Faced with this overwhelming dilemma, most people do exactly the same thing: Nothing. Some get stalled by the false belief that you can go from a frozen-dinner-eating couch potato to a farmers’-market-shopping yogi overnight. If they could just muster up a massive force of willpower and change everything at once, all their problems would instantly go away. MORE: Meet The Writer Who Tried 14 Insane Celebrity Diets Of course, this sounds ridiculous, but the beliefs of those paralyzed by the fear of making big changes aren’t far from this ideal....

The study, published in the journal Neurology showed that elderly people whose diets were rich in certain vitamins and nutrients were less likely to have brain shrinkage and more likely to perform well on cognitive tests than those with unhealthy diets. Brain shrinkage and cognitive decline are both parts of aging, however Alzheimer’s disease can accelerate them. This groundbreaking research may lead to dietary recommendations to improve brain health. Play Your Way to Better Brains Unlike prior studies, which were observational studies that relied on participants remembering what they ate, this study measured nutrient levels in the blood of 104 elderly, but healthy people....

Turns out, the direction in which your dog wags his tail can tell a lot about his emotional state: A wiggle to the right signals positive feelings, like excitement, while a left wag indicates negative ones, like uncertainty. What’s more, other dogs can pick up on these tail-wagging cues and respond accordingly, finds new research from study author Giorgio Vallortigara, PhD, of the University of Trento in the journal Current Biology....

More from Prevention: At-Home Arm Exercises Before we get to the how-to specifics, there are a couple of things to remember. First, there’s no such thing as spot training. “If you really want to see definition, you need to work your muscles and get rid of fat as well,” says Cedric X. Bryant, PhD, ACE chief science officer. “Doing cardio training to burn calories and target that subcutaneous fat, combined with a sensible diet, will help reveal those show-off muscles,” he says....

How many times have you heard this story? Probably more than you can count. And you may have noticed that those around you are facing a similar struggle with their weight—your sister, your children, your coworkers, or your neighbors. The ironic part is that, if this were any other problem that affected you and so many others you know—indeed, so many of the people living in this country—nearly all of us would immediately look to the underlying factors that contribute....

And it’s still true that the safest, most effective way to lose weight and keep it off is to do so slowly. But all of us occasionally feel the need to drop pounds fast—like in time for that second honeymoon sneaking up in three short weeks. If that’s the case, remember what the weight loss experts say: Not all crash diets are created equal. Juice fasts, cabbage soup plans, and herbal fat-burning pills are still big no-no’s....

“Being displaced from your home is a major stressor and stress reactions are very common,” says Valerie Cole, PhD, manager of disaster mental health services for the Red Cross. “It can leave people emotionally and cognitively confused. Some have physical reactions, such as headaches and stomachaches. Chronic health issues may be exacerbated. Some act out, through withdrawal or anger.” Cole points out that, although disasters may seem as if they come on suddenly, in fact, people often have time to prepare....

The study included 3,200 people who originally came to Emory University health centers for a test to screen for heart disease. Among younger women, 58% with moderate to severe depression had heart disease, compared to 38% with mild or no depression. And younger women with moderate to severe depression had more than twice the odds of having major heart surgery or heart attack in the next five years. “Pre-menopausal women have a certain well-recognized hormonal cardioprotection, as long as they’re still having menstruation and ovulation cycles,” says lead study author Amit Shah, MD, of Emory University....

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), a large-scale study of diabetes prevention strategies in those at high risk for type 2 diabetes (including those with impaired glucose tolerance), found that even moderate lifestyle changes can make a big difference in preventing diabetes and reversing prediabetes in some people. DPP participants who engaged in 30 minutes of physical activity daily and lost 5 to 7% of their body weight cut their risk of getting type 2 diabetes by 58%....

If you like Parks and RecreationThen you’re…unconventional and intellectual If you rooted for Leslie Knope as she climbed the political ladder week after week, you’re much more likely to have an active imagination, according to research. Those who preferred comedies to other shows scored high in openness, revealing both artistic and intellectual qualities. The research also suggests these people are more in tune with their inner feelings and favor variety over uniformity....

In 2014, the brand is getting booted from store shelves, Whole Foods Market officials say, because the chain wants to make room for more organic and GMO-free yogurts, particularly now that it’s evident that the Greek yogurt craze is more than just a passing fad. “As the national demand for Greek yogurt has grown, the number of conventional Greek yogurt options has multiplied,” the grocer said in a statement. “Whole Foods Market challenged its Greek yogurt suppliers to create unique options for shoppers to enjoy—including exclusive flavors, non-GMO options, and organic choices....

Da-shih Hu, MD, a psychiatrist and an assistant professor at Dartmouth Medical School, invited Wendy into his office. They talked about her life, marriage, and work but found no obvious reasons why her reproductive system had shut down. When Hu suggested that hypnosis might help, Wendy bristled. “I thought he was literally nuts,” she says. “I knew nothing about hypnosis, except that it’s a bad Vegas act. And I hate magicians....

“As a dietician, I’m a big proponent of whole foods, so if someone can sit down and have a steak, I think that’s better post-workout,” says R.D. and trainer Albert Matheny, co-owner of Soho Strength Lab. “But if you’re busy and running around and need some protein, you can throw this in some water and go.” The real trouble is in choosing which to throw in the blender. Whey? Casein?...

Say goodbye to pain Chronic pain affects 116 million American adults. That’s more than a third of the US population. And while pain pills reduce suffering, they can be addictive and produce side effects. Worse, they often fail to eliminate the true cause of the pain. “No matter how well you prescribe medication, chronic sufferers don’t get complete relief,” says James N. Dillard, MD, author of The Chronic Pain Solution. “It’s an enormous problem, and the medical community is doing a bad job solving it....

[sidebar]Whether it’s a splitting headache, an aching neck, stiff joints, or a sprained ankle, we’ve found a natural fix for what ails you. Just make sure that you keep your doctor informed about any treatments you try. Beat migraines Since the 17th century, healers have treated migraines with the herb butterbur (Petasites hybridus root). When German and American researchers tested it recently on 58 migraine sufferers—who took 75 mg of butterbur (Petadolex Butterbur Gelcaps, petadolex....