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In a study of more than 1,000 exchanges, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999, doctors failed to give patients enough information to make an informed treatment choice in an astounding 91% of cases. Yet, poor communication isn’t the only thing eroding the bond between you and your doctor. The advent of managed care means that your physician is probably taking on more patients than ever, might be running late, and may be holding shorter appointments....

That’s according to a recent study published online in the journal Preventive Medicine. Researchers estimate that reducing our driving distance by one mile every day can yield a 0.21 drop in our body mass index (BMI) over six years. That’s comparable to eating 100 fewer calories per day, which yields a 0.16 drop in BMI over three years. In other words, the study authors note, driving less can be as effective as eating less where weight loss is concerned....

[sidebar] Why five years? That’s how long it could take for the restaurant chain to get all of its producers on board. As the nation’s second largest chicken restaurant chain, the sheer volume of chicken that needs to meet the USDA standards makes this quite an undertaking. In a prepared statement, the company’s executive vice president of operations Tim Tassopoulos says: “A shift this significant will take some time, as it requires changes along every point of the supply chain—from the hatchery to the processing plant....

In fact, I was recently at a street fair where some vendors—I swear—were selling their chocolate as a vitamin supplement. When I raised my eyebrows at their $40-a-pound boxes, they asked me if I was willing to go the extra mile for my health. They pointed out that chocolate is chock-full of antioxidants, that it prevents plaque from forming in the arteries, and that the fat in chocolate does not increase cholesterol levels....

We’ve got some nutty news about the ballpark snack you so fondly remember from childhood: Cracker Jacks, that tasty medley of popcorn and peanuts, will soon deliver much more than a mere sugar rush. Frito-Lay, the company behind Cracker Jacks, recently announced plans to develop a new version of the snacks: Called Cracker Jack’D Power Bites, the newfangled nibbles will contain a kick of caffeine. Just how much of a jolt can you expect to get?...

Turn up your sex drive with these saucy moves While other fitness buffs are thinking about toned legs and arms, women doing the following plan can revel in their own little secret: Not only will it give you a flat belly, but it’ll also boost your sex drive—in an hour. Studies show that women’s sexual satisfaction directly correlates to their exercise quotient. “Working out boosts endorphins that get you in the mood,” says Laura Berman, PhD, founder of the Berman Center, a sexual health clinic in Chicago....

A team of researchers from the University of California, San Francisco and the Preventive Medicine Research Institute (PMRI) split 35 men with early-stage prostate cancer into two groups and asked one of those groups to adopt several lifestyle changes, which included a plant-based diet heavy in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; 30 minutes of moderate daily exercise like walking; stress-reducing activities like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing; and weekly group therapy....

BASICS OF THE PLAN Do Cardio Consistently People who exercise almost daily really do keep ticking longer. Aerobic exercise like walking, biking, swimming, and jogging protects your heart by lowering blood pressure, reducing “bad” cholesterol, and keeping arteries flexible to improve blood flow. With this plan, pick the cardio routine you love best – or switch it up to keep your workouts interesting. Strength-Train Regularly Lifting weights is one of the best ways to keep bones and muscles in top shape for years to come....

*This was excerpted from The Happiness Diet. Order your copy today! [header=Food for Thought]Foods for thoughtEggs. What if we could create the perfect brain food? For starters, we’d want some vitamin B12, which is crucial for nerve cells. A deficiency causes irritability, depression, and cognitive decline.Next we’d add a little folate to keep our brain’s neurotransmitter factories humming. Iodine would be another plus, since it is essential for good thyroid function—and an underactive thyroid leads to lethargy, weight gain, and depression....

Breakfast Plate Power Fruit-topped whole grain cereal with milk and a glass of orange juice Vegetable-stuffed three-egg-white omelette with whole grain toast and fruit or juice Two whole grain waffles smothered in chopped fruit with yogurt or milk Fruit or juice with a small bran muffin and low-fat milk Lunch Plate Power Sandwich filled with two or three slices of lean meat, poultry, a few spoonfuls of reduced-fat tuna salad, or a veggie burger patty, with a salad, fruit salad, or vegetables Black bean, lentil, or other bean-based soup with a salad or side dish of vegetables or fruits Baked potato with a cup of broccoli or other vegetable and reduced-fat cheese Large salad topped with grilled chicken/lean beef/seafood (deck-of-cards-size portion) and one or two slices of whole grain bread Burrito....

The study published today in JAMA, Journal of the American Medical Association, found that while double mastectomies are increasingly popular, they do not seem to be associated with higher survival rates. The researchers studied a database of women in California who were diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in just one breast in the past decade. They compared those who underwent a single mastectomy, those who had a double mastectomy, and those who had breast-conserving surgery with radiation....

All in a day. For me, a long day. I’m no speed racer, but what I have is endurance. More than that, I have a love of biking. More than that, I have a bike I adore. More than that, I have a dream. 100 miles. I had a very bad bike accident once, luckily it was just my shoulder and in spite of surgery, it still gives me a problem sometimes....

Previous studies have shown that exercise can be a key part of Alzheimer’s prevention—but past research has only focused on structured exercise, says study author Aron Buchman, MD, of Rush University. No one has looked at the effect other types of activities—from doing laundry to chopping veggies—could have. So Dr. Buchman and his colleagues worked with more than 700 elderly volunteers who had no signs of Alzheimer’s at the beginning of the study....

Hi, Jodi, It sounds as if it is an early diagnosis. That’s great news, because there are plenty of options to explore to continue your running life. That said, it’s always a good idea to communicate with your doctor just how important your running and fitness life is to you and collaborate with him or her in developing a routine that works for you. From a coaching standpoint, here are a few ingredients that you could experiment with while developing your running recipe....

A Sense of Well-Being and Control Tips for 50+ Marathoners

It only takes one look at Brooke Shields, Jennifer Connelly, or Kate Middleton to understand the appeal of a bold brow: Done the right way, it can draw attention to your beautiful eyes and steer it away from your wrinkles—instantly making you look younger. But some women are taking a decidedly bizarre approach to thickening their eyebrows: Transplants. The procedure, which can cost as much as $8,000, uses hair from your arms or legs to build up sparse brows, according to a recent report from Good Morning America....

How to do it: Perform each exercise for 30 seconds on each side (60 seconds total), resting for 15 seconds after each exercise. Repeat the entire circuit twice. Glute Squeeze Targets: Butt, hamstrings, quads, lower back Start holding onto back of chair, loop around ankles. Bend left knee slightly and extend right leg behind you. Raise right leg, squeezing through butt. Lower and repeat for 15 seconds. Then, holding leg at top of range of motion, pulse faster for 15 seconds....