For some of us, smartphones have quietly taken over our lives. It wakes us up in the morning, keeps us entertained when we can’t fall asleep, and sits within our reach all day long. It's the last thing we see before we go to bed and it’s the first thing we pick up in the morning, but an increasing number of people are choosing to remove their phones from the bedroom and make the switch back to wind-up alarm clocks. Some sleep experts say that there are real health benefits to

Sleep can be a fickle thing: sometimes we succeed in staying off our phones and properly winding down before bed, but still feel groggy the next morning. If you’ve got your bedtime routine down and still aren’t feeling rested, there might be one key variable you’re overlooking: temperature.  According to sleep doctors, the trick to improving sleep is not to bundle up and get cozy, but to cool the body down before bed. Keep reading to hear from experts about the importance of

High-fat cheese and cream may slightly protect the brain from dementia, according to a new observational study that followed nearly 28,000 people in Malmö, Sweden, for up to 25 years. High-fat cheeses such as cheddar, Brie and Gouda have more than 20% saturated fat, according to the research. Outside experts CNN spoke to, however, say the report fails to provide a strong case for eating more full-fat dairy. “Their finding for cheese was at the margin of statistical significan

With so much to do heading into the busy holiday season, is anyone getting enough sleep? Most sleep experts advise that adults get seven to nine hours of sleep per night for good health and emotional well-being (although that changes as you get older). And studies warn that sleeping for less than seven hours a day can increase the risk of obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and other issues that come with sleep deprivation. CNN has reported on those risks, too, includ

Choline is one of those underrated micronutrients we don’t hear much about—in fact, most Americans aren’t eating enough of it. But every nutrient, no matter how micro, is essential—and choline is no exception. It’s necessary for a healthy brain and nervous system and helps regulate mood, memory and muscle control, plus it’s essential for forming the membranes surrounding your cells. It’s also vital for the proper brain development of babies in utero and after birth. Besides b

Foods that keep you awake at night include fatty foods, sugary foods, cruciferous vegetables, and foods and drinks that contain caffeine and alcohol. Foods like turkey, eggs, milk, and chamomile tea contain compounds that may help you get a better night's sleep. 1. Caffeine Caffeine is the most widely consumed stimulant in the world. Many people use caffeine to give them energy to help stay awake. However, taking in too much caffeine can cause a decrease in total sleep time

It’s normal to have moments of feeling down or stressed. Sometimes the reason is obvious. (You’re running late. Foul weather ruined a planned outing.) Other times, the culprit is a mystery. Either way, what you want is to turn the day around — fast.    The good news is that there are many simple things you can do in the moment to boost your mood. Not only will you feel better, your overall health will reap the benefits, too.   Finding meaningful ways to brighten your outlook

Tinnitus is the medical term for “ringing in the ears,” or the perception of sounds without an external noise or source of the sounds. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, more than 50 million people in the United States have experienced tinnitus. If you have tinnitus, you may hear more than just ringing. People commonly report hearing sounds like : buzzing roaring clicking whistling hissing music whooshing throbbing Tinnitus is not a co

You fall asleep at an appropriate hour, giving yourself enough time to rest before a big day ahead — only to be jolted awake by racing thoughts: Was your friend secretly offended by your joke? Are your kids safe when they’re at school? Will international conflict and political division ever end? Will you lose your job to artificial intelligence? The more your mental hamster wheel turns, falling back to sleep seems further out of reach. “Waking up in the middle of the night wi

In a recent outdoor therapy session, a client shared what she noticed while walking on the trail. The way the light shimmers on the water, the tree branches swaying, the leaves rustling and how the trees are different from each other. She felt calm. Relief. Belonging. Awe, looking around at how “big” the world is. Her problems felt slightly smaller on the walk back. For many people, this time of year can be hard on your mental health. The sun sets earlier as the skies get clo

The holiday season brings festive parties, family reunions, and time-honored traditions. It also ushers in cookies, egg nog, and pumpkin pie. As special occasions fill the calendar, myths about how this time of year harms your health swirl in real-life conversations and online. A lot of the so-called conventional wisdom about how to get through November and December without tanking your health goals simply isn’t true. We talked to nutrition and fitness experts to learn more a

Increasing your steps by even a little bit may help slow down the progression of Alzheimer's disease among people at heightened risk, according to a new study. In a paper published in Nature Medicine , Mass General Brigham researchers found that physical activity was associated with slower rates of cognitive decline in older adults with elevated levels of amyloid-beta, a protein associated with Alzheimer's. Cognitive decline was delayed by three years on average for people wh

You're back in school and suddenly have to take a test, despite not having been present to learn any of the material. Your teeth are suddenly falling out. You run into an acquaintance you haven't seen in 20 years. You're suddenly falling from a high distance, or maybe even flying. Dreams are a concept that humans have been fascinated with deciphering for thousands of years. Experts are still working on determining exactly what causes them, but they have posited a number of th

A new study suggests that quitting smoking – even in middle age or beyond – can slow cognitive decline. While cognitive decline naturally occurs with aging, research suggests that smoking exacerbates it and may increase the risk of dementia. Previous research found that quitting smoking early in life may reduce these effects. Mikaela Bloomberg, an epidemiologist at the University College London and the lead author on the paper published this week, says those who break the hab

The effects of certain foods on the brain make it hard for some people to avoid them. Food addiction operates similarly to other addictions. People may find it difficult to manage their cravings for certain foods — no matter how hard they try. Despite not wanting to, they may repeatedly find themselves eating large amounts of food — knowing that doing so may cause harm. This article examines food addiction and provides tips to overcome it. What is food addiction? Food addicti

A Nap a Day? Napping isn’t just for babies. Studies show that an afternoon nap is great for adults, too. There’s no need to feel lazy for indulging in daytime sleep. A short nap in the mid-afternoon can boost memory, improve job performance, lift your mood, make you more alert, and ease stress. Cozy up to these nap benefits. It Can Improve Your Memory Studies have shown that sleep plays an important role in storing memories. A nap can help you remember things learned earlier

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