Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Jenny Smiechowski

The best holiday food to hamper holiday weight gain

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…

Margaret Cantwell

Don’t share these holiday foods with your dog

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…

Joyce Hollman

12 reasons and conditions that make you cold all the time

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…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How your diet can cause your bladder to leak

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The snack your heart loves that boosts your ‘happy’ hormone

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…

Carolyn Gretton

How sugary drinks help colorectal cancer spread

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How germs in your mouth more than double stroke risk

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…

Carolyn Gretton

The berry that takes down triglycerides and LDL

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What works to keep fatty liver inflammation from progressing

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…

Joyce Hollman

The most effective strategy against heart disease and cancer

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…

Carolyn Gretton

The vegetable that lowered blood pressure 36 percent

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…

Carolyn Gretton

An over-the-counter medication activates cancer-protective genes

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Guava’s secret liver cancer-fighting molecule

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to slash cancer growth 30% in 30 minutes

Myokines are proteins produced by muscles that have known anti-cancer properties. Healthy people can make plenty, but what if you’re a cancer survivor and want to keep it that way? Here’s how to boost these cancer-fighters in just 30 minutes.

Joyce Hollman

Nature’s appetite suppressant

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What toenail clippings can reveal about lung cancer

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Why antioxidants are the answer for aging brains and muscles

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The drink that makes antibiotics useless (and it’s not alcohol)

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Try this weight-reducing fat trick to survive holiday eating

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…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Magnesium’s overlooked link to type 2 diabetes

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…

Carolyn Gretton

The supplement that kept prostate cancer from worsening

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.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The cortisol-link between stress and dehydration

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…

Margaret Cantwell

Why colonoscopies may be less effective than we thought

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…

Joyce Hollman

Newly discovered cause of heart attack hides in plaque

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…

Joyce Hollman

The cruciferous compound that keeps fatty liver from advancing

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…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

6 ways to alkalize for a disease-fighting body

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.

Margaret Cantwell

3 ‘add-ons’ that slash diabetes risk 31%

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…

Joyce Hollman

Alcohol’s hidden partner in the attack on your liver

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Unlock bliss to relieve anxiety, depression and more

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Poor blood flow linked to supercharged tumor growth

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…

Carolyn Gretton

The biomarker that could lead to a heart disease vaccine

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….

Carolyn Gretton

7 food additives that can trigger type 2 diabetes

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Manuka honey strengthens fight against ER+ breast cancer

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…

Joyce Hollman

The heart disease warning a mammogram shows

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.

Carolyn Gretton

Brain’s blood vessels reveal path to halt cognitive decline

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to eat processed food and not get diabetes

Rates of type 2 diabetes just keep going up, and a lot of finger-pointing is aimed at the standard American Diet. Is your only choice to give up convenience for whole-food home cooking? Not necessarily…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Medical panel finally admits we need more vitamin D

Despite decades of mounting evidence on vitamin D’s prevention potential, the medical community has held fast to a very meager RDA. But change is in the air, at least for certain people and conditions. Did you make the cut?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The weekend warrior phenomenon: Beating disease 2 days at a time

Chances are we all know a weekend warrior: someone who gets in little activity during the week, but hikes, climbs, kayaks, or the like, every weekend. We could learn a lot from them, like how to avoid more than 260 diseases.

Joyce Hollman

4 common infections that spread cancer risks

Cancer isn’t as random as you might think. There are five types of cancer that are caused by four common viruses and bacteria. Knowledge is half the battle. Prevention can help you win it…

Carolyn Gretton

When sleep apnea sets you up for aortic aneurysm

Obstructive sleep apnea causes a person to stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night. It can raise the odds of several cardiovascular complications. Abdominal aortic aneurysm is the latest to join that list…

Carolyn Gretton

Hashimoto’s: An often misdiagnosed thyroid disorder

An underactive thyroid can make you tired, achy, overweight and lead to mysterious symptoms including anxiety. That’s why it’s important to know if your thyroid is working as it should. If not, it could be due to an increasingly common and misdiagnosed autoimmune disorder…

Carolyn Gretton

Move over coffee: Tea lowers dementia risk too

We’ve known for a while that coffee has loads of health benefits, especially for the brain. But what about tea? Well, it’s time for tea lovers to celebrate, because their beverage of choice looks to be just as good for the brain as that cup of joe…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 reasons men’s cancer-related deaths are expected to double

It looks looks like cancer is here to stay, in spite of all the money going into research. In fact, for men, the numbers are expected to double. What can you do? Pay attention to these 4 factors fueling the rise…

Carolyn Gretton

What ‘hangry’ says about your cortisol and blood sugar

Many factors influence mood swings. Some are external, like a lost job or a disagreement. Others are internal, like an imbalance in hormones. Who would have thought blood sugar could have such an impact on one in particular…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The secret to better erectile function: Use it or lose it

Erections aren’t just about a healthy sex life. They’re important for a man’s health. An essential trigger for strong erections previously ignored, is in the spotlight: special cells that decline with age. But there’s a way you can generate a youthful number of these cells for, you guessed it, youthful erections…

Carolyn Gretton

How a dentist could save you from sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea can increase seven cardiovascular complications that can skyrocket risks for heart trouble. Fortunately, getting diagnosed may be easier if you start with a dentist who recognizes the signs and gets to the root of the problem…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Painless prostate cancer test claims 90% accuracy

Prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer is known for a high rate of false positives that can lead to routine biopsies that can do more harm than good. A new, simple and highly accurate test may put an end to all that…

Carolyn Gretton

The heart condition 3 times more common than thought

It’s hard to tell sometimes if health problems are on the rise or just underdiagnosed. Both could apply to atrial fibrillation, a condition that substantially increases risk of stroke. With such dangerous stakes, it a good thing researchers are taking a closer look…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A growing connection: Cardiovascular disease and cell phones

Mobile phone usage is gaining a reputation for trouble. Two studies in as many years link it to cardiovascular diseases through disrupted circadian rhythm, endocrine and metabolic disruption, and increased inflammation. Here’s what you need to know about the data and your risk…

Joyce Hollman

Eat this now to avoid depression pitfall of aging

Depression in older adults is common, but contrary to popular belief, it’s not a normal part of aging. Illness, medication, loneliness and limited mobility can play a part. But the biggest contributor? Foods that you should be eating now to boost production of happiness hormones later…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The safe simple drug-free weight loss strategy that works

While GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are having their moment, we’re learning they can lead to intestinal damage and the possibility of “life-long treatment” to keep weight from returning. Why risk it when researchers say another evidence-based strategy is safer and works?

Joyce Hollman

Colorful carotenoids: Foods that fight aging inside and out

Carotenoids are pigments in brightly colored fruits and vegetables. They’re also powerful antioxidants with a serious capacity to scavenge free radicals and guard against cellular damage. But their anti-aging effects don’t stop there…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How exercise improves belly fat even when you don’t see it

Do you spend several hours a week working out to lose weight? Maybe you’ve been at it for a while but aren’t seeing the results you hoped for in the mirror. You may even question if it’s worth it. These findings will leave no doubt in your mind about the benefits you’re reaping…

Carolyn Gretton

9 physical signs you could have depression

Depression causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anger and more. But depression isn’t confined to the mind. It can manifest in physical symptoms that can make it hard to understand what’s going on and interfere with getting the right kind of help…

Joyce Hollman

Potential Parkinson’s prevention found in seaweed antioxidant

There’s no cure for Parkinson’s, but research provides insight into steps we can take to reduce our risk. The most compelling is the free radical assault that puts Parkinson’s into motion and strong evidence the right antioxidant can prevent it…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Researchers conclude: Gluten’s harm goes way beyond Celiac  

Autoimmune conditions have been on the rise. And after years of denying its role in anything but celiac, science admits: Gluten induces oxidation, cellular stress, gut dysfunction and inflammation linked to multiple autoimmune, metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Study links spirituality to healthier blood pressure

As a preventive cardiologist, one of the most common conditions I treat is hypertension. Nearly half of adults have it. Medications help, but lifestyle avenues interest my patients most. Now research has opened another avenue to lower their readings, with impressive results…

Margaret Cantwell

The bladder exercise better than confounding Kegels

If you’re dealing with a leaky, overactive bladder, you’re not alone. But you may think your choices are limited to adult diapers, questionable drugs that impact the brain or “practically impossible to master” Kegel exercises. You’d be wrong. Here’s a new easier way to cut the restroom leash…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Blood pressure drugs tied to surprising fracture risk

As our age goes up, so can our risk for fractures. And it’s a risk not to be taken lightly: Fractures have been linked to early death for both men and women, especially in those of us over 65. Not long ago we shared the threat long-term use of blood pressure drugs can pose to our kidneys. Now I need to share another…

Carolyn Gretton

Ignore your body clock at peril, especially if overweight

Most people’s natural circadian rhythm signals bedtime between 10 p.m. and midnight. Those who ignore it in favor of late-night TV or scrolling, can see it add up to higher levels of body fat, triglycerides and glucose in the blood, increasing risk for metabolic syndrome…

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