When you think about what makes you feel good, what comes to mind? Close friends and family members? A beloved pet? Walking on the beach on a beautiful day? How about… broccoli, apples, tomatoes, and raspberries? Colorful fruits and vegetables may put a smile on your face—they’re gorgeous and delicious, after all! But they also may benefit your mental health, according to research. In a new study, people who ate more fruits and vegetables reported better mental well-being and

There are more popular diets out there than we have fingers and toes—Whole 30, paleo, and keto, to name a few—each with their own zealots. But for most people, eating for good health is a matter of sticking with a few basic principles, not hopping on an extreme program’s bandwagon. The first principle? Make plant foods the foundation of your diet. Researchers recently reviewed the eating habits and health status of more than 10,000 middle-aged, healthy adults over the course

Working out can increase your mood and make you feel so accomplished! So if you are ever contemplating whether to workout or not, get up and try something new. It doesn't have to be an hour long, it can be 10 Minutes! That's all it takes! But when you move your body, you get the endorphins in your body moving, which in turn allows you to have more energy and an added bonus you burn more calories too! So what are you waiting for?

If you think your hearing gets worse when your seasonal allergies flare up (they've been supercharged this year all across the country), there's a good chance you're right, even if it sounds a bit far-fetched. For some people, allergies can cause a swelling in the Eustachian tubes in the inner ear (they help regulate ear pressure and drain excess fluid from the middle ear). That results in muted sounds, echoes, itchiness, even balance problems and tinnitus. If the problem per

Sure, you’ll find a few salads at fast food joints. But most people stop at fast-food restaurants for the fries, burgers, chicken nuggets, and the like—aka, immediate gratification in the form of salt and fat. If you find yourself stopping at the drive-thru window on a regular basis, it’s time to drop the habit like a hot hash brown! A recent analysis of fast-food menus found that calories and sodium levels in fast food entrees, sides, and desserts have increased in the past

If you eat well and exercise regularly, you’re doing great things for your heart, your brain, and your overall health. But your sleep habits matter, too, and if you’re among the 40 percent of Americans who get less than 7 hours of shut-eye a night, it’s time for a change. We know that people who don’t get enough sleep are at higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack, and a new clinical study explores why. Among the study participants, those who regularly slept less than

Speed limits help keep drivers in line on highways and byways. Turns out they’d be helpful at the dinner table, too. Eating slowly may reduce your risk of becoming obese and protect your heart, according to new research. In the study of more than a thousand adults, researchers divided participants into three groups based on whether they described themselves as slow, normal, or fast eaters. Five years later, the self-described fast eaters were more likely to have metabolic syn

Do you hear the siren song of coffee and a donut 10 minutes into your morning workout? Does your energy fizzle halfway through your 30-minute power walk? Just add music (and skip the donut!). New research shows that up-tempo music can bolster exercise endurance and motivation. During treadmill stress tests, which measure how heart rate and blood pressure respond to exercise and are used to help diagnose heart problems, the speed and incline of the treadmill are increased ever

Ready to cross one excuse not to exercise off your list? “Don’t exercise at night” has long been thought of as gospel for better sleep, based on the idea that getting revved up too close to bedtime can interfere with shut-eye. But according to a recent analysis of studies, working out in the evening hours is unlikely to disrupt sleep. Researchers found that moderate-intensity workouts during the four-hour period before bedtime don’t negatively impact sleep. In fact, people te

You know that what’s on your plate can tilt you in the direction of health or illness. But don’t forget about what’s in your glass. I'm not talking about alcohol, though make sure you’re within moderate range on that front (no more than one drink a day for women, two for men). I'm referring to the wolves in sheep’s clothing of the beverage world: sugar-sweetened drinks. Soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, packaged iced teas, and fruit drinks go down easy but can hit your heal

Ah, the legendary sugar rush, rumored to prompt young children to somersault down hallways and adults to power though the last few hours of work with a smile. You may question that narrative from your own experience, and new research shows that, far from giving you a “high,” sugary foods and drinks may lower your energy. In analyzing more than 30 studies, researchers found that people who consumed added sugar felt more tired and less alert afterward than those who hadn’t. Thi

📷 If you spend time camping, hiking, or strolling along a shoreline, you probably know it intuitively: being in nature feels good. A growing body of research has affirmed nature’s potential stress-relieving benefits, including a new study on city dwellers. That’s right, while deep wilderness and untouched beaches are teeming with good vibes, city gardens, urban parks, and even tree-lined streets have them, too. In the study, city dwellers who spent 20 to 30 minutes in a plac

Positive-thinking proponent Norman Vincent Peale is quoted as saying, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Sounds inspiring, but is it really? Setting goals can lead to greater well-being, but only if your goals are attainable, according to research. Researchers surveyed hundreds of adults of all age groups (19 to 92!) about how attainable they felt their life goals were, and then surveyed them again several years later. Those who felt their go

We are all a work in progress. Sometimes we are on top of our game, and sometimes we have setbacks. That's really ok...take a look at a stock market graph. Is it typically a straight line going up or down? No! There's a lot of "noise" in those graphs, not unlike our journey. We need to remember to focus on the long-term trend, not the short-term "noise." When we have a setback we need to regroup and refocus...that's all. When we have successes we celebrate and keep mov

You are well aware that Real Housewives, The Bachelor, and other guilty-pleasure TV shows are not exactly enriching your life. But they’re harmless, right? In moderation, sure. In addition to eating well and exercising, limiting the amount of time you spend sitting is one of the best things you can do for your health, and prime time is a great place to start. Research suggest that your waistline, heart health, and risk of diabetes and cancer could benefit from less time in fr

You got the ABCs down decades ago, but you may want to brush up on D. Vitamin D, that is. If you’ve had your level tested and your doctor has recommended a vitamin D3 supplement (in addition to getting 15 minutes of sunshine on exposed skin per day), you’re in good company. Many Americans don’t get enough of the “sunshine vitamin,” potentially increasing their risk for health conditions ranging from depression to diabetes. But be sure you’re getting enough of the mineral magn

Occupational hazards can come from unexpected sources. You can be going about your workday, minding your own business, and suddenly a tray of cookies or a bowl of chips appears. You’re not hungry, per se, but find yourself eating anyway, rationalizing that there’s nothing wrong with having a treat every now and then. Except that “every now and then” happens…often. According to a new study, nearly a quarter of working adults eat foods and drinks offered at work at least once a

There’s no disputing how useful smartphones are. From driving directions and help finding the best restaurants to easily accessible cameras and other handy apps, they’re a portal to connection and convenience. But (you knew there was a but coming, didn’t you?) these beloved devices may cause a bona fide brain drain in their users. Having your smartphone nearby significantly lowers your cognitive capacity — a.k.a., how well your brain holds and processes information — accordin

Speed limits help keep drivers in line on highways and byways. Turns out they’d be helpful at the dinner table, too. Eating slowly may reduce your risk of becoming obese and protect your heart, according to new research. In the study of more than a thousand adults, researchers divided participants into three groups based on whether they described themselves as slow, normal, or fast eaters. Five years later, the self-described fast eaters were more likely to have metabolic syn