According to a study published in the journal Heart, laughter really is the best medicine! Researchers speculating that positive emotions may have a beneficial impact on a person's health have shown experimentally that watching comedy films boosts blood flow to the heart.

If you like to dine out but you’re watching your diet, be careful not to underestimate the fat in the food at your favorite local diner. At restaurants people underestimate the fat, caloric, and sodium content of food on the menu by about half, according to a new survey.

Wait! Don’t cut burgers out of your diet just yet! Most find these sometimes messy sandwiches to be bad for you, but not always. A typical burger starts with high-fat ground beef and is then dressed with toppings that push the fat meter even higher. But if you keep the portions controlled and use lean beef, they can be part of a healthy diet.

"As if being at the bottom of the social pile isn't bad enough, it now seems that it also makes the body's cells age prematurely," reports New Scientist magazine. "People from lower socio-economic groups are more likely to die earlier than people in non-manual jobs from heart attacks, strokes and cancer.

Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy. Obtain and maintain – you’ve heard it all before, but here it is again! Before you get started on a weight loss program, consider the following tips.

Falling asleep at your desk? Think it’s a good idea to run down to the store and grab a quick low-caffeine “energy” drink to wake you up and get ya goin? Well…if you’re sleep dep has you depending on these high-sugar drinks, it’s likely you won’t be alert for long.

You can lose a few pounds easily simply by burning some calories here and there. Forget the strict diet and do something that will actually work for you. Again and again we are told to make small changes in our daily routine and in our daily food intake…so this time listen!

A new study claims that even the simplest physical activity may lengthen lives. In fact, mundane no-sweat physical activities like fidgeting affected the health of elders.

Researchers looked at the calories burned in older adult participants who rated their own physical activity. Every calorie counted, whether it was burned in formal exercise or in digestion, household chores, or simply fidgeting.

They are easy to find, easy to buy, and easy to add to any diet.  These five foods are ones that you should be eating everyday. Loaded with essential vitamins and nutrients, these “super “foods provide the body with everything it needs to thrive.

Who knew that splurging on a diet would be okay? Many of us equate starting a weight-loss plan with forever forsaking the foods we love. Yet, this approach may lead to resentment – we can even quit our goals altogether. As long as you splurge the sensible way, experts say you can still have diet success.

Want to look great in your swimsuit this summer – it’s not too late! Sneak off the pounds by taking sensible steps that you can stick with. How?  Listen to what the experts have to say:

Your close friend smoked for fifteen years and once day tossed his last pack in the toilet and never started again. Your mom’s cousin’s aunt quit cold turkey after someone told her at a party that smoking was unattractive. Why can’t you kick the habit?

Just not feelin’ it anymore? Could do without it? Maybe your weight is holding you back from doing more than you thought, but you can get past the obstacles standing in your way to a fulfilling sex life.

Are you constantly surrounded by temptation? Can’t say no to those fattening lunch dates, or those home-baked pies from your mother-in-law or to the huge box of chocolates from your partner? The diet is hard enough without high-calorie foods being pushed in your direction. How can you stick to your resolve?

Your significant other may be upset, they may be sad, they may be frustrated…or they could simply be craving a Snickers bar or some cheese and crackers.

If your sweetie's upset or crabby, don't assume he or she feels unloved or unheard, suggests John Gray, the Mars/Venus communications guru. Instead, your partner might just be hungry. He also contends women are far more sensitive to sugar lows, and encourages men to keep healthy snacks, such as popcorn, handy.