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The new rules, set to go into effect over the span of a few years, will require manufacturers to eliminate roughly 10 “high-priority” chemicals from their beauty products and to disclose all chemicals used in synthetic fragrances, which often contain dozens of potentially harmful chemicals that are protected under federal law as “trade secrets” and thus aren’t legally required to be listed on product labels. More from Prevention: Phthalates Increase Diabetes Risk 30% Also part of the announcement was a requirement that all household cleaners sold under the retailer’s Great Value private label meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Design for the Environment program standards....

You drink it, shower with it, rely on it for cooking and cleaning. So shouldn’t your water be as safe and clean as possible? Ideally, it would be. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, as pointed out in a new guide to water filtration systems from the Environmental Working Group (EWG). “There hasn’t been much improvement in removing contaminants from municipal water supplies,” says Paul Pestano, a research analyst with EWG....

Two popular picks? Frozen yogurt (lovingly deemed as froyo) and coconut milk ice cream. Hey, yogurt and coconut are in their names, so they must be somewhat good for you, right? Well, both froyo and coconut milk ice cream offer their own beneficial nutrients, like calcium and fiber—but we’re still talking about dessert here. Read on to find out which frozen treat does the least amount of nutritional damage....

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced that it is backing a Massachusetts biotech company that is developing an implantable contraceptive that can be activated and deactivated by the user, the MIT Technology Review reports. READ: Is Hot Yoga Actually Good for Weight Loss? Current contraceptive implants—inserted into a woman’s upper arm where they release the hormone progestin—last about three years and are the size of a matchstick. MicroCHIPS Inc....

So, what the heck does it mean? Basically, it means almost organic, but not quite. When a farmer decides to convert to organic practices, there’s a 3-year transition period in which they must follow all organic practices, but aren’t allowed to sell their crops as organic. This is to ensure that there’s adequate time to rebuild healthy soil biology and produce nutrient-packed, toxin-free produce. Kind of a bummer for the farmer, but it makes sense....

Researchers assessed the personalities of 97 people via questionnaire and then asked them to rate how much they enjoyed increasingly “hot” foods after giving them a taste of capsaicin, the ingredient responsible for the spiciness of chili peppers. They found that people who are more “sensation-seeking,” meaning they are more open to risks and new experiences, continued to like spicy meals even as burn intensity increased, while less risk-loving people rapidly enjoyed these foods less and less....

Myth: You burn more fat if you exercise on an empty stomach. Reality: Don’t expect any fat-melting miracles. When you exercise, your body burns both fat and carbohydrate calories. Recent studies show that working out on an empty stomach might burn a few more fat calories than when you work out an hour or two after eating—but total calorie burn is about the same. And, based on research so far, that’s what really counts when it comes to fitting into a smaller size....

Courtesy of Rodale News If the thought of burning off excess calories from too much holiday turkey and stuffing by walking or jogging around the block leaves you yawning and opting for a nap instead, it’s time to spice things up in the exercise department. IDEA fitness journal recently identified unique workout routines that are sure to keep exercisers with even the shortest attention spans engaged. Use components of these six unconventional training routines to creatively burn off those excess calories around the holidays....

, often while exercising. Now, the not-so-great news: No one really knows why, and though it’s likely an innocuous, if annoying, condition, it could be the sign of something more serious and should be checked out by your doctor. Yawning, in general, is a medical mystery. Scientists once chalked it up to your body needing more oxygen. As you take normal, shallow breaths, many of the lungs’ air sacs, or alveoli, go unused and partially collapse....

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More from Prevention: 10 Health Problems You Can Fix With Yoga Whether you’re new to yoga or not, spending a few minutes with these simple yoga poses and breathing exercises will help clear your mind so you can cast a mindful vote: Balasana (Child’s Pose) Begin by kneeling on the floor. Put your big toes together and open your knees slightly wider than your hips. Lay your torso onto your thighs and let your head rest on the mat....

Researchers from MIT made participants walk on a treadmill—some fast, some slow—while negotiating the price of a used car. For the participants that generally like negotiating, those who walked while they wheeled-and-dealed achieved higher economic outcomes and were more satisfied with the negotiation than those who sat down during the meeting. What about the arbitrating adverse? They performed worse, were more anxious, and were less satisfied about the discussion when they were asked to walk during their negotiation....

After that amount of time, rats that ate high-fat, high-sugar foods performed worse on special memory tests, and they couldn’t locate things as well as rodents fed a normal diet. These rats had problems noticing if an object had moved; for you, that’s like when you can’t find your keys. We know what you’re thinking: another rat study. But the results likely apply to humans as well, says study coauthor Margaret Morris, PhD....

The lower part of your small intestine then wrings out the water remaining in your meal and ushers it into your colon, which funnels it into your bloodstream to help keep you hydrated. As straightforward as this process sounds, the seemingly simple chore of digestion depends on a finely orchestrated series of muscular contractions, chemical secretions, and electrical signals all along the 30-foot-long gastrointestinal tract. But there’s also plenty you can do to keep this operation running smoothly....

What’s that? Your smoothie is made from only natural sugar found in fruit or honey? That’s great, but the natural stuff will still send your blood-sugar levels sky-high, which we’re betting is not exactly how you want to start your morning or end a great workout. Here, my six best tips to make a leaner, cleaner drink that still tastes fabulous, but doesn’t have all the sugar of a commercial soda....

Those surface substances interact with your immune system in ways that change your risk for several common diseases. So depending on whether you’re type A, B, AB, or O, you may be more or less likely to suffer from heart trouble, cancer, and several other maladies. Here’s what your blood type could mean for you: Memory Problems Blood type AB may increase your risk for cognitive impairment, shows research from the journal Neurology....