Building your family tree is a fascinating and rewarding endeavor, but like any new skill or hobby, genealogy comes with a few challenges that can be frustrating to beginners. Every project faces its own set of pitfalls, but some of the most common problems faced by amateur ancestry researchers are:

A new British study designed to assess the effectiveness of a range of weight management programs has branded Weight Watchers a more effective and wallet-friendly weight loss strategy than family doctor-based services.

The research team studied the weight loss results of 740 obese and overweight men and women who participated in one of several different weight management programs. Three commercial programs were used – Weight Watchers, Slimming World, and Rosemary Conley – as well as a group-based program, a general practice with one-to-one counseling, and a pharmacy-led one-to-one counseling service. Some participants were given the option of choosing which program to follow, and a control group was given vouchers to use at an exercise facility but no weight loss plan. Progress was measured at the end of each 12-week program, as well as at the one-year mark.

Yep, you read that right. According to Karen Ansel and EatRight.org, there may be more to beer than meets the eye.

Like it's more famous heath-boosting alcoholic cousin, wine, beer offers benefits beyond relaxation and refreshment. Ansel says:

It helps your heart. According to a 2008 article published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association people who drink one to two alcoholic drinks of any kind are at a lower risk for heart disease. Experts believe alcohol decreases the likelihood of blood clots by increasing levels of "good" HDL cholesterol while lowering unhealthy LDL cholesterol.

“I can't eat healthy foods because they're too expensive.”

“I would eat better, but it's practically impossible during a recession.”

“I just don't have the financial resources to be healthy.”

I've heard every excuse in the book when it comes to eating well and keeping fit, but in the midst of the economic downturn, this one comes up more than any other: money's tight, so I can't eat right. Eating well – yes, even during a recession – can fit into anyone's budget. All it takes is commitment and a little bit of planning. Try some of these strategies to stay healthy without breaking the bank:

Genealogy has long been a pastime associated with European-Americans and African-Americans, but new efforts from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Ancestry.com are making more information available for the 32 million Mexican-Americans who may want to trace their family trees.

Thinking about making the switch from glasses to contact lenses? Contacts are more versatile now than ever before, offering a range of options from the functional to the aesthetic. Selecting the right contact lenses from the immense variety of available choices can be a daunting task for anyone new to the process. Check out your basic options below, then talk to your doctor about which lenses are best for you.