Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

The link between your toothbrush and silent brain damage

Over the years, we’ve learned more about how the health of your mouth can affect your entire body. But oral health risk factors that contribute to stroke prompted research into how caring for your mouth could save your brain from silent damage…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising truth about olive oil’s benefits

A daily spoonful of olive oil could tame a lot of health ills. But what makes it so healthy? For years polyphenols, phenomenal plant compounds, got all the glory. But a component that makes up almost 80 percent of olive oil’s composition is stepping forward…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The silent surgery risk your doctor may not know about

If you’re age 65 or older and considering surgery, know your risks. Especially if the surgery is elective. You’ll need to weigh the chances of a newly recognized risk and what it could do to your life… against the potential benefits you’ll get from having the surgery. And it’s a threat your doctor may not be aware of yet…

Joyce Hollman

Forget dieting: Adopt an ‘eat more-live better’ food style

The word “diet” conjures up images of deprivation, tasteless foods, and constant cravings for what we can’t have. But deprivation diets set you up to fail… unless you have willpower like Superman. Instead of starting a new “diet,” pledge to gradually change your “eating style,” and you’ll have greater success.

Joyce Hollman

Obesity causes brain changes that mimic Alzheimer’s

Strange as it sounds, obesity is a form of premature aging. But though that’s been well established, experts were still shocked to see how similar obesity-related neurodegeneration is to changes in an Alzheimer’s brain…

Joyce Hollman

Old diabetes drug with a dangerous past may treat Alzheimer’s

Ever hear the expression, “out of the frying pan, into the fire”? It means going from a bad situation to one that may be even worse. Like taking a drug linked to heart issues, bladder cancer and liver toxicity and giving it new life as an Alzheimer’s treatment.

Joyce Hollman

One a day with a friend rids loneliness and stress

Within each of us is a unique ecosystem of bacteria known as the gut microbiome. When it’s well-balanced, well-being flourishes. The same can be said for your social biome. And whether you’re an introvert or extrovert, helping yours thrive entails more than quality or quantity…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Research links common medications to tinnitus

The ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing and clicking of tinnitus can drive anyone crazy. And though doctors have tried for years to help, there’s been little known about the causes of the condition — until now. It turns out it could be sitting in your medicine cabinet at this very moment…

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

How to save a fatty liver before it’s too late

Left untreated, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. At this point, a liver transplant may be the only way to save a life. That’s why we’re so excited to learn about a new study on how to prevent this silent liver disease that’s attacking more than 100 million Americans.

Jenny Smiechowski

How high blood sugar stands in the way of getting fit

When you first take up exercising, it’s excruciating. You can’t breathe and every muscle hurts. But, eventually, you build up aerobic capacity and it gets easier, unless you have high blood sugar, that is. New research shows why exercise can be the hardest for those who have the most to benefit…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The common testosterone thief targeting men and women

Testosterone is the elixir of life, an antidote to some of the worst health issues plaguing us today. You might think it’s just men who need to protect their levels as much as possible. But women need it to… because this testosterone-thief doesn’t discriminate.

Jenny Smiechowski

For brain-saving omega-3 benefits, dosage matters

There’s a ton of research showing omega-3s have the potential to stave off Alzheimer’s. But there are also studies that didn’t hold up. These discrepancies have left many wondering whether omega-3s really work against Alzheimer’s. Luckily, new insights show their effectiveness may all come down to this one important factor…

Joyce Hollman

The ‘low-down’ on what green tea does to high blood pressure

You might think that a drink with caffeine couldn’t be good for your blood pressure. But study after study shows there’s something about green tea. That’s why two groups of scientists from distant areas of the world decided to take a look at all those findings and give us what we’ve been waiting for… the definitive answer on green tea.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

For more heart protection, eat more chocolate

Every year, heart disease kills more people than any other disease on earth, including cancer. So, is it any wonder that we’re all searching for ways to keep our ticker ticking? From exercise and supplements to diet, we all want to know how to keep our hearts healthy. And now, science has found a sweet answer to that problem in an unlikely source.

Jenny Smiechowski

12 sunscreen ingredients the FDA could ban

It’s becoming obvious that sunscreen comes with serious baggage. Studies have found the active chemicals seep into your body at much higher levels than what’s considered safe. And as a result, the FDA’s putting some new regulations in place soon. But here’s how to make safer sunscreen choices…

Joyce Hollman

Curcumin: From spice to potent anti-viral

Research on curcumin, the compound found in the Indian spice turmeric, is pointing to its potential as an antiviral drug. It’s shown the ability to counteract herpes and Zika viruses and may even have some power against the HIV virus. How you can get some of curcumin’s anti-viral power now?

Joyce Hollman

How to brew up the many benefits of lavender tea

The scent of diffused lavender oil can help you wind down and relax before bed. But a cup of lavender tea can also do the trick and help settle your stomach. That’s because lavender tea is good for more than just sleep and relaxation. Here are more reasons to drink this lovely tea, and how…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

7 superfoods for super women

Eating a healthy diet is important for anyone who wants to live better, longer. But certain foods are especially effective at helping women meet their special health needs. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the top seven superfoods that are especially good for women…

Jenny Smiechowski

The three best foods for fighting diabetes

It’s easy to get confused about what you should eat to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Should you go low-carb? Vegan? Low-cal? There’s so much conflicting information out there. So, here’s some simple advice — if you want to escape type 2 diabetes, focus on these three food groups to slash your risk up to 50 percent…

Jenny Smiechowski

Grapes deliver the perfect dose of heart-healthy antioxidants

Oxidative stress is like kryptonite for your heart. It’s tied to atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), high blood pressure, cardiac fibrosis (scarring), plaque rupture, arterial blood clots and even heart failure. Luckily, there’s a fruit that contains the three most powerful antioxidants to fend off oxidative stress and provide serious heart protection…

Joyce Hollman

CBD: Arthritis pain relief without NSAIDs’ cardio risk

More and more people are turning to medical marijuana to relieve the pain and stiffness of arthritis. They’ve found that CBD is at least as effective as opioids or NSAIDs, but without the dangers of addiction, heart attack, stroke or internal bleeding.

Jenny Smiechowski

How optimism helps you sleep better and live longer

Research has proven time and time again that optimists live longer than pessimists. In fact, one 2019 study found that they live 11 to 15 percent longer than pessimistic folks on average. But what exactly is it about a sunny disposition that leads to a longer life? A new study shows it could all come down to this surprisingly simple factor…

Jenny Smiechowski

A small increase in these foods makes a big increase in lifespan

More people get their protein from meat even though eating more plant-based protein could do them a lot of good. In fact, the more plant protein, the longer the lifespan. And it’s not an all-or-nothing deal… Research shows you can eat your meat and increase your plant-based protein just a little for some really big benefits…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Beta blockers may pose unique danger for women

One of the most common prescriptions for hypertension in the U.S. is beta blockers, drugs that are supposed to keep your blood pressure in the green zone and protect your heart. But now, according to a new study, these same medications are hiding a danger of heart failure, especially if you’re a woman.

Joyce Hollman

Signs of serious eye conditions and the nutrients to guard them

As we age, our eyes become more vulnerable to disease. Age-related macular degeneration is just one example of diseases that become more likely in our 50s, 60s and beyond. Know the signs and learn how to protect your eyes before it’s too late.

Jenny Smiechowski

Eat this summer berry to soothe skin rashes

We’ve all been there… you brush against a patch of poison ivy or try a new skincare product and your skin erupts in a rash. Typically, you’d need a topical steroid cream to get it under control. But there’s another proven way to tackle this type of allergic response — and you can find it in the fruit aisle.

Jenny Smiechowski

Ditch these foods to lift brain fog

Do you have a hard time concentrating? Do you forget words or lose your train of thought during conversations? Do you feel spacey or out of it often? If you do, you may be dealing with brain fog. You can lift the fog by ditching these foods…

Jenny Smiechowski

2 simple secrets people who live to 100 share

How do you live to 100? Despite what you may have heard, it doesn’t require extreme diets, expensive medical procedures or unusual health rituals. New research shows it may just require two habits that are so simple they may surprise you…

Joyce Hollman

Lower your blood pressure at every meal

Diuretics and ACE inhibitors can be effective in treating high blood pressure. But they come with side effects like diarrhea, lightheadedness and muscle cramping. So, what else is a person to do besides eat right and exercise? Add herbs and spices known to naturally lower blood pressure to foods you already eat.

Joyce Hollman

5 ways oatmeal can beat back metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome sneaks up on people. It might start with your cholesterol. Before you know it, your blood pressure goes up. Next, your doctor is concerned about your blood sugar which is going up with your weight. Before you wake up one day on more medications than you’ve ever taken in all your years, try a daily bowl of oatmeal instead.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Passive stretching: The artery ‘workout’ that improves blood flow

You have roughly 100,000 miles of blood vessels and veins that make up your arterial superhighway… and much working against them. Your heart, and more, depend on them. Luckily, new research has found a way to make it easier than ever to decrease arterial stiffness and improve blood flow. Just grab a partner and stretch…

Jenny Smiechowski

Essential oil diffusers may pose an unexpected risk

I’ve never thought of my diffuser as anything but a blessing to my health and home. It’s an easy way to take advantage of the benefits of aromatherapy and a great alternative to chemical air fresheners. But I recently read something that indicated there may be a dark side to my diffuser…

Jenny Smiechowski

Low-to-moderate drinkers may have cognitive edge over non-drinkers

It’s fun to read about the health benefits of guilty pleasures… like drinking coffee, looking at cat memes or indulging in a glass of wine. We get a lot of mixed messages about that last one though. But a new study shows that people who drink low-to-moderate amounts of alcohol have better brain health than those who don’t.

Joyce Hollman

6 signs of prediabetes and tips that turn it around

About 84 million adults in the U.S. have prediabetes. That means 34 percent of adults, at any given time, are poised to cross a threshold that would take them down a chronic disease path. Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? But what if I told you they could turn that trajectory completely around in a matter of steps?

Jenny Smiechowski

2 excellent reasons to go crazy for capers

How often do you eat capers? You know, those tiny green balls you see hanging out in your chicken piccata, on top of your salmon lox bagel or in your salad. The answer for most of us is probably not that often. That’s a shame because they’re packed with a potent compound for brain and heart health…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Is butter back? The truth about saturated fat

Breaking health news contends that limiting dietary saturated fat does nothing for reducing heart disease events or for heart disease prevention. The study’s conclusions run against the advice of most health authorities, but by sheer numbers alone, it feels pretty compelling…

Joyce Hollman

How to correctly disinfect with wipes during cold and virus season

Using disinfectant wipes to clean the surfaces in your home? You should know there’s more to it than just pulling one out and wiping. Follow these tips to make sure you get the most out of them during cold and virus season…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Common ailments that zap your energy

If you’re feeling like all your energy has been drained, you can barely get out of bed in the morning and struggle to make it through the day, you’re not alone. Lack of energy is a common complaint and can be due to a wide range of issues. Figuring out what’s got you dragging is a challenge. Here are some clues…

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