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“We found that skin bacteria directly contribute to protective immunity,” says Shruti Naik, a doctoral candidate at University of Pennsylvania and a research fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease’s Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, which conducted the research. According to Naik, “germ-free” mice—meaning rodents without any bacteria in or on their bodies—were “not able to defend against infection in the skin.” But when the germ-free mice were given some, well, germs, their skin regained the ability to fend off invaders....

66% of women feel that they are not having enough sex. 65% of women feel that their husbands would agree. Bedroom Woes The top reasons why women aren’t getting it on. 1. Over 54% of women feel that they’re not attractive enough for physical romance. (Here’s how to have more body confidence during sex.) 2. About half are too stressed for sex. (Hit the brakes on stress with these 2-minute tension tamers....

“We Found Love” [Workout Mix 128 BPM] / Paulette”Sexy and I Know It” (feat. Chani) [Workout Mix 130 BPM] / DJ Shocker”Someone Like You” [Workout Mix 135 BPM] / Starlet”Without You” [Workout Mix 128 BPM] / Junior TorreyMoves Like Jagger (feat. Julian Marshall, Paulette) [Workout Mix 128 BPM] / DJ ShockerStereo Hearts (feat. Junior Torrey) [Workout Mix 126 BPM] / ChaniYou and I [Workout Mix 127 BPM] / Anya Tru Get more workout playlists from fitness professionals like Bob Harper, Jackie Warner, and Denise Austin....

When data was analyzed from the long-term Look AHEAD obesity study (an 11-year study funded by the NIH), researchers found that among the 550 study participants who kept food records, those who recorded at least 34 words per day lost the most weight. On average, they shed 12% of their starting weight during the year they were tracked, says study author Adam Tsai, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado....

The story is now a comic standard in my family, and the first one I thought of when preparing this column. Like most funny anecdotes, the Mimi story has elements of surprise, tension, and resolution leading to laughter. But here’s what you may not know: Humor is not just a silly diversion. It also yields important neuropsychological benefits—improving your mood, exercising your brain, masking pain, even strengthening your bonds with those who share a good chuckle with you....

Your solution: Check any product’s ingredients list, and apply the rules below to know if it’s really a whole grain food. Also check out 37 delicious whole grain products on the next page. Wheat: If you don’t see the word “whole” on the food label, the product is made from refined wheat flour. [sidebar]Oats: Whether you see the word “whole” or not, the product is made from whole oats. Rye: You must see the word “whole....

Researchers at Iran’s Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences randomly split 88 overweight or obese women into 2 groups. For 3 months, both groups received nutrition counseling and decreased their daily intake of calories by 500. But one group was also eating 3 grams (a little less than 1 teaspoon) of cumin powder daily, swirled into 5 ounces of yogurt (the same amount of yogurt, minus the cumin, was also prescribed to the control group)....

But thanks to the wonders of modern-day food processing, ingredients derived from those same GMO crops are turning up in some really strange places that you wouldn’t immediately associate with corn, canola, or soy. Additives—think “natural flavors” or “maltodextrin”—are never labeled as being derived from corn or soy, and some of the most wholesome-sounding foods, like bread, are now filled with those very same GMO ingredients. We dug up these 9 sneaky foods with GMOs during a recent stroll through an average grocery store: #1: Fruit Juice Don’t let the “fruit” in “fruit juice” lull you into thinking these sugary beverages are any better for you than sodas....

Wipe down your office doorknob. Using disinfectant wipes on commonly touched objects like doorknobs can reduce the spread of cold- and flu-causing viruses by up to 90%, according to researchers from the University of Arizona. Meditate in the morning. “I start my day with a simple meditation practice; it sets the tone for my day and clears my head to prepare for what’s ahead,” says Tiffany Cruikshank, an internationally renowned yoga instructor and the founder of Yoga Medicine....

Being healthy is a lifestyle that involves eating well, working out, and getting eight hours of shut-eye. Ideally. What’s also true? There are many things that make a serious difference in your health and take just two minutes. So even if you’re one of those people who never get to leave your desk (sorry!), one of these quick practices can help you make the most out of a few free moments....

These moves target the obliques on the sides of your torso. Do 2 or 3 sessions a week, with a rest day between workouts. Seated Knee Drop Keeping your spine straight, sit back on your sit bones with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, ankles touching. Place your hands on the floor behind you for balance. Contract your abdominal muscles, and lower your legs to the left until they are about 6 inches from the floor, keeping your ankles pressed together and your shoulders forward....

What you don’t know—or mistakenly think you do know—about anti-aging skincare can keep your skin from looking its best. And getting your routine down to a (truthful) science doesn’t have to be complicated. “If you stick to just a few basics, your skin can look younger longer than you thought possible,” says Dennis Gross, MD, a dermatologist in New York City and founder of the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare line....

Running can create muscle imbalances or accentuate ones you already have. Weak calves, for example, can put too much stress on the Achilles and break down the fibers that make up the tendon. Unstable hip and core muscles hurt your biomechanics and overload your shins, which can lead to shin splints and stress fractures. Do these exercises twice a week—daily if you have had shin, calf, or Achilles issues in the past....

If years of brow-raising, frowning, and daily sunscreen neglect have left you with etched lines across your forehead, don’t worry (seriously, stop that furrowing!). Here are 5 anti-wrinkle tips to help hide the lines and make you look younger. Choose the right makeup primer.It’s not what’s in your foundation that counts, it’s what’s under it. A light-reflecting primer like Laura Geller Spackle Tinted Under Make-Up Primer (Buy now: $32, amazon....

That’s actually a tough question to answer. Most tampons and pads only provide a partial list of ingredients that “may” be within the product. Since feminine hygiene products are considered medical devices, manufacturers aren’t required to disclose what’s in them or how they’re made—and most of them don’t, says Lona Prasad, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. (Pick up some healthier habits, weight loss tips, clean recipes and more by signing up for Prevention’s FREE newsletters!...