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I have a bad habit. It puts my health at risk daily. But I can’t (or don’t want to) quit it. I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager, after all. Despite what you may be thinking, it’s nothing too crazy. It’s not smoking, drinking, doing drugs or even eating donuts. It’s wearing makeup.

I don’t know about you, but Christmas is almost here and I’m still recovering from Thanksgiving. And, it’s not just the hours spent cleaning and decorating to prepare for company – only to clean again once the fun was over and everyone went home that has left me dragging – but the food, oh the food!

Wow, the response to my post last week on cacao, the superfood to beat statins, was amazing! But I’m not really surprised… Now that you know what cacao can do for cholesterol, let me share other benefits that will have you adding cacao to your coffee like I did this morning…

High blood pressure is a life-threatening condition if not properly managed. So, medication is a no-brainer for most… At least until your psoriasis flare-ups get worse and your irritated skin becomes swollen as it cracks and bleeds. Unfortunately, for people with psoriasis, things just aren’t that simple…

If you’ve ever struggled to lose weight and keep it off, you know that the battle of the bulge can be challenging. Surprisingly, a few simple tricks and lifestyle changes may represent easy ways to shrink your waistline. Start with these 10 simple tricks that are easy to stick with.

Lots of people deal with mild to moderate brain fog that keeps them from functioning at their best. That’s because brain fog is a symptom of a wide variety of conditions, which makes you wonder… what’s really causing brain fog in all these situations? Now we know and what to do about it…

You might focus specifically on your heart or brain when you think of your health. While there’s no doubt they’re important, we tend to ignore an organ that’s every bit as vital — one that plays a role in the health of every other part of your body, especially when it comes to stopping disease…

Thanks to all the sweet treats that go hand-in-hand with social gatherings, I have no doubt that I eat more sugar during the holidays than in the previous six months combined. But eating a high-sugar diet for even a short amount of time can result in shockingly fast health problems…

As a rule, blood pressure tends to go up after menopause. Many doctors think it has something to do with changing hormones. But there’s another factor adding to the problem… and this is the time of year that the risk could be especially plentiful if you’re not aware of it…

Readily available, far less expensive than medications, and with no side effects, the foods you choose to eat — and not eat — can make the difference between becoming a statistic and living a healthy life. A new study points to one class of food that can dramatically lower your risk for heart disease…

Wildly fluctuating hormones go hand-in-hand with everything from mood swings and hot flashes to night sweats, sleep problems and weight gain. To top it off, most women face a less-than-satisfying sex life thanks to the added bonus of sexual problems. But it doesn’t have to be that way…

Research shows that most cancer patients don’t die from cancer. They die from conditions caused by or related to their cancer. And one of the most dangerous cancer-related risks you need to be aware of is stroke, especially when it comes to these five types of cancer…

Hip pain doesn’t stop at your hips. It can cause debilitating pain in the lower back and knees because your hips simply cannot bear their share of the weight. If you are living with hip pain, even if it seems minor, it’s good to know the cause. Here are four possible reasons for hip pain, and the signs of each…

Like many people, I’ve always had a problem getting enough sleep. Whether it’s falling asleep in the first place or waking up and spending the rest of the night with my mind spinning, it seems like a solid eight or even five hours can be hard to find. Then I discovered clean sleeping…

When I was growing up, my parents were always on one type of diet or another. From Cambridge Shakes to Slim Fast, the grapefruit diet to eating only cabbage soup, if it wasn’t one, it was another. And, no matter what, I remember my mom saying that my dad always lost more weight, faster.

There was a time, in my younger years, when I thought that having a breast implant was just an act of vanity. Then I learned about breast cancer. But these medical devices have a troubled history, to say the least, including fatigue, exhaustion, joint swelling and pain, frequent muscle cramps, fibromyalgia and now, cancer.

Evening snacking is a hard habit to break. It takes willpower to not pour a bowl of cereal at 9 pm. Or finish that whole bowl of popcorn while you catch up on Dancing with the Stars. But sometimes to break a bad habit you need to be reminded why your body is built to eat during the day…

After years of being told what to eat, what not to eat, and even omitting entire food groups, we’re realizing some of these diets are rather extreme. And confusing. If you find yourself overwhelmed about how to eat to avoid disease and live a longer life, scrap the complicated diets and remember two simple rules…

Regular brushing, flossing and visits to your dentist are essential for maintaining oral health. But equally important is your diet. These self-care measures can make a significant difference in promoting dental health, reducing cavities and, most importantly, supporting your overall health.

By now, most people have heard of antioxidants and what these little gems can do for their health. But, just in case you’re still wondering if getting enough antioxidants every day is actually important, let’s do a quick recap on their most important points…

Like a lot of people, I’ve noticed that as I’ve gotten older, my hearing isn’t quite as good as it used to be. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I drive my husband crazy by constantly saying, “What?” and “Can you please talk louder. I can’t hear you!” But I’ve found a little trick to avoid embarrassing moments like these…

When someone is extremely self-absorbed we may say that they think they’re the center of the universe. My dad, on the other hand, prefers saying that they think the sun shines out their backside. Well, you know what? He’s onto something, but UV rays bring disease protection to everyone’s gut…

It’s hard to imagine anyone getting a case of the winter blues with all the holiday hustling and bustling happening, but seasonal affective disorder is estimated to affect as many as 10 million Americans. If the cold grey days get to you, try these comfort foods with nutrients that can combat the winter blues in a very real way.

Fall and winter are seasons of serious indulgence, starting with the holidays… They’re also seasons of serious cold and flu viruses that run rampant this time of year. I hate to break it to you, but what you eat affects your immunity a lot more than you think. In fact, this diet might keep you flu-free…

Every cardiologist in America (including me) had an eye on Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago, and it wasn’t for the Eagles-Patriots game. The results of a major study on the effectiveness of stents and bypass surgery were announced at the annual conference of the American Heart Association — and surgeons are stunned…

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that’s caused when UV rays damage pigment cells in the skin called melanocytes. When melanocytes are damaged, they mutate and start growing rapidly. But the root of skin cancer may be hiding somewhere other than your skin cells — in your hair follicles.

Essential fatty acids found in fish oil have had their ups and downs in health news. First, they were praised for heart health, then dashed for prostate cancer potential, then dashed again on heart disease. But finally, it looks like more studies are coming out that vindicate omega-3s all around…

The evidence is clear: the amount of sleep you get each night is a predictor of your health and of your lifespan. Seven to eight hours is the number you should be shooting for. In fact, numerous studies have enlightened us about the dangers of too little (and too much) sleep. The latest threat? Old bones…

Step into any store, park, mall, or gym and you’ll see immediately that some people walk more slowly while others speed past. And, while you may think that how fast you walk is simply a matter of preference, a new 40 year study by researchers at Duke University says that you should think again.

A Belgian astronomer and mathematician developed this easy-to-calculate ratio between a person’s height and their weight. It’s become an accepted measuring stick for a person’s chances of living a long, healthy life, or of dying young. But BMI, or body mass index, is coming under a lot of fire…

Research shows that if you spend too much time around noise and pollution the way we typically do, your body…

Stability and balance are two different concepts that many understand to mean the same thing. But when working toward a healthy body to improve activity, at any level, and quality of life — it’s important to know the difference…

All these years spent worrying about what to eat to prevent diabetes — but who knew the actual cooking method had so much to do with disease risk? Fortunately, it’s not too late to make a change.

When you occasionally allow yourself to enjoy a good old-fashioned juicy hamburger you already know you’re going to be consuming quite a few calories and gobs of grease. No surprises there. But it’s the little ‘extras’ the factory farms are sneaking into your meat that you should be most concerned about.

Their study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, included 953 stage III colon cancer patients who were treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Those who consumed at least four cups daily had the greatest benefits…

It’s surprising how many people believe that their metabolism is beyond their control… Nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s how it works…

If you’re a fan of acupuncture, you know that a few well-placed needles can do wonders for your health. Now it’s been shown to ease a lot of the uncomfortable symptoms of aging…

It’s not always convenient to make the best food choices. No harm! Researchers have recently uncovered a simple (and delicious) way to counteract the effects of a few bad dietary choices.

Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer may want to consider increasing the amount of fish oil in their diet. New research indicates that fish oil may delay prostate cancer progression by affecting the immune system.

Yale researchers have found a particular problem that’s attacking women’s hearts. The good news is a substance that can help block stress and guard their hearts.

Is “low sex drive” a disease? Big Pharma wants you to think so. They’re calling it “hypoactive sexual desire disorder.” Never mind that nature has provided many ways to boost libido …

Doctors and nutritionists are behind the curve on this one. New discoveries you probably won’t hear about from them now show that the signals sent within our bodies are critical for good health.

Did you overindulge on BBQ, drink one too many cocktails or stay up at a late-night party? Whatever the cause, bloating can be much worse in the hot summer weather. Legs and feet can swell, faces puff and pants don’t fit. Not exactly a picture of summer fitness and health, is it?

If you’re a health nut who likes your daily caffeine fix, you’re probably a fan of green tea. It has just enough caffeine to keep you zipping and more than enough antioxidants to keep you healthy. But it seems green tea has a rival as the king of healthy caffeinated beverages…

Be warned… dehydration makes you more susceptible to heat stroke. And a headache can be a symptom of heat stroke. Heat stroke is serious. So if you have a heat-induced headache, watch out for other heat stroke symptoms…

It’s hard for busy working adults to stay fit. I certainly don’t need to detail for you how busy your days and weeks are… but I think it’s safe for me to assume that fitting in exercise is next to impossible.

When my children were very young, I baked a lot of oatmeal raisin cookies. But that was years ago — way before I began making a concerted effort to prepare and consume healthier fare. Now, I bake oatmeal raisin muffins.

Excessive hair loss is an alarming condition. Especially if you don’t understand what is normal versus what needs medical attention. Hair loss can be triggered by many things including recent illness, stress, even a poor diet. Pinpointing the cause is the first step to stopping the loss.

Hidden deep within the sea are plants, animals and minerals with cancer-fighting powers so strong they rival the Amazon’s most potent cancer cures. This one has proven effective against one of the deadliest cancers around…

Protecting the quality of your sleep is one of the most healing and rejuvenating things you can do for yourself. By combining sleep-promoting habits, the right foods and targeted supplements, you can get the rest you need.

Cleansing the gut is as crucial to gut health as removing the old oil from your automobile before adding the new oil. Just imagine returning your gut, intestines and colon lining to the pristine condition you had it in when you were a child — clean, pink and functioning optimally. You can do this…

Nuts are the one food that drastically reduces your risk of inflammation, chronic disease and an early death. And in my book, that’s a “prescription” that’s easy to stomach. But whatever nut you pick, just make sure…

In the female body, there are almost 400 known functions of estrogen. So for reasons that significantly impact your health and quality of life, wrangling your hormones is something you should consider…

Cardiovascular exercise has long been the answer to burning calories quickly. But it’s the long-term impact that weight training has on your body that may win you over though…

If you toss and turn at night, you’re not alone. About 70 million Americans suffer with sleeping problems. But there are natural ways you can use to ease your way more reliably into relaxing slumber.

A tight back and shoulders prevents ease of movement and restricts range of motion. Painful trigger points develop from sitting and typing all day or from overuse, causing more pain and restricted movement. Foam rolling is a great way to release those trigger points.

Though no one can change their DNA, we certainly can address the environmental factors that influence our health. It is possible to shift these factors from disease promoting to health promoting.

Kombucha, also known as the elixir of life, is not your typical cup of tea. This mildly fermented beverage has been around for centuries and is often touted as a near-miraculous cure-all. Here are a few reasons why…

To be fit it’s important to possess a degree of muscular strength as well as cardiovascular endurance. A good workout plan includes strength training with intermittent bursts of high intensity exercise.

There’s a lot scientists still don’t know about the Zika virus. But one thing is for sure… It’s officially made its way stateside. And that’s not just bad news for pregnant women and their babies…