Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Margaret Cantwell

NAC: The liver’s ally for healthy aging

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid essential for antioxidant production. It’s also a powerful detoxifier. But with NAC, you also gain a powerful ally, capable of tackling multiple threats, including those that come with age…

Joyce Hollman

Best treatments for dry winter skin

Winter can be brutal on your skin. The dryness, itching and flaking are miserable and cause breaks in the layer of protection meant to keep your skin healthy. How about a crash course in choosing the right moisturizers (and a bonus ingredient with extra benefits)?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Forever chemicals: Hijacking genes to kill brain cells

We’re all intimately familiar with forever chemicals, whether we like it or not. They disrupt hormones, health and increase disease risk. But what they do when they cross into the brain is the most sinister of all…

Joyce Hollman

An important caveat for coffee’s heart-healthy benefits

Coffee’s reputation has been growing for decades. But for “grande” benefits, researchers shared a caveat that’s especially relevant to coffee’s link to lower cardiovascular mortality (hint, it’s not about decaf either!)…

Carolyn Gretton

Planning a family? Avoid this robber of male fertility

Couples planning a family try to do everything right to increase the odds of conception. But if men are eating certain foods, exposure to an unwanted ingredient could tank their fertility rates and semen quality…

Joyce Hollman

How red light signals ‘stop’ to reduce blood clot risk

Blood clots to help control bleeding. But it’s not always the protective mechanism it should be, and the danger is rarely discovered before it’s too late. But for those at higher risk, a new therapy could work…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Walk this way to add 11 extra years to your life

Do you need a little incentive to be more active? Who doesn’t? My favorite part of the day is when I get to put my feet up and relax, if only for a short while. But when I learned I could trade some of that time for 11 extra years, I was on board, almost…

Joyce Hollman

Aortic stenosis: What’s insulin resistance got to do with it?

Insulin resistance is coming to light as more than just a little blood sugar problem. We already know it can lead to type 2 diabetes. Now we’re finding it may be an instigator for the world’s most common heart valve disease…

Carolyn Gretton

The simple supplement that keeps muscles stronger longer

I never used to worry when I had trouble opening a jar or lifting a package, but these may be signs of age-related muscle loss. I thought I was keeping them strong, but I’d forgotten the mineral that can keep them stronger longer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The antimicrobial fruit combo that fights gum disease

Periodontitis is a type of gum disease that causes inflamed bleeding gums and tooth loss. Traditional products can be irritating, but there’s a fruity option that’s gentle on your mouth and effective at fighting it off…

Joyce Hollman

7 cancers that may lead to warning on alcohol labels

The United States Surgeon General has called for a cancer warning on alcohol labels, similar to what we’ve seen on cigarettes. The reason? These 7 cancers and how much or how little can increase their risks…

Carolyn Gretton

How weight-loss surgery takes down pancreatic cancer risk

It’s no wonder some people living with obesity turn to bariatric surgery. Aside from weight loss, the procedure has far-reaching impacts on other areas of health — including a particularly deadly type of cancer…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Is green tea the holy grail for brain health?

Green tea has a reputation as a holy grail for preventing a plethora of conditions. But against those that steal your memories and cognitive abilities, the evidence seems to go both ways. Take the guesswork out of brain and memory support…

Joyce Hollman

The berry that boosts metabolism, burns fat and fights flu

Since ancient times, elderberries have been used medicinally and have a reputation for fighting flu. But a regular dose of elderberry juice or tea just may be what your metabolism and blood sugar need to get in gear…

Carolyn Gretton

The non-invasive test that’s the best heart attack predictor

Calcium accumulates in arteries way before significant blockages develop, which is the best time to catch it. One test that measures it has proven its accuracy for predicting life or death even beyond heart disease…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Colonoscopy: Is every 10 years really necessary?

Whether your rite of passage was at 50 or 45, anyone who submits to a routine colonoscopy is informed they’re expected to repeat the procedure every 10 years. Now for some good news: some of us may get a reprieve…

Joyce Hollman

Newer cholesterol drugs linked to reduced lung function

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, especially statins, have been controversial almost from the get-go. After years of use, the list of side effects keeps growing. A newer class of drugs treats cholesterol differently, but it sounds like the same old story…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why New Year’s resolutions can backfire

Are you hearing less about your friends’ New Year’s resolutions? Experts say that’s because the practice can lead to stress no one needs. What can you do instead? Try just three simple habits for better days this year and beyond…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The hidden hazards of burning candles in your home

Those candles you light before a relaxing bath or the ones that give your home a warm glow are doing more than you bargained for. Here’s what and why you need to know about the hidden health hazards of candles…

Margaret Cantwell

How pork fat contributes to your nutritional fitness

If you’ve been scared off fat and are considering a diet craze that ditches entire food groups, this is for you: Pork fat ranks in the top 10 for a higher nutritional score than “healthy” foods like kale, broccoli or salmon. Here’s why…

Joyce Hollman

How your blood vessels can accelerate your brain’s age

As we age, our brains age along with all of our other parts. But some people’s brains experience accelerated aging, and research has zeroed in on how their blood vessels could be responsible…

Carolyn Gretton

Coffee and tea’s connection to head and neck cancer

Many studies have been conducted to assess whether coffee or tea is linked with head and neck cancer, but results have been inconsistent — until now…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Here’s what we know about the first U.S. bird flu death

Bird flu has been on the perimeter of our minds. But the first severe case of human infection in a patient who has died as a result, has people asking “Is it time to worry?” It’s time to understand this flu and how to stay safe…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Norovirus: What to know and how to avoid it

It’s nasty. It’s miserable. And, it’s highly contagious. You might call it the stomach flu or the stomach bug, but the real name behind those unspeakable symptoms is norovirus. Here’s what to know and how to lessen risk of infection…

Joyce Hollman

How smokers can live longer at any age

If you’ve been a lifelong smoker, you might question whether it’s even worth the trouble to give up the habit now. A fifteen-year-long study found how to quit so you can live nearly as long as someone who has never picked up a cigarette in their life…

Joyce Hollman

Your diet and the inflammatory risk of GI cancer

The number of people under the age of 50 diagnosed with bowel and other gastrointestinal (GI) cancers has risen alarmingly in recent decades. Do you share this common factor found to fuel these types of cancers?

Carolyn Gretton

Cheap supplements that payout big for an aging brain

Your gut is almost a universe unto itself, populated by trillions of microbes that help keep it and your whole body healthy and balanced. Keeping it nourished can have an especially big payout for an aging brain, without putting a dent in your wallet…

Joyce Hollman

Ozempic and Wegovy associated with vision loss risk

Side effects associated with semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, keep piling up. Yet some experts say the benefits outweigh the risks. Even the potential for permanent vision loss?

Carolyn Gretton

How alcohol speeds aging (and which drinks are worse)

Anything you can do to slow the body’s biological aging process is a good thing. So if you’re hoping to slow the hands of time by putting a lot of effort into healthy living and nutrients that science shows can help, you may want to consider how alcohol factors in…

Joyce Hollman

The occasional sweet treat may be healthier than none

American adults consume about 60 pounds of added sugars a year. That’s almost 3 times too much. But one sugar source is worse for leading to heart problems. The good news is, there’s a sweet spot…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Microcalcification: When minerals build up to disease

It’s hard to understand how a nutrient required for a healthy body can sometimes go awry. You may have read about what happens when calcium collects in arteries, the heart and kidneys, and even joints. But you may not have heard of the cancer connection…

Joyce Hollman

Just 8 hours of loneliness triggers dangerous inflammation

Most of us think loneliness is just a feeling. But that’s not all. In recent years, it’s been found as harmful as 15 cigarettes a day. Worse, even short bouts of loneliness do things to your body that make this a health issue no one should ignore…

Carolyn Gretton

Could a sleeping pill prevent Alzheimer’s?

Research has established a definite link between poor sleep and cognitive disorders like Alzheimer’s. Sleep medication seems the easy answer, but some of those can also raise dementia risks. But there’s a new pill on the block, and researchers think it has potential to lower amyloid and tau…

Joyce Hollman

The brain-changing effects of one more fatty, sugary treat

Sugar and fat. These ingredients are the fuel behind diabetes, fatty liver disease and heart disease. Yet we crave them, so much so that you might even think that sugar hijacks your brain, causing you to eat more and more of it. According to the research, you’d be correct.

Carolyn Gretton

12 reasons to stop sitting with your legs crossed

Sitting with our legs crossed at the knee is something we do out of habit. When sitting for long periods, it just seems more comfortable, and that’s probably why men are as inclined as women to do it. But aside from circulation issues, you’d be surprised how many problems this bad habit can lead to.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The plant extract that halts rheumatoid progression

While autoimmune conditions, like rheumatoid and Hashimoto’s are on the rise, treatments that work have been few and far between, especially ones where the side effects aren’t worse than the condition itself. But help could be on the way from a medicinal plant aptly named the Thunder God Vine…

Joyce Hollman

Women can eat away a quarter of their heart disease risk

Heart problems have long been associated with men, and research may be to blame. A decade’s worth of cardiovascular studies found only about 38 percent of subjects were women. But one group dug deep and found advice that could lower a woman’s unique risk by almost 25 percent.

Joyce Hollman

How ‘brain age’ affects stroke risk and recovery

The health of your overall brain can protect you from the functional consequences of stroke. That means, the healthier your brain is, the less likely you are to have a stroke, and the less likely you are to have poor outcomes if you do. The key? Keeping your brain young…

Carolyn Gretton

Walk or golf: The best exercise for a healthy heart over 65

Many studies on exercise to improve heart health focus on young adults and high-intensity workouts. But for older adults, exercise choices can be limited. If you had to choose between walking, Nordic walking or golfing, which do you think would improve the numbers your doctor looks at?

Carolyn Gretton

2 conditions the shape of your heart increases risks for

You can manage a lot of lifestyle-related risk factors for heart problems. That can be true even if you have a family history or genetic predisposition. But there are just some risk factors that are tougher to deal with, like the shape of your heart…

Joyce Hollman

Caffeine’s potential role in reducing obesity and diabetes

Caffeine is known to boost metabolism, increase fat burning,and reduce appetite. Just 100 mg (one cup of java a day) has been estimated to increase energy expenditure by around 100 calories a day. Is it any wonder researchers think a few caffeinated beverages a day coud lower risks for obesity and type 2 diabetes?

Carolyn Gretton

No mumbo jumbo: The mind-body connection built into your brain

The mind-body connection is usually meant as a figurative link between our thoughts and emotions and how that impacts our physical well-being, even specific health conditions. But scientists are suggesting the mind-body connection is more literal than previously thought…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Gum: The answer to a common complication of heart surgery

If you have heart surgery coming up, the last thing you want is complications. If everything goes smoothly, you can get home and back to normal life faster. But before the hospital will discharge you they have some criteria you must meet. That’s where a stick of gum will come in handy.

Carolyn Gretton

What makes hair gray? Stuck cells that hold cancer clues too

Once hair goes gray, there’s no going back. Or is there? Scientists exploring what lies at the root of the process made a discovery about the cells responsible that could potentially mean the end of gray hair and provides a big clue about melanoma…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

When your headaches happen at the same time of day

Whether you suffer from migraines or cluster headaches, when the pain hits, everything stops. And for many, these headaches come with incredible regularity, even down to the time of day they start. It’s a fact that’s led researchers to some startling findings and potential relief…

Carolyn Gretton

3 dietary factors that lead to millions of T2D cases

The number of people suffering from type 2 diabetes is rising globally, and at a much faster rate in developed countries like the U.S. Research has honed in on three dietary factors responsible for 7 out of 10 cases…

Joyce Hollman

Obesity and arthritis: The real reason behind the pain and progression

Obesity has been blamed for putting a wear-and-tear load on joints that can lead to and affect the progression of arthritis. If that were all that was going on, weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing joints would not be equally affected. Here’s what’s really happening…

Carolyn Gretton

The amino acid deficiency tied to heart problems and the nut that fixes it

In Rome, walnuts were considered the food of the gods. Considering what we now know of their exceptional heart health benefits, there’s good reason to hold them in such high regard. But the biggest benefit may come from the nuts special relationship with your gut…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Sleep apnea’s direct connection to cognitive decline

Obstructive sleep apnea steals your sleep and worse, the oxygen your body needs. That struggle to breathe may be your brain’s biggest enemy. That’s because even if you’re otherwise healthy, sleep apnea can put you squarely in the crosshairs of premature cognitive decline.

Joyce Hollman

The sound that raises your blood pressure

If you live near a busy road, listening to the sounds of traffic may be something you’ve learned to live with. But if your blood pressure keeps going up and up, it may not be for long. Here’s what you should know about the connection and how to reduce its dangerous effect…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Exceptional longevity tied to an exceptional immune system

Have you ever wondered why some people live to 100 with their health, while most of us are lucky to make it to 50 before developing multiple health conditions? While longevity research has focused on wine and chocolate, a new revelation says it starts with your immune system…

Joyce Hollman

The deficiency setting African American men up for prostate cancer

African American men face a higher risk for prostate cancer. Not only are they more likely to develop the disease, but twice as likely to lose their lives to it. Genetic differences in cellular processing of one very important vitamin are to blame…

Carolyn Gretton

The common weed with anti-aging potential

Skincare is a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S., in large part due to anti-aging products. Many companies in the industry have investigators on the hunt for the next big anti-aging breakthrough. And they may have found it in a plant largely considered to be a pesky weed…

Tracey G. Ingram, AuD

5 ways to douse GERD that won’t raise your stroke risk

Many acid reflux drugs have been found to increase stroke risk by as much as 94 percent! Luckily, researchers identified 5 easy steps to reduce GERD symptoms without the threat of stroke.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The unsweet, non-starchy food causing diabetes

Doctors have been telling us for years to watch our weight and sugar and carb intake to avoid blood sugar problems, but something clearly isn’t working: The staggering number of Americans suffering from diabetes continues to climb. Turns out they were missing something…

Joyce Hollman

8 ways to rid your home of dust, dirt and toxins this spring

Few things are sweeter than spring after a long, cold winter. It just makes you want to start cleaning everything! But with a little planning, you can make your home a healthier living space by cutting down on endocrine-disrupting toxins hiding in plain sight…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Frailty: The surprising threat to female shift workers

Frailty is a word we associate with aging. But did you know it’s also a measurement of 52 factors that can lower your lifespan? Depending on your score that could mean illness or a life cut short. And for women, there’s one more thing working against them…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Safety and effectiveness of drugs for back pain up for grabs

When your doctor prescribes drugs for your low back pain, he’s working with what he’s got. But whether analgesic medicine provides meaningful relief is still an open question, a new study has found. You may be surprised at what may work better…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The heart attack threat healthy cholesterol scores can hide

A study has confirmed that not only can a little-known lipoprotein accurately predict your risk of developing atherosclerosis (where fatty deposits clog your arteries), it can be measured by at-home genetic testing just as accurately as bloodwork done in a doctor’s office. But if you’ve got good cholesterol numbers, your doctor isn’t looking for it…

Carolyn Gretton

Your brain on high blood pressure: Changes that lead to dementia

If you have high blood pressure, your heart’s not the only thing you have to worry about. It can also impact your brain. In a “world first,” researchers have mapped specific brain regions impacted by high blood pressure and how that can increase your odds of dementia…

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