If you’re like most Americans, you chose the former. And you’d be wrong. Most people don’t recognize the true risks of obesity, an unhealthy diet, and a lack of exercise, according to a new report from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR). Just 52% of Americans know being overweight or obese raises their risk of developing cancer, the survey shows. Even worse: Less than half of those polled were aware that alcohol consumption, too little physical activity, and diet choices—like eating lots of red meat or neglecting fruits and vegetables—have been conclusively linked to some cancers....

When it comes to grains, nutrition experts advise that we opt for brown over white. And American spending habits suggest that we’re listening: According to a recent report from Mintel, 89% of consumers are buying wheat bread, while 75% are buying white. That’s because most bread shoppers believe that breads made with whole grains are healthier and tastier, the report notes. More from Prevention: Diabetes-Friendly Pasta Recipes The same seems to be true for gluten-free food: By the end of the year, the gluten-free market is expected to grow into a whopping $7 billion industry, according to Mintel....

If your brand-name clutch is making you fat, it would be because it contains, as at least some high-end handbags do, a new kind of chemical to worry about: compounds known as obesogens. Obesogens are believed to work in at least three ways: first, by directly affecting adipocytes, or fat cells, by either increasing their fat-storage capacity or increasing their number; second, by changing metabolism, by both reducing the number of calories burned at rest and promoting the storage of calories as fat; and third, by changing the way the body regulates feelings of hunger and fullness....

“People with these two conditions are at increased risk for cardiovascular problems as well as kidney disease,” says William Keane, MD, president of the NKF and professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School in Minneapolis. “The key is to keep even closer control of blood pressure than experts have recommended in the past.” If you’re one of the 11 million Americans with both conditions, make a doctor’s appointment today, and bring this article along....

The researchers also assessed seven older studies of nearly 98,000 people and found similar results. In that review, they noted that people with a faster heart rate had 59% higher risk of diabetes compared to those with slower heart rate. MORE: 5 Things Your Blood Type Says About Your Health A normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm)—most of us have a resting heart rate of 65 to 85 bpm, says Erica C....

“It’s really controversial, because people are tied to their routines and want to do CrossFit every day,” says Alisa Vitti, author of WomanCode and creator of an online system of the same namethat helps women feel better by tuning in to daily hormonal changes happening in their bodies. “You actually need to create a workout regime that’s sensitive to the neurohormonal shifts that are happening weekly.” She’s not saying that because she thinks you can’t handle the cramps....

IN YOUR 40s Set yourself up for a strong, healthy future. (The 21-day plan in Love Your Age is the life-changing reset every 40+ woman needs!) BUILD UP YOUR MUSCLE Your muscle is the key driver of your metabolism, and now’s the time to start safeguarding your stockpile if you haven’t already. “The average sedentary woman has lost about 10 pounds of lean muscle mass, and gained at least that much in body fat, by the time she hits 40,” says Wayne Westcott, director of exercise science at Quincy College in Quincy, MA....

And yet, when it comes to working out, the upper body is a sensitive space for many women. One reason? Upper body exercises, like push-ups and pull-ups, can be challenging and therefore discouraging without the right modifications and mindset. What’s more, weightlifting myths perpetuate the idea that upper body work will cause women to look “too bulky” (whatever that means). Here’s the thing: Gaining a large amount of muscle mass requires very specific training and nutrition....

[sidebar] Here’s the good news: It turns out that quick, 10-minute workouts sprinkled throughout your day may be even more beneficial for your heart health than one half hour sweatfest. In studying the health effects of shorter workout sessions, researchers from Arizona State University assigned one group three 10-minute walks a day and another group a single 30-minute walk. They found that doing multiple mini-sessions is a smarter strategy for blood pressure control: The 10-minute-at-a-time exercisers not only reduced their systolic blood pressure (that’s the top number) during the day and evening (similar to the 30-minute group) but also continued to benefit from a lower BP the following day....

Citrus Rounds With Mint And Crystallized Ginger On a large platter, arrange rounds of pink grapefruit, navel orange, and blood orange. Sprinkle with minced crystallized ginger, fresh mint leaves, and a pinch salt. Drizzle with honey. NUTRITION Grapefruit Spritzers In a saucepot, simmer 1 cup grapefruit juice with 1 cup honey, stirring, until the honey dissolves. Chill. Into highball glasses, pour the grapefruit syrup and top with seltzer water. Garnish glasses with grapefruit wedges....

One in 68 kids have autism, and the disorder is roughly five times more likely to affect boys than girls. It’s called a “spectrum disorder” because it encompasses a handful of related conditions, all of which may present in different ways, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe, says Juhi Pandey, PhD, a pediatric neuropsychologist, and scientist with the Center for Autism Research at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. What are the symptoms of autism?...

If you’re a Prevention reader, you’re probably interested in buying the healthiest foods. Just like us, you may even reach automatically for items with a “health halo,” such as spaghetti sauce (love that lycopene!), or labels like reduced fat!, low sodium!, and whole grain! But unless you’re a supersavvy shopper, be warned: Your diet may conceal some nasty surprises. That low-fat cottage cheese you love? It could be higher in sodium than potato chips....

Protect Your Knees This exercise strengthens the quadriceps, the muscles in the front of the thighs that support your knees. Photo by Hilmar Hilmar Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. Loop an exercise band around your left ankle, or use a light ankle weight. Rest your palms on the sides of the chair for support. Slowly lift your left foot until your leg is straight....

Next, make the commitment to set aside a few minutes each day to meditate. It will help calm your mind and boost productivity, helping you stay focused on your month’s intention. A 2010 study in the journal Emotion showed that mindfulness—a type of meditation that requires you to sit quietly for several minutes and focus on physical sensations—was highly effective in improving people’s working memory, the short-term memory needed for managing info, controlling emotions, and solving problems....

Do two sets of 15 reps of each, three times a week. Bonus: A strong back also helps prevent aches and improves posture, so you’ll look better in any outfit. Back Extension A: Lie with abdomen on ball (available at most sporting goods stores), with upper body and neck parallel to floor. Place hands behind head and rest feet wider than shoulder-width apart on floor behind you. B: Slowly raise upper body so that chest is several inches higher than ball....

Here’s why it shouldn’t: Potassium helps your nerves and muscles communicate with one another, moves other nutrients into your cells, and keeps your sodium levels in check. Not getting enough of the stuff can cause high blood pressure (thanks to its close relationship with salt) and increase your risk of kidney stones, per the National Institutes of Health. Even still, the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans declared potassium an under-consumed nutrient, says Mia Syn, M....

Worried that the mammograms were not picking up on possible cancers, Safer went to University of Pennsylvania, where the breast imaging center was testing a 3D mammogram, which is the subject of a new study published in JAMA. Building on the 2D technology, the 3D version simply slices the images of the breast and reconstructs them on a computer in 3D form, allowing doctors to get a better view of the entire breast and any potential tumors growing within....