HAPPY MEALS: What You Put in Your Stomach May Have a Significant Impact on What Goes on in Your Head

They say you are what you eat, but exciting new research suggests otherwise: You feel what you eat. Scientists are focusing on psychobiotics, a type of bacteria found in certain foods that can produce and deliver important chemicals like serotonin to the brain. Their findings could mean a whole new approach to treating mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. 

Fitness Quickie: Stronger in 3 Moves

Add this workout to your routine twice a week to build more muscle, fast. 

You can tone up in just a few moves when you use the right ones. In a study in the Journal of Translational Medicine, when exercisers went from an eight-machine workout to just three, they increased their resting metabolism by 18 percent. The secret? They targeted large muscle groups with heavier weights and shorter recovery intervals. 

The Scoop on Plant Waters

Move over, coconut water: New plant-based drinks are coming to a grocery near you. Here’s the lowdown (note that nothing beats the benefits of regular H20):

ALOE / ALODRINK.COM 

WHAT IT IS: It’s made from aloe vera juice and pulp, plus other ingredients like sugar and honey.
HEALTH CLAIMS: It’s promoted as a health powerhouse, full of vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids.
TRY IT? Skip. It has 32 grams of sugar per bottle—that’s more than a candy bar. 

Can Wearing A Bra Cause Breast Cancer?

For years, there were rumors that wearing a bra might increase the risk for breast cancer by trapping toxins that can trigger tumors. But recently, a study of 1,500 women in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that your bras—no matter what type, how long you wear them or at what age you started wearing them—don’t lead to cancer. (So go ahead and leave on that jog bra all day.)

You Snooze, You Win!

Need another reason to make “Get more sleep” your New Year’s resolution? According to a study in the journal Sleep, skimping on shut-eye increases your odds of getting sick, leading to more missed days at the office. 

Women who sleep 5 or fewer hours per night miss about five more workdays per year due to illness than those who get about 7 . hours. A big sleep enemy: electronics. So skip Candy Crush or a Netflix binge before bed and crack open a book instead.