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Wait, what is it? We admit that the phrase “spoonable cheese” is about as appetizing as your mother-in-law’s meatloaf. But think of quark as a creamier version of yogurt. During production, cheesemakers stir curd to stop it from hardening so it produces a thick, rich dairy cream. Only it’s not cheesy or tangy. “Quark has that great creaminess, but the taste is relatively plain,” says chef Peter Sandroni, who mixes quark with roasted garlic and caramelized onions to fill vegetarian pierogies at his Milwaukee restaurant, La Merenda....

If you’re trying to cut back on sodium, watch this 1-minute video for great nutrition advice. Learn how you can reduce your intake to lower your blood pressure and retain less water. Join Prevention nutrition director and grocery guru Cynthia Cass for Grocery Guru: Sodium Savers. Follow along with Cynthia at the grocery store for great nutrition tips on choosing low-sodium canned soups. Find out why soups with “less sodium” are not always low-sodium and how you can tell the difference....

When researchers looked at the habits of 2,315 middle-aged men, they found that those who logged 4 to 7 weekly sessions were 50% less likely to develop fatal cardiovascular diseases and 40% less likely to die young. MORE: The 25 Best Diet Tips Ever The longer the sessions (up to 35 minutes), the greater the benefit, according to the study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Women are likely to see similar results—which, by the way, have nothing to do with sweating out toxins....

Yes or no question: Are you stressed? If your fists aren’t clenched and your heart’s not racing, you may think you’re in the clear. But not so fast, Ms. Cool Cucumber. Even if you don’t exhibit the obvious signs of anxiety, your breathing just might indicate that you’re more flummoxed than you appear. In a small study published in the Journal of Breath Research, a team from Loughborough University and Imperial College London observed 23 men and women during two separate, and very different, test periods....

In the first study examining fungal diversity on human skin (published in Nature), researchers examined the DNA of fungi sampled from various body parts—including the face, chest, back, arms, and feet—of 10 people without diagnosed skin conditions. The findings: 80 different types of fungi on the body. The feet got the distinction of having the most. Don’t panic: “We’ve known that some fungi can cause skin infections, but this study shows that fungi can be on healthy skin without causing problems,” says Heidi Kong, MD, dermatologist at the NCI’s Center for Cancer Research, and coauthor of the study....

The research: Using data from the Swiss National Cohort, researchers from the University of Zurich connected the dots between tobacco, diet, alcohol consumption, and physical activity for 16,721 people between the ages of 16 and 90 from 1977 to 1993. Each one of the behaviors was shown to have a strong impact on life expectancy, specifically: Smokers had a 57% higher risk of dying prematurely. Each behavior—eating an unhealthy diet, being sedentary, and abusing alcohol—elevated mortality by approximately 15%....

If you pack a lunch for the office, you probably know all about soggy salad syndrome. Sure, you could always bring your dressing on the side, but I’ve found that it either takes up too much room (if you bring the full bottle) or that the dressing container inevitably opens during travel. This Mason jar salad is the perfect solution. By layering the ingredients with the lettuce on top and the less absorbent vegetables on the bottom, your salad always turns out just right....

But there is value in hitting the restart button by honoring that awesome body of yours, which just rocked its way through another year. Enter this invigorating sweet green blend, packed with alkalizing kale and spinach (which help regulate pH) and pineapple (which provides plenty of digestive enzymes and vitamin C…not to mention just the right amount of sweetness). Spicy ginger warms the body and improves circulation, while spirulina helps zap winter blues, thanks to its mega-dose of mood-boosting chlorophyll....

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The following exercises, aimed at strengthening and stretching, target all these hot spots, and should leave you with strong, flexible muscles that can withstand the rigors your profession demands. Perform two sets of 10 to 12 repetitions of the strengthening exercises 3 days a week (not on consecutive days). Do the stretches at the end of every day, or when you have a break. Do two sets of each, holding each stretch for 20 seconds....

The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “Super Green” list identifies the fish that come from the least-pressured habitats, are free of industrial pollutants like mercury and dioxins, and contain the highest levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Below are some of the selections from the list of best fish choices that you can use to conjure up dinner ideas. Download the full list (or the smartphone app from your cell phone service’s app store) to keep these suggestions handy while shopping....

And what are the seven deadlies? They are punishing, complaining, blaming, threatening, nagging, criticizing, and bribing. Unfortunately, a lot of us use the seven deadlies, as Dr. Glasser calls them, without even realizing it. Your younger sister spends an hour making the salad for dinner, and you criticize her choice of ingredients as unhealthy. You say that you just want her to live long and prosper, but is that really your objective?...

The research: PNF uses a contract-and-hold method that usually involves a partner, which makes it inconvenient for lone workouts. So researchers from William Peterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, developed and tested a self-administered version of the stretch to compare it to static stretches. Study participants were put into one of two groups, static or self-PNF hamstring stretches for the six-week study. For both the static stretches and the self-PNF testing, volunteers placed one foot on a chair approximately 20 inches in height, while keeping the other foot on the floor....

In Prevention’s new workout DVD, Get Your Body Back: Fit, Firm & Fabulous, fitness expert and personal trainer Chris Freytag designed ten 10-minute routines that burn fat, fire up your metabolism, and tone every inch. And one of her very favorite moves is the Dolphin Dive. [sidebar]The Dolphin Dive combines the core-toning plank with the back- and shoulder-sculpting Dolphin Pose you see in yoga classes. By stabilizing your shoulders, tightening and engaging abs, and keeping your spine long, you’ll be working your entire body, burning calories, and building metabolism-revving lean muscle....

In a series of studies involving mice and humans, the research team identified a gene called “MRAP2”. When working properly, your MRAP2 gene tells your brain when it’s time to increase your body’s metabolism and reduce your appetite, which helps limit your food intake and weight. But among those with a mutated MRAP2 gene, this brain-signaling and weight-lowering mechanism is disrupted. Genetically mixed-up mice grew to twice the size of their normal mouse buddies while consuming the same amount of food, the research published in the July 19 issue of Science shows....

Weird, strong-tasting foods are all well and good for adventurous foodies, but what if you don’t like that stuff? Are you doomed to a life of excessive weight and clogged arteries if brussels sprouts make you cringe and pile of mac and cheese is your idea of heaven? Nope. Even though your intuition may tell you that your tastes are innate, they are actually quite flexible. That is, your tastes can change and expand if you are willing to try a different approach....

If you’re thinking racto-what?, you’re not alone. Ractopamine belongs to a class of drugs commonly administered to animals called beta-agonists, which increase protein synthesis and help animals pack on muscle weight. It’s fed to an estimated 60% to 80% of US pigs in the weeks before slaughter. The drug is now beginning to get buzz because the USDA just granted approval for meat manufacturers to use the phrase “produced without ractopamine” on labels if they don’t use the drug....

Now, savory dairy can’t completely eradicate lactose, the sugar naturally found in milk: Even plain, unflavored yogurt, cottage cheese, and other dairy generally has around 8 grams of sugar per cup. But without any added fruit or sweeteners, these varieties get pretty low on the sugar scale. Here are three ways to taste the trend. MORE: Six Myths About Greek Yogurt good culture cottage cheese in Kalamata olive and sundried tomato Mild cottage cheese provides the ideal blank canvas for savory flavor....