Why it's tough to get up in the morning

How come some people spring out of bed in the morning and others hit the alarm over and over before getting up? There are several explanations, explains sleep expert Carl Brazil, M.D., Ph.D. You may not have slept long enough. Your body wants to get the sleep you need, so if your alarm starts going off too close to when your head hit the pillow, it may be a struggle, Dr. Bazil says. You may be...

Why do us need snooze

"Your mind is processing complex thoughts, making memories stick, clearing out brain waste and much more." BY SARAH DIGIULIO From the outside, most people don't look very active during sleep. But what's going on inside is an entirely different story- particularly for our brains. "It's not just that the brain turns off," explains Carl Bazil, M.D., Ph.D., director of epilepsy and sleep division...

Why do children seem to sleep better than adults ?

Do you know that babies and children need more REM sleep to help filter through everything they're learning? Sleeping like a baby is considered to be the Holy Grail when it comes to snoozing. Everyone wants it -or loves to brag about it, should they manage to get a full night of deep, uninterrupted z's. And while you might be amazed that a baby can sleep through just about anything, from the vacuum...

11 tricks to get sounder sleep

It's easier than you may think - here, simple ways to make changes throughout the day, so you feel more restful at night. Most adults need at least seven hours of sleep per night to maintain optimal physical and mental health. Unfortunately, more than one-third of American adults are not meeting this important health standard- and they are suffering the consequences. The reasons for not getting...

Miso Shiru With Tofu

Ingredients 4 Cups of Dashi (dried fish and kelp stock) or Kombu Dashi (kelp stock) 1/4 Cup of Shiro (white) miso, plus more if necessary 1/2 Cup of drained silken tofu 1 Tablespoon of thinly sliced scallion (preferably light green parts) 2 Tablespoons of dried wakame seaweed, soaked in cold water for 5 minutes, then...

California Temaki Sushi

Ingredients 1/2 Firm-ripe Hass Avocado 4 Nori seaweed sheets (about 8-1/2 by 7-1/2 inches), halved lengthwise 2 Cups cooked, vinegar short-grain white rice at room temperature 1/4 Pound crunchy cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into thin matchsticks 1/4 Pound surimi (mock crab) or fresh lump crabmeat 2 Ounces tobiko...

Mango Sorbet - 1 serving (Dessert)

Ingredients 2 Whole mangoes, peeled and put removed 1/2 Cup fructose 4 Cups ice Instruction 1. Add all ingredients into the Pitcher and secure lid with cap. 2. Press ON button. Set timer for 1 minute. Run at speed 8 until blended. To prevent mixture from melting, do not over-mix. Serve or place in the free...

Steamed Mussels in Tomato-Fennel Broth - 6 servings (Dinner)

Ingredients 2 Tablespoon olive oil. 1 Medium white onion, finely chopped. 2 Shallots, minced. 1/2 Medium fennel bulb, trimmed and thinly sliced. 1 Cup dry white wine. 1 Can (28 ounces) Plum tomatoes. Coarsely chopped, juice reserved. 2 Saffron Threads. Freshly ground black pepper. 3 Pound mussels, scrubbed, debeared,...

Red Wine & Oregano Beep Kabobs - 4 servings (Dinner)

Ingredients 1/4 Cup dry red wine 1/4 Cup finely chopped fresh parsley 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 1 Tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce 1 Teaspoon dried oregano 3 Clove garlic, minced 1/2 Teaspoon salt (optional) 1/2 Teaspoon black pepper 3/4 Pound boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut into 16 (1-inch) pieces 16...

Texas-Style Barbecued Brisket - 12 servings (Dinner)

Ingredients 3 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 Cloves garlic, minced 1 Tablespoon chili powder 1 Teaspoon celery salt 1 Teaspoon black pepper 1 Teaspoon liquid smoke 1 Beef brisket (3 to 4 pounds), trimmed 2 bay leaves Barbecue Sauce (Recipe below) Instruction For Slow Cook 1. Combine Worcestershire sauce,...

Garlic Bread and Salmon Salad - 4 servings (Lunch or Dinner)

Ingredients 2 Slices day-old light whole wheat bread 1 Clove garlic, cut in half 7-1/2 Ounces canned, pouch or cooked salmon, flaked 1/2 Cup chopped green onions, green parts only 1 Cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved 1 Teaspoon olive oil 5 Teaspoons white wine vinegar 1 Tablespoon tomato juice 1/4 Teaspoon salt 1/4...

Sunset Berry - 2 servings (Drink)

Ingredients 1 Cup Strawberries, hulled 1 Orange, peeled 1/2 Lime, peeled Instruction Blend together for 5 minutes and se...

Red Orange Juice - 2 servings (Drink)

Ingredients 1 Orange, peeled 1 Apple 1/2 Cup Raspberries 1/2 Cup Strawberries, hulled Instruction Blend together for 5 minutes and se...

Immunity Boost Juice - 3 servings (Drink)

Ingredients 1 grapefruit, peeled 2 oranges, peeled 1/2 cup blackberries Juice grapefruit, oranges and blackberries. Instruction Blend together for 5 minutes and it should be ready to ser...

Ruby grapefruit lime granita - 6 serving (Dessert)

Ingredients 3 cups pink or ruby red grapefruit juice 1 cup boiling water 1/2 cup superfine sugar 1 tablespoon grated lime zest 2 tablespoons Campari Fresh mint leaves Instruction 1. Whisk grapefruit juice, water sugar, and lime zest in large bowl until sugar dissolves. Pour mixture into 9 x 13 inches baking dish. Cover...

Steamed mussels with oven frites - 4 serving (Dinner)

Ingredients 3 baking potatoes (about 1/2 pound each), each cut lengthwise 12 wedges 3 teaspoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper 1 small onion, chopped 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 teaspoons curry powder 2 large tomatoes, chopped 1/2 cup dry white wine 2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and debearded 3/4...

Double chocolate chiffon cake - 16 serving (Dessert)

Ingredient 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup Dutch process cocoa powder 1 cup boiling water 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar 4 large eggs, separated 1/3 cup canola oil 3 large egg whites 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar 1 tablespoon confectioners's...

Three mushroom barley soup - 6 servings (Breakfast)

Ingredients 4 teaspoons olive oil 2 carrots, chopped 1 onion, chopped 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 pound white button mushrooms, sliced 1/2 pound shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, caps sliced 1/2 pound oyster mushrooms, sliced 3 garlic cloves, minced 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth 1/2 cup quick-cooking...

Meatball sandwiches with sun-dried tomato sauce - 4 serving (Lunch)

Ingredient 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) 1 cup fat-free marinara sauce 2/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 pound ground skinless turkey breast 1/3 up plain dried bread crumbs 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 large egg white 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil 4 (2-ounce) whole wheat hero rolls,...