Health in a Heartbeat

Just like the chicken-and-egg debate, people have wrestled with the question of which is more important for those who have lost weight and want to keep it off: adhering to a strict diet or exercising more. Now, researchers are closer to the answer, thanks to the TV show “The Biggest Loser.’’ A study of contestants […]

It’s been fairly well-established that almonds are good for your heart health, particularly when it comes to lowering levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol. But not as much is known about how the tasty nuts affect HDL, the good cholesterol. Turns out, almonds not only increase the levels of the good stuff, they also help […]

Some scientists are calling a timeout on the five-second rule. The popular notion that says it’s OK to eat food that is picked up from the floor within five seconds is substantially oversimplified, Rutgers University researchers have found. The bottom line: Bacteria will transfer to food no matter how quickly it gets scooped up. Exactly […]

Work stress might cost you some sleep — and also expand your waistline. Researchers call it “eating your feelings.” A recent study that included two University of Florida researchers found that workplace stress causes employees to more frequently take their woes to the fridge at night for some unhealthy food. But a good night’s sleep […]

Will you be healthier if you stand all day at work rather than sit? After all, look at all those folks with standing desks. Standing has got to be good for the body, right? Canadian researchers, however, have thrown a monkey wrench into that notion, at least when it comes to your heart. They found […]

You have two glasses of wine. You’re told one glass is from a $40 bottle and the other from a $10 bottle. Which would you think tastes better? If you think the glass from the $40 bottle, you’re likely right. Research suggests that in a taste test people will say the pricier bottle tastes better. […]

The scale can be a powerful motivator for weight loss — and not just for the number it shows. Researchers have found that women who make stepping on the scale a part of their daily routine are less likely to gain weight. Women who weighed themselves at least once a day saw a drop in […]

Let’s say you’ve been a slug much of your life and have never enjoyed exercise, not so much as a stroll around the block. Now that you’ve reached your golden years, why bother? The damage to your health is done, right? Not so fast — it’s never too late to put on a pair of […]

What could be more wholesome than the sight of a parent scooching down a playground slide while holding a giggling toddler in their lap? It’s all fun and games until someone gets seriously hurt.Think that’s an overstatement? New research found 352-thousand children less than 6 years of age were injured on slides in the United […]

Book lovers, rejoice! Science suggests you may live longer. Yale University researchers have found that people who read books may live two years longer than those who don’t. The researchers aren’t sure why or how, but it’s not the first time science has shown reading is associated with good health. Reading can relieve stress, help […]

If you’re a bricklayer or concrete worker, your job might be making you sick. A study of men in those fields showed they have an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis through exposure to noxious airborne particles. The odds of developing the blood-borne protein antibodies associated with rheumatoid arthritis were nearly tripled among bricklayers and […]

You’ve likely seen marketing for high-protein foods. It has become a popular label on everything from bread to ice cream. Athletes swear by protein shakes after a workout and various protein bars line grocery store aisles. But do you understand what protein is, its role in your body and the best ways to consume this […]

Most patients who have had total knee or hip replacements aren’t more physically active six months after surgery, even though they report less pain and a better quality of life, a recent review has found. Higher life expectancy and the growing recognition of the benefits of staying mobile at older ages have led more people […]

Men in the U.S. are waiting longer than ever before becoming fathers, with the average new dad now nearly 31 years old. That’s more than three years older than a new dad was in the 1970s and tracks a similar trend among women, where the average age of first-time moms has been rising in part […]

Fall is here and for many people in the United States, that means the end of the tanning season, time to put away your bathing suits and beach bags. It’s also a good time for people to take stock of their skin, specifically to look for any suspicious spots that could be a warning sign […]