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Oils are one of the most widely used ingredients in cooking and are healthy alternatives to butter and margarine. All cooking oils, including olive, canola and peanut oil, contain 14 grams of total fat per tablespoon, and roughly 120 calories. So measure amounts carefully because even though some fat is essential for good health and these are excellent choices, they’re still high in calories. For high-temperature cooking like stir-fries or when searing meat, use high smoke-point oils like canola, grapeseed and safflower oils. For sauteeing vegetables at medium heat, use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, which has gotten popular in recent years. Since baking uses gentle heat, you can go with any oil you like. For cake and brownie recipes, try replacing butter with light olive oil, which has much less saturated fat but is still light in flavor. Though all oils are great for salad dressings, try aromatic nut oils, like walnut oil or hazelnut oil, and seed oils, such as pumpkin seed oil and flaxseed oil, for a flavor twist. Keep them refrigerated to prevent them from going rancid — they’re very delicate. Let them come to room temperature if they thicken in the fridge. Here’s an easy dressing recipe that you can use on any side salad or over cold, chopped vegetables. It works especially well on peppery-flavored watercress. Watercress… read on >

A typical workout doesn’t give you license to eat whatever you want. Even a full hour of vigorous skiing burns just 600 calories — less than the amount in a super-sized fast food sandwich. That’s why it’s important to think of exercise as just one part of a shape-up plan. Exercise works the cardiovascular system and builds muscle, but it takes calorie restriction to also lose weight. Small diet tweaks that you can make when you’re building a healthier body through exercise will maximize your efforts. Here’s what you need to know about nutrition when you work out regularly. You don’t need to fuel up like a marathon runner, but give your body some nourishment about two hours before every workout to make exercise more effective. Have a small meal with healthy carbs and protein, and some fat. If eating two hours in advance doesn’t work with your schedule, aim for a small snack about an hour before your workout. It’s also important to eat a small meal with carbs and protein within two hours after your workout to give your body the nutrients it needs. Keep in mind that “calories in and calories out” is a balancing act that varies from person to person. So whether you’re trying to lose weight or maintain, keep a journal that records the amount of calories you get… read on >

Insurance rules that limit access to the addiction treatment medication buprenorphine may be worsening the U.S. opioid epidemic, a new study suggests. “Buprenorphine is a safe and effective treatment that decreases deaths due to opioids and stops heroin and other opioid use. People on buprenorphine are able to get their lives back together,” said study co-author Dr. Todd Korthuis. He’s chief of the addiction medicine section at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland. “Medicare insurance companies are making it increasingly difficult to prescribe buprenorphine, while making it easy to prescribe opioid pain medications that contributed to the opioid epidemic,” he said in an OHSU news release. For the study, the researchers analyzed Medicare Part D prescription drug plan data and found that the growing use of pre-authorization requirements increasingly limited use of buprenorphine among Medicare beneficiaries between 2007 and 2018. Insurers commonly use pre-authorization requirements to manage or limit access to certain drugs to control costs. In 2007, nearly 90 percent of insurance plans offered buprenophine without restriction, but that number had shrunk to 35 percent by 2018. Over that same period, the proportion of plans that covered prescription opioids (such as OxyContin) with no restrictions ranged from 93 percent to 100 percent. “The reasons for restrictions on buprenorphine might reflect inaccurate perceptions of drug risk, societal norms related to the stigma of… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Dry eye syndrome occurs when your eyes do not make enough tears. As adults get older, they are more likely to have medical conditions that trigger dry eye, such as autoimmune diseases, diabetes, stroke and thyroid problems, the AARP says. Certain medications also may affect tear glands’ ability to function properly. AARP suggests how to manage your dry eyes. Increase the moisture in your home by using a humidifier. Use sunglasses outside to protect your eyes from the sun and weather. Consider wearing glasses instead of contact lenses. Use over-the-counter eyedrops to increase moisture in your eyes. Keep your eyelids clean.

A global study about what men and women want in a mate seems to confirm — to a point — long-established stereotypes. Men still go for looks — in general they said their preference is for a partner who is younger and physically attractive. Women said they’d prefer an older partner who’s ambitious and has good financial prospects. The researchers, from the University of Texas at Austin, explained that these responses, which came from 10,000 participants in 33 countries, can probably be traced back to the respective mating challenges men and women faced throughout the course of human evolution. On a more positive note, both sexes do gravitate toward some of the same less superficial traits — a pleasant disposition, good social skills, and similar politics and religious beliefs. Another study with an international team of researchers found that men and women approach relationships in another similar way: They’re both influenced by deal breakers, or perceived negative traits, and deal makers, the traits that they find most appealing. Both sexes process these pros and cons simultaneously when they meet someone new and apply higher standards when considering someone for a long-term relationship. Also, deal breakers have a greater influence on choices than deal makers — it’s easier to be turned off by the negatives than to be turned on by the positives. Deal breakers range… read on >

Everyone has certain personality strengths that make them unique. For instance, you might be the type of person who loves to nurture others or who always tells it like it is and is known for your honesty. Studies on human psychology have found that developing your unique set of strengths can lead to happiness and even help overcome depression. But research has also shown that, all too often, rather than capitalizing on their strengths, people are more motivated to try to fix what they see as weaknesses. That could amount to wasted energy and might not even be desirable. Neglecting your strengths can cause them to fade. This can be true for a trait like kindness as well as one like creativity. On the other hand, developing strengths with what experts call “positive psychology interventions” leads to personal growth. The idea is to use one or more strengths in a new way every week through activities that lead to positive feelings, behaviors or thoughts. To get started, make a list of your strengths. The ones you put at the top of your list — those that make you feel the best about yourself — are your signature strengths. But some people get greater happiness from developing the ones farther down the page, so don’t feel as though you must limit your focus. Next, assign yourself… read on >

Sure, he may snore. She may steal the covers. But if a relationship is solid, your partner will help you sleep better this Valentine’s Day and far into the future, a new study suggests. Good relationships in early adulthood seemed to lead to less disruptive life events, which in turn appeared to lead to better sleep years later, researchers report. “Your partners can have a huge impact on your stress and health behaviors. They can be a source of stress or a reducer of stress,” explained study author Chloe Huelsnitz. She’s a Ph.D. candidate in the department of psychology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. So, how does being in a satisfying partnership affect sleep? Are people more content, or is a good relationship just a sign that you have better people skills that help reduce your stress throughout life? “It’s probably a bit of both,” Huelsnitz said, though the study could not prove that a good relationship caused sleep quality to improve. She explained that if you can have a good relationship, you probably have good interpersonal skills. And if you get along well with your partner, you’re probably less likely to get into a fight with your boss or a friend. “Also, if you have someone to support you during stressful life events, it helps to buffer that stress,” Huelsnitz added. The… read on >

Older women, beware: New research warns that drinking a lot of diet sodas or artificially sweetened fruit juices may increase your risk for stroke. In a study that tracked nearly 82,000 postmenopausal women, those who drank two or more diet drinks per day saw their overall stroke risk rise by 23 percent, compared with those who consumed diet drinks less than once a week. Blocked arteries were often the main culprit, with heavy diet drink consumption linked to a 31 percent greater risk for an ischemic stroke, which is triggered by a clot, the study findings showed. Study author Yasmin Mossavar-Rahmani acknowledged that an “association does not imply causation.” But she stressed that the findings held up even after taking into account the nutritional value of each participant’s overall diet. So, “we can’t assume these diet drinks are harmless, particularly when consumed at high levels,” Mossavar-Rahmani said. “The take-home message is that these findings give us pause,” she added. “We need to do more research on why we are seeing these associations. What are the scientific mechanisms? Is there something about the artificial sweeteners, for example, that affect the bacteria in the gut and lead to health issues?” Mossavar-Rahmani is an associate professor in the department of epidemiology and population health’s division of health promotion and nutrition research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in… read on >

(HealthDay News) — Don’t forget to think of your eyes while you’re traveling, the American Academy of Ophthalmology says. Here are the academy’s suggestions while you’re on the road, either for business or pleasure: Bring an extra pair of glasses and contact lenses. If you have an emergency, do not put off seeing an eye specialist until you get home. Untreated issues such as infection can cause long-term damage. Prepare for dry eyes on a plane with over-the-counter eye drops. Never use water to clean contact lenses. If you use prescription eye drops, travel with an extra, unopened bottle. If you notice significant changes in your vision, see a doctor. Changes in vision can signal issues such as a retinal detachment, a hypertensive crisis, a stroke or out-of-control diabetes.

Many drugs — both prescription and over-the-counter — can cause side effects like dizziness or upset stomach. But some can affect you in surprising ways, like causing problems with your sex life. Sexual side effects are wide-ranging. You might lose interest in sex, have difficulty becoming aroused or achieving orgasm. Or, if you’re a woman, you may experience pain because of vaginal dryness. Men can have trouble getting or keeping an erection. Some over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants, and even nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can cause erectile dysfunction or problems with ejaculation. In terms of prescription medications, the many categories of antidepressants and other mental health drugs, like antipsychotics, can cause any and all types of sexual problems, not just erectile dysfunction. Other Suspect Drugs High blood pressure medications, including some diuretics and alpha and beta blockers. H2 blockers used to treat acid reflux and ulcers. Anticonvulsants used to control epileptic seizures. Some medications for Parkinson’s disease. If you’re experiencing sexual issues that aren’t directly connected to a health problem and think a drug may be the culprit, review medications with your doctor, especially if the sexual problems coincided with the start of a new drug regimen. You may feel embarrassed, but keep in mind that this is a situation your doctor has certainly addressed before and he or she could have a simple remedy for… read on >

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All Sauce from Weekly Gravy:

How to Choose the Right Cooking Oils

Boosting Your Diet for Exercise

Insurers Making It Harder to Treat Opioid Addiction: Study

Health Tip: Treating Dry Eye

Romance: Deal Makers & Breakers

Playing to Your Strengths

Your Valentine May Bring You Better Sleep

Could Diet Sodas Raise an Older Woman’s Stroke Risk?

Health Tip: Travel Suggestions For Your Eyes

Everyday Medications That Can Ruin Your Sex Life