We know that not getting enough sleep puts you at a higher risk for obesity, among many other complications. And sleep experts have also warned that getting too much sleep has its own set of risks, like heart disease. But a new study has found that, when it comes to the bathroom scale, getting less sleep may be far worse for you than too much. Scientists who looked at 1,000 sets of twins found that the siblings who slept fewer than seven hours per night were likely to weigh more because of genetic factors. In comparison, the siblings who slept seven to nine hours (or more than nine hours) weighed less and were less likely to be affected by any inherited obesity genes. In fact, the researchers think that getting enough sleep is a major element in how much a person’s body weight is influenced by any genetic predisposition to being overweight or obese. When you’re already exercising regularly and eating right, it’s nice to be reminded that sleeping more - especially if you are sleep-deprived – can give you that extra push when it comes to weight loss, no matter what body-weight issues you’ve inherited.

Too embarrassed to ask your doctor about sex, body quirks, or the latest celeb health fad? In a regular feature and a new book, " What the Yuck?! ," Health magazine medical editor Dr. Roshini Raj tackles your most personal and provocative questions. Send 'em to Dr. Raj at whattheyuck@health.com. Q: Is it bad to drink alcohol if I’m on antibiotics? A: You shouldn’t drink at all while on certain antibiotics – like Flagyl (metronidazole), Tindamax (tinidazole), or Bactrim or Septra (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) – because you can get unpleasant side effects like nausea and headaches. Otherwise, a glass of wine probably won’t hurt, though you might experience worse potential side effects (upset stomach, dizziness, drowsiness) than usual from the drug and the alcohol. If you’re sick enough to need antibiotics, however, I’d say skip happy hour and give your body time to fight the infection. Filed under: Health.com , What the Yuck Tagged: Roshini Raj M.D. – Health magazine

If you’re new to a vegan diet, the holidays can be a little trying. There are a ton of tempting delicious treats all around you, and if you’re with family, there are bound to be lots of questions and concerns about your brand-new foodie endeavors. But one thing is for sure: there’s no need to skip out on all those traditional holiday desserts just because you’ve taken on a new lifestyle! Here are seven ways to enjoy classic holiday flavors with a little vegan flair. View Slideshow ›

We love how a trip to the gym inspired reader pvhike to make this quinoa-stuffed peppers recipe and post it in our Healthy Recipe group . Watching Rachael Ray while on the elliptical at the gym, I was inspired (and had an intense craving) to make stuffed bell peppers. She said they could be stuffed with anything, so I opted for quinoa, which is one of my new favorites. I also added some sauteed chopped crimini mushrooms, shallots and kale. This was an easy, great cook ahead dish for the busy workweek. Read on for the recipe.

If you only give nutritional labels on food a glance before you dig in, you’re not alone - a new study has found that almost all people ignore nutrition labels on food, even calorie counts. The Journal of the American Dietetic Association study tracked the eye movements of 203 people as they looked at 64 grocery items. Although 26 percent claimed that they “almost always” look at serving size and about a third said the same for both calorie counts as well as fat and sugar content, an eye-tracking device found that wasn’t true. According to the tracker, only about nine percent actually looked at calorie counts for almost all products and just one percent of the participants looked at other nutritional components on the labels. The study’s researchers think that more prominent nutrition facts labels (front and center instead of hidden on the side of a box) would make consumers more aware of what they are eating. Do you think they’re right? Let us know if you are a label reader when it comes to food – and if you’re not, read these tips on how to read a nutrition label correctly . Source: Flickr User michaelnugent Do You Read Nutrition Labels? Yes – Knowing what’s in your food is important. No – I don’t really pay attention. Sometimes – It depends on the food!

While it’s hard to find time to exercise when your schedule is chock-full - read our tips on fitting in exercise when you’re busy - it can also be hard to stay healthy on lazy days when life isn’t planned down to every minute. If you’re not careful, a whole day goes by before you realize that you haven’t moved as much as you should or that you have no veggies left in the fridge. If you find yourself less healthy on lazier days, read on for ways to stay on track. Make drinking water a habit : Many of us need to be reminded to drink more water, and that can be doubly true when not following a normal routine. Before you get too dehydrated and start to feel crabby and tired, start training yourself to make drinking water a priority no matter where you are. Get into the habit of having a water bottle close by whether you are running errands or relaxing on the couch. Read on for more tips for staying healthy during your low-key days

Still obsessed with Pippa’s backside? Rumors arise that her wedding day look was “enhanced” – Fit Celeb Never, ever order these high-calorie pasta dishes! – Prevention Bee venom might replace Botox as nature’s cure for wrinkles – Blisstree Study reveals the best three moves to cure triceps flab. So get toning! – DailySpark Yoga and Pilates moves to help you look 10 pounds thinner instantly – Fitness Roseanne Barr is spreading her love of organic farming and yoga by creating a DVD series for kids. Surprised? – Mind Body Green Green tea may be healthful, but avoid this oversweetened bottled brand – Vitamin G Mix plenty of cherries with your spinach, and your green smoothie will be disguised as a lovely shade of purple – Fitnessista

Here’s a new twist on granola: granola bread! FitSugar reader Actorsdiet posted the recipe in our Healthy Recipe community group . Learn how to make it after the break!

Tips for practicing yoga with a bun in the oven – MindBodyGreen What would you tell your younger self about weight loss? – Health It looks like a sweatshirt, but it’s a BootyWrap – Vital Juice The pros and cons of walking in MBTs – DailySpark Fire up your grill and make a quesadilla. Ole! – Healthful Pursuit

FitSugar reader CUPC4KE shared the contents of her gym bag for the third challenge of our Get Fit For 2011 giveaway. My goal is to get through this post without crying, and so far I am 15 words into it and doing good!!! My photo submission is a bittersweet one – as you can see it’s my gym bag, shoes, workout gloves, and a pair of dog tags. I’ll try to keep this brief (again . . . avoiding tears!) but here’s the back story: My boyfriend and I have been great friends since we were 12 years old, lost touch after high school, and reconnected in late 2009 through the almighty power of Facebook . . . Lo and behold a few months later we were dating even though he was (and still is) fulfilling his duties as a Sergeant in the U.S. Army. We saw each other as much as possible before he was deployed to Afghanistan in June and were apart for 6 months before we saw each other again. He came home for R&R at the end of December, just in time for Christmas and the New Year – and as you can imagine, things were magical!! – This brings us up-to-date; everything you see in the photo is a Christmas gift from him – he knows how hard I’ve been “up in the gym, just workin’ on my fitness”(sing it, Fergie !). Merry Christmas to me! Skull Gym Bag – ‘Cause I like to rock-n-roll! Shoes – He customized these on the Nike iD website for my Christmas gift! My favorite colors and even a 4-letter personalization “SPCN,” an inside joke between us! Workout Gloves – I had been complaining that my weight training was causing calluses on my hands! Learn why CUPC4KE works out with dog tags.