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Harness the Health Benefits of Awe
Awe is critical to our well-being - just like joy, contentment, and love. One definition of awe is the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world, like looking up at millions of stars in the night sky or marveling at the...
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The Healing Power of Scents
An emerging trend in virtual reality (VR) - incorporating smells - could be an exciting and effective option for health care. Already many hospitals across the country are using VR to help patients manage pain, overcome phobias and calm anxiety. And VR therapies may become...
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This Two-Minute Morning Activity Will Boost Your Energy and Focus All Day
While a cup of coffee can start your morning with a bang, there's an easy, two-minute activity that will jumpstart your metabolism and give you more energy throughout the day. Uber investor Sahil Bloom developed the 5-5-5-30 morning exercise routine that takes only two...
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Bad Moods Make Us More Detail-Oriented
It's good to be grumpy, especially if you need to proofread or perform another detail-oriented task. At least that is the finding of a new study on mood and how the brain processes language. New findings from the University of Arizona found that when we're in a bad mood, we...
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Tibetan Monk Study: Years of Meditation Alters Gut Microbes, Lowers Cholesterol
Meditation might help a person's gut health - but it takes a lot of meditation over a long time. Tibetan Buddhist monks appear to have gut microbes that differ substantially from others living near them, a new study reports. Those differences have previously been linked to a...
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Performing Acts of Kindness Improves Anxiety, Depression Symptoms
People suffering from depression or anxiety may be able to help themselves by helping others - even in small ways, researchers report. In a recent study of 122 people with depression or anxiety symptoms, those who started fitting small acts of kindness into their day showed...
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Study: Frequent Visits to Green Spaces Linked to Lower Prescription Medication Use
New research from Finland shows that regularly visiting green spaces in cities, such as parks and community centers, is associated with reduced use of certain prescription medications. The association also included frequent visitation of blue spaces, such as lakes, said the...
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80 Percent of Children Cured of Peanut Allergy in New Boiled Peanuts Trial
New research from Australia found that 80% of children with a peanut allergy who were given boiled peanuts as part of a controlled study were cured of their allergy. The condition affects up to one in 50 children and one in 200 adults, says Study Finds. Any contact with...
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New Research Finds Gardening Boosts Fiber Intake, Exercise and Decreases Anxiety
Anyone who has ever gardened knows what a labor of love it can be as you dig deep in the dirt to plant seeds and then take pride in your first crop, but new research shows it also translates into better health. It turns out that community gardens in urban areas can have...
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Don't Scratch That Itch: How to Soothe Dry Skin
Itchy skin is annoying and uncomfortable. And dermatologists say it gets worse as we age. But there are ways to soothe and protect our skin, even in the dry winter months. However, you need to stifle the urge to scratch since it only makes itchiness worse. "Dermatologists...
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Study: Sports and Other Exercise a Natural Antidepressant for Teens
An antidote to teenage depression might be found in school gymnasiums and on sports fields, a major new review argues. Supervised exercise programs are associated with significant reductions in symptoms of depression among children and teenagers, according to the analysis of...
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Why Green Juice Isn't as Healthy as You Think
If eating more greens is one of your New Year's resolutions, make sure they are whole veggies not green juices. While many people are dusting off their juicers to prepare for the post-holiday "detox," nutritionists warn that drinking green juices instead of other foods may...
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Study: Building a Cognitive Reserve Protects Against Dementia
According to the American Academy of Neurology, a new study found that there is a lot you can do to prevent Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive decline. Researchers discovered ways to help create a "cognitive reserve" that provides a buffer against the...
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Foods that Battle Seasonal Depression
When healthcare practitioners remind us that "we are what we eat," that applies to our emotional well-being as well as our physical bodies. During the winter, experts suggest we should alter our diet to accommodate darker days. We rely on our biological clock to regulate...
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Adopt These 6 Simple Habits For a Healthier 2023
Making small changes is easier than taking giant steps to improve your health in 2023. Research shows that modest accomplishments signal the reward circuitry in our brains, and this releases feel-good chemicals making us more confident, boosting our self-esteem and fueling...
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Vitamin C Is Essential to Immunity: Signs You May Be Deficient
A healthy immune system depends on the intake of essential vitamins, yet many of us lack the nutrients we need for overall wellness. It may be because we don't eat a balanced diet, or we may suffer from a condition like Crohn's disease that makes it difficult to absorb...
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5 Steps to Jump-Start Your Fitness Program
One of the best ways to start your New Year off on the right foot is to plan a fitness program to benefit both your physical and mental health. According to U.S. News & World Report, 60% of us make New Year's resolutions and 80% of them fail by February. Dieting and...
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Study: Singing Aids Recovery After a Stroke
Singing may help stroke patients regain communication skills, according to new research. About 40% of stroke survivors have aphasia, a difficulty to deliver or comprehend spoken or written language. That impairment is ongoing for about half of those patients a year after...
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The Health Benefits of a Dry January
It's been reported that 35% of legal-aged adults in the U.S. skipped alcohol for the entire month of January 2022. Staying sober for a certain period of time can help refresh and reinvigorate your body, say experts. Taking part in "Dry January," especially after a...
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Try Shaking Meditation to Release Holiday Stress
When you think of meditation, a vision of a serene practitioner sitting on a cushion, with eyes closed, barely moving a muscle, comes to mind. But there is an ancient tradition that's gaining ground that involves shaking the body to unleash pent-up stress and emotion. It's...
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7 Foods That Boost Your Immune System
Winter is the most common season for contagious diseases because viruses thrive in cool, drier air, and people spend more time indoors in close contact with each other. This gives germs a shorter journey from person to person. But experts say that when the body is exposed to...
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Living Near Parks, Rivers Slows Progression of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's
Living in an area with easy access to parks and rivers appears to slow the progression of devastating neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. That's the conclusion of a new study based on more than a decade and a half tracking disease risk among nearly 62...
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Study: Stress Raises Risk For Stroke, Lifestyle Changes Can Help
Stress is rarely a good thing for your health, but new research warns that it significantly raises the risk of a stroke. The study found that increased stress at home or work and recent stressful life events - like getting divorced or a major family conflict - were...
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Plan Ahead to Defuse and Survive Holiday Arguments
Holiday gatherings are supposed to be filled with joy, love, and laughter. But when family members get together the celebrations may deteriorate into epic discord. However, according to Harvard Health, if you prepare yourself for potential triggers, you can avoid getting...
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Holiday Stress: Coping With Worry and Anxiety
In the midst of the holiday season, it's easy to worry about all the little things-from cooking the food perfectly, to keeping family members happy, to getting everyone meaningful gifts on a tight budget, to finding common ground with loved ones who share differing beliefs....