People who live in areas with the least amount of sunlight may have a greater risk for stroke, according to findings presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference in New Orleans this week. Strokes occur when blood and oxygen is cut off from the brain due to a blood clot or a burst blood vessel. Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and the number one cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association . What’s unique about this study, explained professor Leslie A. McClure, a biostatistician from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, is that her team used NASA satellite and ground monitor data to determine sunlight and temperature exposure and how it corresponded with the stroke risk of study participants. When the different factors were compared, McClure said they found that people who had less than the midpoint level of sun exposure were at 60% increased risk for stroke. The study also confirmed previous findings that both hot and cold temperature exposure is associated with higher stroke incidence. The UAB researchers used data from the REGARDS (REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) project, a long term study that includes more than 30,000 Caucasian and African American participants, age 45 and older. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. McClure was quick to point out that more research needs to be done to confirm the results of the study, and to determine why sun exposure seems to be associated with reduced stroke risk. She hypothesizes that vitamin D, which is produced when our bodies are exposed to sunlight, may help explain the association. Previous research has associated lower vitamin D levels with stroke and heart attack risk. McClure also pointed out that “moderate but safe sun exposure” may be a part of the equation for preventing strokes, along with modifying known stroke risk factors, which include smoking, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and high cholesterol. Filed under: Brain , Heart Tagged: Ann J. Curley – CNN Medical Assignment Manager

Dairy products aren’t the only choices when it comes to high-protein snacks. If you’re eating a diet minus milk, or you just want a low-cal snack that’s high in protein, check out these 150-calorie snacks that don’t contain a drop of dairy. One serving of spicy roasted chickpeas (one fourth of this recipe : 134 calories, 5.6 grams protein Twenty-one raw almonds: 146 calories , 5.4 grams protein Six-ounce container of vanilla O’Soy Yogurt: 150 calories , seven grams protein One slice whole-wheat bread ( 100 calories , four grams protein) smeared with half a tablespoon natural peanut butter ( 53 calories , two grams protein): 153 calories, six grams protein Two Mini S’mores Luna Bars: 140 calories , eight grams protein Keep reading for five more dairy-free snack ideas.

Supersweet Valentine’s Day treats for kids – and mama, too! Gwyneth Paltrow takes off with Chris, Apple, and Moses 5 super-indulgent Paula Deen dishes Benefit debuts its first liquid foundation Love lessons learned from lyrics of ’90s music 15 of our favorite style setters – and why we love them See a home built with organization in mind Get a peek at all the upcoming 30 Rock guest stars! A simple way to save: the $5 savings jar Get the inside scoop on Rihanna’s rock-hard abs Nike gamifies fitness with the Nike+ FuelBand Sick of almond butter? Whip up a batch of cinnamon sunbutter! Video: David Beckham on staying in America, raising Harper, and the royal wedding

A brief history of short celebrity marriages Get the dish on Waldorf Astoria’s famous salad Will Apple release a 15-inch MacBook Air? How to save money on health insurance 10 cozy statement coats under $150 A sweet and spicy Fall candle Five gray nurseries to swoon over Video: Jessica Simpson announces she’s pregnant! Fairy-tale inspiration from Once Upon a Time Celebs go all out in pop culture Halloween costumes See Susan Sarandon’s daughter Eva Amurri’s wedding pictures! The best post-workout snacks to take on the go Five SF spots with delicious bar food DIY garden lanterns

The British government has pledged about $31 million to help eradicate guinea worm disease, a donation that public-health experts say will bring them close to finishing the job. A quarter century ago, the crippling parasitic infection afflicted 3.5 million people a year in more than 20 countries. This year, there are expected to be just over 1,000 cases in four African countries. More than 98% of those cases are in South Sudan, with a few dozen in Ethiopia, Mali, and Chad. Guinea worm disease is passed along when people drink water from sources containing water fleas that harbor guinea worm larvae. Once inside a human, the larvae spawn worms that can reach three feet in length. The worms incubate for a year and then emerge slowly through painful lesions. When people soak their lesion-covered limbs in water, the worms release larvae, starting the cycle all over again. The 25-year-long push to eradicate guinea worm is championed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, whose Carter Center in Atlanta has led the effort. The donation from the U.K. Department for International Development will be made over four years to the Carter Center. According to the center, the best way to eliminate the disease is to “prevent people from entering sources of drinking water with an emerging guinea worm and to educate households to always use household or pipe filters to sieve out tiny water fleas carrying infective larvae.” Donald Hopkins, vice president for health programs for the Carter Center, said $275 million, donated by several governments, has been spent so far wiping out the disease. The U.K. donation will go toward the $75 million the Carter Center estimates is needed to get the job done and to verify eradication. “We’re very close,” says Hopkins, who has been working on guinea worm eradication since 1980. “This is going to happen. I can’t predict when, but it will be soon.” The Carter Center’s goal is to break the cycle of disease transmission in South Sudan next year, with no cases reported in 2013, he says. It would take three years of no cases to certify that the disease has been wiped out. The donation comes as the U.K. is growing foreign-aid donations while implementing belt-tightening elsewhere, said Annabelle Malins, British Consul General in Atlanta. “We hope this will be a major tipping point to provide for the full funding requirement” for guinea worm eradication, she said. Guinea worm disease would be the second human disease to be eradicated after smallpox, and the first to be wiped out without a vaccine or medical treatment. The disease hurts local agriculture in particular as it cripples workers temporarily during planting or harvests. Image: Associated Press

Celeriac noodles are gluten-free pasta goodness – Stonesoup How an Olympic medalist aces race day – Health Four balancing moves away from a stronger core – Real Simple Keep fitness in the family – Daily Spark 15 ways to avoid the freshman 15 – Fitbie Signs that it’s time to break up with your trainer – The Fitnessista Meditation flash mobs take over 130 cities this Thursday – Mind Body Green A yoga class for every personality – Fit Bottomed Girls

Did you rise and shine bright and early this morning to watch Prince William and Kate Middleton say their vows ? Or maybe you turned it into a giant pajama party and decided to stay up all night ? Today, millions of people across the world are recalling their favorite moments from the royal wedding . . . they are also rubbing their eyes and drinking copious amounts of coffee, trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at their day jobs. If only we were so lucky like the Brits to have this monumental day be declared a national holiday – aw well, at least we can sleep it off this weekend! Here are some tips for surviving today and feeling almost back to new by tomorrow.

Bob Harper has been reshaping bodies for 11 seasons now on The Biggest Loser , and now he’s focusing his baby blues on you. His latest DVD, Ultimate Cardio Body ($15), subtitled “Extreme Weight Loss Workout,” makes me think of the show, but Bob seems kinder in this video even though the workout is relentless. Inside a brightly lit modern studio, Bob and a cast of four, with two women confusingly both named Leah (I kept thinking Bob was getting the gals mixed up), lead you through an hour-long workout combining old-school strength training with old-fashioned cardio moves. Get ready for high-knee marching, running in place, and jumping jacks. These bouts of cardio alternate with basic strength training moves for the lower and upper body, sometimes combining the two. Be prepared to do squats and and plenty of them. You will add a little jumping action to both squats and lunges, and making these moves air borne knocks your heart rate out of the fat burning zone straight into the cardio training. Bob does offer variations if you’re not quite up to jumping, but if you’re having knee troubles, this workout is not for you. It’s heavy on the lunges, squats, hopping, and jumping. Learn my likes and dislikes of the workout when you read more. This is definitely a hard workout, and I appreciated the challenge. But the challenge comes from reps upon reps of the same exercises, so it can get a little dull. You do however, bring your quads and hamstrings to the point of exhaustion many times during the workout, which means your legs are only going to get stronger. I did love all the jumping and hoping. At the end of the workout, just when you start to believe you’re on the home stretch, Bob has you start hopping. You’re on one foot for what feels like a minute, then the other foot hopping for a minute, and then you keep alternating. The rest move is mimicking a jump shot, which means you’re trying to defy gravity when you’re really tired. I loved the intensity. I also appreciated that the only prop you need is a set of dumbbells. I used five pounders (although for some moves I could have used 8 pounders) and burned 460 calories in an hour - love that. Bob also begins the workout with some static stretching, it’s not too deep, but I didn’t feel ready to stretch my cold desk bound body after pressing play on the remote control. I wish the warm-up was slightly more dynamic, and that warm-up stretches were actually part of the cooldown, when my worked muscles were ready for the sweet relief of flexibility training. I must say, this is a total body workout, including your heart. This workout is perfect for small spaces, but if you live in an apartment, your downstairs neighbors might not appreciate all the jumping. You can buy the DVD directly from Bob’s website or Amazon . Here’s a taste of the workout:

Indulgent holiday meals will feel far less stressful if you’re able to maintain your workout schedule. But runners traveling to visit out of town friends and family may find themselves far, far away from a treadmill and faced with a chilly outdoor run. Luckily, exercising in the cold is both safe and fun, when executed properly. Here, a few tips on how to prepare yourself for cold weather runs. Dress as if the temperature is 20 degrees warmer than it is . If you overdress, you’ll get hot soon into your workout; underdressing, and you’ll freeze the entire time. Adjust appropriately for weather conditions like snow, and wear reflective gear if you’re going to be out after dark. Warm up indoors . Muscles may feel extra tight in the cold, and getting your heart rate up while getting your muscles ready for a workout will help you stay warm and comfortable, and help prevent injury. Dress in layers . Your bottom layer should be made of a thin material that wicks sweat away from your body (cotton is not a good idea). Your outer layer should be made of a breathable material, like nylon. And if it’s really cold, add an insulating middle layer. Don’t forget your feet . Many running shoes aren’t made to be completely waterproof; take one misstep through some winter sludge and your feet will be cold and wet for the rest of your run. Heavy or layered socks help keep your feet warm, but make sure your shoes allow for the extra room they’ll take up. Watch your step . Earlier sunsets equal darker runs, and slippery ice can be hard to see. Keep an eye where you’re putting your feet to prevent slips and falls. Investing in a headlamp is not a bad idea. Pay attention to the weather . Windy or wet conditions require more insulation. And if the windchill is 20 degrees below zero or more, skip the outdoor workout . . . it is too cold.

The following post was written by New York-based trainer David Kirsch . How often have you had every intention of eating a salad for lunch and grilled fish for dinner but instead, your crazy schedule left you thinking that eating from a to-go container was the only thing you had time for? As your dedicated trainer, I’m here to remind you that you are worth the effort of a homemade meal and that you can actually save time and even lose a jean (or jeggings !) size with fresh, clean, wholesome foods from your own kitchen. Still think you have no time to eat right? Follow my simple strategies that keep even the busiest of my clients slim and healthy. For starters, you may have gotten a little attached to your favorite ice cream treats this summer or fell back into that old BBQ cheeseburger addiction, but as we head into the fall, there’s no better time to clear your kitchen of all those temptations and make room for nutritious foods that will keep you energized all week long. It’s time to Kirsch your kitchen! To learn how to do just that just keep on reading.