Index

The vagus nerve stretches from the brain to the colon, touching and impacting our organs and more along the way. But less has been known about it, including that it may be key to keeping the heart younger longer…

Keeping your teeth in good shape can be an uphill battle, even with a stellar oral hygiene routine that includes flossing and brushing a few times a day. If you need extra help, give the cavity-busting power of arginine a try…

Several factors support normal blood sugar levels, including diet and exercise. But if you’re spending too much time indoors, you’re cheating yourself of one shown by a world-first study to have a significant impact on metabolic health.

Most of the time, restless legs syndrome is an annoying though benign condition. But there’s a lot of speculation about possible links to Parkinson’s. New findings thicken the plot: In some cases, restless legs may be a loud warning sign…

People with diabetes are at high risk for heart trouble, whether they have traditional symptoms like high blood pressure or cholesterol, or not. Now we know why: Diabetes reshapes the heart…

Alcohol’s relationship with the human body is perplexing. Over the years, there’s been an association with health, but on the other hand, with cancer. How problematic is just one drink a day?

You skin is your largest organ. So taking care of it is about more than fighting the signs of aging. But doing both? I’m on board. Save money on the expensive creams you hoped would work, and renew and strengthen your skin the right way…

If you have dry eye, eye drops accompany you everywhere, and your night routine ends with goopy drops that make you feel slimed. There’s got to be a better way. Research into the root cause may have found a few…

If I had a dollar for every time a doctor told me to cut down my salt intake… But what if something could counter salt’s bad effects? Sort of a “kryptonite” that weakened its impact on blood pressure? Sound too good to be true? This time it’s not…

When Hippocrates said let food be thy medicine, he must have had berries in mind. They’re full of uniquely beneficial compounds, wrapped in delicious little packages. If you don’t eat them daily, you’re missing out on a fast path to heart and blood vessel health…

A heart attack occurs every 40 seconds in the US, making screening to gauge risk vital. But there’s a big problem with the two screening tools doctors depend on: They missed half of all first heart attacks in people screened just days earlier. Here’s why…

A natural skincare trend on TikTok claims the aromatic herb rosemary may help wounds heal more effectively and limit scar formation. But does it really work? Here’s what scientists found when they put it to the test…

Fermented foods have a healthy reputation. But if you’re stuck on yogurt, it’s time to break out of the mold. The Korean dish kimchi is gaining a reputation as an immune system “precision regulator.” Here’s why…

The gut-brain axis has demonstrated how the gut microbiome influences cognitive decline, depression and autoimmune conditions. But the gut is the center of the body in more ways than one. And for women, it’s personal…

Chronic constipation is more than feeling bloated. It can carry serious consequences. Despite modern medicine, why has this natural bodily process become such a widespread problem? The fiber fallacy has kept us from the truth…

Coffee, tea or… better bones? Our two favorite beverages have finally been put to the test: To reduce risk of an osteoporosis-related bone break that half of women over 50 face, what you drink, and how, matters…

Do you shy away from the cheeseboard at parties? I used to, but that’s changing, like the saturated fat myth that had all of us eating low-fat dairy. Turns out high-fat cheese may support your brain, and not harm your heart…

Research into lengthening the human lifespan has been at a fever pitch for a few decades, and science has determined that certain healthy habits can help us live much longer. But the one with the most clout may surprise you…

If you’re health-conscious, you may already take a multivitamin every day. If you don’t, here’s a compelling reason to start: you could avoid a factor for stroke and heart trouble that already affects nearly half of all American adults.

Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the second greatest health threat. Getting an accurate measurement of blood pressure is critical. But are we? Some experts say change is needed…

Osteoporosis and the risks for hip or spine fractures go way up with age, especially for women. That’s why we succumb to bone scans and try to build up our bones. But you may be surprised what your arms can reveal about your bones (and a disease trigger deep in your belly)…

Once we’re out of elementary school, the poop jokes typically end. The childish humor is just that, plus the older we get we learn a fact: There’s nothing funny about not being able to go. And now we know our kidneys and liver can pay the price…

It’s easy to feel giddy eating ice cream, but that feeling likely won’t last long. Boost your mood and slash depression risk by 30% with foods that fight inflammation, improve insulin and bolster gut-brain communication…

A checkup isn’t complete without a blood draw. And though it provides a clearer picture of our health, most of us don’t enjoy the experience. Imagine if there was a way to get all that information without a needle stick…

The doctor says to cut back on salt if your blood pressure is high. But that’s only half the story. If you’re not getting more of a nutrient essential to healthy blood pressure, even the most common BP medications won’t help much.

Doctors use tools to assess the risk of heart attack and stroke based on our arteries. But they’ve just been deemed “not optimal” at preventing half of heart attacks. While the medical community grapples with how to enhance early detection, there are a few things you can do at home to help…

One of the sneakiest causes of constipation is an underactive thyroid. Once you understand the connection between that little gland and your gut, you can get your regularity and a whole lot more back on track…

Evidence is stacking up that napping is connected to heart trouble. If you’re around the age of 60, you’re most affected and need to take a serious look at your blood pressure, how long you sleep at night and how frequent those naps have become…

What would you say if I told you there’s an amazingly healthy snack food that most of us don’t eat, even though the disease-fighting benefits are through the roof? Why? For fear this high-calorie, delicious-tasting snack causes weight gain. But the truth, in fact, is the total opposite…

When María Branyas Morera died at the age of 117, she left more than memories. She left science a gift: samples of her microbiome. Researchers are revealing the secrets it held that could help all of us live a lot longer…