Posts

Well, at least in part. More specifically, a trio of new experiments by researchers at the University of Miami has concluded that feelings of vulnerability to perceived environmental threats can lead us to consume more calories than we would otherwise. Such perceived threats might include factors like economic turmoil, competitive co-workers, or the mere thought of struggles and adversity, says study co-author Anthony Salerno, a PhD candidate in Marketing at the University of Miami....

Bend arms to 90 degrees. This makes the swing quick and compact—your feet have no choice but to keep up! Trace an arc from your waist to your chest as you swing. “Your thumb should brush against your waistband as your elbow goes backward,” Fenton says. This ensures that your arms propel you forward, not flail aimlessly. MORE: 6 Moves That Target Stubborn Cellulite Keep elbows in and don’t let hands cross past the middle of your chest (in front of your sternum)....

Older women are especially vulnerable thanks to stressors such as divorce, financial insecurity, and changes related to menopause. “These can trigger an eating disorder and may cause you to overlook one,” says Jonathan Mond, PhD, a scientist at James Cook University School of Medicine in Australia. You don’t need to be vomiting or passing up all meals to have a problem. Here’s a list of more subtle statements made by those with unhealthy eating habits: • “I eat uncontrollably—even when I’m not hungry....

MORE: The Scientific Reason It’s So Hard to Quit Sugar—And the Solution Well, maybe the fact that 44 years later, excessive consumption of sugary drinks is a major contributor to the obesity and diabetes epidemics. That’s the idea behind this dark, scathing spoof of the original commercial—courtesy of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Today, they say, the world is singing a “different tune” about soda. Take a listen right here:

Spicy Blue Chicken with Corn Salad Scallop-Asparagus Linguine Turkey-Avocado Cobb Salad Mediterranean Cod Steak and Pepper Kebabs

Lectins are a naturally occurring protein found in beans, legumes, whole grains, and some vegetables. Lectins recently hit the big time after Steven Gundry, MD, a cardiac surgeon, singled them out in his book The Plant Paradox. In the book, he says that lectins are dangerous because they increase inflammation, and cause digestive woes and chronic diseases. Oh, and they can make you fat. Yikes. That’s prompted a lot of people to cut out foods high in lectins from their diet (including Kelly Clarkson, who says she lost 37 pounds without exercising after reading The Plant Paradox)....

That’s because all that polar vortex chilling delayed tree flowering. Now that we’ve warmed up a bit, the trees have gone into overdrive to catch up. The result? Achoo! Just in time, two new allergy drugs were recently approved by the FDA. Both operate on the same principle as allergy shots—they are immunotherapy, meaning they help your body become less reactive to pollen. Immunotherapy pills have been available in Europe for some time, but the FDA’s approval marks the first time that oral immunotherapy is available in the US....

In fact, both flying off the handle and wallowing can take a toll on your health, increasing pain perception, depression, and your risk of heart disease. But a healthier response can soothe stress, lower your risk of heart problems and depression, and improve your relationships. If that all sounds too good to be true, get this: Experts say we can all learn to handle our anger more effectively. Here, discover the tempo of your temper—and find yourself a better rhythm....

The fact that dietary supplements like vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other natural alternatives to Western medicine are unregulated by the FDA is not breaking news. These items have never been under the FDA’s purview, and yet have been used or recommended by doctors for decades to help treat or prevent everything from the common cold to cancer. The hospital, referred to as CHOP, based its decision not only on a lack of FDA regulation but also on a lack of clinical trials proving the benefits or risks associated with taking dietary supplements....

The move: Using the seated thigh machineWhy it’s a waste: It seems like it will help you get rid of the fat on your inner and outer thighs, but it won’t. “Spot reducing” exercises don’t help you lose fat.What to do instead: Lunges—both forward, backward, and side. These exercises tone and strengthen your whole body, including your thighs, says Greg Justice, an exercise physiologist at AYC Health & Fitness in Kansas City....

Research in Psychosomatic Medicine finds that jotting down impersonal information can heal wounds faster, and researchers from Brigham Young University find that keeping a daily journal can significantly boost happiness and life satisfaction. But what exactly makes journaling so healthy? “Journaling creates a venue for the unconscious to express itself,” says Gayani DeSilva, MD, a clinical psychiatrist at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. “It’s an exercise of writing about experiences and feelings, which gives the writer a chance to examine internal conflicts....

Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center joined forces with Vivekananda Yoga Research Foundation in Bangalore, India, to follow 335 women, ages 18 to 35, who either took an hour-long yoga class or walked an hour each day during their second and third trimesters. The researchers found that those who did yoga were half as likely to give birth prematurely (14% versus 29%) and had lower emergency C-section rates (23% versus 33%) than those who walked....

30 seconds Prep feet by rubbing a sugar or salt scrub like Tree Hut Detoxifying Mediterranean Salt Scrub ($9, ulta.com) on the heels and callused areas only (skip the tops of feet, where skin is more sensitive). A pumice stone like Revlon Pumice Stone ($4, walgreens.com) can do the job, too. However, if you use it once or twice a week, replace it every six months because bacteria can build up in the stone, says Marc Stock, of The Relaxed Foot, a diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery....

According to Coyle S. Connolly, DO, the most common cause of discolored nails is a condition called onychomycosis. This nail fungus occurs when organisms known as dermatophytes move in under your nails. According to the National Onychomycosis Society, 11 million new cases are diagnosed each year. Why so common? Toenails and fingernails and surrounding skin are prone to everyday wear and tear, which invites dirt, germs, and infection-causing fungi to take up residence there....