What’s your skin care slip-up?

Skipping sunscreen on a gray winter day or flopping into bed in makeup is unlikely to do any real harm, but too many lapses in beauty judgment could lead to signs of age. The flip side? Taking a few minutes a day for smart skin care can prevent years’ worth of wrinkles, brown spots, and more. Whether you’re a repeat offender or just make the... [Read more]

Forget diet pills and cleanses. A new study suggests that an effective weight-loss aid is available straight from your kitchen sink.

Drinking two 8-ounce glasses of water before breakfast, lunch, and dinner while also cutting back on portions may help you lose weight and keep it off for at least a year, according to research presented today at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society,... [Read more]

You’ve done all the obvious stuff — cut out late-night caffeine, made sure your bedroom is dark and cozy, avoided scary movies or struggling with your to-do list right before bed. So why are you still tossing and turning?

“Certain habits you’re unaware of could be sabotaging your sleep,” says Kristen L. Knutson, Ph.D., assistant professor and sleep specialist... [Read more]

Federal health officials on Friday approved a new type of morning-after contraceptive that works longer than the current leading drug on the market.

The pill ella from HRA Pharma reduces the chance of pregnancy up to five days after sex. Plan B, the most widely used emergency contraceptive pill, begins losing its ability to prevent pregnancy within three days of sex.

The Food and Drug... [Read more]

Exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. For people who are trying to lose weight, walking is one way to get in the 60 to 90 minutes of exercise each day recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine. Making small changes to your daily routine can help you to increase your calories burned through weight loss.

Add Intervals
When you walk, instead of walking at a... [Read more]

You can eat less without even realizing it. Here’s the secret recipe, according to Brian Wansink, PhD., author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think.

1. Serve meals on nine- to ten-inch plates. Any smaller and you’ll be going back for seconds; larger, and you’ll pile on more to begin with.

2. Take the serving bowls off the table! The only exception: the... [Read more]

When women have a miscarriage, one of the first questions they often ask is how long they should wait before getting pregnant again. A new study suggests that the sooner they start trying, the better.

Women who conceive within six months of a miscarriage instead of waiting up to a year reduce their risk of another miscarriage by one-third, and they also increase their chances of a healthy... [Read more]

By Arthur Rosenfeld

Recently I’ve been involved in creating and hosting a series of documentaries on integrative medicine. The three films are aimed at healthcare professionals. The first is about the science of tai chi, the second is about the science of meditation and the third is about the science of acupuncture. I’ve just wound up the last on-location filming (interviewing... [Read more]

Having persistent pain, fever or bleeding are usually wake-up calls that something’s medically wrong and we should see a doctor. But we sometimes write off subtle or unsightly signs as mere annoyances or cosmetic concerns that we can cover up or ignore. Here are five body signs that women shouldn’t overlook:

1. Too Much Facial or Body Hair
Hair sprouting in undesirable places,... [Read more]

Teens who spend far too much time on the Internet run the risk of developing depression, a new Australian study suggests.

Since the 1990s, uncontrolled or unreasonable Internet use has been identified as a problem with signs similar to other addictions, researchers say. Pathological Internet use has been linked with relationship problems, health problems, aggressive behavior and other psychiatric... [Read more]