Trying to do a better job with your diet? Watch out for misleading labels and products only posing as nutritious. Here’s the lowdown. Go whole grain Dietary guidelines call for at least three ounces of whole grains (Adult men 19–30 require four ounces; adult men 31–50 require 3.5 ounces). But bread, crackers, and cereals labeled [...]
Rather than looking back on where you’ve been with fitness, focus on where you’re going. Why not make it your goal to be in better shape by Memorial Day? That’s months away, but now’s the time to start an exercise program that can help you look and feel better by summer. Good news: Your goal [...]
Desk jockeys should make a point to stand up for at least two hours during the workday in order to avoid the negative health consequences linked to too much sitting, new research suggests. Gradually break up periods of prolonged sitting until you're on your feet four hours a day, advises a panel of international experts. [...]
The often-pleasant, warmer weather of summer offers lots of chances to get outside and become active. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases suggests these healthy ways to embrace summer: Move your workout to the water and go for a swim. Or move your walk to the local zoo, aquarium or museum. [...]
Hot weather, clear skies, and extra leisure time in the summer mean that many people spend hours in the sun. Lengthy sun exposure can raise the risk for skin cancer if you don't take steps to protect yourself. 1. The hours of the day when you are most at risk from the sun's rays are: [...]
The millions of Americans who will flock to beaches this summer need to keep safety in mind as they frolic in the sand and surf, an expert advises. "Any beach can be dangerous, and you need to be careful at all times, especially if children are with you," Amie Hufton, an instructional assistant professor in [...]
Here's a new reason to zap video games: Those electronic playthings keep kids from games that stimulate their minds in important ways. Citing the latest research on the brain, experts say chess, Scrabble, Monopoly—even jigsaw puzzles or tic-tac-toe—do more to help children build analytical, organizational, and creative skills. As adults, your kids will need those [...]
If so, you may be putting your health at risk… We spend 50 to 55 percent of our waking hours sitting, research suggests. As we get older, we linger even more in our chairs. And although sitting may seem harmless, too much seat-time could be bad for your health. “Bottoms” up! A sedentary life raises [...]
We don’t need scientists to tell us that laughing is fun and makes us feel better. Research is verifying that humor has many of the positive effects that funny people have long suspected. Researchers have found that you can even “act as if” you are feeling an emotion—say, happiness or irritation—by arranging your face in [...]
If you have to explain it… it probably isn’t funny. Some scientists have taken on the unfunny task of researching and explaining humor and are learning the reasons behind what we already knew: laughing makes us feel better. Humor is a whole mind-body and social experience; it’s a cognitive ability that gets our emotions and [...]