Latest Stories

As part of the brain’s reward system, the hormone dopamine contributes to feelings of pleasure, happiness and motivation. Low levels do just the opposite and may indicate serious neurological conditions. Here’s your mind and body on dopamine…

Mitochondria are tiny organelles that power our cells. Convention says they begin to slow down and kick off aging. But some ramp up, then burn out, taking your energy with them. Scientists have an answer that seems counterintuitive, but they say works…

You go to the doctor for your yearly check-up and say to him, “Doc, I want a pill that will make me stronger, smarter, healthier, disease proof, age-proof, thinner and with great skin and strong bones. Got anything like that?” In a perfect world, the doctor would say, “Yes, I do. It’s called vitamin D.” Here’s why…

If you’ve been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you may be operating under a false belief about your situation… You may believe that once you’ve crossed the line into type 2 diabetes territory, there’s no going back. You’re stuck with this disease for the rest of your life. But that’s far from the truth.

As someone who sits at her desk all day long, I’m a prime candidate for diabetes, heart disease and dementia. Obviously, my work day leaves only minutes to spare. But to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, that’s literally all I need…

There are many different types of dementia, but no cures. One type though, known for severe behavioral changes, has been found to be rooted in a cause that could be repaired, reversing the disease..

Each time I bring up the potato’s less than stellar qualities, it upsets some folks. I know you love your potatoes. I did too. But the science says that eating too much of this vegetable is just not good. Think Leaky gut, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome…

Hearing loss is often lumped in with a long list of age-related changes many of us have a high chance of experiencing. Unfortunately, it’s not always a benign condition. Trouble hearing could be an indication of a condition that leads to stroke…

Doctors prescribe statins to lower “bad” cholesterol and to lower risks for heart attack or stroke. But do we really need to take a drug that can elevate risks for diabetes, liver damage, and neurological and cognitive problems — especially if there is any doubt it’s not at all what it’s cracked up to be?

You probably already know there are two types of cholesterol: HDL (the “good” cholesterol) and LDL (the “bad” cholesterol). HDL supports heart health and fights inflammation. But, when it comes to HDL, too much of a “good” thing may hurt your bones…

In the supermarket aisle that holds diet foods, you’ll find bars, shakes and an array of other processed foods that are supposed to help you lose weight. But there’s a superfood great for aiding your healthy weight efforts you’ll never find in that part of the store…

You can’t pick up a product these days without finding not only instructions on how to use it, but warnings on how not to, usually because one person did something most people with common sense wouldn’t dream of. Let’s talk about vitamin D and that guy…

Some dark chocolate brands, even organic ones, have been found to contain dangerous amounts of cadmium and lead, heavy metals linked to hypertension, kidney failure, nerve damage and more. Take precautions if your favorite is on the list.

Mountains of research and our doctors tell us a meat-heavy diet is a fast track to early death. But if you’ve embraced meatless burgers and other mock meat substitutes, you’re cheating your body of vital nutrition. It starts with ‘deception’ on the ingredient label…

Being kind to others feels good. But the benefits extend even further than that. Science shows acts of kindness have real effects that impact physical health, from depression to heart health. Check out these 5 you can get more of…

Fast food, offering tasty and effective transport of unhealthy fat, is horrible on the liver. And the heart. We’d be kidding ourselves to think we could give it all up completely and forever. But knowing where the point of no return is would be really helpful.

CBD products are growing in popularity. You can find tinctures, gummies and even topicals made from phytocannabinoids (pCBs). Topicals are non-intoxicating and include creams, balms and oils. One more thing you may want to know: they may be the next thing in anti-aging skincare…

Obesity can steal your heart health. Now, research shows it could steal your vision, too. Obesity appears to be a trigger that uses inflammation like fire on DNA and may be the reason some people get age-related macular degeneration and some don’t…

The neurons in the hippocampus, the brain area responsible for memory and learning, depend on brain-derived neurotrophic factor for their production and survival. But BDNF’s potential to halt cognitive decline and how to boost it is what should really interest you…

Stroke is a growing threat with age. In fact, after age 55 that risk doubles every 10 years. But people under 60 do have strokes. How can you know if that’s a probability so you can do your best to avoid it? See where your blood type stroke risk falls…

If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times: it’s important to keep your body hydrated for reasons like termperature regulation, waste elimination and much more. But its effects on sodium may be the best kept secret yet…

You’ve probably heard weight loss is 80 percent diet/20 percent exercise. So, if you want to lose weight, focus on cutting calories and complement that with a modest calorie burn in realistic daily workouts. But for maintaining the loss, the same rules may not work…

Blood tests are part of annual health physicals for most of us. Sometimes, though, tests may be needed beyond the basics, including more advanced and in-depth tests for disease risk profiling. Here’s your insider’s guide to blood tests…

There’s just no denying the power of a healthy diet to reduce disease risk. But the payout gets bigger when you stick with it, as in reducing your risk of early death, period. But there is still the stroke conundrum…

Is your doctor overlooking the most curable cause of high blood pressure? Nodules affect one-in-twenty people with the condition. Researchers found that a urine test and new scan help detect patients who come off all their medicines after treatment.

I still remember the last visit with the doctor I saw for my blood pressure problems. She took my blood pressure and then matter-of-factly told me: “I guess your high blood pressure is gone.” And I was taking exactly zero medication. She didn’t know why, but I did. I had given up…

There’s a one in four chance, unbeknownst to you, you’re living with a common liver condition, and it’s damaging your heart right now. Researchers are so concerned, they say we can’t view the heart and the liver as completely separate functioning organs any longer…

Sister André was a supercentenarian, someone who lives significantly beyond 100. When she passed at 118, it reignited a well-known longevity theory. You may think you know all about the French Paradox. But few know what it does for artery health is its best-kept secret…

Frailty increases risks for infection, disability and hospitalization. This makes preventing frailty a vital part of healthy aging. You may still be active, but there’s an easy way to know if frailty is sneaking up on you, in time to do something about it…

Loads of research says coffee is protective against heart failure, heart attack and stroke. But depending on your blood pressure range, it could be a dangerous mix and do just the opposite. That’s why it’s important to know how much is too much…

The biggest reason most of us exercise, beyond weight loss, is for the heart health benefits. Lowering blood pressure tops the list, and that alone is worth heading to the gym, sweating through a workout doing it all again a day (or two) later. But your mouth may be cutting those heart health benefits short… […]

By the end of 2030, there are expected to be at least 82 million cases of dementia worldwide. Scientists have been dutifully searching for a cure, but they continue to hit roadblocks. But that doesn’t mean we have to sit patiently on the sidelines. If you do though, make sure to sip some blueberry juice… […]

Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene which the body converts into the essential nutrient vitamin A. But researchers studying the role of beta-carotene in lowering cholesterol levels identified an enzyme that’s necessary for this benefit — and some of us are missing out. That means you need to go about getting yours differently. That […]

Over the last decade, research has shown the importance of having a collection of diverse and varying kinds of gut bacteria in your microbiome. Without that balance, we’re wide open for disease. You could, and should, eat more fiber. But there’s one superfood that can give you all that — and the fat you don’t […]

After all we’ve been through, reach around and pat yourself on the back. You deserve it. You’re a survivor and that means you’re looking ahead… Because the mutant variants of COVID will keep coming. If you haven’t made it a priority to ramp up your immune system, there’s still time…

Snoring. Waking up multiple times a night gasping for air. Feeling tired and irritable throughout day. All of these are signs you could have sleep apnea, a condition that affects more than 29 million Americans and carries very serious health risks. But if you have thyroid eye disease, sleep apnea may even steal your sight… […]

Obesity has been linked to an increased risk of more than a dozen types of cancer. It also appears to worsen prognosis and survival rates. However, the obesity-triggered mechanism behind this increased risk has been slow to emerge — until now…

Like most people, you’ve probably heard of melatonin. In fact, you may even take the supplement each night since it’s a commonly used natural, over-the-counter sleep aid. Now, however, research has found that melatonin may be doing far more than just helping you get the restful sleep you need. It may guard you against cancer. […]

If you’re a dog owner, I don’t have to tell you about the special bond that exists between people and their dogs. Your dog is your companion, your child and your protector, all wrapped into one. There isn’t much you wouldn’t do for them — but sharing a diabetes diagnosis may not be what you […]

A thriving workforce full of women is not only good for the economy, families and women’s independence — it’s good for women’s brains. In fact, preliminary research from the University of California, Los Angeles appears to suggest that for women at least, earning a living seems to offer a big perk: staving off cognitive decline. […]

Beating cancer once seems like it should be enough of a challenge for any lifetime. But the truth of the matter is cancer often does come back. Doctors haven’t been able to pinpoint just why some tumors suddenly activate again sending many survivors back into the spiral of surgery, chemo and radiation. Until now. Thanks […]

Weight loss surgery carries significant metabolic benefits, and for some, it’s their best option. But there’s a serious downside that can create another problem affecting bone health. Here’s what to know to aovid it…

Once thought to be caused by blood vessels in the head, researchers now believe migraine is a neurological disorder involving nerve pathways and brain chemicals. Whatever the cause, effective treatment would be a huge relief for many. One research team has zeroed in on a particular brain chemical that could be involved in migraine onset… […]

A weird and common symptom of COVID-19 affecting up to 80 percent of us is the loss of smell. Some suffer parosmia, where their sense of smell is distorted, making lemons smell like cabbage. Luckily, it’s possible to “train” your sense of smell back to normal…

Too few of us give our liver the credit and care it deserves. In 2018 there were nearly 3 million liver-related deaths. Roughly half were due to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the most common chronic liver disease, for which there is no treatment. That may be about to change, thanks to a simple amino acid. […]

A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is pretty grim. In fact, the five-year survival rate is less than 10 percent. But, thankfully, medical researchers are busy exploring new avenues of treatment for the deadly disease. And one team has identified a compound from a plant commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine that may be able to […]

One thing most Americans take for granted is clean drinking water. Even most bottled water drinkers wouldn’t blink an eye at the thought of turning on the tap for a quick, refreshing glass in a pinch. But depending on the community you live in and its water source, that might not be a good idea. […]

Menopause is a time of distress due to the symptoms it brings. But few realize how much a woman’s risk for heart disease increases during this change. That’s because menopause isn’t just “the change” that marks the end of your menstrual cycle. It’s the time of life that also signals a change in cardiovascular health. […]

If you enjoy a little cheese and a glass of wine regularly, we’ve got good news. That delicious indulgence may provide cognitive protection. A first-of-its-kind large scale analysis has connected specific foods to mental sharpness later in life. But not only that, they revealed the one thing you should never eat to avoid Alzheimer’s disease. […]

Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes your thyroid gland to become overactive. Unfortunately, in some cases, it can lead to vision problems. Fortunately, it’s not too common, only affecting a small segment of the population. But if you were in that group, wouldn’t you like to know how a trace mineral might help? […]

L-dopa remains the gold standard treatment for Parkinson’s disease. But using L-dopa over the long term can lead to some pretty nasty side effects. Researchers have been exploring naturally derived alternatives to chemical L-dopa, and they’ve come up with a potential solution that can save money and possibly sidestep its adverse reactions… If you have […]

Science has many times proven a link between the bacteria in your gut and your odds of both getting and surviving cancer. Now, a new study has revealed a surprising truth behind cancerous tumors that could hold the key to cancer care in the future — and yes, once again, it all comes down to […]

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we’ve been told to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. But shelves that once were full of the germ-killing goo have gone bare. That’s ok, because research is finally catching up with what works and what doesn’t against the virus. And that applies not just to treatment but hand sanitizer too. […]

Diabetes is a disease that can be difficult to manage. Less than 50 percent of the half a billion people worldwide with diabetes meet glycemic targets, increasing their risk of complications. It’s a situation that cries out for innovation. And strangely enough, it is coming from a surprising source: the pandemic is changing diabetes care… […]

How successful was the last diet you tried? Based on our experience and research, the answer is probably, “not very!” We’ve all tried the newest trendy diet and guess what? We rarely last more than a few days and the results never stick! Before you try another, let’s talk about why and discuss effective options… Fad […]

The average person has about 22 square feet of skin. In fact, your skin is your body’s largest organ and the biggest barrier between you and disease. Natural oils keep skin healthy and flexible. You probably know about coconut oil for your skin and hair. But it may be time to try something new… Dry, […]

Respiratory symptoms are the hallmark of a COVID-19 infection. But others are pretty strange, like loss of smell and taste. Others are more commonplace, producing flu-like body aches, sore throat and headache. But about 20 percent may get “stomach bug” symptoms and be in for a long recovery. Research is showing that those patients who […]

For a cat owner, there’s nothing better than a loud, rumbling purr coming from a warm body in your lap. To us, it says that our feline friends love us. And we love that their companionship offers up proven health benefits, as do other pets. But cats can also be notoriously aloof unless you know […]

If you’re living with type 2 diabetes, you’re at risk for more than just nerve pain, kidney issues and poor wound healing. In fact, according to a brand-new cross-sectional study, the largest risk you face due to your blood sugar problems could be to your life itself. In fact, if you have type 2 diabetes, […]

Have you been struggling to keep your blood sugar levels under control? Dark blackcurrants have a noticeable impact on blood sugar and insulin levels after meals. That’s excellent news for those living on the edge of prediabetes or anyone looking for natural ways to improve insulin sensitivity, avoid blood sugar spikes and improve glucose metabolism. […]