Latest Stories

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.

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.

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…

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…

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.

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.

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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’…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Flavonoids are known to have great effects on lowering blood pressure levels. But the results haven’t been consistent for everyone. Researchers found why, and how you can make them work better for you…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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?

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…

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…

Random mouth ulcers are just plain painful. Over-the-counter topicals or prescription mouthwashes may reduce the pain, but they don’t help heal those canker sores so much. So a group of scientists decided to put CBD to the test. It’s been shown to do so much, why not?

My gut is somewhat out of whack thanks to long-term antibiotics I took several years ago. So I’m familiar with an urgent bathroom run. But there are some surprising things about some foods that can trigger diarrhea even if you have an iron stomach. If you’d rather not be caught off guard, watch out for these eight…

Chronic anxiety makes you miserable. And it messes with your health too. It puts you at higher risk for heart problems, stomach problems and respiratory problems. But there’s one anxiety-related health risk that even researchers didn’t know about until now… bone loss.

The right foods can detoxify and heal our bodies, increase vitality and add years to our life. But, the wrong foods are more like illicit drugs: highly addictive and dangerous. So why can’t stop eating them, knowing the harm they can do? It’s like we have no willpower left…

Does the date on your birth certificate really have so much influence on your health? Or, is there something you can do today that could reverse your biological age… and help you live healthier longer? That answer is leaning strongly towards yes.

Sciatica pain is unfortunately too common. If you don’t suffer it, try to make changes to avoid it now. Buttock and posterior thigh pain from sciatic nerve irritation can be persistent and debilitating. Let’s look at causes and also the best ways to treat this condition. 

Staying sedentary is bad for you. It puts you at risk for heart disease, cancer, stroke, depression and more. But what if you’re stuck being sedentary because of work? You can still be healthy, as long as you have two things…

Each year before our beach vacation, I look at my pale Irish skin and wish for a beautiful tan. A friend suggested I start on my “base tan” so I wouldn’t burn and would tan better. But is any amount of tanning really safe? This is what I found…

Inspirational quotes. While they may make you want to roll your eyes at times, you just might find the secret to happiness by following the advice of some classic clichés. Here’s how to put a few into action to smile more and stress less…

No matter your stance on the fluoride debate, chances are you live in a city or town that doesn’t care what you think. That’s why your water contains this questionable chemical with a laundry list of health hazards backed by research. But tides are changing…

Before you grab just any sunscreen, you should know not all of them are safe. In fact, there are a number of toxic ingredients lurking in many of the brands for sale today. To top it off, a recent analysis found that a whopping 67 percent of them don’t even work!

You can pile on all the anti-aging creams and serums, but if you’re filling your body with foods that speed up the biological aging process, it’s going to show. And it’s not just what, but how much you eat. More and more studies show the secret to eternal youth is…

Your liver is nature’s perfect detoxifier when it’s working on all cylinders. But if you find that you’re having a really hard time losing weight, look at your liver before tackling the fat. It’s just one indication that your liver isn’t working like it’s supposed to…

Candy canes, hot chocolate… we often think of peppermint as a wintertime flavor. But when it comes to enjoying the outdoors this summer, the essential oil of the peppermint leaf can’t be beat for keeping you energized, comfortable and healthy…

The term ‘natural’ flavorings often refers to flavors that they were produced through so-called ‘natural’ processes like fermentation or evaporation, rather than manufactured in a chemical laboratory. But there’s nothing wholesome or nutritious about them. Watch out for these…

A lot of changes come with perimenopause and menopause, but giving up your sleep doesn’t have to be one of them. Use the tips here to help overcome the hot flashes that keep you awake, manage your hormones and reset your body’s internal clock for a better night’s rest…

Medical science was once a groundbreaking way to discover how to keep us healthier and living longer. This was how chelation was first discovered. But big pharma and the medical community have a serious financial conflict of interest when it comes to this treatment for heart disease…

The toll osteoarthritis takes on the people who have it is very serious. This type of “wear and tear” arthritis can become unbearably painful. Well, there’s a supplement that could help curb pain for osteoarthritis sufferers everywhere. You should give it a try, along with these other tips to live with less pain.

Remember the days when eating whole, natural, delicious eggs was a no-no? You got stuck eating bland egg-white omelets, dry toast and artificially-flavored low-fat yogurt for breakfast. Yuck. Thankfully, those days are long gone. A new study shows that eating eggs actually reduces your risk of heart disease.

Anyone can boost performance and enhance exercise… you just need the right supplement. The omega-3 fatty acids found in krill oil boost anti-inflammatory action and strengthen immune function following workouts.

In Japan, living to 80 is no big deal. But there’s an island off the country’s coast where islanders live even longer. And, they’re three times more likely to reach 100 than their North American counterparts, with much less risk of cardio disease, breast or prostate cancer or dementia…

I don’t consider myself old but I’m not a spring chicken either. My back has gotten stiffer, my shoulders have gotten rounder and my toes seem further away than ever before. If you’re in the same boat, here’s one FUN way to improve all of these problems and more…

It’s completely possible to retrain your brain for better eating habits. And the consensus is that it takes about 66 days for a new behavior to feel automatic. Now, you shouldn’t tackle too many at once. So, let’s go after the 3 proven worst at packing on the pounds…

A long-term study found that 70 percent of physical aging and about 50 percent of mental aging is determined by choices we make every day. With that in mind, I’d like to offer you 9 simple choices you can make at any age to keep thriving for decades to come!

Kate Spade. Anthony Bourdain. Two successful people, in the prime of their lives, took their own lives this week. And we are all asking that question… Why? But another question we need answers to is how to stop the mental illness epidemic. A new approach holds promise…

In our enthusiasm for quick results, some of us go overboard when we try to eat healthy. Don’t let it backfire. Here are 5 ‘health’ foods that you should know more about before chomping down on them…

There are so many supplements that can benefit your body in different ways that it can feel impossible to narrow it down to which ones you really need. No worries! Here are the top six vitamins and minerals all women over 40 should take for their best health…

Fat can have scars. And because of where this fat “sticks,” most people with scarred fat have an apple body shape. So, if your fat cells become scarred as you gain weight, what can you do to finally slim down and avoid the health threats your body shape seems prone to?

Dehydration is a real threat that many people don’t take seriously. They think it only happens to someone trekking through the desert, or to marathon runners or other athletes. But it could be the reason for your aches and pains, foggy brain and faster aging…

When it comes to heart disease, diet makes a big difference. But there’s one food that stands out from the pack if you want to keep your heart healthy. This food may even be able to help prevent two serious diseases at once…

Did you know nighttime light exposure impacts your metabolism? Researchers at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine recently looked into it. The results will make you want to turn off your nightlight, your bedside clock and your smartphone for good!

Hormones are master switches. One in particular is a double-edged sword. At optimal levels, it keeps our cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems functioning perfectly. But get estrogen off balance and men — yes, men — have a real problem on their hands…