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If any disease desperately needs new treatment options, it’s Alzheimer’s. It’s been 17 years since a new drug was approved. And right now, the treatments available only offer minor symptoms relief. In the fight against this devastating and stubborn disease, hope is a very good thing, and it starts in your gut…

Here come the holidays… and the potential for weight gain. But if you go into the season with a game plan, you can still indulge without feeling deprived or being desperate to lose weight after the new year…

So many people love running. And there are a lot of solid reasons to. Runners get that release of feel-good brain chemicals known as a runner’s high. They can load up on carbs because they’re burning crazy amounts of calories. But there’s one more thing you may be missing out on if you’re not running…

Remember that there is no safe blood level of lead. It’s been tied to illnesses ranging from mystery military ailments to heart disease. Fortunately, it’s treatable. Chelation is a method of binding up metal molecules so it can be eliminated via the urine. There are also antioxidants that help get your health back…

It takes a lot of experimentation to get the right sleep program that puts you out at night — and most importantly, keeps you out! So, here are some alternative sleep therapies you may want to try.

Subjective age is the term used for that number you give when someone asks, “How old do you feel?” How do you answer? It matters because it’s that sort of thinking that can not only prevent physical disabilities and ailments but can even protect against future dementia and Alzheimer’s…

Research has shown that exercise helps keep dementia at bay. There’s a pretty logical connection here: Poor sleep is a known dementia risk factor. Physical activity promotes better and deeper sleep, for one thing. Of all the “exercise” you can partake in, some of the best for your brain involve no sweating at all…

More than 75 percent of Americans take vitamins. In the over 35 group, that number goes up to an impressive 81 percent. Yet, with all of the vitamins we’re taking, there’s one that many people don’t know about in spite of multiple clinical studies that have proven the necessity of the vitamin for fighting off age-related concerns.

For those of us who put the pounds on easily and can’t seem to get them off again, here’s some news: It appears some of us actually have an “obesity gene.” This may sound like very bad news, when in fact, it’s not as bad as it sounds. That’s because research found an exercise more powerful than your genes.

When you first start eating a healthy diet, you feel fantastic. You have more energy. Maybe you even resolve long-standing health issues. But despite the amazing benefits (or perhaps because of them), healthy eating can easily become an obsession. This obsession even has a name — and it’s considered an eating disorder.

Jim was a patient of mine years back. He had come to me for holistic advice on heart health. His doctors were recommending statins to control his cholesterol. When Jim came to see me later in the year, I was struck by his decline. That’s when we discussed easing him off drugs and starting a recovery program…

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Its causes and risk factors are different from AD, its symptoms show up differently, and it’s much more under our control. Symptoms of vascular dementia can vary. Here’s what to watch for and how to identify your risk…

Because obesity is a factor in so many health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer, it’s estimated that the extra weight Americans carry is responsible for one in five deaths. But a compound found in a certain green fruit could help not only kick obesity to the curb but diabetes with it!

I recently read about a U.S. Army veteran who went through years of misdiagnosis and was even accused of faking his health problems by the Army before finding chronic lead poisoning was making him so ill. I’d like to share his story with you and new findings about lead and heart disease…

Getting back in shape after you’ve let your physical fitness slide for years (or decades) isn’t easy. But if you can break through the wall of negative thoughts and get your butt moving, you’ll find some pretty amazing benefits waiting for you. And the older and more out of shape you are, the better these benefits are.

Menopause symptoms can be miserable. Some women turn to hormone replacement therapy (HRT). But a lot of women don’t feel comfortable with the potential side effects, including a higher breast cancer risk. So, what else can you do? Check out herbs that work just as well…

As you get older, your brain ages with the rest of the body. If you want to keep a better-working brain, here are seven steps you can take to keep your wits about you as you grow older.

Lung cancer is an incredibly scary disease… Not only is it the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women — beating out colon, prostate, ovarian and breast cancers combined — it’s also very sneaky, generally showing no symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage.

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…

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.

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…

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.

It’s funny how things change. What was once considered the lore of the lazy, the herb of fringe spirituality, and a schedule 1 controlled substance that is federally illegal, is now looked at by many as a miracle cure for all ailments. But is cannabis really all that?

Is marijuana medicine? There are an increasing number of medical illnesses that are effectively treated by marijuana. And to date, there are more than 20,000 published scientific studies or reviews referencing marijuana and its cannabinoids.

Bananas are a favorite in the Martin house because of their links to lowering blood pressure, reducing cancer risk and improving heart health. And of course, they add just the right amount of sweetness to monkey salad.

A migraine is not your run-of-the mill headache. And if you’re one of the millions of Americans who’s had one, you know there are no words to describe the excruciating pain. But now, there may be help…

Research continues to validate the medicinal properties of some of nature’s most powerful healing plants. Some have been passed down by traditional herbal healers; others have been discovered unexpectedly by researchers searching for cures to our most critical health conditions…

Large clinical trials have now verified that natural (bio-identical) estrogens and progesterone are effective for curbing menopausal symptoms. Even more importantly, they reduce diseases such as breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s dementia…

A lot of research has been coming to light lately about the benefits of light. Getting the right type of light at the right time can do everything from help you lose weight to ease your chronic migraine symptoms. But not just any light will produce these incredible results…

When I switched diets, some of my friends ridiculed the idea that such a simple diet change could clear up my arthritis. But they were proved wrong when research found how certain foods can set your joints on fire. As far as a clearer mind, well, they’ve caught up to that truth as well…

The ancient Chinese Daoists had a grasp of something extraordinary. They developed detailed and complex methods of exercise, martial arts, diet, restoring health, preparing herbal medicines and understanding human energy systems. Among these insights into the human body were systems of …

If you’re following a restrictive diet plan, you’re changing the way your body wants to eat. When you do that, your ‘hunger hormone’ kicks in and is poised and ready to sabotage all your best efforts. For weight loss success you’ve got to eat…

If you’ve been a little lax about following your doctor’s advice to lose a few pounds or keep a tighter reign on your blood sugar or blood pressure, here’s a little “pill” of information he or she may not have given you …

Diabetes is a symptomatic disease: You get it because of a more serious underlying condition … insulin dysfunction. But one basic food ingredient may defeat this illness and put you on a path to optimal health.

Disease-causing inflammation, fungal invaders, cancer cells — all of these are unseen health dangers that could be hiding in your body right now. But you can conquer all three by turning to an ancient remedy…

Dancing is good for your body. Aside from elevating body temperature, loosening joints, increasing range of motion and muscle pliability, it increases oxygenation and your blood flow. It also releases pain-relieving endorphins…

The best medicines are the ones that have many uses and applications. In Asian medicine, if an herb has only one or two applications, it is considered insignificant. Because ailments, diseases and pain do not happen in a vacuum, it is important that any treatment do more than one thing.

Trying to find a tasty treat these days without added sugars is almost impossible. And please don’t get me started on artificial sugars — I’d rather gain a few pounds than risk cancer or autoimmune disease. But with these raspberry pops you don’t have to do either…

Do you ever find yourself overcome by a food craving so strong your willpower goes out the window? But if you find yourself craving certain foods over and over again, it’s actually more than just inconvenient. It’s a sign of what’s really going on with your health…

Every time you lose your keys or forget someone’s name, you probably get a sinking feeling in your stomach. Could this be a sign your mind is on its way out? But these occasional memory slips are normal. There is, however, another warning sign you should watch out for if you’re worried about getting dementia….

The symptoms of an enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH, can put a significant cramp in your lifestyle. They can also leave you concerned about the possibility of cancer. But how concerned should you be?

Skin cancer … just the thought of suffering from it is overwhelming. But we have to think about it because here’s something even more overwhelming …

A sluggish bowel is something to be on the lookout for so you can stave off worsening symptoms that could zap your energy or worse. Here’s how to keep things moving along, naturally and safely…

A solid eight hours of sleep is an elusive and highly sought-after commodity. So if you’re really struggling with sleep problems, you should consider trying one more thing before you surrender yourself to a lifetime of restless sleep…

Watermelon is an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant carotenoid that’s been studied for it’s potential role in reducing risk of heart disease, various cancers and offering skin protection from harmful UV rays…

You already know that your brain is a tissue mass containing the specialized cells called neurons. But your brain does much more than just use those cells to store information. Much more than we ever thought, no pun intended. And here’s the exciting part …

It’s one of the primary health conditions contributing to antibiotic resistance on a global scale. So, finally, researchers are turning to this well-known natural remedy as a potential source of relief and prevention…

There are a lot of ways to keep your memory and cognitive abilities operating smoothly as you age. But whether you do all of these things or not, you should know that there’s one thing you absolutely need to do to ensure your brain health for years to come…

If you’re a coffee lover, you can breathe a sigh of relief: coffee doesn’t cause cancer. The World Health Organization has finally taken coffee off of its list of possible carcinogens. But if you drink it really, really hot, well, that’s another story…

If you’re one of the millions of Americans plagued with paralyzing anxiety, you may feel like you’re at a loss to find real relief for what can be a paralyzing condition…

Hormones influence pretty much every critical function in your body: your metabolism, your fertility, your biological clock, your mood, your immune system… and more. But one of your hormones’ most important jobs is telling your cells when and how they should multiply.

Here’s what you probably already know about menopause: It’s the natural cessation of the menstrual cycle. Now, here’s what you probably didn’t know: You don’t have to accept this change sitting down. You can stand up to menopause… and take your life back.