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Researchers from the University of Toronto reviewed 11 studies in which adults were rewarded with either cash or gym membership reimbursements and found that, overall, monetary perks increased their levels of physical activity. And in a Mayo Clinic study from early this year, participants receiving money for losing weight shed an average of nine pounds while those in the non-incentive group only shed about two. So why does money talk when the promise of better health may not?...

After reviewing more than 50 studies that examined the drinking habits and the cardiovascular health of 260,000 people, researchers from the University College London and University of Pennsylvania found that people who have a genetic variant that lowers their alcohol consumption (in this case, 17.2% less than the average person) tend to have better cardiovascular health. These individuals averaged a 10% lower risk of having coronary heart disease, had lower blood pressure, and had lower body mass indexes....

• Reduce inflammation, which is thought to be the base of many health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers, and arthritis. • Keep your heart and arteries healthy. • Aid in relieving joint pain. • Reduce blood pressure and improve blood pressure response to stress. • Boost your brain, memory, and cognitive function. Emerging research even shows that omega-3s help slow cognitive problems such as Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline....

“When my sister visited from Japan, I didn’t expect her to change my life. But as we caught up over a cup of green tea, she pulled out her portable blood pressure cuff and insisted I check my numbers. High blood pressure runs in our family—my sister had recently learned that her numbers were high, and my mother had suffered two strokes—but somehow I always felt immune. ‘I feel fine,’ I told her as I wrapped the cuff around my arm....

Researchers analyzed 43 previously published studies about the effectiveness of health messages aimed at the public—things like anti-smoking PSAs and pamphlets at doctor’s offices encouraging us to eat more veggies. MORE: 7 Foods That Aren’t Exactly Foods They found that negative health messages worked primarily with health professionals like doctors or dietitians. For everyone else, positive health messages were more powerful. For example, telling yourself that, “This pizza will go straight to my thighs,” won’t motivate you as well as a statement like, “This green smoothie will give me energy....

Two strangers living across the world from each other in the U.S. and Greece made medical history when they became the first to donate their kidneys in an intercontinental paired exchange, according to a press conference Friday at the Greek Embassy in Washington, DC. Oklahoma resident Elizabeth Gay donated one of her kidneys to a Greek man living in Athens. In return, the man’s wife Theodora Papaioannou-Helmis donated her kidney to a man living in Pennsylvania....

Shin Splint Rx Shin splints, a pesky, recurring problem, show up as pain along the front inside of your shin that flares up after you increase your exercise. They are the result of inflammation of the muscles and tendons in that area. To resolve shin splints, apply ice for 20 minutes twice a day. Reduce walking to a level where you do not get pain. Then increase your walking time gradually—no more than 10% a week....

How to store Chill and shuck just before use. For best flavor, eat within a day and don’t overcook. Media Platforms Design Team Smashed Peas Prep-to-Table Time: 10 minutesServes 4 COOK 4 cups frozen or fresh peas in salted boiling water in medium saucepan until tender, 3 to 6 minutes. Drain.2. MASH hot peas with 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil until somewhat crushed. Stir in 2 Tbsp chopped scallion greens and 2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint or chives, if desired....

Last year, the United Nations officially dubbed 2013 the International Year of Quinoa. (Has the Secretary-General been reading Well+Good?!) So, we thought it was the perfect time to pay tribute to this most-super of all superfoods by revisiting its many incredible benefits. And, to encourage you to step up to the stove, we’ve created 10 Creative Quinoa Recipes from Healthy Celebrity Chefs, a free cookbook you can download here! Without further ado, here are five reasons this ancient grain is the official superfood of the year: Quinoa fuels your workouts (and work schedule)....

According to a new study in the journal Gender Medicine, researchers examined 41 earlier studies on premenstrual syndrome to see whether there’s an actual link between moodiness and a woman’s menstrual cycle. Surprisingly, only six of those papers indicated that women in the premenstrual phase experienced symptoms like irritability, emotional instability, or sadness. And because most of the studies weren’t blinded (meaning women knew the research was exploring PMS), researchers suspect the results are actually biased in favor of a connection existing....

Seeing a doctor you don’t like can be hazardous to your health. It can be little things, like a cool demeanor when you’re a big hugger, or serious issues such as a failure to explain procedures effectively. But make no mistake, says Pamela Gallin, MD, professor of opthamology and pediatrics at Columbia University and author of How to Survive Your Doctor’s Care, “As soon as that little voice asks, ‘Is this doctor right for me?...

Eat a bowl of raspberries. Packed with fiber, they fight constipation (that can swell your midsection like a balloon). Drink lots of water. It’s filling, calorie-free, and keeps your metabolism running in high gear. Skip the cocktails. Sure, alcohol may be fat-free, but it’s loaded with calories. It can also raise your levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that helps your belly store fat. Sit up straight. Hunching forward makes your belly look bigger....

We’ve all heard about pthalates, parabens, and BPA hiding in plain sight in our bathroom cabinets, but this lastest oral care controversy made us wonder: What other gross ingredients are lurking unnoticed in your everyday, go-to products? Here are 5 more straight-up icky add-ins to steer clear of. Embalming fluidFormaldehyde is such an effective preservative—it’s used to embalm bodies, after all—that it’s in all kinds of products, including nail polish, shampoo, and body wash....

Researchers recruited 1,673 pregnant women in their third trimesters, 35% of whom reported habitual snoring, and reviewed their medical records through delivery. They found that moms who snored three or more nights a week had a higher risk of poor delivery outcomes, including C-section births and delivering smaller babies. Many women who haven’t snored in the past start snoring during pregnancy, likely because of weight gain, fluid retention, and changes in hormones levels, says lead study author Louise M....

A common question I get from readers of my blog at the end of the holiday season is what to do about plastic gifts, wrapping, and other holiday accoutrements from well-meaning friends and family. For those of us working to reduce the amount of plastic we consume and the plastic waste we produce, the holidays can be challenging. At this point, I’ve developed quite a few strategies to avoid acquiring a lot of holiday plastic in the first place....

Roughly 30 percent of all melanoma spots are found on the heads or necks of older patients, compared to just 9 percent among younger adults, the research shows. That’s a problem, because head and neck spots have been tied to higher rates of mortality, the study authors say. Nodular melanoma—the most-aggressive form of the disease—is also more common among older adults, the study shows. Also bad news: Seniors are more likely to have their melanoma found by a physician as opposed to a dermatologist....

Over the course of the Challenge, you’ll also follow the Sugar Smart Express program to wean yourself off sugar and artificial sweeteners in only 21 days. That’s what these four women did, and not only did they live to tell about it, they will happily talk, over a delicious low-sugar lunch of feta-mushroom crab cakes, tuna tacos, and vanilla pudding, about how much smoother it went than they’d imagined. We get it: You think it would be easier to give up sex for 6 months than sweets....