PINE Research has found that this festive aroma, often associated with the winter holidays, helps to reduce stress. A study conducted at Japan’s Kyoto University took a deeper look at a Japanese custom of taking a soothing forest stroll known as shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing,’ and found that depression and anxiety were significantly reduced in …

WHAT ARE THE MYTHS OF HAPPINESS? Decades of research on the science of happiness shows that there’s a big—and potentially life-altering—difference between what you think will make you happy and the things that actually do, argues University of California, Riverside psychology professor Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, in her fascinating new book The Myths of Happiness. Plus, …

Here are some ways to bolster your immune system—your body’s defense against everything from swine flu to salmonella—that you probably never thought of. With cold and flu season here, it’s more important than ever that we all get plenty of sleep, eat a healthy diet, and exercise regularly to keep our immune systems in top …

AGAVE NECTAR The Joy-Killing Truth: Agave is promoted as a healthy, natural sweetener, but that’s simply a myth. “Agave isn’t a health food,” says Dr. Ramsey. “People have been misled.” Billed as healthy because it does not raise blood sugar, the excess fructose in agave increases the risk of metabolic syndrome, setting the stage for …

15 FALL SUPERFOODS YOU NEED TO EAT RIGHT NOW Fall is upon us, and with it the gusts of wind, end-of-summer sniffles, and cravings for creamy and cozy pasta. While curling up with a big bowl of Alfredo sounds undoubtedly delightful, there are lots of fruits and vegetables in season that could spruce up your …