Better sleep habits

A late bedtime is actually better than a full night of sleep with interruptions. New study: Adults who had a delayed bedtime experienced only a 12% reduction in positive mood versus 31% in those who were awakened several times during the night. Explanation: The...

Better breakfast

Want to eat less at lunch? Choose oatmeal for breakfast. Recent study: Volunteers who ate a bowl of hot instant oatmeal with skim milk reported feeling fuller longer and ate significantly less at lunch than on the days that they ate a breakfast of cold oat-based...

Surprising link to chronic back pain

An analysis of 160 people found that smokers are three times more likely than nonsmokers to develop chronic back pain. Possible reason: Smokers have a stronger connection between two brain regions that play a role in addictive behavior and chronic pain. Good news:...

Rethink that drink

Having cocktails before dinner may lead to more eating. A small study found that mild intoxication (from the equivalent of about two glasses of wine) resulted in a greater response to food aromas in the hypothalamus –an area of the brain linked to hunger, eating...