Mental Floss

HEALTH

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How Do Placebos Work?

There's a very real reason why your grandmother’s chicken soup makes you feel better when you're sick.

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Kids Should Sit in Rear-Facing Car Seats Until They Outgrow Them, According to New Safety Guidelines

Age 2 is too early to graduate to a new seat.

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Eat or Toss? A Safety Primer for Moldy Foods

You might be able to salvage that cheddar wedge.

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8 Tips and Hacks for Getting the Most Protection From Your Sunscreen

More than half of Americans never wear sunscreen. Follow these tips to easily incorporate it into your daily routine.

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How to Know Which Cereals Are Healthy, According to Nutritionists

Lucky Charms doesn't make the cut.

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Why Does Food Taste Bad After You Brush Your Teeth?

If you have no idea what we're talking about, go brush your teeth and chug some orange juice.

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Depressing New Research Finds There May Be No 'Safe' Level of Alcohol Use

A global analysis of 28 million people found that alcohol in any amount isn't good for you.

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Bacteria Can Turn Type A and B Blood Into a Universal Type O

This discovery could have life-saving applications.

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8 Excessively Cautious Consumer Safety Warnings

"Cape does not enable user to fly."

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Debunking 6 Common Home Remedies That Aren't Worth Trying

If you are sick or injured, the treatment isn't usually in your kitchen pantry—despite what your grandmother may have told you.

Anthony Perkins stars in Psycho (1960)

The U.S. State With the Most Psychopaths Is …

Looking to relocate? You might want to give this a read first.

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Everything You Need to Know About Activated Charcoal

You don't need it in your toothpaste or croissant.

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Does Washing Your Fruits and Vegetables Really Do Anything?

If you don't rinse your produce, it's time to start.

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A 'Zombie Gene' Might Be the Reason Elephants Rarely Get Cancer

But instead of eating brains, it kills mutated cells.

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Which Kind of Oatmeal is Best for Your Health?

The best choice should really be called "groatmeal."

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A Surprising Number of Americans Smell Phantom Odors

And it could be the sign of a serious health problem.

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The Best (and Worst) States to Have a Baby

Location, location, location.

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12 Facts About Kidney Stones

They’re more common than ever.

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How 'Leaning In' to Anxiety Can Help You Deal With a Panic Attack

Accepting what you're feeling may be healthier than resisting it.

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The Anatomy of a Food Recall

Who decides when our food is unsafe, and what happens next?

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10 Surprising Uses for Leftover Bananas

Don't throw them out just yet!

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Allergies Are On the Rise, and Scientists Have a Good Idea Why

Load up on tissues. Allergies are here to stay.

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How Much You Need to Exercise for Better Mental Health, According to Science

A landmark study looked at 1.2 million subjects to find out how much exercise is enough for your overall well-being.

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11 Gross Things That Could Be On Your Toothbrush

Before you brush today, consider this: Poop is just the beginning of what could possibly be hanging out on your toothbrush.