Latest Stories

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.

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…

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…

“In the pink” is funny little phrase that’s come to describe someone in the peak of health, maybe because we associate pink cheeks or a glowing complexion with health and vitality. Whether that’s true or not, science shows what’s true about a certain pink nutrient. Discover this amazing antioxidant…

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…

If I had a dollar for every time a doctor told me to cut down my salt intake… But what if something could counter salt’s bad effects? Sort of a “kryptonite” that weakened its impact on blood pressure? Sound too good to be true? This time it’s not…

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…

Menopause is a time of life that many women dread. It is fraught not only with major changes but also health challenges. For women who have completed this journey, heart disease is the #1 killer. That needs to change…

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never thought of drinking beer as a healthy habit. But there’s no denying it contains a powerful compound that just might be the answer to a dangerous metabolic condition affecting one-third of Americans…

Clotting of the blood is a normal bodily function. When things go as planned, blood clots any time there is an injury to a blood vessel. Sometimes, though, the process goes off the rails and dangerous complications can occur. Here’s how to know the signs, and how to minimize your chances of a deadly blood clot…

Carrots are full of antioxidants that support healthy vision. So are citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables and plenty of other plant-based foods. But what if you’re in the mood for something a bit more decadent, delicious and fast-acting? Well, this should be a pleasant surprise…

With Alzheimer’s on the rise, experts are exploring every angle to slow the disease’s progression. Drugs have been disappointing, but nutrition is another story. Researchers just identified five key nutrients found in normal brains, but missing in brains affected by Alzheimer’s…

Centuries ago, Native Americans valued cranberries for bladder health. And like me, you probably grew up with a mom who suggested cranberry juice to avoid UTIs. But science scoffed at this anecdotal evidence, chalking it up to an old wives’ tale. That is, until now…

Setting the clocks back means fewer hours of sunlight for the coming months. That’s not a big deal for everyone. But if your mood plummets as the days grow shorter and darker, you might need help lifting the winter blues…

The fact that fiber is essential to gut health is no surprise. But the role our gut plays in many other aspects of our health is coming to light in tons of research. Now we have a big clue as to why: hidden compounds that keep disease at bay…

Millions of Americans are taking aspirin daily to prevent cardiovascular disease based on a decades-old recommendation, and many are doing it without their doctor’s supervision. Health experts have recently revised this advisory due to a dangerous side effect that outweighs its benefits…

Have you heard of nitric oxide? It’s a key biological signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system so important, its discovery earned a Nobel Prize. It helped make a little blue pill famous, but what it can do for blood pressure, blood flow and blood vessels is where NO truly shines…

There are so many ways to enjoy the taste of cinnamon: tea, coffee, baking, casseroles. In fact, almost any food group can be enhanced by this stimulating flavor. Consider adding it into your cooking and baking, but to reap its amazing health benefits, all cinnamon is not created equally…

Some viruses don’t go away when your symptoms do. They stick around silently for years and can put you at risk for serious diseases in the future. And now research shows a group of common viruses may double your risk of Alzheimer’s…

Is chicken soup the best recovery for a cold? A lot of cultures worldwide swear by it and have for thousands of years. Here’s the science behind how chicken soup, done right, can speed up your recovery from colds and flu this winter…

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids known for supporting vision health. That’s why mom made sure you ate your carrots. But even mom didn’t know then that this duo’s protection could go far beyond, extending benefits from your brain to your bones and more.

There are a few classes of drugs you should be wary of… they can cloud your mind, reduce your abilities and they’re slow to leave your system. That increases risk of injury. What do you do if your doctor prescribes them? Try this…

The older you get, the higher your risk of developing osteoporosis. And taking a calcium supplement can help curb that risk. But, it turns out, taking a calcium supplement for healthy bones could put another crucial body part at risk…

Do certain sounds make your skin crawl? Do you anticipate with dread that one repetitive sound that you know could push you over the edge? Or do you hear constant noise that has no external source? You may be suffering from one of these conditions — and you’re not alone…

There’s no doubt that being overweight is bad for your heart, upping the odds as much as 60 percent. But some obese people have better cardiovascular health than people of healthy weight. Here’s what makes them heart-healthier than someone of normal weight…

Stress signals the body to produce the hormone cortisol at times when you need it, like to meet a deadline. But chronic, ongoing stressors that never allow your cortisol to ‘come down’ cause wear and tear on your body at a biological level. And that’s only good for cancer…

If you’ve been feeling like you’re slowing down lately or maybe you’ve been noticing a few new wrinkles and extra pounds around your middle, don’t write it off as a normal part of aging. There are natural ways to stay young, fit and energetic at any age.

No one plans to get sick enough from a viral or bacterial infection to be hospitalized. But now there’s all the more reason to plan to avoid that scenario. That’s because landing in the hospital for infection just a couple of times could greatly impact the health of your brain a few years later…

If you’ve been told your blood sugar isn’t so good, your doctor probably advised eating more plant-based foods, like whole grains, veggies, fruits and legumes while limiting consumption of most animal products. Good news: all animal-based foods are not equal in their effects on T2D.

We’d all love to keep the metabolism we had when we were kids. But aging makes that impossible. While our metabolism naturally slows with age, there’s lot we can do to help it run at peak efficiency, starting with our drinking habits…

Pumpkin seeds are nutrient powerhouses. Problem is, most people only eat them one day per year… the day they carve their Halloween pumpkins. But once you know the six big health benefits of these seeds, you won’t be able to keep your paws off them.

Did you leave the house without eating breakfast again? If so, you could be at risk for far more than just low blood sugar. In fact, according to a new study, skipping the most important meal of the day could leave you at increased risk of atherosclerosis…

Statins cause muscle pain, liver damage, digestive problems, memory loss and high blood sugar, among other side effects. Plus, they lower levels of the heart-protective antioxidant CoQ10 in your body. So why are hundreds of millions of Americans taking them when there’s a safe alternative?

Are there specific vitamins you should take to heal from and prevent cancer? Yes. There are two vitamins that have been proven time and time again to kill cancer cells and decrease your risk of a wide array of cancers, but this one…

Most experts advise against midnight snacking if you want to maintain a healthy weight, partly because it causes an unhealthy spike in blood sugar. But there are three additional factors affected by late-night eating, and you’ll definitely want to avoid the one that makes your body fat grow…

Research has discovered that changes in brain structure and function can occur years before dementia is diagnosed. They’ve also determined factors can put people at higher risk of developing dementia later in life. The metabolic link is one to pay attention to…

One diet has been shown to douse the fires of inflammation, prop up a failing immune system and enhance longevity. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s more good news: how it fights against dementia in four very powerful ways…

Of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes, Alzheimer’s is the only disease where existing treatments don’t really help. But now, scientists are working on ways that nutrition can slow the cognitive decline and memory loss of Alzheimer’s. And lipids hold the key…

Studies show a plant-based gum can reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, lower plaque levels, reduce gum inflammation and neutralize mouth odor. That’s probably why chewing it has been a popular dental hygiene practice in Greece for centuries. But its medicinal benefits don’t stop in your mouth…

Feed a cold, starve a fever… But, is sitting at home eating chicken noodle soup all you can do to get over the common cold? Actually, according to scientific research, there’s something else you can do to up your chances of getting well faster. In fact, you could triple your recovery time…

Colonoscopy was hailed as the procedure that could end colorectal cancer by reducing risk and death as much as 70 percent. But disappointing results from a large trial might make it hard to justify the risk and expense of this form of screening when simpler, less invasive strategies are available.

There’s a lot of controversy over what vitamin C can do for your health… Some say it can help you fend off a cold. Others say it can’t. Some say it helps you overcome cancer. Others say it can’t. But in both cases, there’s one factor that majorly influences whether vitamin C works or not…

From butter and cheese to pizza and ice cream, fatty food cravings can doom the healthiest diet to failure. But while you may blame your taste buds for your weakness, research is telling us that it’s not really about your tongue at all…

For women, hormones can wreak havoc on the arteries, leading to dangerous, even life-threatening issues. And while some of these hormonal issues occur naturally, like during menopause, others not so much: like carrying extra weight and taking the wrong pills…

Aging leads to insulin resistance, leaky gut and a domino effect that robs your gut of a protective fatty acid. But if you increase one special gut bacteria, you can reverse all that and enjoy a smaller waistline, lower blood sugar and better cholesterol levels…

Prostatitis and an enlarged prostate can greatly affect a man’s quality of life. Luckily, there’s an herb that has long been used to relieve urinary tract and prostate problems. The name may sound harsh, but stinging nettle for prostate health has many benefits…

Experts estimate that between 20 and 50 percent of men in the U.S. are living with low testosterone. That means decreased libido and energy and increased disease risk. But what if your diet was the thing zapping your testosterone? Would you do something about it?

It’s estimated that a whopping 42 percent of people are vitamin D deficient. Unless you get blood work regularly to monitor your levels, you may never know you’re lacking in this important vitamin until you start experiencing symptoms. Let’s take a look at seven sneaky signs you should be on the lookout for…

Air travel can make you sick, both on the plane and after you land. But if you’re properly prepared before takeoff, you can deal with air sickness and reduce your risk of illness. Here’s what you need to do to keep those skies friendly.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Your eyes are the windows to your soul.” Well, according to research, they might also be the windows to your heart. In fact, what your eye doctor sees during your exam could reveal whether a heart attack or stroke is in your future so that you can take steps to save your life.