Latest Stories

Raise your hand if you’ve had a medical scan in the past year? We’re lucky to have technology like CTs, MRIs and X-rays. They let us see inside our bodies to figure out what’s wrong… and potentially save our lives. But you know the saying “too much of a good thing”? That applies to medical scans too…

Beyond genetics, most doctors look at your risk of dementia as a crapshoot. But the more research uncovers about its causes, the more you can do to prevent it. That’s why a new study out of Michigan State University was so interesting since it found a significant link between relationship status and dementia risk.

Beta cells are the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. Your body uses this insulin to manage blood sugar. People with type 2 diabetes have beta cells that don’t produce enough insulin. But based on this latest study, ginkgo biloba could fix that…

Some experts say fasting is great, not only for weight loss but also to enhance overall health. But how do you choose the right technique for you? If weight loss, longevity and avoiding disease are your goals, a study found some pretty amazing results that may give you the answer you need…

Hemorrhagic strokes (bleeding on the brain) are more difficult to treat and more likely to be deadly. Sounds pretty scary. But things got even scarier when news of a study came out warning of a two-fold increase in the risk of these strokes in women with low LDL cholesterol levels. Should you be concerned?

Kombucha. Keifer. Bone broth. There are plenty of drinks that encourage good bacteria to throw a party in your gut. There are also plenty of drinks that cause bad bacteria to crash that party: Soda. Diet drinks. Juices. And alcohol, which causes an unhealthy imbalance in your microbiome. But wait a sec…

Look at any web article on heart disease or any health-related magazine on the shelf at your local grocery store and you’ll find recommendation upon recommendation for the type of diet you should eat to keep your heart healthy. That’s why you may be surprised at what they found about the top three…

Exercising is one of the best ways to lower your blood pressure. In fact, getting more exercise can lower your systolic blood pressure as much as some medications. That’s empowering. But before you rest all your hopes of taming your blood pressure on your exercise regimen, you need to know…

We all know that one person who eats Taco Bell every day for lunch and TombStone frozen pizza every night, but still wears a size two skinny jean. Or that person whose idea of a diet is ordering a Filet-O-Fish instead of a Big Mac, so they get fewer calories. But eating like this could steal something from you…

Despite all our technological and medical advancements, Lyme disease isn’t being diagnosed accurately and efficiently. It takes a few weeks, leaving people untreated and at higher risk of long-term consequences. But a new diagnostic tool is in the works that could prevent all that unnecessary suffering…

Flu season is just around the corner and you know what that means, right? Soon everyone around you is going to be coughing, sneezing and spreading those virulent germs. Not at my house — if I can help it! We’ve already amped up immune-boosting efforts, starting with some essential immune-boosting supplements…

Sometimes warnings to live healthier just aren’t enough to give us the kick in the pants we need to change our habits. Now though, there’s a new warning for everyone who is overweight or obese that just might be the wakeup call that does the trick… Especially if you have concerns about Alzheimer’s.

If you live in a major metropolitan area like New York or Los Angeles, you’d expect to pay more for many consumer goods. I found this out (in reverse) when I moved from New York City to a small town in Maine. But should the same rules apply to a blood test, MRI or even life-saving surgery?

Most of your life, you’ve used aspirin to minimize everyday ailments… To fend off a splitting headache. To ease aching joints. To make a bad back bearable. But word on the street is, aspirin has much grander talents than that.

You know those people who can sleep for a few hours a night and wake up refreshed? They roll out of bed energetic and bright-eyed after four hours of sleep and hit the ground running. And weirdly enough they escape the health-related downsides of sleep deprivation that most of us won’t. Here’s why…

If you have diabetes, you understand what a dangerous disease it is. If your blood sugar stays too high for too long, it can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and even blindness. But, did you know that low blood sugar can be just as dangerous?

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss for people over the age of 60. While, the medical community has known for some time that wet AMD is caused by the development of leaky blood vessels in the eye, the initial cause behind dry AMD has remained a mystery, till now.

Humans are social creatures. So it’s not surprising that people who feel isolated get sick more often. Ongoing loneliness is a very real risk factor for chronic health conditions like heart disease and stroke. These are a few reasons why breaking out of loneliness is important, but this one might matter most…

Your BMI calculates the relationship between your height and your weight to determine if you are overweight or obese. And, the medical community has increasingly used the calculation to determine whether or not you’re at risk for health issues like diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. But, what if your BMI is lying?

Even if you grow your own medicinal herbs in your five-acre backyard, get most of your medical care from a naturopath and buy your groceries from food co-ops, farmer’s markets and CSAs, you’ve probably had a dose of prescription antibiotics in the past decade or so. Here’s why it matters…

In the American Journal of Medicine, there’s talk of establishing a new sub-specialty in medicine. That’s all you need — another doctor, right? At first, it may seem like a great idea with more Americans suffering inter-related conditions, like obesity, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. But it highlights a troubling trend…

It’s no secret that the FDA is no friend to the natural supplement industry. The Agency is still going to great lengths to squeeze natural supplements right off the market, passing and manipulating laws that favor the sale of questionable drugs. But what happens when these drugs taint your supplements?

Exceptional longevity means living past 85, something my grandmas and great-grandmas achieved. Clearly, there might be something genetic happening here. But even if your family line isn’t filled with examples like these, research shows the secret to longevity may be in your mind more than your genes, diet or workout…

How many harmless outpatient procedures or tests do you think you’ll undergo this year? If your answer is even just one, you should be aware that you have more to be concerned with than what the procedure reveals about your health… and it has to do with contaminated instruments used in healthcare settings.

Scientists know that light plays a critical role in heart health. Past studies have even shown that heart attacks increase dramatically during dark winter months — like those around the corner. But the latest research shows how you can use light for some big heart protection in just 30 minutes a day…

Tramadol is far less addictive than some “big gun” drugs. In fact, when it was first released, it wasn’t even classified as an opioid (but that’s changed). Tramadol also has fewer side effects than other painkillers. Or so we thought… As more people turn to this “safe” pain reliever, risks are bubbling to the surface…

If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk of cancer. That’s just the way it is. It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. (although, if you’re a diabetic woman, your risk is even higher). Because here are the cold, hard facts…

If I don’t eat lunch by 2:00 pm, I feel lightheaded. But I still haven’t written off the idea of fasting. How can I when I keep reading studies that show it’s an effective way to fight chronic inflammation… the stuff that puts you at risk for cancer, autoimmune diseases and pretty much every other health condition.

Thyroid hormone balancing is confusing for mainstream doctors including endocrinologists (but they may not admit it). That’s because they use only lab tests. The problem with that is there are many medications that affect your thyroid hormone and confound the interpretation of standard thyroid tests…

Sleep apnea is a common problem for both men and women. And that diagnosis comes with some other very serious worries… If you have it, you’re at much higher risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke, and even atrial fibrillation. Now you can add three kinds of cancer to that…

If you’re eating the wrong foods, it’s not only making you feel old, it’s stealing precious years from your life. But you may be surprised to learn that one food in particular appears to have a huge impact on premature aging…

How can we get more energy? Personal, physical, vital energy for our bodies? We all know the sensation: we feel run down, lethargic, chronically tired. And we usually just chalk it up to aging.

It’s hard not to notice the outward signs of aging. When you look in the mirror, you can clearly see a new line, wrinkle or age spot. But do you ever think about what’s really happening on the inside?

If you can set aside 10 minutes a day to put yourself first, the disease-fighting and age-defying benefits gained can push diabetes, heart disease and cancer last.

The health benefits of tea have been passed down from generation to generation over millennia.The great news is: The powerful healing benefits of tea hold up. In fact, drinking certain teas may reduce your risk of stroke and coronary heart disease.

Do you suffer from recurring back pain, joint pain, or other joint injuries that just don’t seem to heal? Then this simple intervention could give you a world of relief.

There is a disease that copycats the “normal” effects of aging. It strikes women seven times more frequently than men. It’s a hidden epidemic, but fortunately, there’s an alternative treatment…

When your head is pounding or your back is aching, it’s tempting to reach for a bottle of ibuprofen or aspirin to get some temporary relief. And for a moment you may feel better, but that pain-free moment comes at a cost…

If you struggle with social anxiety, you know how unbearable it can be. Needless to say, both your work and personal life suffer big time. But there is something you can do that will not only ease your social anxiety but also help your health rather than hurt it…

No one should suffer needlessly. And in the short-term, modern medicine has provided effective pain treatments in the form of strong narcotic pain relievers. But when it comes to chronic pain, the conventional approach isn’t working — so look to…

Scientists used to believe that once you were old enough to legally drink, the fate of your brain was sealed — you had received your lifetime allowance of nerve cells (otherwise known as neurons), and if you wanted or needed more you were out of luck. Not so…

What do you mean you won’t eat spoiled food? Fermented foods have a long, wonderful history in the annals of human cuisine and health. And they may be just what saves you from the perils of modern food…

Time is always a big factor when selecting a fitness or exercise program. For me, the best exercises are the ones that do more than one thing for me. So in today’s video article my friend Alan Orr, will show you how to do yoga’s “upward dog, downward dog.”

I don’t know about you, but the closer I get to 65, the younger I realize it is — and I want to fully enjoy all the years ahead. But if my body deteriorates, I’m doomed. And so are you. But this one little pill could change that…

If you’d like to look as young as you feel — maybe even younger — there’s something you can do that’s much cheaper, easier and less dangerous than Botox. You can pop a pill — and not a prescription pill.

Much of your time spent at work is likely while sitting at a desk. This can create aches and pain that nobody has time for. To release tension and pain in your chest, shoulders and sides here are three simple stretches you can do at home, at work or anywhere a doorway is available.

If you’ve never had to go through the pain of a migraine headache, you should consider yourself lucky. For those of us who have, we know migraine headaches as a painful and life altering condition.

Researchers set out to see how omega-3 fatty acid supplements impacted metabolic changes associated with aging. If burning fat or increasing lean muscle mass is something you need a little help with, they found this is the supplement you need…

Americans consume about 27 pounds of fructose per year, mostly from sugary drinks, syrups, honey, desserts — and the most notorious source — high-fructose corn syrup. Unless you stand out from the crowd, you’re damaging your brain in a serious way.

Cholesterol is a controversial topic in the health community. For years, cholesterol was portrayed as a dietary villain maliciously ruining your heart and stealing your health. But it’s turned out the science vilifying cholesterol was not all it was cracked up to be…

There are many diets-du-jour to choose from. And most likely you’ve heard and read about most of them. But when it comes to promises of better health and a sleek physique — few can stand up to this one…

If you’re always on the lookout for simple and effective ways to add a few years to your life, I have good news on how you can make yourself 41 percent less likely to die from a cardiac event and 19 percent less likely to die from cancer…

Walking is one of the simplest and most beneficial daily habits you can adopt. You don’t need any fancy equipment to do it. Its low impact, self-paced, easy on your joints — and it’s proven to make you healthier. But sometimes you just don’t feel motivated to put your walking shoes on, unless…

Grief is a horrible feeling at best. Dealing with loss, especially the loss of a loved one, is painful. It can be mind-numbing and energy-robbing. It can set in motion an existential crisis about the meaning of life, often leading to depression and despair.

Feeling rundown is a sure sign it’s time to detoxify for a much-needed energy boost. But cleansing only when you feel like you need it, or at certain times of the year, may not be enough. Because while you may take a break — toxins do not.

The cosmeceutical industry has seen a boon in start-up companies producing and selling these collagen products. And for the first time, they may be peddling a product that really works as many studies back up their claims…

A, B, C, D, E, K… It may sound like a strange version of the alphabet song, but by now you probably recognize it as the list of vitamins your body needs. I want to share with you what I’ve learned about an often forgotten and misunderstood vitamin that protects the heart…

One isn’t only the loneliest number, it’s also the unhealthiest. Whether you’re alone by choice or circumstance, there’s no way around it — social isolation is bad for your health.

Antioxidants fight against the oxidative process that age the body. Otherwise, caustic substances called free radicals attack the body and wear out its organs. So unless you want to get old before your time, you need to know how to use antioxidants to keep the forces of time in check.

Prescription drugs have been seeping into your water supply for years, and now they’re even in your vegetables. You may be wondering how the heck prescription drugs make it from your neighbor’s medicine cabinet to your steamed broccoli, so let me explain: water is scarce these days…