Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

Milk thistle: Liver support for better cholesterol, blood sugar and weight

For centuries, milk thistle has been used as a natural, herbal remedy to help support the liver, your body’s main detoxifying organ that protects you from pesticides and other environmental toxins. But if you thought that was all it could do, think again. There’s research that your blood sugar, cholesterol and weight could benefit, too.

Joyce Hollman

The liver disease that stalks night owls

Being a night owl may be your thing. After all, a nap or two the next day and you feel good as new, right? While that may be, something sinister may be undermining your health. Find out why this liver disease goes after people like you…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Fiber helps flush neurotoxin linked to Alzheimer’s

The gut-brain axis is a biochemical signaling pathway between your gut and central nervous system. But if your gut’s off, it becomes a fast track for a brain cell-destroying neurotoxin to travel straight to your brain to start a killing spree. Enough fiber can stop it…

Carolyn Gretton

The herb that goes after a ‘root cause’ of diabetes

An unhealthy gut microbiome can lead to all kinds of problems, including metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes. A recent study reinforced this connection while investigating the potential of an adaptogenic herb to improve insulin resistance…

Carolyn Gretton

Evidence for this depression-fighting vitamin stacks up

There’s more than one reason it’s referred to as the “sunshine vitamin.” Not only is its main source sunlight, but studies hint a little sunshine can lighten our darkest moods. And a recent meta-analysis of 41 studies has reinforced what many experts already know about this mood-boosting vitamin…

Jedha Dening

A cancer-killing tea you’ve never heard of

Around the world, herbal remedies are used to treat a wide range of ailments and diseases, even cancer. That’s because many of them, especially taken as tea, contain natural compounds with serious health benefits. And this one may steal the show…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

One thing that trumps a genetic predisposition for longevity

So, you think you’ve won the genetic lottery because your grandparents are long-lived. After all, if a medical family history of disease spells disaster, the opposite must be all roses and rainbows. Or is your genetic predisposition outweighed by the choices you make every day?

Joyce Hollman

Over 60? What milk can do for your brain power

For older adults, cognitive decline and dementia loom large. You can support your brain by giving it needed antioxidants. But it turns out that adding some milk to your diet provides the building blocks for the “mother of all antioxidants”…

Carolyn Gretton

Common symptoms of 6 cardiovascular diseases

When you hear the words “cardiovascular disease” (CVD), the first thing that comes to your mind is probably chest pain. But the symptoms are just as varied as the different diseases that fall under the CVD umbrella. Here are 6 you need to know…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

COVID’s blood clot risk persists in long-COVID syndrome

If you’ve had COVID-19, you thought you were out of the woods once your PCR test came back negative. Enter long COVID syndrome and symptoms from shortness of breath and fatigue to brain fog and even sexual dysfunction, and yes, that blood clot risk that persists…

Joyce Hollman

Red meat’s effects on the heart may have little to do with cholesterol

If your doctor isn’t harping on you to cut down on red meat, everyone else is. Because the age-old wisdom” says cholesterol clogs your arteries and causes heart disease. Well, red meat is a problem, but the culprit that makes it harmful to your heart resides in your gut…

Carolyn Gretton

A ‘food compass’ for healthy eating made easy

Healthy eating is overwhelming, what with trying to avoid salt, sugar and fats while trying to balance the right nutrients. What if a compass could guide you, especially one that found your favorite chips are not that bad in the big scheme of things?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why thinking hard makes you so tired

Hard physical work can leave you exhausted. That’s because physical activity causes a buildup of a toxic muscular sludge known as lactic acid, that contributes to muscle fatigue. Surprisingly, thinking hard can affect your brain the same way…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Can you really tame tinnitus in just 12 weeks?

For decades, experts have been trying to find an effective treatment for tinnitus, that infernal condition where sufferers hear phantom ringing, buzzing and even clicking. Much of it has been hit or miss. But the latest may offer relief in as little as 12 weeks…

Joyce Hollman

Low vitamin D linked to chronic disease biomarker

For years, research has backed vitamin D’s powerful effects on inflammation, but now researchers have uncovered a direct connection between low levels of the vitamin and a key biomarker known for signaling high disease risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two minerals that could help prevent kidney stones

Kidney stones are excruciating. One second you’re fine, the next a stone trying to pass through the tiny channel of the ureter can drop you to your knees. If you’ve had one, you’ve got a 30 percent chance of another one within the next five years. Decrease that risk with two important nutrients…

Joyce Hollman

10 superfoods for seriously healthy smoothies

What’s not to love about smoothies? Quick, convenient, delicious — and when done right, bursting with nutrition. Here’s a list of ten superfood choices and their little-known benefits for enlarged prostate, ED, cholesterol and more…

Joyce Hollman

How acupuncture may prevent a diabetes diagnosis

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, yet. Lifestyle interventions can change that course, and additional support has been found in a surprising practice…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How your microbiome affects your athletic performance

What’s bacteria got to do with fitness? A lot. In fact, taking probiotics before working out could be the secret to increased muscle growth. And now there’s proof problems with your gut microbiome can knock you off your game affecting performance too…

Carolyn Gretton

Stroke danger: Why plaque thins and breaks off

Strokes can happen in an instant. And the mechanisms that lead to some strokes and most heart attacks involve ruptured arterial plaque. But until recently, researchers haven’t been able to determine exactly why that happens…

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘other’ B vitamin that beats depression and stress

You may have read the serotonin connection to depression is under fire. And herbal options can leave you a little too relaxed. Just in time, the benefits of another B vitamin have been confirmed for both depression and anxiety…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Wine or beer: which is safer for your heart?

AFib is a condition that causes heart palpatations and carries a higher risk of stroke or heart failure. If you have AFib, drinking alcohol is a big no-no. And drinking too much can cause the condition to develop. But if becoming a teetotaler is not on your bucket list, research says all alcohol is not created equally.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How a fatty liver can exponentially raise dementia risk

Fatty liver affects 1 in 4. The inflammation and damage may eventually lead to cirrhosis or worse. But if you’re one of 30 million with another common condition plus fatty liver, your risk for dementia skyrockets to insane levels. Trim your liver and your risks today…

Joyce Hollman

3 keys to better aging: Mitochondria, energy and muscle

Skeletal muscle constitutes 40 percent of your body and a world of metabolic activity. Research shows just how important it is to maintain those muscle cells, and igniting a process that leads to energy, endurance and longevity could help make that happen…

Joyce Hollman

Dizziness upon standing? How to stop it and why it happens

Orthostatic hypotension literally means “low blood pressure caused by an upright posture.” For some people, it can be an unpleasant experience, even without any underlying causes. It can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. Here’s how to cut down on episodes…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Having a cat could protect you against a staph infection

Bacteriotherapy is a cutting-edge approach to fighing MRSP, or methicillin-resistant staph. And a strain of bacteria has been identified that’s especially good at inhibiting it. You could say it’s a cat’s superpower…

Carolyn Gretton

Ultra-processed foods: The more you eat, the higher your dementia risk

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, and they’re not doing you any favors, except making it easy to develop insulin resistance, obesity, inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease — oh and did we mention the strong link to dementia?

Carolyn Gretton

Loss of libido and hair loss join long COVID symptoms

From purple toes to loss of smell, long COVID’s associated with strange symptoms. Now they’re finding that list is way longer than thought, and going after your libido and your hair. A connection to this gland may be why…

Carolyn Gretton

The truth about exercise and dying early

Exercise has been established as a clear path to a longer life. But there’s been some debate about whether more is better or worse. Now we finally know just how much we need to avoid dying early, especially from a heart condition…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diet that boosts men’s happiness hormone

Close to one in three men will experience depression in their lifetime. That not only affects mental health but also increases chronic disease risk. And men are less likely to seek help. But what’s that saying about the way to a man’s heart? It may be key to happiness too…

Jenny Smiechowski

Eat chili peppers to cut your stroke risk in half, even on a bad diet

Chili peppers not only have a powerful effect on your taste buds, but they also have a powerful effect on your cardiovascular system. In fact, research shows chili peppers can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. But the hot heart-healthy benefits don’t stop there…

Margaret Cantwell

Compassion meditation: How to slow aging and stress less

It feels like there’s not enough compassion in the world nowadays… People, whether family or strangers, are more likely to jump to judgment than kindness. But there is one big benefit of cultivating compassion… one that would inspire even the most selfish among us to give it a try…

Joyce Hollman

10 purple foods that fight cancer, stroke

In the world of fruits and vegetables, the color purple signifies something special. Any time you’ve got a purple or dark blue fruit or vegetable on the menu, you’re consuming a healthy dose of a special antioxidant-rich plant pigment known as anthocyanin.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The kind of coffee that can lower diabetes by 60 percent

You may have heard that coffee reduces blood sugar problems. In fact, numerous scientific studies have linked higher coffee intake to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Now, thanks to a cutting-edge technique, the one type of coffee that can truly give you that diabetes protection has been identified…

Jenny Smiechowski

The not-so-beautiful side effect of beauty supplements

Lots of factors affect the health of your hair, skin and nails… Thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, medication, aging. But no matter what’s behind your issues, the result is the same: slipping self-confidence. A lot of people turn to beauty supplements. But one could affect the lab work at your next checkup…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The natural compound that could ward off dementia (and how a high salt diet destroys it)

For decades doctors have preached to us about reducing the amount of salt in our diets to achieve better blood pressure numbers to keep our hearts healthier… Well, according to a new study, there’s another reason to watch your salt intake. And, this time it’s about your brain, instead of your heart…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to keep chemo from giving you heart disease

Chemo leaves you exhausted, nauseous, confused and unable to focus (chemo brain), and even worse — at risk for other health problems, including heart disease. That’s why, when diagnosed with cancer, there’s one healthy habit your doctor will advise you to continue, and research shows the sooner the better…

Jenny Smiechowski

Is yoga as good for your brain as aerobic exercise?

Countless studies show aerobic exercise has a near-miraculous effect on brain aging. In fact, a 2016 study found it not only prevents age-related brain shrinkage and cognitive decline… it also reverses it. But, could yoga alone provide the same brain benefits that a run or a heart-pumping bootcamp class could?

Jenny Smiechowski

This parasitic worm may be our best hope against drug-resistant superbugs

Rroughly 700,000 people die per year from diseases that don’t respond to antibiotics worldwide. What can we do about it? Find alternatives for the antibiotics we’ve used over and over again for decades. And researchers from Northeastern University have just done exactly that…

Joyce Hollman

If you have this health problem, your flu shot may not work

About two-thirds of the U.S. population is overweight or obese. If you find yourself among that two-thirds, there’s something else you should know. If you get a flu shot, it will probably be less than effective. Here’s why and extra precautions you should take…

Joyce Hollman

6 housing options for aging loved ones that need more care

If you have a senior in life that needs special care, the options may seem overwhelming. Which type of care is best and most appropriate to my senior spouse or parent’s needs? How do I even begin to choose? If you’re facing this decision, or feel you will be soon, here are six possible options…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The natural ‘antibiotic’ that could fend off strep throat

Antibiotic resistance has been labeled an epidemic and according to the CDC, “More than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the U.S. each year.” Well, it’s possible that if more of us turned to this natural antibiotic powerhouse, that we could avoid a personal assault from these superbugs…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Time to realize there is help for female sexual dysfunction

For some reason, subjects like erectile dysfunction in men get a lot of attention, but when it comes to sexual problems that women face, everyone is a little hushed. No reason to be. So, let’s talk frankly about this important subject, starting with the many things that can contribute to it…

Jenny Smiechowski

Are these common viruses behind the worst brain diseases?

When we hear the word “herpes,” most people think of cold sores or STDs. But Chickenpox, Mononucleosis and Roseola are all caused by a herpesvirus. The list goes on. And now there’s mounting evidence that long after herpesvirus symptoms pass, they increase the risk for major neurological diseases…

Jenny Smiechowski

The invisible factor fueling glaucoma

As we age, our eyes are vulnerable to disease — macular degeneration, cataracts and glaucoma. If you have a genetic tendency toward age-related eye diseases, then you’re really at risk. But beyond obvious risk factors for eye diseases, there’s an invisible factor endangering your vision…

Joyce Hollman

Rewire your brain to eat less sugar and save your memory

Daily sugar consumption has been shown to reduce the formation of new neurons in the hippocampus, a process known as neurogenesis. It also increases the presence of cytokines, proteins that cause inflammation. Even though we’re wired to want sweets, it’s possible to rewire your brain to turn them away…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The new twist on the Mediterranean diet (Hint: Meat is back!)

The Mediterranean diet is known as one of the healthiest to follow if you want to avoid a plethora of diseases including Alzheimer’s and diabetes. The focus is on olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains and fish. Would you be excited to know there’s now a meatier version?

Joyce Hollman

Don’t let psoriasis destroy your arteries

It might seem strange to think that psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes skin inflammation, redness and scaling, could also lead to coronary heart disease. After all, it’s external. There’s no such thing as “psoriasis of the heart,” right? A dangerous myth about psoriasis is that it’s only skin deep…

Jenny Smiechowski

How even a quick trip to a heavily polluted city affects your heart

Pick almost any chronic disease around, and I can find you scientific evidence that air pollution increases the risk of it… Diabetes. Alzheimer’s. Heart disease. Breast cancer. It plays a part in them all. It turns out you don’t even have to live somewhere highly polluted to damage your health. A short visit will do…

Jenny Smiechowski

The super fun (and fluffy) secret to being less lonely in 3 months

You have tons of friends on Facebook. You get lots of emails every day. You’re active in online forums and support groups. But somehow, you’re still lonely. What gives? No matter what’s holding you back from tackling your loneliness head on, don’t worry. I know a simple way you can feel far less lonely…

Joyce Hollman

Why friendship is as important as diet and exercise

On the Japanese island of Okinawa, it’s quite common for people to live to be 100 or more. Okinawa is a Blue Zone — a place known for longevity where science has identified the reasons. And Okinawans know that, besides diet, friendship is the thing that will make for a long, healthy life…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The lifesaving truth about exercise after 60, heart disease and stroke

By 2050, two billion people worldwide will be over the age of 60. That’s a lot of people who will be at risk for potentially deadly health conditions — including heart disease and stroke. How can you grab the highest levels of protection once you pass the 60 mark? 1.1 million people prove it’s this way…

Dr. Michael Cutler

What to expect during a dermal filler procedure

Inevitably, with age, comes a loss of fullness and support in the face. Certain areas may appear to sag while others may look hollow. Dermal fillers can help “replace” that loss to help cheekbones look high and sculpted as well as make other face and even body shape changes that can be quite profound. 

Joyce Hollman

Surprising ways science says music can be medicine

When a school of medicine as prestigious as the one at Johns Hopkins University puts dollars into researching something, you know it’s got real possibilities. Take music — now being used as a way to treat neurological conditions and other diseases, as an alternative to medications, and there’s evidence it works…

Jenny Smiechowski

The diet that could eventually replace insulin

Synthetic insulin is one of the most impactful and amazing discoveries of the 20th century. Since it was discovered in 1921, it’s saved countless lives. But there’s no denying that insulin comes with some downsides…

Jenny Smiechowski

A lot more EVOO means a lot less dementia-causing brain protein

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the oil aisle unable to decide what bottle to purchase? Should you go with classic — but controversial — canola? Hip hempseed? Antioxidant-rich avocado? I’d stick with an old standby — olive oil, for all these reasons and more…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The simple practice that lowered blood pressure by 15 points

When you’re trying to lower your high blood pressure, every little bit helps. Especially if you’re among half of those diagnosed who can’t get it under control, even with medicaiton. A surprising natural method tested at Brown University helped lower blood pressure by an average of 15 points,

Joyce Hollman

How to drink away obesity, diabetes and heart disease

Harvard researcher showed it lowers Parkinson’s risk. Other research says it’s protective against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. And still more says it could help prevent liver cancer. So when the latest report showed it could help beat obesity, diabetes and heart disease, no one had to twist my arm to drink up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Worried about your brain? Pamper your heart

To keep an optimally functioning brain, many of us take supplements, play memory games, do crossword puzzles, and in general spend a lot of time concentrating on the organ between our ears. But taking care of your brain actually starts with caring for a completely different organ…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Grass-fed, Impossible or corn-fed: Which burger is the healthiest?

Which is the healthiest choice: An Impossible Burger (plant-based), a grass-fed beef burger, or a traditional corn-fed beef burger? These three “meat” categories may appear distinct, thanks to good marketing and environmental activism… but as a cardiologist, my answer might surprise you…

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