Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How salt hijacks your immune system to work against your heart

While it’s been known for years that salt and blood pressure risk go hand-in-hand, the risk was associated with the increased fluid sodium pulls into the bloodstream and its effects on the kidneys. But it turns out salt’s effect on the immune system may be responsible for the real culprit.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Peppermint: The simple and soothing solution that helps your food go down better

When most people think about esophageal disorders, the first thing that comes to mind is acid reflux — where stomach acid backs up, resulting in heartburn. However, that barely touches the surface of the painful and disruptive problems that can affect your esophagus. But there’s one natural fix for most of them…

Margaret Cantwell

One pill per day helps women live longer

I think it’s safe to say there are three compelling reasons you’re interested in natural health… number one, you want to live longer. Number two, you want to live disease-free. And number three, you want to age well…

Joyce Hollman

Study says direction you lean determines how fast pills get to work

Some of us take daily medication along with vitamins and supplements. But some meds do you more good when absorbed quickly. Turns out that the direction you lean could make that more efficient or make it take five times longer to get your benefit…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The weight loss program that could double your loss

If you’re struggling to lose weight for whatever reason, you’ve probably wondered whether or not paying for a professional weight loss program is worth it. What would you say to losing double the weight?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Boosting brain energy may stop Alzheimer’s before it starts

Most of us, if we had to choose, might opt to give up our physical abilities over our mental faculties. I know I would. But research demonstrates once again that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In this case, it’s the breath of life for your brain…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why seniors are especially vulnerable to blue light

If you don’t think you’re being over-exposed to blue light, you’re kidding yourself. Think about how often you talk, text, check Facebook, send an email or order groceries on your smartphone, tablet or computer. Now, the news about blue light has gotten more worrisome…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Black is the new green for tea that helps you live longer

Extensive research has been published on the amazing health potential of green tea. But its bitter flavor isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. So are you out of luck if you prefer black to green tea? Not in the least, especially if you want to avoid stroke and heart disease and live longer…

Joyce Hollman

10 myths about lung cancer, busted

We all know that smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer. But there are quite a few myths out there about what else causes the disease, and how you can prevent it. Here are ten of those myths, debunked…

Carolyn Gretton

The link between SARS-CoV-2 and chronic fatigue syndrome

We’ve learned a lot about chronic fatigue syndrome, including that it can be triggered by certain viruses like Epstein-Barr. Before 2020, less than one percent were diagnosed. But that number is expected to skyrocket thanks to the connection that’s recently been discovered…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The autoimmune disorders that quadruple heart problems

If you’re living with an autoimmune disease, you’re probably focused on keeping it under control. But you should know heart disease could be just around the corner. Autoimmune problems that posed the highest heart risk included these four…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Heart failure: A little less salt, a lot more relief

When you see your doctor about your heart, the main dietary advice you’ll get is to cut down on salt. While that’s been standard advice for more than a century, no one really knew how much salt is too much. Or in this case how little you have to give up for a lot of relief…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Hyaluronic acid: From firming skin to fighting age-related muscle loss

Muscle loss begins to really affect us around the age of 40 and ramps up with each year. But who knew scientists would find a connection between the same anti-aging ingredient we reach for to keep our skin firm and the process of age-related muscle loss?

Carolyn Gretton

The shocking reason pneumonia is so deadly for seniors

Pneumonia is a dangerous condition for older adults. They’re nearly five times more likely to be hospitalized with it and half won’t come out alive. New research has revealed a surprising insight as to why: It has as much to do with the gut as it does with the lungs…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How much do plant-based foods protect your heart? Here are the numbers

If you’re still not eating more plant-based foods, what’s holding you back? If you doub just how protective fruits and greens are at keeping heart problems at bay, we’ve got some hard and fast numbers that will have you saying ‘yes’ in a heartbeat…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The promising mushroom treatment for alcohol dependency

Psilocybin, an active compound in magic mushrooms, has shown promise in treating anxiety and depression thanks to its power to enhance well-being and create change in areas of the brain. Now it may lend a hand to those who need it to give up addiction…

Carolyn Gretton

8 factors to keep your brain up to 20 years younger

As we grow older, the odds of getting dementia increase. But is that a given? When you take a look at the relationship between age and 8 specific risk factors, you might just find you can keep your brain up to 20 years younger than your contemporaries…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Could eggs be the answer to Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s and more?

Do you remember when eating eggs for breakfast was considered one of the worst things you could do for your health? I do! But research has found an important nutrient abundant in eggs has the potential to disrupt the inflammation and cell death commonly tied to neurological problems.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is your immune system ready to protect you during stroke?

A team of neurologists and immunologists have discovered the immune system is capable of fast-acting and lasting protection against ischemic stroke thanks to a subset of first-responder cells that swoop in to protect the brain. Here’s how they can work to our benefit…

Joyce Hollman

The pain mistake we’ve been making for years (even doctors!)

When we’re injured, pain and inflammation occur. At home, and at the doctor’s offices, anti-inflammatories have been the answer. But we’re learning that interfering with that inflammatory response can backfire and turn short-term pain into a long-term problem.

Carolyn Gretton

Inflammation: The reason calorie restriction equals longer life

Calorie restriction equals weight loss. But there’s a lot more it does for the body, like promoting a longer disease-free life. And Yale researchers have found a way to get those big benefits without having to actually alter caloric intake.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Rebels with a cause: Healthy seniors who do it their way

In a world where social media is king, seniors catch a lot of flak. But Boomers aren’t just more experienced than Millenials and Gen Xers. They’re rebels leading the way to better ways to stay healthy, vibrant and live longer…

Carolyn Gretton

The over-40 gym habit essential to avoid disease

Sarcopenia, which kicks in after age 40, accelerates muscle loss with each passing year. Worse, this gradual deterioration increases risk for diabetes, heart attack and dementia, not to mention male health problems. There’s a habit you can pick up today to guard against these dangers…

Amanda Polden

10 foods that have the biggest impact on heart disease, stroke and diabetes

It’s no secret that what you eat has a direct effect on your health. Figuring that out doesn’t have to be complex: Just eating more of six kinds of foods and less of four others can decrease your risk of major cardiometabolic diseases…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The single nutrient that raises good cholesterol and supports liver health

HDL is the good cholesterol we all want more of. Easier said than done, right? Actually, it just got easier. And that’s a doubly good thing because not only is HDL good for the heart, research has found it’s also liver-protective. So time to get on board with improving your HDL with the single nutrient that can help you meet all these needs…

Jenny Smiechowski

When surgery won’t save you from a heart attack (but what could ‘beet’ it)

Heart procedures like angioplasties and bypass operations save lives. But you know the old adage “too much of a good thing?” Well, tens of thousands of people get these procedures preventatively. But research shows instead of preventing a heart attack, they could worsen your risk…

Jenny Smiechowski

Tame tinnitus in 1 minute with this simple trick

If you’ve ever had a stubborn case of tinnitus, you know just how unbearable it can be. Constant ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing in the ears is enough to bring anyone to a breaking point. Have you tried this?

Carolyn Gretton

How Alzheimer’s could be ‘cleaned’ from the brain

One challenge to treating Alzheimer’s is the difficulty of getting treatments through the blood-brain barrier. But researchers have stumbled across a game-changer: What if you could clean plaques from the blood as it circulates in the brain using existing methods?

Joyce Hollman

Pesticides in produce: A guide to safe, cost-effective choices

The American Heart Association recommends you eat four to five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. But more than 70 percent of produce exposes you to dangerous pesticide residue, negating disease-fighting nutrients. Here’s how to make safer and cost-effective choices…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The cancer danger lurking in your tattoo

Tattoos are commonplace as a form of self-expression. Yet, despite their popularity, the industry is largely unregulated, at least when it comes to the ink used. This might give you pause if considering your first or adding to your collection…

Jenny Smiechowski

Are ‘swiss cheese bones’ behind your low back pain?

About 80 percent of people deal with low back pain, and most of the time, it’s not caused by a strain or injury. A new study from researchers at John Hopkins Medicine may have finally figured out what’s behind our aching backs…

Joyce Hollman

8 common habits that could shorten your life

You have a stressful job. You get home from work, exhausted. You watch TV until you fall asleep, forgetting to brush your teeth. These are just a few of the common habits most of us are guilty of. What’s the harm? These are just a few of 8 behaviors that shave years off your lifespan…

Dr. Keith Scott-Mumby

The sugar that’s driving a liver disease epidemic

It’s an industrial food product and a far cry from the ‘natural’ label claimed for it. In fact, it’s prepared by a secret formula — that the food industry will not reveal (even to government agencies or health workers). And it’s part of an explosion of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here’s what you should know…

Jenny Smiechowski

The food that fortifies your gut against food poisoning pathogens

Even if you always avoid the potato salad at summer picnics, one day you’ll find yourself crouched next to a toilet cursing the suspicious food that made you so uncomfortable. Luckily, food poisoning doesn’t strike that often. It’s even possible to stack the deck against food-borne pathogens to lower your odds more…

Joyce Hollman

Why are Americans getting clean with a cancer-causing chemical Canada has banned?

Have you taken a good look at the ingredient list on your shampoo lately? How about your toothpaste? I’m willing to bet there’s an ingredient they all have in common. The problem? It’s a harsh chemical the Environmental Protection Agency considers a “probable human carcinogen.”

Jenny Smiechowski

Can you catch cancer, heart disease, and lung disease?

Did you know that 70 percent of deaths worldwide are caused by just three lifestyle diseases — heart disease, cancer and lung disease? But what if lifestyle wasn’t the whole story behind so-called “lifestyle” diseases? What if there was something else causing these diseases… something contagious?

Joyce Hollman

Say goodbye to this food group to say goodnight to insomnia

It’s also no secret that refined carbs like white bread, soda, white rice, and pastries with their added sugar, have a high glycemic index. Eating them raises blood sugar much too rapidly, setting us up for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. But that’s not all they do…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How much you have to walk each week to lose weight

Hands-down, one of the easiest exercises to fit into your life is walking. In fact, when you choose to walk your way to weight loss, you don’t need special equipment, a gym membership, or expensive new clothes. You just get going. But how far do you actually need to walk to lose weight?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

There’s something in your bottled water slowing every heartbeat

You stop to grab a quick drink and see all those colorful soda cans and bottles behind those frosty refrigerated glass doors. You’re tempted, but you stick to bottled water for your health’s sake. But you might have just picked a heart attack waiting to happen…

Joyce Hollman

Two things that will help ease your back pain and sleep problems

This may seem obvious, but chronic back pain can wreak havoc on your ability to get a good night’s sleep. Many people turn to both pain medication and sleeping pills. But taking sleep and pain medications together can be a recipe for disaster. Boston Medical Center found two things that work…

Joyce Hollman

Your risk of 7 different cancers is just a walk away

METs stands for metabolic equivalents. Using METs is a way of comparing the energy expenditure of different activities. One MET is defined as the energy you use when you’re resting or sitting still. When I climb the stairs, I could be expending as much as 4 METs. When they add up, you send cancer walking.

Jenny Smiechowski

10 nutrients you’re probably not eating enough of

Researchers have identified 10 vitamins, minerals and nutrients most of us aren’t getting enough of in our diets. In some cases, you may want to take a supplement to get your levels of these nutrients up to snuff. In other cases, you may not. Either way, make sure you don’t ignore these critical nutrients…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Proven protection for your brain’s gray matter

Certain areas of your brain may be more at risk and play a bigger role in cognitive decline as they lose volume with each passing year, especially your brain’s grey matter. As it shrinks, so can your ability to remain independent. But you can pump it up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 health problems your feet warn you about

Having a little foot pain here and there is not generally something you need to worry about. However, If you live with certain types of foot pain, day in and day out, there could be something more going on. That’s because certain health problems cause foot symptoms that you should never ignore, like these…

Joyce Hollman

Seeking volunteers to control chronic pain

Chronic pain can bring depression and a feeling of hopelessness. It can even cause changes in your brain that can lead to cognitive decline. So the connection between pain and your brain go hand in hand. What if those pain centers of the brain could be deactivated? Would you volunteer to see how it works?

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The weight loss trap that tanks testosterone

Living with low T can lead to far more than feeling older and more out of shape than you would like. In fact, low testosterone in men is linked to a higher risk of death from heart disease and other causes. One of the easiest ways to boost it is through weight loss, unless you make this very common diet mistake…

Jenny Smiechowski

Can you run your way to younger blood vessels?

Vascular age is the “age” of your arteries based on the condition they’re in. You could be sixty with the arteries of an eighty-year-old, or vice versa. As you can imagine, vascular age is pretty important, because it impacts your risk of cardiovascular disease. So, let’s talk about turning the clock back on them…

Jenny Smiechowski

The common and serious lung disease tied to sleep habits

A network of body clocks regulates pretty much every bodily function. They create circadian rhythms (bodily changes that run on a daily cycle, triggered by light and darkness) and make sure everything’s on time. One clock, in particular, takes care of your lungs, where your sleep habits could wreak havoc…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

These foods do to your brain what drugs do to an addict

73 percent of Americans are carrying around an unhealthy amount of weight. That’s a shocking statistic because it directly connects to ever-rising rates of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, hypertension and more. It’s not all our faults though. We are being addicted to disease-causing foods…

Joyce Hollman

The heart attack common denominator that’s bigger than cholesterol

While one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease is the real threat, killing one out of every three of us. We associate fatal coronary heart disease with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and blocked arteries. But there’s another factor we’ve known about for years that’s taken a back seat…

Jenny Smiechowski

How to get the blood sugar benefits of the keto diet without giving up carbs

Research shows that people with diabetes who follow keto have lower blood sugar and need less insulin. The keto diet also reduces the risk of diabetes for people who don’t already have it. Is that enough to make you throw away your bread and pasta? Maybe. Maybe not. If you love your carbs, I have good news…

Joyce Hollman

Nature’s answer to disease-causing air pollution found on the produce aisle

Exposure to air pollution can cause heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, even diabetes. It can infect your brain and dramatically increase your chances of Alzheimer’s. So run, don’t walk, to the nearest produce aisle and start eating the tiny veggie that can help eliminate these deadly toxins from your body.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why sex can delay menopause

Having sex regularly comes with a long list of health benefits. For starters, sex can help lower your risk of heart attack and boost your immune system. But women may find this the best benefit of all…

Jenny Smiechowski

The simple habit that makes more space in your brain

Do you ever feel like you need more space in your brain? The fact is… all of us put far too much pressure on our brains. That can lead to burnout, exhaustion, depression and even break downs. But researchers uncovered a way to take some pressure off your brain, so it works better…

Joyce Hollman

This ‘sure thing’ adds more years to your life

Behavior and lifestyle choices can increase the odds you’ll live a long and healthy life. But, according to research, there’s one behavior a woman can engage in that will grant her more years, and more health to enjoy them…

Joyce Hollman

Why snow shoveling can spell a heart attack even if you’re healthy

Snow shoveling can be a great muscle stretcher and calorie burner. But you may not know that it places great demands on your cardiovascular system, as high, in fact, as a cardiac stress test on a treadmill or bicycle. That’s just one way it increases heart attack and even stroke risk if you’re not careful…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The artificial sweetener pitfall that packs on pounds and leads to disease

Isn’t it funny how when big corporations start selling something that’s supposedly good for your health, it so often turns out to be far worse for you than your original problem? Well, that’s exactly the case when it comes to artificial sweeteners.

Jenny Smiechowski

The convenient way food labels may make it easier to say ‘no’

Calorie counting isn’t just about weight loss. Overdoing calories for a long time can increase risks for diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Something easier to count? How about how much you’d have to exercise to work off your food?

Joyce Hollman

Is aspirin the simple answer to migraine?

The Migraine Research Foundation tells us that 12 percent of the U.S. population suffers from migraines. And stroke risk is doubled for at least a quarter of them. Now, a review of research shows an inexpensive and easily available remedy could be the key to treatment and prevention…

Jenny Smiechowski

Is the secret to stroke recovery in your gut?

Nothing can prepare you for a stroke. It’s sudden. And it’s scary. And there are no promises when it comes to recovery. But what if there was a way to make sure that, if you had a stroke, the repercussions would be less severe, and you would recover quicker?

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