National Geographic | Mind, Body, Wonder

This week: It’s time to move beyond "weight loss" as a singular health goal; an unlikely strategy for Alzheimer’s screening; why riding a bike might boost mental well-being; the evolutionary origins of hiccups; the macronutrients your body needs.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MANAN VATSYAYANA, AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Does losing weight lead to better health? Not necessarily

If the number on your scale qualifies you as overweight or obese, you should shed those extra pounds to become healthier—right? It’s a belief many hold, but one science doesn’t support. "Society has this false assumption that higher body weight equals poorer health," says one expert.

WHY BMI ISN'T A GOOD HEALTH INDICATOR

LOW-CAL SWEETENERS: They might not be as good for us as we thought +

PHOTOGRAPH BY VICUSCHKA, GETTY IMAGES

The building blocks of a good diet

What are the nutrients that form the base of a healthy meal? When it comes to food, it’s all about balance. Here are the three main types of foods we need a lot of in our diets and how they’re broken down and used in the body.

LEARN ABOUT MACRONUTRIENTS

ILLUSTRATION BY LUISA RIVERA

This American diet could add 10 years to your life

It's not a fad diet invented by a South Beach doctor, a paleo diet marketer, or a social media influencer. This diet was developed by ordinary Americans, is widely affordable, is sustainable, and has a lower carbon footprint than a meat-heavy diet.

More on diet and nutrition:

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How certain foods lower your risk of inflammation and other diseases

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Can science help personalize your diet?

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Can fasting help you live longer? Here’s what the science says.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JASON EDWARDS, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Your eyes might be the key to detecting Alzheimer’s earlier

It is often said that eyes are windows to the soul, but they may also reveal early signs of Alzheimer’s disease. New research has connected physical changes in a region of the eye called the retina to what happens in the brain during Alzheimer’s. If clinicians could reliably diagnose the disorder before symptoms appear, they could try interventions to slow down the disease's progression.

WHAT THE RETINA REVEALS

SUNDOWNING: Why evenings can be harder on people with dementia +

THE ONGOING MYSTERY OF HICCUPS

PHOTOGRAPH BY THREE LIONS, GETTY IMAGES

Hiccups have roots deep in our evolutionary history. Yet after millions of years, tens of thousands of years of human problem-solving, and decades of modern medicine, their origin and purpose is still largely opaque. Here’s what scientists are learning about how this reflex evolved—and maybe how to stop it.

WHAT THE SCIENCE SHOWS

ACHOO! These photos show how far a sneeze can launch germs +

THE BRAIN ON BICYCLING

PHOTOGRAPH BY IMGORTHAND / GETTY IMAGES

Science has repeatedly proven that physical activity contributes to improved mental health. And while any exercise helps, a growing number of studies reveal bicycling is among the activities that might provide even more of a mental health boost, especially for children. "Our research shows that kids who get out for a bike ride at least once a week report higher levels of mental well-being," says one scientist.

7 IDEAS TO GET YOUR KIDS PEDALING

HEALTH NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANIKO HOBEL / GETTY IMAGES

What are the best "brain foods"? Milk for your bones, carrots for your eyes—but what about your brain? These are the foods that experts say are key for growth and development.

HERE'S WHAT TO EAT

Probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics. What's the difference?

How your senses change as you age—and how to keep them sharp

What's in melatonin—and is it giving you nightmares?

Why do some love to exercise? It might be their microbiome.

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