Latest Stories

Isn’t aging grand? Not only do you have to worry about wrinkles, blood sugar problems, osteoporosis, hormones and a laundry list of other issues, but there’s a reason your immune system just doesn’t function like it used to either. That one’s easier to fix…

Lipitor is the biggest-selling drug in the history of the pharmaceutical industry, even though the evidence for using statins to lower heart attack and stroke is not as strong as once thought. But, if you’re a statin-taker, you know they do far more than just that…

For women, just getting older increases the risk of breast cancer. Being overweight takes it up a few notches. Those odds double down after 50 if you carry extra weight and the change steals your sleep. How can you upset the odds? Change when you eat…

Memory problems are often considered an unavoidable consequence of old age. “Senior moments” are an expected and even comical part of getting older. We create memes, books and birthday cards about them. But even though most of us can laugh about it, you don’t want it to happen to you…

Insomnia is commonly thought of as the inability to fall asleep. But if you find yourself sound asleep, only to wake up at 2 a.m. to stare at the ceiling for hours, you’re dealing with a phenomenon called “middle insomnia.” Here are five reasons it might be happening…

A purple cancer-fighting tomato is making headlines. Its beautiful hue is the result of antioxidant pigments naturally found in berries which exert powerful benefits by mopping up dangerous free radicals. But are GMO antioxidants any better than organic ones?

If you’re looking to lose weight, don’t fall into the low-fat trap. That’s not only difficult, but for men a low-fat diet can lead to low T and tank a healthy libido. Instead opt for this diet “fruit” with the good fat that make you feel full enough to push back from the table sooner…

Osteoarthritis is a pain in the butt, or more accurately, the knee, hip, hand, neck or back. The loss of cartilage in these areas leads to painful bone rubbing that can prevent you from doing all sorts of everyday activities. Unfortunately, doctors can’t help much, but there is a promising antioxidant that not only relieves the pain but could stop osteoarthritis from progressing…

Lutein and zeaxanthin are carotenoids known for supporting vision health. That’s why mom made sure you ate your carrots. But even mom didn’t know then that this duo’s protection could go far beyond, extending benefits from your brain to your bones and more.

There are a few classes of drugs you should be wary of… they can cloud your mind, reduce your abilities and they’re slow to leave your system. That increases risk of injury. What do you do if your doctor prescribes them? Try this…

The older you get, the higher your risk of developing osteoporosis. And taking a calcium supplement can help curb that risk. But, it turns out, taking a calcium supplement for healthy bones could put another crucial body part at risk…

Do certain sounds make your skin crawl? Do you anticipate with dread that one repetitive sound that you know could push you over the edge? Or do you hear constant noise that has no external source? You may be suffering from one of these conditions — and you’re not alone…

There’s no doubt that being overweight is bad for your heart, upping the odds as much as 60 percent. But some obese people have better cardiovascular health than people of healthy weight. Here’s what makes them heart-healthier than someone of normal weight…

Stress signals the body to produce the hormone cortisol at times when you need it, like to meet a deadline. But chronic, ongoing stressors that never allow your cortisol to ‘come down’ cause wear and tear on your body at a biological level. And that’s only good for cancer…

If you’ve been feeling like you’re slowing down lately or maybe you’ve been noticing a few new wrinkles and extra pounds around your middle, don’t write it off as a normal part of aging. There are natural ways to stay young, fit and energetic at any age.

No one plans to get sick enough from a viral or bacterial infection to be hospitalized. But now there’s all the more reason to plan to avoid that scenario. That’s because landing in the hospital for infection just a couple of times could greatly impact the health of your brain a few years later…

If you’ve been told your blood sugar isn’t so good, your doctor probably advised eating more plant-based foods, like whole grains, veggies, fruits and legumes while limiting consumption of most animal products. Good news: all animal-based foods are not equal in their effects on T2D.

We’d all love to keep the metabolism we had when we were kids. But aging makes that impossible. While our metabolism naturally slows with age, there’s lot we can do to help it run at peak efficiency, starting with our drinking habits…

Pumpkin seeds are nutrient powerhouses. Problem is, most people only eat them one day per year… the day they carve their Halloween pumpkins. But once you know the six big health benefits of these seeds, you won’t be able to keep your paws off them.

Did you leave the house without eating breakfast again? If so, you could be at risk for far more than just low blood sugar. In fact, according to a new study, skipping the most important meal of the day could leave you at increased risk of atherosclerosis…

Statins cause muscle pain, liver damage, digestive problems, memory loss and high blood sugar, among other side effects. Plus, they lower levels of the heart-protective antioxidant CoQ10 in your body. So why are hundreds of millions of Americans taking them when there’s a safe alternative?

Are there specific vitamins you should take to heal from and prevent cancer? Yes. There are two vitamins that have been proven time and time again to kill cancer cells and decrease your risk of a wide array of cancers, but this one…

Most experts advise against midnight snacking if you want to maintain a healthy weight, partly because it causes an unhealthy spike in blood sugar. But there are three additional factors affected by late-night eating, and you’ll definitely want to avoid the one that makes your body fat grow…

Research has discovered that changes in brain structure and function can occur years before dementia is diagnosed. They’ve also determined factors can put people at higher risk of developing dementia later in life. The metabolic link is one to pay attention to…

One diet has been shown to douse the fires of inflammation, prop up a failing immune system and enhance longevity. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s more good news: how it fights against dementia in four very powerful ways…

Of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States, including cancer, heart disease and diabetes, Alzheimer’s is the only disease where existing treatments don’t really help. But now, scientists are working on ways that nutrition can slow the cognitive decline and memory loss of Alzheimer’s. And lipids hold the key…

Studies show a plant-based gum can reduce the amount of cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth, lower plaque levels, reduce gum inflammation and neutralize mouth odor. That’s probably why chewing it has been a popular dental hygiene practice in Greece for centuries. But its medicinal benefits don’t stop in your mouth…

Feed a cold, starve a fever… But, is sitting at home eating chicken noodle soup all you can do to get over the common cold? Actually, according to scientific research, there’s something else you can do to up your chances of getting well faster. In fact, you could triple your recovery time…

There’s a lot of controversy over what vitamin C can do for your health… Some say it can help you fend off a cold. Others say it can’t. Some say it helps you overcome cancer. Others say it can’t. But in both cases, there’s one factor that majorly influences whether vitamin C works or not…

From butter and cheese to pizza and ice cream, fatty food cravings can doom the healthiest diet to failure. But while you may blame your taste buds for your weakness, research is telling us that it’s not really about your tongue at all…

Evening snacking is a hard habit to break. It takes willpower to not pour a bowl of cereal at 9 pm. Or finish that whole bowl of popcorn while you catch up on Dancing with the Stars. But sometimes to break a bad habit you need to be reminded why your body is built to eat during the day…

After years of being told what to eat, what not to eat, and even omitting entire food groups, we’re realizing some of these diets are rather extreme. And confusing. If you find yourself overwhelmed about how to eat to avoid disease and live a longer life, scrap the complicated diets and remember two simple rules…

Regular brushing, flossing and visits to your dentist are essential for maintaining oral health. But equally important is your diet. These self-care measures can make a significant difference in promoting dental health, reducing cavities and, most importantly, supporting your overall health.

By now, most people have heard of antioxidants and what these little gems can do for their health. But, just in case you’re still wondering if getting enough antioxidants every day is actually important, let’s do a quick recap on their most important points…

Like a lot of people, I’ve noticed that as I’ve gotten older, my hearing isn’t quite as good as it used to be. In fact, I’m pretty sure that I drive my husband crazy by constantly saying, “What?” and “Can you please talk louder. I can’t hear you!” But I’ve found a little trick to avoid embarrassing moments like these…

When someone is extremely self-absorbed we may say that they think they’re the center of the universe. My dad, on the other hand, prefers saying that they think the sun shines out their backside. Well, you know what? He’s onto something, but UV rays bring disease protection to everyone’s gut…

It’s hard to imagine anyone getting a case of the winter blues with all the holiday hustling and bustling happening, but seasonal affective disorder is estimated to affect as many as 10 million Americans. If the cold grey days get to you, try these comfort foods with nutrients that can combat the winter blues in a very real way.

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…