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Researchers from Brigham Young University studied the activity and sleep habits of 330 women over several weeks, looking for a relationship between their sleep behaviors and body composition. And they found it: The women whose bedtimes and wake times fluctuated by less than an hour every day had significantly lower body fat compared to those whose times varied more than 90 minutes. “We were surprised that consistency of sleep patterns were more important than sleep durations for predicting body fat,” says study author Bruce Bailey, PhD, a professor at BYU....

SERVINGS: 4 (1 sandwich each) ½ sm red onion, thinly sliced 5 Tbsp rice wine vinegar, divided 2 tsp sugar, divided Pinch salt ¼ c chunky peanut butter 1 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce 1 tsp sriracha 14 oz package extra-firm tofu, sliced into 8 pieces and pan-fried (see how to pan-fry tofu here) 2 c shredded Napa cabbage 4 ciabatta rolls, split and toasted MORE: 20 Things You Can Do With Tofu...

Soothe pain. Runners, rejoice: Cherries could be the answer to post-run muscle soreness. A trial from Oregon Health & Science University studied the effects of tart cherry juice in 54 long-distance runners who drank 2 bottles of either the liquid or a placebo, twice daily, for one week leading up to a race. Neither group finished the run hurt-free, but cherry-juice drinkers reported a significantly smaller increase in pain both during and after the race....

In a small study from the University of Bath, researchers had healthy adult males up their usual daily caloric intake by about 50%, to roughly 5,000 calories a day. At the same time, their physical activity was restricted to less than 4,000 steps a day (all to mimic the indulgent, slug-like feel of the holiday season). The twist: Half the particpants added a daily 45-minute run—but also ate even more to make up for the calories burned during the exercise....

But today, a tsunami of scientific data has resulted in a reversal in thinking about multivitamins among many experts in the health and nutrition community, including Miriam Nelson, PhD, director of the John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity at Tufts University. “The multivitamin as insurance policy is an old wives’ tale, and we need to debunk it,” she says. The sea change is supported by two massive studies....

The phrase “post-traumatic stress disorder,” or PTSD, usually conjures images of combat zones and car accidents—not Frankenstorm-smashed communities. But the truth is, any life-threatening event, including natural disasters, can trigger the condition. Evidence of this dates as far back as the Great London Fire in 1666. And in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destructive impact across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic in late October, many people, especially those who are still displaced or living without heat or electricity, may be showing symptoms of the disorder....

According to a new University of Chicago survey of more than 1,000 obstetrician-gynecologists, less than half of docs ask their patients about any sexual problems or dysfunction. Only two thirds ask how sexually active their patients are. And less than a third ask their patients about sexual satisfaction. So why aren’t we speaking up? Many women don’t raise the issue of sex because they’re afraid of embarrassing the doctor, says Michelle Curtis, MD, of the American College of Gynecologists....

A: Ultimately, it could. In our fast-paced culture, it’s easy to skip meals, forget to eat, or eat at erratic times. Meal skipping is often the root of fatigue and afternoon slump, but it could also make you fat—and sick. Breakfast is your never-miss meal. In one study, people who skipped breakfast were 4½ times more likely to be obese. In other studies, breakfast skippers raised their heart disease risks by up to 27% and their chances of developing type 2 diabetes by almost a quarter....

After reviewing dozens of animal and human studies, the EPA recently determined that being exposed to high levels of perchloroethylene leads to higher rates of bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma (cancer of the blood). 11 Easy Ways to Ward Off Cancer It’s not just cancer that’s a concern. Researchers from Boston University analyzed a decade’s worth of data on more than 1,500 people from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, who were exposed to perchloroethylene pollution during the ’60s and ’70s as a result of an adhesive used on the pipes in the city’s drinking-water supply....

ENERGY SAPPER: STRESS Tension, whether it’s caused by your job, kids, or caring for aging parents, triggers a surge in hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can lead to fatigue and related symptoms like headache and back pain. A stressful lifestyle may also leave you with little time to prepare energizing, healthful meals. Eat more: Carb-rich foods Healthy treats such as half of a whole wheat English muffin with fruit spread are rich in carbohydrates, which can boost your levels of serotonin, a calming brain chemical....

People who “rarely or never” consumed organic produce had up to 65% higher urine levels of the breakdown products of the most common insecticide used on fruits and veggies in the U.S.—organophosphate pesticides (OPs)—compared to people who “often or always” ate organic, finds a new study in Environmental Health Perspectives. To reach this conclusion, researchers analyzed the dietary data of 4,500 people from six U.S. cities and confirmed their findings with a subset of urine samples....

More from Prevention: Feel Your Best After 50

Just consider these very relatable circumstances: When you feel like getting tipsy before buying groceriesPlenty of the bigger and/or newer Whole Foods have bars where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy a cool craft beer or wine flight. Which is awesome, since once you’ve got your buzz on, those $6/pound biodynamic apples seem quite reasonable. When you’re trying to find a hot yoga guy/girl who totally gets itLet’s face it: If you’re looking to meet a likeminded life partner who understands your need for no-HPP green juice and almond milk yogurt, you’re probably not gonna find them stocking up on 40-ounce tubs of tartar sauce at Costco....

Do You Have A Food Hangover? [The Wall Street Journal] If you wake up this weekend with a pounding headache, you’ll probably point the finger at that third glass of wine. But there might be another culprit for your holiday hangover: The food you ate. Though the research is controversial, some experts suggest that a wide array of foods—from onions to bananas—can spur painful headaches in certain people. Indeed, an estimated 50% of migraine sufferers find some degree of relief from eliminating “trigger foods” from their diets....

Chopra’s journey began a couple of years ago, when she was speaking onstage about living “a life of purpose.” As she addressed the crowd, out of nowhere, a voice in her head hissed, Who are you to be talking about this when you don’t have any purpose yourself? It was true: Despite making a career of helping women in midlife find more fulfilling lives (and being the daughter of the world’s best-known self-help master), Chopra struggled to find her own fulfillment....

MORE: 6 Mistakes You Make Every Time You Brush Your Teeth

Monday Breakfast: Banana Split Oatmeal Cook 1/2 c dry old-fashioned 1-minute oats with water (to desired consistency) and top with 1/4 c microwaved frozen strawberries, 1/4 c sliced banana, 1 Tbsp semisweet chocolate chips, and 2 Tbsp almonds. Total Calories = 359 Lunch: Mediterranean Sandwich Spread 2 slices sesame-sprouted whole wheat bread with 2 Tbsp black olive tapenade; fill with 2 oz deli turkey, 1/4 c sliced red onion, 1/2 sliced fresh plum tomato, and 3 large romaine lettuce leaves....

First, Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser shine a light on the shady practices of food processors in Food, Inc. Next up: a movie that made waves at Sundance. Called The End of the Line, it takes a serious look at the way we consume fish and what that means for our health and the health of the planet. Last is Dirt! The Movie. Narrated by Jamie Lee Curtis, it shows that, astonishingly, as we’ve become more nutrient deficient, so have the soils in which we grow our food....

Have you ever found yourself walking down the aisles of your food store and feeling a bit weary about purchasing kale chips? Have you eliminated a menu item from your options because it contained hemp seeds that you were scared to try? You’re not the only one: These seemingly exotic foods can seem intimidating to anyone who hasn’t tasted them before. Here are some foods you may be too afraid to try, but that actually taste great....

Ginger TeaThis root is an excellent and age-old cure-all for many digestive ailments. Simply peel or grate an inch or so of ginger root and steep in boiling water to make a pain-soothing tea, suggests Robynne Chutkan, a gastroenterologist in Washington, DC, and author of Gutbliss. “It’s an effective anti-inflammatory and it’s one of the best foods for acid reflux.” MORE: 18 Bizarre Home Remedies That Really Work BananasThe Gut Balance Revolution This naturally low-acid fruit is a smart food to reach for if you’re feeling the symptoms of heartburn....