Latest Stories

There’s a large body of literature claiming that cold water immersion can do all sorts of things: end chronic pain, reduce symptoms of depression, boost the immune system, prevent diabetes and help you lose weight. Some of those have recently been shown to be true…

It’s the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing close to half a million people each year. The good news is a safe and highly effective quit-smoking pill is available. But Big Pharma greed is keeping Americans from ever using it.…

It’s been a few years since Covid-19 became well-known. Nowadays, it’s making the rounds with the common cold and flu and infections seem milder but frequent. And it is those frequent infections that health experts are now most worried about…

Let’s face it, exercise comes easily in our teen years but seems much harder as we get older. Most of us slack way off after our 40s. But when it comes to maintaining healthy blood pressure, you can’t skimp, but you can get some extra help…

Sitting. It’s so bad for us, but is there any way to get around it? How can you possibly counter the damage to your health after sitting eight or more hours a day at work and then winding down in front of the TV for a few more? In 22 minutes, that’s how…

No one enjoys being hospitalized, even if the reason isn’t life-threatening. The food is bad, the gowns drafty, tests demeaning and the longer you stay, the more muscle mass you lose. Luckily, there’s a not-so-shocking way to cut down on your chance of a hospital stay, even if you’ve already had a few…

People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing serious lung infections following a respiratory infection. Diabetes can weaken the immune system, but its specific effects on the lungs have been unclear, until now. What research has found may signal a way to dial it back…

We’ve long known about the gut-brain connection and how the gut’s influence extends far beyond, well, the gut. But can the gut be optimized so it influences the brain to help us make better food choices? Recent research points to a solid yes…

The ketogenic diet has proven great for weight loss and blood sugar control, but not so great for the kidneys. Or so investigators thought, until they took a closer look at the impact of keto on a specific type of kidney disease….

Dentists advise toothbrushing twice a day to reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Those are good enough reasons for practicing good oral hygiene. But it turns out toothbrushing may cut down on at least one serious respiratory disease…

We’ve all heard the saying “the spice of life.” And nutrition research has proven several spices are exactly that. Spices have been found to improve specific conditions and improve health in general. Now one such spice has given up its secret for healthy aging…

Flavanols have a great reputation for heart and brain health. Cocoa is a source that’s been shown to be a real brain booster in some studies, but not so much in others. Researchers dug to the bottom of these mixed results, and found something interesting about cocoa and who benefits the most…

Parkinson’s disease affects millions. Yet there is no single test to diagnose it, so years may pass before the standard treatment starts. But a revelation about mitochondrial involvement could lead not only to a definitive blood test but new treatment as well…

Most of us think that heart disease is a condition of old age. It happens to people in their 60s and 70s. But this is a fallacy. It can strike much earlier than most of us realize. And the earlier it does, the higher the risk of dementia down the road…

Seeds, arguably the smallest part of any plant, often contain potent nutrition. Some exert particular influence on the gut, where their benefits are elevated even more. In fact, one seed and its action in the gut could play a key role in preventing a disease women dread…

Autoimmune problems that arise when your immune system attacks your own organs may afflict as many as 50 million Americans. However, making certain dietary changes may bring a measure of relief and offer protection against this widespread health issue…

Fewer than 1 in 5 of the more than 1 billion people worldwide with high blood pressure has it under adequate control. Doctors usually recommend a combination of medication and lifestyle tweaks to bring it down. But it turns out one teaspoon of salt could have an impact as powerful as medication…

It’s no secret that men’s testosterone levels plummet with age, leaving many men with low libido, sexual dysfunction and increased health risks. This has many men in their 40s and 50s turning to testosterone therapy, despite its risks. But research shows that may be a little premature…

In early 2023, a first-of-its-kind study proved calorie restriction can indeed slow the pace of aging, not just in mice, but in humans. A second look showed how: It led to genetic changes that prevented a common aging condition that normally develops in older people…

You’ve likely heard of metabolic syndrome by now, even if you don’t have the condition. But if you do and start to have kidney problems, you’re at high risk for a major new heart syndrome affecting one-third of adults across the country…

Over the years, the benefits of probiotics have begun to stack up. And after significant advances in probiotic research, experts have a message for us: the gut microbiome cannot be neglected when treating or preventing colorectal cancer.

A tiny organ that’s often ignored is the key to helping keep colds and flu away and your immune system balanced to avoid autoimmune disease. But it’s also connected to immune system aging. Here’s how to keep yours youthful…

Running and walking each have their advantages in terms of fitness and impact on conditions that can impact long-term health. But is one better than the other? It really depends on your individual goals and one especially important factor…

Belly fat signals much more than weight gain. It can hide a ticking time bomb deep in your abdomen known as visceral fat. This type of fat has already been linked to diabetes, heart disease and stroke — and now the most feared condition of aging…

A person with tinnitus constantly hears phantom sounds like ringing and humming. While not life-threatening, tinnitus makes life difficult, and often leads to anxiety and depression. Scientists have begun to connect what happens in the brain during sleep with this condition…

Mitochondria are bean-shaped structures that provide the energy our cells need to function. When they malfunction and age, so do we. Is there a fix? The Buck Institute for Research on Aging made a discovery that puts them hot on the trail…

Mobile phones, cell phones, smartphones. What we call them has changed but the fact that they emit electromagnetic radiation hasn’t. Neither has scientific curiosity about how these devices we hold so near impact our hormonal health…

Why is it that red wine causes headaches in some people but not in others? Scientists investigating this phenomenon traced the culprit to a normally friendly flavanol that becomes the body’s foe when mixed with alcohol…

Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence. That’s how lifestyle habits can turn bad genes around, and now how we know that formaldehyde can give you cancer…

Your body needs fat, but your brain actually craves it. The quality of the fats you eat determines how well your brain’s cell membranes work. That’s our introduction to the complex relationship between triglycerides and dementia…

There’s no doubt that coffee’s health benefits are backed by plenty of research. But the caveat has been to avoid the cream and sugar to reap them. Of course, you want the benefits — but you want to enjoy your coffee too. Here’s some good news on that front…

Exercise is so good for us experts tell us to do it whenever we have the time. But depending on what your goals are — less tummy fat versus more upper body strength or better blood pressure and cholesterol — your exercise timing makes a huge difference…

More Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year than for all other cancers combined. But skin cancer is still shrouded in mystery, misconceptions and doubt. Let’s take a look at the main types, how to identify them, what to expect and how to stay safe.

More than 37 million Americans now take medications for depression. And for far too long experts focused on chemical imbalances in the brain these drugs treat. But another imbalance is proving just as powerful at affecting your mood. And the medicine is much easier to swallow…

Specific limits on dietary cholesterol were lifted from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans back in 2015. But that move may have been too hasty. Turns out there’s an odd connection between dietary cholesterol and your susceptibility for viral infection…

As scientists will say, just because there seems to be a link doesn’t mean there is, especially without proof. But now, when it comes to diabetes and breast cancer, they’ve got the proof connecting cancer’s sweet tooth and a dangerous feedback loop…

Have you ever noticed something strange when you go to your doctor? No matter what your health problem, their answer is always in a pill. But physicians everywhere are being put on notice by one of their own — and she’s got a better prescription with lots of clout…

Aging is not automatically accompanied by hair loss. But there are lifestyle and other factors that could cause you to see more hair in your hairbrush than you’re used to. I was surprised to find that several of these may be behind my own hair loss.

I had a problem with constipation for years. Whatever the cause, going to the bathroom was my nemesis. I would go days without “going” and then when I did, the strain was awful. After many, MANY doctor’s visits, and getting no help, I decided there had to be a better way. And, I found it…

Atrial fibrillation can raise your risk of several heart and circulatory issues, including heart failure and stroke. But what’s been less clear is whether AF increases the risk of dementia not caused by stroke. So far, this is what they’ve found…

People with cancer are known to have a higher risk of dangerous blood clots known as venous thromboembolism or VTE. These clots are a leading cause of death in people with cancer. Because prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, this is a risk they need to be aware of…

Inflammation is a huge factor when it comes to Alzheimer’s. It’s triggered by a build-up of proteins that kill your brain cells. And it may cause the build-up in the first place. One thing’s for sure, inflammation causes the disease to progress quickly and severely.

Type 2 diabetes doesn’t just spell problems for your blood sugar. It acts as a gateway disease in many respects. And while there have been concerns about its connection to cognitive decline for a while, you may be surprised to learn how much diabetes ages the brain…

When women undergo menopause, they experience a decline in estrogen that kicks off a host of unpleasant symptoms. But what has been less clear is estrogen’s specific role in heart disease risk, and how the “change” is connected to cholesterol, until now…

Most people that develop inflammatory bowel disease do so by the age of 30. But IBD is on the rise — and it’s targeting a vulnerable population: folks aged 60 and older. IBD is painful, difficult and debilitating. And if you’re a senior, the risks are even higher…

Gout has been established as a risk factor in certain cardiovascular conditions, including stroke and heart attack. But what about heart failure? Exploring a potential link between these two conditions may offer heart failure patients a new lifeline…

We’ve been warned to avoid eating much fish over concerns about mercury. But now, Canadian researchers say the chemical form of mercury consumed from a high fish diet is completely different from the form found in the brains of those who were poisoned by mercury. What gives?

Zinc is one of those nutrients you don’t hear a lot about. People are all over vitamin C, but zinc, an equally important nutrient for a strong immune system tends to take a back seat to all the hype. But supplementing can be tricky…

About 20 percent of people with high blood pressure are resistant to treatment, leaving them vulnerable to heart attack and stroke. Researchers trying to get to the bottom of why are onto something…

Remember how for years, doctors warned us not to eat eggs? They would raise our cholesterol, give us heart disease and leave us to die of a heart attack or stroke? Forget that old-school advice. The new-school lists three ways eggs do a heart good…

It’s no secret that the choices you make have a profound impact on your health. From protecting your heart to guarding against dementia and disability as you age, lifestyle modifications are taking center stage, and these four can add years to your life…

We all want to age like those people who get laugh lines, not wrinkles, hold on to their memories and become more vital as the years pass. But it doesn’t always go that way. There’s a way to measure your odds — just in time to do something about it.

A drink with dinner — no big deal. What about two or three beers? If you’ve had enough to drink that you get a hangover the next morning, you’re setting yourself up for a potentially fatal heart problem, even if you’ve never had heart issues before.

Women are at much higher risk of dementia than men, and declining estrogen may have something to do with it. But it gets more alarming: The earlier menopause happens, the higher that dementia risk goes. What can we do about that? You’d be surprised…

I’m not body-shaming. My concerns stem from knowing that certain kinds of fat and where it’s carried, like around the middle, can do real damage. But there’s another type of fat we never see that goes after the heart. Surprisingly, the leanest among us may be most at risk.

Exercise should be part of any weight-loss strategy. But can it do more? Scientists have looked into how it may help us resist the foods that often sabotage our best efforts. And it’s promising enough that you may start disliking exercise a whole lot less…

When bacteria become resistant, the original antibiotic can no longer kill them. The chances of experiencing an antibiotic-resistant infection are only increasing. But what you eat can shift the balance of antibiotic resistance genes in your gut…

Pancreatic cancer is tough. Often diagnosed late, survival rates are low. Knowing your risks can help. And now a predictor of elevated risk has been identified — a condition that could mean cancer isn’t far behind. But like those other risk factors, you can take control…

None of us want to face dementia. So we do crosswords and brain teasers and hope we’ll maintain a sharp brain. But there’s actually a simple action that a lot of us aren’t taking that can make a big difference in our dementia risk…

Ever wonder how much sleep you need for your best shot at overall health, including strong mental faculties? A huge study has answered that question for those of us middle-aged and up. Here’s the scoop, plus some tips for natural ways to help you achieve it…