We’ve had an unusual winter here in typically sunny Boulder, Colorado. Snow, which usually melts within a few days, has been a permanent fixture in yards, parking lots, and driveways since November. It’s been cold! I know you’re probably thinking: “Quit complaining; it’s much worse in ______ fill-in-the-blank!” But I’m feeling the effects: fatigue, crankiness, and the pervasive blahs. Wherever you live—unless you happen to be on a tropical island—late January in the northern hemisphere can be tough on your health. You might be a bit vitamin D deficient and, if you’ve been through your share of colds or flu, your body’s reserves may be nearing the “empty” mark.

Aside from daily exercise and sunshine (exercise outside?), supplements can help give you an energy lift. Here are the top recommendations from Steven Joyal, MD, Vice President of Science and Medical Affairs for Life Extension, providers of scientific information on supplements and alternative therapies. As always, consult your health care provider before starting any new supplement regimen.

For physical energy and endurance: Boost cellular energy and maximize the benefits of the workout you are getting with coQ10 (ubiquinol, 100-200 mg daily) or d-ribose (5-15 grams daily).

For mental energy: Lack of sunlight and other factors can contribute to the “winter blahs,” a lack of mental energy and easy fatigue with cognitive tasks. Helpful supplements include rhodiola (standardized 3 percent rosavins, 250 mg daily), ashwagandha (standardized 8 percent withanolide glycoside conjugates,

125 mg twice daily), and fish oil (500-700 mg of both EPA and DHA twice daily with meals).

Post-sickness energy recovery: After battling a cold or flu, restore energy levels with vitamin C with dihydroquercetin (1000 mg + 10 mg daily, respectively) and coQ10 (100-200 mg daily).

High bisphenol A (BPA) exposure may be linked to heart disease, according to recently release data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The survey evaluated 1,493 people ages 18 to 74 from 2005-2006 and found that higher BPA concentrations in urine were associated with an increased number of coronary heart disease cases, supporting findings from a study conducted by Peninsula Medical School and the University of Exeter last year. However, there is no substantial evidence as to why this correlation exists, and opponents say the information doesn’t establish a cause-and-effect relationship between BPA exposure and heart disease. Still, the chemical has previously been linked to infertility, weight gain, behavioral changes, early onset puberty, prostate and breast cancers, and diabetes. Check out BPA in most food cans for more about the dangers of the chemical, where it is, and how to avoid it.

I had a fascinating conversation the other day with Stephen Morrissey, OMD, former Chair of Bastyr University’s Oriental Medicine program. After 25 years of clinical experience, collaboration with western and Chinese doctors, and research, Morrissey has launched Plantiva, a new line of high-quality Chinese herbal formulations. Admittedly, I am a big fan of Chinese herbs, which I have taken to boost lagging energy and bolster immunity (what mom of small kids doesn’t need help in these areas?).

Research supports the use of Chinese herbs for a number of health conditions including heart disease, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. But what research can’t always tell us is how, exactly, or why Chinese herbs work. “They function synergistically to raise the body’s threshold for action and encourage adaptability,” Morrissey says. What is adaptability? more

In a disturbing new study published by the International Journal of Biological Sciences, three types of GMO corn from agricultural giant Monsanto — all approved for human consumption in the U.S. — were found to cause organ damage in rats. more

According to a study in the December issue of Archives of Dermatology, smoking, being overweight, and not using sunscreen are three lifestyle factors that contribute greatly to various signs of aging, including fine wrinkles and skin growths, along with photodamage like coarsely wrinkled skin, spots of extra pigment or lost pigment, and dilated blood vessels. Bottom line? Turns out the changes that can help you be a healthier you as you head into the new year will also help you look like a younger you.

As if you need another reason to avoid double cheeseburgers: Scientists have found that mice fed a high-fat diet containing relatively large amounts of lard have significantly reduced immunity and higher mortality rates when compared to mice fed diets rich in polyunsaturated fats from fish. Could this be why Okinawa, Sardinia, and Nova Scotia (islands where presumably populations eat more fish) boast a higher percentage of longevity?

Refined sugar also tops the list of immune-suppressing foods. Here’s what you should eat to boost your immunity.

While the number of toys containing lead has greatly decreased since 2007, The Ecology Center, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization, released its 3rd Annual Consumer Guide to Toxic Chemicals today (available at healthystuff.org), showing toxic toys are still a big problem. Of nearly 700 popular 2009 children’s products tested, one in three contained at least one harmful chemical, including lead, cadmium, arsenic, and PVC. “The toxic chemicals that we find are a fraction of the thousands of chemicals that can be present in everyday products, including those intended for children,” said Jeff Gearhart, the Ecology Center’s lead researcher and HealthyStuff.org founder, in a release. “We need a major overhaul of our chemicals policies immediately to start phasing out these dangerous substances.” But there are some measures you can take to ensure your kids’ products are safe. Before doing your holiday shopping, consider heading to healthystuff.org and searching toys by product name, UPC code, product type, manufacturer, or retailer to find out their chemical levels, and check out nontoxic toys for tots for the top questions to ask when doing your holiday shopping. Also, look for products from these natural companies: Melissa & Doug, Oompa Toys, Rich Frog, The Soft Landing, Green Toys, and ImagiPLAY and Clementine Art’s nontoxic children’s art supplies.

I know that exercise—especially hard exercise, like running or mountain biking—helps me cope with all of the little spilled-milk moments (literally, figuratively) and even with more stressful everyday situations, such as work projects taking unexpected and disappointing turns. It’s as if exercise creates a buffer zone. Now scientists have some evidence that exercise really does buffer us at the neurological level, changing and enabling cells to function better under stress. more

I know that I do. In fact, lately I have been spending hundreds of dollars out of pocket to address persistent back pain. (Rolfing and chiropractic are scarcely covered by my insurance, and the physical therapy that WAS covered didn’t do much to solve the issue.) This NYTimes article today underscores the problem, particularly for those with more serious health issues, such as cancer.

Do you struggle with the cost of (or lack of insurance coverage for) integrative or alternative therapies that you or your family members need?

Do you know what’s in that can of soup? No, I’m not talking sodium content. I mean do you know what’s in the lining of that can of soup? According to a report in the December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports it probably contains Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in the epoxy resin linings of most food and beverage cans that has been linked to infertility, weight gain, behavioral changes, early onset puberty, cardiovascular disease, prostate and breast cancers and diabetes. Of 19 name-brand foods tested, nearly all of them contained measurable amounts of BPA. Worse yet, some of those products were labeled organic and even “BPA-free.” Dr. Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy at Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, said in a release:

The findings are noteworthy because they indicate the extent of potential exposure. Children eating multiple servings per day of canned foods with BPA levels comparable to the ones we found in some tested products could get a dose of BPA near levels that have caused adverse effects in several animal studies. The lack of any safety margin between the levels that cause harm in animals and those that people could potentially ingest from canned foods has been inadequately addressed by the FDA to date. more