the editors of Best Health

1. Go for a walk Even if you’re 50 and have never taken part in a physical activity, a brisk half-hour walk three times a week can “basically reverse your physiological age by about ten years,” says Gareth Jones, director of the Canadian Center for Activity and Aging in London, Ont. His source? A three-year study of 220 retirement-age men in which half didn’t exercise and … [Read more...] about 10 Easy Ways to Increase Your Life Expectancy

1. Stretching before a workout Most people stretch before hitting the weights, trail or court thinking that it will reduce their chance of injury and boost performance. There is actually no evidence that long pre-exercise stretching can reduce the likelihood of injury. In fact, excessive pre-exercise stretching may cause a reduction in muscle force and power. “For optimal … [Read more...] about 5 Habits You Thought Were Healthy, But Actually Aren’t

Get relief As the months march along, pregnancy can start to feel more like a burden than a wondrous event in the making. Morning sickness is just the beginning. When the new you is someone with heartburn, stretch marks, back pain, swollen feet, and varicose veins, you may even begin to wonder whether this was such a good idea. Every pregnant woman can use some sound ideas, … [Read more...] about 8 Steps to a Healthier Pregnancy

The benefits of quitting smoking Quitting gives your health an immediate boost. Within 8 hours, levels of toxic carbon monoxide gas in your bloodstream drop to normal. Within a day, your heart attack risk begins to drop. Over your first smoke-free year, your circulation will improve, your senses of taste and smell will sharpen, and you'll have fewer lung infections, cough less … [Read more...] about 5 Proven Ways to Quit Smoking

besthealthmag.ca Take small sips of coffee throughout the day Did you down a triple shot of espresso this morning just to get yourself moving? You may be actually driving yourself deeper into a low-energy rut. Research from Harvard Medical School finds that frequent low doses of caffeine—the amount in 1/4 cup of coffee—taken throughout the day were more effective at keeping … [Read more...] about 17 Tricks Guaranteed to Boost Your Energy

The eye twitch If you’ve ever experienced an involuntary eye twitch, you know it can be quite annoying—but is it a sign of an underlying health problem? Probably not, says optometrist Mira Acs. “I frequently have patients tell me that their eye has been twitching,” she says. “Most of the time these painless, harmless, unpredictable twitches are an annoyance and nothing … [Read more...] about Twitchy Eyes, Jumpy Legs: Bizarre Health Quirks Explained

1. Take a hike Follow a local hiking trail for a fun and free fitness activity. Want to see serious results? “Add sprint intervals” says Sara Celik, a naturopathic doctor and fitness trainer. “Go on a hike with friends and at random intervals yell out ‘Challenge!’ This is the signal for everyone to sprint for 45 seconds. Continue this throughout the hike,” says Celik. … [Read more...] about 7 Ways to Stay Healthy on the Cheap

Constipation Constipation is a condition in which you can’t move your bowels on a regular schedule, resulting in dry, hard stool that is difficult to pass. Normal bowel habits differ among healthy people. Some people have one or more bowel movements daily, while others may have just two to three a week. You are said to be constipated when your normal pattern slows … [Read more...] about 8 Embarrassing Health Conditions You Should Know More About

1. Eating dessert every day Indulging your sweet tooth every day may actually help you keep your weight in check by reducing your cravings for the foods you love. Of course, moderation is key. To keep weight down, Vancouver-based dietitian Jessica Begg suggests that 80 percent of your daily calories come from healthy whole foods such as whole grains, fruits, and veggies, lean … [Read more...] about 5 Habits You Thought Weren’t Healthy But Are

When you give up smoking, the results in terms of improvements in your health begin almost immediately. If you can focus on these benefits, it will help you stop successfully. 20 minutes after quitting Your blood pressure and pulse rate will fall. The temperature of your hands and feet return to normal. Eight hours after quitting Carbon monoxide in the blood drops to … [Read more...] about After You Quit Smoking: 8 Incredible Things That Happen to Your Body

Being healthy certainly has its perks—for starters, it increases your chances of living a longer life. With a few simple lifestyle changes, you could be one of them. Trisha Macnair, a U.K.-based physician, author and medical journalist, has compiled stats on how many years certain factors can extend your life. Here's what she … [Read more...] about Live Longer and Healthier: 11 Ways to Add Up to 34 Years to Your Life