Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

The weird connection between mouthwash, gum disease and diabetes

There’s an especially complex relationship between gum disease and type 2 diabetes. It’s a loop where one condition exacerbates the other, and vice versa. But research says it may be possible to gargle away both problems. Let’s look at the facts…

Margaret Cantwell

Cancelling the mercury threat in tuna

Toxic metals, like lead and mercury, cause brain damage, heart problems and kidney dysfunction. Abundant in daily life, the threat is real, but the news is good: Mercury can be manufactured out of our favorite nutrient-rich fish.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The least number of steps to lower heart disease risk

Wallking is great exercise with big benefits. Luckily, research is showing that while getting close to 10,000 steps a day might be an admirable goal, it takes far fewer steps to tip the scales in favor of a healthy heart and longevity…

Joyce Hollman

The easy way to improve fitness factors for healthy aging

If you’re looking forward to good health in older age, exercise is essential. And if you plan your activities around your personal peak hours, you’ll improve two measures of healthy aging by working smarter, not harder…

Carolyn Gretton

It’s not normal aging: Dementia and a surprising driver

Some of us worry about losing physical independence with age, while others fear falling victim to dementia. But here’s the thing: neither frailty nor dementia is part of normal aging. And you can intervene early enough to keep one from leading to the other.

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘guardians’ that balance immune system response

The immune system is great when it’s working properly. But when it becomes overactive, it attacks healthy tissues and organs and can lead to devastating autoimmune diseases. That’s where guardians come in…

Joyce Hollman

Heart-protecting drugs that backfire when it’s hot out

It’s common for people with coronary heart disease to take medications that protect the heart and reduce risk of a heart attack or stroke. But these very same protective medications may actually elevate these risks during summer heat. Take these precautions…

Joyce Hollman

Embrace your cravings and still lose weight

Are pesky cravings your downfall when it comes to losing weight? It’s natural to desire what we perceive as off-limits. Would you believe there’s a way to have it all that can actually boost your weight loss efforts? Read on…

Carolyn Gretton

A hidden cause of Alzheimer’s that starts 20 years early

Alzheimer’s is a disease you often don’t know you have until damage is done. But now a marker has been identified that can predict it up to 20 years before symptoms appear, and the best part? It’s something we can actively work on.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The seed that takes down bad cholesterol and raises good

None of us want to add one more medication to a list that may already be long. So when a natural remedy, especially one with history, has the clout to improve cholesterol, that’s just too good to keep quiet about.

Joyce Hollman

Why women face a higer risk of death from heat-related illnesses

Older adults are vulnerable to heat exhaustion and stroke. But the threat is more often deadly for women and starts in middle age. In other words, women need more help cooling down. Here’s one way to get it.

Carolyn Gretton

7 reasons to wear sunglasses this summer and beyond

When I was in high school, all the cool kids wore Ray-Ban sunglasses. Now that we’re older, there are more important reasons to break out the sunglasses, and not just during the summer months, if you want to maintain healthy vision…

Joyce Hollman

Energy drinks, taurine and cancer? About that research

You may have seen some alarming headlines such as, “Urgent warning issued about cancer-causing energy drinks.” There are a lot of concerning things about energy drinks. But does new research linking them to leukemia affect you? Here’s what to know…

Carolyn Gretton

8 factors for lower blood pressure

High blood pressure is the leading preventable risk factor for early death. But eight factors, when improved, incrementally stack the odds for a long life. It may seem daunting, but improving just four gets you on the same playing field as people with normal BP!

Joyce Hollman

The ‘bone density’ berry that beats back bone loss

Bone loss can cause fractures that can be life-altering. But researchers found supplementing a powdered form of a certain tart berry can reduce post-menopausal bone loss and prevent osteoporosis…

Carolyn Gretton

Slow biological aging 3 years with a vitamin

People have sought the Fountain of Youth for nearly as long as recorded history. But it’s time to ditch the legend and reach for the vitamin that not only slows biological aging but also reduces your risk of the diseases that come with it…

Joyce Hollman

Insulin resistance: Early signs and ditching the diabetes danger

Insulin resistance isn’t a disease state. It is an early warning, though, that if things don’t change, that’s exactly where you body’s headed. But if you’re only focusing on food and weight loss, you missing some very important pieces of the puzzle…

Carolyn Gretton

It’s time to rename it ‘the anti-cancer diet’

Research has uncovered multiple ways that obesity spurs cancer in the body. But we know weight loss is not only difficult, losing weight takes time. Is there an answer to fighting this cancer fuel? One diet answers the call.

Joyce Hollman

The oral health-mental health connection for happy aging

There’s a lot of focus on living longer and living healthier. But depression and anxiety can often sneak in with age, surprisingly through your mouth. Here are four ways to keep that from happening…

Carolyn Gretton

How stress becomes a post-menopausal Alzheimer’s trigger

Women carry a higher burden for Alzheimer’s, two-thirds of it, actually. Loss of protective hormones during menopause are a prime contributor. But it’s a stress hormone that may push women’s risks much higher…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Electrolyte drinks: Good, bad or Fad?

Are Americans chronically dehydrated? The idea of that is making electrolyte drinks and powders hugely popular. Is there any truth to it or is it just a good marketing gimmick with questionable results? Here’s what the doctor says…

Joyce Hollman

Choline: Breaking barriers in Alzheimer’s prevention

The blood-brain barrier is a layer of cells that keeps harmful elements from the brain while letting nutrients in. If treatments can be developed to cross the barrier, a cure for Alzheimer’s could come soon. Choline is helping in the process in more ways than one…

Joyce Hollman

Don’t give up these carbs, for healthiest aging

Too many people still subscribe to the myth that carbs are bad. But not all carbs are created equal. And if you’re a woman, eating the right carbs can be like an insurance policy that will all but guarantee your health in old age…

Joyce Hollman

Daily aspirin could keep cancer cells from spreading

It’s not unusual for doctors to suggest aspirin to avoid blood clots, though it’s not without risk. What is unusual is that the very mechanism that helps aspirin prevent blood from clotting can also stop cancer from spreading…

Carolyn Gretton

Why are more men dying from ‘broken heart syndrome’

Dying from a broken heart is not just something you’d read in a romance novel. Broken heart syndrome is a bona fide condition more likely to develop in women after the loss of a loved one. But why are more men dying from it?

Carolyn Gretton

4 factors to improve by 60 to avoid a nursing home

Healthy aging is something you might not focus on until you feel, well, older. But research shows how you take care of yourself, and the habits you form won’t only impact your health but also your risk of ending up in a nursing home. Pay attention to these four before you near 60…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Are anti-inflammatories the secret to dementia prevention?

Several studies have found links between dementia and high levels of inflammation in the body. So researchers are begging the question, “Are NSAIDs the simple answer we’ve been looking for — to decrease brain inflammation and decrease dementia?”

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What’s the chemical burden of your personal care routine?

If your personal care routine is like most, with each swipe of deodorant, spritz of perfume or glop of hair product, you’ve layered your body with chemicals deemed hazardous in over 17 categories. Reducing the risks they pose can be easier than your think…

Joyce Hollman

Brain worms: Sorting cringeworthy fact from fiction

In National Geographic’s award-winning documentary, Body Snatchers, they reported, “Parasites have killed more humans than all the wars in history.” But how much do you know about them? From worms that cause cancer to brain worms, here are the facts…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Exercise reduces ‘insulin resistant’ dementia risk

Exercise keeps your brain from shrinking, slows its aging process and stimulates the growth of cells in your hippocampus. But when insulin resistance is part of the story, you’ve got to work harder to dementia-proof your brain. Here’s why exercise works…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Kiss diabetes and high blood pressure goodbye in one step

If you live with type 2 diabetes, your doctor has probably recommended weight loss. That’s because dropping the extra pounds is one of the most effective ways to improve your blood sugar. Now according to a new study, there’s one more big benefit that could get you your best health — naturally…

Joyce Hollman

A bodybuilding supplement may halt Alzheimer’s progression

Exercise is great for the brain. And if your exercise game includes bodybuilding, you may have an edge over the rest of us: halting the progression of Alzheimer’s. But if weight training is off the table for you, there’s an easier way…

Margaret Cantwell

NAC: The liver’s ally for healthy aging

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid essential for antioxidant production. It’s also a powerful detoxifier. But with NAC, you also gain a powerful ally, capable of tackling multiple threats, including those that come with age…

Joyce Hollman

Best treatments for dry winter skin

Winter can be brutal on your skin. The dryness, itching and flaking are miserable and cause breaks in the layer of protection meant to keep your skin healthy. How about a crash course in choosing the right moisturizers (and a bonus ingredient with extra benefits)?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Forever chemicals: Hijacking genes to kill brain cells

We’re all intimately familiar with forever chemicals, whether we like it or not. They disrupt hormones, health and increase disease risk. But what they do when they cross into the brain is the most sinister of all…

Joyce Hollman

An important caveat for coffee’s heart-healthy benefits

Coffee’s reputation has been growing for decades. But for “grande” benefits, researchers shared a caveat that’s especially relevant to coffee’s link to lower cardiovascular mortality (hint, it’s not about decaf either!)…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

PQQ: The antioxidant that fights the most dangerous fat

There’s fat and there’s belly fat. It’s hard to lose and it takes your health down. That’s why so many reach for injectible GLP-1 drugs. Instead of dangerous side effects, battle the bulge with an alternative that not only fights fat three ways, but supports liver health and longevity…

Carolyn Gretton

Planning a family? Avoid this robber of male fertility

Couples planning a family try to do everything right to increase the odds of conception. But if men are eating certain foods, exposure to an unwanted ingredient could tank their fertility rates and semen quality…

Joyce Hollman

How red light signals ‘stop’ to reduce blood clot risk

Blood clots to help control bleeding. But it’s not always the protective mechanism it should be, and the danger is rarely discovered before it’s too late. But for those at higher risk, a new therapy could work…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Walk this way to add 11 extra years to your life

Do you need a little incentive to be more active? Who doesn’t? My favorite part of the day is when I get to put my feet up and relax, if only for a short while. But when I learned I could trade some of that time for 11 extra years, I was on board, almost…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The unseen fat that’s your heart’s biggest threat

A layer of fat around the heart offers protection. Unless there’s a little too much and it’s composed of damaging substances that can leak directly into your heart. Here’s how that happens and how to gauge your risk…

Craig Cooper

10 ways to lower your PSA levels

An elevated PSA can be an early indication of prostatitis, an enlarged prostate, or prostate cancer. However, an elevated PSA can also be associated with situations that don’t directly involve the prostate…

Carolyn Gretton

Scientists find how to control body’s fat-burning switch

Certain types of body fat are better than others. White fat isn’t one of them. Accounting for most of the body’s fat, it amounts to stored calories that if not burned, keep adding up. But brown fat ramps up metabolism and controlling it is in our reach…

Joyce Hollman

Aortic stenosis: What’s insulin resistance got to do with it?

Insulin resistance is coming to light as more than just a little blood sugar problem. We already know it can lead to type 2 diabetes. Now we’re finding it may be an instigator for the world’s most common heart valve disease…

Carolyn Gretton

The simple supplement that keeps muscles stronger longer

I never used to worry when I had trouble opening a jar or lifting a package, but these may be signs of age-related muscle loss. I thought I was keeping them strong, but I’d forgotten the mineral that can keep them stronger longer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The antimicrobial fruit combo that fights gum disease

Periodontitis is a type of gum disease that causes inflamed bleeding gums and tooth loss. Traditional products can be irritating, but there’s a fruity option that’s gentle on your mouth and effective at fighting it off…

Joyce Hollman

7 cancers that may lead to warning on alcohol labels

The United States Surgeon General has called for a cancer warning on alcohol labels, similar to what we’ve seen on cigarettes. The reason? These 7 cancers and how much or how little can increase their risks…

Carolyn Gretton

How weight-loss surgery takes down pancreatic cancer risk

It’s no wonder some people living with obesity turn to bariatric surgery. Aside from weight loss, the procedure has far-reaching impacts on other areas of health — including a particularly deadly type of cancer…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Is green tea the holy grail for brain health?

Green tea has a reputation as a holy grail for preventing a plethora of conditions. But against those that steal your memories and cognitive abilities, the evidence seems to go both ways. Take the guesswork out of brain and memory support…

Joyce Hollman

The berry that boosts metabolism, burns fat and fights flu

Since ancient times, elderberries have been used medicinally and have a reputation for fighting flu. But a regular dose of elderberry juice or tea just may be what your metabolism and blood sugar need to get in gear…

Carolyn Gretton

The non-invasive test that’s the best heart attack predictor

Calcium accumulates in arteries way before significant blockages develop, which is the best time to catch it. One test that measures it has proven its accuracy for predicting life or death even beyond heart disease…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Colonoscopy: Is every 10 years really necessary?

Whether your rite of passage was at 50 or 45, anyone who submits to a routine colonoscopy is informed they’re expected to repeat the procedure every 10 years. Now for some good news: some of us may get a reprieve…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Key player in kidney disease identified (and a supplement that helps)

37 million Americans live with chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes or hypertension, you’re at high risk of joining them. Luckily, a new treatment, and better yet, preventative, is on the horizon. Even better, it’s available right now without prescription…

Joyce Hollman

Newer cholesterol drugs linked to reduced lung function

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, especially statins, have been controversial almost from the get-go. After years of use, the list of side effects keeps growing. A newer class of drugs treats cholesterol differently, but it sounds like the same old story…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The truth about coffee’s effects on heart rhythm

If caffeine gives your brain a jolt to get your morning started, might it also give your heart a jolt that could cause rhythm problems, like atrial fibrillation? That’s been the subject of debate. After following more than 300,000 coffee lovers for 4 years, there’s an answer…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why New Year’s resolutions can backfire

Are you hearing less about your friends’ New Year’s resolutions? Experts say that’s because the practice can lead to stress no one needs. What can you do instead? Try just three simple habits for better days this year and beyond…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘no-bloat, no-gas’ prebiotic that reduces liver fat and inflammation

Fatty liver is a stealthy condition with few, if any, signs or symptoms until it progresses. It’s also highly preventable with the right lifestyle choices, including a simple and inexpensive prebiotic that can help a fatty liver slim down…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The hidden hazards of burning candles in your home

Those candles you light before a relaxing bath or the ones that give your home a warm glow are doing more than you bargained for. Here’s what and why you need to know about the hidden health hazards of candles…

Jedha Dening

Two kinds of fat your brain needs to reduce stroke risk

Stroke is perhaps the scariest of all vascular conditions. Odds are one in six of us will suffer one at some point. But research says that adding two specific fats to our diets won’t only lower risks for the development of stroke but reduce the severity should one happen…

Margaret Cantwell

How pork fat contributes to your nutritional fitness

If you’ve been scared off fat and are considering a diet craze that ditches entire food groups, this is for you: Pork fat ranks in the top 10 for a higher nutritional score than “healthy” foods like kale, broccoli or salmon. Here’s why…

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