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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…

For women, hormones can wreak havoc on the arteries, leading to dangerous, even life-threatening issues. And while some of these hormonal issues occur naturally, like during menopause, others not so much: like carrying extra weight and taking the wrong pills…

Aging leads to insulin resistance, leaky gut and a domino effect that robs your gut of a protective fatty acid. But if you increase one special gut bacteria, you can reverse all that and enjoy a smaller waistline, lower blood sugar and better cholesterol levels…

Prostatitis and an enlarged prostate can greatly affect a man’s quality of life. Luckily, there’s an herb that has long been used to relieve urinary tract and prostate problems. The name may sound harsh, but stinging nettle for prostate health has many benefits…

Experts estimate that between 20 and 50 percent of men in the U.S. are living with low testosterone. That means decreased libido and energy and increased disease risk. But what if your diet was the thing zapping your testosterone? Would you do something about it?

It’s estimated that a whopping 42 percent of people are vitamin D deficient. Unless you get blood work regularly to monitor your levels, you may never know you’re lacking in this important vitamin until you start experiencing symptoms. Let’s take a look at seven sneaky signs you should be on the lookout for…

Air travel can make you sick, both on the plane and after you land. But if you’re properly prepared before takeoff, you can deal with air sickness and reduce your risk of illness. Here’s what you need to do to keep those skies friendly.

You’ve heard the phrase, “Your eyes are the windows to your soul.” Well, according to research, they might also be the windows to your heart. In fact, what your eye doctor sees during your exam could reveal whether a heart attack or stroke is in your future so that you can take steps to save your life.

To effectively use the power of vitamin C to combat oxidative stress, your white blood cells need 50 times more C in their cell walls. Macrophages in your respiratory tract are dependent on C. And it helps the body produce interferons to keep viruses from replicating. See why it’s more important than ever to understand how sugar steals yours?

An apply a day can do a lot of good things. A study of how apples support the gut microbiome shows that one variety in particular may promote the growth of bacteria associated with less body fat…

For decades, there’s been a debate as to whether our favorite morning beverage is truly friend or foe when it comes to our health. But a study of almost half a million people may give you a a reason to rejoice and pour a second cup each morning…

Investigators have discovered interesting connections between breast cancer and the health of the body’s different microbiomes. In fact, the gut may be just as influential as the breast microbiome when it comes to the risk of aggressive breast cancer…

In people living with scleroderma, the immune system tricks tissues in the body into thinking they’re injured. This causes a buildup of scar tissue that hardens the skin and damages blood vessels and internal organs. But it get much worse with a common metabolite found in a very common diet…

Not getting good sleep can tear down your health. You can try sleeping pills. But they can be addictive and carry additional risks. Instead, you might opt for something completely natural that comes with the kind of side effects you’ll actually appreciate — maybe even dream about…

Fermented foods are all the rage nowadays because they contain probiotics that support gut health. But despite the enthusiasm for everything from yogurt to sauerkraut to kombucha, there’s one fermented food that doesn’t get much love — buttermilk. As a result, we’re missing out on some serious benefits…

It’s no secret blood sugar problems can complicate your health. In fact, it’s been long known that diabetes and heart trouble go hand-in-hand. And according to researchers at the American Heart Association, every diabetic should be on the lookout for one thing that could double their risk for heart trouble — what your blood pressure does at night.

Emotional pain can cause chronic pain and chronic pain can cause emotional pain. It’s a bidirectional relationship that’s made worse when opioids enter the mix. So, while taking these painkillers can make you feel better early on, over time, they only make your problems worse.

We don’t often think about young adults as being at high risk from a COVID infection. But research looking at the impact of even mild infections among them points to a potentially risky constellation of health issues they need to watch out for in the coming years…

Diabetes can lead to complications, especially infections. In fact, diabetics are 10 times more likely to suffer urinary tract infections. And yes blood sugar is to blame for its impact on the innate immune system…

The effect of cannabinoids, when compounded with the effects of certain other drugs, can create some dangerous symptoms. Here’s what you need to know about possible interactions before you start to use CBD.

Multivitamins are an easy way to supplement a diet that’s not always perfectly balanced, even though skeptics will tell you they only produce expensive urine. But their impact on cognitive decline in those most at risk is nothing to flush down the toilet…

Beyond genetics, most doctors look at your risk of dementia as a crapshoot. But the more research uncovers about its causes, the more you can do to prevent it. That’s why a new study out of Michigan State University was so interesting since it found a significant link between relationship status and dementia risk.

Beta cells are the cells in your pancreas that produce insulin. Your body uses this insulin to manage blood sugar. People with type 2 diabetes have beta cells that don’t produce enough insulin. But based on this latest study, ginkgo biloba could fix that…

Some experts say fasting is great, not only for weight loss but also to enhance overall health. But how do you choose the right technique for you? If weight loss, longevity and avoiding disease are your goals, a study found some pretty amazing results that may give you the answer you need…

Hemorrhagic strokes (bleeding on the brain) are more difficult to treat and more likely to be deadly. Sounds pretty scary. But things got even scarier when news of a study came out warning of a two-fold increase in the risk of these strokes in women with low LDL cholesterol levels. Should you be concerned?

Look at any web article on heart disease or any health-related magazine on the shelf at your local grocery store and you’ll find recommendation upon recommendation for the type of diet you should eat to keep your heart healthy. That’s why you may be surprised at what they found about the top three…

Kombucha. Keifer. Bone broth. There are plenty of drinks that encourage good bacteria to throw a party in your gut. There are also plenty of drinks that cause bad bacteria to crash that party: Soda. Diet drinks. Juices. And alcohol, which causes an unhealthy imbalance in your microbiome. But wait a sec…

Exercising is one of the best ways to lower your blood pressure. In fact, getting more exercise can lower your systolic blood pressure as much as some medications. That’s empowering. But before you rest all your hopes of taming your blood pressure on your exercise regimen, you need to know…

We all know that one person who eats Taco Bell every day for lunch and TombStone frozen pizza every night, but still wears a size two skinny jean. Or that person whose idea of a diet is ordering a Filet-O-Fish instead of a Big Mac, so they get fewer calories. But eating like this could steal something from you…

Despite all our technological and medical advancements, Lyme disease isn’t being diagnosed accurately and efficiently. It takes a few weeks, leaving people untreated and at higher risk of long-term consequences. But a new diagnostic tool is in the works that could prevent all that unnecessary suffering…

Flu season is just around the corner and you know what that means, right? Soon everyone around you is going to be coughing, sneezing and spreading those virulent germs. Not at my house — if I can help it! We’ve already amped up immune-boosting efforts, starting with some essential immune-boosting supplements…

Sometimes warnings to live healthier just aren’t enough to give us the kick in the pants we need to change our habits. Now though, there’s a new warning for everyone who is overweight or obese that just might be the wakeup call that does the trick… Especially if you have concerns about Alzheimer’s.

Most of your life, you’ve used aspirin to minimize everyday ailments… To fend off a splitting headache. To ease aching joints. To make a bad back bearable. But word on the street is, aspirin has much grander talents than that.

If you live in a major metropolitan area like New York or Los Angeles, you’d expect to pay more for many consumer goods. I found this out (in reverse) when I moved from New York City to a small town in Maine. But should the same rules apply to a blood test, MRI or even life-saving surgery?

You know those people who can sleep for a few hours a night and wake up refreshed? They roll out of bed energetic and bright-eyed after four hours of sleep and hit the ground running. And weirdly enough they escape the health-related downsides of sleep deprivation that most of us won’t. Here’s why…

If you have diabetes, you understand what a dangerous disease it is. If your blood sugar stays too high for too long, it can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and even blindness. But, did you know that low blood sugar can be just as dangerous?

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss for people over the age of 60. While, the medical community has known for some time that wet AMD is caused by the development of leaky blood vessels in the eye, the initial cause behind dry AMD has remained a mystery, till now.

Humans are social creatures. So it’s not surprising that people who feel isolated get sick more often. Ongoing loneliness is a very real risk factor for chronic health conditions like heart disease and stroke. These are a few reasons why breaking out of loneliness is important, but this one might matter most…

Your BMI calculates the relationship between your height and your weight to determine if you are overweight or obese. And, the medical community has increasingly used the calculation to determine whether or not you’re at risk for health issues like diabetes, metabolic syndrome and heart disease. But, what if your BMI is lying?

Even if you grow your own medicinal herbs in your five-acre backyard, get most of your medical care from a naturopath and buy your groceries from food co-ops, farmer’s markets and CSAs, you’ve probably had a dose of prescription antibiotics in the past decade or so. Here’s why it matters…

In the American Journal of Medicine, there’s talk of establishing a new sub-specialty in medicine. That’s all you need — another doctor, right? At first, it may seem like a great idea with more Americans suffering inter-related conditions, like obesity, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. But it highlights a troubling trend…

It’s no secret that the FDA is no friend to the natural supplement industry. The Agency is still going to great lengths to squeeze natural supplements right off the market, passing and manipulating laws that favor the sale of questionable drugs. But what happens when these drugs taint your supplements?

Exceptional longevity means living past 85, something my grandmas and great-grandmas achieved. Clearly, there might be something genetic happening here. But even if your family line isn’t filled with examples like these, research shows the secret to longevity may be in your mind more than your genes, diet or workout…

How many harmless outpatient procedures or tests do you think you’ll undergo this year? If your answer is even just one, you should be aware that you have more to be concerned with than what the procedure reveals about your health… and it has to do with contaminated instruments used in healthcare settings.

Scientists know that light plays a critical role in heart health. Past studies have even shown that heart attacks increase dramatically during dark winter months — like those around the corner. But the latest research shows how you can use light for some big heart protection in just 30 minutes a day…

Tramadol is far less addictive than some “big gun” drugs. In fact, when it was first released, it wasn’t even classified as an opioid (but that’s changed). Tramadol also has fewer side effects than other painkillers. Or so we thought… As more people turn to this “safe” pain reliever, risks are bubbling to the surface…

If you have diabetes, you have a higher risk of cancer. That’s just the way it is. It doesn’t matter if you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman. (although, if you’re a diabetic woman, your risk is even higher). Because here are the cold, hard facts…

If I don’t eat lunch by 2:00 pm, I feel lightheaded. But I still haven’t written off the idea of fasting. How can I when I keep reading studies that show it’s an effective way to fight chronic inflammation… the stuff that puts you at risk for cancer, autoimmune diseases and pretty much every other health condition.

Thyroid hormone balancing is confusing for mainstream doctors including endocrinologists (but they may not admit it). That’s because they use only lab tests. The problem with that is there are many medications that affect your thyroid hormone and confound the interpretation of standard thyroid tests…

Sleep apnea is a common problem for both men and women. And that diagnosis comes with some other very serious worries… If you have it, you’re at much higher risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke, and even atrial fibrillation. Now you can add three kinds of cancer to that…

The nutritional content and disease-fighting power of mushrooms is unparalleled. In fact, they might just be the perfect food. They act as natural antibiotics and contain beta-glucans that boost your immune system. But if you cook your fungi the wrong way, you’re destroying all of that before it reaches your plate!