A round-up of the most interesting and thought-provoking stories of the week.
Scientists Cook Up Lab-Grown Beef
The first laboratory-created hamburger was eaten in the UK earlier this week. Made from stem cells, the burger cost more than $40,000 a bite. Though it lacked fat (and thus flavor), tasters said it did resemble an all-beef patty. If lab-grown beef were available and affordable, would you eat it? Wall Street Journal
How Sleep Loss Adds to Weight Gain
Staying up late and skimping on sleep does more than cause under-eye circles and crankiness. It also can contribute to weight gain. Learn why. NYT Well blog
Some like it hot, but does it matter in yoga?
If you like hot yoga, stick with it, but experts say you're not burning any extra calories. You likely will feel more flexible, say the researchers behind the American Council on Exercise-sponsored study, but you're not working harder than those in cooler yoga studios. More sweat does not correlate to more calories burned. Reuters
Shake Up Your Snacks: 7 Fun Ideas
Ban boring snacks. (Sayonara, rice cakes!) Bust out of the snack rut. (I'm looking at you, bananas and peanut butter!). Try one of these new, tasty, hunger-busting treats. FITNESS magazine
That Face-Lift May Buy You Only Three Years Of Youth
If you're banking on a face lift taking years off, save your money. A new study says you'll only look about three years younger. (Psst… many of our success stories say that weight loss and better health are the best ways to undo aging!) NPR
Squatters right, says student toilet designer
(Skip this story if you're reading while eating.) Just the children's book says, everyone poops. A design student in Great Britain says he has created a new loo that will make bathroom trips easier--and offer health benefits. Would you buy a squat toilet? Reuters
FDA issues new rules on gluten labeling
Last week the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled long-awaited rules that define what "gluten-free" labels mean. Food labeled "gluten-free" must contain fewer than 20 parts per million of gluten, which you can visualize by imagining two grains of salt in a slice of bread. USA Today
Want To Be A Morning Person? Take A Few Tips from Campers
If you get in tune with nature--or at least get on Mother Nature's schedule--spend a week in the woods. According to a (very small) study, spending time in nature helped participants, even night owls, be bright(er)-eyed and bushy(ier)-tailed in the mornings. NPR
How to Get More Out of Pushups
Put your pushups to work for you, with these tips to engage more muscle groups. FitSugar
Brain Food 101: DIY Frozen Pizza
Save money and eat better with home-made frozen pizzas. Learn the technique to ensure a perfect pizza! Savvy Eats
Which stories topped your "must-read" list this week?
