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Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar levels are abnormally high, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, yet. Lifestyle interventions can change that course, and additional support has been found in a surprising practice…

What’s bacteria got to do with fitness? A lot. In fact, taking probiotics before working out could be the secret to increased muscle growth. And now there’s proof problems with your gut microbiome can knock you off your game affecting performance too…

Strokes can happen in an instant. And the mechanisms that lead to some strokes and most heart attacks involve ruptured arterial plaque. But until recently, researchers haven’t been able to determine exactly why that happens…

You may have read the serotonin connection to depression is under fire. And herbal options can leave you a little too relaxed. Just in time, the benefits of another B vitamin have been confirmed for both depression and anxiety…

AFib is a condition that causes heart palpatations and carries a higher risk of stroke or heart failure. If you have AFib, drinking alcohol is a big no-no. And drinking too much can cause the condition to develop. But if becoming a teetotaler is not on your bucket list, research says all alcohol is not created equally.

Fatty liver affects 1 in 4. The inflammation and damage may eventually lead to cirrhosis or worse. But if you’re one of 30 million with another common condition plus fatty liver, your risk for dementia skyrockets to insane levels. Trim your liver and your risks today…

Skeletal muscle constitutes 40 percent of your body and a world of metabolic activity. Research shows just how important it is to maintain those muscle cells, and igniting a process that leads to energy, endurance and longevity could help make that happen…

Orthostatic hypotension literally means “low blood pressure caused by an upright posture.” For some people, it can be an unpleasant experience, even without any underlying causes. It can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. Here’s how to cut down on episodes…

Bacteriotherapy is a cutting-edge approach to fighing MRSP, or methicillin-resistant staph. And a strain of bacteria has been identified that’s especially good at inhibiting it. You could say it’s a cat’s superpower…

Ultra-processed foods are everywhere, and they’re not doing you any favors, except making it easy to develop insulin resistance, obesity, inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease — oh and did we mention the strong link to dementia?

Exercise has been established as a clear path to a longer life. But there’s been some debate about whether more is better or worse. Now we finally know just how much we need to avoid dying early, especially from a heart condition…

Close to one in three men will experience depression in their lifetime. That not only affects mental health but also increases chronic disease risk. And men are less likely to seek help. But what’s that saying about the way to a man’s heart? It may be key to happiness too…

Switching to a plant-based diet is one of the best ways to stay healthy, from weight loss to avoiding diabetes. They’ve even been found to guard against cancer. But when it comes to breast cancer, not all plant-based diets are equal…

People with gout tend to be at a higher risk of cardiovascular issues. That’s a connection research made a while ago. What’s more alarming is that a gout flare-up can actually begin the countdown to heart attack or stroke within months…

Plenty of studies confirm cocoa’s benefits. But results from controlled studies don’t always translate to real daily life. That’s where cocoa’s effects on blood pressure and arteries differ. Not only does it work, it laid to rest a concern doctors have about traditional BP treatments…

Just about anyone who tries sourdough bread becomes a fan. But there’s more to the light, chewy distinctively-flavored bread. Not only is it loaded with nutrition but it has unique properties that offer big heart, blood sugar and digestive benefits…

Your thyroid regulates many functions, including metabolism. That requires a steady flow of thyroid hormones circulating in your bloodstream. Too much, too little and you have problems, like weight gain and fatigue. But it looks like your thyroid has a broader impact than we ever thought…

Palmitic acid, found in palm oil, has been linked with heart disease and cancer. Scientists have been working to unravel the reasons behind the latter, and they may have uncovered how palmitic acid turns regular tumor cells into aggressive spreaders of disease…

Is there anything more enjoyable than a nap on a rainy afternoon? You wouldn’t think there’d be any risk in that. Yet over the past twenty years, scientists have discovered frequent naps carry health implications that may be serious…

Whether you want sustained strength in the gym, more brainpower in the boardroom, better performance in the bedroom, or other overall health benefits, you need to keep this vitamin at optimal levels, especially if you’re concerned about low T…

You may not realize just how quickly some painkillers can take a toll on your heart. You don’t have to take these drugs for years and years to experience an elevated heart attack risk. Damage can be done by taking them for just one week.

Imagine getting sick and the one antibiotic shown to fight your infection no longer works. In COVID’s wake years of caution took a backslide, and some antibiotic-resistant infections have jumped as much as 78 percent. Here’s what to know going forward…

You may already know that cinnamon can improve your memory, balance your blood sugar and lower your cholesterol… but that’s not all this super spice has up its sleeve…

Millions of people turn to antidepressants to help them weather their darkest days. But despite their popularity, what if the mechanism by which the most popularly prescribed were designed to work — correcting a serotonin “imbalance” — turned out to be a myth?

Even if you do everything right for your heart in terms of diet and exercise, there’s a vulnerability almost impossible to avoid. The air we breathe and the soil we grow our food in have been found to contain contaminants directly linked to heart problems on a major scale. Give up? There’s always an answer…

Most cases of liver cancer are traceable to clear risk factors such as diabetes, cirrhosis or non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases, among others. But for 40 percent the cause isn’t so clear. Until research came across the ‘one a day’ that raises liver cancer risk by 73 percent…

While science is finding we’re capable of living much longer, many of us succumb to habits that cheat us of even an average lifespan. In fact, four in one hundred of us die early, when ditching one simple habit can bring those numbers down significantly…

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, three million seniors are treated in emergency rooms every year for fall-related injuries, and one in five of those falls causes serious injury, usually hip fracture or head injury. But you don’t have to become a statistic…

We are what we eat, but how seriously do we take that adage? Considering insulin resistance, anxiety and depression are part of a journey that leads to Alzheimer’s, we’re not taking it seriously enough…

Natural light just feels good. There’s a good reason for that: it goes hand in hand with our good health, regulating processes in the body. But less exposure to natural light and more to blue light is proving detrimental to how we age…

Your gut microbiome is made up of millions and millions of bacteria, both good and bad that influence your health. And, the foods you eat play a big role in determining the diversity and balance of that bacteria. Now, a study has demonstrated how just one fruit could tip the balance for good or ill in your gut…

Every day someone decides to “lose weight and eat better.” The reasons vary but they have one thing in common: they’re endless. Which is maybe why Weight Watchers came out with an update to its SmartPoints system. As a cardiologist, I’ve learned that diets don’t work — because they focus on the wrong thing…

High blood pressure, elevated triglycerides, excess body fat, and elevated blood sugar are all part of metabolic syndrome. You may be surprised to learn your doctor is probably not doing nearly enough to help you avoid it. That’s concerning enough that new guidelines have been developed…

It’s been years since I ate fast food, like McDonald’s. Now I’m a fast casual aficionado. You know, those restaurants that provide healthy-ish options, like lentil quinoa bowls from Panera and sofritas tacos from Chipotle, that I eat a little too often. Though fast casual seems healthier, it’s still rife with hidden health pitfalls…

New research has finally determined how menopause leads to muscle atrophy. It’s been one of the least understood menopausal symptoms within the medical community. But nothing makes aging more difficult than frailty, and without muscle, that’s where a lot of women end up following menopause…

Have you ever heard of passive exercise? I know what you’re thinking… that’s an oxymoron. Exercise is active not passive. In fact, activity is the whole point of exercise. But passive exercise is a real thing. It’s when your body moves but someone (or something) does the work for you. Here’s an example…

Therapeutic fibbing is a creative communication technique you can use when someone with short-term memory loss is disoriented, anxious or upset. It’s not lying, but a way to step into their reality and spare them unnecessary distress or anxiety. My mom was a champion at this technique.

A powerful compound you can get from regularly consuming common foods like apples and tea has the power to protect against both cancer and heart disease in one fell swoop — especially if you’re at higher risk due to some not-so-healthy lifestyle habits…

You know nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by the names Motrin, Advil, and Aleve, etc. These are typically the first choice to control inflammation and pain. They seem harmless enough. Why else would the FDA make them available over the counter? But there are a few safety concerns, including newer warnings…  

Antibiotic-resistant infections usually bring to mind a hospital setting — not food. But even if you’ve come to grips with news that superbugs are in your grocery store meat, this next part may be harder to swallow… There’s another agricultural source of antibiotic-resistant superbugs lying in wait…

Regardless of your level of activity, joint pain can affect your performance and your enjoyment. You can tackle this challenge by selecting from a wide variety of anti-inflammatory and pain medications, or signing up for physical therapy. You also can choose these 7 foods that help reduce joint pain.

More people over 60 are hitting the weights and skipping the cardio machines. The reason being that muscle strength declines with age. But is it the best exercise for them? Here’s the definitive answer on whether strength training or endurance exercise is best to prevent age-related decline…

You live a pretty healthy lifestyle, eating vegetables and walking every day. But you like to let loose with a piece of tiramisu (or two) on occasion. You think moderation is better than anxiety-inducing perfection, but your mid-life belly bulge is developing a mind of its own. Try this to stay fit without changing your diet…

The number of people living with Parkinson’s has risen steeply over the past three decades. In fact, from 1990 to 2016 alone, Parkinson’s diagnoses more than doubled from 2.5 million to 6.1 million. Unfortunately, the disease has confounded the medical community and the cause behind the majority of Parkinson’s cases has remained a mystery. Until now…

Most of us think if we don’t eat meat, fish, eggs or dairy we’re not getting any protein in our diet. But that’s NOT protein. It’s FOOD. And the protein content of those foods is not necessarily related to the protein content of your body. Because the only protein that’s present in your body was made in your body…

You’ve probably experienced it — that terrifying moment when you notice a strange bump in your armpit, behind your ear, on your inner thigh, under your boob. Is it a pimple? An ingrown hair? A cancerous tumor? That marble you ate when you were seven? And that’s when you realize, it’s none of those things…

It’s important to watch out for your health and the planet’s, but being a conscious consumer isn’t easy. When a company covers up its questionable environmental record with distracting claims, dramatic advertising or by omission, it’s known as greenwashing. Here’s what you should know…

Caffeine’s connection to migraine is certainly complicated. Maybe that’s why few studies have looked at this suspected trigger in-depth enough to find out why it’s both reliever and trigger. Until now… If migraines are a problem for you, now you can know how much caffeine might trigger your next one… or how much might help.

Professor Erik Millstone, a researcher from the University of Sussex and expert on food chemical safety policy, believes products that contain aspartame should be pulled from the grocery store shelves they proliferate. Why? All those studies that said it was safe were sketchy, to say the least…

In order to build and retain memories, we need to get deep sleep, known as REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. So, just staying in bed with your eyes closed, even for seven or eight hours, is not necessarily going to do the trick. But there is a trick scientists say can get your sleep and your brain in the pink!

Remember the days when fruit juice was considered healthy? Moms packed juice boxes in the kids’ lunches. People invested in expensive juicers to make it fresh every morning. Health nuts did juice fasts to lose weight and improve their energy levels. Well, the times have changed more than you may know!

The levels of radiation received during CTs, x-rays and such is generally considered safe. But that might not be the case: Radiation equivalent to three CT scans was shown to give cancer-capable cells a competitive advantage over normal cells. But a simple supplement before your next scan can protect you…

Blood is your best protection against the scariest brain diseases… especially dementia. As you get older, your blood vessels get smaller and stiffer and carry less blood to your brain. And when your brain cells don’t get enough, they start to wither away. That’s why blood flow matters most to avoid cognitive decline.

I still remember sitting in my rheumatologist’s office. He was recommending a medication that could increase my risk for deadly cancers for a condition he thought I might have — but wasn’t actually sure. And that’s the trouble with many autoimmune diseases. But what else could I do?

Your gut is one valuable organ. For years it wasn’t given much thought. We were busy keeping hearts, brains, kidneys and other vital organs healthy… until research caught up and keyed us in on just how much the health of your entire body depends on your gut.

Broccoli. Kale. Brussels sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables… the holy grail of health. It’s pretty much a fact of life by now that including enough of this family of vegetable in your daily diet is a sure ticket to health, and that not eating them at all is asking for problems. But there are some dos and don’ts…

It’s a diet some call life-changing. There are more than a few studies that show its effect on health is purely positive. It helps balance blood sugar, reverse serious autoimmune disorders, and even shed stubborn pounds. But the results of a new study throw a scary prospect on the table.

As with many health problems, the good news is that our eating habits can reverse and control this process. Here are half a dozen of the foods and herbs you can include in your diet to help stop and even prevent chronic inflammation from taking hold.

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass that occurs with age. It can start as early as your 30s, but it really kicks into high gear in your 50s and 60s. Because anstronauts. For astronaughts, it kicks in everytime they go to space, Tht’s why helping them can offer you a sure-fire solution too…

Testosterone therapy is a rapidly growing market – one that’s expected to hit $1 billion by 2024. In addition to improving sexual health, it can boost a man’s general health. But, just like HRT for women, male testosterone replacement therapy is not without risks…