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Even if redheads avoid the sun, a new study finds that they’re still at a higher risk for skin cancer. Published in the journal Nature, researchers found that those with red hair are not only more likely to freckle and burn, but they are also more likely to develop melanoma—even more so than blonds. Why? Turns out that the red pigment is related to carcinogenic activity. The study authors advise avoiding as much sun damage as possible and to be religious about skin cancer screenings—good advice for everyone....

A knife scraping against a glass bottle is the most unpleasant sound for most human beings, according to new research from the UK. Scientists used brain imaging to see what goes on in the brain when we’re exposed to unpleasant sounds. The imaging showed that when we hear something we don’t like, the amygdala (the part of the brain that processes emotions and aggression) becomes much more active. Check out the other nine sounds most likely to make you nutty....

Cedar’s Pumpkin Spice HummusMedia Platforms Design TeamYeah, we were skeptical about pumpkin spice hummus at first, but the subtly sweet cinnamon flavor works surprisingly well when paired with whole grain tortilla chips or carrots. In addition to hummus’ traditional health perks, like protein and fiber, this one contains 25% of your daily value of vitamin A, thanks to pumpkin. Nature’s Path Pumpkin Spice WafflesMedia Platforms Design TeamThese gluten-free waffles are made with ancient grains like quinoa and amaranth and are reminiscent of a warm pumpkin spice muffin, sans all the sugar—only 6 g for two....

Find the Secret Word Fortunately, you can track down the trans fat in your diet and give it the boot. It just takes a little doing. You won’t find trans fat anywhere on a package. The FDA plans to require manufacturers to list the amount on food labels, but you may not see the term “trans fat” listed anywhere on the label. For many products, the only way to tell if a food has trans fats is by searching for their source—“partially hydrogenated oils”—in the ingredients list under the Nutrition Facts box....

I needed it. My decrepit right hip basically gave out after years of degeneration due to congenital hip dysplasia, as though I were a Labrador. The journey to orthopedic repair and recovery was exhausting and exhilarating, and revealed several surprises. Hip replacements are not just for your grandparents. At the hospital’s pre-op “hip class,” I was easily the youngest by 20 years or more. But it wasn’t all hobbling 90-year-olds, either....

Researchers from SUNY and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recruited 22 people and divided them into three rooms. In each room, CO2 levels were adjusted to either 600, 1,000, or 2,500 parts per million—all of which are well below the 5,000-ppm max dictated by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Each group member completed a computer activity that measured decision-making ability. More from Prevention: Invisible Toxins In Your Living Room The results were surprising: Average scores on seven different measures of decision making dropped 11 to 23% when the CO2 was pumped up from 600 to 1,000 ppm....

No birthday cake appeared, but there was a giant shrine made entirely of produce, with strawberries spelling out “VFIC” in berry-shaped font. When you first hear that such a place exists, nestled inside of Texas A&M University, the name sounds ridiculous. How can you improve upon a vegetable? I imagined subterranean laboratories where veggies are injected with a secret bacon-flavored serum, a mutant supergarden where veggies are crossbred with kale to make super superfoods....

The culprit: Triclosan. This germ-killing chemical is found in a wide range of products, from toothpaste to hand soap, and it’s been making headlines lately thanks to a recent Canadian ruling deeming triclosan as toxic to the environment, especially aquatic life. But its dangers aren’t limited to Mother Earth: A growing body of research also shows that this ingredient can alter how our thyroids work, increase our resistance to antibiotics, and even make our allergies more severe....

If so, you set the bar high and experience mastery in many areas of your life. As a perfectionistic person, however, you aren’t very successful in losing weight and keeping it off despite your best effort. How is this possible, you wonder? Are you ready to escape the all-or-nothing perfectionism trap that keeps you feeling stuck at a heavier weight? The desire for “perfection” can be learned from your parents or from living in a culture obsessed with beauty and wealth....

Finding the Perfect Color Whether you have red hair and fair skin or black hair and dark ebony skin, the foundation must match your underlying skin color exactly. Do not buy a foundation that will make your face look even a shade or two darker or lighter or change its underlying color in any manner. Find a foundation that matches your skin perfectly and goes on softly and smoothly. Traditionally, skin color has been defined by the basic underlying tone, described as olive, when the skin appears ashen or green in color; sallow, when the skin has a yellow or golden shade; and ruddy, when the skin has overtones of pink or red....

Then flight attendant Sharon Wingler noticed that the dog owner also had a laptop in a soft-sided carrying case—one just big enough, she realized, to hold a drowsy little pooch. Wingler suggested that the woman replace the laptop with the lapdog. “It worked perfectly,” says Wingler, “and he slept the whole way!” Many furry fliers aren’t so lucky—especially when their human companions fail to plan ahead. To ensure a happy, healthy trip for Fido, Tabby, or Tweety (yes, birds fly, too), it’s important to begin preparing weeks in advance—even a year if you’re planning to visit countries that require a quarantine period to be certain that your pet is free of disease....

Saving Secret #1 Live below your means. When I hear people suggest that you “live on what you make,” I always shake my head. If you’re living on what you make, you’re spending every dime. The key is to live on less than you make. Why? Because if you do it consistently, you’re automatically saving consistently. Aim to save at least 10% of what you earn after taxes—15% if you’re over 35 and haven’t started yet....

“Applying force to your bones is what causes them to get stronger,” says study author Kerri Winters-Stone, PhD. “Lower-body routines will build up your hips and legs, but targeting your back, shoulders, and arms will help keep your posture perfect.” Try doing this beginner move three times a week. When it gets too easy, challenge yourself by squatting with your legs hip-width apart, slightly bending your knees, and lifting two weights simultaneously....

Researchers surveyed 2,700 patients who’d recently decided whether or not to have surgery, take a medication, or undergo cancer screening. Most reported their physician spent far more time talking up the benefits of each choice than explaining the risks. In fact, with the exception of low back surgery, less than half the participants reported even some discussion of the cons. Some patients felt left out of the decision-making process altogether....

Stress incontinence may occur during moments of physical strain, such as when you cough, serve a tennis ball, or give a deep belly laugh. With urge incontinence, you may leak urine because you feel the need to go suddenly and often, even when your bladder isn’t full. Read on for natural remedies and other solutions for better bladder control. Kegel ExercisesHow it works: Women with stress incontinence who consistently do pelvic-floor exercises experience a 70% improvement in symptoms, and experts say building these muscles may also help with urge incontinence....

Researchers from Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital analyzed self-reported insomnia data from 23,447 men and found that not only are symptoms of insomnia incredibly common among men, but they have a direct correlation with heart health. After adjusting for lifestyle, age, and chronic conditions, the men who reported having difficulty falling asleep were found to have a 55% increased risk of heart-related death, while those who experienced non-restorative sleep (i....

More and more, the small but mighty grain is displacing wheat in a variety of packaged foods. Nutty, fiber-rich brown rice plays a starring role in chips from natural food purveyors like Way Better Snacks, Riceworks, and Lundberg. Mainstream brands like Triscuits are in on it, too, with Brown Rice Thin Crisps available in surprisingly sophisticated flavors like Wasabi & Soy Sauce and Roasted Sweet Onion. Feel like having rice for breakfast?...