Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

Probiotics before exercise may be the secret to muscle growth

You may be one of the nearly 4 million Americans who take a daily probiotic to help support good health. If so, you’ll be happy to know that research shows caring for your gut microbiome can do more than keep your gut healthy — it may actually help you keep your muscles…

Joyce Hollman

Simple hack makes mindful breathing work for pain relief

Mindful breathing has been shown effective at reducing pain — but not for everyone. If you’ve tried it for chronic pain and been disappointed, there’s good news. The way that traditional mindful breathing “engages the brain” doesn’t work for everyone. This simple hack can turn all of that around…

Joyce Hollman

11 hidden sources of sodium that skyrocket blood pressure

Cutting back on sodium can improve your blood pressure readings. You’ll reduce your risk for heart and kidney problems, and can try out some delicious herbs and spices so you don’t cheat your taste buds. But don’t be fooled! If you’re eating any of these 11 foods, you’re probably eating a lot more sodium than you think.

Carolyn Gretton

How Alzheimer’s may start in the liver

A hallmark feature of Alzheimer’s disease is the progressive accumulation of toxic protein deposits within the brain called beta-amyloid. Though we’ve learned a lot about the disease, researchers haven’t been sure where the amyloid originated from, or why it deposited in the brain. New research indicates a surprising source…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What your teeth can reveal about your dementia risk

You already know poor oral health can lead to heart disease. Well, there’s another concerning connection, especially if you’re already experiencing tooth loss. A large meta-analysis of scientific studies found that once you start losing teeth, dementia could be just down the road. That means the sooner you tackle the underlying cause, the better. These supplements can help…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

COVID’s long haul symptoms tied to ‘micro clots’

We’re all ready for COVID to just go away. And while new infection numbers are going down, the virus still found a way to hang on. Almost half of infected end up with Long Covid. Part of its strategy? Clots. But not just regular blood clots. Micro clots — or clots within clots. More proof it’s not just another viurs…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The surprising deficiency increasing new cases of heart disease

If you eat right and take a multi-vitamin, the thought of suffering a nutrient deficiency is the furthest thing from your mind. Besides, your doctor would let you know about it when he does your yearly blood work, right? But a silent deficiency is driving new cases of heart disease, partly because doctors could be unknowingly assessing a less accurate measure.

Carolyn Gretton

How nighttime workouts impact your sleep

When it comes to your health, there are few things exercise can’t improve. It’s great for your muscles, bones, heart, brain and weight. Exercise also can even help you sleep better — as long as you stick to this golden rule that’s entirely about the one time of day to avoid exercise…

Joyce Hollman

The drink that lowers stroke risk in 3 cups a day

Images of the hearts of heavy, moderate, and light coffee drinkers reveal that people who drank coffee daily had hearts that were of a healthier size, and that functioned more efficiently. But it was the association between habitual coffee intake and the incidence of heart attack, stroke, and death that really raised eyebrows…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Diet soda’s weird side effect that unfairly targets women

If you’re trying to maintain a certain weight or lose a few pounds, you may be relying on diet drinks to reduce the number of calories you consume. But in a sick twist of fate, those drinks may do the opposite, especially for women who seem to be the target of a newly discovered side effect of artificially sweetened drinks…

Joyce Hollman

10 heart symptoms you should never ignore

The image most people have of a heart attack comes from the movies. Suddenly and without warning, someone clutches their chest, moans, and falls to the ground, dead. But that cinematic version of a heart attack is misleading. Often there are signs that, if caught early enough, can turn that bad ending around.

Margaret Cantwell

Why I’m glad I started supplementing my amino acids

I’d been hearing about amino acids for a while, mainly in the context of athletic performance. I’m not a triathlete or marathon runner, so I didn’t think they held any value for me. Boy was I wrong. Amino acids are the catalyst for nearly every physiological function that occurs in the body. Think energy, hormones, metabolism, sleep, cognition and more…. see what I mean?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The two-step approach to beating resistant hypertension

For reasons doctors aren’t exactly sure about, some people with high blood pressure don’t respond as well to medication. Their hypertension is called “resistant.” Does that mean you’re at the end of the rope? Not at all. But you may have to work harder at it by going for a two-punch combo to bring it down…

Joyce Hollman

Winter squash: Time to eat this ‘Blue Zone’ food now

Fall is a great time to try all the nutritious varieties of squash. Whether you pick acorn, butternut, or Japanese Kabocha, you’ll be getting your fill of fiber, vitamins, and carotenoids, with few calories and a low carb content. Best of all you may get a life-lengthening boost from this popular ‘blue zone’ superfood!

Carolyn Gretton

The sudden, deadly potential of sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea doesn’t just steal sleep. It can wreak havoc with the heart, leading to problems like metabolic syndrome, high blood pressure, stroke and type 2 diabetes. It’s certainly a condition to take seriously, especially now that we know it can double the risk of sudden death…

Joyce Hollman

12 habits that pack on dangerous belly fat

Not all fat is created equal. Belly fat, also called visceral fat, causes unhealthy chemical reactions in your body. Fat around your midsection puts you at greater risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke than being obese or overweight. To lower your risks, ditch these 12 habits…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to triple your exercise benefits

Exercise is key for good health. But while some studies indicate walking does the trick, others suggest high-intensity interval training is the way to go. And what about the time you spend sitting? Can exercise counter those consequences? Here are the answers to all these questions and more, including what exercise boosts your fitness level three times as much.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

CBD’s Pac-Man-like effect on Alzheimer’s plaques

Plaques are a hallmark sign of Alzheimer’s disease that accumulate in the brain over time. While there are drugs used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, they don’t affect the pathophysiology of the disease at its source. But as research into CBD has revealed, there may be another way to halt the damage these plaques do…

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…

Joyce Hollman

8 benefits of ginkgo biloba

The Ginkgo tree is a species that dates back over 270 million years. Considering its longevity and hardiness, numerous researched healing “superpowers” are attributed to these living fossils. Ginkgo biloba, the extract collected from the dried leaves of the tree, has been a staple of Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries. Here are eight reasons for its healthy reputation…

Jenny Smiechowski

What cannabis cream could do for your skin

If you’ve ever suffered from a chronic skin problem or disease, you know that it’s not just physically uncomfortable, it’s psychologically uncomfortable too. You could turn to a popular medicinal herb for life-changing relief from your chronic skin problems… especially those with a strong itch factor.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Does your body have a diabetes switch?

You might remember the research by the Mayo Clinic that showed you can turn off your body’s aging switch with high-intensity interval training exercise. The key is that it reduces a common symptom that’s also linked to your immune system and type 2 diabetes. Doe that mean your body has a diabetes switch too?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The strange symptom that makes this mood disorder harder to treat

NAC is a derivative of the amino acid L-cysteine and has been shown to significantly decrease bipolar depression. Good news for sufferers, since the drug treatment is successful in only 40 to 50 percent of patients. But if you’ve tried NAC without success, this one symptom could be holding you back…

Joyce Hollman

How science is helping the immune system find and kill breast cancer

Your immune system is in charge of defending you against invaders. That means that it attacks any organism it sees as dangerous or not belonging to you. An example of this system going awry is an autoimmune disease, where your body attacks itself. Can this same system seek and destroy cancer cells?

Jenny Smiechowski

They did the math: Here’s how much to exercise to slow brain aging

Exercise can reverse age-related brain-shrinkage and reduce your risk of developing cognitive issues by up to 90 percent. But if you want to use exercise to improve your brain health, what type of exercise work best? And how much do you need to do to keep your brain in tip-top shape?

Debra Atkinson

The daily workout for a slim waist and flat belly

Six-pack abs are over rated. A more realistic goal to work towards is simply a flatter belly and slimmer waist. This daily workout focusing on your core can help you get there…

Craig Cooper

6 foods that help shrink the prostate (slideshow)

Men with symptoms of an enlarged prostate, such as urinary hesitation, frequent nighttime urination, and weak urine flow, have a number of natural options to help shrink the gland. By including these six foods in your daily menu, you can increase your chances of reducing inflammation and prostate size.

Jenny Smiechowski

Why more sleep doesn’t always mean more smarts

Most of your life, you’ve prioritized sleep before a big day. The first day of school? An important interview? Better go to bed early. But more sleep isn’t always better. In fact, there are times when more sleep could sabotage your brain power and put you at a serious cognitive disadvantage…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Exercise in a pill could be the new way to fix high blood pressure

Have you ever thought, “Wouldn’t it be nice if I could skip the exercise and take a magic pill that could do it all for me?” Unfortunately, we all know that to get the health benefits, you have to put in the work, right? Well, maybe not for too much longer when it comes to lowering your blood pressure…

Jenny Smiechowski

Balance blood sugar and feed your ‘good’ bacteria with this one food

Science shows that the bacteria in your gut directly affects your blood sugar. And what you eat directly affects the bacteria in your gut. So, if you want better blood sugar, you have to get strategic about feeding those healthy bacteria. So, top your grocery list with this one food…

Joyce Hollman

7 ways to use lavender for your mind and body

The earliest recorded use of lavender comes from ancient Egypt. Today, research substantiates many of lavender’s benefits, including calming anxiety. But it’s a natural remedy for some troubling physical ailments as well. Here are just seven ways you can put this sweet-smelling herb to use…

Jenny Smiechowski

The strange sign women get their health is headed for trouble

Women have a serious disadvantage when it comes to aging. They’re much more likely to develop physical limitations and disability with age than men. And scientists have no clue why. Stay vigilant and watch out for this one warning sign that your physical abilities are on the downslide…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The lighting in your home or office could be shrinking your brain

If you spend most of your time indoors, like most adults, that means 90 percent of the time, you’re being exposed to lighting that could be dulling your memory, fogging your brain, reducing your ability to learn new things and even shrinking your brain…

Joyce Hollman

11 stroke signals no woman should ignore

There are at least four factors unique to sex that increase a woman’s risk for stroke. But the differences don’t stop there… Even the symptoms, including an altered mental state, that women can experience during a stroke may be so different there’s risk of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.

Jenny Smiechowski

Mediterranean brain juice instantly improves memory by 15 percent

Rosemary’s been used for its memory-protecting powers since ancient times. While it’s hard to say exactly why rosemary has this effect, researchers think it comes down to antioxidant compounds. Specifically, two important brain antioxidants that make it a turbo charger for the brain..

Joyce Hollman

What you need to know about pancreatic cancer

Cancer is arguably the most feared word in the English language. Some cancers, though, are even more disturbing, because their rapid progress makes life expectancy cruelly short. Pancreatic cancer is one of these. It’s important to know the signs, risks and preventive measures that could help…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Why your body needs a Facebook break

Stress can infiltrate your body without notice. Not until the damage is done do you even realize there’s a problem. So, just like bad foods and dangerous toxins, it might be time to take a health break from the effects of social media to undo the damage these experts are revealing…

Jenny Smiechowski

The age-defying food that keeps you disease-free

When it comes to natural ways to boost longevity, the only tips that are truly exciting are the ones that not only help you live longer but help you live better. I have one of these age and disease-defying tips for you today — and it’s backed up by more than two decades of research on real people.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The weird factor that could help more women survive a heart attack

The simple fact is that if you’re a woman having a heart attack, your symptoms can look different than the man having a heart attack in the same emergency room. But what else is different? Your chances of surviving, going home to your family and living a long, happy life are far less…

Jenny Smiechowski

The supplement that could stop staph infections

The scariest thing about life-threatening staph infections? You have this dangerous bacteria in your body right now. Most of us do. It hangs around in your gut or your nose and waits for an opportunity to run rampant. So, the less staph bacteria lurking around in your body the better. Here’s one way to get rid of it…

Joyce Hollman

Are you taking a drug from this “forbidden” list?

There’s a lot you can do to help yourself get to sleep before turning to medications, even over-the-counter ones. Because whether your sleep problem is insomnia or just a bad cold keeping your up at night, you should have some real reservations about what else these medications do to you…

Jenny Smiechowski

This big ‘oops’ about low-carb dieting may defeat all your reasons for it

Cutting carbs can quickly help you drop pounds and decrease your risk for heart disease and diabetes. But what’s the long-term effect of going low-carb? Is it all sunshine, roses and health benefits? Or is there a downside worse than not being able to eat pizza, pasta and bread? That depends…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Worried about stroke? See where you stand with this test

If you worry about your risk for a future heart attack or stroke, stop worrying and do something about it, especially if you have a family history that puts you in harm’s way. A simple test can tell you where you stand. But either way there are a few ways to stack the odds in your favor…

Joyce Hollman

How to lose 5.5 pounds just by standing up

It will come as no surprise that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for you. But it might very well surprise you to hear that the simple act of standing can cause you to burn calories and shed unwanted pounds, lowering your risk for these diseases. Here’s how it works…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Need to make an important decision? Take a nap

Facing a difficult decision? You might weigh up the pros and cons, ask friends for their opinions or stay up nights thinking about it. But the best way, according to how the brain works, is none of these. Here’s why napping could help, plus five more nap benefits that will make you want to break out the nap pad.

Jenny Smiechowski

The two most dangerous gluten-free foods to eat in restaurants

If you’re avoiding gluten because of celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, eating out is like playing Russian roulette… As you probably suspected, plenty of supposedly “gluten-free” restaurant meals contain a hefty dose of gluten. And two restaurant foods are much more likely to be tainted than others…

Joyce Hollman

The metal toxin turning fashion statements to cancer risk

Cadmium is a heavy metal that causes neurological damage and is a known carcinogen. This statement says it all: Cadmium exposure is toxic for all humans. But your fashion statement could very well be setting you up for huge risks associated with this lethal endocrine disruptor right now…

Joyce Hollman

Scientists predict ‘solar-phobes’ may die sooner: Are you one?

Some people are so worried about skin cancer that they end up getting no exposure to the sun at all. If you’re one of those people, the World Health Organization wants you to know that you’ve gone to an extreme that isn’t necessarily good for you…

Jenny Smiechowski

The perfect dose of exercise for bigger happiness and a stronger mental state

When you exercise, your body releases feel-good hormones which make it easier to maintain a sunny outlook even when things go wrong. Plus, it fuels your brain cells and increases the odds you’ll feel optimistic no matter what life throws at you. How much will do the trick?

«SPONSORED»