Here’s How Long To Sleep Each Night for Optimal Brain Function

Connecting the dots between sleep and cognition has long been tricky, mostly because the relationship is bidirectional rather than causal. That is, poor sleep can trigger cognitive decline, but also, symptoms of that same decline can disrupt sleep. But, a new new study just successfully teased out exactly how much sleep may be ideal for brain health...

Can You Eat Your Way to Better Mental Health? A Dietitian Explains

Let’s face it: There’s a lot in life you can’t control. However, to the degree that you have access to healthy foods, you can take charge of what you eat to influence your happiness and mental wellness. Numerous studies confirm that dietary factors can shift your mood — for better or worse. So, if you’re languishing, here are some foods that may help, as well as...

What Is a Head Cold—And Why Is it Even Called That?

Ahead cold, which is sometimes called the common cold, can be rough, causing symptoms such as a stuffy nose, sneezing, and a sore throat. Head colds are also—as their alternative name suggests—incredibly common: The US population suffers one billion colds each year, according to the US National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)...

7 Breakfast Habits That Help With Weight Loss

It's often called the most important meal of the day, and in some ways, breakfast does jumpstart your eating habits. If you begin with a sugar-filled frappuccino and a plate of maple syrup smothered pancakes, you'll probably have a hankering for sugar as the hours wear on. But, for those who are hoping to gain better control of their diets and drop weight...

Type of Fat, Not How Much, Linked to Stroke Risk

Fat in the diet has long been linked to stroke risk, but new research presented Monday suggests that it’s the type of fat, not the amount, that may be the more important factor.

The study found that eating more animal fat was linked to a higher risk of stroke, while getting more fat from vegetable sources...

Popular Habits That Are Wrecking Your Body, Say Experts

With the pandemic lurching to a long and winding close, you may be ready to leave lockdowns and wanting to take back control of your health. Good idea. Popular things you've done over the last year may have put your body out of shape, and now is the time to reverse the damage...

Feeling Clumsy? Turns Out You’ll Walk More Smoothly if You Catch Up on Sleep

For people who walk, doing so can seem like something mindless or reflexive, not unlike, say, breathing or swallowing. But while you’re almost certainly not thinking about the timing or distance of your next footfall while taking a neighborhood stroll or cruising through the grocery store, new research suggests that walking actually might not be so automatic...

How Strength Training Can Help Prevent Age-Related Muscle Loss

Getting older is inevitable, but you don't need to resign yourself to the side effects of increasing age. More aches and pains, moving a little more slowly, and losing some of the strength and muscle that help power you through your day aren't foregone conclusions.

Caring for your body is the best way to resist many of the negative side effects of aging. Specifically, a regular strength...

A Diet Low in These 4 Foods Could Increase Risk of Dementia

In 2014, it was estimated that 5 million adults over the age of 65 have dementia. That number is predicted to rise to nearly 14 million by 2060. The rate is increasing, and a new study finds that our dietary decisions may be to blame. The study, published in the journal Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, showed that a diet low...

Want to See If Running Is For You? Here’s How to Get Started

Here’s the great secret about beginner running plans: You don’t need much to actually get started—just a comfortable pair of running shoes and an openness to try something new. Running for beginners has never been easier!

Running is one of the best ways to get fit and improve...