Latest Stories

Plant-based diets are linked to better health, longevity and healthier body weight. But a close look at the nutritional value of plant-based milk and the process of making it that may bring cancer into the mix, begs this question…

Two conditions that seem to have nothing in common may team up to increase dementia in women. They both steal sleep and starve the brain of oxygen. But 90% of women with one of the conditions go undiagnosed. Bet you can guess which one…

It’s not always easy to get to the bottom of mysterious muscle cramps. But if you pay attention to the signs you can most likely narrow it down to one of six common causes of cramping.

Most of my life I’ve been one of the 40% that suffer from migraines. Some medications have helped, but often with difficult side effects. It’s good to know there are other choices…

Lifestyle habits impact brain health. And now, that impact can be measured with a simple online test. But here’s the real question: if you’re genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s, stroke or depression, can you change your brain care score to beat it?

Managing blood pressure has its ups and downs. But when research tested this option on 14,700 volunteers, they had great news. If you’ve got 5 minutes a day you could have an easier time keeping those numbers down…

Insulin resistance is a slow but steady road to chronic illness, starting with type 2 diabetes. You can sit back and do nothing or reach for the tasty fruit that beats back blood sugar trouble…

If you find it hard to follow a whole foods diet, abhor frequent trips to the market for fresh produce and enjoy the convenience of processed food, I’ve found a deal for you: Processed foods that make the weight fall off…

I learned at a young age that my pale skin burns fast. So I have an arsenal of all the “right ways” to protect it. Imagine my dismay at discovering all the medications that could sabotage my efforts…

There are upsides and downsides to daily medication. Take aspirin. It may help prevent a heart attack, but for some, the risk of bleeding or stroke goes up. But, with care, there’s one disease where daily aspirin’s possible side effects may pale compared to its prevention potential…

Research shows it can beat back heart disease, stroke and cancer, and even slow brain aging and reverse age-related brain shrinkage. So, should we even be surprised it significantly reduces amyloid plaques?

Unpredictability might be the worst thing about an inflammatory bowel condition. There are times when pain and diarrhea are more than inconvenient. What if you could predict your next flare-up weeks in advance?

Statins are prescribed to millions of people. However, the drugs are not without downsides, including pain and heightened risks for diabetes and dementia. Now, there’s evidence they may lead to a sight-stealing condition…

Older adults are at higher risk for depression. They can also fall victim to anxiety. You may have heard of paint by the numbers, but it’s art by the numbers that can give them the mental health boost they need…

Pelvic organ prolapse affects roughly half of all women to some degree. Surgery can relieve its impact on quality of life, but surgery alone may not be the answer to the frequent UTIs…

Living with allergies, you might think your miserable symptoms are something you’re stuck with. Hold on to your socks. If you’ve noticed they’re worse, it’s not your typical trigger…

Migraines are like headaches on steroids. Bigger and badder, and typically require serious medication. But ironically, some medications for another very common condition can give anyone up to a 70 percent greater chance of suffering migraine.

Before electricity, people went to bed at dark and rose with the sun. Today, light bombards every part of our lives, but little of it is natural. Depending on your exposure, it could increase or decrease you lifespan by 34%.

A new wrinkle in Alzheimer’s research: Discovering that the gut and the brain communicate through neurons in both organs. What does that mean for early detection, treatment and prevention?

Prostatitis is a common condition that can cause pelvic pain, urinary issues and sexual problems. In addition to conventional treatment, here are six ways to deal with a prostatitis flare up.

Stroke is more common in people over 65. But younger people are not without risk. In fact, women under 50 are falling victim to stroke in increasing numbers. The reason may surprise you…

Health benefits are linked to fermented foods, the most popular of which may be yogurt. If you eat it regularly, you’re risk may be lower for a type of colon cancer tumor known for poor survival rates.

Cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, including to treat pain. Thanks to the failure of opioids, renewed interest in cannabis may result in new and improved pain relief…

Spring is the season of renewal and the perfect time to renew your commitment to heart health starting with food. With so much to choose from, how do you pick the most heart-healthy? Here’s my list…

Type 1 diabetes was considered a “lean” disease, but like the general population, more people with the condition are facing obesity. They also face a serious danger from the weight loss pitfall known as yo-yo dieting…

For older men, prostate cancer is a real concern. About 6 in 10 diagnoses are in men 65 or older. But research into food as medicine has revealed why one food can slow or prevent it from getting worse.

The American Cancer Society says up to 50 percent of all cancer cases in the United States could be completely eliminated. No, they haven’t developed a cure, but have identified five changes they say are vital for cancer prevention, and they have the backup to prove it…

“Getting fit” is a generic term that leaves you wondering where to start. This makes it easy: A combo of two types of exercise won’t just get you fit, but has clout for cancer prevention, survival and longevity…

Exercse can reduce your risk of heart disease. But committing to a daily routine can be daunting. If that’s what’s holding you back, VILPA is for you. All it requires is 4 minutes a day.

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that pervade our environment. Worse, they pervade our bodies, wreaking havoc on hormones, breaching the blood-brain barrier, lodging in blood clots and residing in our organs. Here’s how to fight back…

Studies have shown it doubles weight loss, slows brain aging and brain atrophy and decreases liver fat. It could be the one diet to answer all our problems. Here’s how to go “green” for a big brain and slimmer waist and liver…

Menopause is a dangerous time for women, beyond breast cancer. So how can you keep ‘the change’ from stealing your health? Whether you’re perimenopausal or post-menopausal, start now to avoid these 5 threats…

Glitches in cognition are unsettling, even if doctors say not to worry. It’s hard to know what the future holds. But supporting brain health with a macronutrient that’s validated to improve things fast, is easy.

Licorice is candy. But in traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s a medicinal herb. Its powerful effects are why guidelines determined how much was safe to eat. But they were wrong about how little can have deleterious effects…

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat. It’s also a leading cause of stroke. Risk of devloping it climbs with age but it can also run in families and take your risk even higher. Do this one thing to slash it…

I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to slow aging. Understandably, there’s some skepticism when products claim to. But it can be as simple as avoiding the things that accelerate your rate of aging — like these foods…

For years, people with gout have been shamed for causing their own pain. It was thought their poor diet elevated uric acid which contributes to painful crystals in joints, like the big toe. Now we know there’s more to the story.

If you can bang out close to 10,000 steps a day, more power to you. But there’s a more effecient way to rev up your metabolism and burn 60 percent more calories. This is one health hack that may sound too good to be true, but here’s why it works…

Thanks to genetics, even diet and exercise may not lower high cholesterol. And since many people ditch medication, researchers seek alternatives. After a study with 400,000 people, they’ve hit on one that’s effective even when it starts with your genes.

Garlic has long had a place at the table and in traditional medicine, where the potent bulb is linked to heart health, reduced inflammation and a strong immune system. Now, taming aggressive cancer cells can be added to the list…

Misguided experts often discourage supplements, as if we all eat a perfect diet. Not today. This time they’re advising more than the standard guidelines suggest for a healthier heart and blood vessels. Here’s how to get the vitamin K (both types!) you need…

After a heart attack, it makes sense that you’d want to sleep more. But the need for sleep is more than the physical exhaustion of going through a traumatic health event. It’s a signal for healing that if not heeded could mean a 2nd heart attack…

Nothing jolts you awake like a leg cramp. Sometimes they’re associated with a serious condition. Other times, they strike from too much or too little exercise. Say hello to this vitamin and goodbye to the pain…

The “cold sore” virus is extremely common. It’s believed to be present in more than half of all Americans. That doesn’t make it any easier to deal with when cold sores flareup. Gaining a better understanding of the virus may…

When your adrenals are constantly stressed, this sets off an autoimmune inflammatory response in your entire body. If you’ve got thyroid problems as well, things can go south real fast. The result? Feeling hopelessly stuck — tired, overweight and unhappy. There’s a way out…

Apple cider vinegar is a versatile household staple, from brightening salad dressings to unclogging drains. It’s also touted as a health elixir. How can you separate the hype from the real benefits? See what the doctor has to say…

Environmentalists have sounded alarms about the harm it’s doing. But a more dire warning may be the estimated nine million premature deaths that happen each year because it’s hardening our arteries. As a doctor, this is how I’m protecting myself…

The idea of a healthy diet has been based on older dietary measures that steer us towards food groups or specific macronutrients. But it’s the effect of food inside the body that’s the common denominator fueling disease…

Decorative tableware is never more popular than during the holidays. But those festive platters can serve up toxic metals that shorten lifespans and endanger your heart on par with cholesterol. Before you serve guests, how dangerous is your holiday setting?

Changes to your circadian rhythm that happen with age can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. That in turn, can increase your risk for heart trouble. This easy 3-minute activity can help you beat both…

With cold and flu season approaching, you need to hear an ugly truth: Many decongestants we’ve turned to for sinus pain and pressure have been deemed ineffective and will leave drugstore shelves soon. Here’s why some work and some don’t…

The virus season is here. That means you need to ready your defenses against respiratory infections and the potential for pneumonia. As odd as this advice sounds, seeing your dentist may make the biggest impact…

A supplement that fights respiratory infections has been overshadowed by vitamin C, even though studies show it can reduce the likelihood of getting the flu by more than 50%. But its power to starve cancer might help it stand out…

The low FODMAP is as effective as medication in managing IBS symptoms, but it can be difficult to follow because it is so restrictive. What if you only had to restrict two things to get the same symptom relief?

Do you live with never-ending congestion and recurrent sinus infections? Feel like you can’t get enough air through your nose? Nasal polyps may be to blame. Your doctor can remove them, but to keep them from returning, do these 2 things…

How well do you think you’re aging? Considering all we now know about slowing the rate of aging so we can reduce risks for functional decline and disease, we’d be foolish not to try. The first step is to gauge your biological age…

Evidence is stacking up that napping is connected to heart trouble. If you’re around the age of 60, you’re most affected and need to take a serious look at your blood pressure, how long you sleep at night and how frequent those naps have become…

Acute pancreatitis is a painful sudden attack that could land you in the hospital. Damage from repeat attacks put you in serious jeopardy. Rest, IV fluids, pain meds and antibiotics can only do so much. But this vitamin may treat, protect and prevent…

Flu isn’t just inconvenient. Complications can arise, like pneumonia, that can land you in the hospital. If you’ve got 10 minutes a day, you can start doing something now that could keep it from turning fatal.

As age goes up, the more likely we are to experience vision loss due to age-related changes in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. But what if it was possible to age-proof our eyes with the help of a protein that keeps them young in the same way collagen helps age-proof our joints?