Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Tryptophan: The ‘Thanksgiving’ amino acid for healthy aging

Tryptophan is the amino acid that we all associate with that post-Thanksgiving meal slump. The truth, though, is that blame falls on the carbs. In fact, the maligned amino acid carries powerful benefits that can help us live happier and healthier, especially if you’re on the mature side…

Joyce Hollman

Can pomegranate juice really lower cholesterol?

Pomegranates have an extremely high antioxidant content. In fact, its juice has three times more antioxidants than either green tea or red wine! That’s just one of many reasons it’s considered a superfood. Another may be proof of what it did to particularly troublesome cholesterol numbers when it was put to the test…

Joyce Hollman

The cause of the most preventable disease shortening our lives

As a whole we may be approaching a “leveling off” point in terms of life expectancy. In other words, we likely won’t live any longer than we do now, but worse, our life expectancy may actually grow shorter. Why? Blame these four key symptoms tied to one in five deaths — all with one thing in common…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why going for an eye exam could save your life

If your vision just isn’t as sharp as it used to be, you might not think much of it. After all, many of us simply believe that failing eyesight is just a normal part of aging that’s nothing more than an inconvenience. But new research has found a suprising relationship between vision loss and risk of death….

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Grab this grain proven to boost weight loss

The battle of the bulge isn’t just a challenging one, it can also be extremely confusing. There are so many questions… What diet will benefit me most? What foods should I not eat to lose weight — and what foods should I eat to lose weight? At least when it comes to grains, we have an answer: in a head-to-head weight loss battle, there’s one proven winner…

Cara McCarthy

Think yourself thin this holiday season

Thanksgiving is approaching and I am already full just thinking about how much I’ll eat that day. Then it’ll be December with Christmas parties. Come January 1, I’ll make the same New Year’s resolution I make every year—get skinny! But this year, I have an edge…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How ‘normal’ blood pressure accelerates brain aging

Focusing only on your brain to avoid dementia may be a big fail. That’s because blood pressure has been found to quietly accelerate brain aging. That’s worrisome enough for any of us with high blood pressure, but anyone relying on the changing definitions of what constitutes normal blood pressure could be in for a big surprise.

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…

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

CT scans help produce a coronary artery calification (CAC) score widely used to gauge the accumulation of 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.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How sleep debt can destroy your metabolism

A bad night of sleep can throw your whole day off, but that’s not all… After a single night without the proper amount of rest, the metabolism in your fat cells are already in trouble — leaving you unable to burn fat and beginning to store it instead…

Jenny Smiechowski

The oil that’s essential for long, healthy hair

As you get older, your hair changes. It thins. It gets more brittle. And your once Rapunzel-like locks begin growing at a snail’s pace. But, you might be glad to know that researchers have found a way to help hair follicles survive longer and stimulate hair growth….

Dr. Michael Cutler

Topical treatments for fine lines and wrinkles

Ultimately, it’s those lifestyle habits, the way you eat and how you treat your body — including your skin — that are the biggest factors to looking and feeling your best… even when it comes to fine lines and wrinkles. But the right topical treatments can go a long way to help…

Jenny Smiechowski

FDA finally considers depression-fighting compounds in mushrooms

Psilocybin, a compound found in some mushrooms, has major advantages over the current go-to depression treatment, SSRIs, including things like high effectiveness after just one dose and the ability to relieve depression without numbing other emotions.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

To live better longer: less weight or more muscle?

On a recent trip to the gym, I noticed most of the men were using weights while the women were focusing on aerobic activities and machines, like ellipticals. And I started wondering… In the long run, which matters most in terms of a longer, healthier life?

Joyce Hollman

The best nut to crackdown on chronic disease risk?

Nuts are considered a staple of healthy diets. While almonds are reported to be a big favorite with big benefits of their own, my favorite and a superstar reported to help reduce numerous disease-risk factors, including these big four, is the humble…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

5 steps to lower the dementia risk that follows stroke

Is any stroke ever minor? Even if you appear to gain a full recovery, there’s something sinister that could be waiting for you around the corner… Having a stroke greatly increases your chances of developing Alzheimer’s. But there are steps you can take to put the odds in your favor…

Joyce Hollman

Asbestos: It’s back and as dangerous as ever

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. And it’s dangerous as heck… a known carcinogen responsible for malignant mesothelioma and the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans. That’s why it was banned decades ago. So how is it making a comeback?

Jenny Smiechowski

Are your taste buds setting you up for cancer?

Food preferences come in all shapes and sizes. Some people have a raging sweet tooth. For others it’s salt, hot and spicy, or all of the above. But there’s one taste preference that could harm your health. It may even put you at risk for cancer… Sensitivity to bitterness.

Jenny Smiechowski

Sleep habits that increase your heart attack risk

You wouldn’t think your sleep habits would impact your heart that much… but they do. Depending on how you sleep you can significantly increase your odds of having a heart attack and dying from cardiovascular disease in the next ten to twenty years…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Cellular alterations prove plastic in the kitchen is just not safe

If the idea that the plasticware you may be using on a daily basis could result in chromosomal alterations isn’t enough to scare you, the scientists discovered one more thing that might… according to the researchers, those cellular alterations get passed down.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

An aspirin a day: Risky or worth it?

Some studies have indicated daily aspirin to help stave off cancer and possibly even dementia. That meant people without heart health problems, were suddenly “supplementing” with aspirin. When it comes to aspirin, it’s important to carefully weigh any benefits against the risks…

Joyce Hollman

Two surprising ways you can exercise less and benefit more

There are so many exercise types to choose from. Aside from considering your natural abilities, how do you know which will give you the biggest return for your time, energy and sweat? If that one question has you in a quandary, I have great news: You can forget about it.

Jenny Smiechowski

How whole milk keeps your heart whole

There are a lot of arguments against drinking whole milk, including fat, calories and inflammation. So we’re told skim or plant-based milks are better. But whether you believe any of this or not, there’s something you should know before you give up whole milk completely…

Joyce Hollman

Drugs that cause cancer and anemia found in our meat supply

Living in a polluted environment is something we’ve almost become immune to. But what about exposure to dangerous, even carcinogenic, drugs? No problem, as long as you’re not taking any, right? Except, these four banned drugs could be in your dinner tonight…

Jenny Smiechowski

The sleepy solution to fighting free radicals

Oxidative stress happens when too many free radicals accumulate in your body and damage your cells. There are plenty of foods and supplements that can help protect you, but what if the most powerful antioxidant is in the bedroom, not the kitchen?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The fake sweetener collecting in your body fat

The thing the food police liked about it was that you could suck down a tasty sweet soda and this great new fake sweetener would just pass right out of your body. No calories and no ‘nothing’ left behind. Now along with it’s toxic reputation, they’ve found it hides in your fat…

Joyce Hollman

Dangerous pharmacy slip-ups that could kill

In the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” young George Bailey stops the town pharmacist, who is distraught over the death of his son, from mislabeling a prescription in a way that would have had lethal consequences. Today, things are not that personal, and human error is rampant…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to time your meals for double the weight loss

Most of us eat from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed. Three meals (and snacks), same time, day in and day out. What if that routine (not necessarily the food) is what’s keeping the weight on? What if the key to getting in shape is just changing when you eat?

Jenny Smiechowski

What your personal care routine does to your hormones

One of the biggest sources of chemical exposure is personal care and beauty products. Think about the products you use each day. Each is a potential source of endocrine-disrupting chemicals! But combined, there’s proven potential to significantly and dangerously impact your hormones…

Joyce Hollman

How garlic kills resistant bacteria

Worldwide vampire legends share the belief that garlic has the power to protect against these un-dead, blood-sucking creatures. Stranger than fiction, though, may be garlic’s ability to protect us from a very real “evil”: antibiotic-resistant superbugs and the diseases they cause.

Jenny Smiechowski

Colon pain and inflammation? You need strawberries

When your GI tract becomes inflamed you know it, thanks to symptoms like stomach pain, weight loss, diarrhea and fatigue. Inflammatory bowel diseases are becoming all too common. Here’s a delicious way to say goodbye to disease-causing inflammation and hello to a healthy colon.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

A better way to measure body fat is a better way to measure disease risk

Cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s. Convention says your risk for any of these diseases goes up significantly if you’re carrying around too much weight. But, how do you know if you’re at a lot of risk, or just a little, if any, or if your weight is right for your height?

Dr. Michael Cutler

7 better-than-statin ways to lower heart disease risk

If your doctor put you on statins, I’ll bet you weren’t given better and safer alternatives to help prevent cardiovascular disease. Considering there are more than 900 studies on the adverse effects of this high revenue-generating drug, let me share seven better ways with you…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Two things causing your low thyroid levels and what to do about them

Thyroid disorders have become an epidemic, yet doctors seem to write them off with a prescription — and ignore the underlying cause behind the diagnosis. So, what is actually destroying your thyroid function? Were you just unlucky in the genetic lottery? Or, is it something more…

Joyce Hollman

‘Mind-body’ nerve reveals why a simple breathing technique could manage depression

The vagus nerve connects brain and body. It tells our heart to beat, our lungs to breathe, our stomach to digest… But the messages can go the other way, from our body back to our brain. Managing depression can be as easy as knowing how to message your brain.

Jenny Smiechowski

The painkiller causing heart attacks and strokes

When you suffer from excruciating pain, it’s hard to turn down prescription painkillers, even though you know they come with side effects. But I have some information that could make that easier: It turns out a common prescription painkiller comes with serious cardiovascular risks…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Using magnets to relieve chronic pain

Have you ever seen those bracelets with magnets that are touted to help arthritis pain and wondered, “Do they really work or are they just a scam?” Well, it turns out there’s real science behind the use of magnets when it comes to overcoming chronic pain…

Joyce Hollman

2 bad habits that can give you diabetes in 2 weeks

When it comes to reversing diabetes, there are just two things that make or break you. Worse, if you don’t turn them to the healthy side, you can say ‘hello’ to a type 2 diabetes diagnosis in as little as two weeks, because the damage becomes irreversible…

Jenny Smiechowski

Why taking vacation helps you live longer

The things you do to live a longer, healthier life aren’t usually fun… like exercising daily, cutting down on sweets and giving up alcohol. But healthy living isn’t always a bummer. In fact, this one way to lengthen your lifespan requires no “work” and loads of fun…

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