Trying the popular, healthy Mediterranean diet could benefit not just you, but everyone you live with, new research suggests. Family members of people who followed a Mediterranean diet lost weight and improved their eating habits, even without doing a specific diet program themselves, according to a study published March 3 in the International Journal of Obesity. The Mediterranean diet, based on traditional eating patterns in countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece, is one of the most res...

Fitness influencers are a dime a dozen these days. The trouble is, however, that the lack of regulation on social media means anyone can give out fitness advice, and there's a lot of misinformation that has the potential to be damaging.  A recent study of fitness content on TikTok found that 27% of the videos that were analyzed demonstrated bad form or incorrect advice, with kettlebell swings coming out top as the exercise most often performed wrong (80% of the time). But if you'...

Hatha yoga has become one of the more popular types of yoga because it can build strength, improve flexibility, and align posture - while still being gentle enough for most bodies. "If you've been to a yoga class, you likely practiced hatha yoga," says certified yoga instructor Adrienne Leslie. "It's a great option for both beginners and experienced yogis. The instructors will cue the breath and guide you into proper alignment in the poses, and the poses can be modified based on the expe...

Good nutrition is essential for both the mind and body, but most Americans don't follow a healthy diet. That's where the daily value system comes in. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) created the daily value system to make it easier for people to meet their daily nutritional needs. Found on the nutrition label, the daily value system tells you can help you determine if a product is high or low in particular nutrients. What does daily value mean? Daily value (DV) ...

No one wants to hear (or even think) this, but if you work out regularly and don't wash your athletic attire well enough or often enough, you very well may stink. Bacteria, sweat, and body oils collect inside synthetic fabrics like your leggings or sports bra and can cause a funky odor, says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. And the more bacteria in your sweat, the greater your chances of stinking. (Here are th...

Affecting 15% to 30% of the US population, bloating often feels like a swelling or tightness in your abdomen and can cause your stomach to bulge. It's often uncomfortable but doesn't always signal a cause for concern. You can't always prevent bloating but there are ways to reduce bloating, gas, and stomach pain - here are five. 1. Avoid certain foods Foods that contain certain types of carbohydrates, called FODMAPs, are not as effectively digested by the small intestine, whic...

Even if you’re not up for going full-on vegetarian or vegan, there are so many reasons to move toward a more plant-based diet. Not only is eating less meat associated with a lower risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, it’s also better for the planet since beef production uses up a disproportionate share of the world’s resources. The good news is, you no longer have to trek to a health food store on the outskirts of town to find plant-b...

After a year in quarantine, with many of our usual pastimes unavailable to us, daydreaming has become a welcome escape. But is daydreaming good for you? We live in such a task-oriented society that the idea of just taking a break to let your mind think freely is often seen as lazy or unproductive. We can’t sit at the doctor’s office without scrolling through social media or go for a walk without listening to a podcast. But we’re actually daydreaming more often than we realize—almost 50% of ou...

You're out to dinner and feel a hand on your shoulder as a familiar voice says your name. You turn around and this person is smiling. You know her—you’ve known her for years, in fact. But her name has evaporated from your mind, and all you can muster is a “Hey…you!” Before you start Googling “signs of dementia,” rest assured that some changes in memory and cognition are a normal part of the aging process, especially if they manifest as trouble finding words or momentary lapses in...

There's certainly no shortage of buzzy nutritious foods on grocery store shelves. Snack foods made with whole-food ingredients, organic oat milk yogurt, gluten-free cassava tortillas...Walking each aisle is like a fun new discovery zone—if you have enough money to do more than window shop, that is. While Well+Good is the first to say that healthy eating doesn't require buying trendy, expensive ingredients, the fact remains that eating well is harder when you're on a tight budget. Even if y...