Latest Stories

Despite increased awareness of the downsides of soda, half the population consumes sugary drinks on a given day. One in four people gets at least 200 calories from soda, while five percent get at least 567, the equivalent of four cans of soda a day. For a breast cancer survivor, that could be a death sentence. Here’s why and the drink to toast your longevity to instead.

Fasting has become popular of late. Recent research, though, has shown that even intermittent fasting might not be enough to bust belly fat. But the research did get the fat to give up the skinny on why it’s so difficult, and that’s information you can use to master your strategy to win the battle of the bulge…

The Mediterranean diet is well known for its multiple health benefits, including heart health, weight loss and cancer prevention. Now, researchers in Scotland have added brain health to that list. Sticking to a Mediterranean style of eating can keep your brain sharp well into your senior years.

Aging can come with higher risks of many diseases, including type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease. These two diseases may seem unrelated, but they share a lot of the same characteristics inside the body. And now it appears there may be a definite link between type 2 diabetes and your risk for Parkinson’s.

Lowering blood pressure can be challenging. After all, to get it down, most doctors recommend changing your diet, getting more exercise or taking loads of medications, sometimes stacked one on top of another. But lowering your BP a few more notches can be as simple as a cup of tea.

There’s tons of evidence that eating mostly fruits, vegetables and whole grains can help prevent and even cure many conditions, from eczema to arthritis to diabetes and heart disease. But some people remain skeptical. Here’s one woman’s true story of what can happen when you switch to a plant-based diet.

Much has been written about coffee’s health benefits, but one area that’s been murky is whether coffee helps or hurts heart health. Now, another study has confirmed that drinking coffee made a particular way, and used as the basis for some of our favorite coffee house beverages, can actually raise the risk of cardiovascular disease…

Those blooms you bring into your home this spring could spell discomfort and even worse for your furry friends. Here’s the lowdown on some popular flowers, how they can poison your pet and what to do if you think your cat or dog has eaten them.

Pain, burning, urgency — each of these symptoms will sound familiar if you’ve ever suffered from a urinary tract infection. And the likelihood is, you have. And while the pain and symptoms of the infection themselves are bad enough, according to a new study, having a urinary tract infection could be a signal of far worse to come…

Do you know someone whose heart attack seemed to “come out of the blue? While it’s hard to understand how someone can seem fine one day and suffer a major heart event the next day, it happens. Cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Klodas explains how, why and what’s lurking below the surface that even a stress test can miss — and how to help guard against it.

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, chances are you’ve experienced side effects from your medication, so you may be aware of alternatives that relieve your symptoms. One such alternative, fish oil, has shown the ability to ease RA symptoms. You can ramp us those effects by taking it with the right juice…

There’s no doubt fiber’s part of a healthy diet. Yet, we mostly think about what it does for the gut, like promoting regularity or stopping the bloat. There’s one more way adding the power of fiber to your life could improve your health (and even your happiness)…

Energy drinks are loaded with caffeine and sugar. For that reason alone, they’ve always been questionable at best when it comes to your health. But now, research has pinpointed other chemicals in these drinks that damage your kidneys and set you up for heart failure.

In the U.S., someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. For survivors, the road to recovery can be long and hard. But trials are underway to test a hallucinogenic drug that could be the answer to less brain damage and better function following stroke.

Fructose has been a common food additive for decades, and its overconsumption is known to cause issues with the liver and insulin resistance, a precursor to obesity and diabetes. What hasn’t been as clear is how fructose impacts the immune system, and that’s a gamble with high stakes right now.

For years we’ve been told to watch our cholesterol, keeping our so-called “bad” cholesterol down and our “good” cholesterol up. But what if that advice was wrong and we’ve been operating under a false sense of security? There’s much more banking on HDL than we ever realized.

Walk into any gym and you’ll notice a great divide, with women hitting the treadmills and ellipticals, while the men lay claim to the weight machines. It’s a divide that seems to only get greater with age. But if you’re a woman over 50, skipping the weights in favor of just cardio could be a big mistake.

A high-protein diet can be an extremely effective weight loss plan. It usually goes hand in hand with a low-carb diet. But before you jump into changing your ways, consider the health of your kidneys. If not, you could end up with a bigger problem than a few extra pounds.

We use more artificial light than ever at night, both indoors and outdoors, and it’s affecting our health. Night light use is connected with a higher risk of obesity, depression, sleep disorders and diabetes. And according to researchers, it may be raising our risk of a particular type of cancer…

If you were in the clutches of drugs or alcohol, you’d want out. It’s time to think about foods that are bringing your health down the same way, foods that are engineered to addict you. Here’s insight into the worst culprits and how to break free.

The egg debate has gone on for years. Some studies indicate eggs contribute to heart disease, cancer and a shorter lifespan, while others have demonstrated a protective effect. There’s a lot on the line when it comes to eggs. So, it’s no wonder the debate is ongoing. Here’s what the latest research reveals…

Curcumin, a compound found in the spice turmeric, is well-known as a powerful anti-inflammatory that’s shown promise in relieving several diseases, including cancers of the stomach, blood and lungs. As if these benefits weren’t enough, the spice may also help protect the health of another vital organ.

Sleep is critical time the brain uses to clear toxins, build memories and reinvigorate parts of the brain that help us continue to learn and function independently. If you’re missing out on valuable shut-eye, these processes are short-circuited, and you could potentially set yourself up for serious problems.

What if lifestyle interventions were looked on as legitimate, bona fide treatments, just as medications are? The growing discipline of lifestyle medicine is making this “what if” a reality, and instead of medicalizing disease, provides an easier pill to swallow.

Previous studies have shown a combination of stress and work can increase your risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In other words, being a workaholic can ruin your health. Here’s how to gauge your risk and how to turn it around.

It’s no news flash that refined grains like white flour are bad for your health. But while many studies on refined grains have focused on their impact on weight and blood sugar, it turns out they significantly boost our odds for heart attack or stroke. Good news: Whole grains do just the opposite.

Even if you’ve survived a heart attack or stroke, your risk of dying prematurely increases. In fact, in the first month after a cardiac incident, risk of death skyrockets, and this risk can remain high for years. The good news: You’re a survivor, and researchers are tirelessly working on ways you can keep it that way.

While scientists have been able to identify key markers of Alzheimer’s disease, they’re still trying to work out why some people develop the disease and others do not. Some, called ‘SuperAgers,’ even appear to be resistant. And researchers are trying to unravel their secret…

It’s almost impossible to avoid a computer or digital screen, including your phone. But these modern conveniences are causing new threats to your eyesight. Here’s what you should know about computer vision syndrome, and how to avoid it when you can’t avoid a screen.

There is a complex interplay between stress eating, obesity and the kinds of metabolic issues that can lead to type 2 diabetes. Managing all these factors usually takes multiple steps. But a team of researchers may have found an interesting shortcut involving a particular kind of “good” bacteria…

What we think affects our wellness and influences our behaviors, which alters our health. But why is that so hard to accept? Maybe because even within the medical community, it’s a hard sell. But there’s no disputing that risky behaviors account for nearly 50 percent of cancer cases.

If you’re chained to a desk all day, you probably cringe every time you hear that sitting is bad for your health. But what can you do to make the time you spend sitting less harmful? Researchers found that you can make sitting healthier than standing just by doing this…

You may be thinking about resolutions to make 2018 the best year yet! Maybe you want meet someone special, or take control of your health and happiness. Whatever your goals are for the New Year, there is one top tip to help you accomplish them…

20 percent of women who experience a UTI will have a recurrence, and then 30 percent of those women will have a second recurrence. That means once you get an infection, you could suffer with it again and again. But a new solution could stop that cycle…

Restless leg syndrome is frustrating. Just when you’re about to relax, your legs get the creepy-crawlies. While there’s a lot of conjecture about what causes restless leg, one thing is crystal clear… those uncomfortable feelings in your legs come with serious health risks.

After saffron, known to be incredibly expensive, vanilla is the world’s most expensive spice. The humble vanilla bean is actually a delicacy. But, beyond its delightful flavor and aroma, the vanilla bean is the source of a wide range of health benefits you may not know about…

If you’ve been hearing a lot about your “microbiome,” it’s because it’s so critical to your health. Typically, when you get tips for keeping your microbiome healthy, they’re related to what you’re putting in your body. But there’s another choice that could make or break your microbiome…

No matter what you hear on the news or from your doctor, there are ways to improve your cognition and keep your brain functioning optimally whatever your age. And, one way to do that is by playing games. But some games are better for your brain than others…

Are you ready for this? A new study in the prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, reveals that a huge number of people with type 2 diabetes should be able to completely reverse their disease and remain diabetes-free, just by doing one thing…

A runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, sneezing and a sore throat and cough… If you suffer from a constant onslaught of allergens, you’ll be glad to know there is hope. In fact, overcoming seasonal allergies could be as simple as adding a few extra foods to your diet…

Tai Chi was developed thousands of years ago as a system of health preservation, fitness and self-defense. It is described in the West as “moving meditation” because coordinated movements and breathing techniques lead you into a meditative state of gentle relaxation…

The heart-healthy truth about coconut oil they’re still trying to hide could cost you dearly… It could also cost pharmaceutical giants who are raking in the big bucks, while working double time to keep this cholesterol secret… Namely, that people with higher cholesterol live longer!

It’s no secret that cell phones emit potentially harmful radiation. But skeptics say there’s not enough solid scientific evidence to prove cell phones come with any health risks, let alone serious risks like cancer. But if you’d prefer to err on the side of caution when it comes to cell phones, here’s what you can do…

Mashed potatoes… stuffing… buttered biscuits… kale. One of those foods doesn’t belong on the list, right? But, including greens on your table regularly could help you hold on to your precious memories longer — like more than a decade!

While you probably know physical activity is associated with healthy sleep, researchers at the Center for Sleep and Circadian Neurobiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, have found which ones send you to dreamland and which ones don’t.

The protein, FKBP51, helps regulate stress in your body and has a known connection to anxiety and depression. But it’s also a messenger between your stress control center and your metabolic processes. Block its production, and you could block diabetes…

We know that nuts are super healthy. They’re high in flavonoids, vitamins, various minerals and dietary fiber. Nuts are like disease kryptonite. They’ve been shown to slow aging, fight cancer and strengthen immunity. Now research shows how nuts change your brain…

If you’re a post-menopausal woman, you may be taking hormones to help slow bone loss and prevent osteoporosis. HRT carries some risks. But one hormone in particular could put you at risk for another condition that has nothing to do with your bones…

Frazzled, tense, anxious, worried, wound up? Watch out. People with higher levels of stress have higher levels of a hormone in their hair that’s an indicator for obesity over time, including larger waist circumference and a higher body mass index…

We’ve all felt lonely at some point in our lives, but, hopefully, only for short periods of time. Because research is telling us that chronic loneliness, the kind that can last for years, can do more than just make you feel unhappy… it leads to disease that kills.

If you don’t have celiac disease, but you’ve noticed that eating gluten-containing foods makes you feel ill, there’s another cause you should consider… A food compound found in many of the same foods as gluten could be the true culprit behind your chronic gut issues.

Many exercises work to strengthen one area or another. But when time is in short order and you want to work more areas, you need a multi-faceted exercise. This one tones your core and your arms…

If you’re suffering from poor digestion, depression or anxiety, it could all start with your gut. That’s because, while we all know that a poor diet is unhealthy, researchers have found that stress may be just as harmful to a woman’s body as a really bad diet…

I used to dread coughing or sneezing because it made my bladder leak. That’s when I decided I had to do something. But, what? The medications rob your brain of acetylcholine, needed by neurons to communicate. No worries, you don’t have to choose between a happy bladder and functioning brain…

The first thing every man should know about HPV is how common it is, which means it’s time to educate yourself about this prevalent infection and its possible consequences: HPV is typically known as the virus that causes cervical cancer, but in men contributes to…

Losing just ten pounds over ten years may cut your risk of developing arthritis by more than 50 percent. In addition to causing pain, carrying too much stomach fat puts you at risk for serious life-threatening consequences. But you may be surprised to learn how much vitamin C can help…

The symptoms of Lyme disease mimic the flu (and yes, deer ticks can survive in very cold weather). And only 30 percent experience the tell-tale bulls-eye rash. That’s why you should be vigilant. Fortunately, there’s new hope for defeating this disease from a surprising source…

Fermented foods support your health in so many ways… They tame tummy issues, reduce your risk of diabetes, keep your mental health in check and help you maintain a healthy weight, among other things. But have you ever thought about using fermented foods to fight the flu?

As the weather gets colder, nothing sounds more appealing than a nice, hot sauna. Like me, you may not head to the spa for a sauna session often. But there’s good reason too. Science shows saunas could slash your risk for some serious health conditions…

One day you feel fine and the next day you can’t get out of bed because of the pain. That’s life with the often debilitating pain of fibromyalgia. Have you tried to achieve relief from your fibromyalgia symptoms naturally? For many, these options prove effective…