Latest Stories

Let’s say you’ve reached your weight loss goal (congratulations!) and you’re looking forward to all the health benefits that brings. You probably worked very hard, but maintaining your new weight may not be so hard, as long as you don’t do this one thing that works against sustained weight loss.

One of my favorite rites of spring is browsing aisles of beautiful asparagus, radishes, herbs and lettuces at farmer’s markets. It’s one of the most inspiring ways to cook more heart-healthy foods at home. My favorites contain lots of potassium, calcium and nitrates, which may help improve blood flow, and of course fiber!

Who wouldn’t want to roll back the clock and reverse aging to feel better and live longer? But is turning back your biological age even possible? And if so, is it something you can do yourself? Here’s how the study participants did it in just eight weeks…

For some people, age is only a number. No matter the number of years that have passed, they stay active, strong, and yes — youthful. They seem to live and breathe the popular saying “you’re only as old as you feel.” And now science has proven there’s really something to it…

Surgery is difficult at any age, but it carries specific complications for older adults, including long-term memory loss. Researchers have dug into this connection and may have narrowed it down to the way a specific type of anesthetic affects tau protein, a key player in Alzheimer’s development…

You might think having a genetic predisposition for cancer is a death sentence, or that there’s very little you can do to counteract heredity. Well, recent research has shown this to be untrue when it comes to colorectal cancer. In fact, lifestyle factors can do more for folks with the cancer gene than those without…

Sarcopenia can put a kink in your plans to enjoy retirement, whether you see yourself playing golf every day, going on cruises or hosting campouts in the backyard with your grandkids — and instead leave you frail and housebound. But your gut bacteria can help keep it from stealing your get-up-and-go.

Traditionally, women start out with much lower blood pressure than men. But when we get into our 40s, things start to change. That’s why women are being urged to diligently check it. Turns out even a mild elevation in BP for middle-aged women can double the risk for heart attack.

Walking is one of the safest and easiest ways to stay active. It’s also great for your heart health and can help you live longer, reducing your risk of death as much as 32 percent. Better news? Retire your Fitbit… it doesn’t take near as many steps as you’d think…

For men, obesity and low testosterone levels can go hand-in-hand and are often a “chicken and the egg” situation. Obesity kicks off testosterone decline and the resulting low-T leaves the body burning fewer calories and leads to more weight gain. But it’s a vicious cylce that can be broken so you can get your vim and vigor back.

Your gut or GI tract is home to a huge and diverse community of microorganism that makes up your gut microbiome. And more and more evidence is proving that much of your health — even your blood pressure levels — starts right here…

When you suffer from anxiety, that feeling of dread can take over. Unfortunately, the medications most doctors will prescribe carry a boatload of side effects. Some can even worsen your anxiety symptoms. But a plant compound found in some of our favorite foods was shown to wrangle anxiety… and cholesterol, too.

Dyes used in food are supposed to be safe for you to eat, but we’ve already seen evidence that’s not the case. Artificial food colorants have been linked with everything from hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions and worse — and now, there’s evidence they may impact your gastrointestinal health as well…

For years, research has dug into the benefits of coffee. And, now, there’s more credibility pointing to our favorite elixir’s stimulating brain benefits. Coffee certainly lives up to its reputation to help us stay sharp, alert and focused, but should we drink more… or less for the best big brain benefits?

Over the past twenty years, the emerging field of neurotheology has explored the relationship between spiritual practices and meditation and a person’s overall physical and mental health. But the idea that meditation is good for the brain, and may even prevent Alzheimer’s, isn’t new at all…

As we age, diet plays an important role in maintaining health and independence. But it’s a little more complex than you’d think. Research has revealed some recommendations, and some precautions, that can help you live life with vim and vigor no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake…

In the past twenty years, the survival rate for pancreatic cancer has skyrocketed, as long as the disease is caught at stage 1, from around four percent to almost forty percent. This makes greater awareness of the risk factors for the disease and the early warning signs of pancreatic cancer an important part of survival.

A good night’s sleep can do wonders for your mental and cognitive health. It helps keep us focused, alert and simply happier. But more than that, getting just the right amount of sleep can bring down your risk for stroke and heart attack.

Sardines. You either love them or you hate them. But if you were at a high-risk level for type 2 diabetes — meaning you’re prediabetic — and eating just a few a day could turn all that around for you, why not give it a try? Still need convincing? Check out these impressive results…

When you were growing up, your mom never forgot to remind you to eat your vegetables. And while that’s still great advice, there might have been one recommendation she missed. Always eat your fish… your oily, fatty fish, that is! Because people with higher omega-3 blood levels live longer than those with lower levels.

All of us have those nights when physical discomfort or a racing mind can make it difficult to sleep well. But when it happens night after night, it can be a real nightmare — one that affects up to 70 percent of older adults. Pop a pill? That’s dangerous the older you get. But new research says the right kind of music is the stuff dreams are made of…

Between the chaos of the pandemic and the information overload that comes from being constantly online, stress is pretty much a constant presence in our lives. Luckily, evidence continues to mount that following a healthy diet with plenty of plant-based foods can help you manage your stress…

Psoriasis is a difficult autoimmune disease to manage. Not only can it result in thick, red, itchy skin plaques that feel uncomfortable — but it can make someone suffering from the condition uncomfortable about showing their skin. It can also cause misery below the skin including inflamed joints and tendons. A type of diet shows promise in improving symptoms…

Diabetes is well-known as a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. But prediabetes? No big deal, right? Wrong. The notion that prediabetes is “blood sugar that’s high but not high enough to be diabetes” has lulled us into a false sense of security. It can lead to heart damage without ever progressing…

You already know that there’s “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol and that the “good” type helps eliminate bad forms of cholesterol out of your system. But researchers have discovered another benefit to “good” cholesterol that could help predict your likelihood of developing a serious heart problem…

Heat stroke is a dangerous condition that can sneak up on you if you get overheated and don’t take the time to cool off. Now, we’re finding that being overheated for too long can lead to specific danger for seniors… it can actually lower your body’s ability to clean out damaged cells that could lead to diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

People with high blood pressure are usually taking some action to bring it under control, including diet, exercise and medication. But what they don’t know is that they could be sabotaging their efforts simply by taking care of other health issues, especially with medication…

Exercise plays a vital role in heart health and is often recommended by experts as one of the best ways to avoid heart problems. But what if you’ve actually had to undergo heart surgery? Can you get the cardivascular and muscular benefits you need to reduce frailty without danger? You bet, especially if you take the stairs…

I can’t think of much that’s more relaxing than strolling through a park and listening to a bird song. It clears the mind, rejuvenates the spirit and inspires me more than almost any other experience. And I’m sure I’m not alone in appreciating these gifts that come from spending time outdoors, including how they impact our health…

Sleep is soothing. But it’s also invigorating. You know what else is invigorating? Sex. If you’re a woman of a certain age feeling left out in that department, sleep may be the way to get it back, according to experts who understand what you’re going through.

If you don’t have the time or energy to overhaul your diet, I have good news. There are a few other ways you can trim fat without tackling a new diet plan. In fact, there are several daily choices that factor into your weight that have nothing to do with what’s on your plate…

Any time you’ve got a purple or dark blue fruit or vegetable on the menu, you’re consuming a healthy dose of a special antioxidant-rich plant pigment known as anthocyanin, that can protect you from life-threatening conditions. Get started with these top 10…

Could daily consumption of a certain form of curcumin — the substance that gives Indian curry its bright color — really improve memory and mood in people with age-related memory loss? See what the research says about the secret India’s seniors already know…

Coming out of a long, cold winter often means dealing with dry, chapped, cracked and irritated lips – leaving you to slather on that chapstick, hoping for relief. So, what do you do to finally get the smooth, soft, moisturized lips you want? Here are the six secrets to kissing those chapped lips goodbye…

We all know that breathing vehicle exhaust is bad for us. Recent research has focused on one particular type of fuel and the pollution it creates. We’re exposed to it more than we may think, and it is directly linked to an incurable and ultimately fatal condition.

The Beach Boys may have been onto an ancient healing practice without even realizing it… That’s because the entire universe and everything in it resonates at specific vibrational frequencies. In fact, energy is nothing but vibration, and we are surrounded by it and made up of it.

You know the old saying about an apple a day, and how it keeps us from getting sick… And, you’ve probably heard that dark green and deeply colored fruits and vegetables provide you with far more nutrition than pale or white ones. Well, research has managed to confirm the first adage while turning the second piece of wisdom completely on its head…

Hamburgers. Meat loaf. A glass of milk. There’s debate about whether animal products like beef and milk should be avoided altogether. But wherever you fall in your consumption of cow products, there’s one health risk to be aware of…

Soon the flowers will be blooming, birds will be singing, the grass will turn a vibrant green… and, your seasonal allergies will be back in full force. Don’t reach for those anti-histamines that can leave you feeling funky and drowsy and off your game just when you can get out and play. Eat, instead!

Knee pain, a stiff shoulder, elbow tendonitis, arthritis or a recent minor injury… it doesn’t matter the cause. What does is stopping the pain. Commonly, hot or cold therapy can help, but how do you know which will work for your pain?

There are natural ways to prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place and even ease problems, if you’ve been diagnosed. Even better, though, a six-year study reveals clues to how bacteria in your gut can reverse blood sugar problems.

We all experience those moments from time to time — a forgotten name, a hazy memory, misplaced keys… but according to a recent study, if you’re middle aged and have undergone surgery in the last few years, you may experience greater cognitive decline.

I commonly get questions from my female patients about the use of synthetic progestogens in menopause and this month a new patient came to me taking Prempro. I’d like to share why naturally-derived progesterone is safer and more effective.

When it comes to your body clock and health, things get kind of tricky. Scientists can’t always tell if a messed up body clock causes disease, or if it’s the first sign a disease is brewing in your body. And in the case of Alzheimer’s, they’re starting to think it may be the latter…

If you’re someone who enjoys having a glass of Cabernet or Merlot with dinner, hopefully you already know all about the heart-healthy benefits you’re indulging in. But there’s a new and delightful twist to the story of red wine, polyphenols and your health…

It’s been more than well established that a vitamin D deficiency greatly increases the chances you could end up with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and even cancer, the so-called diseases of aging. Is it because this vitamin actually suppresses aging?

Did you know ordinary items lying around your house could be sabotaging your health? Some of these items contain carcinogens that cause your cells to divide faster, damage your DNA or trigger other processes in your body that can eventually lead to cancer…

I was shocked recently to read how dangerous those blood thinners they give stroke victims really are. In fact, according to new information, for a lot of people with specific health issues, they could just as easily cause stroke instead of preventing it…

Ever have a day when you just don’t feel like the brightest bulb in the bunch? We all do, but now science knows one reason why: Your lighting choices are much more important to your health than you ever realized, and could mess with your memory…

Did you know that you can use apple cider vinegar as the base for a high-powered drink that’s good for everything from the flu to indigestion? To take ACV’s health benefits to the next level, just add in these superfood all-stars for a homemade tonic that’ll ward off almost anything.

Whether you’ve converted to nut milk or you’re still drinking conventional milk, you may want to consider drinking a glass of grass-fed milk daily. Researchers believe it may be an easy way for people of different ages and lifestyles to fight disease from cancer to heart disease…

People often ignore the early signs of Parkinson’s, since they often closely resemble signs of aging we’ve been groomed to accept as normal. This makes it even more important to reduce severity of symptoms and maintain quality of life…

A bright smile doesn’t just show the world how happy you are, it takes years off your face! No wonder we’re all so obsessed with whitening and brightening our teeth. But, leave the bleaching for the toilet. Get a brighter smile without harsh chemicals…

IBS is a painful and often life-altering syndrome. The good news is there are, indeed, natural and effective methods to control and greatly reduce your symptoms. With these 4 tips, you should be able to reduce its frequency, duration and level of discomfort…

A huge body of recent research has proven that preventing gum disease can also prevent cancer, diabetes and more. But be careful. There’s one thing you want to make sure your dentist never does to your mouth, since it is linked to yet another debilitating health problem…

It’s a huge relief once menopause is over. No more hot flashes, mood swings or sleepless nights. But there’s one post-menopause change that’s a bit harder to feel optimistic about… skyrocketing heart disease risk. But the simplest thing can protect you…

I had a major surgery just a few months ago and something weird happened. I remember waking up in pain, but when my husband took my hand, I could tolerate the pain better. Now, the power of what my husband did for me has been scientifically proven…

There are several culprits that strip the enamel from your teeth. Sugary and starchy junk foods are the worst. But you should know that there are a few health foods that cause some major enamel loss too, and may be ruining your smile and your dental health…

Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine decided to take a look at what role the bacteria on your skin play in protecting you against cancer. It turns out that you might be washing away cancer protection right now…

Most people know chamomile tea to be a good choice for a calming drink just before bed. And without it, I don’t think I would have survived losing an hour to the time change last weekend. But these 9 teas offer even more if you’re looking to boost your health naturally…