Blog Posts by Lindsay MacAdam

Researchers claim that too much happiness can make you prone to risky behaviour and have less earning potential later in life. (Credit: Thinkstock)Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? According to numerous researchers, when it comes to happiness, more is not necessarily better.

Although the positive side effects of happiness are many -- including protection from strokes and the common cold, resistance to pain, increased life expectancy and, of course, feeling good -- many researchers are suggesting that happiness, like chocolate, is best enjoyed in moderation. A healthy balance, they tell the Washington Post, would be to feel three positive emotions for every negative one. But, let's get serious, emotions don't really work like that.

Related: Letting go of hard-to-attain goals improves quality of life: study

What's so wrong with being an all-around happy person, anyway? June Gruber, psychology professor from Yale University, agrees that too much happiness can have negative outcomes.

"Research indicates that very high levels of positive feeling predict risk-taking behaviours, excess alcohol and drug consumption, binge

This guy looks pretty blissed out, doesn't he? Maybe it's because he has let go of some hard-to-attain goals. (Credit: Thinkstock)All you chronic goal-setters out there will be the first to admit that nothing is more disappointing and ego-bruising than realizing you're not going to achieve one of your goals -- whether it's due to a sprained ankle before a big race or not getting into the school of your dreams. But according to a new collaborative study out of Concordia and McGill universities, hanging onto unattainable goals could be affecting your well being.

Based on a mutual desire to motivate breast cancer survivors to become more active, Carsten Wrosch, psychology professor from Concordia University, and Catherine Sabiston from McGill's Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, conducted a study to examine why so many survivors become overweight and why they're generally more sedentary than other women.

Related: How power can be as addictive as cocaine

The study involved 176 breast cancer survivors aged 28 to 79, who were almost a year past their diagnosis and approximately three months

The "Loub job" cosmetic procedure is gaining in popularity as a way to help women walk more comfortably in high heels (Credit: Thinkstock)Women often turn to high heels for added height, polish or because the styles are just so irresistible. No matter how your weight may fluctuate, there's comfort in knowing your pretty shoes will always fit. But do you live by the old adage, "pain is beauty" when it comes to your footwear? 

According to the International Business Times, cosmetic foot procedures in the U.S. have doubled in the last year and foot filler requests are up by nearly 21 per cent from last year.

Foot filler procedures, known as the "Loub job"(referring to Christian Louboutin's signature red-soled high heels), involve injecting collagen into the toe pads, heels and balls of the feet, creating a comfortable, pillow-like effect. In just 20 minutes, and for around $520 you can experience built-in foot cushions and reduced shoe-related pain for up to six months, reports the Daily Mail.

"Skyscraper heels are becoming ever more popular with the likes of Victoria Beckham and Cheryl Cole stepping out in towering

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011. (George Pimentel/WireImage)
This Sunday, April 29, marks the one-year wedding anniversary of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The couple have successfully reinvigorated public interest in the British monarchy, all the while managing to remain surprisingly relatable to us average folk. They order take-out pizza! And walk their dog! And grocery shop! And wear jeans!

See more: Kate and William's romantic first year as husband and wife

Rather than simply reflecting on the past year of their lives together and all they've accomplished, wouldn't it be even more interesting to see how their first year as newlyweds compares to that of Prince Charles and Lady Diana -- and more specifically, how Kate's and Diana's transitions to royalty compare? We think so.

Wedding

Charles and Diana were wed in St. Paul's Cathedral, as it offered more seating than Westminster Abbey, where Will and Kate were wed. In both cases, crowds of well-wishers filled the streets in hopes of catching a glimpse of

Studies carried out worldwide have shown that people, regardless of age group and cultural background, tend to underestimate their body size. (Credit: Thinkstock)You know that feeling you get when you see a picture of yourself and you can't believe your eyes? "The camera adds 10 pounds," you think, as you banish the image from your mind and retreat back to your happy place of denial. Don't worry, you're not alone. And it might not necessarily be denial that's to blame.

According to the New York Times, studies carried out worldwide have shown that people, regardless of age group and cultural background, tend to underestimate their body sizes, and there is a neurological process involved.

Since our bodies change as we age, the brain must continuously adjust its body image in order to maintain an accurate perception of size. Scientists are beginning to uncover how the brain's perception can go astray.

Related: Top 10 global beauty brand rankings released

"The relative size of our body parts needs to be continuously updated and recalibrated," says Henrik Ehrsson, associate professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Karolinska Institute in

Burger King has vowed to make the switch to using only cage-free chickens and pigs for its egg and pork products by 2017. (Credit: Getty)We all have our own ethical standards when it comes to selecting the foods we buy at the grocery store, but have you ever stopped and thought about the standards of the restaurants you're eating at?

Burger King, the world's second-largest fast-food restaurant, will make grabbing a quick burger a little easier on our collective consciousness, as the chain has vowed to make the switch to using only cage-free chickens and pigs for its egg and pork products by 2017, reports Businessweek. And that's no small feat for a company that uses hundreds of millions of eggs and tens of millions of pounds of pork annually.

Related: 'Six Weeks to OMG' diet preaches black coffee, cold baths

"So many tens of thousands of animals will now be in better living conditions," says Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, in a statement. "Numerically this is significant because Burger King is such a big purchaser of these products."

The company has already begun its conversion

Olay was ranked the number one beauty brand according to Brand Finance's yearly ranking. (Credit: Getty Images)Earlier this week, brand-valuation firm Brand Finance released its yearly ranking of the world's top 50 beauty brands, including skincare, haircare, shower products and makeup. While some of the results may surprise you, others, probably won't. They're the brands that are top-of-mind, in your face, and doing all they can to remain there.

Taking the top five spots are Olay, Avon, L'Oréal, Neutrogena and Nivea, with Lancôme, Dove, Estée Lauder, Bioré and Shiseido rounding out the top 10. According to Forbes, the rankings were compiled based on forecasts for five-year revenue, customer loyalty, royalty rates, and market share and value.

Related: Urban Outfitters' Star of David t-shirt sparks controversy

Most women have their go-to products that they swear by and have been using for years, whether it's a favourite mascara, face moisturizer or shampoo they just can't bare to part with. And with so many beauty brands and products on the market today, gaining

The website page selling Urban Outfitters’ Star of David t-shirt . (Credit: Urban Outfitters)American clothing retailer Urban Outfitters is not one to play it safe with its merchandise selection. It seems the company is under fire every few months for some form of copycat behaviour or offensive product.

This time around, the trendy chain is being criticized by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for a seemingly innocent yellow T-shirt called the "Kellog Tee," made by Danish clothing brand Wood Wood. The problem with the tee, reports Gawker, is the blue symbol on the pocket that distinctly resembles the Star of David that Jews were forced to wear throughout the Holocaust.

Related: Burlesque dancer and model, Dita Von Teese, shows off her jaw-dropping shoe collection: video

"We find this use of symbolism to be extremely distasteful and offensive, and we are outraged that your company would make this product available to your customers," writes ADL Philadelphia's director Barry Morrison to Urban Outfitters CEO Richard A. Hayne.

The letter continues  to say the product "represents a