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Sandy Cross Breast Cancer Patient Navigator, age 54Spearheaded innovative programs for women with breast cancer, such as a postsurgery occupational therapy plan and post-treatment wellness classesRaised more than $200,000 for women who lose income while being treatedCreated and leads a team of volunteers to help patients get to their appointments I HAD BEEN a surgical trauma nurse in the intensive care unit for more than 20 years when one of my former supervisors asked me to apply for a new hospital position....

For two decades, researchers from Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital tracked the health outcomes and menopause histories of more than 46,000 women. Here’s what they discovered: Women who consumed low-fat dairy products like skim milk on a daily basis reached menopause an average of 3.6 months later than women who did not consume dairy. So what? For every 1-year increase in age before a woman reaches menopause, her risk for breast cancer jumps 2....

See? We’re right there with you. But a new study published in Psychological Science found that you don’t have to resign yourself to cognitive craziness. Practicing mindfulness makes you a lot less distracted—and might actually make you smarter. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara rounded up 48 undergraduate students and administered a reading comprehension test from the GRE standardized exam. They then enrolled half the students in a two-week-long mindfulness class and half in a nutrition class....

Not going deep. There are many benefits to Pilates, but getting in touch with the deep abs, aka the transverse abdominals, is, to me, the most important. If the deep abs are working, then all four layers of ab muscles will be working right along with it, making for a very stable torso. In class, use every exhale as opportunity to reengage your abs and pull them into your spine with a little lift up....

Ashley’s answer: I’m so glad you wrote. I sense some hesitation in this part of your question—whether I start tomorrow or a year from now. Maybe it comes from feeling overwhelmed or from not wanting to “start something” again? Could it be that you’ve tried and even had successes at losing this weight before, only to regain it because your program wasn’t sustainable? Maybe it’s just because all the information out there is confusing: what sounds right today may be proven wrong tomorrow....

Swimmer Dara Torres’ Fountain Of Youth “Not long ago athletes ate what they wanted,” says Jennifer Gibson, MSc, RD, one of the four dieticians who are part of the United States Olympic Committee Sport Nutrition Team that’ll be traveling to London with the athletes. “But nutritional sciences have progressed, and dietitians have become an integral part of the team—we’re proud of that,” she says. [sidebar]The team of dieticians will be tasked with helping make sure the athletes meet their nutritional needs, and, in the case of some sports, making their weight goals....

Media Platforms Design TeamNut: Almonds Benefits in every bite: One ounce has as many heart-healthy polyphenols as a cup of green tea and 1/2 cup of steamed broccoli combined; shown to help lower LDL cholesterol Nut: Hazelnuts Benefits in every bite: Rich in arginine, an amino acid that can relax blood vessels and may lower blood pressure; also has high levels of vitamin E, folate, and B vitamins Nut: Pecans Benefits in every bite: Highest overall concentration of heart disease-fighting antioxidants among all nuts; 1 ounce contains 10% of your daily value for fiber...

And whether you like to crunch on walnuts, pistachios, or almonds, or spread nut butters on bread, you’re in luck. “Peanuts and some nuts share a similar nutrition makeup, so the diabetes-fighting benefits should be similar for all of them,” says Frank Hu, MD, PhD, Harvard University nutrition researcher. A Complete Package So how do nuts squash diabetes? Researchers think that nuts’ monounsaturated fats may build healthier “skin” around each of your body’s cells, creating more efficient doorways for blood sugar to enter....

Specifically, excessive dietary phosphorous, which is a food ingredient containing the mineral phosphorus, can disrupt the way a person’s body regulates minerals like the aforementioned, as well as calcium and vitamin D. This can impair metabolism, kidney function and increase bone loss. High phosphate levels can also negatively affect blood calcium levels, says Vandana Sheth, RDN, CDE, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which is why it is important to maintain a healthful balance of these bone-building minerals....

This free iPhone app allows people in the same geographic area (about a 12.5-mile radius) to share their extra perishables with other app users. Just upload a picture of your food, enter a description, and arrange a pick-up spot. Not a bad idea, considering we waste about 36 million tons of food—or 40% of the total food supply—in the U.S. each year. The idea was a product of an all-day competitive “hackathon”—an event where programmers and designers collaborate on software....

From the exercise physiologistDo a light workout. “Studies have shown that moderate exercise releases endorphins—feel-good brain chemicals that act as natural painkillers. Moving around, even slowly, also increases blood flow to the muscle, which may help speed the removal of pain-producing inflammatory substances,” says Stephen P. Sayers, PhD, assistant professor of physical therapy at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Exercise Rx: Perform a gentle version of the routine that left you aching....

What is raw milk?Depending on whom you talk to, raw milk is either a superfood loaded with nutrients and enzymes that help boost immune function, alleviate allergies, and make milk easier to digest…or it’s a super good way to make you double over with diarrhea. Often produced from grass-fed, organically-raised cows, raw milk is considered raw because it skips the commercial chain of pasteurization, a process that heats milk to high enough temperatures to kill pathogens that may be present due to contamination or sick cows....

Psychologically, doing something that’s fun and different improves your mood, while doing the same old workout can drag you down mentally, explains exercise physiologist Fabio Comana. Another reason to branch out: “Doing the same thing over and over takes its toll on your body,” says Comana. “Over time, overuse can cause microtrauma and lead to injuries.” These seven exercises may seem intimidating, but they’re actually fun workouts that burn major calories and fat while requiring mental focus....

When I’m hanging out with my nieces. They’re twins, three and a half years old, and they’re a riot. I don’t get to spend anywhere near as much time with them as I’d like—my brother’s family lives in Toronto, and I live in New York—but there’s something about the way a little girl looks at you that can make you melt. It’s that inside-out-beauty feeling we all want, all the time....

Your spin class got you plumb tuckered out? Good news: A hard workout doesn’t just make you tired, it also makes you sleep better, according to new data from the National Sleep Foundation’s (NSF) annual Sleep in America poll. The NSF surveyed 1,000 people from all over the country on their sleep and lifestyle habits. A mere 9% of respondents reported no activity whatsoever, but only those who identified themselves as exercisers (with activity levels ranging from light to vigorous) also reported better sleep on days when they worked out....

The results? The romantic-thought group kept their hands in the ice water twice as long as the others, and they reported less pain. They were also less anxious, depressed, and angry. Romantic fantasy distracts you from the pain, but it also reduces anxiety and relaxes you, says study coauthor Hamid Hekmat, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin in Stevens Point. Here’s how to make this work for you: Rev up romantic thoughts....

Ready to shake up your plant-based protein repertoire? These dreamy eggplant boats are stuffed with tender lentils, sweet sautéed onions, and the trendy new condiment harissa for a meal that delivers warm, spicy satisfaction with 16 g of protein and 21 g of filling fiber. Serve with a side salad and a chunk of rustic bread. Prep Time: 10 minutesTotal Time: 35 minutesServes 2 1 med eggplant 1 c diced sweet onion (about ½ med) 1 can (14 oz) unsalted tomato puree 1 can (14 oz) lentils, rinsed and drained 1 lg garlic clove, minced 2 Tbsp harissa paste 1½ Tbsp extra virgin olive oil chopped parsley for garnish...

The treatment is easier, safer and more convenient than allergy shots, says Richard Firshein, DO, director and founder of The Firshein Center for Comprehensive Medicine in New York City. “The risk of anaphylaxis is very low, you can do it at home, and you won’t experience any of the pain or soreness that comes with shots,” he says. “Long-term, it provides enormous benefits.”You can only get the drops by prescription from an allergist, and while they’re not FDA-approved, they’re increasingly becoming available to patients off-label, says Dr....

Break free from the baked potato routine and try these 10 creative recipes for sweet potatoes. Baked Apples and Sweet Potatoes Prep time: 5 minutes / Total time: 25 minutes / Servings: 4 2 tart red apples, quartered 1 lg unpeeled sweet potato, thickly sliced ½ c apple juice ½ tsp ground cinnamon1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.2. Place the apples, sweet potatoes, apple juice and cinnamon in an 8" x 8" baking pan....