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When it comes to your arteries, you want the consistency of a wet noodle, not an uncooked piece of pasta. Otherwise your risks go up for heart problems. Yet, age isn’t the only thing that can stiffen our arteries. From birth control pills to menopause, women face a unique risk that can have serious consequences…

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the No. 1 cause of death worldwide. And though we’re familiar with the three main risk factors for CVD — high cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking — research has uncovered another, less-obvious factor that can double your risk for heart trouble…

If you have high blood pressure, you know it’s tough to get your readings down to normal levels, even with medication. One popular food known for health benefits could tank it by 7 points…

We’ll do just about anything we can to extend our lifespan, whether it’s following an anti-aging diet or exercise regimen — or as involved as using hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In all those efforts, there’s one goal scientists continue to chase: the ability to swallow one pill to stop aging. And they are inching ever closer…

Peripheral artery disease, or PAD, is similar to coronary artery disease. Both involve a buildup of plaque inside the arteries, which slows the flow of blood that nourishes all parts of the body and increases risk for blood clots. Scary thing is, it’s considered a “silent disease.” Here’s what to watch for…

Saying the word “menopause” immediately conjures up images of hot flashes, night sweats and bones becoming frail and prone to fracture. However, while menopause isn’t always a walk in the park, everything post menopause isn’t always bad news…

More evidence is stacking up that, when it comes to keeping your brain at its best, what you eat counts. According to research that spanned 12 years, there are eight foods you’ll want to make a part of your regular diet if you want to ward off cognitive impairment and dementia as you age — and one to avoid like the plague…

If you’ve recovered from even a mild bout with COVID-19, you know that even the weeks and months following an initial infection are no walk in the park. But if it’s been a year and a walk in the park leaves you breathless, you may not be scot-free quite yet. It could be a sign of problems you need to watch closely…

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms affecting one-third of American adults that increases risk for diabetes, heart disease and stroke. If you have excess belly fat, high cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, you may be one of them. If you’ve got 10 hours, you can turn it around before it’s too late.

As you get older, the size of a certain vital organ becomes more and more important — your brain. That’s because, typically, the older you get, the smaller your brain volume gets. And if this shrinkage gets too out of hand, you end up with a serious cognitive impairment like dementia.

By definition an autoimmune disorder is one in which your own immune system goes haywire, attacking the healthy tissue in your body, causing the disease. MS is one such disease. New research shows its symptoms may be improved and progress prossibly slowed with a change of temperature. Here’s why…

From controlling type 2 diabetes to stopping cancer in its tracks, if you want to stay in tip-top shape, nuts could be your ticket to a longer, healthier life. And it looks like the benefits of walnuts just keep stacking up, especially where heart health is concerned…

You’ve certainly heard of long Covid, the phenomenon where people “recover” from the virus that causes COVID-19 but are left with a laundry list of symptoms. However, what you might not know is that if you’re a woman living with long Covid, you may have an extra hard time getting back to normal life, especially if you enjoyed an active lifestyle.

Memory problems can be unnerving, especially when we get older. It’s easy to begin second-guessing everything and wondering whether you’re simply forgetful or if something worse is happening — like Alzheimer’s. How can you tell the difference? Here are a few things to take note of…

Sun exposure may be rough on the skin, but it has a lot of upsides for our sleep, mood and vitamin D levels. And now researchers are discovering that the benefits of sunlight may go even further by protecting us from certain autoimmune diseases…

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of sight loss in the Western world. And most people don’t know they have it until they’re already losing their sight. Researchers have been looking for ways to catch AMD before that point, and they may have identified some new early warning signs that can help them do it…

To lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, we’re told to eat a heart-healthy diet. What exactly is heart-healthy? Is it only eating certain types of foods and eliminating others? Or is there a way to get to that elusive heart-healthy status without feeling deprived? Yes, according to these new rules…

Instead of dreaming of tropical islands this winter, why not try some exotic fruits that hail from warmer climates? Here are 11 exotic “superfruits” that are fun to try, and packed with enough nutritional power to dispel the winter doldrums and most anything else that ails you…

It’s been known for some time that people who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting certain cancers, including thyroid cancer. But it’s been unclear exactly how many cases of thyroid cancer are connected with weight — until now — and the findings should be a wake up call, especially for men…

Research shows inflammation is a driving force behind obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Now research is stacking up that connects it with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The good news? Foods feed that inflammation in a dose-dependent manner and a change of diet could make a big difference.

Low blood pressure, or hypotension, comes with its own set of troublesome symptoms. And, just like high blood pressure, it may also be a signal of other things going wrong in the body — surprisingly enough, even with your thyroid…

The average American eats less than one daily serving of whole grains, and some studies show that over 40 percent of Americans never eat whole grains at all. When you know what whole grains can do for blood sugar, it’s no wonder so many Americans are in trouble…

AFib skyrockets your stroke risk. By throwing your heart out of rhythm, the condition can result in blood clots being released, blocking blood flow to your brain. If that wasn’t bad enough, strokes caused by AFib tend to be more severe than strokes from other causes. That’s why getting to the truth about AFib triggers is vitally important…

Aging means slowing down, doing less and retiring, right? Wrong! According to research from Harvard, if you’re taking it easier as the years pass, you’re missing out on processes in the body that can actually build your body back stronger and fight disease to help you live healthier and longer…

Need a reason to stop procrastinating when it comes to household chores and get that sweeping, vacuuming and dusting done? A study looked at housework specifically for its ability to increase the amount of physical activity people get, and found quite a few unexpected perks that promote healthy aging…

Sucking in our stomachs can seem normal, especially for women. But it turns out it’s not exactly healthy for us to be holding in our stomachs all the time. Read on to discover the dark side of “stomach gripping” and why it might have you running to the nearest restroom faster…

The FODMAP diet has been found to reduce the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. But it wasn’t clearly understood how. Well, now we know. We also know that many people with IBS have a very unique microbial signature that’s downright dangerous…

It’s long been known that following menopause, women face an elevated risk of numerous health problems. But for women who experience early menopause (before the age of 50), the risks carry an extra wallop. And unfortunately, outside factors are contributing to this phenomenon…

Researchers have identified a connection between a genetic link and altered metabolites that appears to increase susceptibility to migraine. Good news is, to correct these metabolites and hopefully cut down on the painful condition, they’re looking at diet and a particular supplement that’s already shown major promise…

Iron is an essential nutrient. Iron deficiency anemia is all too common, especially in women and people over 65. But iron overload can also lead to serious health concerns. This conundrum is plaguing research over the past five years that has discovered a complicated relationship between iron levels and Alzheimer’s…

Whether or not you’ve already made your resolutions, there’s one you might want to add. You only need to do it for one month to get big results. In fact, it can help you sleep better, feel more energetic, lose weight — and then some…

What puts some women at risk, while others live a long healthy life free of breast cancer? Several things. But here’s the rub — some you can control and some you can’t… and one your doctor probably doesn’t even know about yet.

Sugar. It’s delicious, but it’s dangerous… Say you eat a glazed donut from a local bakery. It’s packed with sugar. And that sugar stealthily glides through your body and into your gut. Once it’s inside, it attacks one of your body’s biggest assets…

Microplastic is defined as pieces of plastic that are less than 5mm in size. Think confetti, or sprinkles on your ice cream. They’re that small, and they travel fast. They’re also poison and they’ve made it to your dinner plate. Here’s how to avoid eating them…

What many people write off as just a “chest cold” is actually an inflammation of the lungs called bronchitis. Here’s how to know if you’ve got it, and how to treat it, keep yourself comfortable, and make sure it doesn’t become a more serious illness…

The winter months are tough for a lot of us… If you suffer from seasonal affective disorder, it can be especially difficult. Some of us are less likely to be affected than others, but wherever you fall in the spectrum, you can slash your depression risk…

When if comes to body image, there are lots of body parts where size might matter. There’s one body part, though, where what really matters about its size isn’t so much for appearance’s sake, but what it might indicate about your risk for a potentially deadly event…

Fortunately, most of us won’t get Alzheimer’s. But that doesn’t mean you get off scot-free. Many of us will develop some cognitive impairments as we age. So, what can you do to keep your cognitive abilities from slipping away? It’s simple, really…

As the years go on, we learn more and more about multiple sclerosis (MS). For a long time, scientists suspected that MS was caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. But did you know food allergies may be a major piece of the puzzle?

Can what you eat for breakfast really change your metabolic profile for the better, preventing the risk factors that lead to damaging blood sugar problems… and ultimately to type 2 diabetes? This food can, and that’s only the beginning…

Long before antibiotics, cultures around the world have used medicinal plants to treat bacterial infections. That’s a good thing, considering the rise of antibiotic resistance. But all along, a powerful bacteria killer has been hiding under our feet…

Hitting the dance floor (even in your own home) and boogying the night away (or the hour, or even just a few minutes) has been proven time and again to be one of the best things you can do for your health. Let’s take a look at just a few of the benefits dancing delivers…

As a former ulcerative colitis patient, I am very interested in ways to restore intestinal health. In 1997, I underwent drastic surgery for this condition. I’d like to be able to help others get relief without such extreme measures. That’s where SBI comes in…

If you or someone you love is taking metformin for type 2 diabetes, it’s only a matter of time before a second-line drug will be necessary. But recent findings show that with some of these medications you’re jumping “out of the frying pan and into the fire.”

Here are nine things you should never ignore, or chalk up to “nothing.” Go to your doctor and get them checked out. They could save you time and expense, and could quite possibly save your life.

Autoimmune disease is something that runs in my family… Over the years, we’ve tried everything from natural supplements to prescription drugs but as anyone with this type of disease knows, autoimmunity is difficult to defeat. Fortunately, a new study just might have the answer we’ve all been looking for…

The longer you’re on this earth, the more likely you are to experience depression. But there are plenty of ways to keep depression from dragging you down… including one super simple and entertaining habit you only need to practice once a month to feel better…

If you live with high cholesterol or heart disease, chances are your doctor has prescribed statins for you. But certain enzymes in your body might keep them from working. Luckily, a new study has the answer to boosting statin effectiveness.

Erectile dysfunction affects at least one in five men over 60. But, the more you know about what contributes to erectile dysfunction, the more you can do to prevent it. In fact, there are three often overlooked causes that could be fueling your bedroom boredom…

Which comes first, the nightmare or the illness? It’s hard to say. But one thing is certain: your dreams, particularly your nightmarish ones, are intimately connected with your health. If nightmares are disrupting your sleep, something else might be happening…

Everyone knows that smoking and obesity put you at risk for heart disease. But before you pat yourself on the back for staying away from cigarettes and keeping your BMI low, there are two equally dangerous risk factors you might not have under control…

There are a lot of ways to gauge how long you’re going to live… You can look at your family tree. You can take your lifestyle into account. If you’re eating well and exercising, the odds of a long life are in your favor. But what about the condition of your back?

There’s never been a question that sugar is at the root of metabolic syndrome  and diabetes. But even before it gets that bad, sugar is doing its dirty work in your body. You may be among those who have a sugar intolerance or, more rarely, a full-blown sugar allergy.

Most prescriptions are way too high. That’s why drug companies offer some incentive programs to help us afford their expensive medications. But insurance companies aren’t too happy with these financial incentives, and may soon put patients in a bad spot…

The genes that metabolize food so efficiently during the day don’t work that well at night. They think they’re off duty. That means late-night snacking could lead to metabolic imbalances and weight gain. But there’s more to the story than just that…

It’s no secret sleep is vital to your health. And now we know if you’re not getting it, you can’t control cravings, improve your metabolism or keep your blood pressure stabilized. No wonder it leads to diabetes and obesity…

Nearly half of all older adults are using seven or more prescription medications that could impair their driving ability — making them dangerous not only to themselves, but to others. Are you one of these people? It’s not something your doctor always catches…

No one looks forward to a colonoscopy. After all, the prep that keeps you running for the bathroom, not to mention having a scope inserted into your, well… bottom. If you’re overdue and not sure about going through with it, this may help make up your mind…

Antibiotics have risks. But in many cases the benefits far outweigh those risks… Except when they’re prescribed for a virus, or as “preventative,” or especially when they put you at risk for a serious and potentially deadly aortic aneurysm…

Despite the fact that cannabis is legal in more states and perceived to be harmless for recreational use, newer evidence has emerged showing that regular heavy use of cannabis causes a number of adverse health effects. Let’s review them…