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The gentle, flowing movements of tai chi aren’t usually the types of exercise you’d associate with losing weight or inches around your middle (where that dangerous fat collects). But a recent study suggests this seemingly sedate practice actually packs a fat-loss punch…

What’s defined as high blood pressure varies depending upon who you listen to… the American Heart Association or the International Society of Hypertension. In my own practice, I typically favor the more lenient definition. But regardless of which scale you follow, getting correct readings is what really matters…

About 30 minutes of daily moderate exercise is ideal. It’s not easy for all of us to commit to that, but just a few hours of light physical activity can provide major benefits on par with more exercise. Just be sure to avoid the one thing that can negate them.

Parkinson’s is a disease that causes tremors, stiffness and rigidity, cognitive decline and more. And though there is currently no cure, there are drugs and alternative health methods that can help slow the disease progression. That’s why seeing the early signs matters so much…

Exercise. Either you love it, or you hate it. But it’s good preventive medicine. Regular exercise can prevent heart disease, diabetes and even cancer. The good news? There’s an indulgent activity that carries a lot of the same benefits.

There are people who tend to thrive and do their best work late at night. But others are at their best earlier in the day. One drawback of being a night owl is a higher risk for depression. But one hour is all it takes to slash that risk by double digits — without giving up late night..

Are you a cleaning fanatic? Be wary of the ingredients in the products you use. You could face serious respiratory damage if you’re not careful.

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…

While your doctor might tell you it’s normal to experience changes in your sexual function as you age, you don’t have to write off your sex life. There are three supplements that have been shown to not only make you healthier, but your sex life as well…

Ever have difficulty opening a jar of pickles or tomato sauce? Do your hands hurt when you hold things and perform repetitive motions, like washing dishes or gardening? Well, the issue could be lack of grip strength. And it’s more than just a problem that makes daily chores or tasks difficult for you…

In a world where prescription antibiotics are becoming less effective, natural antibiotics are finally getting the attention they deserve. And there’s one natural antibiotic that’s been stealing the spotlight lately because of its impressive powers against resistant TB…

The human body is a wondrous thing. Yet there’s this one thing that men and women alike have been conditioned to be uncomfortable talking about. Let’s end that today: It’s a normal part of our bodily functions and, it turns out, it can improve health and fight off disease…

An acid naturally produced in your body can hydrate and tighten your skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles and make your lips and cheeks appear younger and fuller. So why all these visible signs of aging? Production is 1/20th what it was in your younger days. Here’s how to boost and supercharge it…

Inflammation is a sign your body is trying to heal itself from something harmful, like an infection or injury. But sometimes your body’s inflammation response is triggered even when you haven’t contracted a nasty bug or taken a bad fall. That’s when it goes from helping to harming…

The rate of Alzheimer’s disease in our country is skyrocketing. Luckily, researchers have discovered a diet that not only helps prevent Alzheimer’s but can even help ward off dementia in stroke survivors, who are twice as likely as the general population to develop dementia…

The results of a new weight loss study are rather promising. It’s based on acceptance of behaviors in relation to food, feelings of hunger and daily activity: Components of the most effective wellness strategy for success. Just trade willpower in for ‘values’…

A lot of doctors believe Lyme disease is a fairly straight-forward condition… You get a tick bite. You get a bullseye rash and some flu-like symptoms. As long as you take a course of antibiotics soon enough — you shouldn’t have any lingering effects. But that’s not the case…

Why do so many people with normal, healthy levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, who have never smoked, don’t have diabetes, and are without a family history of heart attack, fall victim to heart failure? A new discovery answers this question that’s plagued medicine for so long…

Gas. Stomach pain. Bloating. Diarrhea. Constipation. You get the picture. Even though IBS isn’t as serious as some of the other diseases tied to vitamin deficiencies, it makes you miserable and interferes with optimum health. So you want it to stop ASAP. Here’s what you need…

We can count the passing of the years not just in our memories but in the wrinkles on our faces. And, while it’s nice to call those wrinkles a sign of wisdom or a life well-lived, most of us would still rather turn back the clock, at least when it comes to our skin.

We all know the “YoYo” approach to losing weight… You spend a few weeks cutting out this or substituting that, counting every calorie. And quite often, the weight comes off and you revert back to “normal.” And then it all comes back. So let’s try something smarter…

Recently I wrote about the missing link for arthritis… boron — and why supplementing with it is an effective natural treatment for both arthritis and osteoporosis. But that’s not all this miracle mineral can do for you. So let’s see how you can put it to work improving what ails you…

People with depression are often stigmatized. Slowly, light is being shed on the fact that depression is, in fact, an illness, just like any other. It can also be a signal that other things are wrong with the body: vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances… even cancer. Here’s one woman’s story…

Arthritis pain have you dreading getting out of bed and taking that first step? Do you wonder how much worse it’s going to be ten or even fifteen years down the road? If you know moving helps, but can’t handle the 150 minutes your doctor says is recommended, here’s good news…

Are you in debt to the Sandman? Only getting five or six hours of sleep, because that’s the only way you can find enough time in the day? Sure, you feel a little tired. But, you figure you’ll catch up this weekend, right? No so fast. That may not be the fix you’re looking for…

Whether you’re living with plantar fasciitis, stress fractures of your feet, tendonitis or any other type of foot or ankle pain, there is one common way to feel better and it doesn’t involve prescription drugs and their side effects, needles or surgery.

Having strong lungs and a healthy heart are essential to wellness and quality of life. Yet many people really don’t like cardio exercises because they are hard to do, take a lot of effort and often can be painful on the joints. Well, that’s not always the case…

My favorite commercial is that one with David Beckham. The best part is when he walks in front of the heavy-set man in front of a grill and they say, “He even gave the term “dad bod” a new meaning.” How can you get the new “dad bod?” Stop this cycle…

Does the thought of fighting for your life against a disease that grows inside your body keep you up at night? Or, maybe you’ve already battled cancer and just want to know it’s never coming back. If so, the results of a new study could hold the answer you’re looking for…

I wrote about how the EPA has turned a blind eye to the toxins in our drinking water, particularly PFOA, the toxic chemical found in Teflon non-stick cookware. But the “PFOA substitute” they’re replacing it with is just as poisonous. And you’ll find it…

The truth is that for many of us, moving into menopause also means ending up with fullness in our abdomens and jeans we just can’t button anymore. So, why do menopause and bloating go hand-in-hand? One study has the answer…

Researchers thought this duo’s anti-cancer properties were so promising, they decided to give them a go. And with a bit of scientific tweaking, they turned these two simple, everyday ingredients into a powerful colon cancer-killing cocktail…

Stretching. You did it before gym class throughout your school years. But did you keep it up into your adult years? If not, you came to experience the loss of elasticity in your legs and tightening of your hips and shoulders. The pain soon followed. So let’s get back to it…

Thinking about trying a juice fast, cleanse or extreme detox diet? Well, I have good news: You don’t have to do anything that severe to help your body detoxify itself. In fact, those extreme, short-term interventions are less helpful than these long-term, sustainable habits…

Are you trying to quit smoking, again? Don’t be too hard on yourself… Although 70 percent of the 46 million Americans who smoke want to quit, the rate of those who are actually successful is downright dismal. Are you going about it the best way? By that I mean…

If you started the New Year with a resolution to lose weight and get active, you may have decided to use an activity monitor, like a Fitbit, to help you stick to your program. But, if you don’t add one more vital component, you’re likely to fail…

Have you beaten breast cancer? Or do you know someone who has? Then you know that overcoming the disease is only half the battle: There’s one habit that should be non-negotiable if you’ve battled breast cancer in the past — or want to prevent it in the future…

New, exciting Alzheimer’s research is pointing to new and better treatments. But, not only that, the findings of two recent studies provide a pretty solid clue to an effective strategy you can implement yourself to help stave off the disease, long before it begins…