Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

When it comes to aspirin and heart protection, does dose matter?

Using aspirin every day remains part of most therapeutic plans to keep people who’ve already had a heart attack or stroke from experiencing another. But there have been concerns about bleeding. Researchers recently took a look at which dose would be best as far as efficacy and safety, and what they found was surprising…

Carolyn Gretton

‘Miracle’ molecule may speed diabetic foot ulcer healing

Because it’s increasingly common, it’s easy to forget just how insidious diabetes is. It can tear the body down — from your heart to your limbs. But new technology may harness a naturally occurring molecule to speed the healing of at least one common but dangerous complication…

Carolyn Gretton

Coffee’s blood pressure benefits ‘closest to the heart’

Of all the benefits applied to coffee, there’s been some conflicting data about its effects on blood pressure. But Italian researchers have discovered something surprising about coffee, blood pressure and the best predictor of stroke and heart attack…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Women and heart disease: Don’t wait to take it seriously

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. That’s still surprising to some, but consider this: the likelihood a woman will die of breast cancer is about 1 in 30. The chance that she will die from heart disease is 1 in 3. That means it’s never too early to take your risks seriously.

Margaret Cantwell

Could a resveratrol supplement fight Lyme disease?

Not to sound paranoid, but my biggest concern about being outdoors isn’t snakes, it’s ticks. More than 475,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year in the U.S. Though early antibiotic therapy can help, a few plant extracts found to kill the bacteria may hold more promise…

Carolyn Gretton

What your get-up-and-go says about a sinister sign of aging

Most of us expect we’ll slow down at least a little as we age. But it doesn’t mean we need to sit back and wait to see what happens. In recent years, the connection between a healthy body and sound mind have been made clear: lose your get-up-and-go and your mind will follow…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Green tea extracts may turn superfood’s benefits harmful

Green tea boasts the most disease-fighting power in each and every sip. From improving weight loss and blood pressure to protecting DNA, it’s often considered the holy grail of teas. So, wouldn’t leveling up with high-dose green tea extract be even better?

Joyce Hollman

Metabolism slowing with age? Reverse it

It seems unfair that when we hit a certain age, our metabolism slows down, the weight starts to hang on and the risks of dangerous health conditions ramp up. But thanks to a better understanding of the type of fats we carry, your age-related metabolism change could be reversed…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The vitamin that protects your heart if you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis means living with painful joints. It also carries a much higher risk for heart and blood vessel disease and death. Why? It comes down to a simple vitamin deficiency caused by medicines that treat it.

Margaret Cantwell

Manuka honey for chronic bladder infections

Dealing with chronic urinary tract infections is a real pain in the bladder and potentially the kidneys if you don’t get it under control. Right now, the only solution your doctor can offer is antibiotics. But antibiotic-resistant UTIs are on the rise. Thank goodness for natural options…

Joyce Hollman

New osteoporosis drug: All hype and heart attack?

A new drug has been shown particularly effective at reducing the risk of fracture in women with severe osteoporosis. Great news, but there’s a catch: a 30 percent increased risk of heart attack, not to mention elevated risks for hypertension, diabetes and stroke…

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising reason your smoothie isn’t that nutritious

If you eat the right foods, you might assume you’re getting the nutrition you need for optimal health. But nutrient absorption can range from 10 to 90 percent. If you make this common smoothie mistake you’re missing out on a bio-active compound science is studying for prevention of cancer, heart disease and more…

Rick Kaselj

Breaking free from sciatic: Natural remedies to ease the pain

Sciatica is a painful condition caused by the compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body. Treatment sometimes involves surgery, but thankfully, numerous natural remedies can effectively provide relief for this incapacitating condition…

Joyce Hollman

One a day to lower cholesterol, stroke and heart disease risk

Oxidation in the body is the start of a chain reaction that ends in hardened arteries, stroke, heart disease or worse. Just as it turns an apple brown or causes metal to rust, oxidation causes harm in our bodies. The good news is that oxidative stress is largely preventable…

William Davis

Natto: The Japanese secret to healthy circulation

The ancient samurai credited this Japanese food secret with giving them exceptional endurance and high energy levels. Modern science reveals it may have even bigger benefits when it comes to circulation…

Dr. Mark Wiley

9 fingernail signs you might be sick

Traditional healers, naturopaths and even old-school physicians can get clues as to the state and quality of your health by looking at you. Your body offers many “secret signs” that are “hidden in plain sight,” if you know where to look, what you are looking for and what the signs you see mean…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

No longer a guilty pleasure: Massage heals muscles faster, stronger

People have been turning to massage for healing and relaxation for more than 3,000 years. Now we have proof how the mechansims behind massage really makes muscles heal not only faster but stronger, by engaging your immune system…

Joyce Hollman

Tiny plastic particles can reach the brain in just 2 hours

It’s not new news that every time we drink water or eat almost anything we’re consuming plastic particles. What is new is the shocking finding that one of the most common may be particularly toxic and can cross the blood-brain barrier…

Carolyn Gretton

High LDL? Seed oils may help best

When it comes to cholesterol, we need to keep the following balance: high levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol, low levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. A great way to do that is through a healthy diet, including healthy fats. If your LDL is making that difficult, reach for these seed oils…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The 5 best exercises to get rid of chronic knee pain

If you don’t want to go through the agony of surgery or even the inconvenience of attending physical therapy sessions for your knee pain, there are some simple exercises you can do at home to help alleviate the pain and get back to the life you love.

Carolyn Gretton

Help for hay fever from an unlikely place

Are you among the 1 in 5 that suffers from hay fever and the accompanying chorus of sneezing and nose-blowing? Sure, you could pop an antihistamine or inhale a nasal spray. Or you could look to an unlikely body part to tame your immune system’s overreaction…

Jenny Smiechowski

The diet that gets most glyphosate out of your body in just 6 days

Dozens of pesticides are used on our food, many of which have been linked to hormone disruption, neurological problems, immune system issues and more. Luckily, recent research shows that you can clear as much as 60 percent of them from your system in under a week with the right foods…

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…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

How to interpret your cholesterol test results

When you get a cholesterol test back, you’re typically given four numbers: The total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Your doctor is probably great about going over your results with you, but it can be confusing to remember all the details once you leave their office. Here’s what you need to know to interpret the results like a pro…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why your bone health may be a sign of stiffening arteries

Your bone health isn’t something to be taken lightly. A hip break can land you in the hospital, even shorten your life span. But it’s not a heart attack, right? Not so fast. The development of mineral deposits in your arteries, which can lead to arterial stiffness, and bone mineralization share many overlapping processes. That’s why weak bones may be a sign of serious heart trouble…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why diabetes leads to dirty, damaged kidneys

There’s no denying that diabetes is hard on the kidneys. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About one in four people with diabetes has it. And as a result, they often go on to develop kidney failure. Why exactly is diabetes so damaging to the kidneys? It turns out that diabetes prevents them from performing one of their most critical functions…

Joyce Hollman

7 delicious things to do with your microwave

Your microwave can be your best friend. Use it to make life easier, more flavorful, and more aromatic. Here are seven things your microwave can do that you may not have thought of, and here’s one good reason why: Mounting evidence shows that microwaving may help foods and beverages retain nutrients and beneficial compounds better than other heating methods.

Jenny Smiechowski

How a few daily cups of coffee could impact colorectal cancer survival

Coffee has received recognition as a serious superfood in recent years for boosting energy and metabolism and enhancing mental and physical performance. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk for diseases like Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes and dementia, not to mention reducing colorectal cancer by 26 percent. But coffee may do even more than just help prevent colorectal cancer… it may help people survive it.

Joyce Hollman

8 ways to guard against the hearing loss-memory loss connection

Since I entered my 60s, my hearing isn’t what it used to be. I find myself asking people to repeat things. They don’t seem to mind and neither do I. After all my hearing is not that bad. But what does bother me is this: Research establishes a firm connection between age-related hearing loss and memory problems, possibly even Alzheimer’s. This is what we can do to combat that threat…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Got pain? Stop and count backwards to reduce it by half

Living with pain can make all aspects of your life more difficult… from the dread you feel just getting out of bed in the morning knowing the stiffness, aches and discomfort will be there… to having to give up the activities you love. Luckily, a new study might have the answer to reducing your pain, and it’s as easy as counting down.

Joyce Hollman

3 things loneliness does to your body that leads to disease

Feeling lonely and being alone are very different things. Loneliness is a strong predictor of the onset of type 2 diabetes. Loneliness also elevates blood pressure and blood sugar and puts us at greater risk of early death than either obesity or alcoholism. Loneliness isn’t a weakness, it’s a health warning to heed…

Carolyn Gretton

Cleansing toxic thirdhand smoke from your home and your body

With people spending more time at home than ever before during the pandemic, it’s important to have a clean, safe dwelling. But if you live with a smoker or in a home where smokers once lived, coronavirus isn’t your only concern. Thirdhand smoke and its carcinogens can become deeply embedded in carpets and drywall and later be released back into the air you breathe.

Joyce Hollman

How pure is your honey?

Raw honey is probably the sweetest health food out there. Unfortunately, even as a natural, unprocessed product, raw honey may still arrive on your store shelves with pesticides, herbicides and bacteria. But there are simple ways to make sure you’re eating “clean” honey and getting all of its health benefits.

Jenny Smiechowski

Get toasty to tame your osteoporosis risk

There are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, a condition that thins and weakens your bones. You can eat calcium-rich foods, practice weight-bearing exercise or take a supplement to bulk up your supply of bone-supporting vitamin D. But there’s one way to take better care of your bones that’s kind of strange — turning up the heat…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Science discovers a key way to increase your happiness quota

We would all like to live happy, fulfilling lives. So, some scientists recently set out to discover how we could all grab a little more joy in our lives — pandemic or not — and where, with whom or in what our happiness lies. What they found is pretty eye-opening, and I hope you can put it to good use, especially during these trying times…

Carolyn Gretton

Want to better manage your diabetes? Go to bed early

If you have diabetes, you’ve probably wrestled with sleep issues from time to time. Diabetics often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and often do not get enough sleep as a result. But even people without diabetes often struggle to sleep well. So is it any worse of a problem for diabetics? Research shows being a night owl or an early bird certainly affects disease management…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Taking a Z-pack with these medications could lead to heart attack

When you’re feeling sick and just want to find relief, you trust that the prescription your doctor sends you home with is not only going to help you feel better but that it’s also safe. But a word of caution… there is a common antibiotic you need to think twice about if you take other medications regularly, even if your doctor says you need it, or you could end up with a heart attack.

Jenny Smiechowski

That laser pointer the cat loves to play with can permanently damage your eyes

I’ve never met a cat who doesn’t love playing with laser pointers. And the good news is, these popular pet toys give your cat plenty of exercise. But there’s also something you should be concerned about if you have one of these lying around the house… they could permanently blast away cells in your eyes in just a few seconds…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Which is more important: Lose weight or eat better?

Does a normal weight protect you against adverse health outcomes even if you don’t eat particularly well? And what if you’re obese? Is your outcome equally poor regardless of what lands on your plate? A 17-year study may have finally helped us get the answer that most of us have been struggling with. And it may be the most freeing news you get all day…

Joyce Hollman

The spice that soothes osteoarthritis pain better and safer than NSAIDs

Turmeric is a spice used in curry. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat any number of conditions. Recent research confirms that it’s also a good substitute for dangerous NSAIDs if you suffer from the knee pain of osteoarthritis.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The 3-egg-a-day diet that improved insulin, cholesterol and weight loss

Not all fat is created equal. In fact, some fat deposits, like the ones around your abdomen, can be far more dangerous to your health than the fat padding your hips and thighs. This abdomen fat skyrockets your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Now, new research has found a way to lose that fat in just eight weeks without starvation or exercise.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why too much black licorice is bad for your blood pressure and heart

A 54-year-old man in Massachusetts died after his heart stopped suddenly. The cause? Eating too much black licorice over the course of a few weeks. How could overindulging in candy cause someone’s heart to stop? Well, it turns out black licorice contains a compound that can trigger high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and put your life in serious jeopardy…

Carolyn Gretton

The Chinese herb in the fight against colorectal cancer

Having cancer is scary. But the word “chemotherapy” can be just as worrisome for different reasons, including dreadful side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and infection. Perhaps the worst, though, is when cancer becomes resistant to chemo. What then? Well, research shows a Chinese herb is proving a potent helper in just this situation…

Joyce Hollman

How to sleep your way to better weight loss

Did you know that how you sleep can keep you from losing weight? Research shows that sleep directly impacts your appetite hormones and your ability to say no to fattening snacks. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to counteract this effect…

Jenny Smiechowski

This ‘sunshine spice’ could help you feel less depressed this winter

For many, seasonal affective disorder can soon hit hard. The fatigue, sadness, hopelessness and social withdrawal (compounded this year by COVID-19) can make a long winter feel even longer. But if you’re looking for a safe, scientifically-backed way to fend off depression, this fragrant herb can be a big help…

Jenny Smiechowski

Turning down the thermostat may be just as good for you as cutting calories

A calorie restricted diet isn’t easy. But they can lower blood pressure and inflammation, balance cholesterol, reduce insulin resistance and promote a longer lifespan. Why is cutting calories so good for you? That’s the million-dollar question, but it may not be the only way to get these benefit.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Diabetics face serious blood pressure risk if breaking the ‘one drink’ rule

If you’re living with diabetes, you already know how important it is to embrace a healthy lifestyle. But there’s one more change you might need to make to be sure you don’t add high blood pressure to your list of diagnoses…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The weird effect a popular over-the-counter pain reliever has on risk perception

You probably consider yourself to be level-headed, right? Sure, you like to be adventurous, but you draw the line at risky behavior because it’s the smart thing to do. But if you’re among the 1 in 4 who turns to a popular OTC pain reliever for minor aches and pains, you’re unknowingly putting something in your body that can muddy your perception of risk…

Carolyn Gretton

The good news thick thighs could reveal about your blood pressure

It’s been drilled into our heads for decades that fat is bad. With obesity comes a higher risk of all kinds of disorders, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. But recent research has found that fat may not always be a harbinger of a health problem on the horizon. In fact, if you’ve got thick thighs, you may breathe a sigh of relief…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why getting a cold could keep you from getting the flu

The common cold is far from dangerous, but it still makes you miserable by walloping you with a cough, a headache, congestion, a low-grade fever and that awful fatigued feeling you get when you’re sick. But the next time you’re laid up with a serious cold, you have a big bright side to think about… colds may be able to prevent the more dangerous flu virus from infecting your airways…

Joyce Hollman

How not to get breast cancer from your salad

In 1972, the United States banned the use of the pesticide DDT. But other endocrine-disrupting pesticides have taken its place and are still in use. Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself from exposure to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cause breast cancer.

Joyce Hollman

Drugs that treat colds, bladder leaks, Parkinson’s and more increase Alzheimer’s risk

Anticholinergics, also called antispasmodics, treat everything from Parkinson’s to COPD and asthma to irritable bowel syndrome. Some are even found in over-the-counter allergy medications. But at least three recent studies point to a strong connection between anticholinergic use and cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Eat more blueberries to preserve and repair your muscles

Reduced muscle mass can lead to a lack of mobility, lower quality of life and even steal your independence. Now though, there’s a new weapon in your arsenal that could make all the difference — a simple and delicious way to kick your muscle strength into gear by stimulating the production of special cells in your body that boost muscle growth and repair…

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