We’re not alone in our adoration of this move—it’s one of every trainer’s favorite moves, too. “It’s not only a strength move, but it challenges you cardiovascularly, so it also helps burn fat,” explains fitness expert Larysa DiDio. Combining cardiovascular and strength training in a single move gives you double the benefits in half the time. And since the burpee uses the muscles in your legs, core, and upper body, you’ll slim down even quicker....
In a Swedish study published in PLoS ONE, researchers surveyed more than 300 couples with children about how housework is divided, how equal each partner perceives their relationship to be, and their psychological states. Per usual, women were more stressed than men. Even less surprising, they were also responsible for more housework. But here’s what is interesting: That didn’t seem to bother the women—unless they perceived their relationship as gender-unequal....
Boulder, Colo. remains the city with the lowest obesity rates in the US. Just 12.4% of Boulder’s residents are deemed overweight—the lowest of any community surveyed in the U.S. Also in the top three were Naples-Marco Island (16.5%), Fl., and Fort Collins-Loveland (18.2%), Colo. Boulder has had the lowest obesity rate in five of the last six surveys conducted since Gallup and Healthways began conducting the study in 2008. Nationally, the U....
By next year, genetically-engineered (GE) apples could be available in U.S. grocery stores. Developed by The Okanagan Specialty Fruit Company of British Columbia, the Arctic Granny Smith and Arctic Golden Delicious apples boast genes that inhibit browning, helping the fruit stay fresher for longer than their non-GE counterparts. Crisp, non-mushy apples sound great at first, but foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) comes with some serious potential risks. Animal studies have linked GMOs to reproductive, liver, and intestinal problems; while glyphosate, the herbicide used to help GE crops grow, is a known toxin that can accumulate in the body....
Created by certified kettlebell instructor Dasha Libin, MS, NASM-PES, the powerhouse fitness method tones your entire body while torching calories and improving your flexibility. Her workouts include traditional kettlebell moves, kickboxing cardio bursts, and martial arts motions that integrate the bell. “These exercises build beautiful, strong muscles and are extremely efficient at stripping body fat and getting you a lean, feminine physique quickly,” Libin says. Kettlebells (which look like a cast-iron cannonball with a handle) are particularly good at sculpting a slim waistline because the odd shape causes the weight to be distributed unevenly....
Among 23 post-menopausal women, those who exercised outdoors in natural settings were significantly more likely to keep up their workout regimen for 12 weeks than those who sweated indoors. Unlike the indoor group, the outdoor exercisers also felt more tranquil and less depressed after their workouts—psychological benefits the study authors say are often linked to spending time in nature. “The happier you feel while exercising, the more likely you are to stay with it,” says study coauthor Marianne Lacharité-Lemieux, an exercise researcher at Sherbrooke....
Include cooked tomatoes, watermelon, and pink and red grapefruit in your diet; they’re the richest sources of lycopene. More from Prevention: 52 Healing Superfoods
The push-up is one of the best exercises you can do for your upper body. It doesn’t require any equipment, can be performed anywhere, and is majorly effective at toning your triceps. But Siler’s Pilates push-up also recruits the muscles in your abs, shoulders, and inner thighs. Give it a try—you might just like it more than the original. Watch as Siler demonstrates proper form here and then do three sets on your own....
The Myth: Toilets are dirtier than airplane seats.The Truth: Research presented at the American Society for Microbiology found that MRSA can survive for 7 days on airplane armrests, compared to 4 on toilet flushers. Wipe both down with alcohol-based disinfectant. MORE: 10 Everyday Grooming Habits That Are Actually Quite Gross The Myth: The microwave keypad is the germiest spot in your kitchen.The Truth: The keypad didn’t even crack the top 10 hot spots in a NSF International study....
The research: Researchers grew cultures of the types of bacteria responsible for dental diseases, and then dipped them into different liquids, including red wine, red wine without alcohol, red wine spiked with grape seed extract, and water with 12% ethanol. Red wine with or without alcohol and wine with grape seed extract worked best at getting rid of the bacteria. What it means: Tooth decay starts when certain bacteria in the mouth combine to form biofilms, communities of hard-to-kill bacteria, that then form teeth-damaging plaque and produce harmful acids....
You know that friend who can seemingly eat whatever she wants without ever gaining a pound? While the rest of us tend to credit her genetics (and curse our own), research shows that naturally thin people also have a particular set of habits that keeps them thin. They also notably don’t participate in many habits that are often daily routines for those of us who have a difficult time keeping weight off....
Boost your body language. People who were prompted to walk in a more depressed style—less arm movement, shoulders rolled forward—experienced worse moods than those who were induced to walk in a happier style, according to a recent Canadian study. “If your walk, posture, and physical gestures all convey powerlessness, you’ll feel powerless and lack energy,” explains Harper. Try this exercise: Stand with your back against a flat, sturdy wall.While looking straight ahead, imagine a string attached to the top of your head pulling up, elongating you all the way from your heels through your hips, spine, neck, and head....
This form of titanium dioxide, called anatase, even reacts under indoor light, releasing radicals that could damage cell DNA and membranes and mess with the structure of the outermost layer of skin. Essentially, it makes the skin more permeable, which isn’t ideal in an organ that’s meant to shield your body from outside threats (and yep, your skin is an organ). It isn’t all bad, though. The other commonly-used type of commercial titanium dioxide, the rutile form, stays intact under light and washes off without a trace....
Their study found that undergrads who labeled midafternoon treats as “snacks” ate 87% more at dinner than those who ate identical 2:30 pm foods but classified them as “meals.” If you choose items that you think of as meals—real foods, rather than treats—they’ll more likely satisfy your appetite, and that can translate into weight loss, says lead researcher Elizabeth D. Capaldi, PhD. Kathy McManus, RD, director of the nutrition department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, developed these healthy meal-for-snack swaps for Prevention, at two calorie levels....
A new review of 15 studies published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that people following a vegan or mostly vegan diet—even without changing their exercise routine or controlling portions (yes, you heard that right!)—lost an average of 10 pounds over 44 weeks. The reason is two-fold, says study author Neal Barnard, MD. The first, and more obvious, is that a plant-based diet is naturally modest in calories....
The best part is you don’t have to sign up for Crossfit in order to get the benefit. Walking at a brisk pace—which is approximately 4.5 mph or a 13-minute mile pace—is considered vigorous activity by the standards used in the study of more than 73,000 postmenopausal women. If you are more inclined to take a leisurely stroll, you’re still doing yourself a favor: an hour a day reduces risk by 14%....
Though it’s equal to the city’s sales tax, and much smaller than many DC taxes (there’s a 10% liquor tax and 14.5% tax on hotel stays), it still tacka on about $5 to an $80 monthly gym membership. The tax’s supporters say it’s not heavy enough to keep people from their favorite workouts, and that it’s an easy way to help balance the city’s recent income tax cuts. Opponents, on the other hand, point out that penalizing healthy choices sets a bad precedent, regardless of whether or not people will pay the price....
After a chat with Chris Langdon, head researcher on the bacon seaweed project at Oregon State University, we learned two things: This seaweed isn’t exactly new. It’s called dulse, and people have been eating it for centuries. The only new thing about it is the specific strain Langdon and his team are growing at OSU—which they’ve been growing for 20 years. 2. It’s not special because it tastes like bacon....
You bought the wrong couch Spending too much time in front of the tube isn’t the only way your couch can contribute to ballooning body weight, shows new research from the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Furniture foam—the type used to pad couch and chair cushions—often contains flame-retardant chemicals. Exposure to those chemicals can trigger metabolic changes that result in weight gain and diseases like type 2 diabetes, the UNH research shows....
Greek yogurt is strained more thoroughly than traditional, low-fat yogurt, which is what gives it its thick, creamy texture and high protein content. This process also helps to remove some of the naturally occurring sugars and carbs. Why’s all this matter? Any food that’s low in sugar and carbs, high in protein, and has a bit of healthy fat, is sure to promote satiety. Simply put: Snacking on Greek yogurt may just help you feel fuller, longer, so you’ll be less tempted to snack on less wholesome fare....
