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Here’s what happens when you don’t get enough sleep: Neurons die, the brain shrinks, and trash piles upPeople who regularly have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep (one study drew the line at 6.8 hours) show changes in brain volume—actual shrinking, in some cases—in regions important for memory and problem solving. “We’ve always presumed that you can take the weekend to catch up and be fine,” says Sigrid Veasey, MD, a University of Pennsylvania researcher, but that may not be the case....

Time. A seasoned woman is spicy. She has been marinated in life experience. Like a complex wine, she can be alternately sweet, tart, sparkling, mellow. She is both maternal and playful. Assured, alluring, and resourceful. She is less likely to have an agenda than a young woman—no biological clock tick-tocking beside her lover’s bed, no campaign to lead him to the altar, no rescue fantasies. The seasoned woman knows who she is....

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Studies show that lifestyle changes can help prevent, delay, or even reverse type 2 diabetes, particularly if the disease is caught early. The proof is in the people. Here are the inspiring stories of three women who were diagnosed but, with dedication and a passion for healthy living, reversed the course of the disease. “I kept saying, ‘This food will heal me. My body needs this.’” Nara Schuler (pictured above)WHITBY, ONTARIO54; married with three kids, ages 22, 24, and 26; height: 5'8"Before: 249 lbNow: 169 lbLost: 80 lb To look at Nara Schiller’s beautifully laid table, you’d never guess that she’s watching her diet....

Pump Up Your Willpower Researchers from the universities of Iowa and Minnesota used functional magnetic resonance imaging to monitor the brains of 17 people as they completed a number of tasks, some of which required self-control. What did the study team observe? A section of the brain called the right middle frontal gyrus (rMFG) fires up whenever self-control is needed. As the experiment progressed—and the participants were forced to make more and more decisions based on willpower—the rMFG area of the brain was less active and the people were more likely to succumb to temptation....

Aiming to further the research on these pint-sized particles, scientists developed a new method for detecting silver nano particles in food during a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The method—actually a combination of several established techniques—was able to identify and measure relatively small amounts of these nano particles in pears and will be used to study their potentially toxic effects in food, says Mengshi Lin, PhD, study author and associate professor of food science at the University of Missouri....

With other celebrities, you may not believe there’d be a next time. But forty-three-year-old Chenoweth is so thoughtful, warm, and low-key, you feel like she really means it. When she talks, it’s obvious that despite her tremendous achievements on Broadway (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and Wicked) and TV (Glee and The West Wing), as well as in numerous film roles, family and faith really are what make her tick....

Oui Shave is a new Brooklyn-based company that offers shaving box subscriptions for women with high-end razors and luxe all-natural shaving products. Karen Young, previously a fashion brand account exec, started Oui Shave after years of dealing with the combination of razors and her super sensitive skin. “I’ve always had a problem with shaving, and my skin is way too sensitive for waxing,” Young explains. “I did my research, and it took me a lot of time to figure out what was wrong with the drugstore shaving products I was using....

Enjoy frequent, small meals. Try 5 or 6 minimeals instead of the traditional big three. Dr. Gillespie recommends eating a healthy diet of no more than 250 to 300 calories per meal.More From Prevention Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. To avoid bloating, gas, and constipation, during menopause, Dr. Gillespie recommends choosing high-fiber goodies such as fruits and vegetables. (Prevention recommends nine servings a day.) Indulge–in a bit of butter....

You’re online at work all day, checking the smartphone with one hand and typing on the computer with the other. When you get home, you surf the web while you watch TV. This kind of device juggling is a ubiquitous practice, and one that has a name: Researchers call it “media multitasking,” and warn that it might actually be bumming you out. Earlier research has linked information overload—caused by too many devices spitting out too much stimulus—to both depression and social anxiety....

More from Prevention: The Best Attitude For Your Heart

This granita is the perfect way to celebrate the short (but sweet!) cherry season. A granita requires no special equipment like an ice cream maker. Instead, you simply freeze a liquid or puree in a shallow container and occasionally scrape it with a fork to achieve a fluffy, flaky consistency. I like to serve this granita in bowls or even shot glasses, topped with a dollop of real whipped cream and some lime zest....

Researchers at Brigham Young University and Princeton University divided 470 people into 94 groups and tasked them with deciding how to distribute money earned from a made-up task. They were given 25 minutes to deliberate, during which time, researchers found, men spoke 75% more than women. And proving that women’s participation actually matters, researchers found that the groups arrived at different decisions depending on their participation. More from Prevention: The Sad Reason Women Work Out Less Than Men Want some inspiration on how to make it in a boys’ club?...

Yes, this hearty, Moroccan-inspired meal takes some time to prepare, but the final product—a feast of spicy-sweet chicken paired with a colorful veggie-quinoa blend—is worth the effort. Ras el hanout is a North African spice blend that typically contains cardamom, clove, cinnamon, coriander, cumin, paprika, nutmeg, peppercorn, and turmeric, and packs a flavorful punch. Make your own or buy it from brands like Frontier Natural Products. Either way, its subtle heat marries perfectly with honey-glazed roasted carrots and a cool drizzle of yogurt....

A: In Eastern medicine, fatigue is the result of blocked energy centers—called chakras in Ayurveda and meridians in Chinese medicine—within the body. Traditionally, mind-body modalities such as meditation, yoga, and qigong are used to rebalance energy and improve overall health. Whether your fatigue is physical in origin or the result of brain drain or stress, these techniques can revive you. The 10-minute meditation: One of the oldest forms of mind-body medicine, meditation helps build energy, ease anxiety, and improve health....