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If you have a sweet tooth, there are worse things you can indulge in than a bar of dark chocolate. Especially if you want to avoid blood sugar trouble and weight gain…

While everyone has been looking for a way to live healthier longer, it appears the simplest answer has been under our noses. A review of dozens of studies shows our favorite drink challenges 7 pillars of aging…

Sleep is more than just downtime for your body. When you sleep, the workload on your cardiovascular system catches a break. That’s why the doctor says you should never ignore sleepless nights…

A study that spanned a little over a decade indicates that higher levels of two essential fatty acids reduced the risks for several cancers. However, the benefits and potential harms vary. Here’s what you need to know…

Deciding to make healthy changes can be daunting, what with so many to choose from and all. If you want to avoid setting yourself up for failure but want to be healthier and happier, get started with this one simple thing…

Everyone loves giving and getting gifts. But it seems we enjoy gift-giving a bit more. Turns out the old adage “it’s better to give than to receive” is actually true in terms of the response it elicits from your brain…

The American Heart Association has a running list on how to achieve optimal heart health. As a nation, we’ve got a lousy score. But an unexpected finding of adhering to this list doesn’t just mean a higher score… it can help you turn your age back as much as 6 years.

Sugar has serious drawbacks, but do you have to go sugar-free to stay healthy? Not if you switch to this truly natural sweetener that not only satisfies your sweet tooth, but also reduces four significant risk factors for cardiometabolic disease…

Have you heard of “vascular compliance?” It’s a term for how stiff or flexible your arteries are. And it’s key to maintaining healthy blood pressure and avoiding stroke and heart attack. Now, researchers are finding it may also be the strongest indicator you’re developing blood sugar problems…

For decades, doctors prescribed one medication for enlarged prostate. It turned out the same drug could be the answer for hair loss and, now, heart problems. But there’s a catch to getting these benefits safely…

Wouldn’t it be great if fighting obesity was as easy as adding one specific food to your diet? Well, according to multiple studies, this may be possible with a food that’s been eaten for thousands of years…

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…

Traditional medications for IBS can produce side effects including heartburn, diarrhea, gas and abdominal pain — the very symptoms they’re meant to eliminate. Research has confirmed a treatment that works better with none of those side effects…

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)…

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…

The holidays are about celebrations. They’re also about alcohol, sweets and salty savory treats and big meals that can leave you with a permanent heart condition. Here’s how to avoid holiday heart syndrome and the signs to watch for…

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 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…

Over the years, the benefits of probiotics have begun to stack up. And after significant advances in probiotic research, experts have a message for us: the gut microbiome cannot be neglected when treating or preventing colorectal cancer.

A tiny organ that’s often ignored is the key to helping keep colds and flu away and your immune system balanced to avoid autoimmune disease. But it’s also connected to immune system aging. Here’s how to keep yours youthful…

Running and walking each have their advantages in terms of fitness and impact on conditions that can impact long-term health. But is one better than the other? It really depends on your individual goals and one especially important factor…

Belly fat signals much more than weight gain. It can hide a ticking time bomb deep in your abdomen known as visceral fat. This type of fat has already been linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke — and now the most feared condition of aging…

A person with tinnitus constantly hears phantom sounds like ringing and humming. While not life-threatening, tinnitus makes life difficult, and often leads to anxiety and depression. Scientists have begun to connect what happens in the brain during sleep with this condition…

Mitochondria are bean-shaped structures that provide the energy our cells need to function. When they malfunction and age, so do we. Is there a fix? The Buck Institute for Research on Aging made a discovery that puts them hot on the trail…

Mobile phones, cell phones, smartphones. What we call them has changed but the fact that they emit electromagnetic radiation hasn’t. Neither has scientific curiosity about how these devices we hold so near impact our hormonal health…

Why is it that red wine causes headaches in some people but not in others? Scientists investigating this phenomenon traced the culprit to a normally friendly flavanol that becomes the body’s foe when mixed with alcohol…

Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence. That’s how lifestyle habits can turn bad genes around, and now how we know that formaldehyde can give you cancer…

Your body needs fat, but your brain actually craves it. The quality of the fats you eat determines how well your brain’s cell membranes work. That’s our introduction to the complex relationship between triglycerides and dementia…

New research indicates that a deficiency in an amino acid could be part of what causes depression. But previous research has validated its importance in metabolism, heart health, immune function and even longevity. Are you getting enough?

‘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…

If you are one of the 14 million men who suffer from an enlarged prostate due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), it is understandable that you would like to find a way to shrink your prostate or at least reduce its symptoms.

The holiday season is all about excess: Whirlwind shopping, celebrations, abundant food… And just so you know, I hope to enjoy it all! About that abundant food… My plan is to keep it in perspective. After all there is some guilt-free good news…

Over a decade ago we were warned about red meat and diabetes. Maybe we’ve been sidetracked by sugar, but understanding how meat can elevate diabetes risk by more than 50 percent is a message a new study hopes to drive home…

Time marches on, but you don’t have to join the parade. Research is stacking up, in one area in particular, that it’s more than possible to slow down how old your body feels and acts. And the organ that runs the show is where to start…

Whether it’s empty nest syndrome or other life changes, it’s not uncommon for people to assume loneliness goes hand-in-hand with getting older. But that’s a misconception that’s leading to a problem: seeing bouts of loneliness as an excuse for doctors to prescribe drugs that are putting seniors in danger.

Decades of research confirm that exercise promotes head to toe health. But did you ever wonder exactly what it is about exercise that helps prevent disease? Find out what really goes on inside of your cells when you exercise…

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is on the fast track to becoming the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Why? A common denominator in two common conditions turns cells cancerous, but there’s a way to throw a kink into the equation…

Diminished grip strength has proven to be a surprisingly reliable indicator of health issues like cardiovascular events, declining brain function and metabolic disease. And that’s not all a weak grip can point to. Turns out grip strength may be related to how fast or slow our bodies are aging…

If you’re planning on preparing sweet potatoes for the holidays or any time after, there’s something you should know: Not only are they tasty and nutrient-rich, but when prepared a certain way, they’ll give up a goldmine of super slimming peptides…

If you seem to catch whatever bug is going around, your T cells may be exhausted. This type of exhaustion isn’t something a quick nap can fix, but researchers are exploring exactly why it occurs, revealing big clues about what to do about it.

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…

You can’t open an app these days without reading about the superfood status of blueberries. But what if you’re not a fan of that tiny bitter berry? Good news! Here’s why the strawberry is fast rising to the status of superfruit…

We all have this fungus in our bodies. But for the most part, it isn’t a problem until it starts to grow out of control. When that happens, we’re in for a world of hurt in various parts of the body — especially when it crosses the blood-brain barrier…

We’ve all been warned that smoking causes cancer. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg of what this habit does to our bodies, starting with hijacking our natural tumor suppressor genes making cancer more complex and even harder to treat…

There are a lot of health problems that men and women share, even heart disease. But what differs are the causes and risk factors. One cause of heart disease for men is not so much of a surprise. But the fact that it puts our dads, brothers and husbands at twice the risk is…

If you’re at risk for type 2 diabetes, hopefully, you already know the ground rules, like avoiding high glycemic foods. But what most of us don’t know is that salting our food can be as quick a path to diabetes as sugar…

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. And survivors are left reeling from the chemotherapy, radiation and surgery used to fight it. That’s why our focus must be on prevention, starting with the unbelieavable power of purple food…

Whether varicose veins put a kink in your style or not, you should know they’re not as benign as we’ve been lead to believe. They could increase your risk for deep vein thrombosis. Here are 6 ways to reduce the threat…