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How to avoid it: Steer clear of processed, starchy foods as much as possible. Microwave raw potatoes before cooking them for 30 seconds, which slashes acrylamide levels by 60%. When toasting bread, stick to a light toast. Antibiotics
Today, many bacteria can withstand all drugs that doctors throw at them. A whopping 80% of antibiotics used in the United States go into animal feed for nonorganically raised farm animals. This results in the creation of hard-to-kill supergerms, including those found on supermarket meat....

The important thing is to avoid ruts. I’ve met stockbrokers who can do complex transactions in their heads at the age of 90. It’s incredible to us, but for them, that’s normal. It’s a skill they’ve honed for many years. To maintain a cognitive edge overall, you want to train your brain constantly to do new things. (If you do want to play brain games, here are some fun ones to challenge you!...

“Our circadian rhythms, or sleep cycle, require consistency,” explains board-certified sleep specialist Michael Breus, PhD, author of Good Night: The Sleep Doctors 4-week Program to Better Sleep and Better Health. “Anytime you try to sneak an extra snooze or get an artificial boost, you’ll find yourself physically tired but mentally wired when trying to get to bed, and then drowsy again the very next day—it’s a vicious circle.” Messing with those rhythms will wreak havoc with a host of bodily functions including hormone release, body temperature, weight control, and even immunity, not to mention that it will zap your energy, mood, memory, and powers of concentration....

It’s finally latke season, when foodies of all faiths partake in what just might be the greatest (okay, at least top 10) fried food on the planet. No matter the season, Americans do love their spuds: Potatoes are the most purchased veggie in the country, according to the research group Mintel. Of course, the crispy Hanukkah treat isn’t exactly adored for its health benefits. But beneath those layers of sour cream and butter, America’s favorite starch is actually pretty darn healthy: Potatoes are busting with vitamins and potassium, and they’ve even been shown to reduce blood pressure....

Stand straight with your legs together, toes pointing out to the sides. Place your right hand on a chair back for support, and your left arm out for balance. Shift your weight to your right foot, and lift your left foot, pointing your toes and sweeping your leg out in front of you. Without pausing or touching the floor, sweep your left leg out to the side. Focus on tightening your thigh and buttocks, and don’t move your upper body....

Then, through miracles of modern technology, a good process with a long name—low-temperature extrusion—was applied to low-fat ice cream. It became richer, creamier, and smoother. And the people rejoiced. Alas, nothing is as simple as a fairy tale—not even ice cream. Light ice cream represents nearly 40% of the frozen dessert market, but so far, only a few manufacturers use the expensive extrusion technology that makes it taste like the full-fat thing....

If the thought of hopping on a scale twice a day makes you cringe, we hear ya: Research shows that this kind of hyper-vigilance about weight often does more harm than good. But even if you’re not a slave to the scale, do you have a good sense of your weight—and whether it’s in a healthy place? Fortunately, more Americans than ever seem to have that awareness: A new study published in the International Journal of Obesity reveals that people who are overweight and obese are more likely to accurately gauge their own weight than earlier research has suggested....

Guys with no risk factors for heart disease were able to put off their first heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event by up to 14 years. That’s compared to men who had two or more of four risk factors: diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, and abnormal cholesterol levels. His risk in perspective: Odds of two in three over a lifetime sound scary—and they are “massive,” says study author John T....

Here’s buying bulk tips on how to take advantage of discounts without packing on pounds: • Buying Bulk Tip #1: Stow it away One in three people binges when snacks like nuts or chips are kept in plain sight, Wansink has found. If your cupboard is too full to fit the pretzels you’re eyeing in aisle five, take a pass this time around. • Buying Bulk Tip #2: Divide and conquer Divvy up your tub-o’-granola into smaller containers—Wansink’s research indicates that bigger packages prompt people to gobble up to 42% more than they would from sensible sizes....

I believe wholeheartedly in sustainability, so it’s no surprise it defines how I cook and live. To me, sustainability means eating foods produced on farms and from orchards that apply no added chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and that employ the sorts of sensible farming practices that nurture the soil for future generations of crops as well as people. It means knowing which fish are in danger of being overfished and which are OK to eat....

Welcome to the wonderful world of blender ice cream: Additive-free, make-at-home scoops that feel and taste just like ice cream—but no expensive ice cream maker required. This version uses bananas for sweetness, coconut milk for texture, and a little chocolate, well, just because. Best of all: There’s only 10 g of sugar per serving. (Note: To make this recipe vegan, make sure the chocolate and chocolate chips you buy are dairy-free....

When Irvine’s mother first took her daughter to a McDonald’s restaurant 15 years ago, the Daily Mail reports, it was love at first bite. Since then, the British teen has eaten almost nothing but Chicken McNuggets at every meal. A diet like this not only lacks vital nutrients, it also serves up a dangerous amount of salt. A 10-piece order packs in 900 milligrams (mg) of sodium, which is more than half the salt you should consume in a single day....

As news of Paula Deen’s diabetes diagnosis continues to play out in the media, we’ve noticed an impulse in the blogosphere to paint what’s on our plates as either heavenly or healthy. But this is a false choice! Who says mouth-watering meals must be bathed in butter to taste good, or that burgers are best when they’re piled high with bacon? In fact, you can get all the enjoyment of comfort food without the onslaught of calories, fat and sodium....

We’d like to thank everyone who entered–and to say “Keep up the great work!” It’s an inspiration to know how many people out there are making a real difference in their health by experimenting in the kitchen. We couldn’t give prizes to everyone, but we think that every person with the courage to create nutritious, diabetes-friendly dishes should feel like a winner! We’d also like to offer a hearty congratulations to Brigitta Larsson, our grand-prize winner, and our six runners-up....

The research: The study team measured the quality of people’s diets using a 100-point “health index” based on the government’s daily eating recommendations. (For example, women and men who eat more than the 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit a day, as the USDA advises, score a 5 out of 5 on that portion of the health index.) After four years, people who improved their health index score by 10% lowered their risk for type 2 diabetes by 20%—regardless of how healthy they ate at the start of the study....

Honey Cilantro Cleanser Best for: Dull skin Fresh cilantro helps brighten skin in this exfoliating facial cleanser, while brown rice flour gently scrubs away dead cells, and a spoonful of honey softens. (Detoxify yourself from the inside out with the 12-day Heal Your Whole Body cleanse.) 1 Tbsp brown rice flour ½ c fresh cilantro 1 tsp honey 1 tsp liquid castile soap like Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Mild Castile Liquid Soap ($3, drbronner....

I’ve had a lot of worries this past year. Husband-health concerns. Kid concerns. My father dying a year ago…and not long thereafter, my mother, whom I loved very much—and I still need her so. But the red, red wine—or in my case, the vodka—has been helping me forget, a little too much and too often. I’m a nice girl from a teetotaling family, but, as life’s pressures have mounted, I’ve begun feeling as though I’ve gone from enjoying one Cosmo (or two or three) at the end of the day to needing one....

A: Fruits and vegetables contain about the same vitamins and minerals, but vegetables offer a wider array of compounds that we think protect you from cancer, heart disease, and more, explains Cindy Moore, RD, of the American Dietetic Association. For instance, broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables—but not a single fruit—are packed with sulphoraphane, which appears to fight breast cancer. It’s okay to doctor your veggies with a tablespoon of grated cheese or a pat of butter....