Latest Stories

Serotonin is best known for improving mood, reducing anxiety and promoting energy. But did you know it’s also nature’s appetite suppressant? It helps curb appetite and food cravings, and makes you feel satisfied. Here’s how to put it to use…

Lung cancer goes hand-in-hand with smoking, but the leading cause for people who have never smoked is an odorless, tasteless gas that can go undetected. Even years later, our toenails can reveal exposure and the risk it might pose…

Oxidative stress, which plays a significant role in age-related health issues, is the progressive cellular damage caused by free radicals. Exercise can help protect against some of that decline. But powerful nutrition goes straight to the cause…

The list of effective antibiotics is getting shorter, especially against one bacteria behind some very common and difficut-to-treat infections. To protect your chances they’ll work when you’re in need, you may have to give up your favorite drink…

From Thanksgiving with its turkey, dressing and rich pies, to Christmas and endless cookies and cakes, I tend to eat my way through the holiday season. And then, come New Year’s, I’m looking at a long list of resolutions topped with “START DIET TODAY!” But not this year! Here’s why…

Magnesium doesn’t get a whole lot of attention. But when it comes to type 2 diabetes, and the two-way connection that makes people with blood sugar problems especially vulnerable to deficiency, it should…

For older men, prostate cancer is a real concern. About 6 in 10 diagnoses are in men 65 or older. But research into food as medicine has revealed why one food can slow or prevent it from getting worse.

Ever wonder why you can handle stress better on some days than others? Maybe it’s a car repair you keep putting off… maybe you’re being pulled in too many directions. Or, maybe, you’re just not drinking enough…

Colonoscopy was hailed as the procedure that could end colorectal cancer by reducing risk and death as much as 70%. But results from a large trial might make it harder to justify this form of screening that’s remained largely unchanged since 1969…

A century of research and heart disease is still the #1 killer and cholesterol still tops the list of causes. Keep that in mind as you read how bacteria, hidden for years in plaque, can trigger heart attack, and why this knowledge may make them easier to prevent…

Many people with fatty liver disease live a fairly normal life. But almost a third go on to develop an advanced form of liver disease, and experts have not understood why, until they made the connection to a key protective mechanism…

While it’s easy to become acidic, especially if you eat a standard Western diet, controlling your body’s pH and alkalize your system is in your hands. If you want to raise your pH and use the power of alkalinity to detoxify and help your body fight off disease, here are the six easiest ways.

The Mediterranean diet is famous for overall health and longevity. But, it’s also a great diet for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, which is growing at epic proportions. A large 6-year study just found how you can make it even better…

It’s common knowledge that drinking alcohol damages the liver. But the truth is that any amount can do harm, and new research sheds light on why: Alcohol unleases an accomplice in your body that delivers a one-two punch…

Hear mention of LSD and the psychedelic 60s come to mind. Despite its drawbacks, science keeps trying to mimic its blissful impact on the brain, and may have found a safe, drug-free way to relieve anxiety, depression and more…

Your immune system isn’t only your body’s first-line defense against infection. It also targets cancer cells. But if you’ve got a condition that restricts blood flow, this defense mechanism won’t just let you down; it will fuel cancer growth…

As we get older, our habits are sure to change. Being retired, living alone or mobility issues can factor into those changes. But if you want to hold onto your health and enjoy all the years you’re due, there’s one habit you’ve got to stick to…

GLP-1 agonists, gastric bypass and the gut-wrenching Olestra chips of the 90s. The journey to prevent dietary fat absorption has been fraught with adverse side effects. But fat-absorbing green tea microbeads sound quite promising…

More than 80% of people with a heart attack under their belts are sent home with a drug meant to reduce the risk of a second one. For men, it appears to have no worthwhile effect. For women, it increases potentially deadly risks…

Many people struggle with their sex drive. You might think, what’s the big deal? But a healthy sex life benefits brain health and may reduce problem blood pressure and heart disease risk. See if this is the answer for you. If not, we’ve got suggestions…

Artificial sweeteners have a sordid past. Each time a new one is introduced, usually years later we see the detrimental effects. The newest kid on the block is no different: IBS, sepsis and insulin resistance, and you may never know you’re ingesting it…

Few health topics spark more confusion than cholesterol. Some people dismiss it as a myth, others believe it’s the sole cause of heart disease. The truth lies in between…

People with resistant blood pressure may soon be able to get out from under the mutliple medications typically required to keep them in the safe zone, thanks to new findings that turn accepted theories on their head….

A robust relationship between the mouth and the heart has long been established. But recent research shows an easy way to leverage it to reduce serious risks that can add up to a leading cause of heart trouble…

The American Cancer Society says up to 50 percent of all cancer cases in the United States could be completely eliminated. No, they haven’t developed a cure, but have identified five changes they say are vital for cancer prevention, and they have the backup to prove it…

Zeaxanthin has long been associated with good eye health. But there’s a lot more to this inexpensive, widely available nutrient. Research indicates it may soon be used alongside advanced cancer immunotherapy treatments…

Research keeps proving the dangers of ultra-processed foods. One such study shows ultra-processed foods cause weight gain, no matter how much of them you eat. But most disturbing is the impact on men’s health…

When we think of Viagra, erectile dysfunction comes to mind. But research has found it may be helpful for myriad conditions, most recently, two specific lung conditions. All because it helps improve blood flow (to places other than the penis)…

A large study has shown that artificial sweeteners, in drinks or food, may help you cut calories, but not without a price. What good is losing weight if your working memory and thinking abilities are destroyed in the process?

It’s no secret that beet juice is great for your heart health, especially your blood pressure. But there’s an interesting wrinkle to this effect — one that has to do with a completely different body part…

After a heart attack, it makes sense that you’d want to sleep more. But the need for sleep is more than the physical exhaustion of going through a traumatic health event. It’s a signal for healing that if not heeded could mean a 2nd heart attack…

The “cold sore” virus is extremely common. It’s believed to be present in more than half of all Americans. That doesn’t make it any easier to deal with when cold sores flareup. Gaining a better understanding of the virus may…

Apple cider vinegar is a versatile household staple, from brightening salad dressings to unclogging drains. It’s also touted as a health elixir. How can you separate the hype from the real benefits? See what the doctor has to say…

Environmentalists have sounded alarms about the harm it’s doing. But a more dire warning may be the estimated nine million premature deaths that happen each year because it’s hardening our arteries. As a doctor, this is how I’m protecting myself…

The idea of a healthy diet has been based on older dietary measures that steer us towards food groups or specific macronutrients. But it’s the effect of food inside the body that’s the common denominator fueling disease…

With cold and flu season approaching, you need to hear an ugly truth: Many decongestants we’ve turned to for sinus pain and pressure have been deemed ineffective and will leave drugstore shelves soon. Here’s why some work and some don’t…

The virus season is here. That means you need to ready your defenses against respiratory infections and the potential for pneumonia. As odd as this advice sounds, seeing your dentist may make the biggest impact…

The low FODMAP is as effective as medication in managing IBS symptoms, but it can be difficult to follow because it is so restrictive. What if you only had to restrict two things to get the same symptom relief?

Do you live with never-ending congestion and recurrent sinus infections? Feel like you can’t get enough air through your nose? Nasal polyps may be to blame. Your doctor can remove them, but to keep them from returning, do these 2 things…

How well do you think you’re aging? Considering all we now know about slowing the rate of aging so we can reduce risks for functional decline and disease, we’d be foolish not to try. The first step is to gauge your biological age…

Deciphering cholesterol readings can be complex but we all know HDL is the good stuff, or so we thought. For women, menopause can help bring out the bad side of HDL that could lead to the first sign of Alzheimer’s…

Heart disease is not always top of mind. Maybe because we’ve become numb to it. Yet it remains the leading cause of death. While that almost makes it almost seem “normal”, it’s time to get scary serious about it…

The question of whether or not alcohol provides health benefits seems to have sparked a never-ending debate. It may have started with the French Paradox, but could end with these six cancers…

Being overweight is considered a risk factor for heart disease. But rumblings among experts began casting doubt on BMI as a measure of that risk. It’s been missing an important fat distribution detail that gives a much clearer, potentially life-saving picture…

Based on the theory of entropy, which translates to the breakdown of cells and systems in humans — exactly what happens with aging — scientists have stumbled on a novel anti-aging intervention. Here’s how you can put it to work…

If nature can throw allergens at us, it’s not surprising the answer to taming them is found in nature as well. If anyone understands the concept of balance, it’s Mother Nature. Thanks to these natural allergy relievers, you could enjoy fall without walking around in an antihistamine fog…

The oral microbiome is the second largest microbiome in the body. Research links it with whole-body health and longevity when it’s balanced. When it’s not, gum disease-causing bacteria can increase risks for certain cancers…

A leaky gut is exactly what it sounds like. So you can imagine having one can lead to all sorts of problems, from pain to autoimmune disorders. Just 2 of these nuts a day can make a significant improvement…

Omega-3 fatty acids are associated with healthy aging throughout life, promoting healthy brain and heart function. But as important as they are throughout life, they need to be there at the beginning too…

Indulging a sweet tooth occasionally seems harmless. But having a penchant for sweets, especially when sugars hide where we least expect them, can raise several markers for serious trouble, particularly stroke.

Longer warmer seasons are making ticks a year-round menace rather than just a summertime scourge. That could be one reason why rates of a certain tick-borne illness known as “American malaria” are on the rise…

Autoimmune disease turns your body’s once-balanced immune system into an overactive nightmare that begins attacking your own healthy cells and organs. Even with medication, many can be hard to manage. But an ancient spice may be what the doctor orders to improve your treatment plan…

Before trying a high-protein diet to get healthy and lose weight, think again, especially if blood sugar is an issue. It’s advice that could backfire for those at higher risk for underlying kidney disease who may not even know it…

Strokes seem to strike from nowhere. But in truth the risk of having one doubles every 10 years after age 55. Bad habits take it higher. But all of us know someone seemingly hit by one out of left field. Or was it? It could have been their favorite beverage.

Alzheimer’s is almost twice as common in women, which makes identifying female-specific risk factors vital. Especially since experts estimate 40 percent of cases can be prevented or, at the least, delayed. These are the symptoms that need urgent attention…

There are a lot of differences between men’s and women’s heart attack symptoms and heart disease risk factors. But getting caught up in the differences makes it easy to miss lifesaving similarities, like a biomarker that may lead to a vaccine for heart disease….

Emulsifiers do magic things to foods. They make them creamy, thick or even velvety smooth. They also keep our snacks on the shelves longer, so they’re always there when you have a craving. But that’s just the beginning of their bad side…

Manuka honey comes from Australia and New Zealand, but what really makes it unique are anti-cancer compounds and that it blocks estrogen receptors. Here’s what researchers believe breast cancer treatment with Manuka honey could look like…

One in 31 American women dies of breast cancer yearly, but heart disease kills one in three. While tools to assess women’s unique signs of heart trouble have been lacking, a routine medical procedure has identified a common denominator that could save more lives.

There’s nothing “mild” about mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to dementia. Early detection may slow it but that’s relied on ruling out other conditions. But blood vessels in the brain reveal clues on how it could be prevented…