Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

16 medical tests to expect in your 60s and beyond

Some preventative medical tests are a piece of cake, while we dread others. And it seems new ones gets tacked on with each passing birthday. Here’s what to expect at 60 and beyond, including when you can start saying ‘no’ to some of the poking and prodding…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What is ‘Ghost Poop’ and what it signals about your health

‘Ghost poop’ is making the rounds on social media. Who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters. We’ve got all the answers about what this spooky-sounding term means, who experiences ghost poop, and what it signals…

Jenny Smiechowski

Eat this ONE veggie for clearer arteries

Most people with atherosclerosis don’t know they have it until artery-clogging problems show up, like stroke or heart attack. So, what can you do to steer clear? Eat the one vegetable that reduces vascular calcification.

Joyce Hollman

Two common conditions increasing pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is on the fast track to becoming the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Why? A common denominator in two common conditions turns cells cancerous, but there’s a way to throw a kink into the equation…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The unseen fat that’s your heart’s biggest threat

A layer of fat around the heart offers protection. Unless there’s a little too much and it’s composed of damaging substances that can leak directly into your heart. Here’s how that happens and how to gauge your risk…

Joyce Hollman

The shortcut to living longer than people who walk 3 hours daily

We’ve got all kinds of reasons for not exercising. But if you’re not walking because it takes hours a day to get in 10,000 steps, I’ve got the shortcut to better benefits in a fraction of the time…

Joyce Hollman

The Parkinson’s clues found in ear wax

Right now, diagnosing Parkinson’s is costly, subjective and slow, taking an average of three years. When the only hope is to slow progression, every second counts. Here’s why ear wax could lead to faster diagnoses, but don’t break out the swabs…

Joyce Hollman

Common drugs that disrupt your gut years after taking them

You may be done with that antibiotic, but is it done with you? Not by a long shot. But research has found it’s not the only common medication that continues doing damage to your gut long after you’ve finished it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This ‘living drug’ could be the real fountain of youth

No need to travel to Florida. New findings reveal the real fountain of youth is much closer to home. Tweaking our own T cells, immune system cells, is the start of what scientists are calling a “living drug” to halt the ravages of time…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How to get more from your vitamins

Are you among the 80 percent of Americans supplementing? Most of us realize that to feel better, have more energy, fight the ravages of time and avoid chronic conditions, nutrition matters. But are you making these 13 mistakes that can sabotage this healthy habit?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

5 foods and drinks that lower blood pressure like a prescription

A growing body of research is proving that some foods and drinks can lower blood pressure to a level often on par with prescription medication, reducing what is normally a high risk for heart attack or stroke.

Joyce Hollman

The critical deficiency doctors can finally test for

The human body can produce many of the nutrients it needs to maintain health. But not all of them. And if you’re not eating all the right foods, you could be deficient in one of the most critical: omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, someone’s doing something about it…

Carolyn Gretton

Is kiwi the cure for chronic constipation?

Chronic constipation affects 1 in 5 Americans. It’s been a problem for far too long time. But scientists revisiting existing research have found, among other things, that a popular fuzzy fruit could provide some much-needed relief.

Carolyn Gretton

How air pollution hastens hallmarks of Alzheimer’s

It’s not unusual to feel like you have brain fog. But brain smog is a more serious matter. Living in areas with high concentrations of pollution, even for short periods of time, can hasten the worst kind of cognitive decline.

Joyce Hollman

Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Prevention found in coffee grounds

Caffeic acid is a component of coffee, and a growing body of research indicates it may be responsible for many of the health benefits on coffee’s growing list. The biggest are due to its unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier that make it a powerful preventive measure…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The truth about coffee’s effects on heart rhythm

If caffeine gives your brain a jolt to get your morning started, might it also give your heart a jolt that could cause rhythm problems, like atrial fibrillation? That’s been the subject of debate. After following more than 300,000 coffee lovers for 4 years, there’s an answer…

Joyce Hollman

Green tea’s secret to burning fat and balancing metabolism

There’s no “magic bullet” for curing obesity. But there is one ancient drink with a reputation as a powerful weight loss aid. Research unlocked its metabolism boosting mechanisms to reveal its fat-burning secrets…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin that helps cancer-fighting bacteria thrive

Gut bacteria doesn’t just keep your gut healthy, it helps you avoid sickness and disease. One type in particular is showing great promise in not only shrinking cancerous tumors, but eradicating them. And a simple vitamin can help it thrive in your gut…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Doing this regularly could help you age in reverse

Epigenetic age presents a more accurate picture of how well your body’s cells and tissues are functioning. That makes it a more precise measure of age. And unlike the age indicated on your driver’s license, you can reverse it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The tea that takes down gum disease-causing bacteria

If there’s one thing you should know about gum disease it’s this: it’s not just a “mouth” problem. It’s linked to weight gain, heart problems, brain shrinkage and even loss of longevity. Avoiding it may be just a few cups away with the right tea…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The ‘diabetes’ spice that beat metformin

The list of people I know with type 2 diabetes grows daily. So does the number of people on diabetes drugs, like metformin. But what if I told you that there was a plant that may be just as effective at improving glucose intolerance as metformin, but without the side effects?

Joyce Hollman

Pancreatic cancer just got easier to avoid and detect

Pancreatic cancer is challenging. It’s deadly because it’s next to impossible to detect, and there’s no reliable screening method for it. But a newly identified risk factor offers both a way to determine who’s at highest risk and how to avoid it…

Carolyn Gretton

The common condition aging you before you know you have it

The age of your cells, or your biological age, can be measured by an epigenetic clock that tracks changes in your DNA. Few health issues can speed up this clock, causing you to age faster. But one that leads to cardiovascular problems can, long before the first symptom…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

This eye vitamin wages war on cancer

Zeaxanthin is best known for supporting eye health. But what it does for our eyes is just the tip of the iceberg. Scientists show how zeaxanthin can be a powerful ally in the fight against some of the most dangerous cancers…

Margaret Cantwell

Is your protein shake exposing you to 10x the ‘safe’ level of lead?

The American Heart Association says lead contributes to heart disease. And those trying to be the fittest among us may be at the highest risk based on an investigation into the lead content of protein powders and shakes…

Joyce Hollman

7+ reasons tai chi is the movement your body needs

It was beautiful to watch. The slow and graceful movements… the mindful concentration… and peaceful expressions, all held my attention. But it was the evidence-based health benefits that pulled me in.

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The vitamin deficiency behind restless legs

Being plagued by restless legs can make a good night’s sleep more than difficult. For far too long, RLS has been a miserable and poorly understood condition. But a link between a common vitamin deficiency and a neurotransmitter that may kick off the RLS cycle is stacking up…

Carolyn Gretton

12 conditions signaled by the way you walk

Walking comes naturally easy to us as adults. But the way we walk tends to vary from person to person. That’s no big deal unless it’s a difference that signals one of these 12 hidden health problems tipped off by how you walk…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The vitamin D mistake that weakens your defense

Vitamin D is the secret to a strong immune system. It’s proven to stimulate your first line of defense against illness. But a simple mistake can do the opposite, setting your immune system up for failure by stealing your natural vitamin D…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Red flag dangers ignored for common hair loss drug

A drug that helps regrow hair and ease symptoms of enlarged prostate sounds like something a lot of men can appreciate. What they won’t appreciate are multiple studies showing the danger to their mental health that were ignored for the sake of profits…

Joyce Hollman

The liver link to coronary artery disease

Your liver health is a big deal. But your heart health ends up in the spotlight more often. Considering the role the liver has been found to play in coronary artery disease, that maybe changing…

Joyce Hollman

How to make managing blood sugar less stressful

Plenty of dietary guidance is available to manage diabetes. But that doesn’t make developing meal plans and choosing the right foods less daunting. Can you imagine carrying this weight every day? Cut yourself some slack…

Carolyn Gretton

How your gut could be aging your blood vessels

With age, our blood vessels stiffen, hindering circulation, increasing blood pressure and risk for heart attack and stroke. Poor lifestyle habits often get blamed, but it turns out your gut may be prematurely aging your blood vessels…

Carolyn Gretton

Two existing drugs that could extend human lifespan

We eat healthy, exercise and reach for supplements in hopes of adding years to our lives and enhancing the quality of our health. What if I told you it could be easier? Two currently available drugs may be the longevity cocktail we’ve hoped for…

Joyce Hollman

The weird connection between mouthwash, gum disease and diabetes

There’s an especially complex relationship between gum disease and type 2 diabetes. It’s a loop where one condition exacerbates the other, and vice versa. But research says it may be possible to gargle away both problems. Let’s look at the facts…

Margaret Cantwell

Cancelling the mercury threat in tuna

Toxic metals, like lead and mercury, cause brain damage, heart problems and kidney dysfunction. Abundant in daily life, the threat is real, but the news is good: Mercury can be manufactured out of our favorite nutrient-rich fish.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The least number of steps to lower heart disease risk

Wallking is great exercise with big benefits. Luckily, research is showing that while getting close to 10,000 steps a day might be an admirable goal, it takes far fewer steps to tip the scales in favor of a healthy heart and longevity…

Joyce Hollman

The easy way to improve fitness factors for healthy aging

If you’re looking forward to good health in older age, exercise is essential. And if you plan your activities around your personal peak hours, you’ll improve two measures of healthy aging by working smarter, not harder…

Carolyn Gretton

It’s not normal aging: Dementia and a surprising driver

Some of us worry about losing physical independence with age, while others fear falling victim to dementia. But here’s the thing: neither frailty nor dementia is part of normal aging. And you can intervene early enough to keep one from leading to the other.

Carolyn Gretton

The ‘guardians’ that balance immune system response

The immune system is great when it’s working properly. But when it becomes overactive, it attacks healthy tissues and organs and can lead to devastating autoimmune diseases. That’s where guardians come in…

Joyce Hollman

Heart-protecting drugs that backfire when it’s hot out

It’s common for people with coronary heart disease to take medications that protect the heart and reduce risk of a heart attack or stroke. But these very same protective medications may actually elevate these risks during summer heat. Take these precautions…

Joyce Hollman

Embrace your cravings and still lose weight

Are pesky cravings your downfall when it comes to losing weight? It’s natural to desire what we perceive as off-limits. Would you believe there’s a way to have it all that can actually boost your weight loss efforts? Read on…

Carolyn Gretton

A hidden cause of Alzheimer’s that starts 20 years early

Alzheimer’s is a disease you often don’t know you have until damage is done. But now a marker has been identified that can predict it up to 20 years before symptoms appear, and the best part? It’s something we can actively work on.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The seed that takes down bad cholesterol and raises good

None of us want to add one more medication to a list that may already be long. So when a natural remedy, especially one with history, has the clout to improve cholesterol, that’s just too good to keep quiet about.

Joyce Hollman

Why women face a higer risk of death from heat-related illnesses

Older adults are vulnerable to heat exhaustion and stroke. But the threat is more often deadly for women and starts in middle age. In other words, women need more help cooling down. Here’s one way to get it.

Carolyn Gretton

7 reasons to wear sunglasses this summer and beyond

When I was in high school, all the cool kids wore Ray-Ban sunglasses. Now that we’re older, there are more important reasons to break out the sunglasses, and not just during the summer months, if you want to maintain healthy vision…

Joyce Hollman

Energy drinks, taurine and cancer? About that research

You may have seen some alarming headlines such as, “Urgent warning issued about cancer-causing energy drinks.” There are a lot of concerning things about energy drinks. But does new research linking them to leukemia affect you? Here’s what to know…

Carolyn Gretton

8 factors for lower blood pressure

High blood pressure is the leading preventable risk factor for early death. But eight factors, when improved, incrementally stack the odds for a long life. It may seem daunting, but improving just four gets you on the same playing field as people with normal BP!

Joyce Hollman

The ‘bone density’ berry that beats back bone loss

Bone loss can cause fractures that can be life-altering. But researchers found supplementing a powdered form of a certain tart berry can reduce post-menopausal bone loss and prevent osteoporosis…

Carolyn Gretton

Slow biological aging 3 years with a vitamin

People have sought the Fountain of Youth for nearly as long as recorded history. But it’s time to ditch the legend and reach for the vitamin that not only slows biological aging but also reduces your risk of the diseases that come with it…

Joyce Hollman

Insulin resistance: Early signs and ditching the diabetes danger

Insulin resistance isn’t a disease state. It is an early warning, though, that if things don’t change, that’s exactly where you body’s headed. But if you’re only focusing on food and weight loss, you missing some very important pieces of the puzzle…

Carolyn Gretton

It’s time to rename it ‘the anti-cancer diet’

Research has uncovered multiple ways that obesity spurs cancer in the body. But we know weight loss is not only difficult, losing weight takes time. Is there an answer to fighting this cancer fuel? One diet answers the call.

Joyce Hollman

The oral health-mental health connection for happy aging

There’s a lot of focus on living longer and living healthier. But depression and anxiety can often sneak in with age, surprisingly through your mouth. Here are four ways to keep that from happening…

Carolyn Gretton

How stress becomes a post-menopausal Alzheimer’s trigger

Women carry a higher burden for Alzheimer’s, two-thirds of it, actually. Loss of protective hormones during menopause are a prime contributor. But it’s a stress hormone that may push women’s risks much higher…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Electrolyte drinks: Good, bad or Fad?

Are Americans chronically dehydrated? The idea of that is making electrolyte drinks and powders hugely popular. Is there any truth to it or is it just a good marketing gimmick with questionable results? Here’s what the doctor says…

Joyce Hollman

Choline: Breaking barriers in Alzheimer’s prevention

The blood-brain barrier is a layer of cells that keeps harmful elements from the brain while letting nutrients in. If treatments can be developed to cross the barrier, a cure for Alzheimer’s could come soon. Choline is helping in the process in more ways than one…

Joyce Hollman

Don’t give up these carbs, for healthiest aging

Too many people still subscribe to the myth that carbs are bad. But not all carbs are created equal. And if you’re a woman, eating the right carbs can be like an insurance policy that will all but guarantee your health in old age…

Joyce Hollman

Daily aspirin could keep cancer cells from spreading

It’s not unusual for doctors to suggest aspirin to avoid blood clots, though it’s not without risk. What is unusual is that the very mechanism that helps aspirin prevent blood from clotting can also stop cancer from spreading…

Carolyn Gretton

Why are more men dying from ‘broken heart syndrome’

Dying from a broken heart is not just something you’d read in a romance novel. Broken heart syndrome is a bona fide condition more likely to develop in women after the loss of a loved one. But why are more men dying from it?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Are anti-inflammatories the secret to dementia prevention?

Several studies have found links between dementia and high levels of inflammation in the body. So researchers are begging the question, “Are NSAIDs the simple answer we’ve been looking for — to decrease brain inflammation and decrease dementia?”

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