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You poop a lot more (or less).If Your Hormones Are Out of Whack Because of…Thyroid Disease If you notice you’re suddenly constipated or you’re pooping all the time, it could be related to either hypothyroidism (not enough thyroid hormones) or hyperthyroidism (too much). “This isn’t, ‘I’ve always been constipated since I was 15,’” says Kathleen Figaro, MD, an endocrinologist in Bettendorf, Iowa. “It’s more, ‘I was doing quite well, and all of a sudden I’m constipated....

1. What’s the highest SPF that’s legit? I heard it’s 50, so why do I see products with much higher numbers? —Veronica Walters, 33, Bensalem, PA If you apply sunscreen correctly (see question 3), SPF 50 offers the maximum protection necessary. You’re seeing SPF 80 and even SPF 110 on shelves because of “marketing, marketing, marketing,” says Bruce Katz, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. Companies know that higher numbers make you think you’re getting a significant surplus of protection, even though you’re not....

Each winter, these infections put millions of people out of commission, cost employers more than $20 billion in paid sick days, and send more than 200,000 sufferers to the hospital. So how do you protect yourself? We’ve compiled a list of exactly what you need—and what you should avoid—to stay healthy during cold and flu season. These ideas made the cut not because they have fancy names or pack 400% of your daily vitamin allowances, but because they’re safe, they’ve proven their worth in clinical studies, and our trusted experts recommend them....

One of the main reasons you’ll have to put in extra effort: Your body composition changes as you age. You lose muscle mass at an average rate of 3 to 5% for every 10 years after age 35, and this can impact the way you burn fat. “Your body goes into its aging stage as it leaves the growing one,” says Luiza Petre, M.D., a New York City-based weight loss and management specialist and assistant clinical professor of cardiology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine....

For even faster results, strap on ankle weights (1 to 2 pounds each). So go ahead—get started with two sets of 12 to 15 reps on each side, two or three times a week, with a rest day in between. (Want to work out more but don’t have the time? Then try Fit in 10, the new workout program that takes only 10 minutes a day.) Front-to-Back Hip Swing A: Lie on your left side, hips stacked one on top of the other....

I strongly advocate the idea of mini-meals especially when you are so busy at work that you can’t take time to go to lunch. Bring healthy snacks to work—almonds, apples, string cheese, yogurt just to name a few. Mini-meals help you succeed on both mental and physical weight loss levels. Psychologically, mini-meals can help reduce cravings or poor food choices out of sheer hunger. Physically, eating small amounts every two to four hours helps to keep your blood sugar on an even keel and may even help your metabolism to keep burning at a higher rate....

Monosodium glutamate is the go-to add-in to create this desired effect. So much so that this menacing flavor enhancer is found in almost all processed and packaged foods in the United States. MSG-induced obesity is such an accepted concept in scientific circles that when studies require obese animals, the first thing they’re given is MSG. In fact, scientists in Spain found that giving laboratory rats MSG increased food intake by 40%....

A toned, flat tummy is a goal many of us strive to achieve, but endless crunches and ditching all your favorite foods aren’t the right—or fun—way to do it. A sculpted core and trim tummy can be attained by incorporating small changes into your day, like holding in your abs while you walk and adding the right healthy fats to your diet. Here, 25 simple ways to flatten your belly....

Toe Stretch Sit in chair, right leg crossed over left thigh. Interlace left fingers with right toes (as if holding hands with your foot). Squeeze fingers and toes together and hold for 10 seconds, then stretch wide for 10 seconds. Do 3 times with each foot. MORE: 14 Everyday Habits Setting You Up For Big-Time Back Pain Arch MassagerWalk Your Way To Better Health Stand with tennis ball directly under second toe of right foot....

He’s right. There was a final unresolved mystery in the decades-long search for consensus about fat, and it was time we put it to bed: Does saturated fat make us fat? We now know that a low-fat diet, tried en masse in the ’80s and ’90s, caused widespread weight gain. Trans fats are out, too, no debate there. Unsaturated fats are widely accepted as healthy. And—despite misleading headlines recently declaring that butter is back—we know that saturated fat does our hearts no good....

But after trying out the whole wheat flour substitute thing, what else can you do to make your treats less bad for you? Turns out, plenty. Here are our favorite easy, unexpected ideas for cleaning up your cookies, cakes, and more—that won’t leave them tasting like total garbage. Use natural food coloring. You don’t buy packaged foods with red 40, so why would you add the stuff to your homemade red velvet cupcakes?...

You’ve noticed unpleasant skin changes Dark, velvety patches in the folds of skin, usually on the back of the neck, elbows, or knuckles, are often an early warning sign of too-high blood sugar levels and diabetes symptoms. Although genetics or hormonal conditions can cause the skin disorder, called acanthosis nigricans, “when I notice the patches, the first thing I do is test my patient’s blood sugar,” says Sanjiv Saini, MD, a dermatologist in Edgewater, Maryland....

But that won’t stop the company who funded the survey from testing drugs that address this problem. “As with anything else, drugs are an absolute last resort—you need to try other fixes first,” says Ian Kerner, PhD, author of She Comes First. Start with these five (drug-free!) ways to increase your odds of climaxing. Get on top. Most women report that they’re more likely to have an orgasm when they’re on top....