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Think about it: What kinds of foods wreak havoc with blood sugar? Those that are high in nutritionally empty carbohydrates—primarily refined sugar and refined grains. What kinds of foods help moderate blood sugar and help offset an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers? Those that are rich in protein, good fats, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients. In other words, the foods that help keep blood glucose under control and help moderate the risks and complications associated with diabetes are the same foods we all need to eat for optimal health....

Sixteen million adults now have the disease. One major cause? Rising obesity among young adults. Diabetes can be especially grave when it strikes early. “The younger you are when you get it, the tougher it is to avoid serious complications such as blindness and loss of limbs,” says Michael Engelgau, MD, a diabetes researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. “People in their 30s don’t think it can happen to them,” says Dr....

Get 1,000 mg of calcium a day. If your diet is low on calcium-rich foods, take a 500-mg supplement twice a day. Include vitamin D, which helps your body absorb calcium from food. Best source is a daily multivitamin with 400 IU. Include regular weight bearing exercise daily (walking will do), and for extra bone protection, consider weight training twice a week. At menopause, get a bone-density test. It’ll tell you what shape your bones are in....

Answer: That depends on where you live. “Water quality varies tremendously from one water supply to another,” explains Erik Olson, head of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s drinking water program. If you live in Chicago, for example, you can probably save your money. According to a report released this past June, when the nonprofit NRDC tested water supplies in 19 American cities in 2001, Chicago was the only one that got an “excellent” rating....

Serves 2 4 med zucchini 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 lg tomato, seeded and diced 1/4 c finely diced yellow onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 Tbsp capers 1 tsp salt 1 Tbsp shaved Parmesan (optional) Shave zucchini into thin ribbons using potato peeler. (Remember to stop and turn once you hit seeds.) Discard center. Repeat for each. Set aside. Add 6 cups water to medium pot and bring to a boil....

Wait, does that sound like you? Sure, your clean eating intentions may be well-meaning and even admirable, but you have to be careful about your tactics if you don’t want to be banned by your friends from all future social events that involve food. Instead of making all those substitutions or ordering off the menu, use these 8 simple tactics to order smarter while still avoiding calorie or portion overload....

From manic Mondays to fried Fridays, these 7 DIY bath ideas can help you bust out of whatever funk you’re in: Your mood: “My hormones are going crazy and so am I!“Your bath fix: Dying to curl up on the couch with a sob-inducing Nicholas Sparks novel while you devour a pint of ice cream? Been there, ate that. “You need a bath with uplifting ingredients to counteract the hormonal lows you’re experiencing,” says Geraldine Howard, scientist and co-founder behind the luxury bathing product company Aromatherapy Associates....

Because of these significant associations between exercise, a positive outlook, and longevity, it’s more apparent than ever that emotional and physical health go hand in hand. “This study reaffirms that exercise can affect attitude, leveling the playing field between positive and negative patients,” explains Barry Cohen, MD, medical director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ. While mood and exercise influence each other, the reasons are unclear (it’s similar to the ‘chicken and egg’ story—which came first?...

Is Extra Weight Actually Healthy? [UPI] You might be anxious to drop those last 10 pounds, but new research suggests that holding onto them might actually be good for your health. A new US government study concludes that overweight people with a BMI of 25 to 30—who make up more than 30% of the U.S. population—have a 6% lower risk of dying than those with a BMI in the normal range of 18....

It’s an emotion that’s tricky to describe, but researchers writing in the latest issue of Psychological Sciences describe “awe” the following way: A feeling that comes from experiencing something striking in size or scope; something that changes the way you perceive the world. These jaw-dropping moments don’t need to be epic—listening to an incredible orchestra or watching a yogi do some mind-melding pretzel poses are a few examples. (We’d like to add “Daniel Craig in the new Bond movie” to the list....

[pagebreak] The Yo-Yo Dieter I eat healthy, balanced meals and snacks—and my weight still fluctuates –Belinda R., 54 For the past 25 years, Belinda has watched the numbers on the scale bounce up and down–most recently, she shed 20 pounds before putting it right back on. “I weigh 244 now, and I don’t know why because overall, I think I eat well,” she says. For Belinda, that means making sure each meal includes a healthy combination of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, plus at least one fruit or vegetable–such as chicken and hummus in a multigrain wrap, with baby carrots on the side....

The latest animal study finds that low-dose prenatal BPA exposure can have long-lasting effects on brain function and behavior in offspring. Researchers treated pregnant female mice daily with various concentrations of BPA, including doses below the level considered “safe” for humans, looking at not only behavioral outcomes in male and female offspring, but also post-natal maternal care. Most of the animal studies on BPA have been at exposure rates far higher than human exposure levels, so trying to get to real-world dosing was crucial to the study, says co-author Frances Champagne, PhD, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at Columbia University....

[sidebar]Eyebrow Color Generally, you should match the exact color of the eyebrows rather than your hair color or a color you think would look better than what already exists. You don’t want to see a difference between the eyebrow hairs and the shadow or gel used to fill them in. However, if you have pale eyebrows and want to darken the eyebrow color, use a soft shade of brown that is as close to your eyebrows’ natural color as possible....

In addition, circuit training gives you a cardio workout. Because you move quickly from one exercise to the next, your heart rate stays up, and you burn more calories while you’re lifting weights. (Traditional strength training has more rest time.) To add flexibility benefits–an essential fitness component, especially as you get older–we’ve mixed in a few yoga poses. These easy moves stretch your muscles, while also helping to further increase your strength....

But instead of feeling terrified, Joseph—a personal chef with a nonstop schedule and eight grandkids who are central to it—is hopeful. Excited, even. “I just want to feel like myself again,” she says. What made Joseph and the eight other women at this shoot throw embarrassment to the wind? The potential of our new Fit in 10 program, which—our working theory went—would help them lose weight and get stronger, firmer, and more energized, simply by adding just 10 minutes of smart strength training a day....

Sweat Summary: Instructor Annika Kahn uses her background in martial arts and kickboxing to create a fun, high-energy, total-body workout that incorporates a wooden sword into movements. (Don’t worry the tip is rounded and blunt!) More from Prevention.com: Why You Should Try Kickboxing Sweat Factor: Medium Mood: Determined What We Liked: Finish feeling like a fitness ninja! Each move must be precise, and using the wooden prop requires the core to remain engaged throughout simple movements to assist with balance....

You know you’re supposed to buy yogurt plain and add fresh fruit at home. But could these flavored and fruit-on-the-bottom varieties really be that bad? MORE: Six Big Myths About Greek Yogurt Yes, they absolutely can. And we thought it was high time to take these misleading yogurt bastards down a notch. So we found a host of supposedly healthy yogurts with more sugar than a Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut, which clocks in at an even 10 g....