Posts

Researchers analyzed data on pollution, weather, tree cover (the amount of land covered by trees), and how concentrations of four different air pollutants affect human health for every single county in the lower 48 states. In addition to the live-saving stats above, they found that urban areas see the greatest benefit from trees’ ability to trap and absorb air pollutants while producing nice, clean oxygen. “Urban areas account for only 3% of total land use in the US, but they see almost 66% of the health benefits of all trees,” says David Nowak, PhD, study author and project leader with the USDA Forest Service....

Self-powered treadmills, sans electricity, play a starring role at the new Superstar Gym in Tribeca, where European-inspired group fitness classes are taking off. At Right Fit NY in the West Village, owner Romeo Gousse added a Woodway Curved treadmill to his facility after an NFL player-client suggested it. Even Barry’s Bootcamp occasionally gets in on the unplugged action, by occasionally having class go-ers switch their treadmills into “dynamic mode” so your run moves the belt....

My dad was given 5-6 months to live as a result of stage four lung cancer. There is no cure or treatment that will make this disappear. He has chosen to not do chemotherapy treatments. Here’s the thing, he’s doing okay for today and doesn’t want to talk about his future. The doc says he might surpass the average lifespan. I needed to learn really quickly that while I’m capable and eager to discuss this process with him and help him access his feelings about it and able to write his bucket list and get all his affairs in order, I don’t....

While tasty going down, liquid calories don’t register on your appetite meter the way solid food does, so those excess calories can add up fast. Likewise, making a few shrewd swaps with your drinks could trick your body into weight loss by accepting fewer calories without cutting back on food. The exceptions, of course, are calcium-rich, low-fat dairy or soy milk or antioxidant-rich tomato, orange, or Concord grape juice. But if you root out another 200 liquid calories a day, you could have as much as a 20lb weight loss in a year—without your stomach even noticing....

[sidebar]If you take action right away your chances of preventing the full-blown disease are excellent. But if you ignore your condition, you could end up with diabetes sooner than you think—and for the rest of your life, says Dr. Longjohn. Not convinced? Here’s an attitude adjuster: For every 100 people diagnosed with prediabetes today, 10 to 15 will have diabetes next year. You don’t have to be one of them....

The vegetarian protein called Neat ($24 for 6-pack; eatneat.com) is a mix of pecans, garbanzo beans, white beans, gluten-free cornmeal, and spices, plus eggs and water you add yourself. It’s hard to find a meat replacement that isn’t loaded with soy and gluten, and this one is free of both. It may not break up as readily as ground beef, but come taco night, the flavors are delightful—and healthy. More from Prevention: 10 Best Meatless Protein Sources

Another change? A spike in curiosity about alternative grains, especially quinoa. According to Mintel, gluten-free foods like quinoa have seen a 168% growth since 2007. And there’s no sign of it stopping; the United Nations recently declared the year 2013 the International Year of the Quinoa. Both deserve their health halos, but does one deserve to be a bit brighter than the other? Find out how quinoa measures up to brown rice:

But one figure was surprising: When asked if their schedules allowed adequate time for sleep, more than 70% of Americans said “yes”, which placed the U.S. near the top of the polls. These results beg the question: Since most of us have time for sleep, why are we sleeping so poorly? The answer is likely lurking on your desk, in your pocket, or on your bedside table. “The use of electronic devices like cell phones, tablets, and computers is something that’s changed just in the past 10 to 15 years, and I think that’s a big part of the problem,” says Namni Goel, PhD, who studies sleep disorders at the University of Pennsylvania....

Compared to those osteoarthritis sufferers with adequate vitamin D levels, those short on D reported significantly more knee pain and loss of function, according to the study data. Those results held regardless of a person’s weight, although the obese study participants were more likely to suffer from a vitamin D deficiency. There are several different ways low D might mess with your knees, says study coauthor Toni Glover, PhD, of the University of Florida....

Major Changes For Common Sleeping Meds [The New York Times] If you ever pop a prescription sleeping pill to nod off, take note: The Food and Drug Administration is cutting the recommended dosage in half for women, after studies indicated that the meds can leave us too drowsy in the morning. In particular, the FDA is concerned about impaired driving, and notes that 10-15% of women are too drowsy to drive safely 8 hours after taking a tablet....

Does yoga ease—or cause—pain? The Confusion Last January, The New York Times published a controversial article that contradicted the proclamations of yogis everywhere about this ancient discipline’s power to heal. Instead, the article claimed yoga may be too high-risk for most people. Lower back pain was among the most common injuries sustained during practice, according to a 2009 Columbia University survey of yoga teachers, therapists and doctors cited by the article....

According to a press release from the company, the burgers will be made with certified organic meat sourced from Germany and Austria. The choice to release in Germany seems calculated, too: Grub Street reports that Germany has the world’s second largest market for organic food after the US—even though it’s only got a quarter of our population. The price of the burger has not yet been announced, but we highly doubt this one’s going on the Dollar Menu....

Early in a relationship, your sex life is a pumpkin spice latte: indulgent, with plenty of spice—and maybe even a little whipped cream. But as the years go by, that latte almost inevitably becomes black coffee: plain and totally routine. “Boring sex unfolds naturally in long-term relationships, because we all do what works,” says Marianne Brandon, PhD, author of Monogamy: The Untold Story. “Then we just keep repeating what works until it becomes a rut....

Here, 10 of the most pervasive diet-related rumors and the real scoop on how to hit your goal weight for good. “Strength training will bulk me up.” First, let’s tackle the myth that a pound of muscle weighs more than a pound of fat. A pound is a pound is a pound—whether it’s made up of muscle or fat. That said, muscle is denser than fat and takes up less room, so two women who weigh the same can look much different if one has a higher ratio of lean muscle mass to fat, says Valentour....

Think you know what’s in your food? If the past few months are any indication, you might have no idea. In December, the conservation group Oceana found that 39% of seafood purchased in New York City was actually a different species than what the labels claimed. And earlier this year, several European countries were rocked by a horse meat scandal, after it was revealed that the “beef” in certain packaged foods actually hailed from our equine friends....

Stirring up sexy Eating great is sexy. Looking great is sexy. So why do you have to choose one or the other? You don’t—no matter what the diet gurus say. You can eat delicious, sexy food and still be the most delicious, sexy you imaginable. You just need to take control of your food—assert yourself in the kitchen and learn to master some elegant, exquisite, exciting recipes. You see, the keys to looking sexy and cooking sexy are the same: a little dash of smarts and a heaping dollop of self-confidence....