Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

COVID’s blood clot risk persists in long-COVID syndrome

If you’ve had COVID-19, you thought you were out of the woods once your PCR test came back negative. Enter long COVID syndrome and symptoms from shortness of breath and fatigue to brain fog and even sexual dysfunction, and yes, that blood clot risk that persists…

Joyce Hollman

Red meat’s effects on the heart may have little to do with cholesterol

If your doctor isn’t harping on you to cut down on red meat, everyone else is. Because the age-old wisdom” says cholesterol clogs your arteries and causes heart disease. Well, red meat is a problem, but the culprit that makes it harmful to your heart resides in your gut…

Carolyn Gretton

A ‘food compass’ for healthy eating made easy

Healthy eating is overwhelming, what with trying to avoid salt, sugar and fats while trying to balance the right nutrients. What if a compass could guide you, especially one that found your favorite chips are not that bad in the big scheme of things?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why thinking hard makes you so tired

Hard physical work can leave you exhausted. That’s because physical activity causes a buildup of a toxic muscular sludge known as lactic acid, that contributes to muscle fatigue. Surprisingly, thinking hard can affect your brain the same way…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Can you really tame tinnitus in just 12 weeks?

For decades, experts have been trying to find an effective treatment for tinnitus, that infernal condition where sufferers hear phantom ringing, buzzing and even clicking. Much of it has been hit or miss. But the latest may offer relief in as little as 12 weeks…

Joyce Hollman

Low vitamin D linked to chronic disease biomarker

For years, research has backed vitamin D’s powerful effects on inflammation, but now researchers have uncovered a direct connection between low levels of the vitamin and a key biomarker known for signaling high disease risk…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two minerals that could help prevent kidney stones

Kidney stones are excruciating. One second you’re fine, the next a stone trying to pass through the tiny channel of the ureter can drop you to your knees. If you’ve had one, you’ve got a 30 percent chance of another one within the next five years. Decrease that risk with two important nutrients…

Joyce Hollman

10 superfoods for seriously healthy smoothies

What’s not to love about smoothies? Quick, convenient, delicious — and when done right, bursting with nutrition. Here’s a list of ten superfood choices and their little-known benefits for enlarged prostate, ED, cholesterol and more…

Joyce Hollman

How acupuncture may prevent a diabetes diagnosis

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How your microbiome affects your athletic performance

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Stroke danger: Why plaque thins and breaks off

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…

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘other’ B vitamin that beats depression and stress

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Wine or beer: which is safer for your heart?

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.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How a fatty liver can exponentially raise dementia risk

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…

Joyce Hollman

3 keys to better aging: Mitochondria, energy and muscle

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…

Joyce Hollman

Dizziness upon standing? How to stop it and why it happens

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Having a cat could protect you against a staph infection

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Ultra-processed foods: The more you eat, the higher your dementia risk

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?

Carolyn Gretton

The truth about exercise and dying early

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diet that boosts men’s happiness hormone

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Only one type of plant-based diet decreases breast cancer risk

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…

Carolyn Gretton

How a gout flare-up signals a countdown to stroke

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Cocoa’s leg up on healthy blood pressure

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…

Joyce Hollman

Sourdough: The ‘better digestion, blood sugar and heart health’ bread

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…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

This thyroid condition could raise dementia risk 80 percent

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…

Carolyn Gretton

Metastatic memory: Another reason to avoid palm oil

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…

Joyce Hollman

When frequent napping may be a stroke warning

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…

Craig Cooper

When low testosterone is actually a simple vitamin problem

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…

Margaret Cantwell

What a week of pain relievers does to your heart

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.

Carolyn Gretton

COVID’s surprising legacy: Making other infections more dangerous

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…

Joyce Hollman

Turning up the office thermostat turns up performance for women

Unfortunately, most workplaces are full of men who control the thermostat and they like those low numbers. Not only does this make women uncomfortable most of the time, but when women are freezing at work because the A/C is cranking, they’re at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to performance…

Joyce Hollman

2-week test identifies worst foods for weight gain regardless of sugar and fat content

This post may very well be one of the easiest I’ve ever had to write. Ultra-processed foods are bad for you, but get this: When two diets were matched for things like sugar, salt and fat, eating ultra-processed foods resulted in more weight and body fat. So these are the foods to avoid…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why late-life bowel disease puts your life on the line

Since IBD doesn’t strike older adults as often as the young, there’s less research on how it affects older people. But we know older adults get hit harder by IBD in several ways… In fact, people diagnosed with IBD later in life are much more likely to die early. That makes detection and treatment critical…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to get a big wellness boost in 17 minutes a day doing nothing

There’s growing evidence that green space is good for your health. In fact, being surrounded by green space reduces air pollution and has been linked to a lower risk of dying from some pretty serious diseases. This led researchers to pinpoint how much time in nature gets you the benefits…

Joyce Hollman

4+ reasons cancer-fighting cauliflower is the unsung hero of the vegetable world

Here’s a riddle for you: What’s white, and used in baking, but is not flour? (Hint: it’s healthier). What vegetable is purple and crunchy (it’s not cabbage)? And finally, what’s orange and makes a delicious curried soup, but is not squash? The answer: one of the unsung heroes of the vegetable world.

Jenny Smiechowski

How yoga relieves rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and boosts remission

When your joints are painful, swollen and inflamed from a rheumatoid arthritis attack the last thing you feel like doing is putting pressure on them. But as counterintuitive as it sounds, there’s one activity that when you have RA, could be your ticket to symptom relief and even remission…

Dr. Michael Cutler

The pitfalls of polypharmacy and how to avoid this dangerous trap

Polypharmacy is the result of a complex medical system. It’s defined as taking multiple prescribed medications with the possibility that they all may not be clinically necessary, and may, in fact, cause harm. And what you don’t know about this common “affliction” can hurt you or someone you care about…

Margaret Cantwell

‘Precondition’ your blood pressure to lower risk of stroke and heart attack

Do you know my least favorite moment during doctor’s visits? When the doctor inflates the blood pressure cuff around my arm and it squeezes my arm super tight. It’s uncomfortable and I can’t wait until it’s over. It turns out, though, that moment of pain is worth what I gain in my brain…

Jenny Smiechowski

6 ways to tackle the serious side of varicose veins

Whether you’re self-conscious about your varicose veins or you don’t let a few veins get you down, you should know that varicose veins are more than a cosmetic issue. They could put you at risk for a potentially deadly health problem — blood clots.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Brain-saving habit for your Alzheimer’s prevention strategy

It’s 2019 and there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s. Despite all the research, science doesn’t seem to be any closer to a cure. At least not one that can turn back the damage the disease does to one’s brain… Does that mean you’re doomed to end up with this dreaded disease? Not if you follow a few strategies…

Jenny Smiechowski

Can’t stick to keto? Try the ‘super satisfying weight loss diet’ instead

People have tried a lot of diets over the years, but keto has to be the most restrictive. Clearly, not everyone’s cut out for it. If you feel the same way but want to find a diet that works and improves your health, I have another option for you: one that offers similar benefits with a lot more flexibility…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Using a smartphone app for fewer migraines

A new study by researchers at NYU School of Medicine is offering new hope to migraine sufferers. And what’s really amazing is that it’s not a pill. It’s not a shot. It’s not anything you have to see your doctor for to get a prescription or even a referral. It’s just a simple app you can use on your smartphone.

Joyce Hollman

Giving up dairy? Here are some plant-based alternatives to choose from

There was a time when giving up dairy was pretty bleak. Now, the choices are abundant. But are these milk alternatives really “milk?” What is their nutritional value, and how do they compare to dairy milk? How can you choose, and how can you be sure you’re choosing the best one for you? Here’s the skinny…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Simplest secret to healthier aging starts in your gut

Far too many of us think that aging means getting weaker and sicker and goes hand-in-hand with poor brain function. But the truth is, those are just symptoms of unhealthy aging. New research by immunologists has just laid the secret to healthier aging at your feet…

Jenny Smiechowski

Red meat may be part of a healthy diet that reduces MS risk

Red meat isn’t exactly the health food du jour these days. And that’s because there’s a lot of science stacked against it. But is red meat really that bad for you? Well, I have surprising news for you: Not only is it not as bad as you’ve been led to believe, it may even help you avoid this disease…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Why Cheetos are the perfect ‘food’

Do you know what the perfect food is, from the vantage point of a food company? It’s the Cheeto. I mean, any food with “vanishing caloric density” that stimulates the feel-good chemicals in your brain so that your mind and your body want it again and again… Wait, are talking drug addiction, here?

Jenny Smiechowski

Is chronic inflammation killing your motivation and happiness?

Do you ever go through periods where you feel kind of “blah”? Everything’s a chore. You keep up with work, family and social commitments… but just barely. Some might call this mild depression. But the truth is, low-grade chronic inflammation has been found to kill motivation and steal happiness…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Stressed? Why science says you should get ‘dirty’

Inflammation and stress seem to be two of the most dangerous and rampant issues of our time. Inflammation is at the root of numerous medical conditions including those that affect the brain. But the key to solving inflammation and stress might be one and the same. And, it’s been found in a very surprising place…

Joyce Hollman

A handful of ways aging changes the way your body reacts to alcohol

Several normal changes that occur in our bodies as we age also change the way we react to alcohol, and what it does to us. Because of these changes, it’s easier for some seniors to develop drinking problems without even realizing it’s happening. Here’s what you should know…

Jenny Smiechowski

What do antifreeze, dog food, ice cream and your cosmetics have in common?

Let’s say you’re at the grocery store, and you have a sudden, overwhelming craving for a big scoop of rocky road in a waffle cone. You pick up the first carton of rocky road you see and take a look at the label. It contains all sorts of stuff, but you won’t find all of it listed for good reason…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The vitamin that could help cancer patients live longer

Cancer is an incredibly scary disease. It turns your body’s own cells against you until they grow out of control in a bid to steal your life. And, considering the fact that cancer is now the second leading cause of death in the U.S., far too many people are being forced to deal with the realities of the disease.

Joyce Hollman

The scientific reasons weighted blankets ease anxiety, improve sleep and help you feel hugged

There’s a therapeutic blanket that’s gaining in popularity today that takes “security blanket” to a whole new level. Research has shown it’s good for relieving anxiety and insomnia, and for helping adults as well as children. If this sounds like something you’d like to try, here’s why and how it works…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The common viral infection that increases risk for dangerous brain inflammation

90 percent of adults will be infected with this virus. In fact, it’s the most widespread epidemic in our country. But most people will only suffer uncomfortable outbreaks. The unlucky ones could end up with a far more dangerous issue that affects the brain. But the right bacteria can help…

Joyce Hollman

Is this tick-borne virus the new Lyme disease?

The deer tick is far from the only critter that can infect you with a vector-borne disease (one caused by a microorganism transmitted by an insect bite). At least eight other tick varieties can transmit potentially fatal diseases. So, it’s frightening indeed when yet another tick-borne disease is discovered…

Jenny Smiechowski

A berry good way to lower the risk of heart problems by 15 percent

Imagine your doctor telling you that you have high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol all at once. Then, learning that a cup of blueberries per day can help you master your metabolic syndrome and significantly reduce all these problems?.

Dr. Michael Cutler

The dark truths about Atorvastatin that some doctors play off as myths

Recently, I read an online article about 7 common myths surrounding the cholesterol-lowering medication Atorvastatin, also known as Lipitor. The author minimized well-reported adverse side effects to the degree I might expect from a pharmaceutical representative. Let me set the record straight…

Margaret Cantwell

Why you don’t need 10,000 steps per day to stay healthy

Now, I don’t want to be glib, because getting enough activity is incredibly important. But why 10,000 steps? Where did this number come from? And will you really get diabetes, cancer, heart disease or die early if you only get, say, 6,300 steps per day?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 hidden headache triggers (slideshow)

There is a way to stop most headaches before they start and it can be as simple as changing the foods you eat. Here are the six foods that could be causing your headaches.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Just one night of bad sleep can blow up your blood pressure

Many factors contribute to high blood pressure, but most of us wouldn’t think about sleep quality as part of that equation. Think again! How well you sleep is more important to maintaining healthy blood pressure than you’d ever expect. Just look at these results after just one night of tossing and turning…

Joyce Hollman

3 studies that crack the ‘bad egg’ myth in a major way

In the “old days,” cholesterol was Public Enemy #1. And one of the biggest sources of cholesterol? Eggs. Fried, scrambled … we were told over and over to lay off the eggs, for our hearts’ sake. Then things started to shift.

«SPONSORED»