Ashley’s answer: When it comes to sweeteners, there are several things to consider. First, does your sweetener fully exist in nature, or is it made in a chemistry lab? If it’s chemically or genetically altered in a lab—and even if advertisers tell you it’s “just like” or “made from” or “all-natural”—that means it’s not really made in nature. To me, that artificial (in every sense of the word) sweetener isn’t an option....
While getting a little achier with age is common and not necessarily something to be concerned about, the right stretching routine can help you avoid aches, says Rachel Southard, director of personal training operations at Anytime Fitness in Woodbury, Minnesota. (Beat high blood pressure and cholesterol and lose weight with the customizable walking plans in Prevention’s Walk Your Way to Better Health!) Here, Southard shares her five favorite stretches for preventing injury, decreasing post-workout soreness, and helping you stay ache-free in your 40s, 50s, and beyond....
Grab the middle of a resistance band with your right hand and 1 end of band with your left hand. Extend your left arm out to side at shoulder height (A) with your right hand by left forearm. MORE: 5 Moves For Stronger, Sexier Arms
Researchers from the Baylor College of Medicine compared rates of a rare birth defect called choanal atresia—which happens when the cavity between a baby’s nose and mouth becomes fully or partially closed and causes breathing problems that can be fatal—to application rates of the herbicide atrazine in Texas farm fields. The results: Birth defect rates and atrazine application levels went hand-in-hand, says lead study author Philip Lupo, PhD, assistant professor in the department of pediatrics....
The research: The Chinese study team compiled blood pressure and stroke data on more than 760,000 people. Compared to those with blood pressure at or below the ideal limit, people whose levels landed somewhere between ideal and high—a stage called prehypertension—were 66% more likely to suffer a stroke. Even if your blood pressure is just slightly above the ideal limit, in the 120/80 to 130/84 range, your risk for stroke jumps 44%, the study data shows....
Turns out, sugar is still sugar, regardless of the source. “Too much of any sugar can cause problems and lead to increased risk for diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and fatty liver,” says Despina Hyde, RD, diabetes educator at NYU Langone Medical Center. That’s why the American Heart Association recommends that most women consume no more than 6 teaspoons—about 25 g or 100 calories worth—of added sugar per day. That aside, natural sweeteners still differ in subtle ways....
We all have less-than-sterling traits, and so do our loved ones. Learning to view them in a more understanding light is one of the best gifts you can give your partner. According to the late University of Washington psychologist Neil Jacobson, PhD, cofounder of integrative behavioral couples therapy, accepting each other’s flaws not only increases intimacy and relationship satisfaction, but it also has a hidden bonus: When no longer pressed to change, a third of partners finally do, research shows....
Sciatica tends to be short-lived, but sometimes it persists for years. Even simple daily activities—like bending over, sneezing, or having a bowel movement—can trigger attacks. Once the nerve has been irritated or damaged, the pain can persist even when you’re lying still. Because so many things can cause sciatica, and because the nerve can be permanently damaged without prompt treatment, it’s essential to see a doctor at the first sign of symptoms....
Ready To Get Zen? [Greatist] Meditation is accompanied by some serious health benefits, including reduced anxiety and a decreased perception of pain. Even better? It doesn’t have to take place sitting on a pillow. You can meditate pretty much anywhere, and there’s a style for everyone—from the zen master to the chronic fidgeter. Consider trying one of these creative ways to meditate, from a standing practice to a hand movement meditation....
For nearly a decade, UK researchers tracked the sleeping habits and stroke rates of nearly 10,000 middle-aged and older adults. Those who slept more than 8 hours a night were 46% more likely to suffer a stroke than those who slept between 6 and 8 hours. MORE: 8 Things Your Sleep Habits Say About You More frightening: People who slept fewer than 6 nightly hours at the start of the study—but later shifted to 8-plus hours—were nearly 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke than people with steady sleep habits....
Oops! Your hair is fried and lifeless from daily hot tool use. Your action plan:For now: Back away from the hot tools and get a polished look by applying a smoothing serum to your hair and pulling it back in a ponytail or bun for the day. Just can’t go heat-free? Protect your hair from further abuse by using a thermal protector spray like Tresemmé Platinum Strength Strengthening Heat Protect Spray ($5, walmart....
In the study, half of the 32 participants took a daily fish oil supplement (400 mg) for 26 days; the other half took a placebo. They were then put through a 20-minute downhill running workout on the treadmill, which has been shown to cause muscle damage (as anyone who’s tried downhill running can tell you). Over the next 4 days, the participants kept taking the supplement (or the placebo) and were asked to rate muscle soreness in their legs on a scale from 0 to 10, or “no soreness” to “unbearably painful....
Forget the adage: Money really can buy happiness—you just have to spend it in the right places. Recent research has shown that spending your discretionary income on life experiences—whether climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro or taking salsa lessons—yields greater happiness than buying material possessions. Now, a new report published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology concludes that the key is to bring others along for the ride when you drop that loot....
June Strawberries Blend together fresh strawberries, lime juice, sugar and water for strawberry agua fresca. Toss strawberries with spinach, toasted almonds, and fresh goat cheese for a standout salad. Make strawberry sauce: Simmer strawberries with a splash of maple syrup and lime juice for 12 to 15 minutes and spoon over Greek yogurt or ice cream. MORE: 20 Scrumptious Strawberry Recipes Apricots Skewer halved apricots with pork tenderloin for a sweet and savory kebab....
There’s the “duh” prescription for feeling good: Exercise more, hug someone, pet your Labrador retriever. Boring! Better: Positivity researchers are now turning up unexpected happiness triggers that can turn your frown upside down. Here are six fun ways that we love: Tearjerker movies Put Titanic and Atonement on your feel-good flick list. Sure, a tragic romance makes you cry in the theater, but after the credits roll, you’ll remember what’s good about your own main squeeze—thereby boosting happiness, Ohio State University researchers report....
Consider this fair warning: You will not be able to stop eating these wings. Good thing they’re way cleaner than the ones you get when you order take-out: Some restaurant versions can pack almost 50 grams of sugar in a serving. This homemade version has just 3 grams—and they’re crazy-easy to make. (Note: Look for mirin, a Japanese rice wine, in the Asian/international section of your supermarket.) MORE: Bar-Food Upgrade: Brisket Nachos with Guacamole and Pear Slaw Prep time: 3 hoursTotal time: 3 hours 45 minutesServes 4 3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 2" piece ginger, peeled and grated 1/3 c tamari 1/3 c coconut sugar 3 Tbsp sesame oil 2 Tbsp mirin 1 Tbsp Chinese five spice 2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted 12 chicken wings...
Anyone, according to Lululemon founders Chip and Shannon Wilson. They just launched a new 60-second meditation program called whil, which joins a growing industry of abbreviated meditation solutions (others include just-a-minute and One-Moment Meditation). They’re designed to make mindfulness easier than ever to attain, and none of them requires you to om for more than 60 seconds. Getting zen faster than the time it takes to start up your computer is tantalizing....
