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But lower-grade inflammation can be lurking in your body—without any of the telltale symptoms of that itchy bite or throbbing toe—for months or even years. “This is the inflammatory response gone awry,” says Joel Linden, PhD, a professor in the division of inflammation biology at the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology in California. It’s what’s called chronic inflammation, and when the inflammatory response does go awry, your risk increases for a troubling number of today’s most common illnesses, from heart disease and diabetes to arthritis and Alzheimer’s....

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“Iron deficiency is the most common micronutrient deficiency worldwide,” explains Kelly Pritchett, PhD, RDN, CSSD, assistant professor of sports nutrition at Central Washington University. In fact, the World Health Organization estimates that nearly half of the world’s 1.62 billion cases of anemia—a condition characterized by a lack of healthy red blood cells—circle back to iron deficiency. That said, most Americans shouldn’t have too much trouble getting enough iron through a diet that includes animal products like red meat, fish, poultry, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)....

More from Prevention: How The Internet Can Help You Lose “We found that women who completed food journals regularly lost significantly more weight than women who completed fewer food journals,” says study author Anne McTiernan, MD, PhD, director of the Prevention Center at FHCRC and lead author of the study. “Keeping a food journal helps create accountability to self,” explains Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, a Connecticut-based dietitian. “It’s also motivating when you look back....

Here we are in these United States of America where we get upset that they are cutting art programs in our schools. It is quite devastating to lose art and music programs, and we have somewhat of a crisis in our education systems here in America overall. However, when I think glocally, I tend to lighten up locally. There is a film called, Girl Rising, portraying nine girls from nine different countries who have profound stories similar to Malala, minus the bullet, gratefully....

If you find yourself elbow-deep in a box of dry cereal late at night, blame your cavewoman ancestors. A new study from Oregon Health & Science University and Harvard University found that it’s your body’s internal clock, the circadian system, that may be causing late-night cravings for sweet, starchy and salty foods. And we’re not just talking about night owls, or people who try and diet throughout the day: according to the study accepted by the journal Obesity, you’ll still get hungry when your body’s internal clock is set to nighttime—no matter the actual time of day, and even if you eat a balanced diet all day long....

These lower-body toners use a stability ball and are done in a reclining position, so they’re easier on your knees than squats. Keeping your legs elevated throughout each exercise also works your abs and increases circulation to energize your legs and reduce the risk of varicose veins. Do 2 or 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps of each move, 3 nonconsecutive days a week. Stability balls cost about $20 and are available online or wherever exercise equipment is sold....

Perk up fading houseplants If you have a bottle of club soda that’s gone flat, set it out on the counter so it comes to room temperature, then use it to water your houseplants. The beverage contains nourishing minerals (like potassium bicarbonate, disodium phosphate, and sodium citrate) that will enrich the soil and help your potted plants flourish. Get a rusty screw to turn There’s no need to waste time struggling with a screw that doesn’t want to budge—simply pour club soda on it, then let it sit for 5 minutes before twisting again....

Chill whole, unwashed berries in a single layer, loosely covered. Just before using, rinse gently in a bowl of cold water (don’t run them under the tap) and dry on paper towels (wet berries spoil faster). Then, enjoy! Strawberries are rich in antioxidants and, ounce for ounce, have more vitamin C than oranges. Try them in these seven delicious recipes Strawberry Parfaits Cut 1 lb strawberries into quarters and divide half among 4 glasses....

More from Prevention: 10 Silent Signals that You’re Stressed Researchers analyzed the health records and commuting habits of more than 4,000 adults in and around Dallas-Fort Worth, and discovered some frightening correlations: A longer commute was associated with higher BMI, higher blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease. And the longer the commute, the more severe the health risks, says study author Christine Hoehner, PhD, an assistant professor of surgery at Washington University....

DAY 1 Weight Loss Tip: Scroll your goal. Write down your goals for the next 2 weeks—it’ll make you more likely to commit to them. Keep the goals in plain sight so you’ll stay focused. Some good places to put them: written in the background of your cell phone, posted on your computer monitor, or stuck to the fridge. Beauty Tip: Whiten your smile. A brighter smile makes people perceive you as younger, according to an American Academy of Dentistry study....

The study team measured the vitamin D levels of nearly 1,700 adults and kept tabs on their health for more than five years. Those with low D were 53% more likely to develop dementia than people with normal levels, the study authors found. People who tested low on the vitamin were also about 70% more likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease—the most common form of dementia. MORE: How to Get Enough Vitamin D Those risk factors ballooned even higher among people with “severe” vitamin D deficiencies....

Spice-Rubbed Chicken Tortillas with Mango Salsa Mock Lemon-Mint Margaritas

Greek Yogurt High in protein, with bloat-busting probiotics; ideal for pre- or post- workout snacking. Lovitt eats it almost daily. Green Tea Exercisers who drank 4 cups daily for 3 months had less belly fat than those who sipped caffeinated beverages, found one study. Blueberries Contain antioxidants that seem to help the body burn fat rather than store it; taste great in smoothies and salads. MORE: 9 Foods That Can Help You Sleep Better Mushrooms High in D, a vitamin linked to reduced body fat in postmenopausal women....

The onset of a migraine is not like the creeping-in head pain of the “classic” tension headache. About 20 minutes before the war between your ears, a migraine can cause flashes of light, blind spots, dazzling zigzag lines, dizziness, and numbness on one side of the body. You may feel thirsty or crave sweets, feel elated and energetic or drowsy and depressed. There’s also hypersentivity to light and sound. Heredity plays a role, and women are twice as likely as men to suffer migraines....

Paging Anne Hathaway: This Is Your Body On A Fast [Discovery News] She trimmed her thin frame by a whopping 25 pounds to play Fantine in Les Misérables, so we’re sure Anne Hathaway is already well-aware that starvation diets are, well, pretty miserable. Now experts are chiming in on how extreme fasts can impact the body, warning that even 48 hours of calorie deprivation can slow the metabolism and catalyze the destruction of vital muscle tissue....

Now, Oliver has taken it one step further, with a global day of action that promotes fresh, healthy food and the knowledge and cooking skills needed to access and enjoy it. The second annual Food Revolution Day takes place on May 17, and it will include events around the world that showcase healthy food and cooking and raise money for charities that support food education. What kinds of food can help?...

Why, I asked myself (dabbing at my nose and trying to recover my dignity), was I putting myself through this? I took a ragged breath. Oh yes: I was here to push myself out of my exercise comfort zone. I was here because I had vowed to try a long list of activities, as well as treatments and therapies—and ways of thinking—that held the promise of increased energy and vitality and a happier, healthier, younger me....