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With people spending more time at home than ever before during the pandemic, it’s important to have a clean, safe dwelling. But if you live with a smoker or in a home where smokers once lived, coronavirus isn’t your only concern. Thirdhand smoke and its carcinogens can become deeply embedded in carpets and drywall and later be released back into the air you breathe.

Raw honey is probably the sweetest health food out there. Unfortunately, even as a natural, unprocessed product, raw honey may still arrive on your store shelves with pesticides, herbicides and bacteria. But there are simple ways to make sure you’re eating “clean” honey and getting all of its health benefits.

There are plenty of ways to reduce your risk of osteoporosis, a condition that thins and weakens your bones. You can eat calcium-rich foods, practice weight-bearing exercise or take a supplement to bulk up your supply of bone-supporting vitamin D. But there’s one way to take better care of your bones that’s kind of strange — turning up the heat…

We would all like to live happy, fulfilling lives. So, some scientists recently set out to discover how we could all grab a little more joy in our lives — pandemic or not — and where, with whom or in what our happiness lies. What they found is pretty eye-opening, and I hope you can put it to good use, especially during these trying times…

I’ve never met a cat who doesn’t love playing with laser pointers. And the good news is, these popular pet toys give your cat plenty of exercise. But there’s also something you should be concerned about if you have one of these lying around the house… they could permanently blast away cells in your eyes in just a few seconds…

When you’re feeling sick and just want to find relief, you trust that the prescription your doctor sends you home with is not only going to help you feel better but that it’s also safe. But a word of caution… there is a common antibiotic you need to think twice about if you take other medications regularly, even if your doctor says you need it, or you could end up with a heart attack.

Does a normal weight protect you against adverse health outcomes even if you don’t eat particularly well? And what if you’re obese? Is your outcome equally poor regardless of what lands on your plate? A 17-year study may have finally helped us get the answer that most of us have been struggling with. And it may be the most freeing news you get all day…

If you have diabetes, you’ve probably wrestled with sleep issues from time to time. Diabetics often have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep and often do not get enough sleep as a result. But even people without diabetes often struggle to sleep well. So is it any worse of a problem for diabetics? Research shows being a night owl or an early bird certainly affects disease management…

Not all fat is created equal. In fact, some fat deposits, like the ones around your abdomen, can be far more dangerous to your health than the fat padding your hips and thighs. This abdomen fat skyrockets your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Now, new research has found a way to lose that fat in just eight weeks without starvation or exercise.

Turmeric is a spice used in curry. It has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat any number of conditions. Recent research confirms that it’s also a good substitute for dangerous NSAIDs if you suffer from the knee pain of osteoarthritis.

A 54-year-old man in Massachusetts died after his heart stopped suddenly. The cause? Eating too much black licorice over the course of a few weeks. How could overindulging in candy cause someone’s heart to stop? Well, it turns out black licorice contains a compound that can trigger high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms and put your life in serious jeopardy…

Having cancer is scary. But the word “chemotherapy” can be just as worrisome for different reasons, including dreadful side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and infection. Perhaps the worst, though, is when cancer becomes resistant to chemo. What then? Well, research shows a Chinese herb is proving a potent helper in just this situation…

For many, seasonal affective disorder can soon hit hard. The fatigue, sadness, hopelessness and social withdrawal (compounded this year by COVID-19) can make a long winter feel even longer. But if you’re looking for a safe, scientifically-backed way to fend off depression, this fragrant herb can be a big help…

Did you know that how you sleep can keep you from losing weight? Research shows that sleep directly impacts your appetite hormones and your ability to say no to fattening snacks. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to counteract this effect…

If you’re living with diabetes, you already know how important it is to embrace a healthy lifestyle. But there’s one more change you might need to make to be sure you don’t add high blood pressure to your list of diagnoses…

A calorie restricted diet isn’t easy. But they can lower blood pressure and inflammation, balance cholesterol, reduce insulin resistance and promote a longer lifespan. Why is cutting calories so good for you? That’s the million-dollar question, but it may not be the only way to get these benefit.

You probably consider yourself to be level-headed, right? Sure, you like to be adventurous, but you draw the line at risky behavior because it’s the smart thing to do. But if you’re among the 1 in 4 who turns to a popular OTC pain reliever for minor aches and pains, you’re unknowingly putting something in your body that can muddy your perception of risk…

The common cold is far from dangerous, but it still makes you miserable by walloping you with a cough, a headache, congestion, a low-grade fever and that awful fatigued feeling you get when you’re sick. But the next time you’re laid up with a serious cold, you have a big bright side to think about… colds may be able to prevent the more dangerous flu virus from infecting your airways…

It’s been drilled into our heads for decades that fat is bad. With obesity comes a higher risk of all kinds of disorders, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancers. But recent research has found that fat may not always be a harbinger of a health problem on the horizon. In fact, if you’ve got thick thighs, you may breathe a sigh of relief…

In 1972, the United States banned the use of the pesticide DDT. But other endocrine-disrupting pesticides have taken its place and are still in use. Luckily, there are ways to protect yourself from exposure to these endocrine-disrupting chemicals that cause breast cancer.

Reduced muscle mass can lead to a lack of mobility, lower quality of life and even steal your independence. Now though, there’s a new weapon in your arsenal that could make all the difference — a simple and delicious way to kick your muscle strength into gear by stimulating the production of special cells in your body that boost muscle growth and repair…

If you don’t have asthma, you probably know someone who does and know they keep an inhaler close by. Oral steroids can be part of asthma management, too, since inflammation is a troublesome component of the condition. But experts fear these medications are being overprescribed and are leading to some very serious side effects…

Anticholinergics, also called antispasmodics, treat everything from Parkinson’s to COPD and asthma to irritable bowel syndrome. Some are even found in over-the-counter allergy medications. But at least three recent studies point to a strong connection between anticholinergic use and cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s.

If you’re a “social smoker,” you may think your health risk from lung cancer and other tobacco-related diseases is much smaller than if you smoke a pack a day. But is that true?

A lot of anxiety sufferers find ways to improve their symptoms, but they never quite slay their inner anxiety demon completely. If you can relate to this struggle, you need to know that the root of all those sleepless nights, panic attacks and anxious sweats may be your thyroid.

For over a decade, experts have waffled about whether omega-3 intake can help you stay heart healthy. Now, the largest meta-analysis to date has found conclusive proof that whatever amount you might get through diet, you should consider supplementing for ample cardioprotection…

Have you ever wondered if you’re going to end up with Alzheimer’s and when? The truth is that while there is genetic testing for the disease, having or not having the gene won’t answer those questions. But there is another indicator that Alzheimer’s is likely in your future…. one that you can turn around.

Everyone is trying to curb chronic inflammation nowadays. That’s because science has clearly identified it as a major contributor to disease and pain. Popular approaches to dousing it include anti-inflammatory diets and drugs. But a kind of mental therapy can significantly slash your levels — no diet changes or drugs needed!

Based on all the latest research, your vitamin D levels may be a window into your future. They can determine your risk for conditions like heart disease, multiple sclerosis, cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes. The free, circulating vitamin D levels in your blood may be the best indicator of whether your vitamin D levels are in the danger zone.

When you’re living with chronic pain, it’s easy to find yourself giving up activities that you love. But that decrease in your get-up-and-go could actually be due less to the pain itself and more about how you think and feel about your pain. Here’s what you need to know about the pain catastrophizing trap and how to escape it…

Exercise is the great brain medicine. But, if you really want to boost your odds of maintaining a healthy brain into old age, there’s one vegetable you should be drinking to ramp up your brain benefits and stack the cognitive health cards in your favor…

Choline may be a nutrient you’ve never heard of before. but if it’s out of whack you can expect liver and muscle damage, impaired cognitive function, blood pressure issues, digestive issues, and higher risk of colorectal cancer. Get it in these foods…

It’s not about what you do but how you do it. We feel this sense of urgency about improving our physical fitness and health not getting any easier to effect as we get older. If you’re feeling there is no time like the present, there’s an arsenal of secret weapons to help you get better results.

A word of caution for exercise fanatics: too much may push your sex drive in the wrong direction. How? By over-stressing your autonomic nervous system. When it’s stuck on the “stressed-out and harried” setting, it’s virtually impossible to get busy in the bedroom when you’re too busy out of it.

Quite amazingly, your body is working 24/7 to continually fuel, hydrate and replenish your skin’s cells. That’s because your skin is considered an organ. In fact, it’s the largest organ your body has!

While a balanced diet should contain fresh fruit, people with blood sugar problems have been told it’s best to avoid fruit because the sugars would negatively affect the diabetic condition. But research points to the opposite effect…

Looking for an accurate way to gauge your cancer risk right now without going to your doctor’s office and getting pricked and prodded? Well, all you have to do is stand in front of a mirror and look for the places on your body where…

You know you have a lymphatic system, but have you really ever thought about what it does and how important it is to your overall health? Well, it does an awful lot — so let’s start there…

Remember the guy you knew who went barefoot everywhere, even in winter? He may have seemed a little eccentric but perhaps you admired his tenacity. As it turns out, he was on to something. This quirky habit has real wellness benefits for you…

If you’re looking to lose weight, get in shape and blast away the excess body fat, you should be drinking protein shakes. In fact, replacing one to two meals per day with a high-quality protein drink is one of the easiest ways to drop pounds fast…

Around 40 percent of Americans are afflicted with metabolic syndrome. If you find yourself in this situation, frequently the dietary advice is to decrease your fat intake. But it turns out, you could pay an awful price by doing so…

You probably already know that sunscreens are chock-full of concerning ingredients. But a recent analysis of popular sunscreens uncovered some alarming facts about the sunscreens you’re slathering on your summertime skin, including this doozy…

The power of natural plant compounds as cancer prevention and treatment agents is astounding. As scientists delve deep into research, they’re discovering these natural substances may provide protection above and beyond medications…

There are thousands of known mold species. They all require moisture in order to grow and feed on organic material and then their “digestive” enzymes decompose it. If you are routinely indoors near a moldy/musty smell, dampness, or obvious mold growth, you should take note: some molds are known human pathogens.

This weekend will be full of celebration. It is the New Year, after all… and that usually means at least one champagne toast. But if you’re a woman, drinking any amount of alcohol can have a direct impact on your breast cancer risk. Just make sure you’re countering that risk…

The problem with antibiotics is that they represent too much of a good thing. Like any drug, it’s good to steer clear of overuse to optimize a drug’s effectiveness. Here are the top reasons to avoid antibiotics and how to take them safely when you must…

If you haven’t started taking a green superfood powder yet, you’ve been missing out. But, what are they and why are they so super? The answer is that they’re like a multi-vitamin on steroids…

Spinal health is essential to quality of life. A restricted spine reduces your ability to live an active life causing limited range of motion. Here are maneuvers that will get your spine nice and supple and loose again…

Do you think drinking diet sodas in order to avoid the sugar in other drinks is healthy? Think again! Those diet drinks you’ve been tipping up could erase your memories, leaving you suffering from dementia…

The agony and ecstasy of more physical activity that comes with warmer weather and longer days… the most common sources of agony being hip, lower back, knee and shoulder pain. There are two equal but opposite reasons three out of four of those are lower body joints…

You’ve probably heard (on more than one occasion) that you shouldn’t eat a lot of processed food. And this is wise advice. But there’s an exception to this golden rule of good eating…

We live in America, the land of the super-size! We love our food so why would we not eat? That’s crazy talk! But in case you are inclined to join me and millions of others who are convinced of the proven health benefits of this new habit, here are tips to get started…

In your lifetime, you have a one in eight chance of developing invasive breast cancer. So, it’s vital that you look beyond drug therapy and doctor’s visits alone to increase your chances of recovery and avoiding cancer. And, one of the secrets to living longer following breast cancer may just surprise you.

The evidence continues to pile up in favor of eating one particular food to fight colon cancer… studies have already shown that this food heals your gut, slows the inflammation linked to colon tumor growth and reduces your overall colon cancer risk.

One of the deadliest natural poisons known is urushiol, and it is the very toxin found within the poison ivy plant. It’s no wonder when we come in contact with it, we rash out. Let’s take a look at some natural home remedies for treating the symptoms of poison ivy.

Though there are many underlying mechanisms that can potentially trigger disease, it’s surprising to learn that lifestyle diseases — with cardiovascular disease and cancer as the two front-runners — cause 70 percent of deaths.

If you tried to fill your medicine cabinet with the best botanicals to do your body good, you’d quickly run out of space. So you probably try to just keep a few on hand for specific needs. Better yet, you could use a great multi-tasker like pure honokiol…

Love it or hate it, marijuana is becoming an accepted form of medicine. It’s most well-documented uses are for conditions like glaucoma, epilepsy, cancer and MS. But as it becomes more popular, intriguing new benefits are coming to light, including how it affects your brain…

If you’re carrying around a few extra pounds, your dinner plate could be to blame. No, really — your actual plate… And, it’s something you’ll never hear from your doctor no matter how many times you ask for help losing weight. But, we’ve got all the details right here…

When you feel stressed you can’t sleep, your mind goes on hyperdrive, your appetite changes and there’s just a general unease about everything. It’s not a pleasant experience. This happens because stress literally switches your body’s nervous and endocrine system up to maximum velocity.