Dining out is a fun indulgence. Who doesn’t enjoy having someone else cook? But if you’re trying to eat healthier, home cooking is the way to go. For the most part, even ordering lighter fare at restaurants isn’t as good for you as preparing food at home. Keep reading to learn why home cooking is a real value meal, and find tips for eating healthier on occasions when you dine out.The Trouble with Restaurant FoodThe average American dines out 185 times a year, or three and a half times a week. Unfortunately, restaurant food may not be doing us any favors. In general, it’s high in … [Read more...]

For people who love to read, curling up with a good book feels utterly indulgent, especially when paired with a cozy chair and a steaming cup of tea. But here’s some news that’s worth putting your book down for: Reading is actually good for you (in more ways than one)!Benefits of ReadingIt’s like exercise for your brain We all know physical exercise is good for our bodies, so it makes sense that an activity like reading, which exercises your brain, is beneficial to neurological health. The type of reading you do (e.g. lightly skimming a page versus focusing closely on the text, … [Read more...]

Thousands of people visit YouTube every day to watch strangers whispering, brushing their hair, folding napkins, turning magazine pages, and tapping their fingers. Why? For some people, these mundane sensory experiences trigger a pleasurable, relaxing tingling response in the scalp or spine. Some people compare the sensation to carbonated bubbles spreading through the back of their heads or sand trickling down their head and shoulders.The sensation has been dubbed Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR), a technical-sounding but nonclinical term. Some people call it “brain tingles.” … [Read more...]

Abdominal pain can come in a wide variety of forms. This stands to reason: The abdomen houses many of our internal organs (not to mention muscles and connective tissue). While it’s unreasonable to expect everyone to have a full understanding of what every type of abdominal pain could mean, a skilled clinician is likely able to discern the problem plaguing her patient based on the patient’s history. And that means that having a basic knowledge of your abdominal anatomy—as well as an understanding of some of the common ways physicians characterize pain and the types of questions they may ask—can … [Read more...]

If you’re like most people, you brush twice a day. But if you mindlessly move your toothbrush around your mouth, your oral hygiene routine may be ineffective or worse: It may be harming your tooth enamel. Keep reading to learn the best way to floss and brush to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Bone Up on Brushing Humans have been brushing their teeth since 3500 B.C. In ancient Babylonia people chewed on the ends of sticks to create a frayed end for tooth scrubbing. Over time and across cultures, people have constructed toothbrushes out of sticks, bones, and animal hairs, and made toothpaste … [Read more...]

Plain yellow, spicy brown, tangy Dijon, pebbly whole grain: However you like your mustard, its uses extend far beyond your sandwich, burger, wrap, or hot dog. In addition to adding flavor and depth to foods, all varieties of mustard have plenty of notable health benefits. Here are five new ways to enjoy this tangy condiment and do your body some extra good too. 1. Benefit: Fight or prevent cancer and other diseases Mustard seeds come from a plant that’s in the same Brassica botanical family as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Brassica vegetables have several notable nutritional and health … [Read more...]

Nausea: It’s one of those universal human experiences we can all commiserate with. In fact, it’s estimated that each year half of the adult population experiences at least one bout of nausea, which may or may not lead to vomiting. That makes sense because there are many reasons people feel nauseous.What to Eat and Drink When You Feel Nauseous If you feel sick to your stomach, eating or drinking may be the last thing on your mind. And if your symptoms only last for a short time, abstaining could be the right thing to do.However, if your symptoms persist for more than a couple of … [Read more...]

We all know the phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” So why isn’t there an equivalent rhyme for how much water we should drink? Water is arguably one of the most important items we can—and need to—add to our diet. In fact, we should think of it as a nutrient, just like we do with the vitamins and minerals we get from fruits and veggies.There are well known—and surprising—health benefits to drinking water. We’ll break those down and then dive into tips to drink more water no matter how busy you are. Benefits of H2O Before we explain how to drink more water, let’s talk about why … [Read more...]

Google “celebrity stretch marks” or search for #LoveYourLines on Instagram, and you’ll find that stretch marks can happen to anyone. The long, narrow streaks, stripes, or lines occur when the collagen and elastic tissue in the skin is damaged from stretching quickly, such as during puberty, pregnancy, or during rapid weight gain. Rapid weight loss can also cause stretch marks if excess skin pulls on healthy skin. Stretch marks are more common in women than men and frequently occur on the stomach, thighs, hips, breasts, upper arms, and lower back. They’re typically red or purple at first and … [Read more...]