Latest Stories

Blood pressure is one of the most important predictors of complications like heart disease, stroke, and heart attack. But we’re learning that getting an accurate BP reading is a slippery slope… even when your blood pressure is taken by professionals. If you rely on a few readings a year during doctor visits to feel safe, this information is urgent for you…

Nothing says summer to me like a handful of dark, sweet cherries. You just can’t get them any other time of year as good as they are in the summer months. But the cherries I’m going to tell you about are bright red, not dark purple. And they’re anything but sweet. But year-round they may be your best cure-all…

A team from the Behavioral and Clinical Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cambridge decided to address problems related to forgetfulness. And guess what? They may have found an antidote to the daily distractions that we face in this busy world… and you can get it in a brain training game.

There is one thing that many folks have long used to help them relax, unwind mind and body, and prepare for restful sleep. And it works like a charm, for most people, but not for the reasons they think it does. Now science reveals the secret to why a warm bath can help you get your best sleep ever…

Statins are the most popular cholesterol-lowering drug around. But you may have heard a few things about statins that concern you. It sure would be simpler if your doctor pulled out the prescription pad and gave you something safer to manage your cholesterol. Something without side effects, like fish oil…

Many women are taking advantage of dermal fillers to fight the effects of gravity. Most of the time, these cosmetic procedures go off without a hitch… but occasionally one of the top listed risks is an allergic reaction at the injection site that can affect the whole body. But when you use your own fat…

If you have lupus, you know it can flare up and settle down. It can also leave you at higher risk of having cancer or an infection. Natural strategies, such as incorporating or avoiding certain foods and supplements, and changing your lifestyle, will not cure lupus — nothing will — but they could help.

We’re all part of one big EMF experiment. We can take steps to reduce our EMF exposure, like buying those little shields for your cell phone. But for the most part, we have to accept we’re surrounded by these unseen energy fields that could be harming us in some way. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news…

Flu season is just around the corner. In fact, the fall and winter months are the illness’ playground. So, if you want to avoid the days of misery, stuck in bed, sneezing, coughing, body aches and everything else that goes with it, the time to start preparing to fight it off is now. And, I’ve got good news for you…

Your gut microbiome is made up of millions and millions of bacteria, both good and bad that influence your health. And, the foods you eat play a big role in determining the diversity and balance of that bacteria. Now, a study has demonstrated how just one fruit could tip the balance for good or ill in your gut…

Every day someone decides to “lose weight and eat better.” The reasons vary but they have one thing in common: they’re endless. Which is maybe why Weight Watchers came out with an update to its SmartPoints system. As a cardiologist, I’ve learned that diets don’t work — because they focus on the wrong thing…

High blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, excess body fat, and elevated blood sugar are all part of metabolic syndrome. You may be surprised to learn your doctor is probably not doing nearly enough to help you avoid it. That’s concerning enough that new guidelines have been developed…

It’s been years since I ate fast food, like McDonald’s. Now I’m a fast casual aficionado. You know, those restaurants that provide healthy-ish options, like lentil quinoa bowls from Panera and sofritas tacos from Chipotle, that I eat a little too often. Though fast casual seems healthier, it’s still rife with hidden health pitfalls…

New research has finally determined how menopause leads to muscle atrophy. It’s been one of the least understood menopausal symptoms within the medical community. But nothing makes aging more difficult than frailty, and without muscle, that’s where a lot of women end up following menopause…

Have you ever heard of passive exercise? I know what you’re thinking… that’s an oxymoron. Exercise is active not passive. In fact, activity is the whole point of exercise. But passive exercise is a real thing. It’s when your body moves but someone (or something) does the work for you. Here’s an example…

Therapeutic fibbing is a creative communication technique you can use when someone with short-term memory loss is disoriented, anxious or upset. It’s not lying, but a way to step into their reality and spare them unnecessary distress or anxiety. My mom was a champion at this technique.

A powerful compound you can get from regularly consuming common foods like apples and tea has the power to protect against both cancer and heart disease in one fell swoop — especially if you’re at higher risk due to some not-so-healthy lifestyle habits…

You know nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by the names Motrin, Advil, and Aleve, etc. These are typically the first choice to control inflammation and pain. They seem harmless enough. Why else would the FDA make them available over the counter? But there are a few safety concerns, including newer warnings…  

Antibiotic-resistant infections usually bring to mind a hospital setting — not food. But even if you’ve come to grips with news that superbugs are in your grocery store meat, this next part may be harder to swallow… There’s another agricultural source of antibiotic-resistant superbugs lying in wait…

Regardless of your level of activity, joint pain can affect your performance and your enjoyment. You can tackle this challenge by selecting from a wide variety of anti-inflammatory and pain medications, or signing up for physical therapy. You also can choose these 7 foods that help reduce joint pain.

More people over 60 are hitting the weights and skipping the cardio machines. The reason being that muscle strength declines with age. But is it the best exercise for them? Here’s the definitive answer on whether strength training or endurance exercise is best to prevent age-related decline…

You live a pretty healthy lifestyle, eating vegetables and walking every day. But you like to let loose with a piece of tiramisu (or two) on occasion. You think moderation is better than anxiety-inducing perfection, but your mid-life belly bulge is developing a mind of its own. Try this to stay fit without changing your diet…

The number of people living with Parkinson’s has risen steeply over the past three decades. In fact, from 1990 to 2016 alone, Parkinson’s diagnoses more than doubled from 2.5 million to 6.1 million. Unfortunately, the disease has confounded the medical community and the cause behind the majority of Parkinson’s cases has remained a mystery. Until now…

Most of us think if we don’t eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy we’re not getting any protein in our diet. But that’s NOT protein. It’s FOOD. And the protein content of those foods is not necessarily related to the protein content of your body. Because the only protein that’s present in your body was made in your body…

You’ve probably experienced it — that terrifying moment when you notice a strange bump in your armpit, behind your ear, on your inner thigh, under your boob. Is it a pimple? An ingrown hair? A cancerous tumor? That marble you ate when you were seven? And that’s when you realize, it’s none of those things…

It’s important to watch out for your health and the planet’s, but being a conscious consumer isn’t easy. When a company covers up its questionable environmental record with distracting claims, dramatic advertising or by omission, it’s known as greenwashing. Here’s what you should know…

Caffeine’s connection to migraine is certainly complicated. Maybe that’s why few studies have looked at this suspected trigger in-depth enough to find out why it’s both reliever and trigger. Until now… If migraines are a problem for you, now you can know how much caffeine might trigger your next one… or how much might help.

Professor Erik Millstone, a researcher from the University of Sussex and expert on food chemical safety policy, believes products that contain aspartame should be pulled from the grocery store shelves they proliferate. Why? All those studies that said it was safe were sketchy, to say the least…

In order to build and retain memories, we need to get deep sleep, known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. So, just staying in bed with your eyes closed, even for seven or eight hours, is not necessarily going to do the trick. But there is a trick scientists say can get your sleep and your brain in the pink!

Remember the days when fruit juice was considered healthy? Moms packed juice boxes in the kids’ lunches. People invested in expensive juicers to make it fresh every morning. Health nuts did juice fasts to lose weight and improve their energy levels. Well, the times have changed more than you may know!

Cancer presents a moving target, changing over time, unique from patient to patient and changing in each person as the disease evolves. It’s a complex picture, but not one without possibility of success in prevention…

If your primary exercise is walking — and you’ve even jumped onto the fitness bandwagon with an activity tracker to keep up with your number of steps and calories burned — I have some news you should really appreciate…

A doctor in the United Kingdom is sounding the alarm about a health epidemic that’s “costing hundreds of thousands of lives” throughout the world. The culprit he’s identified will shock you.

Remember when your parents were in their 60s and 70s — and how old and frail they may have seemed? Hopefully you can look down the road knowing your senior years will be healthier and more active… if you don’t fall victim to this common condition that can take your life in just a year…

DIM, a natural substance taken from vegetables, is believed by researchers to help the immune system protect you against cancer. Studies also show that this impressive supplement helps the body detox itself, escaping the harmful effects of the chemical contaminants that surround us.

Orthodox Medical experts estimate that 30 percent of fatal heart attacks are avoidable. I believe that number is much higher, especially if you recognize these 13 sneaky factors that could be setting you up for heart disease without a single clue…

A new term has cropped up amid the food industry. At first you might think it only adds confusion, but once you understand its distinction — you’ll realize that avoiding the foods that expand your waistline and decrease your lifespan is actually easier than you thought.

There is a concerted effort by the medical establishment to convince you that anything other than their side effect-ridden, chemical-laden prescriptions and often unnecessary medical procedures are dangerous.

Many stretches isolate a single muscle or muscle group. And stretching the entire body can take quite a bit of time and energy. But this one yoga exercise, steeped in tradition, stretches the entire body in one sequence.

Imagine living your life around your next atrial fibrillation episode. Many people do as it’s a very common cardiac rhythm disorder. But being common doesn’t make it any less difficult — or worrisome: There is no cure and complications can lead to stroke.

Who doesn’t love pancakes? Who wouldn’t love Alzheimer’s-proof pancakes even more? All you have to do is add this one all-natural ingredient. Pretty sweet, huh?

I love coffee. But I am prone to migraines and coffee can sometimes trigger them. This leads me to consider whether coffee, objectively, is healthy or not. Well, lucky for coffee lovers like me, numerous studies extol the health benefits of drinking several cups.

The news about how doctors want to handle a cancer diagnosis just isn’t getting any better. Yet, there is no shortage of those who come to the forefront to slander any natural treatment that shows promise. Not only is this frustrating, it’s ironic. How? Well, take their cut and burn philosophy…

Maintaining prostate health as we age can be challenging. Prostate conditions can be indistinct and difficult to diagnose. Signs are often vague and their significance may vary between individuals.

Despite studies that show the dangerous down-sides of statin use, the medical community is not only continuing to push their most prescribed drug on heart patients, but now they want to go after young people who ‘might’ develop heart disease — as a preventative of all things.

No matter what you do, don’t stop moving. Dance, walk, jog, garden, swim, chase grandkids — anything that keeps your body in motion. That is, if you want to keep your brain from shrinking.

Olives are a staple of the Mediterranean diet and an ingredient in a traditional favorite: antipasto salad. While the health benefits of olive oil are often touted, we seldom hear much about the small, tasty fruit of the tree itself. Until now…

We’re still discovering everything that brain cells can do … and what happens when they “go rogue.” One thing that can occur is Alzheimer’s. But if new research is any indication, there’s good news.

Medical professionals and scientists know what causes cardiovascular disease to develop. The bigger questions are these… why would you have a heart attack? And what do you need to know and do to prevent one?

Probiotics are essential to your good health. Some help your body absorb nutrients better, some relieve unpleasant digestive symptoms, some prevent yeast overgrowth and still others boost your immune system. But did you know they may prevent cavities?

Carpal tunnel pain can be crippling, radiating through your wrist to your finger tips. But you don’t have to suffer passively. Follow this video for acupressure points that lead to relief…

Magnesium plays a part in more than 300 metabolic reactions such as energy production, DNA synthesis, insulin action, glucose regulation, lipid metabolism, blood pressure control, bone strength and much more.

Fitness training and exercise in general can sometimes get boring. But not this time. With these exercises you can invoke the power of Thor the thunder god while using sledgehammers to develop strength throughout your body.

Few patients who meet the criteria for prediabetes are receiving drug or lifestyle modification treatment from their primary care physician. That means people are missing a window of opportunity to prevent a disease that could ultimately end their lives prematurely.

Overwhelmed by where to begin on changing your diet? It does not have to be challenging to meet your health needs, and your diet does not need to be bland or boring. But here are a few tips that will make it easy to get started…

Women are not the only ones harboring concerns over body image, we’ve learned following results of The Male Body Image Study. However, in an interesting twist, most men who were classified as “overweight” felt satisfied with their appearance.

Like so many Americans, I have suffered bouts of low back pain (LBP) throughout my life. Doctors are not immune, unfortunately. I am a vocal advocate for the use of manual therapies to reduce pain, with the hope of being able to avoid altogether analgesic and anti-inflammatory pain relievers.

There is some pretty strong medical evidence that your body has a master mediator. A hormone actually. When it’s balanced you experience good health. But when it’s not, your body is ripe for disease.

Recent reports into the health benefits of coffee have contributed to a constant drip of good news, especially for coffee lovers. The latest news indicates that consuming several cups a day may provide protection from multiple sclerosis (MS).

Alternative cancer therapies are sought by tens of thousands of people all over the world — even those who are undergoing conventional treatments. Because when it comes to cancer, shouldn’t we look all healing possibilities?