Winter running — not the norm. (Thinkstock/Michael Blann) Temperatures in the low 60s through high 70s seem to be the sweet spot for exercise, according to an analysis from the fitness tracking device company Jawbone after an analysis of user data in the continental U.S. The finding's not so surprising; previous research has shown most don't get moving when it's too cold or too hot. Heat and humidity have even been considered as a possible cause for the South's disproportionately...

(Thinkstock/Stockbyte) A Mediterranean diet is often hailed as one ticket to a longer life. The latest data from Boston's famed Nurses' Health Study group might help explain one reason why. A Mediterranean diet — or one rich in vegetables, fish, fruit and healthy fats, such as olive oil — was linked to longer telomeres, an important marker of healthy aging, in new research that used data from the Nurses' Health Study, an ongoing population study of more than 121,000 women,...

Cocktails might be a classic way to spread a little holiday cheer. But that warm-fuzzy feeling you get after you've had one or two? It's not actually guarding you against winter weather any better — in fact, it's hampering your body's ability to withstand winter air for one surprising reason. It's likely that sipping your way to warmth is far from the only thing you've got wrong about winter safety. Click through the slideshow above to find out what else...

When Old Man Winter hits, most of us want to curl up on the couch until spring. But a dedicated few keep up their outdoor exercise routines all winter long — regardless of snow, ice and bone-chilling cold. But when do outdoor running, cross-country skiing and more jump from winter thrills to cold-weather health hazards? That really depends, exercise physiologist and avid skier and skater Michael Bracko, a fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), told weather.com. “It’s...

(Thinkstock/Goodshoot) KatelynHeindel is always cold. “In the summertime when it’s 80 degrees, I’m walking around saying I’m freezing,” the 28-year-old told weather.com. “I feel like it’s negative 80 degrees on my hands and feet.” Her hands and feet feel frozen so often, she said it got to the point where she was wasting time at work trying to warm them up. Her husband insisted she go to the doctor to get the issue checked out. The problem: Her body’s natural...

(Photo by Kristin Teig) Which recipe says home for the holidays where you live? We combed through signature dishes that evoke the season in nearly 80 regions across the country and in Canada. From appetizers to desserts and everything in between, these recipes from Edible Communities magazines showcase holiday traditions at their tastiest. First up, Edible Boston's Yule logs, a favorite in Boston, Massachusetts. Also know by its French name bûche de Noël, this staple holiday dessert has been given...

When it comes to physical activity, Americans are like Goldilocks. It can't be too hot; it can't be too cold; it has to be just right. For example,hot and humid temperatures have been partially blamed for the South's disproportionately high obesity rates, most recently in a study from the University of Texas. When it's cold, we don't move either, according to anecdotal evidence and an analysis of user data from the fitness tracking device company Jawbone. Rain and wind also...

Can’t sleep? New research says the solution might be simple. A newly released study from the University of Colorado and Dr. Kenneth Wright claims that just one week of camping in the wild can reset your body clock and return your natural sleep patterns. (MORE: The Photos from 2014 That Made Us Stop and Think) The study argues that increased exposure to electrical light and reduced exposure to natural light can cause humans to stray away from natural sleep patterns...

“Maintain, don't gain” should be your goal this holiday season. With calories around every corner — cocktails at parties, cookies at work, Hanukkah gelt at home, not to mention the holiday dinners themselves — it's too hard to worry about your diet. Plus, there should be room to enjoy once-a-year foods. However, holiday pounds can pose a real health danger. Most people put on about a pound over the holidays, which doesn't sound like much. But because the majority never...

The app Calorific, which shows what 200-calorie portions of different foods really look like, recently released a new edition just in time for winter's favorite food holiday. Fruitcake, holiday ham, chocolate candy coins and much more get the 200-calorie treatment. In the slideshow above, see a few of the seasonal treats. You can download Calorific for the complete holiday-calorie collection. The British-based company also includes a few foods not as familiar to those of us stateside, such as mince pie...

Colorized transmission electron micrograph showing H1N1 influenza virus particles. H1N1 and other flu strains reached epidemic levels this week, the CDC reported. (NIAID) The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared this week that flu and pneumonia deaths have reached “epidemic” levels for the year. To reach an epidemic threshold, according to the CDC, flu and pneumonia deaths must account for 6.8 percent of the total nationwide fatalities. During the 51stweek of the year, local officials reported 837 flu...

Post-holidays, as we head further into the coldest days of the year, it's hard not to feel a little bit frazzled. And for good reason. Winter is the Your goes up when it's cold, as do cases of serious depression. , and all that time inside can aggravate allergies. Fortunately, there are things you can do to and safeguard yourself for the healthiest winter possible. First things first, you should plan to exercise in the morning, especially once the weather...