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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…

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat. It’s also a leading cause of stroke. Risk of devloping it climbs with age but it can also run in families and take your risk even higher. Do this one thing to slash it…

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…

Changes to your circadian rhythm that happen with age can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. That in turn, can increase your risk for heart trouble. This easy 3-minute activity can help you beat both…

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…

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…

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…

Acute pancreatitis is a painful sudden attack that could land you in the hospital. Damage from repeat attacks put you in serious jeopardy. Rest, IV fluids, pain meds and antibiotics can only do so much. But this vitamin may treat, protect and prevent…

As age goes up, the more likely we are to experience vision loss due to age-related changes in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. But what if it was possible to age-proof our eyes with the help of a protein that keeps them young in the same way collagen helps age-proof our joints?

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…

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…

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…

Electronic screens expose your eyes to the damaging effects of blue light. But what many don’t know is, the sun is a significant source of blue light and, just like UV rays, blue light prematurely ages your skin. But unlike UV rays, sunscreen can’t protect you…

It’s a lab-made chemical originally used to help treat certain skin conditions. It’s similar to a hormone produced naturally by our bodies that increases production of skin-darkening pignments. But it’s a killer tan that you want to avoid at all costs…

You’ve heard it time and again: eat healthy to protect your cardiovascular health. Yet stroke is the one cardiovascular condition that doesn’t seem to be influenced by diet. So, what can you do? The answer is another lifestyle factor (not exercise) that affects us all at one time or another…

There are many good reasons to maintain a healthy weight. And most of them are on a long list of dangerous conditions. But it’s actually a health issue no one’s sounded an alarm about yet that may put anyone dealing with obesity in the danger zone…

Much research has connected artificial sweeteners to not-so-sweet health issues, while health agencies continued to maintain their safety. It’s no wonder we’re confused. Now a recent declaration by a leading global health body has only made things murkier about this possible carcinogen…

Sleep is essential to our well-being. But we’re still learning how it helps prevent disease. One surprising finding? Deep-sleep brain waves reboot the body’s sensitivity to insulin, resulting in a more effective control of blood sugar the next day…

Are you destroying your wellness with the food you buy at the supermarket? Learn about the seven deadly ingredient sins you may be unknowingly committing when you fill up your cart at the grocery. By purchasing health-promoting foods, instead, you can help your heart and lower your risk of cancer. Here’s how to make those crucial supermarket aisle decisions.

There’s no question arsenic can be poisonous in large amounts. But are the small amounts we’re exposed to over time in rice and drinking water really that bad for us? Research points to yes. In fact, a recent study has underscored the connection between arsenic exposure, insulin production and sensitivity and type 2 diabetes…

Remember that super sexy foodie scene from the steamiest movie to come out of the late 80s — 9 1/2 Weeks? In “that” scene, the two romantic leads share some sensuous snacks, including grapes and strawberries, while sitting in front of an opened refrigerator. But do you know what was missing?

Menopause can be a nightmare of hot flashes, depression and fatigue. Luckily, there is an answer in a 10,000-year-old traditional Chinese practice that has helped many women overcome these challenges and reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms…

Brain shrinkage is linked with aging and cognitive decline. So the more we know about pumping up the volume, the better. Despite research linking the habit to health problems, going down for a nap may be the easiest way to keep your brain volume up…

For most, the common bacteria H. pylori has no symptoms. But for some it leads to all sorts of gastric problems, like heartburn, indigestion, gastritis and gastric cancer. Now, research has found a troubling factor that can ramp that cancer risk way up…

More than four out of five CVD deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes, which is why doctors pay such close attention to warning signs like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But it looks like there’s another important level they should be paying a lot more attention to…

Numerous studies indicate that alcohol and a disease-free life just don’t mix. But is something about beer different? It’s been tied to fewer infections and blood clots and less inflammation. And now we may know the secret behind its health-promoting benefits…

Besides a long list of side effects, antidepressants don’t always work, have been linked to dementia and cause weight gain. But according to a comprehensive review, there’s a free solution that works better than medication and the only ‘side effects’ are health and happiness…

Once diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there’s little that can be done. That’s why prevention and slowing progression has been the main focus of research. But one early symptom already has a well-researched solution that could be the intervention we’ve been looking for…

St. Augustine, Florida, is said to be where Ponce de Leon discovered the legendary fountain of youth. If you’re looking for a lovely vacation, St. Augustine is a great choice. But if you’re looking for your own fountain of youth, how about an option heavier on science than myth…

No one wants to think they’ll have a stroke. The fact is, in the U.S., one occurs every 40 seconds, and someone dies of a stroke about every three minutes. But multiple studies show one habit can help you not only survive stroke but increase your odds of a full, unimpaired recovery.

Since the heart-diet hypothesis introduced in the 1950s scared most of us off of animal fats, the FDA and AHA have assured us vegetable oil is a beneficial alternative. But there’s a dark side to a major component of vegetable oil, and you probably didn’t even know you were eating it…

It’s the most common cancer of the female reproductive system, yet there’s no screening test to detect uterine cancer. That’s why knowing these symptoms and risk factors is so important, especially if you’re over 50 when your risk is highest.

If it’s not shocking enough that dementia kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined, how about this… you may be taking a common medication right now that increases your risk of developing dementia by as much as 50 percent!

If you still cringe at headlines about fitness and health, you may think the benefits only apply to elite athletes. You’d be wrong. A 9-year study on almost 650,000 average Joe’s has proven you can pick the level you can commit to and make a dent in your dementia risk…

At least 9 million deaths worldwide each year are caused by pollution. And more than 60 percent of those deaths are linked to cardiovascular diseases. With numbers like these, researchers are working to identify the worse offenders and they’ve come up with three to watch out for…

Inflammatory bowel diseases affect millions of people, and though the exact causes are not fully understood, here’s a clue that’s hard to ignore: the most commonly used artificial coloring in American grocery items has already been banned in most of Europe for reasons you should know.

What do you think is the dirtiest place in your house? The bathroom or the bedroom? Both have their issues, but if you guessed bathroom, you’ll be shocked to learn a germ-filled slumber can expose you to an exponentially higher risk of dangerous bacteria…

While lifestyle changes can help defeat blood sugar problems, they’re not easy to stick to. But, if you’re still able to manage your condition without resorting to medication, you’d probably like to keep it that way. Here’s a tip researchers say will help…

Healthy and pain-free hips are important to maintain mobility and independence with age. Osteoarthritis is only one condition that can compromise your hip function. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to support your hips so they can keep supporting you!

There’s this myth about the lazy days of summer being so relaxing. But it looks like stress hormone levels may be far higher in summer than in winter, and that means so is your risk for depression, memory problems and even a heart event…

Properly cleaning dentures is important, and not just for a fresh mouth. Like teeth, they collect bacterial plaque and may cause fungal infections. Worse, they build up a sticky biofilm that acts like a magnet for some very dangerous bacteria, in and out of your mouth, that you can breath into your lungs…

For years, the medical establishment has pushed the idea that supplementing is a waste of money. Will they change their minds after findings that prove food alone can’t compete with multivitamins when it comes to keeping important levels where they need to be…