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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…

Do you remember when eating eggs for breakfast was considered one of the worst things you could do for your health? I do! But research has found an important nutrient abundant in eggs has the potential to disrupt the inflammation and cell death commonly tied to neurological problems.

A team of neurologists and immunologists have discovered the immune system is capable of fast-acting and lasting protection against ischemic stroke thanks to a subset of first-responder cells that swoop in to protect the brain. Here’s how they can work to our benefit…

When we’re injured, pain and inflammation occur. At home, and at the doctor’s offices, anti-inflammatories have been the answer. But we’re learning that interfering with that inflammatory response can backfire and turn short-term pain into a long-term problem.

Calorie restriction equals weight loss. But there’s a lot more it does for the body, like promoting a longer disease-free life. And Yale researchers have found a way to get those big benefits without having to actually alter caloric intake.

In a world where social media is king, seniors catch a lot of flak. But Boomers aren’t just more experienced than Millenials and Gen Xers. They’re rebels leading the way to better ways to stay healthy, vibrant and live longer…

Sarcopenia, which kicks in after age 40, accelerates muscle loss with each passing year. Worse, this gradual deterioration increases risk for diabetes, heart attack and dementia, not to mention male health problems. There’s a habit you can pick up today to guard against these dangers…

It’s no secret that what you eat has a direct effect on your health. Figuring that out doesn’t have to be complex: Just eating more of six kinds of foods and less of four others can decrease your risk of major cardiometabolic diseases…

HDL is the good cholesterol we all want more of. Easier said than done, right? Actually, it just got easier. And that’s a doubly good thing because not only is HDL good for the heart, research has found it’s also liver-protective. So time to get on board with improving your HDL with the single nutrient that can help you meet all these needs…

Heart procedures like angioplasties and bypass operations save lives. But you know the old adage “too much of a good thing?” Well, tens of thousands of people get these procedures preventatively. But research shows instead of preventing a heart attack, they could worsen your risk…

If you’ve ever had a stubborn case of tinnitus, you know just how unbearable it can be. Constant ringing, buzzing, clicking or hissing in the ears is enough to bring anyone to a breaking point. Have you tried this?

One challenge to treating Alzheimer’s is the difficulty of getting treatments through the blood-brain barrier. But researchers have stumbled across a game-changer: What if you could clean plaques from the blood as it circulates in the brain using existing methods?

The American Heart Association recommends you eat four to five servings of fruit and vegetables every day. But more than 70 percent of produce exposes you to dangerous pesticide residue, negating disease-fighting nutrients. Here’s how to make safer and cost-effective choices…

Tattoos are commonplace as a form of self-expression. Yet, despite their popularity, the industry is largely unregulated, at least when it comes to the ink used. This might give you pause if considering your first or adding to your collection…

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!

Once considered a new age therapy, like many people I was a little skeptical about what biofeedback could do for my headaches. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. Now, a new study has taken a deeper look at biofeedback and proven its worth for two other difficult-to-treat conditions…

Steroid shots are a common occurrence in most doctor’s offices. After all they may seem like a cure-all for what ails you… especially aches and pains in your joints due to inflammation. Here are 10 types of conditions they can help, and when to know if you need to consider other options…

Despite the debate on meat’s health merits, most meat-eaters are confident about one fact: White meat is healthier than red. Well, before you cook up a white meat feast fit for a king, you should know that chicken isn’t the perfect alternative to red meat we thought it was…

The benefits of B12 are real. But to be fair, many vitamins and supplements have benefits that rival the manufactured, high-price tagged drug options. Not only can you feel better with adequate B12, but it also helps tone down the highly inflammatory metabolite, homocysteine. Here’s why it’s a big deal…

Everyone knows the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease… Smoking. Age. High blood pressure. High cholesterol. Family history. Lack of exercise. Obesity. No surprises here. But there’s something else that’s seriously affecting your heart that’s not in the list of usual suspects…

After a sleepless night, you’re not your best self the next day. You notice every little annoying thing about everything and everyone you interact with all day. Because basically, the less sleep you get, the harder it is to see the world through a positive lens. And here’s the problem with that…

If you’ve decided to go vegetarian or vegan, you’re in good company. There are now more than 19 million vegans in the U.S! There are many admirable and inspiring reasons for giving up animal products. If you’ve done it, you deserve major props. But I need to warn you: It could be messing with your brain.

It’s a radical thought for many of us that we can cure ourselves. After all, we’re not doctors, right? But when it comes to mental illness, especially depression, we should probably take another look at this statement.

Restless leg syndrome is a harmless disease, or is it? It is true that restless leg isn’t caused by a serious medical problem. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t serious. People with this mysterious disease (doctors still don’t know exactly what causes it) face major risks that people without this disease don’t have…