Diet vs. Exercise Plans for Weight Loss

What helps you lose more weight: focusing solely on diets or working out?

Everyone likes to attack weight loss differently. There are those who like to combine exercise and nutrition; others change their eating only; and some would rather hit the gym and run rather than give up their favorite foods.

Weight loss is possible by watching what you eat exclusively, but the research says that any successful long-term weight loss program includes a strong exercise component. In fact people who diet often regain all the weight they've lost and then some. Not to mention that constantly restricting food can be irritating, leaving us feeling grumpy, tired and hungry all of the time.

So why is exercise better? Read more

How to Live to Be 100

If you want to live to be 100, these ten healthy habits can help you lengthen your lifespan.

The biggest factor that determines how well you age is not your genes but how well you live. Not convinced? A new study published in the British Medical Journal of 20,000 British folks shows that you can cut your risk of having a stroke in half by doing the following four things: being active for 30 minutes a day, eating five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and avoiding cigarettes and excess alcohol.

While those are some of the obvious steps you can take to age well, researchers have discovered that centenarians tend to share certain traits in how they eat, move about, and deal with stress—the sorts of things we can emulate to improve our own aging process. Read more

10 Natural Ways to Beat the Blues

You don't need anti-depressant drugs - which don't work anyway - to fight depression. Mental health professional offer ten natural ways to beat the blues.

Charities are calling for a nationwide campaign to help promote mental health after a survey suggested more people are growing anxious. But what sort of advice might be offered?

Blame a long winter, blame media fixations with bad news, blame the credit crunch and the thought of looming global depression – Britons are more fearful than they were 10 years ago, the Mental Health Foundation says. And more people are suffering from anxiety, which can lead to depression.

The foundation wants a "mental health promotion campaign that shows individuals how to look after their own mental health".

But what might that involve? We asked mental health professionals for some simple suggestions. Read more

Tart Cherries May Help Reduce Belly Fat

Eating tart cherries may help get rid of belly fat, according to a new study. Why not give this a try? Cherries taste good and can't hurt you even if they don't reduce your belly fat.

A diet containing tart cherries may help reduce the symptoms of metabolic syndrome and the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and presented at the annual meeting of the American Dietetic Association. Read more

Antidepressant Drugs Linked to Accelerated Aging and More Wrinkles

Here's a study with some depressing findings: antidepressant drugs are linked to accelerated aging and more wrinkles.

The use of antidepressant drugs can contribute to faster aging, including the development of wrinkles, according to a study on identical twins conducted by researchers from University Hospitals Case Medical Center and published online in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

"A person's heritage may initially dictate how they age, but if you introduce certain factors into your life, you will certainly age faster. Likewise, if you avoid those factors you can slow down the hands of time," said researcher and plastic surgeon Bahaman Guyuron. Read more

7 Ways to Slash Stress

We all experience stress from time to time. When stress gets to be too much, it can take a toll on our health and well-being. That's why effective stress relievers are essential in restoring inner peace and physical health. Anti-aging expert Dr. Maoshing Ni gives seven ways to reduce the stress in your life.

Chronic stress seems to be our national disease, especially these days. Millions suffer from symptoms of stress: nervous tension, restless sleep, difficulty focusing and remembering, irritability, and health complications. Generally speaking, stress speeds up aging. Learn the ways to manage stress, and you will look and feel younger. Read more

Eat Your Way to Better Eyesight

Most eye doctors won't tell you this, but there is more that you can do for your sight than get glasses or have surgery. You can also eat your way to better eyesight.

Maintaining good eye health isn't just about having an annual examination and looking after your contact lenses or spectacles. You can take a much more active role in protecting your eyes.

Nutrients such as Vitamin C, omega-3 oils and key plant molecules are so important that you really can eat your way to better vision, says leading eye researcher Professor Ian Grierson, Head of Ophthalmology at the University of Liverpool. Read more