Health News

The hottest news and latest studies to help you live your best life.

Dine in more, pig out less

Research on the eating habits of more than 1,200 folks concluded that those who ate out—whether at full-service restaurants or fast food joints—consumed more than 200 additional calories a day (plus more salt, sugar and saturated fat).
—Public Health Nutrition

Reduce stroke risk

Eat a diet rich in potassium—3,200 mg daily—and your stroke risk drops 12 percent.
—STROKE

Botox happy

Need another reason to consider smoothing lines with Botox? Research showed a 47 percent drop in symptoms of depression six weeks after Botox sessions.
—Journal of Psychiatric Research

Menopausal bone health

A new study finds that women who experience hot flashes and night sweats during menopause tend to have higher rates of hip fracture than women who have no symptoms. However, all postmenopausal women face a greater risk of developing osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weaker and are more likely to break. Women who have hot flashes and want to protect their bones may benefit from healthy lifestyle habits such as exercising and getting enough calcium and vitamin D, and avoiding smoking and alcohol.
—Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism

Mouth off to cancer

Your dentist can do a lot more than check for cavities: He or she can check for cancerous lesions. In fact, a recent study found that general practitioners believe they’re less adept at performing oral-cancer exams than dentists. So at your next checkup, ask your dentist to look for unusual bumps, patches or swelling.
—Journal of American Dental Association

Walking inspiration

If you want to get creative juices flowing, take a stroll. A recent Stanford study reported that walking improved people’s creative output by an average of 60 percent.
—Journal of Experimental Psychology

Mom was right

…when she admonished us to sit up straight. Subjects who did so were in a better mood and had higher self-esteem than their slumped-over counterparts. Researchers theorize that sitting upright triggers the body’s autonomic nervous system to increase blood flow, making you feel more confident and alert.
—Health Psychology