The Scary Side Effect of One Sleepless Night

BY JESSICA GIRDWAIN

Forget hits to the head—just one night of sleep deprivation creates changes in the brain similar to a mild concussion, according to new research from Sweden. 

The small study was done on 15 healthy guys. One night they got 8 hours of sleep in the lab, and another night, total sleep deprivation. The men played games, read, or watched movies to stay awake.

After the all-nighter, blood samples revealed that certain levels of neurochemical markers associated with brain cell damage rose by 20 percent compared to when the guys snagged a full night’s rest.

6 Easy Ways to Feel More Energized

Sure, it's the New Year, so you want to have that get up and go sensation. But between frigid temperatures, early sunsets and most likely, a sugar and carb-filled holiday, that's not as easy as it sounds. Frank Lipman, MD, an integrative and functional medicine physician and founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Center in New York City, shares a few basic tips to incorporate into your daily routine to feel like a whole new you.

By Nicole Catanese

1. Eat a power breakfast. "In the morning, protein and fat are essential for energy, and a large, healthy breakfast of the right foods is exactly what your body needs," explains Dr. Lipman. Instead of heavy grains, bread or pastries, try a morning smoothie with whey or pea protein. "It's the perfect breakfast because it's quick to prepare, easily digested and can be packed with the healthy fats, proteins, nutrients and phytonutrients you need to fuel your day," he says. At home, create his DIY protein-based smoothies-Green Mojito and Blueberry Avocado are whey based, while Coconut Bliss and Chocolate Love have pea protein instead. 

How Your Personality Affects Your Sex Drive

BY CASEY GUEREN

Too much stress and too many martinis aren’t the only things that can screw with your sex drive. Certain personality traits are linked with poorer sexual function, according to a new study published in the journal Sexual Medicine.

How Much Post-Workout Protein Do You Really Need?

BY RACHAEL SCHULTZ

Protein is essential for maintaining and building muscle, but you don’t need to gulp down a carton of raw eggs like Rocky to get the maximum benefit. Consuming 20 grams of protein after your workout should do the trick, report British researchers.

In the study, 48 men ingested zero, 10, 20, or 40 grams of protein immediately after a strength workout. The 20-gram and 40-gram doses more effectively stimulated muscle protein synthesis—the process that helps promote the muscle repair and growth after exercise—in participants than the lower amounts. However, the 40-gram dose didn’t produce any added benefit. 

Pump Up Her Sex Drive

BY MADELINE HALLER, 

Work out with your woman: Ladies who hit the gym before getting busy have a better time in bed, says new research from the Kinsey Institute. 

Women who were experiencing an antidepressant-induced drop in their sex drives were split up into two groups: some worked out immediately before sex, and others broke a sweat whenever they pleased. After three weeks, researchers discovered women who exercised before slipping between the sheets reported better sexual functioning and increased desire.

Study Confirms that Women Need More Sleep Than Men

By Meredith Carroll
When I was a teen my dad was convinced I was on drugs because all I wanted to do was sleep.

Of course these days we know from sleep scientists that "early high school start times conflict with teens' shifting circadian rhythms," sleep expert Judith Owens recently said to NPR. Thus, teens are more likely to stay up late at night and want to sleep later in the day

I'm no longer a teen (far from it, in fact), and yet I am still neither on drugs nor do I sleep any less. Turns out I continue to have an excuse for my desire to sleep. Often.

The 20 Best Foods for Weight Loss

By Lisa Dorfman, M.S., R.D., Runner's World 

This time of year, many people have resolved to lose a pound or 2. Maybe 5. Maybe more. Why? That's easy: to feel better, look better, improve their health, and run farther and faster.

However, losing weight can be surprisingly difficult. In fact, national health surveys show Americans in general are getting fatter. Sure, active people should be ahead of the pack, but many are still losing the weight-gain war. (Could these 6 Surprising Weight Loss Myths be guilty of sabotaging your efforts?)

What you need is a simple plan. Here it is, in just two parts: (1) Make a little more time to run; (2) Concentrate on a handful of dietary changes that, over the course of a year, can produce significant weight-loss results.

5 shocking secrets the fitness industry doesn’t want you to know

Personal trainers might not be qualified

When you pay a personal trainer to guide you through your workouts, you naturally assume that they know what they’re talking about. Sadly that might not be the case. The number of personal trainers is expected to have risen by 24% between 2010 and 2020, and a large amount of that growth is down to the loose regulations it takes to become one. According to fitness firm CEO Gregory Florez, many personal trainers win potential clients over with their smiles and sales-talk, rather than knowledge of fitness. In fact, some personal trainer qualifications are so easy to achieve that they simply require paying a one off fee and completing an online test. Before you take a single session with a personal trainer, have a long chat with them to get a feel for their level of knowledge and experience.