Latest Stories

The Christmas season can be a double-edged sword. It brings with it feelings of love, togetherness and joy. But many people find themselves stepping around emotional landmines that trigger feelings of anxiety and depression. Here are some healthy ways to cope and have a truly rewarding holiday season…

Selma Blair and Christina Applegate are part of a trend, but not a popular one. Autoimmune diseases are on the rise in people aged 50 and older. While scientists examine why, one possible reason is a common medication. Another isn’t so easy to avoid…

We’ve gained new insight into just how important synaptic transmission is in keeping our brains healthy. A long-sought, gene-encoded protein has been discovered that enables the brain to communicate a broad range of signals, but when depleted can lead to breakdown…

Decades of research confirms compounds found in red grapes are heart-healthy, good for your skin and may even deter diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Now it appears they may be why a glass of merlot can offer oral health benefits for preventing cavities and gum disease…

CBD has gotten lots of press over the last few years. But perhaps its most hyped benefit is its ability to provide pain relief. Now CBD has been put to the test to determine if it’s truly a pain-relieving miracle or just hype based on the phenomenon of the “placebo effect.”

Exercise is good for almost everything that ails us, even cancer. Past research says it cuts the risk of invasive breast cancer. And the latest shows no matter what kind, exercise can reduce cancer spread as much as 72 percent. But what it reveals about “permanent” protection is the big story…

There are so many types of sugar, natural and not-so-much. Still, the consensus among nutritional experts has been “a sugar is a sugar” and mostly all bad. Well, that adage may have just been debunked, thanks to honey’s surprising heart benefits other sweeteners lack.

From Thanksgiving to New Year’s, we’re allowed to splurge. But two studies demonstrate the damage that does even in the short-term to your colon, weight, blood sugar, cholesterol and more. So, enjoy the goodies but don’t forget the one nutrient they said could make all merry and bright again…

Many factors play into dementia risk, from health and genetics to lifestyle. That makes understanding more about the risks within our control, like the number and types of medications you take regularly, paramount. Here’s the number and dangerous drug combos to watch for…

Winter doesn’t just mean cooler temperatures. It can mean the common cold and feeling cruddy for days. There are plenty of over-the-counter cold medicines to ease your symptoms, but there are just as many reasons not to rely on them (like brain shrinkage!). We’ve got you covered…

If there is one health problem that’s most likely to steal your life, it’s one that affects your heart. You could start taking a laundry list of medications now or discover the surprisingly significant impact of just one cup of the right vegetables on your heart…

Every day new things about the human body are discovered that may extend our healthspan — the number of healthy years we live. For men, a new discovery may unravel the puzzle as to why some men are more prone to developing age-related illnesses than others…

About 75 percent of Americans with hearing loss don’t use hearing aids because they’re costly. That increases their risk for depression and dementia. But hearing experts say a popular tech gadget can provide virtually the same improvements in hearing for a fraction of the cost…

We all experience stress from time to time. Next time you’re feeling like you need a better way to manage it, try food before turning to medications. Researchers may have found the best recipe for less stress…

In recent years, we’ve learned that our personal care products may harbor dangerous chemicals that can make us sick, including parabens and others that have been linked to cancer. Unfortunatley, it looks like adhering to beauty standards is indeed intoxicating…

You might think this post is another speech from a doctor about lifestyle factors that cause LDL (bad) cholesterol to rise. But I really just want you to know about the biochemical processes that influence cholesterol levels that aren’t alway explained to patients, and which ones you may or may not be able to control…

Sensibly soaking up the sun is a good way to boost your vitamin D. But research shows that while you’re soaking up the sun, the sun is soaking up your stores of another very important vitamin — one that can help your body fend off some pretty nasty illnesses and chronic conditions…

Getting little, if any, exercise and following an unhealthy diet add up to a surefire recipe for disaster. These bad habits were thought to be equally risky for both men and women. But it’s been found men’s health can suffer much faster and face bigger dangers in a surprisingly short time.

You already know nuts are brain food. But a new study has measured their powerful effect in the form of brain waves. They tested six different kinds of nuts, and all of them produced brainwave frequencies that can improve cognition, healing, learning, memory and more…

Last month, my friend Jeff felt a strange heaviness in his upper arms. It wasn’t from exercise and it wasn’t painful, just strange. He called his doctor, who suggested a trip to the ER. Jeff was having a heart attack. What would you have done if you were Jeff?

When you think about losing weight, chances are you think about your gut, the one that’s central in the battle of the bulge. But you might be focusing on the wrong gut. Research has found a surprising reason there that explains when you and your friend follow the same diet, only one of you loses weight.

It’s no secret that exercise can help you feel better about yourself and your life. In fact, studies have shown regular physical activity to combat depression and put a smile on your face. But is a drug-free solution to chronic anxiety that easy?

Even in first world countries, like the U.S., vitamin deficiencies may be more common than you would ever guess. How do you know if you’re getting enough of the nutrients considered essential? Besides having your blood tested, pay attention to these six often sneaky signs of a deficiency…

Most of the research into brain health has focused on slowing or reversing the mind-stealing conditions you see in the elderly. But what, if anything, can omega-3s do for a middle-aged brain, especially one with a genetic predisposition for those very problems?

Approximately 37 million Americans have diabetes and another 96 million are pre-diabetic. If you’re one of those 96 million, you may not even know you’re on the verge of developing diabetes, much less at increased risk for heart attack or stroke. One change could turn that around…

Shingles may seem like more of an annoyance than a serious threat to your health. But that’s not exactly true. Shingles can actually affect your eyes, cause nerve pain and attack your internal organs. It can also raise your risk of potentially life-threatening cardiovascular complications…

Many people still think that a heart attack strikes suddenly, or with very little warning. A Harvard Health survey tells us that, for women, the warning signs can come as much as a month in advance. And they’re anything but the classic signs most people look for…

As the cold weather approaches, you know you have to protect yourself from ailments like cold and flu. But what about more serious events, like heart attack? Surprsingly, as the temperatures go down our risk for heart attack goes up. Here’s why (an odd effect on blood vessels, for one) and what to do…

Certain activities help stimulate the brain to keep it running like a high-performance race car. That’s why there are plenty of sophisticated web-based cognitive games specifically designed to improve those skills we need to keep our independence. And then there are crossword puzzles…

Even though men in their 50s don’t have the same rapid bone loss women do, that changes around 65. Then, men lose bone mass at the same rate, and recovery from fracture is riskier for men. Most surprising? The risk of an osteoporotic fracture in men is higher than the risk of prostate cancer.

The knee and hip joints are the two joints you hear about most in connection with osteoarthritic pain and joint replacement. Treatments are available that ease the pain of OA, including cortisone injections. But recent research has revealed that these injections are more dangerous than we’ve been led to believe…

In 2018 alone, 9.5 million deaths worldwide were due to cancer. When you combine those facts with an ever-growing list of lifestyle habits that can increase your risk of the disease, is it any wonder that worrying if you’re next can keep you up at night? Put your mind at ease by learning more about actual risk.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a mystery. Doctors don’t know what causes it. And that’s frustrating, especially when you suffer chronic stomach cramping, diarrhea, gas and other uncomfortable symptoms. But it turns out those chronic symptoms may be tied to something that happened to you years ago…

At least 40 percent of Americans suffer from a preventable condition that significantly shortens their healthspan. Not only does this condition cause hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, but it damages the body on a cellular level — the kind of damage that mimics changes that normally come with getting old…

When your liver’s overloaded with calories, fats and sugars from foods, it stores that excess caloric energy in the form of fat. This condition is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. That’s a problem because a fatty liver creates a welcoming environment for the most common form of liver cancer…

Coffee is an incredible brain booster. That’s why we hit it first thing in the morning. Plus, it has amazing benefits, like lower risk of Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes and liver disease. But if coffee isn’t your thing, there’s another way to make your mind sharp, productive and limitless at the start of the day…

A recent Nielsen survey shows 23 percent of American households were considering purchasing a meal kit within the next six months. Can these meal kits be part of a heart-healthy diet? The answer is possibly… But there are some do’s and don’ts to keep you and your wallet healthier…

You’ve heard the saying, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away,” right? Based on a new study published in the journal Menopause, it’s entirely possible that an apple a day helps keep menopause symptoms away. And it’s not just apples, either. These foods can worsen or relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause…

High-intensity interval training can carry big benefits, from fat loss and revving up your metabolism to better heart health. The idea is to exercise in short bursts and rest in between. When you’re exercising, you’re doing it to the max and the breaks give you time to recover. But doing this one is a waste of energy…

Cooking oil overwhelm is REAL. There’s so much conflicting information about which oils are healthy… and which aren’t. Which ones have low smoke points — and which don’t (and what the heck is that anyway?). Here are five great ones to keep in your kitchen and all the answers to your questions about cooking with them…

In a clinical review of published research, evidence indicated that shift-workers are at a significantly higher risk for developing metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that increases a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. If you can’t quit your job, can you shift your risk? Certainly…

Here’s my motto when it comes to brain aging: the slower, the better. Because, as your brain ages, your memory slips, your cognitive abilities decline, and you lose your independence. Who wants that? So when I found out how much faster even a small sip of alcohol daily makes your brain age, it made me think…

Low back pain is sadly all too common, something I saw first-hand in my chiropractic practice. If you haven’t experienced it yet, you may be surprised to learn that about 80 percent of adults in the United States will experience lower back pain at some point. So don’t wait to arm yourself with safe and effective ways to treat it…

How much time do you spend driving? If you’re like most Americans, quite a bit. Maybe you love being behind the wheel. Or maybe, like me, driving is far from your favorite activity. Either way, there’s something you need to be aware of: The amount of time you spend in your car could be increasing your cancer risk.

There’s a pervasive myth out there that healthy foods are prohibitively expensive. I’m here to tell you that the opposite is true — at least, it can be true! Most people can actually save money by eating better. If you resolved to improve your eating habits, but don’t want to break the bank, here are my tips on how to do it…

Less sunlight during the winter can lead to the blues, but you may not know it can result in something far worse… excess body fat, high blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure that skyrockets your risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Time to shed light on avoiding metabolic syndrome…

Every decade or so, the wireless industry introduces a new “generation” of powerful cell phone technology. With each generation, wireless capabilities grow — but do the health risks, as well? A 13-country study classified radiation from cell phones as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” What can we expect from 5G?

If you’ve never taken statins, you might be thinking, what’s the big deal about a little muscle pain? But if you’ve experienced it, you know statin-related muscle pain can get pretty serious… But the bigger question here is why the heck are statin drugs so hard on your muscles? Researchers may have finally figured out an answer…

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are on the rise. And both of these conditions are risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition forecast to affect millions. We’re facing more fat in our diets and our hard-working livers pay the price. But a simple drink can send that fat running faster than exercise…

The New Year has come and gone and by now most of our resolutions, including those to lose weight, have done the same. But, even if you’re still watching what you eat, exercising, and doing everything that’s supposed to work, the numbers on your scale just keep going up. So, what’s with that?

Depending on who you talk to, glucosamine is either the must-have supplement for arthritis… or a potentially dangerous supplement that barely works. So, what’s the deal? Should you keep (or start) taking it for your arthritis? Here’s what you need to know about how glucosamine impacts your joints and your health…

Spring break is just around the corner and if you’re thinking of flying, here’s some sobering news: 1 in 5 people who travel on planes will suffer from a cold or flu after the flight. That’s because they are in an enclosed area where some germs can remain for up to seven days. You think those cruise ships had it bad? Think again…

Being jolted awake by an alarm when your body isn’t ready to get up stinks. But for most of us, it’s an inescapable fact of life. But what if there was a way to make your morning alarm experience less miserable? And it could help you wake up far more chipper next time your alarm goes off? Alright, here’s how…

Like many people, I’ve always had a problem getting enough sleep, but refuse to resort to pills and prescriptions. Does that sound like you? If you’re ready to ditch the tossing and turning and grab more shut-eye, we’ve put together a list of the best sleep products we think you can find…

Exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do. It lowers the risk of numerous conditions from heart disease and high blood pressure to diabetes and even cancer. But did you know you can turn the dial on exercise intensity to affect specific aspects of brain health?

When you think of good health, heart disease protection, and longevity, fermented foods may not be the first to come to your mind. But the long-lived Japanese can affirm: They’re valuable tools against diseases — especially one that kills 37 Americans every second…

The link between bacteria in your body (your personal microbiome) and diseases like cancer is stronger than ever. Prebiotics and these bacteria have a special relationship. So it’s not all that surprising that researchers found two prebiotics decrease the risk of melanoma…

As much as we’re learning about the long-term effects of concussion, recovery is still challenging. Considering consequences like concentration and memory problems, it’s an important issue to address. Especially for seniors who can surprisingly experience a concussion during a fall even without hitting their head…

Peripheral artery disease is a condition in which your arteries are narrowed and can’t carry enough blood to the parts of your body furthest from your heart, like your arms and legs. It increases heart attack and stroke risk, too. Its early signs can be surprising, but perhaps not so much as the spice that can help…

Can you really die of a broken heart? Previous studies leave little doubt. In fact, a person’s risk of having a heart attack increased 21 times over in the day immediately following the death of a loved one, and six times in the following week. It’s serious enough that doctors are looking at how to prevent a ‘grief heart attack’…