Latest Stories

Latest Stories

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…

Jenny Smiechowski

7 surprising health benefits of our favorite fall spice

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Unraveling: The serotonin connection to depression

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?

Carolyn Gretton

The dirty truth about toxic soil and your heart

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…

Joyce Hollman

The ‘one a day’ that skyrockets women’s liver cancer risk

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…

Joyce Hollman

Cut your risk of premature death 28% at the dinner table

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…

Joyce Hollman

5 factors that increase your fall risk and how to beat them

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…

Joyce Hollman

One thing anxiety, depression and Alzheimer’s have in common

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…

Carolyn Gretton

The disturbing truth about blue light and aging

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…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Long-term use of these anxiety drugs fuels dementia

Many of us suffer from an unseen condition that can make every day difficult. Sometimes it even feels like a heart attack. But it’s not. It’s anxiety. And in a rush to take anything to feel better, we eagerly accept medication. But the long-term damage may be worse than any anxiety attack…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Eczema: The early vitamin intervention that could stop it

We know eczema can be a frustrating, uncomfortable, and, for some, distressing condition to deal with. But what you might not know, however, is that the peak prevalence of the disease occurs in early childhood. Early intervention with a vitamin that helps adults with the condition might stop it.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Need to bring your stress levels down? Look at this now

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. The pandemic set off changes that we still feel the stress of today. But it also set off a flurry of research into how we can relieve it. If you’ve got less than 5 minutes, take a literal look at how fast you can improve your well-being.

Margaret Cantwell

Sea turtle poops plastic for 6 days

Did you hear about the baby sea turtle that pooped plastic for six days? You can’t see it, but microplastics are coursing through your bloostream too, depositing hormone-disrupting toxins, causing heart disease and binding to your gut. Here’s how to purge it…

Miguel Leyva

Why do women experience Parkinson’s differently than men?

Women may be less likely to get a Parkinson’s diagnosis than men, but over 400,000 women live with the condition. But are their numbers lower due to the fact it affects the genders differently or a mistaken perception that’s endangering women?

Carolyn Gretton

The strong link between gum disease and heart failure

It’s pretty astonishing that medical professionals still treat the mouth as separate from the rest of the body. Research has already shown how strongly connected it is to other organs, particularly the heart. Now, an underlying factor in gum disease can skyrocket risk for heart failure.

Carolyn Gretton

Cancer prevention in the form of this dietary supplement

If you’re avoiding all carbs, you could be missing major protection from the kind that keeps your gut microbiota healthy, regulates blood sugar, reduces cholesterol and relieves constipation. What’s more, research indicates consuming it regularly reduced cancer risks by 60 percent…

Joyce Hollman

Thinking about injections for knee pain? Read this first

The pain of knee osteoarthritis affects more than 14 million Americans who often seek relief from their well-meaning doctors. But one remedy that’s proven quite lucrative for pharmaceuticals is proving nothing but ineffective and risky for patients…

Carolyn Gretton

How to trump a genetic risk for stroke

The scariest thing about stroke is how it can strike without warning. That’s why knowing if you have any risk factors can help. But what if you’re genetically at higher risk of stroke? While it can seem you’ve been dealt a pretty poor hand, there is a trump card that helps put the odds back in your favor…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Is exercise the secret to being skinny? Think again!

Have you ever looked at a thin person and assumed they must workout a lot? Because the secret to being thin is burning calories, right? The truth is thin people tend to be far less active than those of us with a few extra pounds. Turns out there’s something else up their sleeve…

Joyce Hollman

Women live longer: Two antioxidants help them live better

Women tend to live longer than men, but usually spend their later years living with conditions that make life miserable. What if just two nutrients could lower those risks of age-related decline and make those golden years, well, golden?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A setup for stroke: Sitting in front of a TV or the computer?

Sedentary behavior gets a bad rap. For a few years now we’ve heard the ills of sitting too much and its dangerous effects. But it seems to always center around the TV. But what about your computer? Can it double your stroke risk, too? And if so, what can you do about it?

Joyce Hollman

The ONE diet found to be the easiest to stick to and lose weight

If you’re locked in a constant struggle with weight, you know what to eat is the daily question, and often a confusing one. There is so much diet advice out there! You’ll be happy to know that, based on research, a group of scientists is backing one particular diet as the best candidate for sustained weight loss…

Carolyn Gretton

2 key biological elements of aging in humans reversed in scientific first

Until someone finds a “fountain of youth,” aging will continue to take a toll on all of us. There are ways to slow the aging process through diet and exercise, but no way to reverse it — until now. For the first time, and in humans — not mice, researchers were able to reverse two key biological elements of aging…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Risky medications that increase post-surgical delirium (and worse)

With age may come wisdom, but it can also bring a number of health problems, including some that require surgery. But surgery in our senior years is especially risky, and new findings show some common medications can make it much worse. Here’s what you need to know…

Jedha Dening

Triple your disease protection with carotenoids

Carotenoids make fruits and vegetables colorful. But more than that, carotenoids are powerful antioxidants with a serious capacity to scavenge free radicals and protect your body’s cells and tissues from oxidative damage and these three major health threats…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A big clue you’ve won the genetic lottery

Thanks to the fact that the over 60s age group is growing faster than any other, research is focused on how those living longer into old age can do so without succumbing to years of frailty and disability. And they may have found at least one of the secrets to living better longer…

Joyce Hollman

What the optometrist can ‘see’ about your stroke risk

Americans are not fans of eye exams. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists reports most of us won’t see an eye doctor even when problems develop. That’s a mistake: an exam could find signs you’re headed for stroke or heart attack even before your doctor can…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Healthy fat’s no substitute for how walnuts lower your blood pressure

High blood pressure is a tricky condition. After all, it’s known as the silent killer for good reason. You can easily have dangerously elevated pressure and not even know it until it’s too late. And, once you’re diagnosed, getting it under control is no picnic either.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Finally! The definitive answer on cranberry juice and UTIs

You’ve probably heard that drinking cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections. But, clinical trials of this popular remedy have produced mixed results. A new study has dug deeper though, and it looks like the debate over whether the red fruit really works to prevent UTIs is over…

Joyce Hollman

The brain chemical that helps banish unwanted thoughts

Being able to control the thoughts that go through your mind from moment to moment can be hard. You’re trying to concentrate but you can’t stop thinking about everything else but what you need to focus on. Here are some scientific tricks that work… including boosting an effective neurotransmitter.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why your skin could sky rocket your autoimmune disease risk

I’ve always been fascinated by medical mysteries… Like the man who looks like he’s part tree. Or the girl who doesn’t age. But a medical mystery doesn’t have to be bizarre and extraordinary to capture my attention. Take the mysterious connection between women and autoimmune disease…

Jenny Smiechowski

The fatal side effect of prescription sleep aids

Insomnia stinks. But, sometimes, you’d do almost anything for sleep, right? However, if you do turn to prescription sleep aids to get some zzz’s on occasion, there’s something you should know… They threaten lives more often than those commercials with the calming, sleep-inducing butterfly lead you to believe.

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Could moves like Jagger help your heart just as much?

Mick Jagger, the 75-year-old frontman for the Rolling Stones, underwent heart surgery about a month ago. But you’d never know it from this video… If you want to bounce back from any kind of surgery, especially heart surgery, there are a few things you could learn from Mr. Jagger, including his dance moves…

Joyce Hollman

5 ways empty calories hook you and the weird way to break up

What should you do when you smell warm cookies or French fries and you really, really want some? Walk away, of course. Stop smelling them and you’ll stop wanting them. You may find this hard to believe, but one of the best ways to curb your desire for, say, those French fries your friend is eating, is to…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diet-bacteria combination that could stop colon cancer

Did you know that teams of scientists and doctors across the world are now taking a step back from the traditional prescription for deadly diseases like colorectal cancer and beginning to dig deeper into how you can use combinations of diet and natural supplements to not only prevent them but stop their spread?

Jenny Smiechowski

Can this carb curb a creeping waistline?

If you’re struggling to lose weight, there’s one piece of advice no one will ever give you: Eat more carbs. Well, I know at least one carb-y food you can add to the “nice” rather than “naughty” list as you work to get your weight in check…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Medicinal mint’s ancient healing secrets decoded in the lab

Have you ever noticed that the second scientists discover that a natural substance like an herb or plant can help promote better health or fight disease, they immediately begin using it to design a drug that pharmaceutical companies can sell for a ridiculously high profit?

Joyce Hollman

Why cancer is still lurking in your drinking water

There are poisonous, cancer-causing chemicals in your drinking water. If you’re thinking you’ve heard this from us before, you’re right. Chemical companies are still hiding these poisons or disguising them as something else. Bottom line: A year later, you’re still drinking poison. Take these steps to protect yourself…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Unsugarcoated: The high glycemic path to metabolic disease

When people hear mention of the glycemic index (GI), they often think about measuring carbs and sugars. But it’s also about measuring disease risk. That’s because insulin is the all-important hormone for each cell of your body. When problems develop, they can go from blood sugar spike to disease fast…

Jenny Smiechowski

The breakfast that increases risk of death from heart disease 87%

Whether I’m whipping up a quick smoothie or digging into an omelet and toast, I love breakfast. I know not everyone is a breakfast person. But I have a hard time understanding how that can be… If you’re not, I have bad news. Your breakfast habits (or lack thereof) are putting your heart in jeopardy…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The fast way to fight 3 ways your body ages

You may know of someone who has used fasting to lose weight, get their diabetes under control or just get healthier. But besides helping to drop weight — it helps boost human metabolic activity, generate antioxidants and reverse some effects of aging by elevating levels of certain metabolites that diminish naturally with age…

Joyce Hollman

How sleep makes more room in your brain for memories

The brain has been compared to a computer. It takes in information, processes it, and stores it away in our memories. But just how does this happen? And how can we help things along? A recently published study took a close look at what’s going on in our brain when it’s at work forming permanent memories for us.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The vitamin you didn’t know could help prevent heart attack

Analyzing the bloodwork of patients who’ve suffered heart attack has revealed a common problem — low levels of a vitamin that helps regulate blood flow, lower blood pressure and the levels of oxidative stress in your cardiovascular system. You might say it turns back the clock on your veins, arteries and heart.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why diabetes causes cancer to spread

There are a lot of downsides to living with diabetes. But there’s one big downside that might not be on your radar — cancer. A new study shows that not only are people with diabetes more likely to develop cancer, they’re also more likely to develop the kind that spreads. It comes down to a trigger you must control…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3+ ridiculous reasons research is being funded to keep you away from vitamins

I’m a fan of The Big Bang Theory. In my favorite episode, Sheldon tells Amy that all vitamin supplements can do is give you “very expensive urine,” a conclusion that’s not far off from that of the recent study questioning the use of vitamins. But their ridiculous reasons are sitcom-worthy…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The dirty trick your brain plays that makes you gain more weight when stressed

If you’re an occasional junk food muncher when life is on cruise control… but especially lean towards sugary, gooey high-calorie foods when stress derails you, pay close attention to the dirty trick your brain plays on you that gets your body to stop burning calories…

Joyce Hollman

Studies find not-so-sweet links between popular sweetener, cancer and diabetes

The makers of artificial sweeteners have taken full advantage of the data to make a case for their products. But one after the other, “safe” artificial sweeteners have been unmasked as the health hazards they really are.

Jenny Smiechowski

Glyphosate triggers generational toxicology that could harm your family line

If you’re trying to decide if glyphosate (the chemical in Roundup) is harmful to your health, good luck. It’s hard to get a straight answer. Many organizations categorize it as a probable human carcinogen, except for the EPA. Whether an immediate concern for you or not, research says your family line could suffer…

Joyce Hollman

4 breakfast foods that will boost your brain power

What you choose to eat in the morning can have a very real effect on your brain power and focus for the rest of the day. But the right “brain foods” can help you put together some powerhouse breakfasts. Here are the top four brain-fueling breakfast foods that can help you stay sharp daylight to dark…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

8 ways to beat a genetic predisposition for cardiovascular disease

Many of my patients who have a family history of heart issues seem to resign themselves to the fact that they will experience the same fate as their relatives. There’s nothing further from the truth. Genetics is not destiny. It is merely a predisposition. And that means you have a big say in your outcome…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

10 minutes a day is all it takes to keep osteoarthritis from stealing your independence

Most people think cancer is about the worst thing that could happen. As a health researcher, I’m no exception and spend a lot of time looking for ways to diminish that risk. But there are other health issues that may not seem as scary — but can disrupt and derail your life just as much… maybe even more…

Joyce Hollman

The super salad six (and then some) that saves your brain

The importance of eating dark, leafy green vegetables is something you’ve heard me talk about before. The chlorophyll that makes them green fights cancer, heals wounds and detoxifies the liver. That’s why leafy greens are a central part of healing diets — even one that could help you eat your way to a stronger brain.

Jenny Smiechowski

30 foods that pack a punch against postmenopausal breast cancer

During menopause, everything about your body (and life) is in flux… Your risk for breast cancer increases after 40 and keeps going up. It’s at its highest after your 70th birthday. Luckily, a new study just identified a plant compound that can help keep you breast cancer-free during those midlife changes and beyond…

Jenny Smiechowski

What your sense of smell says about your lifespan

A slight decline in your senses as you get older is normal. But even though diminishing senses are a normal part of aging, there is one sense you should pay close attention to if it starts to go south — your sense of smell. For one reason, it could also be an early sign of a few serious diseases…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What the chemical that gives chilies their kick does to lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. But, why is it so deadly compared to other cancers? Often it’s simply not found early enough to stop its spread. And, once it’s metastasized to other parts of the body, it’s extremely difficult to treat. But science may have found a new tool to help stop it…

Dr. Michael Cutler

More than measuring carbs: The glycemic index and disease risk

You must have sugar to survive. But sugar is bad for you, right? It all depends on the way sugar is presented to your body. That’s where glycemic index comes in. Let’s look at the ways sugar heals…or kills you.

Joyce Hollman

Exercise ‘snacking’ may be the best trend for anyone

What kind of exercise is best? And how much is enough? What if you just can’t stand to work up a sweat and keep at it for long? Well, there’s more evidence that you don’t have to exercise yourself into oblivion — instead, grabbing a little here and a little there can be quite beneficial…

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