Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Carolyn Gretton

Why poor sleep is a ticking time bomb for women over 45

Women are fortunate that, for most of their lives, heart problems are of little concern. That changes in menopause, when it becomes a significant threat. Four factors can increase the danger, but one in particular needs addressing sooner than later.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

7 powerful health benefits of watermelon

Summertime is here and that means markets across the country are once again selling that sweet, juicy fruit kids and adults alike wait all year for. And we’ve got good news: If you eat watermelon, you’re getting much more than a tasty treat…

Joyce Hollman

5 ways to slash risks for painful diverticulitis

Diverticulitis is a painful inflammation of the colon that becomes more common after 50. But diet, lifestyle and some conditions can increase your odds. If not treated, complications can be life-threatening. Here’s what to know…

Carolyn Gretton

How slightly elevated blood sugar tanks a man’s sex life

Low testosterone and aging are often blamed when men have trouble in the bedroom. But a six-year study shows an unrelated health problem, easily remedied, may actually be the impetus for a man’s sexual health decline…

Craig Cooper

10 ways to lower your PSA levels

An elevated PSA can be an early indication of prostatitis, an enlarged prostate or other health concerns. Research suggests that lifestyle changes, targeted nutrients, and inflammation reduction may help support healthy PSA levels.

Carolyn Gretton

The pennies a day cure for cholesterol and inflammation

I’m a penny pincher who will cut costs almost anywhere I can, but not when it comes to food and my health. So, imagine my delight when I found two foods that reduce serious health risks and the drain on my bank account at the same time!

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Menopause and the big lie

Given that it’s a normal physiologic process and not a disease, women are expected to just endure menopause and get on with it. But misery is not “normal,” and neither is accepting the harm it does to your health…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

The superfood enzyme that ‘dissolves’ sinus pain and pressure

Superfoods get their reputation because they’re nutrient dense and do for your body what it normally takes a variety of other foods (in copious amounts) to do. Or because they contain that “one amazing” ingredient, like the natural answer for your sinus problems…

Joyce Hollman

What makes obesity-related heart disease so deadly

In the last two decades, there’s been a significant increase in deaths from obesity-related ischemic heart disease. Let’s talk about why obesity drives heart problems, the type of fat that does the most harm, who’s most affected and what to do about it…

Carolyn Gretton

Live near a golf course? Your risk for Parkinson’s may double

Even if you don’t play golf, but have a golf course in your neighborhood, you’ll want to pay attention to this. You could face more than double the risk of developing Parkinson’s, and it may start in your groundwater…

Joyce Hollman

The berry powerful enough to treat bowel inflammation

If you follow nutritional health like I do, you know one superfood stands out study after study. Now researchers are calling it a natural therapeutic agent for intestinal health. That’s because it goes after the root of conditions like colitis and more…

Joyce Hollman

3 spices that tackled A1C, fasting glucose, insulin and won

Spices are at the top of the ORAC scale. That means they have exceptional anitoxidant capacity to keep oxidative stress from ruining our health. And when it comes to type 2 diabetes, three really stand out against three threats to your glycemic profile…

Carolyn Gretton

Barrett’s esophagus: The GERD and cancer connection

Barrett’s esophagus may seem like a benign condition. After all, it has few symptoms. But in actuality, signs of other conditions can mean it’s not far behind, nor is the risk for a type of cancer on the rise among people over 65. Here’s what to change now…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

How this sneaky protein triggers leaky gut syndrome

With the incidence of leaky gut and celiac disease on the rise, people are left suffering as doctors struggle to get to the root of the problem. Luckily, researchers are shining a light on how leaks form in the gut lining, providing hope for treatments that work…

Carolyn Gretton

A biological reason to hate Mondays: It’s a stress amplifier

Does a cloud of gloom descend on your Sunday nights? There’s a biological reason for that. Our complex relationship with Mondays is deep-seated and dangerous and poses a real health threat, even after we’re retired…

Joyce Hollman

The 10 most frequently misdiagnosed conditions

Never leave a doctor’s office until you’re satisfied with the answers you get. A misdiagnosis can happen more often than you’d think, especially if you present with symptoms linked to conditions doctors frequently dismiss…

Joyce Hollman

The connection between dementia and the shingles vaccine

Discussing vaccines can put people on opposites ends of the spectrum, but if you’re somewhere in the middle and you’ve been thinking about the shingles vaccine, a growing connection to dementia may be the deciding factor for you…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

The hidden link between heart health and bone strength

When we think about heart health, bones usually don’t come to mind. But growing research shows a powerful connection: the same choices that impact your heart can affect the strength of your bones…

Carolyn Gretton

The vitamin scientists call a ‘game changer’ for aging skin

With age, skin cell production declines, resulting in thinner, paler and less elastic skin, which contributes to the signs of aging, as well as the bruises and cuts that take longer to heal. A vitamin could reactivate the genes essential for skin renewal…

Joyce Hollman

Forget reading tea leaves: How poop predicts mortality

Statistically, becoming an intensive care patient means you’re more likely to die. Researchers have found a unique way to identify those patients at greater risk so they can turn that around. But it starts before you end up there…

Joyce Hollman

The indestructible toxin attacking your immune system

PFAS are “forever chemicals” that poison your drinking water and sneak into your body via furniture, clothing, take-out and dental floss, too. They’re hard to avoid. And now we know how they cause disease: by destroying the most important parts of our immune system…

Carolyn Gretton

Get a whiff of this to put a stop to cognitive decline

There’s an interesting connection between some neurodegenerative ailments, like Alzheimer’s and Parkison’s: the loss of smell. Knowing scent-detecting nerves trigger certain brain responses, research tested a whiff of a scent that may halt cognitive decline…

Joyce Hollman

The drink that helps keep cancer from coming back

There’s just something about the world’s most popular beverage. And this time it’s too good to pass up, especially if you’re a colon cancer survivor or just looking for that special ingredient to live your longest best life…

Carolyn Gretton

The alkaline secret to losing 13 pounds in 16 weeks

Weight gain and inflammation create a vicious cycle that sabotages weight loss. But when science teams up to bust inflammation, you can pack on health while the weight falls off. Here’s what the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine found works…

Joyce Hollman

What a high-fat diet does to the brain in just 3 days

Obesity has been linked to cognitive decline, even Alzheimer’s, but researchers questioned if it really was the weight, which can take years to gain, or the high-fat foods harming the brain. In just three days, they had their answer.

Joyce Hollman

From UTIs to sepsis: Eat this to reduce infection risk

Two bacterial strains commonly found in the gut are behind some nasty infections, such as UTIs, meningitis and sepsis, and can lead to diarrhea and liver abscesses. The best nutrient to keep them under control is one Americans don’t get nearly enough of…

Carolyn Gretton

A cholesterol cure to save your heart and your vision

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has no known cause and no known cure. But scientists are seeking to change that. Their explorations into AMD’s mechanisms have uncovered a surprising link between AMD and heart disease….

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Young-onset colon cancer and heart disease: A concerning parallel

You might be surprised that a cardiologist has something to say about colon cancer. But we’re seeing a parallel: what causes heart disease earlier in life may also be a setup for aggressive colon tumors.

Joyce Hollman

The Japanese secret to avoid brain shrinkage

One factor related to cognitive decline is brain shrinkage, also known as brain atrophy. As brain size decreases, connections between brains cells are lost and that leads to problems with thinking skills, memory and even performing daily activities, But a Japanese diet may keep your brain plump and sharp…

Joyce Hollman

Is CoQ10 the answer to chronic fatigue syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome has puzzled doctors for decades. People with the debilitating condition have felt left out in the cold and worse, told “it’s all in their head.” But several recent studies have found that low blood levels of an important nutrient may be to blame…

Joyce Hollman

Why poor balance is a sure sign of a shorter life

If you don’t use it, you lose it as you age, specifically muscle strength and flexibility. But balance may not be something you give much thought to, at least not its impact on how long you live or how early you die. Here’s a test than can answer that for you…

Carolyn Gretton

19 disease risks that disappear with one habit

A healthy lifestyle isn’t easy. But if you can commit to just one healthy habit, choose the one that lowers your risk of 19 chronic diseases, inlcluding heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Do nothing and watch those risks soar…

Margaret Cantwell

NAC: The liver’s ally for healthy aging

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is an amino acid essential for antioxidant production. It’s also a powerful detoxifier. But with NAC, you also gain a powerful ally, capable of tackling multiple threats, including those that come with age…

Joyce Hollman

Best treatments for dry winter skin

Winter can be brutal on your skin. The dryness, itching and flaking are miserable and cause breaks in the layer of protection meant to keep your skin healthy. How about a crash course in choosing the right moisturizers (and a bonus ingredient with extra benefits)?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Forever chemicals: Hijacking genes to kill brain cells

We’re all intimately familiar with forever chemicals, whether we like it or not. They disrupt hormones, health and increase disease risk. But what they do when they cross into the brain is the most sinister of all…

Joyce Hollman

An important caveat for coffee’s heart-healthy benefits

Coffee’s reputation has been growing for decades. But for “grande” benefits, researchers shared a caveat that’s especially relevant to coffee’s link to lower cardiovascular mortality (hint, it’s not about decaf either!)…

Carolyn Gretton

Planning a family? Avoid this robber of male fertility

Couples planning a family try to do everything right to increase the odds of conception. But if men are eating certain foods, exposure to an unwanted ingredient could tank their fertility rates and semen quality…

Joyce Hollman

How red light signals ‘stop’ to reduce blood clot risk

Blood clots to help control bleeding. But it’s not always the protective mechanism it should be, and the danger is rarely discovered before it’s too late. But for those at higher risk, a new therapy could work…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Walk this way to add 11 extra years to your life

Do you need a little incentive to be more active? Who doesn’t? My favorite part of the day is when I get to put my feet up and relax, if only for a short while. But when I learned I could trade some of that time for 11 extra years, I was on board, almost…

Joyce Hollman

Aortic stenosis: What’s insulin resistance got to do with it?

Insulin resistance is coming to light as more than just a little blood sugar problem. We already know it can lead to type 2 diabetes. Now we’re finding it may be an instigator for the world’s most common heart valve disease…

Carolyn Gretton

The simple supplement that keeps muscles stronger longer

I never used to worry when I had trouble opening a jar or lifting a package, but these may be signs of age-related muscle loss. I thought I was keeping them strong, but I’d forgotten the mineral that can keep them stronger longer…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The antimicrobial fruit combo that fights gum disease

Periodontitis is a type of gum disease that causes inflamed bleeding gums and tooth loss. Traditional products can be irritating, but there’s a fruity option that’s gentle on your mouth and effective at fighting it off…

Joyce Hollman

7 cancers that may lead to warning on alcohol labels

The United States Surgeon General has called for a cancer warning on alcohol labels, similar to what we’ve seen on cigarettes. The reason? These 7 cancers and how much or how little can increase their risks…

Carolyn Gretton

How weight-loss surgery takes down pancreatic cancer risk

It’s no wonder some people living with obesity turn to bariatric surgery. Aside from weight loss, the procedure has far-reaching impacts on other areas of health — including a particularly deadly type of cancer…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Is green tea the holy grail for brain health?

Green tea has a reputation as a holy grail for preventing a plethora of conditions. But against those that steal your memories and cognitive abilities, the evidence seems to go both ways. Take the guesswork out of brain and memory support…

Joyce Hollman

The berry that boosts metabolism, burns fat and fights flu

Since ancient times, elderberries have been used medicinally and have a reputation for fighting flu. But a regular dose of elderberry juice or tea just may be what your metabolism and blood sugar need to get in gear…

Carolyn Gretton

The non-invasive test that’s the best heart attack predictor

Calcium accumulates in arteries way before significant blockages develop, which is the best time to catch it. One test that measures it has proven its accuracy for predicting life or death even beyond heart disease…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Colonoscopy: Is every 10 years really necessary?

Whether your rite of passage was at 50 or 45, anyone who submits to a routine colonoscopy is informed they’re expected to repeat the procedure every 10 years. Now for some good news: some of us may get a reprieve…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Key player in kidney disease identified (and a supplement that helps)

37 million Americans live with chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes or hypertension, you’re at high risk of joining them. Luckily, a new treatment, and better yet, preventative, is on the horizon. Even better, it’s available right now without prescription…

Joyce Hollman

Newer cholesterol drugs linked to reduced lung function

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, especially statins, have been controversial almost from the get-go. After years of use, the list of side effects keeps growing. A newer class of drugs treats cholesterol differently, but it sounds like the same old story…

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…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Why New Year’s resolutions can backfire

Are you hearing less about your friends’ New Year’s resolutions? Experts say that’s because the practice can lead to stress no one needs. What can you do instead? Try just three simple habits for better days this year and beyond…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘no-bloat, no-gas’ prebiotic that reduces liver fat and inflammation

Fatty liver is a stealthy condition with few, if any, signs or symptoms until it progresses. It’s also highly preventable with the right lifestyle choices, including a simple and inexpensive prebiotic that can help a fatty liver slim down…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The hidden hazards of burning candles in your home

Those candles you light before a relaxing bath or the ones that give your home a warm glow are doing more than you bargained for. Here’s what and why you need to know about the hidden health hazards of candles…

Jedha Dening

Two kinds of fat your brain needs to reduce stroke risk

Stroke is perhaps the scariest of all vascular conditions. Odds are one in six of us will suffer one at some point. But research says that adding two specific fats to our diets won’t only lower risks for the development of stroke but reduce the severity should one happen…

Margaret Cantwell

How pork fat contributes to your nutritional fitness

If you’ve been scared off fat and are considering a diet craze that ditches entire food groups, this is for you: Pork fat ranks in the top 10 for a higher nutritional score than “healthy” foods like kale, broccoli or salmon. Here’s why…

Joyce Hollman

How your blood vessels can accelerate your brain’s age

As we age, our brains age along with all of our other parts. But some people’s brains experience accelerated aging, and research has zeroed in on how their blood vessels could be responsible…

Carolyn Gretton

Coffee and tea’s connection to head and neck cancer

Many studies have been conducted to assess whether coffee or tea is linked with head and neck cancer, but results have been inconsistent — until now…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Here’s what we know about the first U.S. bird flu death

Bird flu has been on the perimeter of our minds. But the first severe case of human infection in a patient who has died as a result, has people asking “Is it time to worry?” It’s time to understand this flu and how to stay safe…

Dr. Mark Wiley

Norovirus: What to know and how to avoid it

It’s nasty. It’s miserable. And, it’s highly contagious. You might call it the stomach flu or the stomach bug, but the real name behind those unspeakable symptoms is norovirus. Here’s what to know and how to lessen risk of infection…

«SPONSORED»