Stories by Lydia Denworth

We’ve all heard the saying “you are what you eat”—especially when it comes to gut health. But what if your workout matters just as much as your diet?

When nights stay hot, more people die, many from cardiovascular problems. But there are simple methods you can use to stay cooler and healthier

A workout boosts the fitness of your gut microbiome. This creates molecules that aid your immune system, metabolism, and more

Snoring indicates oxygen reduction, but a variety of treatments can restore healthy airflow

Several medications now calm painful inflammation in the intestines. Diets free of ultraprocessed foods also help

Using crutches for months is largely a thing of the past. Early weight-bearing has real benefits

This disease is now genetically linked to widespread inflammation, asthma, migraines, and more

Some foods, no matter how simply prepared, contain many substances linked to disease

Understanding curiosity can help people—and robots—learn faster

New diagnostic techniques can pick up these brain injuries and ensure people get help

Fortunately, recognition and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in grown-ups are getting better

Days spent in a desk chair can lead to heart disease or cancer. Getting up often and exercising more vigorously can stave off the ill effects

Contrary to stereotypes of the doddering elderly, research shows that half of people older than age 70 stay mentally sharp

Volunteering in community programs can reduce youth depression and anxiety, researchers are beginning to learn

Supportive care is often started late in an illness, but that may not be the best way

Contact with nature improves physical and mental health, but greenery is not easily reached by all

A quick nap can boost your memory, your mood and even your creativity

Weight training turns out to be as important as aerobic activity for warding off disease

The research tracks, at the level of individual neurons, what happens when a monkey hangs out with other monkeys. It even found a possible neural code for empathy

In babies, the right combo of gut bacteria might stave off later allergies, so scientists are testing “cocktails” of helpful microbes as therapy

A fluttering heartbeat called A-fib can lead to stroke, but smartwatches can detect it, and there are good treatments

The body mass index is flawed, and medicine now has better options to measure obesity

A light midday snooze boosts memory and other types of cognition—and your mood

Daytime naps of about 30 minutes really improve your thinking and may spark creativity.