Latest Stories

Latest Stories

Virginia Tims-Lawson

10 warning signs you’re mentally exhausted

While the signs of physical exhaustion are easy to spot, mental exhaustion is harder to recognize. But its harm can be just as serious. Here are 10 signs you need to assess things before you reach the point of no return — and how to recover…

Joyce Hollman

This Japanese spice turns up the heat on brain power

There are many foods that are good for your brain. But a new study adds one to the list that can improve your memory within weeks. Not many people can handle its heat though… but no worries, it comes in supplement form, too.

Carolyn Gretton

Microplastics in your artery plaque may be the final straw

Plastic waste can take from 20 to 500 years to decompose. As it does, it breaks down into tiny bits, showing up in brain matter and blood clots. But how it builds up in artery plaque may be the final straw. Do these two things to get ahead of it…

Joyce Hollman

Trouble sleeping? It could lead to liver disease

Fatty liver has a new name that recognizes its ties to metabolic dysfunction. That means high cholesterol, blood sugar and belly fat can foreshadow liver trouble. But poor sleep could be a common factor that brings it all together…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The tea that takes down gum disease-causing bacteria

If there’s one thing you should know about gum disease it’s this: it’s not just a “mouth” problem. It’s linked to weight gain, heart problems, brain shrinkage and even loss of longevity. Avoiding it may be just a few cups away with the right tea…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Focus on protein? The fiber gap matters most

As a cardiologist focused on preventive health, I’ve noticed a preoccupation with protein, while a key regulator of metabolism, inflammation, appetite and immune function is being neglected. If you have concerns about health and weight, the fiber gap is where it’s at…

Joyce Hollman

Preventable metabolic disorder raises dementia risk 70%

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that increase risks for diabetes, heart disease and stroke, but it’s also a turning point. New findings reveal it can drastically increase dementia risks as early as 40. Time to turn it around…

Joyce Hollman

A brisk walk lowers a leading cause of stroke by 46%

Hopefully you’ve gotten the memo about the heart benefits of walking. And if you pick up the pace a little, you could avoid a condition that doubles mortality and is a leading cause of stroke…

Carolyn Gretton

How to live disease-free at 70 and beyond

Healthy aging is defined as reaching 70, free of major chronic diseases, with cognitive, physical and mental health intact. What if you’ve thrown caution to the wind for years? Can you turn things around? Here’s proof we can…

Joyce Hollman

The warning bladder leaks could have for your heart

It’s not unusual for research to discover connections between seemingly unrelated conditions. And that’s the crossroad we find ourselves at today, of urinary incontinence, heart problems and stroke…

Carolyn Gretton

Why a banana a day is key to regulating blood pressure

The doctor says to cut back on salt if your blood pressure is high. But that’s only half the story. If you’re not getting more of a nutrient essential to healthy blood pressure, even the most common BP medications won’t help much.

Margaret Cantwell

I gave up ONE food and my high BP vanished

I still remember the last visit with the doctor I saw for my blood pressure problems. She took my blood pressure and then matter-of-factly told me: “I guess your high blood pressure is gone.” She couldn’t explain it, but I can…

Carolyn Gretton

Losing it just to gain it back? Blame fat cell memories

It’s beyond infuriating when you work so hard to lose weight, only to see it effortlessly come back. This yo-yo effect is called weight cycling. Stop blaming yourself and understand your enemy to defeat it…

Joyce Hollman

Sex hormones can trigger opioid-like pain relief

Chronic pain is one of the most difficult things someone can face. But a radical discovery can upend how we treat it, explain why some painkillers work better for women than men and reveal why menopause is painful…

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…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

Scientists find 109 chemicals never reported in people before

Recently researchers detected 109 chemicals in the bodies of women. Among them were 55 which have never been reported in people before, plus 42 “mystery chemicals” whose sources and uses are a complete unknown. So how do you avoid becoming a walking pool of potentially harmful chemicals?

Carolyn Gretton

The surprising reason fatty liver can double your death risk

Fatty liver has a new name: metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. But it’s just as dangerous, and new research shows how it can practically double the risk of death from a host of unrelated causes.

Joyce Hollman

How to naturally suppress your appetite like those weight loss drugs  

Losing those first pounds may feel impossible. No wonder those weight loss drugs, even with a growing list of side effects, are popular. But what if you could naturally regulate your appetite, without the risk or expense?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

Don’t trade hot flashes for liver damage

Menopause isn’t for the weak. But a new drug to relieve symptoms like hot flashes is on the market, designed for women for whom HRT could pose risks. Just be careful not to trade your hot flashes for liver damage…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The brain-boosting benefits of surfing the internet

There are lots of warnings linked to too much time on computers, smartphones and tablets. But surprisingly, how you use these devices could support your memory by improving a memory recall impairment linked to Alzheimer’s.

Joyce Hollman

Medicinal cannabis linked to health-related quality of life

Over the past decade or so, study after study and personal reports have demonstrated how cannabis can impact a variety of conditions. Now, it hits a home run in one area that few prescription drugs can touch…

Carolyn Gretton

The fermented, gut-loving benefits of sauerkraut

Wouldn’t it be great if there were just one thing we could do (or take) that could grant us complete health and well-being? The unfortunate truth is that no such “magic bullet” exists. But there is one thing that comes close…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

Beef tallow: Benefits, risks and truths behind the trend

You can’t scroll through a social media feed without running across someone touting beef tallow’s benefits. From nutrition to skin care, this “ancestral fat” is definitely having its moment. Should you just jump on the bandwagon?

Joyce Hollman

The cruciferous compound that keeps fatty liver from advancing

Many people with fatty liver disease live a fairly normal life. But almost a third go on to develop an advanced form of liver disease, and experts have not understood why, until they made the connection to a key protective mechanism…

Virginia Tims-Lawson

How to handle that ‘growing’ prostate problem

If you open a magazine in a waiting room, you’d think only women face urinary problems. But that “growing problem” men face has them feeling the urgency, too. Finding relief starts with understanding prostate changes…

Joyce Hollman

When low-calorie sweeteners backfire: Increasing cravings & weight

If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s reasonable to think low-calorie sweeteners are a good choice. Not so fast. They cause the opposite effect by hijacking an area of the brain that regulates appetite control and weight.

Joyce Hollman

4 common movements that cause back pain & what helps

The opioid crisis made it painfully evident that drug therapy, the first line of treatment for back pain, isn’t good enough. What can you do? Avoid movements that tweak your back and reach for nutrients that strengthen, relieve, support and heal.

Carolyn Gretton

Parkinson’s toxic triggers and how they enter the brain

Scientists have debated for years about where a protein that plays a crucial role in the development of Parkinson’s Disease originates. But more interesting may be how it gets to the brain…

Carolyn Gretton

Why bad breath is a red flag for liver trouble

From heart disease to dementia, the link between the health of the mouth and the health of the body has been firmly established. But for people with liver trouble, the link may be highest…

Joyce Hollman

The troubling effect gum disease has on COPD

Research has long shown that the health of the mouth is closely linked to the health of the body. Take heart disease. Now, we’re learning how it could exacerbate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The environmental threat hardening our arteries

Environmentalists have sounded alarms about the harm it’s doing. But a more dire warning may be the estimated nine million premature deaths that happen each year because it’s hardening our arteries. As a doctor, this is how I’m protecting myself…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The disease-fueling denominator 6 in 10 Americans share

The idea of a healthy diet has been based on older dietary measures that steer us towards food groups or specific macronutrients. But it’s the effect of food inside the body that’s the common denominator fueling disease…

Jenny Smiechowski

Avoid hidden heavy metals this holiday season

Decorative tableware is never more popular than during the holidays. But those festive platters can serve up toxic metals that shorten lifespans and endanger your heart on par with cholesterol. Before you serve guests, how dangerous is your holiday setting?

Joyce Hollman

Sleep longer with this 3-minute activity

Changes to your circadian rhythm that happen with age can make it difficult to get a good night’s sleep. That in turn, can increase your risk for heart trouble. This easy 3-minute activity can help you beat both…

Joyce Hollman

The not-so-surprising reason these OTC decongestants will be banned

With cold and flu season approaching, you need to hear an ugly truth: Many decongestants we’ve turned to for sinus pain and pressure have been deemed ineffective and will leave drugstore shelves soon. Here’s why some work and some don’t…

Margaret Cantwell

How to reduce pneumonia risk by 86%

The virus season is here. That means you need to ready your defenses against respiratory infections and the potential for pneumonia. As odd as this advice sounds, seeing your dentist may make the biggest impact…

Jenny Smiechowski

The flu-fighting supplement that starves cancer

A supplement that fights respiratory infections has been overshadowed by vitamin C, even though studies show it can reduce the likelihood of getting the flu by more than 50%. But its power to starve cancer might help it stand out…

Carolyn Gretton

Ditch IBS symptoms when you ditch just 2 foods

The low FODMAP is as effective as medication in managing IBS symptoms, but it can be difficult to follow because it is so restrictive. What if you only had to restrict two things to get the same symptom relief?

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

What are nasal polyps, why they come back and what to do

Do you live with never-ending congestion and recurrent sinus infections? Feel like you can’t get enough air through your nose? Nasal polyps may be to blame. Your doctor can remove them, but to keep them from returning, do these 2 things…

Joyce Hollman

What standing on one leg reveals about aging

How well do you think you’re aging? Considering all we now know about slowing the rate of aging so we can reduce risks for functional decline and disease, we’d be foolish not to try. The first step is to gauge your biological age…

Carolyn Gretton

The strong connection between naps, hypertension and heart trouble

Evidence is stacking up that napping is connected to heart trouble. If you’re around the age of 60, you’re most affected and need to take a serious look at your blood pressure, how long you sleep at night and how frequent those naps have become…

Carolyn Gretton

The vitamin that could treat and prevent pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis is a painful sudden attack that could land you in the hospital. Damage from repeat attacks put you in serious jeopardy. Rest, IV fluids, pain meds and antibiotics can only do so much. But this vitamin may treat, protect and prevent…

Joyce Hollman

10 minutes a day helps keep flu from turning fatal

Flu isn’t just inconvenient. Complications can arise, like pneumonia, that can land you in the hospital. If you’ve got 10 minutes a day, you can start doing something now that could keep it from turning fatal.

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The ‘youth protein’ that age-proofs your vision

As age goes up, the more likely we are to experience vision loss due to age-related changes in the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. But what if it was possible to age-proof our eyes with the help of a protein that keeps them young in the same way collagen helps age-proof our joints?

Joyce Hollman

The bad side of good cholesterol linked to Alzheimer’s in women

Deciphering cholesterol readings can be complex but we all know HDL is the good stuff, or so we thought. For women, menopause can help bring out the bad side of HDL that could lead to the first sign of Alzheimer’s…

Dr. Elizabeth Klodas MD, FACC

5 scary heart health facts that could haunt you

Heart disease is not always top of mind. Maybe because we’ve become numb to it. Yet it remains the leading cause of death. While that almost makes it almost seem “normal”, it’s time to get scary serious about it…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

6 cancers associated with ‘too much’ alcohol

The question of whether or not alcohol provides health benefits seems to have sparked a never-ending debate. It may have started with the French Paradox, but could end with these six cancers…

Carolyn Gretton

The berry that takes down triglycerides and LDL

It’s America’s favorite berry because we love the taste. Now research shows if you’re having trouble managing your triglyerides and LDL, you have another good reasons to eat them…

Joyce Hollman

The vitamin-packed “sweet” you should include on your holiday table

A Thanksgiving tradition, few know that the humble sweet potato is a nutritional giant. So, let me share these six ways sweet potatoes are one food you can stuff yourself silly with — guilt-free — and introduce you to three delicious recipes you can use to impress your holiday guests…

Joyce Hollman

What to know about the new heart disease risk measurement

Being overweight is considered a risk factor for heart disease. But rumblings among experts began casting doubt on BMI as a measure of that risk. It’s been missing an important fat distribution detail that gives a much clearer, potentially life-saving picture…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

These scientists say travel could help us defy aging

Based on the theory of entropy, which translates to the breakdown of cells and systems in humans — exactly what happens with aging — scientists have stumbled on a novel anti-aging intervention. Here’s how you can put it to work…

Margaret Cantwell

The golden ticket to a fall free of allergy symptoms

If nature can throw allergens at us, it’s not surprising the answer to taming them is found in nature as well. If anyone understands the concept of balance, it’s Mother Nature. Thanks to these natural allergy relievers, you could enjoy fall without walking around in an antihistamine fog…

Carolyn Gretton

How bacteria linked to gum disease increase cancer risk

The oral microbiome is the second largest microbiome in the body. Research links it with whole-body health and longevity when it’s balanced. When it’s not, gum disease-causing bacteria can increase risks for certain cancers…

Joyce Hollman

The nut that heals a leaky gut

A leaky gut is exactly what it sounds like. So you can imagine having one can lead to all sorts of problems, from pain to autoimmune disorders. Just 2 of these nuts a day can make a significant improvement…

Joyce Hollman

Who’s most at risk for skimping on omega-3s?

Omega-3 fatty acids are associated with healthy aging throughout life, promoting healthy brain and heart function. But as important as they are throughout life, they need to be there at the beginning too…

Carolyn Gretton

Stroke among sour health risks of a sweet tooth

Indulging a sweet tooth occasionally seems harmless. But having a penchant for sweets, especially when sugars hide where we least expect them, can raise several markers for serious trouble, particularly stroke.

Carolyn Gretton

Move over Lyme disease: a new tick illness is on the rise

Longer warmer seasons are making ticks a year-round menace rather than just a summertime scourge. That could be one reason why rates of a certain tick-borne illness known as “American malaria” are on the rise…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

3,000-year-old spice battles autoimmune disease

Autoimmune disease turns your body’s once-balanced immune system into an overactive nightmare that begins attacking your own healthy cells and organs. Even with medication, many can be hard to manage. But an ancient spice may be what the doctor orders to improve your treatment plan…

Dr. Adria Schmedthorst

The popular diet recommendation that could land you on dialysis

Before trying a high-protein diet to get healthy and lose weight, think again, especially if blood sugar is an issue. It’s advice that could backfire for those at higher risk for underlying kidney disease who may not even know it…

Joyce Hollman

The good and the bad: Drinks that impact stroke risk

Strokes seem to strike from nowhere. But in truth the risk of having one doubles every 10 years after age 55. Bad habits take it higher. But all of us know someone seemingly hit by one out of left field. Or was it? It could have been their favorite beverage.

«SPONSORED»