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Short Sleep Added About a Pound in Six Weeks in a 95-Adult Study. Here’s the Fine Print

Adults who delayed bedtime by 90 minutes for six weeks gained about a pound on average in a pooled analysis of randomized trials. Here is what the study did and what it can’t tell us.

Regular Tea Drinkers Had Fewer Heart and Vascular Problems in a 486,000-Adult Study

A study of nearly 486,000 adults in China linked regular tea to an 11% lower risk of vascular disease. The catch: very hot tea was linked to higher risk.

Wall Squats Lowered Blood Pressure in a 100-Person Trial. Doing Them Less Often Kept Part of the Gain

In a randomized trial of 100 adults, home wall squats cut systolic pressure, and one or two weekly sessions kept some of the benefit. The catch: it was short and small.

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Coffee Calories Are Up Nearly 40% in 15 Years, and Creamer Is the Biggest Reason

A Tufts analysis of 30,000 U.S. adults found coffee calories rose from about 43 to 60 a day, with non-dairy creamer now the largest source of added calories. Here is what that does and does not tell us.

Halloween Night Is Riskier for Young Pedestrians. Here’s What the Research Says, and How to Stay Safe

A study of 42 years of U.S. crash data found pedestrian deaths rise on Halloween evening, especially among kids ages 4 to 8. Here is what that means and how families and drivers can lower the risk.

Lab Study Finds Many Low-Calorie Sweeteners Alter Gut Bacteria. Here’s the Fine Print

A Cambridge lab study tested 39 sweeteners on 25 gut bacteria species and found most affected at least one. It was done in dishes, not people, so here is what it can and can’t tell you.

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Too Much Light at Night May Be Reshaping the Heart, Study Suggests

In a study of more than 11,000 adults who wore light sensors, brighter nights were linked to early changes in heart structure. The findings are preliminary, but the practical takeaway is simple and cheap.

Taking the Stairs Is a Small Habit With a Big Research Footprint

A new meta-analysis of more than 450,000 people links regular stair climbing to a lower risk of dying from heart disease. Here’s what the research found, and what it can’t tell us yet.