Latest Stories

It’s pretty astonishing that medical professionals still treat the mouth as separate from the rest of the body. Research has already shown how strongly connected it is to other organs, particularly the heart. Now, an underlying factor in gum disease can skyrocket risk for heart failure.

If you’re avoiding all carbs, you could be missing major protection from the kind that keeps your gut microbiota healthy, regulates blood sugar, reduces cholesterol and relieves constipation. What’s more, research indicates consuming it regularly reduced cancer risks by 60 percent…

The pain of knee osteoarthritis affects more than 14 million Americans who often seek relief from their well-meaning doctors. But one remedy that’s proven quite lucrative for pharmaceuticals is proving nothing but ineffective and risky for patients…

The scariest thing about stroke is how it can strike without warning. That’s why knowing if you have any risk factors can help. But what if you’re genetically at higher risk of stroke? While it can seem you’ve been dealt a pretty poor hand, there is a trump card that helps put the odds back in your favor…

Have you ever looked at a thin person and assumed they must workout a lot? Because the secret to being thin is burning calories, right? The truth is thin people tend to be far less active than those of us with a few extra pounds. Turns out there’s something else up their sleeve…

Women tend to live longer than men, but usually spend their later years living with conditions that make life miserable. What if just two nutrients could lower those risks of age-related decline and make those golden years, well, golden?

If there’s anything you can say about Covid-19, it’s that it’s turned out to be a strange disease with far-reaching effects on the human body that experts are still discovering. If you’ve been infected, or suspect it, and never had blood sugar problems before, that could all change…

Sedentary behavior gets a bad rap. For a few years now we’ve heard the ills of sitting too much and its dangerous effects. But it seems to always center around the TV. But what about your computer? Can it double your stroke risk, too? And if so, what can you do about it?

If you’re locked in a constant struggle with weight, you know what to eat is the daily question, and often a confusing one. There is so much diet advice out there! You’ll be happy to know that, based on research, a group of scientists is backing one particular diet as the best candidate for sustained weight loss…

Until someone finds a “fountain of youth,” aging will continue to take a toll on all of us. There are ways to slow the aging process through diet and exercise, but no way to reverse it — until now. For the first time, and in humans — not mice, researchers were able to reverse two key biological elements of aging…

With age may come wisdom, but it can also bring a number of health problems, including some that require surgery. But surgery in our senior years is especially risky, and new findings show some common medications can make it much worse. Here’s what you need to know…

Carotenoids make fruits and vegetables colorful. But more than that, carotenoids are powerful antioxidants with a serious capacity to scavenge free radicals and protect your body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage and these three major health threats…

Thanks to the fact that the over 60s age group is growing faster than any other, research is focused on how those living longer into old age can do so without succumbing to years of frailty and disability. And they may have found at least one of the secrets to living better longer…

Americans are not fans of eye exams. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists reports most of us won’t see an eye doctor even when problems develop. That’s a mistake: an exam could find signs you’re headed for stroke or heart attack even before your doctor can…

Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are both brain disorders. And while Parkinson’s symptoms are more physical, they share symptoms, including dementia and disease progression. New research shows they also may share a common enemy that worsens brain destroying proteins.

There’s no doubt avocados are high in fat and calories. But can eating them actually help you lose weight? Smaller studies have suggested that’s the case. What did the largest and longest study to date on the health impacts of avocados find?

Foot ulcers are a major complication of unmanaged blood sugar. And they should be taken seriously. Severe ulcers can lead to amputation. That’s why to avoid them, doctors recommend proper management of blood sugar and weight loss. Add an important vitamin to that list…

Certain types of cancer have been found to increase a survivor’s risk for diabetes. And survivors who develop diabetes don’t fair as well as those who don’t. Could maintaining healthy blood sugar levels be the key to better odds and longer survival after cancer?

Some of the biggest medical studies to date, responsible for medication and procedures, have been conducted without a single female subject. But is that holding the medical community back from using protocols designed for men on women? Not at all and not without consequence…

No one likes to exercise. But every day 2,200 Americans die from a heart attack. But you know what? There are about 335,000 recurrent heart attacks each year, too. That means a lot of people survive. But is exercise a good idea after the fact, can it keep you from another, and what kind’s best?

For the longest, I was stuck with an extra 10 or 15 pounds that I felt I needed to lose. I can’t count how many times I’ve wished for a magic pill that would turn me into a fat burning machine. Well, thanks to researchers in Kyoto, Japan, we may have gotten a little closer to that magic pill.

If a close family member had Alzheimer’s, you know that fear of one day developing the disease yourself. On the other hand, no family history could give you a false sense of security. That’s because a trifecta of three common health conditions has been found to carry a much higher risk than genetics…

Aging is still a difficult subject to talk about. Maybe that’s why the aging process is surrounded by myths that many people believe. Here are seven of them we’d like you to stop falling for. You’ll improve your health, live longer and enjoy life more!

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in American men, and the most heritable cancer. If your father had it, there’s a high chance you will, too. If you are at increased genetic risk, recent research spells out exactly what you can do to dramatically decrease the odds it will take your life.

There are a number of things that can cause your blood pressure to go up. But two of the most common contributors are age and weight. A new study has found a two-step system can significantly lower blood pressure even if you’re over the age of 55, overweight or obese…

Scientists discovered that loneliness can actually be ‘seen’ in our blood. While it sounds crazy, they saw that people who live with loneliness have very specific compounds in their blood, plus a nutrient deficiency that helps explains their condition and specific heart dangers…

While a higher risk of heart disease can be inherited, lifestyle can outweigh even these genetic tendencies. In a first ever study measuring specific factors that affect heart health, the news is grim for most of us, based on that simple fact, unless…

Many people don’t realize that COPD is actually an umbrella term that includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and sometimes asthma. Nor do they realize how widespread and dangerous it is — especially if you’re a woman…

Need a good reason to take extra care of your thyroid? Here’s a good one: If something goes wrong — surgery is risky. But if you absolutely must have it removed, there is one very important thing you must ask your surgeon…

Study after study has shown the health benefits of apples give credence to the saying, an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But, there are many ways to enjoy apples, and they’re not all created equal when it comes to reaping their nutritional value…

If you’re someone who’s exposed to pesticides on the job, your job is downright dangerous. Besides risks like cancer, Parkinson’s and liver damage, a new study shows it has one more scary side effect — it causes your cardiovascular system to crash and burn. Here’s how to protect yourself…

There are a couple of reasons the benefits of fish oil have been so hotly debated. But researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital decided to run a meta-analysis of the research to end all debate. Finally, we have an answer…

In a world filled with confusing and conflicting nutrition advice, you can take solace one piece of reliable, scientifically-proven wisdom… Red and processed meats aren’t good for you. And you should eat less of them. Wait, not so fast… a nutritional controversy is brewing yet again that says that might not be so.

Since testing for Alzheimer’s is practically non-existent, part of the fear is how it sneaks up on you. Because it damages the brain years before the first symptoms, it’s been almost impossible to identify a critical window when early treatment could actually make a difference. Until now…

One in every 24 people, on average, will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum). Early detection is key to overcoming a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Colonoscopy is the most well-known screening method for colon cancer. But it’s not your only option…

Vitamin C has an astounding effect on the immune system. It affects the function of a lot of different immune cells, that protect your body from foreign invaders. And more than 148 animal studies show it may ease or prevent infections caused by bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. But this might be the biggest news yet…

There’s a strong argument for getting your basic nutrition from whole foods rather than taking a fistful of supplements each day. One reason for this is because whole foods contain blends of vitamins and minerals that when consumed together, enhance their individual potencies. Here are 8 to pair for bigger benefits…

Many of us still believe that heart disease is far more of a danger to men than women. And, when we think about our hormones and the dangers of menopause, we tend to zero in on breast cancer. However, the truth is that heart disease is a bigger threat, and menopause a big contributor…

We all know that keeping thoughts and emotions bottled up inside can cause unnecessary stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. But did you know staying quiet when you really want to express yourself can actually harm you physically?

During my late teens and early 20s, I was vegan. And like a lot of vegans, I was all about fake meat… Soy, tempeh, seitan. Fake burgers, bacon, chicken. I tried them all. But there was one fake meat that stood out from the rest…

Whatever makes poop a taboo topic in our minds, it’s time to get over it. After all, as the famous children’s book says, “Everybody poops.” So why not learn a bit more about what’s happening in our own bodies? And why not start now by checking out the answers to seven pressing poop questions…

There are two ingredients Puerto Ricans eat far more than other Americans do. In fact, it’s not uncommon for them to eat these flavorful foods every single day. What effect does eating so many amazing alliums have on Puerto Ricans? It may be why they’re way less likely to get breast cancer than us mainlanders.

Weight gain can really creep up on you as you get older. But gaining 5ish to 20ish pounds increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes substantially. So, if you can keep your body weight stable as you get older, you’ll be better off. And I know a simple (and scrumptious) way to do that.

As long as there have been people, there have been stories of a fountain of youth that can turn back the clock and keep you forever young. But, while I’m sure some of us would like to live forever, I think most of us would settle for a way to just slow down the clock a bit. These scientists think they have…

Pumpkins signal fall and one of our favorite, fun holidays. But pumpkins are so much more than a traditional Halloween decoration. When you start carving yours, save those seeds for a snack with major benefits…

Staying in the hospital isn’t fun. But did you know it leaves a mark on your health when you leave? Not an obvious one like a surgical scar. This mark is impossible to see with the naked eye because it’s deep inside a vital organ responsible for helping you recover…

Some people swear hand sanitizer is far superior to plain old soap, while others wouldn’t trust a bottle of that goo as far as they could throw it. The debate may still go on, but at least when it comes to reducing the spread of the flu virus, recent research shows there’s a clear winner…

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death in women. That’s the bad news. The good news is that simple lifestyle changes can go a long way in reducing your risk of breast cancer…

Fasting is all the rage. Research shows these diets can slow down aging. Reverse type 2 diabetes. They may even reduce breast cancer risk. But drastically reducing calories long term may have unanticipated effects on certain body parts…

Green tea’s polyphenols reduce the risk of cancer and its other compounds protect against neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. It contains caffeine that boosts your brain function. It makes your metabolism work better. And it kills bacteria and viruses. And, yet, green tea has another gift for humankind…

Summer’s over and we’re moving into that time of year where for many of us, it’s hard to find time to take a day off. After all, after using your vacation days over the summer and with the holidays just around the corner, slowing down can mean getting so far behind your never able to catch up. But you’re not out of luck…

The health promoting benefits don’t stop with the oil that comes from this tasty fruit of the olive tree. In fact, the leaf of the olive tree contains a wealth of powerful health agents that lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and even lower the risk of cancer.

Prostate cancer is scary. While chances of survival are good compared to some cancers, as long as it’s found early, it’s still the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. Every day in this country, eighty-eight men die from the disease. But a study evaluating more than 36,000 men shows you can significantly reduce your risk.

You probably know what junk food does to your body… You develop a belly bulge. You can’t fit into your favorite jeans. It could lead to metabolic syndrome or diabetes. But long before any of these changes, a high-carb, high-fat diet is making serious, hard-to-reverse changes to your brain in record time.

When you think about the risks associated with high blood pressure, what’s the first one that comes to mind? For me, it’s heart attacks. After heart attacks, it’s strokes. But down the list of high blood pressure-related risks, there’s another noteworthy risk I never knew about…

A small pilot study took a deeper look at the connection between the gut microbiome and neurodegenerative diseases. Not only did it discover that Alzheimer’s biomarkers appear in the gut, mirroring what’s happening in the brain, but it also gave strong indications on how to reduce signs the disease is developing…

There’s no shortage of excuses to put off exercise till you realize you might have needed it. But is there really any reason to get started later in life? Or is it just plain too late, and have the benefits you would have gotten (like muscle strength) from exercise passed you by? The answer is surprising…

Every cigarette robs the smoker of 7 to 11 minutes of their life. That’s more than 3 hours for every pack. Now, there are plenty of “quit smoking” aids. But this isn’t about those methods. If those haven’t worked, let me share how two important people in my life ditched the habit — forever…

Most of modern medicine’s “wonder drugs” don’t start in a lab. They start in a bug. Or a bush. Or a berry. Or in some cases, a pile of dirt on Easter Island… Back in the 60s, Canadian scientists set off to Easter Island to search for natural compounds to fight microbes. But they found something even more amazing…

Even though I would love to look younger and have smooth, wrinkle-free skin, I don’t want to head off to one of those medical spas and have a doctor inject toxins to freeze my wrinkles or syringes of fillers to plump my skin. Luckily, a new study has the answer — no doctors or injections necessary!