CHEW TO LOSE Eating chewy foods may help whittle your middle, a study from the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo finds. Dense edibles (think chicken, cabbage and apples) tend to be low in fat and calories. Work those jaws!
-Self
PASS THE POPCORN FOR A CLOSER BOND You used to look forward to movie night, but now your significant other always insists on seeing the latest goofy comedy or action hit-he won’t go near anything remotely resembling a chick flick. Sound familiar? The remedy may be simpler than you realize: Remind him the plot of the movie you want to see is purely fictional. It sounds obvious, but a recent study from the University of Alberta in Canada found men are more open to watching a romantic or emotional film-and will enjoy it more-if they know you’re aware it’s a made-up story. “Men are conditioned to be tough, but when they realize the situation they’re watching doesn’t apply to real life, they can let down their guards,” says lead author Jennifer Argo, Ph.D. It’s a win-win: You’ll be spared from watching “Die Hard” again, and he’ll learn to open up a bit.
-Shape
KEEP BUGS OUT Never use mothballs. They have carcinogenic chemicals. Instead, buy lavender and cedar-wood essential oils and put a few drops of each into a spray bottle with water. Mist over clean, stored clothes.
—Sophie Uliano, author of “Gorgeously Green: 8 Simple Steps to an Earth-Friendly Life”
EXERCISE REGULARLY? TAKE CALCIUM Although weight-bearing workouts fortify bones, women who exercise for an hour daily lose about 92 mg of calcium a day through sweat, finds a Purdue University study. If, like most women, you’re already short on the mineral, even small losses increase osteoporosis risk. Eating calcium-rich foods or taking a supplement of up to 500 mg twice a day can offset the loss and further bolster bone strength.
-Prevention
BEST PLACE TO BECOME A NON-SMOKER? Washington state is in the top five of both states with the strongest antismoking laws and states with the fewest smokers. Studies show it is easier to kick the habit in places where people shun smoking, so if you’re trying to quit, living here might be helping.
