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To combat stress, your first instinct may be to reach for a sugary snack. After all, research confirms its calming effect: People who downed drinks sweetened with sugar showed more activity in areas of the brain responsible for controlling fear and stress compared to people who drank aspartame-sweetened beverages, according to a USDA study published earlier this year. Still, even though a carby snack may help you feel calmer, it won’t do your body any favors after intense exercise: “By the time you’re done with your workout, you’ve already increased your cortisol levels as a result of physiological stress,” says Adam Kelinson, author of The Athlete’s Plate....

You’re not alone. Grocery shopping is an eternal tug-of-war between intention (Don’t forget the asparagus) and temptation (Hey, look, Sludgy-Fudgy cookies are on sale!). Of course, temptation usually wins. And if you need evidence of its power, know that a recent Prevention/Food Marketing survey found that 58 percent of health-conscious people eat unhealthy foods on a regular basis. But grocery stores aren’t there just so you can indulge your dietary demons....

Ashley’s answer: Diarrhea, or loose stools, can happen for a variety of reasons: a cold or virus, food poisoning, laxative use, eating a food to which you’re intolerant, drinking too much coffee, or even taking too much supplemental vitamin C. No matter what causes it, the result is nutrient loss. The nutrients lost may be all or part of the ones you just consumed. However, the bigger concern is water and electrolyte loss leading to dehydration....

Thai food is often laden with sugar, but this dish definitely isn’t. It really doesn’t need sweetening up, either—take just one whiff of the paste and you’ll know what I mean. Serve with brown rice or quinoa for a deliciously healthy meal. PREP TIME: 10 minutesTOTAL TIME: 25 minutesServes 4 Paste 1 handful coriander, including stalks 2 long red Thai chiles 2 cloves garlic 2 spring onions, roughly chopped 1 stick lemongrass, outer leaves and ends removed 1/2" piece fresh ginger 3 Tbsp macadamia or coconut oil 1 Tbsp paprika 1/2 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp ground cumin Curry 1½ Tbsp coconut oil 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, sliced into bite-size pieces 1 lg carrot, cut into matchsticks 1 can (14 oz) coconut cream 1½ c cherry tomatoes, halved 2 c snow peas, ends removed 1 sm red chile, finely sliced 1 handful coriander...

Stress eating tends to be associated with reaching for high-fat comfort foods that everybody knows are unhealthy. But it’s not just the calories consumed during stress eating that negatively impact one’s weight—stress itself could be throwing off metabolism, too. In new study from The Ohio State University (OSU), researchers found that women who experienced stress in the previous 24 hours burned 104 fewer calories than non-stressed women in the time after eating a high-fat meal—which adds up to the equivalent of 11 pounds gained annually....

GET ENERGIZED Ginseng Whether American, Siberian, or Asian, all varieties of ginseng are thought to stimulate the release of an adrenal hormone called ACTH, which increases alertness and physical performance. Look for products that contain 4 to 5% ginsenosides, the root’s active ingredient. Caveat: Do not use ginseng if you’re taking antibiotics or the blood thinner warfarin. Guarana The seeds from this Brazilian shrub boost memory, mood, and alertness. Caveat: Because guarana contains caffeine, do not use if you have high blood pressure or a heart condition....

LARGER PORTIONS Watch for thicker cuts of meat and extra veggies–even the calories in healthy foods can add up. DODGE ‘EM If your serving looks oversize, save half the meal before you start, or leave a few bites on your plate. TASTE ENHANCERS Hoping to boost flavor, chefs may add more oil, butter cream, or sugar than the recipe calls for. DODGE ‘EM Ask for sauces and dressings on the side, and use them sparingly....

With maturity comes an end to many things you probably wish you’d stopped doing sooner: Dating an endless series of hopeless men, scarfing down instant mac and cheese for dinner, obsessing over what you think others think of you. But should maturity also mean giving up some of your favorite beauty products? The answer is yes, at least according to over 2,000 women over the age of 45. They completed a recent survey conducted by Nurture Replenish Skincare, a UK-based personal care company, on the ins and outs of aging gracefully....

If you can readily spout off the name of your favorite OPI nail lacquer faster than your social security number, I have two things to say to you: first, let’s be best friends. But second and most importantly, you will enjoy any insight into the color-crazy mind of OPI’s EVP and Artistic Director Suzi Weiss-Fischmann. Dubbed the “first lady of nails,” Suzi made manicures go from special occassion spa treat to an every day expression of a woman’s individuality....

Use oil-free foundation.drugstore.combobbibrowncosmetics.com Choose a formula with the mineral silica, which soaks up excess moisture, so makeup stays put. Look for it in compact and liquid versions like Maybelline New York Superstay 24Hr Makeup ($11, ) or Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 15 ($48, ). MORE: 10 Essential Makeup Tricks For Women Over 40 Lock in liner with shadow. To keep your trusty eye pencil in place, apply powder shadow of the same color right on top of the line with an eyeliner brush....

We know what you’re thinking: Tahini…in pancakes? And the answer is a resounding YES. These fluffy breakfast stacks get a boost of rich, toasty sesame flavor thanks to the addition of tahini—and with a drizzle of nutty chocolate sauce on top, they’re basically irresistible. They’re also gluten-free: Buckwheat flour is actually made from a seed, not wheat, and it’s chockfull of fiber and protein. Time to get your fancy flapjack on....

It’s a common line of thinking, but that doesn’t make it accurate. Diets don’t fail because of some kind of inherent character flaw that makes you bad at eating clean. They fail because they trigger your brain to do weird things that make it almost impossible to lose weight. At least, that’s the argument Sandra Aamodt, PhD, makes in her new book Why Diets Make Us Fat: The Unintended Consequences of Our Obsession with Weight Loss....

Eat like a caveman. One reason ancient humans had better teeth: Processed foods didn’t exist. The researchers found that bacterial diversity plummeted with the shift from hunting and gathering to farming, and then again with the advent of processed sugar and flour. Make more primal picks by opting for fresh produce, nuts, whole grains, and quality meats. (Should you try the paleo diet?) [sidebar] Pop (or chew) a probiotic. New probiotic gum and mints claim to improve oral health by crowding out the bad bacteria with the good....

Three-bean salads grace picnic tables everywhere, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a traditional recipe that doesn’t contain at least half a cup of sugar. This version gets a hint of sweetness from sun-dried tomatoes instead. Add some walnuts for extra protein and parsley for a boost of Vitamins A, C, and K. This is three-bean salad all grown up! MORE: Party in a Bowl: Tri-Color Confetti Salad Prep Time: 15 minutesServes 8 ½ c apple cider vinegar 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil ½ tsp salt 8 oz fresh green beans, cut into 2" pieces 1 can (14 oz) red kidney beans, rinsed and drained 1 can (14 oz) white beans, rinsed and drained ¼ sweet onion, thinly sliced 1 c chopped parsley ½ c chopped walnuts ½ c chopped sun-dried tomatoes...

In a recent study on rats, researchers from Yale University discovered that stress directly contributes to changes in the brain associated with depression, specifically affecting the neuritin gene. When the rats were subjected to stressful conditions for three weeks (including food deprivation and isolation), they exhibited depressive behaviors. Brain scans showed that when the rats were stressed, their neuritin levels—which regulate the growth of neurons that allow for healthy brain function—were low....

The four-study analysis found showing your self some love—otherwise known as self-compassion—is associated with several factors helpful in the days after a diagnosis. People with high levels self-compassion, according to the research, respond more quickly to health threats, take more proactive approaches to their health, and are better at managing emotional distress about illnesses and injuries. It makes sense on a logical level—treating yourself kindly is as much about that bi-weekly pedicure as it is about scheduling a doctor’s appointment immediately after finding a suspicious mole....

The study team examined IVF success rates among 136 men whose sperm was extracted via biopsy and either frozen or used immediately. Fertilization rates were actually higher among the frozen samples—62% to 47%, according to the PLOS ONE study. Roughly 1% of all men have no sperm in their semen, even though many of these guys are producing sperm in their testicles, says study coauthor Kenan Omurtag, MD, of the Washington University School of Medicine....

By replacing one meal a day with mushrooms for two weeks, the people behind the diet say you can kiss the stubborn fat at your waist, hips and thighs good bye. Which would be amazing if it were true. “There’s no magic food that can achieve spot-reduction,” says Michelle Davenport, PhD, RD, director of nutrition for the health food delivery app Hasty. That’s not to say the M-Plan doesn’t have good intentions....