Latest Stories

Not getting good sleep can tear down your health. You can try sleeping pills. But they can be addictive and carry additional risks. Instead, you might opt for something completely natural that comes with the kind of side effects you’ll actually appreciate — maybe even dream about…

Fermented foods are all the rage nowadays because they contain probiotics that support gut health. But despite the enthusiasm for everything from yogurt to sauerkraut to kombucha, there’s one fermented food that doesn’t get much love — buttermilk. As a result, we’re missing out on some serious benefits…

It’s no secret blood sugar problems can complicate your health. In fact, it’s been long known that diabetes and heart trouble go hand-in-hand. And according to researchers at the American Heart Association, every diabetic should be on the lookout for one thing that could double their risk for heart trouble — what your blood pressure does at night.

Emotional pain can cause chronic pain and chronic pain can cause emotional pain. It’s a bidirectional relationship that’s made worse when opioids enter the mix. So, while taking these painkillers can make you feel better early on, over time, they only make your problems worse.

We don’t often think about young adults as being at high risk from a COVID infection. But research looking at the impact of even mild infections among them points to a potentially risky constellation of health issues they need to watch out for in the coming years…

Diabetes can lead to complications, especially infections. In fact, diabetics are 10 times more likely to suffer urinary tract infections. And yes blood sugar is to blame for its impact on the innate immune system…

The effect of cannabinoids, when compounded with the effects of certain other drugs, can create some dangerous symptoms. Here’s what you need to know about possible interactions before you start to use CBD.

Multivitamins are an easy way to supplement a diet that’s not always perfectly balanced, even though skeptics will tell you they only produce expensive urine. But their impact on cognitive decline in those most at risk is nothing to flush down the toilet…

Anyone who’s ever tried to lose weight is familiar with those pink, blue and yellow packets, and has probably had quite a few diet sodas in their lifetime. But not only do they work counter to that goal, those fake sweeteners carry very real dangers…

Have you heard of chemopreventive agents? They can be synthetic (like pharmaceuticals) or natural compounds, like those found in foods. They help fight cancer by putting a big kink in cancer’s molecular pathway. Here are the strongest contenders to put to work…

Whether you’re a weekend warrior, an athlete or work out for your wellness, improving the diversity of your microbiome could improve your motivation and your endurance. Especially if you’ve taken medication found to steal your fuel…

People living with mild cognitive impairment, where their memory has “slipped” but doesn’t significantly interfere with daily life yet, have ten times the risk for Alzheimer’s. But experiencing symptoms of MCI doesn’t mean dementia is inevitable. Especially if you have 20 minutes a week to spare…

Lifting weights is one of the best ways to avoid frailty, slim a fatty heart and reduce diabetes and stroke risk. But how much and how often do you have to lift to build muscle? If I told you how little it takes, I’m not sure you’d believe me. So here’s the proof…

When trying to lose weight, there’s an old saying that goes something like this: breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine like a pauper. But do morning calories really equate to weight loss?

It’s no secret that blood sugar problems can lead to complications. And two of the most likely areas where secondary issues occur are the eyes and kidneys. A 36-year study offers advice on the optimal HbA1c level to avoid that damage…

Parkinson’s disease slowly steals a person’s physical and mental abilities. But research indicates a substance produced naturally by the body can be used to control the debilitating symptoms. And it’s a therapy that involves a hormone that’s simple to boost…

Previous studies have shown that a handful of this particular nut can make a difference for heart and metabolic health. Now data gathered over 30 years has reinforced not only these health benefits — but opened an unparalleled window into healthy aging…

It’s a no-brainer that eating anything that barely resembles real food and bears a list of unpronounceable ingredients could be remotely healthy. That’s why these foods contribute to dementia, weight gain and colon cancer. But why is the cancer risk so much higher for men?

Alzheimer’s disease therapies leave a lot to be desired. But researchers are learning more about the mechanisms behind the disease and may have found a link to a whole new avenue of treatment… delivering antibody-based therapies across the blood-brain barrier.

Over and over, the research tells us that to live longer, shoot for 10,000 steps a day. Getting more daily steps has been linked to a healthier brain, heart and independence. But truth be told, you can walk less and get benefits over and above your total daily steps with this simple trick…

Brand new research says higher consumption of dietary cholesterol — specifically eggs — was significantly associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease. So, after years of conflicting information, do we have the definitive answer to whether it’s safe to eat eggs? See what a cardiologist says…

You’ll probably never see elderberries in the fruit section of your grocery store, but these berries have been used for centuries to boost immunity and fight off viruses, like flu and the common cold. But have you wondered if they stand up to their reputation? Here’s what the science says…

There are a lot of potential risk factors for breast cancer, and researchers are discovering more every year. In fact, they’ve uncovered one that could be linked to medication commonly prescribed for certain psychiatric conditions. Here’s what they know so far…

Ever feel like your body fell apart at a certain age? Seems unfair how some conditions seem to team up to take your health down. One such surprising tag team is high blood pressure and low bone density. Well, I know a vitamin whose tag team game is powerful enough to wrangle them both…

There’s enough convincing research to discourage anyone from being a “couch potato.” But when it comes to dementia and sedentary behavior, there’s a caveat: Your choice of activity while you sit can make all the difference, even if you run marathons all day.

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of health issues (high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar) that elevate your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Some even refer to it as the “stroke syndrome.” By any name, you want to avoid it…

Exercise is good for the heart. We hear it so often, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who disagrees. But it might not be so cut and dry… There’s another healthy activity that, if you’re not getting enough of, turns exercise into a setup for heart attack.

As we get older, we expect that certain things just won’t work as well as they used to. We don’t move quite as fast and some activities may seem physically harder. However, if you have trouble getting off the sofa or opening a jar, it’s time for a serious assessment to turn things around — if you don’t want to end up in an early grave.

Manuka honey is the unsung hero of the world of natural remedies. And now it’s one-half of a new treatment to help attack lung infections that otherwise could be lethal. What’s more, it means fewer antibiotics and side effects, too…

One of the reasons glaucoma leads to vision loss is that it usually isn’t caught until the damage is done. Researchers hope to change that. After looking at every risk-raising factor, they’ve identified two that when they start early are a clear sign your eyes need help fast…

Fall and winter are seasons of serious indulgence, starting with the holidays… They’re also seasons of serious cold and flu viruses that run rampant this time of year. I hate to break it to you, but what you eat affects your immunity a lot more than you think. In fact, this diet might keep you flu-free…

Every cardiologist in America (including me) had an eye on Philadelphia a couple of weeks ago, and it wasn’t for the Eagles-Patriots game. The results of a major study on the effectiveness of stents and bypass surgery were announced at the annual conference of the American Heart Association — and surgeons are stunned…

Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that’s caused when UV rays damage pigment cells in the skin called melanocytes. When melanocytes are damaged, they mutate and start growing rapidly. But the root of skin cancer may be hiding somewhere other than your skin cells — in your hair follicles.

Essential fatty acids found in fish oil have had their ups and downs in health news. First, they were praised for heart health, then dashed for prostate cancer potential, then dashed again on heart disease. But finally, it looks like more studies are coming out that vindicate omega-3s all around…

The evidence is clear: the amount of sleep you get each night is a predictor of your health and of your lifespan. Seven to eight hours is the number you should be shooting for. In fact, numerous studies have enlightened us about the dangers of too little (and too much) sleep. The latest threat? Old bones…

Step into any store, park, mall, or gym and you’ll see immediately that some people walk more slowly while others speed past. And, while you may think that how fast you walk is simply a matter of preference, a new 40 year study by researchers at Duke University says that you should think again.

A Belgian astronomer and mathematician developed this easy-to-calculate ratio between a person’s height and their weight. It’s become an accepted measuring stick for a person’s chances of living a long, healthy life, or of dying young. But BMI, or body mass index, is coming under a lot of fire…

It may surprise you to learn that heart disease is the leading cause of death for people with kidney disease. See, when your kidneys stop working, calcium builds up in your arteries. But a new study shows EDTA chelation could help clear calcium out and prevent many of these deaths…

There’s a wriggly uprising your probably haven’t heard about that at the very least will give you the heebie jeebies and at the worst could make you very ill. That’s because just two years after the first case of eye-invading parasites from cattle were found in humans, they’re back!

Almost everyone has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, from time to time. Medications we take, stress from the day and a racing mind that just won’t shut down, pain, or irregular sleep habits can be the cause.

The widespread and too often inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to an average of two million antibiotic-resistant infections in the U.S. each year — a number that’s predicted to continue to rise. And, according to a new study, some of the dangers could be lurking in your pet food dish. Here’s why…

There’s a nutrient that’s absolutely essential to keeping muscles strong and healthy. If you’re not getting enough of this, you could be headed down a dark road to chronic illness and a loss of independence. And I’m not just talking about your body, but your brain too. When muscles shrink, so does your brain…

You know what I like most about high-intensity interval training? It packs a serious punch in a short period of time. You can do a 20 to 30 minute session and feel like you got a good workout in for the day. But is the pain worth the gain? Will pushing yourself to the max pay off more in the end?

You might remember the first Pap smear you ever went through. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your health, though none of us look forward to it. Thing is… the Pap test can identify cervical cancer in the early stages — when it’s not too late to save your life. So don’t let age hold you back!

When you go for your yearly checkup, one of the boxes you’ll have to check on their forms is about whether you’re taking hormone therapy drugs. While it does come with some benefits, it’s been discovered that the risk it carries has been dramatically underrepresented…

Doctors prescribe statins to control cholesterol levels and protect the heart. Ironically, these very same statins could make it more likely that diabetes could develop, which weakens blood vessels, which can make you a target for heart disease. And round and round it goes…

If any disease desperately needs new treatment options, it’s Alzheimer’s. It’s been 17 years since a new drug was approved. And right now, the treatments available only offer minor symptoms relief. In the fight against this devastating and stubborn disease, hope is a very good thing, and it starts in your gut…

Here come the holidays… and the potential for weight gain. But if you go into the season with a game plan, you can still indulge without feeling deprived or being desperate to lose weight after the new year…

So many people love running. And there are a lot of solid reasons to. Runners get that release of feel-good brain chemicals known as a runner’s high. They can load up on carbs because they’re burning crazy amounts of calories. But there’s one more thing you may be missing out on if you’re not running…

Remember that there is no safe blood level of lead. It’s been tied to illnesses ranging from mystery military ailments to heart disease. Fortunately, it’s treatable. Chelation is a method of binding up metal molecules so it can be eliminated via the urine. There are also antioxidants that help get your health back…

It takes a lot of experimentation to get the right sleep program that puts you out at night — and most importantly, keeps you out! So, here are some alternative sleep therapies you may want to try.

Subjective age is the term used for that number you give when someone asks, “How old do you feel?” How do you answer? It matters because it’s that sort of thinking that can not only prevent physical disabilities and ailments but can even protect against future dementia and Alzheimer’s…

Research has shown that exercise helps keep dementia at bay. There’s a pretty logical connection here: Poor sleep is a known dementia risk factor. Physical activity promotes better and deeper sleep, for one thing. Of all the “exercise” you can partake in, some of the best for your brain involve no sweating at all…

More than 75 percent of Americans take vitamins. In the over 35 group, that number goes up to an impressive 81 percent. Yet, with all of the vitamins we’re taking, there’s one that many people don’t know about in spite of multiple clinical studies that have proven the necessity of the vitamin for fighting off age-related concerns.

For those of us who put the pounds on easily and can’t seem to get them off again, here’s some news: It appears some of us actually have an “obesity gene.” This may sound like very bad news, when in fact, it’s not as bad as it sounds. That’s because research found an exercise more powerful than your genes.

When you first start eating a healthy diet, you feel fantastic. You have more energy. Maybe you even resolve long-standing health issues. But despite the amazing benefits (or perhaps because of them), healthy eating can easily become an obsession. This obsession even has a name — and it’s considered an eating disorder.

Jim was a patient of mine years back. He had come to me for holistic advice on heart health. His doctors were recommending statins to control his cholesterol. When Jim came to see me later in the year, I was struck by his decline. That’s when we discussed easing him off drugs and starting a recovery program…

Vascular dementia is the second most common form of dementia after Alzheimer’s. Its causes and risk factors are different from AD, its symptoms show up differently, and it’s much more under our control. Symptoms of vascular dementia can vary. Here’s what to watch for and how to identify your risk…

Because obesity is a factor in so many health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer, it’s estimated that the extra weight Americans carry is responsible for one in five deaths. But a compound found in a certain green fruit could help not only kick obesity to the curb but diabetes with it!

I recently read about a U.S. Army veteran who went through years of misdiagnosis and was even accused of faking his health problems by the Army before finding chronic lead poisoning was making him so ill. I’d like to share his story with you and new findings about lead and heart disease…