Blog Posts by Health.com

Getty ImagesBy Amanda MacMillan

Feeling isolated and disconnected from the people around you may keep you from getting a good night's sleep, even if you're not aware of it, a small new study suggests.

People who feel lonely tend to experience more nighttime restlessness and disruptions than their better-adjusted peers, the study found, which may partly explain why loneliness has been associated with health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression, says lead researcher Lianne Kurina, Ph.D., an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Chicago.

"In lab experiments, when people are intentionally woken up repeatedly, it seems to have effects on [their] metabolism," she says. "Their insulin sensitivity goes down, almost suggesting that poor sleep could put them at higher risk of type 2 diabetes, for example."

Health.com: 7 tips for the best sleep ever

In the new study, published today in the journal Sleep, the link between loneliness and sleep disruptions

Getty ImagesBy Anne Harding

People with celiac disease are accustomed to being on the lookout for gluten in their food, but they should also be aware of the gluten lurking in their cosmetics and toiletries, researchers warned today at a national meeting of gastroenterologists in Washington, D.C.

Food labels almost always say whether or not a product contains gluten, a type of protein found in wheat, barley, and other grains. But the packaging of body lotions and other beauty products rarely provides that information, even though many such products contain substances derived from grain, says Pia Prakash, M.D., a resident in internal medicine at George Washington University.

"Lipsticks and powders and foundations are probably the ones we worry about most, and you really never see ingredient lists on those products," says Prakash, who helped conduct the research. She and her colleagues surveyed the websites of 10 leading makeup companies, Prakash says, and found that "none actually provided any

Blue Jean Images/CorbisDoes it really fight cancer? Lower cholesterol? We filter the research to find out which health claims actually hold water By Kate Lowenstein

The way scientific studies and health gurus alike have touted the perks of tea over the past few years, you'd think the stuff was some kind of all-powerful magical elixir. Improving heart health, reducing cancer risk, warding off dementia and diabetes-there's barely a health benefit that hasn't been credited to tea.

It's true that the brew has disease-fighting antioxidants, and, as far as anyone can tell, should be great for us. "The science is certainly promising," says David L. Katz, M.D., director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center. "But the hype goes beyond it and tends to make promises which the science can't yet deliver." (No, tea probably will not cure depression, eliminate allergies, or boost your fertility!) We talked to the experts and weighed the studies to separate the truth from the hype.

Why tea is so hot
First, a

Getty ImagesBy Julia Savacool

You may have tried a diet or two in hopes of dropping pounds. But a new Harvard study has uncovered a no-diet way to shed: Adding certain foods to your day while nixing others can slim you.

Researchers analyzed eating habits and gains and losses over several years. Based on their findings, we mapped out a sample day that'll lead to weight loss.

Health.com: 7 Foods That Fight Fat

Keep up this eating style, and you'll ditch up to 5 pounds in a year.

7:00 a.m.

Skip it
Rise 'n' shine. Forgo your usual O.J. and scone.

You'll lose: .28 pounds a year. The combo of juice and a giant scone each day would pack it on.

7:05 a.m.

Eat it
At the cafe bag up a yogurt parfait for breakfast.

You'll lose: .41 pounds a year. Every additional daily serving of whole grains can peel off .09 pounds over a year. A serving of fruit helps you shed another .12 pounds; a daily dose of yogurt leads to a .2-pound loss.

Health.com: The 50 Fattiest Foods in the States

10:30 a.m.

Eat it
Hungry

Getty ImagesBy Tina Haupert

Do you ever have those days when you feel like a bottomless pit and snack on everything in sight? Me too. I know my body sometimes requires more calories, but I also know sometimes I eat out of sheer boredom. Here's what I do when I want to ward off those boredom munchies.

Plate it
When I want to eat everything in sight, it's sometimes for a good reason: I'm hungry! If my breakfast, lunch, or dinner doesn't satisfy me, I inevitably end up aimlessly snacking. Instead, I prepare a snack with a mix of healthy carbs, protein, and fat, and place it on a plate before I eat it. That way, I see how much I am eating instead of mindlessly chomping away.

Health.com: How the Pros Curb Food Cravings

Drink up
I drink water throughout the day, but I also sip right before and during my meals to help satisfy my hunger. And if I'm feeling extra snacky, I'll chug 8 to 10 ounces of water and then wait a little while before I decide whether to eat something. Most of the time, water does

Getty ImagesBy Jeannette Moninger

Ever wonder why you always seem to come down with a life-interrupting virus this time of year, while other women you know sail through the season sniffle-, cough-, and ache-free?

We canvassed the research and talked to top experts to uncover these key, study-backed secrets for staying well, even when you're surrounded by germs. The docs' number one tip: Get the flu vaccine, ASAP. Then, follow these simple steps to boost your virus protection even more.

Make friends with fresh air
Common wisdom has it that staying indoors, where it's warm and toasty, is easier on your immune system than being outside in the cold. Problem is, being inside puts you in close constant contact with other people-and their germs.

Not only does escaping into the fresh air give you a break from all those germs circulating inside, but going for a stroll can actually boost your immunity. "Exercise leads to an increase in natural killer cells, neutrophils, and monocytes, which ultimately

Kick everything from back pain to heart disease to the curb with one simple fix: Stop sitting! By Arianne Cohen


Are you sitting down? Perfect. Please take a moment to check in with your body. Is your rear kind of numb? Do the backs of your thighs feel smushed? Is your lower back all crunched? This is your body crying out for help! Really.

A wave of new research indicates that sitting all day is actively damaging your health. By forcing a body designed for movement to hold a crushingly immobile position, sitting strains muscles, slows your metabolism, increases your risk of heart disease, and even shortens your life span. "Sitting is a health hazard on the order of smoking," says Marc Hamilton, PhD, a microbiologist at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

Health.com: 6 Ways to Sit Less Every Day

I was once like you: I sat 10 to 11 hours a day. And then, in 2008, I was researching an article about newfangled chairs and learned that few of the designers actually sat on chairs

She may be an in-demand movie star, but Michelle Monaghan is as un-Hollywood as they come. In this exclusive chat with Health, she shares her simple secrets to a happy life. By Laurie Sandell

Sitting in an L.A. cafe, I see no sign of Michelle Monaghan, 35, whose career has soared since playing Tom Cruise's love interest in Mission: Impossible III. Could it be that the famously down-to-earth star-who grew up in Winthrop, Iowa, Population: 850-has turned diva? Just then, a redhead in the back waves (she has dyed her hair for a role). Soon, all worries about her having gone Hollywood vanish. Sipping mint tea, she talks workouts, health scares, and her secret weapon for PMS.

Q: In your new film, Machine Gun Preacher, you play the wife of an ex-drug-addict-turned-evangelist who crusades to protect Sudanese children from the horrors of war. What drew you to it?
A: When I was growing up, my parents took in foster children. From a young age, I learned that there are a lot of children in need.