Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Joyce Hollman

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reversed hallmarks of Alzheimer’s

HBOT treatment involves spending time in a special chamber, where air pressure levels are 1.5 to 3 times higher than average, breathing pure oxygen. The goal is to fill the blood with enough oxygen to repair tissues and restore normal body function. And that’s how it appears to have reversed the development of biological hallmarks that lead to Alzheimer’s.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The concern about high blood pressure and nighttime hot flashes

With all of the symptoms women can experience during menopause, nighttime hot flashes may be the worst, as well as the most common. While most of us think of them as pain in the rear, there’s a darker side to them every woman should be aware of. As well as the one thing she can do to reduce the threat they pose to her heart health.

Carolyn Gretton

Can’t quit bacon? These plants might protect you

It’s been hammered into our heads that processed meats like bacon and sausage make us sick. That doesn’t make it any easier to eat less of these tasty foods. Luckily, researchers have identified a plant extract that not only may act as a substitute for the dangerous preservatives in processed meat, it may counteract their ill health effects.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Silent coronary atherosclerosis: What tests may not reveal

If you’ve had a yearly checkup, you may feel confident that your risk of a future heart attack is low, thanks to cardiac CT scans and CAC scoring, now widely used to gauge the accumulation of calcified arterial plaque. But that gold standard test meant to help you and your doctor stay ahead of any potential danger isn’t getting the complete picture…

Joyce Hollman

New test detects ‘on-switch’ for prostate cancer development

PSA tests have been the gold standard to detect prostate cancer. But high PSA levels don’t always mean cancer is present, setting most men up for painful, risky, and ultimately unnecessary biopsies. That may soon be a thing of the past, thanks to a test that can detect an “on-switch” for prostate cancer development…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The 9 best and worst foods for your liver

Your liver performs more than 500 vital functions. From processing and storing nutrients to balancing blood sugar, fueling muscles, regulating blood clotting and filtering toxins from your blood stream, your liver is always hard at work. Let’s take a deep dive into the foods that love your liver and the foods your liver would love for you to forget.

Carolyn Gretton

What the gut reveals about RA progression and treatment

More studies are demonstrating a clear link between changes in the gut microbiome and disease, particularly autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis. On top of that, the microbiome may serve as a sort of crystal ball, not only predicting disease progression, but ultimately providing clues that can enhance treatment.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The diet that accelerates hair loss

It’s been noticed among the scientific community that there are higher rates of male-pattern baldness and hair thinning among men and women who are overweight. So they decided to dig deep into the connection. They found a tangled web of fat, inflammation and oxidative stress that blocks hair follicle renewal, and here’s what you can do about it…

Joyce Hollman

Your brain and aging: It’s not all bad news

Bad news: Most people assume that their memory and other brain functions will automatically worsen with age. True, there is some cognitive decline. Good news: But research shows that some important brain functions actually improve as we get older. Here’s what you can worry a lot less about…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Get the spark you need to revive the romance in your life

Has the romance and passion in your relationship waned with the passage of time? That spark that can sometimes fade may not be as elusive and you think. As research has helped confirm, all you may need is a little time to shine to heat things up, thanks to what the “sex vitamin” can do for both men and women…

Carolyn Gretton

The dietary secret to keeping your body clock in sync

Does your job require you to travel across time zones? Maybe you work late or deal with other factors that disrupt your schedule often? If so, you know what it’s like when your body clock gets out of sync, causing fragmented sleep and lack of focus. Luckily, researchers may have found a simple dietary solution for your jet-lagged misery…

Joyce Hollman

4 head-to-toe benefits of lutein beyond your eyes

Lutein is a natural antioxidant found in green leafy vegetables and other healthy foods. It’s best known for promoting healthy eyesight and even reducing the risk of AMD. But you may be very surprised to know it can do a lot more, even affecting the aging process. Here are three important research-backed reasons you want to be sure you’re not missing out on this nutrient…

Carolyn Gretton

The health impact of ‘thyroid dimming’

Decades of research have demonstrated that the thyroid plays a key role in regulating the body’s metabolism, affecting weight gain and related metabolic problems like diabetes, high cholesterol and fatty liver disease. Once thought to operate like an on and off switch, new research reveals the liver’s role in thyroid ‘dimming’…

Margaret Cantwell

The simple reason statins don’t work for everyone

One of the reasons many people have a hard time with their cholesterol is because of how they respond to the popular statin drugs used to treat it. For some, drug therapy works, but for others, not so much. But a few tweaks can fix that…

Joyce Hollman

Experts validate 5 factors that drastically affect heart disease risk

If you have a family history of heart disease, you might assume you’re a time bomb waiting to go off and there’s little you can do about it. But you’d be wrong. As much as 90 percent of our risk comes from factors within our control. And some of those factors have recieved an updated seal of approval from the experts, validating their potential to save your life…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The pesticide that helps pack on the pounds

It’s no secret that for decades Americans have been getting heavier. There are a lot of reasons why, and we’ve been conditioned to believe they are within our control, and that not following a healthy diet or overeating is no one’s fault but our own. But it may not have been the food all along, and instead, what was on the food…

Carolyn Gretton

Is exercise a good idea with AFib?

If you have the heart rhythm disorder atrial fibrillation (AFib), you may be confused as to whether it’s a good idea to exercise. No wonder. To this point, the few studies on AFib and exercise have been contradictory. But, there’s been positive indication that a carefully structured exercise program may help some people with AFib better manage their condition…

Joyce Hollman

The grain you’ve never heard of that could prevent diabetes

Most of us have gotten the message: eating more whole grains (as opposed to refined grains like white flour and white rice), is key to healthy living, especially if you want to avoid chronic disease. And nothing can become chronic faster than jumping from prediabetes to a full-fledged diagnosis. But the right grain can completely turn things around, and it’s gluten-free…

Carolyn Gretton

How many steps a day really lead to a longer life?

You’ve probably heard that 10,000 steps a day can lead to better health and longer life. But have you ever wondered why 10,000 steps? Truth be told, it was an estimate with little science behind it. Recently, researchers set out to determine exactly how many steps per day are needed for those optimal health benefits. Luckily, you can live a lot longer while walking a lot less…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Shocking number of lives could be saved by giving up this one thing

It’s no secret that eating or drinking too much sugar is an unhealthy choice. Foods and beverages laden with the sweet stuff have been strongly linked to type 2 diabetes, stroke, heart attack and heart disease. Scientists quantified sugar’s effects and found a shocking number of lives could be saved by giving up the worst culprit. One of those could be yours…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The secret to lower blood pressure with flavonoids

One of the most interesting things about the human body is how it works together. That’s why for healthy blood pressure, you need a healthy gut. The reason? It all comes down to how certain foods are metabolized, particularly flavonoids, which are known to have great effects on blood pressure levels. But the results may not be the same for everyone…

Carolyn Gretton

Targeting what drives prostate cancer at its source

About one in eight American men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime, and one in 41 will die from the disease. Researchers determined to improve those odds are working to uncover more effective ways to treat prostate cancer — and they may have found an answer in the way these cancer cells feed themselves…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How resistance training helps you enter ‘fat-burning mode’

Exercise is one of the best ways to reduce chronic disease risk. Why? It helps burn fat that can lead to metabolic syndrome, a constellation of factors that increase your risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. But the number one factor is an accumulation of fat around your middle. So if you’re going to exercise, pick one known to go straight for this fat…

Joyce Hollman

5 factors that can crush genetic risks for Alzheimer’s

Having a genetic risk for Alzheimer’s can be really scary. But the National Institutes of Health found that people who adhered to at least four of five specific healthy lifestyle factors lowered their risk of Alzheimer’s by sixty percent. Best news of all? Even octogenarians can avoid Alzheimer’s by following these habits…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How an acidic diet can take your kidney health down fast

When most of us think about the foods we eat, we get stuck on things like fat, calories and the amount of sugar in them. Yet, one thing few of us consider is the effect of food on the pH balance — alkalinity to acidity ratio — of the body, which is equally as important… even moreso, for your kidneys.

Joyce Hollman

Fermented foods or fiber: Tackling the driving force behind disease

Research has shown that the makeup of your microbiome greatly affects your immune system. But that’s not all. It impacts your weight, healthy aging and your risk of numerous chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease. Two types of foods, fiber and fermented foods, have been known to increase bacterial diversity in the gut. But one does a much better job…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How an old viral infection increases risk for long COVID

For many recovering from a mild COVID-19 infection, dealing with symptoms for a few weeks may have been the least of it, thanks to long COVID syndrome. Research has tried to uncover why some people suffer the phenomenon and others don’t. Turns out, 73 percent of people with long COVID had a prior run in with a well-known virus waiting for this opportunity to wake up…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Scientists calculate which foods add or subtract minutes from your life

Don’t you love the advice to eat better? Silly question. In fact, we hate to hear it because, what is better, specifically? Oftentimes, it’s conflicting. And it rarely includes our favorite indulgences. That’s why we struggle to choose and stick to a healthy diet. But would it be easier if you knew which foods added or subtracted minutes from your life?

Joyce Hollman

The drink that slashes your risk of heart failure

To keep our hearts healthy, we’re bombarded with well-meaning advice. Eat this, don’t eat that. Exercise this much. Don’t sit too much. Avoid bad habits and reduce the stress levels in your life. But there’s one simple piece of advice that, if you follow especially during midlife, could eliminate heart failure from your future…

Carolyn Gretton

Feeling like leisure time is a waste of time risks health and happiness

We have more leisure time than ever, between 36 and 40 hours a week by some estimates. But we live in a society that makes us feel like every moment must be a productive one. Once you believe that, and internalize the message that leisure time is a waste of time, research shows you’re going to be more depressed and less happy, unless you think of it this way…

Jenny Smiechowski

5 ways dangerous pesticides are entering your home

We use more than a billion pounds of pesticides per year in the U.S. alone. While we’d all like to think pesticides don’t affect the people, animals and plants they’re not intended for, we know better. Those chemicals move and drift…and find their way into your home. Here’s where to look…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The weird effect these positions have on your brain

It’s long been known that exercise has a positive impact on your brain and your memory. It decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s and can even slow cognitive decline. If you don’t move, your temporal lobe is doomed. So what about these other positions…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Two activities scientifically proven to lower your blood pressure

Hypertension is scary, especially if your blood pressure is what they call “resistant.” That means adhering to a combination of at least three antihypertensive medications of different classes, which usually includes a diuretic. This post is for you…

Joyce Hollman

The best diet to fight off macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is an eye disease that causes more blindness than glaucoma and cataracts combined. More than ten million Americans have it. The reason so many of us do could be the standard American diet. Because compelling research shows another much healthier diet could stop this sight-stealer in its tracks.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why your gut may never recover from the damage of antibiotics

Should you head to the doctor at the first sign you’re sick, fill your prescription and start popping the pills they give you? You might want to think twice. Scientists are looking at what they do to your gut, and it turns out antibiotic use can cause permanent change in your gut and lead to serious problems.

Jenny Smiechowski

The surgery that raises autoimmune disease risk by nearly 50%

It’s easy to turn your nose up at plastic surgery when you’re young. But as you get older, a little surgical help starts to get more tempting. But before you make any serious decisions, here’s something you need to know… There’s one cosmetic procedure that causes a sky-high risk of autoimmune disorders in women.

Dr. Mark Wiley

Giving thanks, a powerful healing vehicle

Gratitude is a powerful social emotion; a deep feeling of thankfulness, one that has long reaching benefits for wellness and quality of life. And multiple studies show that aside from being a socially favorable way to be with others, it has powerful effects on your health…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3 signs back pain is shortening your life and how to stop it

Back pain is common across all ages, genders and socioeconomic groups. But, if you’re a woman age 40 to 80, your odds of suffering are the highest of any group. But more concerning is that back pain may be shortening your life. Here are three signs to look for and steps to take if you’re in pain…

Jenny Smiechowski

Science says weighted blankets really smother insomnia and anxiety

Deep pressure therapy simulates hugs, cuddling, swaddling, and holding — all things we’ve been trained from a young age to enjoy. When someone we love hugs us or hold us, we feel safe, calm and relaxed. And that’s likely why pressure can relieve anxiety and help you sleep…

Jenny Smiechowski

The coffee with the most brain protection

By now, the health benefits of coffee are indisputable, offering protection from heart disease to cancer. But if you want to use coffee for its brain benefits, there’s something you need to know: Not all coffee provides equally effective protection. It depends on the roast…

Joyce Hollman

8 surefire ways to stick with your fitness goals

Let’s face it: it’s all too easy to stop following an exercise program when the weather turns cold. Even knowing it’s the best way to stave off cancer, heart disease and diabetes won’t help you hit the ground running when the temps are frigid, unless you have a few tricks up your sleeve…

Jenny Smiechowski

The best nutrient to fight inflammation-fueled memory loss

Do you know why your memory starts to slip as you get older? Immune cells in the brain known as microglia become inflamed and release chemicals that interfere with cognitive and motor function. This leads to cognitive decline. But there’s a simple way to cool this brain-harming inflammation…

Joyce Hollman

What you need to know about blood thinners before knee surgery

In the U.S., each year over half a million people have knee surgery. During the time following surgery when you can’t move around, there’s a big risk of developing a deadly blood clot. Blood thinners carry side effects as scary as a blood clot itself, and aspirin has been called “risky.” What can you do?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How age-related leaky gut makes you sick and old

Leaky gut is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a condition in which the lining of your gut becomes too permeable, allowing particles that should remain in your digestive tract to cross into your other tissues. But besides making you sick, it’s making you old. Here’s how to stop it…

Dr. Michael Cutler

The signs and dangers of estrogen excess for men

What do we know about estrogen in men? We know a lot… unfortunately, because more than just tanking men’s testosterone levels, estrogen excess can lead to some serious health problems. That’s why it’s important to know symptoms, why it develops, its associated health risks… 

Joyce Hollman

8 concerning skin conditions that show up after 40

Some strange things can start happening to your skin once you’ve reached your fifth or sixth decade of life. Here are eight skin changes that men and women may observe as we get older, what to expect to see and what to do about them…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The vitamin deficiency that contributes to heart disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. An important factor is arterial stiffness because the less flexible your arteries are (and the higher your pulse wave velocity), the higher your risk of heart disease and death. But scientists have shown this vitamin is a big help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Two factors that raise a woman’s fall risk

Every 19 minutes someone over 65 dies from a fall, making falls the leading cause of death in this age group. But, what puts you at risk? And why are you more likely to fall as you age? Well, according to new research it goes beyond balance — especially for women….

Jenny Smiechowski

Why your showerhead could give you a lung infection

The shower is a warm, happy place. But it can be a dangerous place too. And I’m not referring to your risk of slipping and falling. I’m talking about that dangerous showerhead hanging over your head… a breeding ground for hazardous bacteria that can cause a serious infection.

Jenny Smiechowski

An anti-viral treatment might cut Alzheimer’s cases in half

A new study shows that there’s a causal link between a virus that affects almost 80 percent of the adult population and Alzheimer’s. That’s a scary thought, but not all bad news: If Alzheimer’s is caused by a virus, that means there are new options for treatment…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The good-for-you food that won’t make you gain weight

For years there’s been a debate about nuts. On one side, experts have claimed that nuts are good for you and you should eat them daily. While the other side has said that nuts are high in fat, healthy or not, and will lead to weight gain. So, who’s right? Who do you believe?

Joyce Hollman

How the FDA is sneaking your vitamins out the ‘back door’ for drug profits

It’s no secret that the FDA has an alliance with major drug companies. But did you know that there’s a secret “back door” to the FDA that is allowing drug companies to remove natural supplements from the market for sole use in their drugs? Here’s how it’s happened right under our noses…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The thyroid connection to chronic fatigue

There’s tired… and then there’s the kind of fatigue that makes you feel like just getting out of bed is an impossible task. Luckily, there’s hope. Researchers have discovered a connection between low levels of thyroid hormones and chronic fatigue syndrome that could make all the difference.

Joyce Hollman

Your doctor could be all wrong about your blood pressure

Have you been diagnosed with high blood pressure? Maybe you were even prescribed that scary drug they found could cause cancer (remember the recall?). What if you didn’t really have high blood pressure at all. What if your doctor made a mistake? It happens more often than you’d think…

Jenny Smiechowski

The food that helps you break free from the junk food blues

Depression makes you want junk food. But research shows junk food makes you more depressed. So, you just keep digging yourself deeper and deeper. There’s one type of food that drives the junk food blues more than any other. But there’s one food that can turn the junk food blues around…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The new oil on the block that gives olive oil stiff competition

If you have cholesterol problems, medication can often just add fuel to the fire. That’s because statin drugs come with more than enough of their own risks, including liver damage, blood sugar problems and neurological damage. But a new oil on the block may be exactly what you need…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

4 ways endurance training disease-proofs your body

If you’ve been wondering what the best exercise may be, you may have found it… especially if your goals are to slash your risk of disease, kickstart your metabolism, reduce your bad cholesterol and quench heart-harming inflammation. It all comes down to what endurance training does for your gut.

Joyce Hollman

7 foods to soothe winter skin

Winter is probably the worst time of year for anyone’s skin. But for those of us with naturally dry skin, as well as skin that’s passed its fifth decade or so, the challenge of making it through the winter can be even greater. Let’s keep it healthy and looking good, too…

Dr. Isaac Eliaz

Harvard identifies best foods to fight breast cancer

Previous research has demonstrated links between increased fiber intake and reduced breast cancer risk. So for years, the best advice to cut your breast cancer risk was eating more fiber. Not so fast. Turns out there were other nutrients at work doing a better job at keeping breast cancer at bay…

Jenny Smiechowski

3 ways to protect yourself from this painful flu shot side effect

The flu shot is a tricky topic to bring up this time of year, because a lot of people feel strongly about it. Some people never get it. Others always do. If you fall in the latter camp, there’s something you need to know about a flu shot side effect that can cause you pain for months after you get it…

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