Fitness & Nutrition

This tuna, chickpea and parmesan salad bowl packs a protein punch, which is crucial for building muscle strength.

Millions of women are 'under-muscled.' These foods help build strength

9:58pm February 18, 2024

by Allison Aubrey

We start to lose muscle in our 30s, and the loss accelerates with age, putting us at risk of frailty later in life. But what you eat — specifically how much protein — is a big part of the solution.

Fitness as your body fluctuates

6:10pm February 18, 2024

by Aja Drain

Life happens. Sometimes we get injured or sick — and we get older. As we change, so should our exercise routines. NPR's Life Kit explains how to adapt your fitness plan to meet your body where it is.

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Tai chi has many health benefits. It improves flexibility, reduces stress and can help lower blood pressure.

Tai chi reduces blood pressure better than aerobic exercise, study finds

1:03pm February 14, 2024

by Maria Godoy

The slow-moving Chinese martial art tai chi is known to increase flexibility and balance. Now, research suggests it's more effective at reducing blood pressure than more vigorous forms of exercise.

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Health & Safety

Research: Tai chi may be better at reducing blood pressure than aerobic exercise

5:12am February 14, 2024

by Maria Godoy

A new study finds that tai chi is better than conventional aerobic exercise at lowering blood pressure in middle-aged people with prehypertension.

Lifestyle medicine includes helping people eat a healthier diet.

Health & Safety

Weight-loss drugs aren't a magic bullet. Lifestyle changes are key to lasting health

5:01am February 12, 2024

by Lisa Doggett

A doctor argues that the current focus on fighting obesity with drugs like Ozempic ignores the bigger picture: We need a medical system and society that support healthy life habits.

Building strength and staying active are secrets to healthy aging shared by NPR's readers.

Health & Safety

We asked. You answered. Here are your secrets to healthy aging

4:06pm February 10, 2024

by Andrea Muraskin

NPR asked our audiences to share their hard-won wisdom. We heard from more than 1,000 people, aged 16 to 103! Here's a roundup of your best advice for thriving as you age.

Purple Tomatoes ripening in the Norfolk Plant Sciences test garden.

A genetically modified purple tomato is now available to home gardeners

8:57pm February 06, 2024

by Sasa Woodruff

The plant gets its color — and a boost in antioxidants — from genes from an edible flower. It's the first time gardeners have been able to grow a GMO crop at home.

The truth about caffeine

6:00pm February 04, 2024

by Andee Tagle

Life Kit offers tips on how to better understand the effect caffeine has on our bodies, and make sure your relationship with your favorite caffeinated drink is a healthy one.

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Mark Guttridge, farmer and co-owner at Ollin Farms, feeds the chickens. The farm benefits from a county program that helps small growers get their produce to more people.

A big idea for small farms: How to link agriculture, nutrition and public health

9:05am February 03, 2024

by Selena Simmons-Duffin

In Boulder, Colo., the county is investing in sustainable farming and helping people buy local produce. It's been called "a triple win" – for customers, farmers and the economy.

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Iain Campbell, a researcher in Scotland, has lived with bipolar disorder since he was young. After trying the ketogenic diet, he discovered profound improvements in his symptoms — and now wants to learn if it can do the same for others. He shared his recent findings at the Metabolic Health Summit in Clearwater, Fla., on Jan. 25.

Health & Safety

Patients say keto helps with their mental illness. Science is racing to understand why

4:27pm February 02, 2024

by Will Stone

It's not just for weight loss. Patients and doctors alike are having success using the diet for illnesses like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. And research is taking off.

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