits, chilies can be added to just about any dish. Homemade soups, stews, chili, salads, and salsas are just a few.

Chilies, believed to have been around for more than 6,000 years, are a member of the plant genus "capsicum" (cap-sih-kum) and contain high levels of special compounds called capsaicinoids. This is what makes them so super. Capsaicinoids are responsible not only for the well-known spicy heat of chilies but also the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-cancer, and heart-healthy effects offered by these potent peppers.

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Most of us know to take care of our hands and faces in order to keep a youthful look but do you ever think about how your hair may make you look older? It's not something that I had really considered until I saw this piece that gives advice on how to keep your hair looking as young as the rest of you.

After age 30, women's hair begins to get thinner so help keep your mane strong and think by eating plenty of protein and limiting the amount of time it's braided or in a ponytail, as these styles can cause breakage and damage hair roots. Always use conditioner when you wet your hair in order to prevent dryness and only use dryers, curling irons and straighteners a few times a week, as the high heat can cook your hair.

Finally, be willing to take the time to find a cut that looks good on you (just because a style is current and looks hot on a model in a magazine doesn't mean it will suit your face), and make sure to cover gray with an appropriate color. If you're not sure what will work for you, pay a professional to help you pick a color and style -- it'll be worth the cash.

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As this summer's heat wave loosens its grip on North America (at least where I live, it has,) It's becoming easier to get moving and get a workout in. But in case the heat comes back, don't let it ruin your exercise routine -- you can work out in the heat too! Here are a few suggestions:

• Drink lots of water
• Avoid alcohol -- it dehydrates you
• Wear clothing that is light-weight and avoid dark colours
• Go where it's cool -- indoors or in the shade
• Wear sunscreen
• Work out in the morning or in the evening, when the summer sun isn't at it's peak.
  

For me, it's as simple as heading to the air-conditioned gym or riding my bike at dusk. How do you stand the heat and stay active at the same time?

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Have you ever heard of eating a hot pepper or a spicy dish as a way of cooling down in the summer? I never had, until I came across this article in The Seattle Times where they're comparing the cooling properties of ice cream vs. beer vs. spicy food to see which works better in the heat of the summer.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like they find a very clear answer as all the choices have a strong list of pros and cons. Ice cream may make you feel cooler at first but it will warm you up later as your digestive processes get going. Beer will dehydrate you, which will inhibit sweating, and spicy foods will actually make you feel warmer at first followed by cooling due to the sweat (if there's a breeze). So I guess it's a 'pick your poison' kind of thing. Or better yet, stay in the shade and hire somebody to fan you.

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Now that we've hit July, it's hot, hot, hot. Here in Texas it's in the 90s everyday -- and it's only going to get worse.

For even the most dedicated fitness-buffs, the increased temperatures make it harder to find the motivation to exercise. And it's not because you're lazy -- your body actually has mechanisms to prevent it from overheating, so, chances are, your fitness routine is actually less appealing on an instinctual level.

That, however, doesn't mean you should call it quits and hide out indoors 'till September. There's a few simple things you can do to beat the heat this summer.

1. Time your workouts: It may seem obvious, but try not to exercise during the hottest parts of the day (generally between 1:00 and 3:30 pm, depending on where you live). But make sure to keep in mind that it'll take your body a couple hours to relax after a workout, so exercising late at night make keep you up past bedtime.

2. Take care of your skin: There's nothing that'll keep you indoors more than a nasty sunburn, so make sure you're wearing sweat-proof sunscreen every time you workout. Also, don't forget that excessive perspiration can cause your skin to break out, so -- even if you aren't able to shower right away -- make sure to at least wash your face after you exercise.

3. Drink water, drink water, drink water: Staying hydrated is key to staying cool no matter where you're exercising, but especially when you're out in the heat.

4. Get more potassium: Another reason you might be feeling more lethargic than usual is the increased potassium loss that comes from all the extra perspiring you do during the summer months. Try eating extra potatoes, cooked lima beans, bananas, and avocados to make sure you're compensating.

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When temperatures get as hot as they were this past weekend in the Midwest (upper nineties and into the triple digits) the weather man ends up talking more about the heat index it seems than anything else. So how hot is too hot, especially when it comes to the heat index measurement? Obviously it depends on what you want to do outdoors, but you may be surprised at how quickly the heat index can climb to dangerous levels.

According to the National Weather Service the heat index starts to become hazardous at 104º, but it's extremely dangerous once it gets to 126º. Sound impossibly hot? Not really -- just a temperature of 92º combined with a relative humidity of 85% will get you there. Here in Iowa that's at least half the summer -- be careful out there!

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There are all kinds of great things about summer (it's my favorite season) but one thing many people love is that it's naturally easier to eat healthier. Sure, there are Blizzards calling to you from the Dairy Queen down the street and all those holiday get-togethers with your aunt's famous potato salad, but some temptations will never go away. Dealing with them in summer is great though because fresh fruit and vegetables are at their peak. They're cheaper and they taste better, which means it's easier than ever to satisfy hunger pangs in a healthy way. Here's a list of six of the best summer foods for weight loss and for all-around good health this time of year:

• Chilled soups
• Watermelon
• Grilled veggies
• Salads (easy on the dressing)
• Low calorie/no calorie beverages
• Fruit-based desserts

I have yet to find a chilled soup I really like, but other than that I'm on board with everything else!

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