Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

Boost well-being and fight depression in 10 minutes a day

Mindfulness may be something you associate with monks or yogis. But there’s really nothing mystical about it. It just takes a little concentration. With benefits that include a calm, focused mind, healthier habits and better sleep, why not give it a try…

Joyce Hollman

Nighttime heat: The stroke risk we didn’t know about

It can be hard to get the bedroom temperature just right, especially during warmer months. But being too hot when you sleep is more than just uncomfortable. New research shows nighttime heat is a significant stroke risk we knew little about…

Joyce Hollman

The omega fatty acid solution for that itchy feminine infection

The painful itching of bacterial vaginosis is something almost all women experience at some point. And when well-meaning doctors prescribe antibiotics, our natural chemistry can become even more unbalanced. What’s a girl to do? Harvard and MIT may have the answer.

Joyce Hollman

The common denominator between osteoporosis and short telomeres

Research has found a direct connection between the way our chromosomes age and the development of osteoporosis. By tackling a common denominator, not only can we age slower and healthier, but support long telomeres for longer life…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising deficiency that could raise diabetes risk

If you find yourself perpetually shortchanged on sleep, it can do a lot worse than make you cranky and foggy. it can raise your risk of heart disease and diabetes, And if you’re a woman who has trouble sleeping, research shows you could be at greater risk for poor cardiometabolic health…

Carolyn Gretton

The weird connection between RA and atherosclerosis

Inflammation is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and many other diseases. One of those is heart disease, which people with RA are prone to. All this inflammation may be why people with RA are also twice as likely to develop blood vessel disease. But new treatments may tackle it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 cancers in men linked to ‘female’ cancer gene

While men account for half of carriers of the breast cancer gene, they get tested for these genetic mutations at one-tenth the rate of women. It’s a dangerous game of Russian roulette, since this “female gene” can lead to three types of deadly cancers in men.

Joyce Hollman

Flexibility may be the easiest flex for a longer life

At 68 I can still touch my toes. That kind of flexibility not only helps me feel younger, there’s proof it lowers blood pressure. And since my goal is to live to 100, like my mom, research shows I’m on the right track. Here’s why flexibilty is linked to multiple benefits, including longevity…

Carolyn Gretton

Rocket fuel: The toxic danger lurking in our food

A dangerous chemical found in rocket fuel has gone from infiltrating our water sources to the foods we eat. Some of us are especially vulnerable to this forever chemical, which disrupts hormone production, metabolism, thyroid function and causes brain damage…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

When aspirin for colon cancer prevention is worth the risk

You may have heard that taking an aspirin a day could help keep cancer at bay. However, doctors have questioned whether or not the potential side effects are worth is. But the jury is in and they know who can benefit the most from taking aspirin to stave off colon cancer.

Carolyn Gretton

Keto’s gut changes that raise your stroke risk

To keto or not to keto? If you’re looking to lose weight and control inflammation, the keto diet can help. But there are risks to this diet as well — including its negative impact on your gut, cholesterol levels and ability to process carbs which is a setup for diabetes and stroke…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The one thing about blood pressure that stacks stroke risk

Strokes are incredibly traumatic. And while they may seem to strike without warning, there are danger flares sent up by your body that can indicate a future stroke. High blood pressure is the obvious culprit, but depending on how long you’ve lived with it, your stroke risk is climbing…

Joyce Hollman

Conquer inflammation to live longer with vim, vigor and health

Inflammation is central to a unifying theory of disease. So it’s no surprise it’s behind unhealthy aging, decrepitude and shorter lifespan. What if a treatment could cool it at the cellular level? Science say it could extend years of healthy life, that’s what.

Carolyn Gretton

The spa secret that prevents menopause-related weight gain

Visiting a spa may seem like an indulgence. But evidence is piling up that one common spa practice may kick-start metabolism for less weight gain and increase insulin sensitivity to stave off type 2 diabetes, especially if you’re a post-menopausal woman…

Joyce Hollman

12 recipe switches for healthy (or vegan) holiday treats

It’s that time of year again! Time to get out the pie pans, baking sheets, and rolling pins. Let the holiday baking begin! Believe it or not, it’s also the beginning of a great opportunity to turn your holiday favorites into healthier treats. Here are some easy and tasty guilt-free substitutions…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How red meat leads to type 2 diabetes finally revealed

The incidence of type 2 diabetes has been rising at an alarming rate and most of the blame has been placed on weight, age and lack of exercise. But experts knew there was a red meat connection. It took 36 years, but they’ve found it…

Joyce Hollman

Sweet news about safer treatments for hair loss

Almost all men and women will notice hair loss or hair thinning as they age. But genetics and hormones play a part too. Current topical hair loss treatments work but side effects like decreased libdo, weight gain and tachycardia leave us looking for safer options. We may have found one…

Carolyn Gretton

When a fall may be a stroke warning sign

Most people have experienced a fall at least once in their life. Most of the time there’s a reason (you tripped over a tree root, for instance). But there’s a concerning connection to falling that could mean increased stroke risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 symptoms of ovarian cancer you shouldn’t ignore

Ovarian cancer is a mostly silent and fast-moving disease. But researchers have found symptom-triggered testing can pick up early stage aggressive ovarian cancer in one in four women. Know what to look for and the tests your doctor should be running…

Joyce Hollman

Low back pain? Walking it off really works

It may seem counterintuitive, but if you’ve got low back pain and you’re not walking, you’re missing out on a simple, free and proven-effective way to reduce your level of pain, enjoy more pain-free days and keep pain from interfering in your daily life…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Can You Slow Down Alzheimer’s by Taking Care of Your Heart?

Alzheimer’s disease and heart disease are two of the most significant health challenges we face today — and top the list of conditions my patients want to avoid. But what if these two seemingly separate conditions were more connected than we ever thought?

Carolyn Gretton

The metabolism-busting secret in olives rivals those new weight-loss drugs

The race is on to find safe, inexpensive alternatives to weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, like this naturally derived compound that melts the weight and may work better than two medications commonly used to treat diabetes.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The Alzheimer’s-diabetes connection that may be hard to escape

There’s no doubt diabetes and Alzheimer’s are intertwined. That’s why some experts labeled Alzheimer’s as type 3 diabetes. Finally, the mechanism behind the connection has revealed why people with diabetes may have a harder time escaping the buildup of amyloid plaques…

Joyce Hollman

When your urine test finds heavy metals and heart trouble

Scientists are drilling down into the serious heart threat heavy metals present to our health, and it’s not pretty. Nor is how easily we are exposed. If you have any doubt how ubiquitous these toxins are, just see what a urine test can reveal…

Carolyn Gretton

Alcohol and longevity: Does it help or hurt your lifespan

Some studies show alcohol is great for your health, in moderation. Others point out some definite risks. But the anecdotal evidence linking red wine, the drink of centenarians, to a long healthy life is extensive. When the research was revisited, though, the conclusion was sobering.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

10 serious reasons to rethink lash extensions

Eyelash extensions are a popular, non-surgical way to improve on what Mother Nature didn’t give you or takes back when menopause nears. Just like hair, eyelashes thin, become brittle and lose their upward curve. But before heading to the salon, you need to weigh some serious risks…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The not-so-sweet stroke danger of two popular sweeteners

Low-calorie or no-calorie substitutes are often recommended, especially for people with cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. But more evidence about an increasing stroke and heart attack risk may have experts singing a different tune…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The seed that takes out disease-causing cells

Traditional seeds are making a comeback as people turn to options like quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and black cumin to avoid gluten, but benefits don’t end there. One such seed used in a medicinal Chinese liquor has been found to kickstart a process that helps rid disease-causing cells associated with Alzheimer’s and alcoholic liver disease…

Carolyn Gretton

Microplastics: From your gut to your kidneys, liver and brain

The dangers that microplastics present is no longer speculation. They’re in artery-clogging plaques and may cross the blood-brain barrier. Now it appears the gut may be an open door to how they wreak even more havoc on the human body…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 supplements that put the brakes on late-stage AMD

Age-related macular degeneration will strike around one in three of us by age 75. With no cure, slowing progession has been the best hope, except for those already in late AMD, the vision-threatening stage. But a second look at a group of supplements says otherwise…

Carolyn Gretton

Common medications increase bowel disease after 40

Inflammatory bowel diseases, like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, can be painful and debilitating, causing chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, bloody stools, weight loss and fatigue. If you’re in your 40s, certain medications can increase your risk of developing one…

Carolyn Gretton

The road that leads to tinnitus noise triggers

Tinnitus can be caused by hundreds of health issues and external stimuli. But one recently identified source is something we’re all exposed to at one time or another — and it’s not-so-great news for people living in urban areas…

Joyce Hollman

Thyroid, menopause and diabetes: The phthalate danger to women

Phthalates are colorless, odorless “everywhere” chemicals. They go by a host of names, but they’re all endocrine-disrupting chemicals. From thyroid to menopause trouble, women are hardest hit. Now, they’re why you can get diabetes from your shampoo…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Popular manicure may increase risk for skin cancer

Before you head off to the nail salon, there’s something you should know. Gel manicures may look lovely but they expose you to a very real danger. Just like the sun and tanning beds, those nail dryers pack a serious punch of UV radiation…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Mitochondria: Key to preserving fitness during aging

Exercise is one of the most powerful anti-aging tools we have. But even though physical activity can improve health during aging, evidence also shows that inevitably those beneficial effects decline. Research shows with the right intervention, they may not have to…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Common drug for back pain found to offer nothing but side effects

If you’re one of the 80 percent of people who suffers from low back pain at one point or another, there’s something that you need to know before you see your doctor: the prescription they want to give you probably won’t work. Even worse, while it does little to nothing for your pain, the drug could lead to problematic or even dangerous side effects…

Carolyn Gretton

How to make Kegels work better for bladder leaks

It’s no surprise that women’s bladders get weaker. And Kegel exercises have long been recommended to improve pelvic floor strength and relieve bladder leaks. But that didn’t always work well enough until they added a second step…

Margaret Cantwell

Wegovy: From rebound weight to that black box warning

Weight loss has never been easy. That’s why Wegovy sounded like a fairy tale. In truth, it’s a cautionary tale of miserable side effects, disrupted hormones, a black box warning and rapid weight gain that doesn’t live up to the hype for everyone.

Carolyn Gretton

Could the key to good sleep start in your gut?

Everyone has trouble sleeping occasionally, with the most common causes being stress, anxiety and depression, neurological problems and pain. But there’s another group of middlemen that can make sleep tough, and they reside in a surprising part of your body…

Carolyn Gretton

The nut that lowers cholesterol better than exercise

Nuts are givers of great health. Almonds have been called the world’s most nutritious nut. Walnuts have been known to crackdown on chronic disease. And pistachios have been hailed as natural weight loss helpers. But what is the best nut for lowering cholesterol? The one that dropped numbers significantly lower than exercise intervention…

Carolyn Gretton

Are banned food additives making Americans sick?

There are a few differences between Americans and Europeans. But one of the biggest differences is the food we consume. Take dangerous food additives. Here is a handful that have been banned in Europe, but are still fed to us, starting with your morning toast…

Jedha Dening

6 teas that boost metabolism, tame appetite and fight fat

Did you know habitual tea drinkers have lower BMI and waist-to-hip ratios, and less body fat than non-tea drinkers? In addition, teas offer protection against many of the health risks associated with being overweight. Here are six that top the list…

Joyce Hollman

Less salt, more bananas could save your memory

Cognitive decline can lead to dementia, and dementia is irreversible. But if you keep your intake of sodium low and your potassium intake high enough to support blood flow through the brain you might just avoid it…

Carolyn Gretton

The link between grapes, your skin and the sun

You may have heard the phrase “Let thy food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” This holds for many health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes. But few of us realize this wise adage applies to protecting the skin from UV damage too…

Joyce Hollman

Red light could turn back the clock on your eyesight

What if you could hold a simple device to your eyes each morning, look into it for several minutes and improve your vision? This isn’t science fiction, but the next possible step in turning back the clock, so at 70 years old you might see as well as you did at 40…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The anti-heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast cancer vitamin

I have a medicine cabinet packed with different vitamins and supplements. But, of all of them, there is one that is by far the most important. Without it, your risk of metabolic syndrome and heart attack, stroke and diabetes goes up considerably, not to mention cancer…

Jenny Smiechowski

Forget fasting: These 14 foods turn back time

Your cells accumulate toxic, damaged material as you age. A cell cleaning process called autophagy removes this toxic junk, but it happens less frequently with age. The more junk your cells accumulate, the faster you age. In comes a compound found in certain foods that helps make cells new again…

Carolyn Gretton

Food poisoning: How it raises your colon cancer risk

There’s no denying how unpleasant food poisoning caused by salmonella can be. The good news is that the symptoms are usually gone after a few days. But for some, the infection can cause long-term gut problems of the worst kind…

Carolyn Gretton

The unsettling truth about sleep medication and your brain

After a long stretch of sleepless nights, it can be very tempting to reach for a prescription or over-the-counter sleep aid. But research keeps stacking up indicating that could be the worst move you could make for the health of your brain…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How I finally got a steel trap memory in my 50s

Like a lot of people in their 50s, I’ve had my fair share of “senior moments.” But I couldn’t help but wonder if I was experiencing something more concerning. Here’s how you can tell the difference and experience those senior moments less and less…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Supplement combo relieved long COVID fatigue in just days

One of the symptoms of long COVID is crushing fatigue, the kind that, even though the virus has cleared the body, makes it feel almost impossible to get back to normal activities. But two nutrients were found to turn that around in a short period of time…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Take your coffee with milk to double down on inflammation

When inflammation becomes an unwanted guest, chronic conditions, including autoimmune disorders, could join the party. Luckily, sending inflammation packing may be as easy as taking your coffee with milk to double down on one powerful ingredient…

Joyce Hollman

6 ways to lessen your risk for gallstones

Gallstones are tiny, hard “pebbles” made of cholesterol. They’re usually very small but can grow to several centimeters, causing pain and sometimes, medical emergencies. Here are some tips to make it less likely you’ll get them…

Joyce Hollman

Why sarcopenia is dangerous: Diabetes, heart disease and dementia

If you’re over 40, you’re fighting an uphill battle to keep sarcopenia from stealing your muscle mass. But what most people don’t realize is the gradual deterioration of muscle increases the risk of diabetes, heart attack and dementia…

Joyce Hollman

Watch this toilet plume and you’ll never flush with the lid up again

A toilet plume brings to mind a world of nasty carrying all sorts of germs. But are we getting paranoid about these kinds of things? A video made by engineers shows how far those germ-filled droplets can reach, and it’s shocking…

Carolyn Gretton

Unusual early signs of Parkinson’s disease

You may be familiar with tremors as a symptom of Parkinson’s. But in working to identify the earliest symptoms, researchers are finding that some signs appearing years before a diagnosis is made are, surprisingly, not neurological in nature.

Joyce Hollman

Alzheimer’s: Another reason to eat eggs

In the years from 2000 to 2019, Alzheimer’s deaths increased by 145 percent. A missing piece of this puzzle may be a once-vilified source of an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in memory and brain support…

Carolyn Gretton

Vitamin D metabolism: Why it’s not a one-size-fits-all vitamin

Studies into vitamin D have produced mixed results. Take the VITAL trial that saw reductions in cancer deaths and autoimmune diseases with vitamin D up to 40% in some people, and minimal results in others. Now we know why: it’s not a one-size-fits-all vitamin.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The gene that makes eating just one potato chip impossible

We all know that one person who eats just one bite of cake at a birthday party and can open an entire bag of potato chips and really eat just one — while the rest of us struggle to put down the bag. What’s the difference between us and them?

Joyce Hollman

Fast-talking drug ads: Risky new drugs that don’t measure up

There’s big money to be made in shiny new drugs. And the pharmaceutical giants are banking on your help, especially since the majority of advertised drugs have been found not to measure up to older, cheaper existing ones…

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