Latest Stories

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…

There’s no reason to let your manhood be stolen out from under you, Let’s take a look at the most common dietary sources of fake estrogen men encounter in their everyday lives — and what to do about them…

Conditions like dementia are influenced by certain aspects of heart health, like high blood pressure and stroke. But the connection is even more inextricably linked: If your heart health is poor, your brain is aging prematurely…

Probiotics may be the perfect pill to melt fat, fight disease and keep a body young. They heal gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. But their benefits extend far…

Calcium is an essential nutrient and many people, particularly women,supplement it to ward off osteoporosis. But calcium appears to contribute to the formation of arterial plaque and other factors that lead to heart disease. So here’s what you need to know…

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.

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…

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…

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…

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?

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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?

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…

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…

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…

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…

With the season’s falling temperatures comes an increased risk for upper respiratory infections… If you find yourself coughing, sneezing or wheezing anytime soon and your doctor places an antibiotic prescription in your hands, make sure you’re not trading an infection for a heart problem…

It’s no exaggeration to say that Vitamin B12 is crucial to life. B12 helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. It also creates and regulates DNA. B12 is essential for proper nerve function. So a deficiency can leave you wide open for serious problems. Here’s how to avoid them…

Before the widespread use of modern-day antibiotics in the 1960s, honey was used around the world as a wound dressing. It’s antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties made it the perfect substance for treating wounds and skin infections.

As winter comes on, there’s good news for those of us who enjoy the occasional glass of wine, or even a nightly drink before dinner. Apparently, wine contains powerful antibacterial agents that could keep you clear of a sore throat and maybe even improve the results of your next dental visit…

We all know that if we want to lose weight, slim down, and tone up, we have to do two things – watch what we eat and exercise. Yet too often, even when we stick to those two principles, it can be difficult to truly see much difference in a short amount of time.

Electronics are so ingrained in our day-to-day, it’s hard to imagine life without them. But people who remember a pre-digital world, often wonder if being so plugged-in is harmful. A new study shows that the blue light from electronics may damage brain cells. But that’s not all… it could make you age faster too…

Dairy marketing has long convinced many of us that drinking a lot of milk is the express lane to strong bones. We’ve told that “milk does a body good.” Turns out, that may not only be false, but a downright dangerous statement that’s luring thousands of men to their early deaths.

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat, a fat long considered to be unhealthy. Yet coconut oil has been credited with a wide range of health benefits. What’s wrong with that picture? Here are 12 ways the research shows coconut oil can impact your health and wellness….

Since the early research on the French paradox, a lot of naysayers have come out of the woodwork to cast doubt on its validity. And they’re partly right: There was a glitch in the research concerning the correlations with red wine. But dismissing the French paradox completely would be a big mistake…

Millions of Americans are so affected by health disorders that are so stigmatizing, they’re too afraid to get help. Many feel alone in their experience, so they don’t seek the treatments they need. Here are a few of the most commonly stigmatized health issues and tips on how to get help…

There are two things they say are 100 percent certain in life… death and taxes. And according to the CDC, in the U.S. you’re most likely to die from either heart disease or cancer. I can’t help you with your taxes, but there’s a way to measure your heart disease and cancer risk at home and do something about it…

Being sick or in the hospital is hard enough, without having to figure out the bills that soon follow. Are you being overcharged? Did the doctor or hospital submit the charge to your insurance company? Is the insurance company paying what it should? Having someone in your corner makes a big difference.

Ahhh… childhood… Cartoons. Games. Candy. Sugary cereals. It was a blast, wasn’t it? Well, that was then, and this is now: All of that stuff is still weighing down your (and my) health today. In fact, our childhood diets play a bigger role in our major health issues as adults than most of us ever realized…

Using your purse as a back-up plan, a place to throw things “just in case” they’re needed during the day, is a recipe for muscle and nerve damage. You’ve probably not thought about what that sort of load is doing to your body. Here are 8+ pains that it causes and how to avoid them…

Fast medicine is impersonal and cold. Patients are now just bits of standardized data. But the biggest casualty of fast medicine is the forgotten concept that if we remove the obstacles, the body can heal itself. That’s called slow medicine. Together, both ways of healing could optimize your health…

The human body has a complex network of thousands or millions of clocks all over the body, all doing their own thing and all of which have to talk to each other and synchronize with each other. When that happens, health is good. A way to make all this work for you is called chrononutrition… and it’s easier than you’d think…

You may have already hatched a plan to protect your memory as much as you can in these critical years. Mediterranean diet? Check. Daily power walks? Check. Sudoku book on your nightstand? Check. But there’s another factor influencing your memory, one you probably don’t realize you need to protect yourself against…

There’s a lot of research claiming to prove the health benefits of coffee. Some of those health claims have a good deal of solid research behind them, while others warrant further investigation. But after more than 20 years of research into coffee, there is one thing we know for sure that can keep you drinking, worry-free…

We all know that being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of developing numerous diseases. But did you know your weight and your risk of cancer are inextricably linked? Not only that, but over 40 you’re at higher risk for certain cancers. The secret’s in your BMI. Here’s how to check your risk and lower it…

Plants make potent medicine. Our ancient ancestors knew it. And modern scientists know it (why do you think most medications have their roots in plants?). Still, many folk remedies get written off as hogwash. That’s why it’s especially exciting when research can pinpoint the mechanism behind a plant’s medicinal power…

Despite what many people think, an overactive bladder is not a natural or inevitable part of aging. It is a diagnosable condition that, while more likely with age, can occur at any age. If an overactive bladder is affecting your quality of life, check out your options — from botox to bladder training and more…

Metformin is a drug for treating diabetes. Like rapamycin that I wrote about last week, metformin has humble beginnings. It is derived from a kind of French lilac, reputedly used to treat diabetes-like conditions in medieval Europe.

Alzheimer’s disease has no cure at this point. Does that mean you should sit back and only hope it doesn’t happen to you? That’s a big fat NO. There’s enough research on how to avoid the mind robber, starting with foods you should eat, those you shouldn’t and other helpful tips to live dementia-free…

A hip fracture is especially serious as you get older. It can mean a loss of mobility and even loss of life. People over 50 who fracture a hip have a much higher risk of death within ten years of their injury. Unfortunately, one certain B supplement can be problematic, especially for women…

You’ve probably heard the warnings before: take care of your oral health or you could end up with heart problems. New research shows the harm to your heart may actually be measured by the number of teeth you have. Even if you only lose a few, your odds for heart trouble increase…

Do you have a cabinet full of multi-vitamins and other supplements in your kitchen? If you’re like many of us, the answer is YES. And, if you’re like many people, you haven’t paid too much attention to the expiration dates on those bottles. Here’s why you should — and why you shouldn’t keep them in the kitchen…

You expect a lot from your brain… afterall you’re constantly connected, so it’s easy — and hard — to do everything at once. As we age, it doesn’t get any easier. In fact, you may eventually find it difficult to keep up with it all. But there is a way to master multitasking well into your 70s and 80s…

Eating too much sugar causes weight gain and increases risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. But before I get all worked up about sugar, it’s worth noting that not all sugar is created equal. One type of sugar sets you up for dangerous health conditions… and another type helps protect you…

Have you jumped on the gluten-free bandwagon yet? It seems everywhere you turn these days, people, including some big-name celebrities, are going gluten-free, claiming it’s helped them with weight loss, energy and their health in general. But there are a few things you should be aware of before jumping on board.

More than 400 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes, and the rate at which people are developing this disease is accelerating. The surging rates of diabetes and obesity in the last 50 years strongly link environmental and dietary factors. But one of the culprits may be a common food additive…