I know that exercise—especially hard exercise, like running or mountain biking—helps me cope with all of the little spilled-milk moments (literally, figuratively) and even with more stressful everyday situations, such as work projects taking unexpected and disappointing turns. It’s as if exercise creates a buffer zone. Now scientists have some evidence that exercise really does buffer us at the neurological level, changing and enabling cells to function better under stress. more

Most mornings lately, I’ve been tired. Not just sleepy—bone-weary tired. There are a million things I could blame, from a hectic family/work schedule to chronically interrupted sleep (2- and 5-year-olds do not sleep very soundly). In the haze, it’s hard to know what it is I really need. More vitamins? Better exercise? It occurred to me this morning, as I turned up the hot water in the shower for an extra “blast,” that I am simply out of step with the season. Despite the fact that we don’t burrow in mud- and leaf-lined caves and sleep all winter, humans are meant to slow down and rest more in the colder/darker months. And lately I have been expecting myself to do everything as if it were still mid summer with bountiful sunlight and tons of social energy. So when Michael Finkelstein, M.D., got in touch to offer these simple tips for staving off the winter blues, I took note. more

I know that I do. In fact, lately I have been spending hundreds of dollars out of pocket to address persistent back pain. (Rolfing and chiropractic are scarcely covered by my insurance, and the physical therapy that WAS covered didn’t do much to solve the issue.) This NYTimes article today underscores the problem, particularly for those with more serious health issues, such as cancer.

Do you struggle with the cost of (or lack of insurance coverage for) integrative or alternative therapies that you or your family members need?

Green tea is an acquired taste, but one that you may want to cultivate if you (like me) suffer from mental and emotional overload from time to time (insert picture of frazzled parent here). In a recent study conducted in Japan, people drinking five cups of green tea per day lowered the likelihood of experiencing mental distress by 20 percent. Although green tea contains caffeine (at smaller amounts than in black tea or regular coffee) green tea also contains compounds like L-theanine, a naturally occurring amino acid that has a calming, focusing effect on the mind.

If you shun green tea because of its strong, grassy taste, you might prefer a flavored variety, such as Mighty Leaf’s jasmine green or the kiwi pear green tea from Republic of Tea. Celestial Seasonings has also recently come out with a line of green teas blended with white tea for a smoother taste. A small amount of honey or agave nectar never hurts the taste, either, though it does add calories to an otherwise zero-calorie beverage.

Working at Delicious Living can be like living in a bubble. Unprocessed foods are the norm. Gluten-free not just a fad. And doesn’t everyone know about quinoa, goji berries, or raw cocoa nibs these days? While it’s true that many of these natural foods have worked their way into your kitchen, maybe even into specialty catering menus, I’m still surprised to find any of them on a menu at a restaurant. But my bet—my hope—is that we will start to see more chefs, like Aspen Meadows Resort’s Jason Mayle, taking advantage of these awesome nutrient-dense options while shunning heavy, processed foods.

I spoke with Mayle over the phone recently after having sampled several meals from the resort’s kitchen. Aspen Meadows hosts the prestigious Aspen Institute every year, as well as other conferences and events. The resort is also open to the public. Touring the grounds, you feel that every detail has been designed with community and health in mind (for example, there are no roads on the green and spacious campus, giving guests the opportunity to walk, take in fresh air, and enjoy the scenery while getting to meetings or events).

Talking to Mayle, I got the sense that the menu was also planned with the same principles of health and enjoyment in mind. “We use a lot of different grains, organic and sustainable foods, and we have a small garden with lots of thyme, arugula, lemon verbena.” In fact, the menu is built around the idea that people need clean fuel throughout the day. “We have a lot of different types of people here, eating sometimes as much as 5 times a day. They need to get energized for their conference. They can’t be sluggish and lazy because they ate things that were too heavy or starchy. I focus on foods that are high in vitamins, like superfoods. Turkey, quinoa, nuts, dried fruits, etc. These are all nutrient-dense foods. And we don’t use a lot of fat, just here and there.” Enjoy this delicious breakfast spread courtesy of Mayle. Each recipe serves four people. more

As much as I love my job, there are some days I would do anything to change the fact that I’m still sitting in the same chair that I was four hours ago. Anything to relieve the mind-ache I get from reading hundreds of emails. It’s times like these I could eat an entire bag of potato chips, just for the sensory boost. Or more chocolate. Or another latte. (It really has nothing to do with being hungry.) A 30-minute jog or quick sunshine break is much more invigorating (see this article on lunchtime workouts), but when work deadlines suck the time away I’ve got to get creative to fight off the urge to nosh. Here are three things that banish thoughts of potato chips and that help me get that second (or third or fourth) wind. more

Melatonin is a fantastic sleep aid, and I’ve used it occasionally to help reset circadian rhythms after staying up too late too many nights in a row (hello motherhood!). But this week, about to embark on a week-long trip to Rome, I wanted to find out the best way to take melatonin to counter the effects of hurtling through space and landing in a completely different eating … I mean time zone. more

Stress is … a helpful anti-aging tool? Seriously? The latest research suggests that yes some stress may actually keep your cells resilient and youthful. We’re not talking about heavy duty stress, which can blow out your immunity and hit the accelerator on aging, but small amounts such as what cells undergo on a calorie-restricted diet (linked to longevity in a number of studies). It’s complicated science, but the gist is that when cells are exposed to various stressors they activate special protective mechanisms to rebuild damaged protein structures. Under the right circumstances, a little stress actually makes cells stronger. Should you go on a calorie-restricted diet? Find out more in our feature How to Age Well.