Latest Stories

In the months and years after a heart attack, there’s concern about having another one. After all, 20 percent of people who’ve had a heart attack have a second one within five years. Worrying, though, won’t prevent another, and neither will medicine for that matter. But your belly fat might…

As a cardiologist who’s always been interested in nutrition, I encourage you to step away from the hype and the false trends, move beyond macronutrients, and follow the dietary advice that has stood the test of time, allows humans to live long well, and is profoundly elegant, simple and sound, starting with carbs…

You’ve probably heard of antioxidants. They’re the healthy compounds that fight free radical damage from the oxidative stress caused by everything from exposure to U.V. rays to eating fried foods and even your body’s own physiological processes. Now, the effect of one kind at keeping Alzheimer’s away has been measured, and it’s amazing…

When you’re contemplating surgery, there are two things you’re probably thinking about: How expensive will it be? And, more importantly, how risky will it be? A third question should be: is this surgery even necessary?

Cannabidiol has the potential to improve a lot of people’s health. But what conditions will it work for? That question’s a doozy. Especially since there’s a lot of misinformation out there about what cannabidiol can and can’t do. But recent research by the ‘big guns’ shows that CBD is helpful for at least four health conditions, and probably more…

We know by now that exercise is not an option… but not for the reason most often associated with exercise, like getting in shape. Without some form of regular exercise, most of will find it hard to live a long, full, healthy life, avoid cancer and weak bones and the telltale signs of frailty creeping in…

For far too long, saving our hearts has focused on one thing: cholesterol. But heart research into another growing health problem may intersect this blind spot of cardiovascular research to provide an answer for two very serious health conditions that both lead to vascular calcification… and hearts that give out.

I don’t know about you, but I was so sad to hear that actress Shannen Doherty’s cancer is back… and with a vengeance. It’s a risk many of us worry about, and some, more so than others, have an elevated risk. Though there is no cure, we can lessen those risks, starting with these simple habits, backed by research…

When you’re admitted to a hospital, whether for surgery or an illness, you expect to come out healthier than you went in, or at least not sicker. Unfortunately, for one in every ten people, just the opposite happens. While in the hospital, those people contract a nosocomial infection.

It’s one of the most popular ingredients in packaged foods… from bread to protein bars to chips to lunch meat. And then there’s restaurant food. So even if you don’t cook with it, you’re likely eating it. Research links it to diabetes and fatty liver disease, and now the brain…

Once you’re exposed to perfluoroalkyl substances or PFAs, they end up in your bloodstream forever. In fact, PFAs can be seen in the bloodwork of 99 percent of Americans. PFAs are carcinogenic. They’re linked to thyroid, liver and kidney disease. Here’s how to cut down on exposure and detox what’s there already…

Fat is normally stored under our skin, but when there’s too much, we run out of room. The amount of fat that you can store under your skin varies from person to person. But what happens once you run out of room? Scientists discovered it gets caught up in an overspill mechanism that can be reversed…

Some people say we should avoid milk completely. Others will tell you to only go with whole milk because the fats in it are good for your brain. How do you know what’s right? Well, a new study is shedding more light on the subject, at least when it comes to how fast you age…

Phenacetin was a popular painkiller until 1983 when the FDA banned it because of its connection to cancer. Good riddance, right? Not so fast… it’s connected to a very popular OTC pain killer on our drugstore shelves right now that may increase the risk of several cancers, including kidney, bladder and blood cancer…

From “natural” to “non-GMO,” food labels can make almost any item in the grocery store appear good for you. But we know that most processed foods are far from healthy. If you’re confused in the grocery store aisles, here’s Dr. Klodas’ guide to exactly what all the labels mean…

It’s no secret that a sedentary lifestyle, where the most exercise you get is standing up from your chair, can be deadly. Just doing any sort of exercise regularly can protect your best years. Because staying active does much more than control blood pressure and prevent strokes and heart attacks.

If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not eggs are not only healthy but safe when it comes to your heart, you’re not alone. After all, it’s been a head-spinning debate for the last two decades. Finally, the controversy about whether eggs are good or bad for your heart health looks to be solved…

How is the FDA doing at “protecting the public” from the opioid crisis? And how quickly are they making headway against the growing threat of antibiotic resistance? One could argue that they need to focus on the real problems here, and not worry about a substance that could actually be the answer to it all.

Your body needs muscle for more reasons than just movement. It needs muscle to regulate hormones, perform metabolic functions and maintain organ function. So, losing muscle quickly creates a dangerous domino effect that makes your body unable to perform critical tasks for survival.

The interconnectedness of your brain, your gut, and your immune system is a well-known fact, but maybe one that’s not completely familiar to you. The more you know about it, the more you can do to hold onto your health and keep your independence as you age. And it starts at your belly…

About 80 percent of people deal with low back pain, and most of the time, it’s not caused by a strain or injury. A new study from researchers at John Hopkins Medicine may have finally figured out what’s behind our aching backs…

You have a stressful job. You get home from work, exhausted. You watch TV until you fall asleep, forgetting to brush your teeth. These are just a few of the common habits most of us are guilty of. What’s the harm? These are just a few of 8 behaviors that shave years off your lifespan…

It’s an industrial food product and a far cry from the ‘natural’ label claimed for it. In fact, it’s prepared by a secret formula — that the food industry will not reveal (even to government agencies or health workers). And it’s part of an explosion of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here’s what you should know…

Even if you always avoid the potato salad at summer picnics, one day you’ll find yourself crouched next to a toilet cursing the suspicious food that made you so uncomfortable. Luckily, food poisoning doesn’t strike that often. It’s even possible to stack the deck against food-borne pathogens to lower your odds more…

Have you taken a good look at the ingredient list on your shampoo lately? How about your toothpaste? I’m willing to bet there’s an ingredient they all have in common. The problem? It’s a harsh chemical the Environmental Protection Agency considers a “probable human carcinogen.”

Did you know that 70 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by just three lifestyle diseases — heart disease, cancer and lung disease? But what if lifestyle wasn’t the whole story behind so-called “lifestyle” diseases? What if there was something else causing these diseases… something contagious?

It’s also no secret that refined carbs like white bread, soda, white rice, and pastries with their added sugar, have a high glycemic index. Eating them raises blood sugar much too rapidly, setting us up for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But that’s not all they do…

Hands-down, one of the easiest exercises to fit into your life is walking. In fact, when you choose to walk your way to weight loss, you don’t need special equipment, a gym membership, or expensive new clothes. You just get going. But how far do you actually need to walk to lose weight?

You stop to grab a quick drink and see all those colorful soda cans and bottles behind those frosty refrigerated glass doors. You’re tempted, but you stick to bottled water for your health’s sake. But you might have just picked a heart attack waiting to happen…

This may seem obvious, but chronic back pain can wreak havoc on your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Many people turn to both pain medication and sleeping pills. But taking sleep and pain medications together can be a recipe for disaster. Boston Medical Center found two things that work…

Want to avoid prostate cancer? You can feel better, possibly lose weight, and reduce your risk of prostate cancer and other health problems common in American men.

An alkaline diet can offer numerous benefits for long-term wellness and vitality. You can greatly reduce chronic inflammation, pain and more with an alkaline lifestyle, and feel vibrant once again.

From an evolutionary perspective, dramatic weight loss was bad for survival. So now, when you gain a few pounds, your body clings to them like your life depends on it, because it once did.

As you age, you lose flexibility. All you need to do is look at any number of seniors hunched over or leaning on canes and walkers to see how much range of motion you can lose over time. Hold on to yours…

Most of us feel that we don’t need to worry about dehydration unless we’re outside on a hot, sunny day or exercising. And most of us are wrong.

If you think that food quality is not a vital part of optimal health, think again. And if you think because we live in a modern world with grand advancements in science and technology, that we are healthier and live longer than those in centuries past, you would be wrong.

Food should be your starting point for ensuring a strong and effective immune system. But for extra protection against the viral and bacterial assaults waiting outside your door, you should consider shoring it up with powerful immune-supporting supplements as well.

It happened again this morning: We all overslept. On days like this, I’m glad that we plan ahead just in case our morning is rushed. If you’re thinking to yourself that there’s no way to prepare a smoothie on a rushed morning, I’ll let you in on our secret…

Migraines are the mother of all headaches. Most drug remedies only provide partial relief, if at all. But there is one solution that’s showing promise…

Men worry about our testosterone… and rightly so for many reasons. But along with that concern comes several myths. I want to set them straight…

Colds and flu are often lurking nearby, waiting for the earliest chance to make their seasonal debut. Instead of waiting for a special time of year to anticipate the threat, it’s a good idea to generally be prepared. I’d have to recommend the food I consider nature’s smartest drug…

Unbalanced or poorly functioning hormones are an often overlooked cause of unwanted weight gain. The hormones involved include cortisol, thyroid, DHEA, aldosterone, growth hormone, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen.

Chances are you’ve never heard of a natural protein called brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) produced in your body. I had not until I came across several studies where BDNF was referred to as ‘miracle-gro’ for the brain and ‘brain fertilizer.’

Scientific research offers compelling evidence that your mood plays a powerful role in keeping you healthy. And if yours tends to be down in the dumps, don’t give up. You can still benefit…

Drugs to fight depression are big business, generating billions in sales. But a study suggests that some of these drugs are worthless for fighting this problem.

There’s no shortage of butt-lifting, bum-toning exercises available on the internet. What makes some of them more beneficial than others is how they wake up lazy muscles that haven’t worked effectively for a long time…

Eating disorders come in different guises. Many don’t realize they have one — yet a quick review of the numbers on obesity, diabetes and heart disease shows quite a different story.

Have you been fooled by the trend towards ‘vitamin’ waters? I hope not, instead you should reach for a bottle of an original that’s practically part supplement, part water — naturally…

Whether you’re pro-marijuana or not, there’s no denying that the marijuana plant may have some intriguing health benefits. Could clobbering diabetes be next on that list?

Trans-fats are on their way out. They’ve been banned and are no longer recognized as “generally safe.” But we’re not safe from them yet. Manufacturers have until 2018 to get rid of them.

A great quote I’ve seen making its way through social media is this one by Maya Angelou: Bitterness is like cancer. It eats up the host. But anger is like fire. It burns it clean. There’s more truth in that statement than most of us probably realize.

Staying active and keeping your body-as-a-temple in naturally fit shape may seem completely physical. But you have untapped resources that can help you get even more out of exercising–and you won’t find them at the fitness store.

As the relationships between oral health and overall health become more evident, dentists may assume a role more akin to a primary care provider. Especially now that we are learning more about the relationship between plaque on your teeth and cancer survival…

Because every person is genetically unique, the ideal diet for you deserves to be just as unique. There are, however, some “foods” that are detrimental for all of us, across the board…

Millions of Americans take prescription painkillers to manage chronic pain, but these painkillers do more harm than good. You build up a tolerance to them quickly and may even become addicted.

You exercise to improve your health. But if you take your exercise routine too far, it could have the opposite effect… Especially if you’re turning to extreme forms of exercise like Bootcamp and CrossFit to get in shape.

I’m frequently asked about the best exercises to burn fat, or retrieve a body part from the grasp of gravity. The truth is, one thing can make those exercises I suggest work even better…

Certain places on earth are pockets of health and longevity, like the tiny Italian village of Acciaroli. There, more than one in ten residents lives past the age of 100. So what’s their secret?

“A little bit of cheating is a good thing if in the long run it behaviorally helps people to stick to the diet in the long run.”

Because bacteria and viruses evolve quickly and develop resistance to our drugs, infections are growing too powerful to treat with antibiotics and antivirals. But there is still a great deal that we can do to protect ourselves.