Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

The heart condition you can get from one episode of heavy drinking

A drink with dinner — no big deal. What about two or three beers? If you’ve had enough to drink that you get a hangover the next morning, you’re setting yourself up for a potentially fatal heart problem, even if you’ve never had heart issues before.

Carolyn Gretton

How your age at menopause impacts your dementia risk

Women are at much higher risk of dementia than men, and declining estrogen may have something to do with it. But it gets more alarming: The earlier menopause happens, the higher that dementia risk goes. What can we do about that? You’d be surprised…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The hidden factor increasing heart disease in lean people

I’m not body-shaming. My concerns stem from knowing that certain kinds of fat and where it’s carried, like around the middle, can do real damage. But there’s another type of fat we never see that goes after the heart. Surprisingly, the leanest among us may be most at risk.

Joyce Hollman

Reducing cravings: An added benefit of exercise

Exercise should be part of any weight-loss strategy. But can it do more? Scientists have looked into how it may help us resist the foods that often sabotage our best efforts. And it’s promising enough that you may start disliking exercise a whole lot less…

Joyce Hollman

A fiber fix for antibiotic-resistant infections

When bacteria become resistant, the original antibiotic can no longer kill them. The chances of experiencing an antibiotic-resistant infection are only increasing. But what you eat can shift the balance of antibiotic resistance genes in your gut…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What gallstones reveal about your cancer risk

Pancreatic cancer is tough. Often diagnosed late, survival rates are low. Knowing your risks can help. And now a predictor of elevated risk has been identified — a condition that could mean cancer isn’t far behind. But like those other risk factors, you can take control…

Carolyn Gretton

Vision loss as a dementia risk factor stacks up

None of us want to face dementia. So we do crosswords and brain teasers and hope we’ll maintain a sharp brain. But there’s actually a simple action that a lot of us aren’t taking that can make a big difference in our dementia risk…

Joyce Hollman

Middle-aged+? This is the ‘optimal’ amount of sleep for you

Ever wonder how much sleep you need for your best shot at overall health, including strong mental faculties? A huge study has answered that question for those of us middle-aged and up. Here’s the scoop, plus some tips for natural ways to help you achieve it…

Joyce Hollman

Gum disease and lung infections: A new connection

Did you know the immune cells that are generated to fight gum disease often turn up in heart valves and heart muscle? And that’s not the only crazy connection to your dental hygiene. Most recently, it’s been found that your lungs are another target for mouth bacteria…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The new fountain of youth: Fecal transplants

One of the most promising fields of anti-aging research is fecal transplants. Sounds gross, but amazing things happened when old mice were transplanted with poop from young mice. How far would you go to turn back the clock? Luckily, you don’t have to go quite this far, but it’s where you should start…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Water fasting: Its impact on type 2 diabetes and more

Dramatic improvement for type 2 diabetes is just the tip of the iceberg for what may be possible to achieve with water fasting. But it shouldn’t be approached lightly. If you’ve considered it, here’s what you should know…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Esophageal cancer doubles in adults under 65

We hear a lot about breast, liver and even lung cancer. But no so much about esophageal cancer. It causes minimal symptoms, so it’s often not suspected before it becomes advanced. And its rates have almost doubled. While experts figure out why — it’s important to know your risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The coffee brew method that raises cholesterol most for men

Coffee. Few of us can or want to start the day without it. And why not? The health benefits keep coming, or do they? That all depends on the brew method and your sex, especially if you’re watching your cholesterol…

Carolyn Gretton

The berry that decreases dementia risk even in middle age

It helps reduce the inflammation that can lead to heart disease and metabolic dysfunction. It can even help support stronger bones and muscles. Now researchers have found further evidence of this little powerhouse’s brain benefits — even in middle age…

Joyce Hollman

Monkeypox: What you need to know

As if COVID-19 wasn’t enough of a jolt for us to deal with, now there’s monkeypox. It may feel like we’re under attack from new viruses, but monkeypox has been around. It’s a cousin to smallpox, but don’t get worried, get in the know…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Recurrent UTIs start in your gut — not your bladder

It can seem that there’s nothing more painful than a urinary tract infection. So you head off to your doctor who prescribes an antibiotic. But you should know, the way doctors have been treating UTIs only perpetuates the dreaded recurrent UTI cycle. Here’s why…

Carolyn Gretton

The cellular ‘switch’ that triggers arteries to thicken

When arteries get thick and stiff, it opens up a world of trouble starting with heart and circulatory problems. It makes it easier for plaque to build up. But there may be more to it and researchers hope that leads them to strategies other than surgery…

Joyce Hollman

4 ways your body warns you it’s aging too fast

As we age, changes start to occur in our bodies. Not all of them are pleasant. And some can be warning signs that you’re actually aging faster than you probably want to. The good news is that you can do something about quite a few of them…

Joyce Hollman

If you thought melatonin was just for sleep, think again

It turns out that a hormone we naturally produce, and a supplement many of us take in order to improve sleep, is also a surprising immune system booster. Discover all the ways melatonin can help now and always…

Joyce Hollman

Breast cancer: Why Black and Hispanic women need more vitamin D

Vitamin D has shown positive effects on autoimmune disease, diabetes, heart disease and even COVID-19. Now research shows that Black and Hispanic women, who are normally more susceptible to breast cancer, are safer from the disease if they have adequate levels of vitamin D in their blood.

Joyce Hollman

Genetic cancer risk? Your metabolic risk may weigh heavier

For a long time, cancer research has emphasized the genetic aspect of the disease, that is, the risk we inherit from our parents. Now, though, science is becoming more aware of the environmental and metabolic factors behind cancer that are under our control…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why is heart attack mortality higher in the U.S.?

From imaging equipment to procedures like bypass or angioplasty to open a blocked artery as a heart attack happens, it would seem U.S. hospitals have all they need to provide the best care available to prevent the worst from happening. The truth may surprise you…

Jenny Smiechowski

The best nutrient to stress-proof against leaky gut

Your gut goes through some big changes when you’re under stress. In fact, stress impacts the bacteria in your microbiome, and it may even cause a serious gut issue called leaky gut syndrome. But don’t worry too much (it’ll only make your gut worse!). There’s a way to shield your gut from stress…

Carolyn Gretton

These are the reasons you should be drinking tea

There’s matcha tea, various herbal teas and flowery botanical teas, but none of them are as systematically studied as Camellia sinensis — true tea — with thousands of years of traditional use behind its growing global reputation as a beverage that promotes good health.

Joyce Hollman

Early signs of functional decline that lead to male ‘frailty’

Maybe it’s because some still hold strong to the adage that men are the stronger sex. Or maybe it’s because men themselves aren’t open about health problems they experience with age. That’s a problem because male frailty is real and two signs can indicate if you’re headed there early…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Repel dementia with this triple antioxidant combo

Someone develops dementia every three seconds. That means in the time it took you to read that sentence, another person became a victim. You’re not doomed, though, if you can increase levels of three powerful antioxidants you should be taking anyway…

Camille Johnson

6 simple principles to crack the wellness code

Living well is an art, not a science. It begins with your health and making choices that lower stress and create satisfaction. From the space you call home to the food you eat, these 6 prinicples can help you make a masterpiece of the art of living…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Don’t combine ibuprofen with these common hypertension drugs

If you take prescription blood pressure medication, you may know these drugs don’t come without risks, this time from a surprising source: If you’re used to popping ibuprofen for pain you need to know it’s a dangerous mix with certain classes of blood pressure drugs.

Joyce Hollman

When it comes to pros and cons, not all alcohol is equal

Alcohol has a reputation as a double-edged sword. But when it comes to health, not all alcoholic drinks are created equal. Research is teasing out some of those differences and one, in particular, may be why, depending on your poison, alcohol has both benefits and risks…

Carolyn Gretton

How a strange little mushroom fills the deep well of depression

Psilocybin is a psychedelic compound derived from mushrooms. Several studies indicate it significantly reduces depression and even puts some patients into remission. Now research shows how it literally can pull our brains from a deep well of depression…

Joyce Hollman

The medical device ‘coverup’ that could threaten your life

Medical devices are everywhere, from tongue depressors to knee replacements to pacemakers. We’re talking about any non-drug product used in medical treatment. While it’s mandatory that companies report deaths associated with their devices, reporting any other negative outcomes is strictly voluntary.

Jenny Smiechowski

How to know if fibromyalgia is behind your fatigue and pain

Fibromyalgia has been one of the most difficult conditions to diagnose. Doctors could only guess based on symptoms and by ruling out other possible causes. But that may soon be coming to an end. Luckily, researchers just uncovered a simple way to diagnose fibromyalgia with more certainty…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

5 reasons almonds are the world’s most nutritious (and helpful) food

The key to losing weight and keeping it off, for good, is to make small sustainable changes, like incorporating more foods that promote health (and fewer foods that promote disease) into your day. One food that can promote both health and weight loss, happens to have recently been named the world’s most nutritious food.

Joyce Hollman

8 rules for preventing a first heart attack

The American College of Cardiology, along with the American Heart Association, issued a new set of guidelines for preventing a first heart attack or stroke. Much of the advice will not be at all surprising to you. But there has been a definite shift, you should know about…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why ‘fast food’ oil increases your risk for metastatic breast cancer

There’s probably not a woman out there that doesn’t fear a breast cancer diagnosis. And, those that survive the disease live with the constant worry of recurrence since the majority of survivors have dormant tumor cells circulating in their blood, like a time bomb, waiting to go off.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

One weird reason antidepressants may not work

Anyone who has ever dealt with depression knows how alone it can make you feel. Not only is it like living under a cloud, but it’s hard to really talk about how you feel, especially when the doctors keep insisting their pills will make you feel better. Well, now we know why they’re wrong.

Joyce Hollman

Is aluminum worth it for sweet-smelling armpits?

Have you ever thought about what’s in your deodorant that’s keeping you dry and sweet-smelling all day? Sure, you’re not eating any of the unpronounceable chemicals in there… but your skin may as well be. And research says that makes cancer a threat to you…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Middle-aged? What you need to know about your stroke risk

Most of us were shocked recently when well-known actor Luke Perry passed away shortly after suffering a stroke at the age of 52. But this may shock you even more… Middle-aged Americans are the fastest rising age group for stroke risk.

Jenny Smiechowski

Gaining muscle helps gain blood sugar control and reduces diabetes risk

If you’ve noticed your blood sugar creeping up at your last few doctor’s appointments, diabetes is probably at the top of your mind. Maybe you’ve started eating better and exercising more to shed pounds and keep your blood sugar down. But you’ll need to muscle up if you really want results…

Joyce Hollman

7 unusual signs of lung cancer

There are unusual symptoms of lung cancer that can make themselves known early on. You wouldn’t normally connect these symptoms in other parts of the body with lung cancer. Unless, of course, you know what to look for…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why moisturizing your skin could help prevent chronic disease

If you want to slow the signs of aging, you slather on moisturizer daily to keep your skin looking soft, supple and young. But what if the benefits of moisturizer went more than skin deep? What if moisturizer could fight body-wide inflammation that leads to disease? That sounds outlandish, but research says…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

A midday snooze could help you lose high blood pressure better than meds

Have you heard the phrase, “if you snooze, you lose?” Usually it refers to missing out on something because you weren’t paying attention and let an opportunity pass you by. But here’s one opportunity you can totally snooze on, and still reap some impressive benefits…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The sweetener that’s like ‘miracle grow’ for colon cancer tumors

You’ve heard that sugar fuels cancer. But there’s a scarier sweetener in most of the sweet stuff we drink., and tumors are able to use it to their benefit to grow at a supercharged rate. Is this behind the climbing colorectal cancer rates?

Jenny Smiechowski

3 factors that fuel age-related brain shrinkage the fastest

As alarming as it is to find a wiry gray hair sprouting from your head or a cavernous wrinkle resting in a formerly smooth section of your face, I think the most alarming part about getting older is what happens to your brain…Now, you’ve probably heard about the alarming effects of brain aging before. But if you haven’t, brace yourself…

Joyce Hollman

6 ways this forgotten health nut can improve your health

There are several health conditions you can improve by chomping on a few nuts. But are you limited to just almonds, walnuts or pistachios? Not at all! In fact you should eat a handful of this forgotten health nut every day. Now, here’s how they can help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The low-carb link to heart problems

The low-carb diet I love could be dangerous for my heart. It’s important to weigh the risks and benefits of going low-carb. It’s not an easy decision, and each low-carb dieter has to decide what’s best for them.

Jenny Smiechowski

Tired of antibiotics in your food? Oranges are next

In case you haven’t heard, citrus trees in Florida have been struggling with a bacterial disease called citrus greening. That means the citrus industry has been struggling too. Citrus farmers are desperate. And you know the saying: Desperate times call for desperate measures. Well, that includes widespread use of antibiotics in your oranges.

Jenny Smiechowski

The surprising impact distant relatives with Alzheimer’s have on your risk

It’s common knowledge that if someone in your immediate family (like your mom, dad or siblings) has Alzheimer’s, you have a higher risk of the disease. But things get a little murkier when it comes to aunts, grandparents and so on. These numbers will get you serious about avoiding the disease.

Jenny Smiechowski

Treating this common eye condition might cure your migraines

Now, the exact cause of migraines is still a mystery. But all these eye-related symptoms make you wonder… Is the answer to migraines in the eye? It could be. In fact, a new study shows that migraines are closely connected to one eye condition in particular…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to use bedtime snacking to grow more muscle

No matter how much I worked out, or how many weights I lifted, that muscle tone I’m so envious of remained elusive. But, it’s an easy fix. It turns out I was eating wrong — or more accurately — not eating at a particular time of the day that can spur muscle growth for bigger gains.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What Yo-Yo dieting does to your heart

New Research shows that yo-yo dieting may make it harder for women to control a variety of heart disease risk factors, leaving them in danger. And, considering that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women across the world, this is a serious issue you should know about…

Dr. Michael Cutler

Cinnamon: The super antioxidant-rich disease-fighting spice

Did you know that more herbs are among the foods with highest antioxidant value? And one of my favorites is right up there near the top… cinnamon. You might be pleasantly surprised to see what science has to say about cinnamon and Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and blood sugar…

Joyce Hollman

How mouthwash raises your blood pressure

Have you heard the expression, “throwing the baby out with the bath water”? It means getting rid of what’s good, along with what’s bad. This happens a lot when it comes to things we do and use that are supposed to make us healthier… like gargling with mouthwash.

Jenny Smiechowski

The vegetables that slash colorectal cancer risk 79 percent

No one should ever let the fear of bad breath keep them away from garlic too often. That’s because allium vegetables could have a valuable service to offer: cancer protection. And the more you eat, the better. You could cut your colorectal cancer risk a whopping 79 percent!

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The inactive ingredients in pills that trigger allergies

Do you have a food allergy or sensitivity? If so, you know some can be quite uncomfortable and others, quite dangerous. So if you had a problem with gluten, lactose or peanuts, you’d never expect to find anything like that in your medication, right? Think again…

Joyce Hollman

Is ‘meat glue’ causing your digestive problems?

Have you heard of “meat glue?” Yes, you read that right… It’s an additive that showing up in everything from meat to dairy, and even baked goods. Its purpose is also to bind proteins together, giving products a better texture and longer shelf life. Here’s how it can make you sick…

Jenny Smiechowski

Waiting till middle age to get fit can still get you the benefits of a 20-something

We all made mistakes in our youth… But don’t get down on your younger self too much, especially if you neglected exercising because you had something better to do. There’s strong evidence that even if you lived a less-than-healthy lifestyle in your youth, you can make up for it later…

Jenny Smiechowski

Which diet offers better dementia prevention?

There’s a question that’s probably at the top of your mind, because it could save it: What diet provides the best dementia protection? Several studies found the Mediterranean diet reduces Alzheimer’s risk. But recently, it’s gotten stiff competition from a diet designed specifically with brain health in mind.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Vaping practically as bad for your heart as smoking

While many hail e-cigarettes for reducing the risks of traditional cigarettes, new warnings are also sounding. Research presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 68th Annual Scientific Session has shed some light on the heart dangers associated with e-cigarettes…

Jenny Smiechowski

34 health problems fueled by junk food

Here’s an exciting statistic: The CDC reports that roughly 70 percent of annual deaths are due to chronic diseases. I know what you’re thinking… “That’s sad, not exciting. What the heck is wrong with you?” Here’s why I think it’s exciting… You have the power to prevent them!

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