Latest Stories

If you have high blood pressure, you know it’s tough to get your readings down to normal levels, even with medication. One popular food known for health benefits could tank it by 7 points…

Potatoes have a reputation that’s not so healthy. But, if you think about it, from french fries and mashed potatoes to chips, we’re responsible for sucking the nutrition right out of a delicious food that can be part of truly healthy diet…

Statins are prescribed to millions of people. However, the drugs are not without downsides, including pain and heightened risks for diabetes and dementia. Now, there’s evidence they may lead to a sight-stealing condition…

When you hear cranberries mentioned in a health conversation, you probably immediately think of urinary tract infections. But then we heard about their effect on cholesterol. Turns out that was just the tip of the iceberg for these little berries…

Here are a dozen easy recipe substitutions that will not only let you enjoy delicious baked goods without the guilt, but will also make a once-sinful treat into a nutritional delight!

Our lungs have a lot going against them. But unless we experience an illness, we don’t give them a second thought. If you want yours to stay healthy and keep effortlessly doing their job, you need to know why fruit matters…

I still remember the last visit with the doctor I saw for my blood pressure problems. She took my blood pressure and then matter-of-factly told me: “I guess your high blood pressure is gone.” She couldn’t explain it, but I can…

High-sugar snacks are usually a bad idea, unless it’s one specific tropical fruit, packed with over 30 grams of sugar, that can not only help you shed unwanted body fat, but also improve insulin sensitivity and blood glucose control.

Fatty liver, now called Metabolic-associated steatotic fatty liver disease, affects more than 100 million of us in the U.S. The good news is that it’s reversible when caught early, and that may have gotten a lot easier…

Inflammaging is a chronic inflammatory process linked to aging and the diseases that come with it, like heart disease. But it doesn’t have to be that way. While inflammaging is a natural part of aging, it’s in your power to mitigate its effects…

There’s an interesting connection between some neurodegenerative ailments, like Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s: the loss of smell. Knowing scent-detecting nerves trigger certain brain responses, research tested a whiff of a scent that may halt cognitive decline…

Frailty can rob you of your independence as you get older. One good way to fend off frailty is by walking. But whether it works depends on your cadence. That’s where the extra 14 steps come in…

Lifestyle factors help reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. But once you have it, there’s precious little that can help. Or so we thought. Meet the herb research says slowed decline and turned brains back to normal…

A supplement that fights respiratory infections has been overshadowed by vitamin C, even though studies show it can reduce the likelihood of getting the flu by more than 50%. But its power to starve cancer might help it stand out…

‘Tis the season of overindulging. Even if you’re a healthy eater, you’re going to encounter foods you probably don’t the rest of the year. This can wreak havoc with your digestive system, cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure. These foods can counter the damage…

Conflicting reports about the benefits or harms of drinking wine came from studies relying on self-reported data that’s often flawed. But when researchers got serious about the science, it resulted in great news for wine lovers and their hearts…

A Thanksgiving tradition, few know that the humble sweet potato is a nutritional giant. So, let me share these six ways sweet potatoes are one food you can stuff yourself silly with — guilt-free — and introduce you to three delicious recipes you can use to impress your holiday guests…

They wouldn’t be holidays if we didn’t indulge, right? But rich, starchy, sugary desserts lead to weight gain and soaring blood sugar. There’s one seasonal treat that contains powerful metabolism boosters that can counteract the harm and help you enjoy the holidays guilt-free…

Is it hard to say no to your fur baby when the Thanksgiving turkey hits the table? Or maybe they just want to sample the ham. No matter how sweet those puppy dog eyes are, some under-the-table sharing can do your pet serious harm…

Winter doesn’t agree with me anymore. When I’m indoors and warm, it’s OK. But you can’t stay inside all winter. For some people, though, feeling cold seems to be a year-round thing, no matter where they live. Here are some of the conditions that might be making you cold all of the time…

Bladder betrayal doesn’t discriminate when aging and hormones are involved. But diet? Surprising new findings about what you eat and don’t eat may explain why you run faster to the bathroom than the next person…

When you reach for sweets or salty chips, your waistline and your health suffer. Don’t worry. If you need a little something to hold you over, there’s one snack that hits so many health marks — if you’re not enjoying it daily, you’re doing yourself a disservice…

Having an occasional soda can’t hurt, can it? Turns out it can. Modest consumption of sugary drinks can raise your risk of cancer, and, if you’re battling it, can cause it to spread. Here’s how…

Not one but two studies add to a growing body of evidence that what happens in your mouth doesn’t just stay there. In fact, your oral health can more than double your risk for stroke and more…

It’s America’s favorite berry because we love the taste. Now research shows if you’re having trouble managing your triglyerides and LDL, you have another good reasons to eat them…

Fatty liver has become far too common a health risk, and it’s one that keeps on giving because it can progress to liver cancer with just a few steps in between. The key is stamping out the inflammation before that happens…

Diet is directly tied to health or disease. That’s why it has been and may always be a topic of research. But when a study comes out every week on this diet or that, how do you quantify it all? Analyze 20 years of studies and the disease-free diet comes to the top…

What you eat can make a huge difference in your blood pressure. Too much (or too little) salt and skimping on fiber can send your blood pressure soaring. But if you’re looking to lower your risk, there’s one food you should consider adding to your daily diet…

There are upsides and downsides to daily medication. Take aspirin. It may help prevent a heart attack, but for some, the risk of bleeding or stroke goes up. But, with care, there’s one disease where daily aspirin’s possible side effects may pale compared to its prevention potential…

Liver cancer is on the rise. And just in time, scientists are on the cusp of an effective and inexpensive treatment, thanks to the secrets given up by the guava fruit, its seeds and leaves — chock-full of powerful cancer fighters…

For years, the answer to depression has been drugs that often don’t work and lead to depressing side effects. But an 11-year twin study provides unique insight on food’s strong link to the mood disorder…

Many factors affect heart disease risk, like poor lifestyle choices that can set up heart problems down the road. But some actually speed up that risk, like two conditions that bring about the potential for heart trouble almost three decades sooner…

After menopause, fat is the primary source of estrogen. Body mass index may not accurately measure body fat. This matters because body fat is linked to hormone-positive breast cancer, an underestimated deadly cancer risk…

Would you know if you were having a heart attack? Conventional wisdom says that chest pain, sweating and shortness of breath are classic signs. But there are others that aren’t talked about nearly as often. Don’t mistake these symptoms…

If you’re tired of those deep purple and red splotches that happen with the slightest bump and make your skin look beat up and older than it should, there is an answer… and, it’s easier than you might think.

If you have high cholesterol, you may be on the hunt for alternatives to statins. Why? Because they have side effects that are intolerable for many. This one works so well your doctor may recommend it. Just be careful…

As you age, you probably tend to worry about the health of two of your most important organs — your brain and your heart. That’s why we’re urged to exercise and eat right. But what if you’re over 65, is it too late? Not for a berry boost…

The average American consumes almost 19 teaspoons of added sugar a day. And that’s tied to more than 45 serious health problems. No wonder many of us turn to low-calorie sweeteners, like xylitol. But practicing moderation may be safer than risking blood clots…

A mild stroke could be a wake-up call. But a severe stroke changes your life in ways you can’t bounce back from. Before it’s too late, do something about the most important risk linked to severe stroke…

If you have risk factors for heart disease, including hypertension and diabetes, a case of pneumonia can increase the stress on your heart further leading to some serious complications. But if your doctor approves, you can start working to prevent that possibility now…

Aging gracefully is about more than just adding years to your life. It’s about enriching those years with health, vitality and connection. Golf can help because it’s more than just a sport — it’s a pathway to a longer, fuller life. 

Vitamin D is linked to positive impacts from healthy aging to prevention. Its effect on blood pressure has been inconclusive, however. But new research finds it may be a matter of when and who vitamin D can help the most…

Obesity is at the root of most disease, from cancer to heart disease. But it’s most closely linked to is diabetes, hence the term ‘diabesity.’ But another hidden factor driving that connection has been recently uncovered…

Gabapentinoids have been seen as a safer alternative to opioids for pain. However, they carry with them their own risks — including one debilitating condition that could be a death sentence for older adults…

Coming out on the other side of a cancer diagnosis is no small feat. But survivors often live looking over their shoulders. Scientists have identified one particularly high risk factor that could leave cancer in the rearview mirror…

Avocados have long been considered a superfood. Yes, they’re high in fat and calories but also contain some valuable nutrition. That’s what caught the attention of researchers looking to put the blood pressure-busting effects of avocados to the test…

Visits to the ER for heart attacks increase during the winter months. Experts say there are three levels of people for whom this is more likely, and one group never sees it coming. Here’s how to avoid being one of them…

Menopause is a dangerous time for women, beyond breast cancer. So how can you keep ‘the change’ from stealing your health? Whether you’re perimenopausal or post-menopausal, start now to avoid these 5 threats…

Licorice is candy. But in traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s a medicinal herb. Its powerful effects are why guidelines determined how much was safe to eat. But they were wrong about how little can have deleterious effects…

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to slow aging. Understandably, there’s some skepticism when products claim to. But it can be as simple as avoiding the things that accelerate your rate of aging — like these foods…

For years, people with gout have been shamed for causing their own pain. It was thought their poor diet elevated uric acid which contributes to painful crystals in joints, like the big toe. Now we know there’s more to the story.

If you can bang out close to 10,000 steps a day, more power to you. But there’s a more effecient way to rev up your metabolism and burn 60 percent more calories. This is one health hack that may sound too good to be true, but here’s why it works…

Thanks to genetics, even diet and exercise may not lower high cholesterol. And since many people ditch medication, researchers seek alternatives. After a study with 400,000 people, they’ve hit on one that’s effective even when it starts with your genes.

Garlic has long had a place at the table and in traditional medicine, where the potent bulb is linked to heart health, reduced inflammation and a strong immune system. Now, taming aggressive cancer cells can be added to the list…

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…