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If you have a senior in life that needs special care, the options may seem overwhelming. Which type of care is best and most appropriate to my senior spouse or parent’s needs? How do I even begin to choose? If you’re facing this decision, or feel you will be soon, here are six possible options…

Antibiotic resistance has been labeled an epidemic and according to the CDC, “More than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year.” Well, it’s possible that if more of us turned to this natural antibiotic powerhouse, that we could avoid a personal assault from these superbugs…

For some reason, subjects like erectile dysfunction in men get a lot of attention, but when it comes to sexual problems that women face, everyone is a little hushed. No reason to be. So, let’s talk frankly about this important subject, starting with the many things that can contribute to it…

When we hear the word “herpes,” most people think of cold sores or STDs. But Chickenpox, Mononucleosis and Roseola are all caused by a herpesvirus. The list goes on. And now there’s mounting evidence that long after herpesvirus symptoms pass, they increase the risk for major neurological diseases…

As we age, our eyes are vulnerable to disease — macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. If you have a genetic tendency toward age-related eye diseases, then you’re really at risk. But beyond obvious risk factors for eye diseases, there’s an invisible factor endangering your vision…

Daily sugar consumption has been shown to reduce the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus, a process known as neurogenesis. It also increases the presence of cytokines, proteins that cause inflammation. Even though we’re wired to want sweets, it’s possible to rewire your brain to turn them away…

The Mediterranean diet is known as one of the healthiest to follow if you want to avoid a plethora of diseases including Alzheimer’s and diabetes. The focus is on olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and fish. Would you be excited to know there’s now a meatier version?

It might seem strange to think that psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes skin inflammation, redness and scaling, could also lead to coronary heart disease. After all, it’s external. There’s no such thing as “psoriasis of the heart,” right? A dangerous myth about psoriasis is that it’s only skin deep…

Pick almost any chronic disease around, and I can find you scientific evidence that air pollution increases the risk of it… Diabetes. Alzheimer’s. Heart disease. Breast cancer. It plays a part in them all. It turns out you don’t even have to live somewhere highly polluted to damage your health. A short visit will do…

You have tons of friends on Facebook. You get lots of emails every day. You’re active in online forums and support groups. But somehow, you’re still lonely. What gives? No matter what’s holding you back from tackling your loneliness head on, don’t worry. I know a simple way you can feel far less lonely…

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, it’s quite common for people to live to be 100 or more. Okinawa is a Blue Zone — a place known for longevity where science has identified the reasons. And Okinawans know that, besides diet, friendship is the thing that will make for a long, healthy life…

By 2050, two billion people worldwide will be over the age of 60. That’s a lot of people who will be at risk for potentially deadly health conditions — including heart disease and stroke. How can you grab the highest levels of protection once you pass the 60 mark? 1.1 million people prove it’s this way…

Inevitably, with age, comes a loss of fullness and support in the face. Certain areas may appear to sag while others may look hollow. Dermal fillers can help “replace” that loss to help cheekbones look high and sculpted as well as make other face and even body shape changes that can be quite profound. 

When a school of medicine as prestigious as the one at Johns Hopkins University puts dollars into researching something, you know it’s got real possibilities. Take music — now being used as a way to treat neurological conditions and other diseases, as an alternative to medications, and there’s evidence it works…

Synthetic insulin is one of the most impactful and amazing discoveries of the 20th century. Since it was discovered in 1921, it’s saved countless lives. But there’s no denying that insulin comes with some downsides…

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the oil aisle unable to decide what bottle to purchase? Should you go with classic — but controversial — canola? Hip hempseed? Antioxidant-rich avocado? I’d stick with an old standby — olive oil, for all these reasons and more…

When you’re trying to lower your high blood pressure, every little bit helps. Especially if you’re among half of those diagnosed who can’t get it under control, even with medicaiton. A surprising natural method tested at Brown University helped lower blood pressure by an average of 15 points,

Harvard researcher showed it lowers Parkinson’s risk. Other research says it’s protective against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And still more says it could help prevent liver cancer. So when the latest report showed it could help beat obesity, diabetes and heart disease, no one had to twist my arm to drink up…

To keep an optimally functioning brain, many of us take supplements, play memory games, do crossword puzzles, and in general spend a lot of time concentrating on the organ between our ears. But taking care of your brain actually starts with caring for a completely different organ…

Which is the healthiest choice: An Impossible Burger (plant-based), a grass-fed beef burger, or a traditional corn-fed beef burger? These three “meat” categories may appear distinct, thanks to good marketing and environmental activism… but as a cardiologist, my answer might surprise you…

When it comes to medications, if you’re like most people, you take what your doctor advises. But what if you take a medicine for years that research shows is really of very little value and that the side effects outweigh the benefits as the years progress? Such is the case with statins prescribed to lower cholesterol.

It may seem like your arthritic knees and rosacea have nothing to do with one another. That your IBS and allergies are completely unrelated. That your gum disease and inability to get your BMI down are two separate problems. But the fact is, almost all chronic health conditions are caused by the same thing…

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…

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…

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.

There are many criticisms of the paleo diet and they all overlook a simple fact: It is not meant to exactly replicate what our ancestors ate. Instead, it is meant to take the general concepts and apply them to our modern food supply, in an effort to reverse the epidemic of chronic diseases.

Even though the symptoms of an enlarged prostate (aka benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) are not life-threatening, they can put a significant cramp in your lifestyle. And who needs that?

Good metabolism doesn’t mean you don’t gain weight, it means you feel good every day, have plenty of energy for daily activities and are in good overall health. But watch out for these 8 things that drag it down…

Most modern warm-up exercises only focus on the muscles and joints. But this ancient exercise of simple stretches can relax your body, stretch your muscles, elongate your spine and invigorate your energy.

Oats are also a great food if you’re trying to eat less. The fiber content can help you feel fuller longer so maybe you’ll snack less between breakfast and lunchtime.

You already know that alcohol can have dire consequences on your health. But how bad is it really? Until now that hasn’t been completely clear. But if you’re looking for a concrete answer about the impact of a cocktail or two, you finally have it.

How often do you tell yourself that you don’t have enough time to do important things for yourself, like eating healthy or meditating? You’re not alone. It seems like we’re all high on healthy aspirations but low on time. Here’s how to do two at once…

It’s a tough world out there, and often the things that seem to be beneficial on the outside are insidiously chipping away at your health on the inside. You don’t even realize how they are changing your relationship with beneficial microorganisms and actually weakening your immune system.

Omega-3 fatty acids aren’t just important to your health, they’re essential. In fact, the impact omega-3 fatty acids have on your body is nothing short of miraculous. And if you take your omega-3 intake seriously, your health will thrive…

Having a healthy long life may just be a matter of consuming the right foods.With that one change, you can lower blood pressure, reduce bad cholesterol and reduce the burden on your cardio system. Get started with this list…

There’s no doubt that a satisfying sex life not only makes you happier and less stressed, but it also lowers your blood pressure, boosts your immune system and reduces your risk of heart disease. Make it work better for you…

Curry is not only tasty, but is also reported to have medicinal properties. Used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, it contains turmeric, a root known as a potent anti-tumor agent.

As a doctor who only wants to relieve my patients’ suffering, it can be frustrating working at getting to the root cause of an allergy — especially one causing chronic health issues.

If you eat without thinking about what you’re eating, you’re missing out on an unsurpassed chance to improve your well-being. Functional foods are just that: foods that can help your body function at its best. If you’re not eating these, you’re starving your body of the nutrients it needs to be healthy.

Gratitude begins with a thought. If believed, it grows into that wonderful feeling of “well-being” that begets balance and wholeness in the entire body. The really good news is that you can experience gratitude whenever you wish…

In the U.S. alone, more than 60,000 chemicals are used in industry, agriculture and household products, none of which require real safety testing. Despite their widespread use, these chemicals pose real harm, and none of us are immune…

If you only turn to cranberries for bladder help, you’re missing out. The benefits of this underrated berry are so great, researchers believe they are just beginning to understand the superpowers cranberries can bestow on the human body.

You already know it can help you lose weight. But calorie restriction has some amazing health-boosting benefits that go far beyond your waistline. And this common-sense trick will give you the will power to reap them all…