Which works better in terms of helping to lose weight: Cardio or resistance training? The answer: Neither ... and both. If you can stop scratching your head for a moment and scroll down, I'll explain what I mean.

A study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine reports that performing a workout that incorporates cardiovascular training and resistance training not only works best to drop pounds, but it also decrease appetite (which also clearly plays into the whole dropping pounds thing).

Women's Health cites this study in their October issue, stating that for 16 weeks, study participants did cardio, lifted weights, or did both while reporting everything they ate. Those who doubled-up their efforts reported eating 517 fewer calories per day by the end of the study. This workout combo may cause a shift in hormones that control appetite, say researchers. Whatever it is that makes it work, the point is that it does, and that's reason enough to give the two-course workout a try.

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Here's one choice: Frosted Cheerios or Frosted Flakes -- which has less sugar? I picked Frosted Cheerios. I was wrong. Tony the Tiger comes out the winner in this one, with 11 grams of sugar in 3/4 cup. Frosted Cheerios has 12 grams. Not a big margin of difference on this one but still, if you're going for a sugary cereal, you might want to opt for the Flakes.

Continue on with this quiz and you'll get to pick between Yoo-hoo and Light Cranberry Juice, Original Wheat Thins and Cool Ranch Doritos, Pop Tarts or a Clif Bar, and more. Are you guessing already? Let me just say this: Things are not always as they seem. And you'll surely learn a lot from this sweet quiz.

Let us know how you do, won't you?

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I've heard that the oyster is an aphrodisiac -- you know, an agent that arouses sexual desire. But Women's Health tells me it really isn't -- unless your man is able to down 50 of them all at one time. Then, it might just increase his libido. What about a banana? I've certainly never heard that this fruit can do the trick. But WH says it can. It's not just the shape that is suggestive, though. Eating this healthy fruit can give your sex life a boost with its powerful potassium and B vitamins -- both are nutrients essential to sexual hormone production.

What about red wine, chocolate, cinnamon, chili peppers, pomegranate, and asparagus? I'm not telling. But I will send you over to this quiz where you can test your sexy smarts on these foods and more. As it turns out, I'm not so fit when it comes to spotting sensual foods. Maybe you'll do better. Let us know.

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A recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition revealed that 25 percent of Americans are vitamin B6 deficient.

This vitamin is essential for a healthy heart and immune system, as well as optimal brain function, says a recent Women's Health article. To get the RDA of 1.3 milligrams, the folks at Women's Health suggest adding the following foods to your diet:

• 4 oz yellowfin tuna = 1.18mg
• 1 banana = .68mg
• 4 oz roasted chicken breast = .64mg
• 4 oz salmon or cod = .52mg
• 1 cup cooked spinach = .44mg
• 1 cup avocado = .41mg

If none of these foods appeal to you (no pun intended with the banana), you may also want to try popping a multi-vitamin each day, as most contain about two milligrams of B6.

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Women's Health reports that women are falling off this mortal coil a bit earlier these days, as life expectancy rates for females have stalled -- or even declined -- in some parts of the U.S.

According to the data, women's life expectancy saw a significant decline in 180 counties between 1983 and 1999. The cause for this precipitous drop? The folks at Women's Health attribute it to chronic diseases associated with obesity, smoking, and high blood pressure.

Here is a quick look at the U.S. counties that have experienced the greatest drop (numbers measured in years of average decline in female life expectancy):

• Pulaski County, VA - 5.8
• Radford, VA - 5.8
• Dolores County, CO - 3.3
• Montezuma County, CO - 3.3

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I've thankfully never experienced a migraine myself, but people I know who have describe them as being tremendously debilitating. And, the fact that their migraines sometimes keep them locked in a dark room for hours on end, it's quite clear that migraines are no ordinary headaches.

But, are there health risks associated with migraines beyond the terrible discomfort and occasional vomiting? There are indeed, according to an article that appears in this month's edition of Women's Health magazine. Citing a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, the article suggests that migraine frequency may indicate an elevated risk of stroke.



In the study, almost 28,000 women were followed for an average of 12 years. Those who had migraines with aura or visual disturbances of any kind were found to be three times more likely to have a stroke than women who did not suffer from migraines of this kind or at all. However, researchers stated that more investigation into this possible link needs to be conducted before any determination can be made conclusively.

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The debate over whether energy drinks have health implications usually centers around heart-related issues. But, a new study published in the journal General Dentistry reveals yet another compelling reason for oral argument.

Citing the General Dentistry study, Women's Health reports that drinks like Red Bull and Amp have the same acidic effect on our teeth as sodas. The article states that these power-up drinks restrict our saliva's natural ability to neutralize acids-which thereby allows this acid to take up temporary residence in our mouths, where it is then able to penetrate our gums.

To fight back against these tooth-tarnishing energy drink villains, the folks at Women's Health suggest using straws (aim your drink toward the back of the mouth), rinsing with water to dilute acids, and not brushing your pearlies for 30 minutes after downing energy drinks, for the scrubbing can remove enamel ­weakened by acidity.

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When perusing the magazine racks at Barnes & Noble and Borders, most of my time is spent in the health and fitness section. From Men's Health to Maximum Fitness magazine, I usually give each of these publications a quick once-over. But I must admit, even though I'm a guy, I usually take time to read Women's Health (even at the risk looking like some sort of perv for reading a magazine featuring extremely fit women in spandex).

By and large, the reason I find Women's Health to be such a great resource is the section on diet and nutrition. Offering tips you'd never find in musclehead mags like Flex and Iron Man, the folks at Women's Health do a fantastic job of making fit food taste great. To that point, the July edition lists several ways to upgrade junk food by adding some healthy mix-ins. Here's a sneak peak at some of the food combos they suggest:

Lucky Bran. If your weakness is a big bowl of Lucky Charms, all that sugar and lack of fiber really isn't doing much for you in the health department. Still, if you can't live without all those blue diamonds, green clovers and purple horseshoes, mix half a cup of this cereal with a half a cup of All-Bran cereal. It may not serve up a pot of gold, but this combo has 10g of fiber without losing much of its flavor.

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Where else but in New York can you climb a rock wall, watch a fashion show, listen to live music, participate in a variety of workout classes, enjoy a beauty and spa treatment, sip on drinks during a sponsored happy hour, and ride a mechanical bull all in one day? And best of all, where else but New York can you do all these things for FREE?

On this Saturday (July 12th), from 10am to 5pm, you can take part in the fun at the 2nd-annual Women's Health Are You Game? summer festival. Last year's event drew a crowd of over 10,000 people to the Hudson River Park at Pier 46, and festival programmers anticipate an equally as strong turnout at this location this time around.

Sponsors for the event include ASICS, Crunch, Oasis Day Spa, Garmin International, Michelob Ultra, and Oakley. Expect some great contests and giveaways from these companies and others, in addition to the dozens of other interactive demonstrations and health and fitness-related events.

For more information about the Women's Health Are You Game? summer festival, visit the official website: www.womenshealthmag.com/areyougame

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It's no mystery that vegetables are good for you. The list of reasons why spans far longer than the space provided between these margins.

That's why I decided to focus on one health benefit in particular: the apparent relationship between vegetable consumption and reduced lung cancer risk. Women's Health magazine reports that people who eat at least one daily serving of vegetables lower their risk of this cancer by as much as fifty percent compared with people who ate less veggies than that.

Because they are high in antioxidants, veggies are formidable opponents for carcinogenic free radicals and tobacco smoke, say folks at Women's Health. Keep your lungs healthy by adding broccoli, spinach, and other cancer-fighting vegetables to your daily diet.

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It's easy to assume that issues related to mental health and substance abuse are limited to only a few overcrowded, fast-paced locales. New York comes to mind, as does L.A., Miami, Boston, and Chicago. However, as an article in the current issue of Women's Health demonstrates, problems of this kind are hitting the rest of the nation just as hard.

The article cites a recent survey of more than 136,000 people over the age of 12, which was conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration. Heres a quick look at the findings:

TOBACCO USE
Highest: West Virginia (40.6 percent)
Lowest: Utah (22.1 percent)

MARIJUANA USE
Highest: Vermont (9.7 percent)
Lowest: Utah (4.3 percent)

ILLICIT DRUG USE
Highest: Rhode Island (11.2 percent)
Lowest: North Dakota (5.7 percent)

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In the course of writing for this blog, as well as other fitness publications to which I often contribute, I'm always on the lookout for new health and fitness studies to highlight. In my search, I'm frequently confounded by the amount of contradictory information that exists. Some experts say one thing, while others suggest the exact opposite. Who am I to believe? And just the same, who are you to believe?

Fortunately, Women's Health magazine clears things up a bit in their current issue. Reflecting on the legitimate, supposed, or unfounded things that affect cancer risk, the article is a breath of fresh air in what can oftentimes be an atmosphere polluted with mixed opinions.

Here is a quick look at how the article broke down what's actually worth worrying about and what isn't with regard to increased cancer risk.

PROVEN: Alcoholic beverages, exposure to radon at home, tobacco smoking and second-hand smoke exposure, deliberate sun overexposure

LIKELY: Air pollution, living near a nuclear facility, eating large amounts of processed meats, using tanning beds

UNKNOWN: Cell phones, drinking chlorinated water, nonstick cookware, plastics containing bisphenol A

UNLIKELY: Artificial sweeteners, breast implants, dental fillings, deodorants

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We hear about body fat percentage all the time, yet we rarely give much thought to what percentage we should be shooting for. Granted, we know that the higher the number, the worse off we'll be. And, conversely, having too low of a body fat percentage can also be unhealthy, as it can compromise essential fat stores that surround and protect our organs.

But that knowledge doesn't do much in the way of determining what body fat percentage is ideal. Well, for one thing, that could be because an ideal is very difficult to determine. Everyone's body is different, just as everyone's fitness goals vary across the board. So, what may be "ideal" for one person may be too big, too small, too heavy, too light, etc. for someone else. Were not much closer to finding an answer, are we?

The best we can do is to make an assumption. Not the best of starts, I know, but it has to be done (or else I'll end up dancing around this question forever). My assumption is as follows: If most people could pick a physique they would like to have, it would be similar to those of the men and women who appear on the cover of magazines like Men's Health and Women's Health. Am I wrong in this assumption? That's very possible. But I sense that most people would prefer to be lean and healthy looking over extremely muscular or noticeably paunchy. So, with that all said and grossly overdone, the "ideal" body fat percentage (that is, the body fat percentage of most fitness models) is around nine percent. At that percentage, your abs will become very visible, as will the definition in most of your muscles. Again, is this what you are shooting for? Maybe, maybe not. But if it is, know that this is what it will take to achieve your fitness goals.

A new article in Women's Health magazine sheds some interesting light on the efficacy of antidepressant drugs. According to the article, which summarizes findings published in the New England Journal of Medicine, thirty-one studies on antidepressants were never published by the FDA. What's more, of those thirty-one studies, thirty of them contained negative information about these pharmaceutical drugs.

On the other hand, 94 percent of the published studies on antidepressants were positive. But, when all the studies are taken into account (i.e. when the information from the unpublished studies are factored in), the positive findings drop by 51 percent. The study's lead author, Dr. Erick Turner, was quoted in the article as saying that antidepressants' "batting average is not as high as you might have thought."

For more information on this study, pick up the issue of Women's Health now in stores or follow this link to a short reprinting of a January 2008 article in the NY Times on this matter.

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When we hear about people dying from vaccine-preventable diseases, we tend to associate such loss with poorer countries than our own. This assumption is not terribly off-base, as many third-world nations do suffer an enormous amount of preventable human loss due to a lack of access to proper medical treatment. However, such vaccine-preventable loss is not exclusive to these less fortunate countries; an article in Women's Health magazine asserts that 50,000 adult Americans die each year for the same reason.

According to the article, the following is a list of five of the eleven vaccinations that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests getting:

1) Hepatitis A: A virus spread by infected food and water that can cause liver infection. Most often a danger to travelers to foreign countries.

2) HPV: The Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease that can potentially lead to cervical cancer in women. Genital HPV is the most common sexual transmitted infection in the United States. About 6.2 million Americans will get infected with genital HPV this year.

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