Latest Stories

This time of year, I start wondering what flu season is going to be like. So I started digging and found my answer: a report from Harvard Medical School confirmed my worst suspicion. In fact, they say that we are likely to have an “active and possibly severe flu season.” Let’s get ready to beat this…

If you’re a smoker who’s tried to quit, you know it’s a hard addiction to fight. But what if you only smoke “once in a while?” Are you safer than those pack-a-day smokers? Well, reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke daily may be the first step to quitting entirely, but you’re far from out of the woods…

You’ve probably heard that trans fat is the unhealthiest kind of fat you can eat. It increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. In fact, they’re so bad they were banned… but you’ll be surprised to learn you may still be eating them and they could increase dementia risk by 50 percent…

The keto diet is a big thing these days. No wonder, since it’s been shown to have the potential to boost weight loss, improve heart health and brain function, and maybe even reduce the risk of cancer. But not everyone should just jump into the keto diet headfirst…

Living with diabetes puts you at greater risk of infection, including skin and respiratory infections. Why? High blood sugar weakens your immune system, leaving you a wide-open target for infectious bacteria. That means you must be vigilant about more than your blood sugar. You must know these signs of infection…

You may know that hypertension in middle age is also associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s later in life. Long-term blood pressure damages vessels in the brain creating “white matter lesions” which can be seen on brain scans. But the good news is that this damage can be reversed…

Once you turn 50, things in your body start to change. We expect some changes in appearance and abilities, but a few of these are just plain weird. If you know they’re coming, you’ll be better prepared for them. You may not be able to reverse them, but there are ways you can continue to feel like yourself and enjoy what’s to come.

For a long time, healthy living and coffee drinking were at odds. But by and large, the perspective on coffee and health has changed a lot in the past 20 years. Why? Because science keeps proving that coffee is good for you. Case in point: A recent study shows coffee brews better gut bacteria…

In 2018, there was a big hullabaloo about the heart health benefits of fish oil. The major news outlets reported on a research review of existing clinical trials on the heart health benefits of fish oil — and found that there really weren’t any. But a bigger, better and higher quality review has all those naysayers eating crow.

There’s been a lot of talk over the last decade about so-called superfoods that have the power to ward off disease, slow aging, and help you stay healthier and more active longer. But one of the really super ones is a drink — tea. And now we know more about its amazing effects on the brain…

You’ve probably read about the benefits of drinking red wine. As long as you stick to a glass or two a day, you can get those protective benefits. However, there are certain times when drinking wine, or any other alcoholic beverage, will do more harm than good. Here are three everyone should be aware of…

It’s no secret that vegetables are good for your health… but exactly which are the best vegetables for your heart health — and why are they so beneficial? No worries… here are some rules to follow when cruising the grocery aisles.

As we get older, exercise becomes even more important than it was in our 20s and 30s. The tough part is that our bodies won’t, or shouldn’t, do the same things they did decades ago. We have to be more selective about the type of exercise we engage in.

Say you start taking a new blood pressure medication and suddenly feel nauseous and dizziness all the time. What would you do? Probably call your doctor. But if you’re suddenly feeling down or anxious, you may not immediately connect it to your blood pressure medication. Especially, if no one warned you…

We’ve all heard high blood pressure called the “silent killer.” And, unfortunately, I’ve seen how deadly it can be in my own family. But, sometimes, it’s not just the hypertension you have to worry about… Two common factors can compound the threat to triple the risk of cardiovascular death.

It’s easy to get conflicted about the importance of vitamins, especially when the mainstream tells us there’s no reason to supplement. But then a 20-year study comes out that proves for some, like diabetics, a simple deficiency could quadruple the risk of death from disease complications…

Since I took a prolonged course of heavy-duty antibiotics several years ago, my gut has never been the same. Acid reflux, IBS — I’ve had all sorts of problems that impacted how I Iive my life. So I was excited to find a recent study revealed a diet that can improve gut health… even after it’s gone seriously awry.

With the season’s falling temperatures comes an increased risk for upper respiratory infections… If you find yourself coughing, sneezing or wheezing anytime soon and your doctor places an antibiotic prescription in your hands, make sure you’re not trading an infection for a heart problem…

It’s no exaggeration to say that Vitamin B12 is crucial to life. B12 helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. It also creates and regulates DNA. B12 is essential for proper nerve function. So a deficiency can leave you wide open for serious problems. Here’s how to avoid them…

Before the widespread use of modern-day antibiotics in the 1960s, honey was used around the world as a wound dressing. It’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties made it the perfect substance for treating wounds and skin infections.

As winter comes on, there’s good news for those of us who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, or even a nightly drink before dinner. Apparently, wine contains powerful antibacterial agents that could keep you clear of a sore throat and maybe even improve the results of your next dental visit…

We all know that if we want to lose weight, slim down, and tone up, we have to do two things – watch what we eat and exercise. Yet too often, even when we stick to those two principles, it can be difficult to truly see much difference in a short amount of time.

Electronics are so ingrained in our day-to-day, it’s hard to imagine life without them. But people who remember a pre-digital world, often wonder if being so plugged-in is harmful. A new study shows that the blue light from electronics may damage brain cells. But that’s not all… it could make you age faster too…

Dairy marketing has long convinced many of us that drinking a lot of milk is the express lane to strong bones. We’ve told that “milk does a body good.” Turns out, that may not only be false, but a downright dangerous statement that’s luring thousands of men to their early deaths.

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat, a fat long considered to be unhealthy. Yet coconut oil has been credited with a wide range of health benefits. What’s wrong with that picture? Here are 12 ways the research shows coconut oil can impact your health and wellness….

Since the early research on the French paradox, a lot of naysayers have come out of the woodwork to cast doubt on its validity. And they’re partly right: There was a glitch in the research concerning the correlations with red wine. But dismissing the French paradox completely would be a big mistake…

Millions of Americans are so affected by health disorders that are so stigmatizing, they’re too afraid to get help. Many feel alone in their experience, so they don’t seek the treatments they need. Here are a few of the most commonly stigmatized health issues and tips on how to get help…

There are two things they say are 100 percent certain in life… death and taxes. And according to the CDC, in the U.S. you’re most likely to die from either heart disease or cancer. I can’t help you with your taxes, but there’s a way to measure your heart disease and cancer risk at home and do something about it…

Being sick or in the hospital is hard enough, without having to figure out the bills that soon follow. Are you being overcharged? Did the doctor or hospital submit the charge to your insurance company? Is the insurance company paying what it should? Having someone in your corner makes a big difference.

Ahhh… childhood… Cartoons. Games. Candy. Sugary cereals. It was a blast, wasn’t it? Well, that was then, and this is now: All of that stuff is still weighing down your (and my) health today. In fact, our childhood diets play a bigger role in our major health issues as adults than most of us ever realized…

Pesticides, herbicides and fungicides accumulate in your cells, fatty tissue and nervous system weakening your immune system by suppressing the function of white blood cells. Is your favorite fruit too risky to eat?

Fifty percent of randomly tested protein products contained carcinogens. Many more contain soy, MSG, sucralose, sucrose, or fructose, just to mention a few things that increase the likelihood you’ll crave sugar and store fat.

Despite what you may have heard, you don’t have to pay a fortune to eat healthy. Follow the right path, and you may even find you save money by foregoing the ‘convenient’ health risks of processed foods.

Concussions and traumatic brain injury, or TBIs, affect over a million Americans every year. The vast majority are relatively mild, not requiring hospitalization. However, even in these mild concussions, over 75% will develop chronic pain, problems with memory and attention, irritability, and other neurocognitive issues.

Oftentimes people complain of low back pain, and this can be related to imbalances or weakness in the strength and tone of the leg muscles; the quadriceps, hamstrings, and calves. Squatting is a great way to develop leg strength through the full range of motion.

Ginger is a spice that has been valued for millennia for its culinary zing and healing properties. The latter benefit is largely attributed to …

It is important to warm up before physical activity. Dynamic warm-ups are your best bet because they accomplish a lot in a short amount of time and elevate your heart rate slightly.

Conventional cow’s milk is full of growth hormones and antibiotics. Soy milk disrupts your hormones. Almond milk is overly processed and light on nutrients. But what about cockroach milk…

Lately, chances are you’ve come across hoards of teenagers and adults sitting together, staring at their phones. At first glance, it’d be easy to dismiss the groups as indulged millennials wasting their time, but the Pokémon Go app is actually being credited with something positive…

What child doesn’t like to dunk or drown his food in condiments, dressings, dips and sauces? And let’s face it; we adults dip and dunk and smother our food, too. But more often than not, we compromise our health by doing so — because most condiments are made with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Many folks use a vacation in the summer to re-charge their health. But you may not be optimizing the benefits of your time off. It turns out there are a few tips you can follow before, during and after that can boost your vacation-related health benefits.

Everyone experiences a normal level of fatigue every day, be it from overwork, exercise, stress or just the length of a day’s activities. But for those suffering with multiple sclerosis (MS), fatigue seems to be a particularly tough hurdle to clear.

If you think a foggy memory is the first warning sign of Alzheimer’s, think again. There are other symptoms that can indicate your dementia risk well before your memory begins to slip, so you can do something about it.

Is cellulite inevitable and are you stuck with it? No and no. However, cellulite does not discriminate and it can find anyone, athlete or couch potato. Your best cellulite solutions begin with a cellulite attack plan…

There’s something nearly all of us are still doing that’s almost as bad as sucking down the old cancer sticks. And it’s more likely to kill you than having high blood pressure or high cholesterol if you don’t stop.

The work you do can have an impact on your risk of developing prostatitis. Based on information from the Urology Specialists of the Carolinas, the professions with the highest risk of prostatitis tend to include these three types of activity…

Breast cancer comes in many variations. One of the primary factors in determining the type is the sensitivity of the tumor cells to estrogen. If a breast tumor is estrogen receptor-positive, estrogen transfers a message to the cells to grow. But we can minimize the activation of receptors a few ways….

Oxidation is a potential problem with all omega-3 sources, not just fish oil. That means your flax oil isn’t safe either. So watch for these tell-tell signs or choose the only omega-3 oil that’s relatively oxidation-proof…

Just when you thought medicine couldn’t get more expensive, there’s a new bank-breaking material slated for the next generation of knee and hip replacements — gold. But this vitamin is a better investment…

The age old advice for wellness is “diet and exercise” and it still holds strong to this day. With diet and exercise you can keep the muscles toned, the cardiovascular system in shape, maintain a healthy weight, and feel great.

Patients often ask me what they should eat to lose weight. I point to healthy protein in instead of empty carbohydrates or unhealthy fats. Because of this, let me share in this article why dietary protein is …

I’m trying to add more superfoods, including salmon, to my diet. This recipe features avocado, which is also a superfood and which just so happens to be one of my favorite foods. And I must confess that I’m not at all opposed to ingesting a smidgen of cream cheese.

In your younger days it seemed important to boost muscle growth for larger, defined muscles. But after 40, it’s more important to exercise your muscles just to keep from losing them. And there’s one exercise that can produce big results…

Summer is one of the most rewarding seasons. But as your appetite for adventure increases, so does your risk for a number of health issues. Here are some common warm weather hazards to look out for, and the best ways to keep them from ruining your summer…

How do we develop and benefit from gratitude as a habit in our lives? Here are 5 proven practices that net amazing results in the hearts and minds of those who practice them..

If there’s one constant about viruses, they’re constant. Always there, usually always mutating to infect us in harsher ways and always striking when you least expect it. That’s why prevention makes sense…

Patients often ask why they’re gaining weight. If you’re eating reasonably and getting some exercise, you have to dig deeper, because there are hundreds of factors that contribute to unwanted weight gain. Here’s how to tackle them…

Ghee is 100 percent butterfat. Butter contains primarily butterfat, but also milk proteins and water. It has a nutty flavor and lots of people consider it a superfood. When you see the benefits, you may too…

Before I provide any diet advice, you can rest assured I’ve researched it, followed it, and experienced the effects of it. And that’s what I’ll share. The rest is up to you.

Your shoulders are such a necessary part of daily life. But over the years they become tight, injured, and immobile. Luckily, there is a simple exercise you can do at home that can keep the shoulders loose and mobile, or return them to that place.