Latest Stories

For years, cancer survivors have been told one thing – eat less fiber. That’s because doctors believed that added fiber went hand in hand with the bloating and diarrhea that is so common after radiation. But guess what… According to a new study, they were dead wrong! Here’s why fiber and the humble oat could be the answer to radiation-induced gut inflammation.

If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s that obesity and diabetes go hand-in-hand. And the process all begins two types of fat in the human body. Now, a brand new study has found a way to turn the bad fat good and in the process burn more calories, curb obesity-related inflammation and even put a halt to blood sugar problems.

As someone who’s suffered from insomnia, I know how difficult finding safe, satisfying sleep solutions is. That’s why research from Sweden recently caught my eye. It was about a natural insomnia remedy that can make a serious dent in insomnia in just a short time — maybe even send it into remission.

When you hear the words “immune system,” you probably think immediately of your body’s defense against seasonal maladies like cold and flu. A strong immune system is definitely an asset in protecting you from these and other invaders. But it turns out the immune system does a lot more than protect against microbes and infection.

We all know stress can ruin health and bring on disease. But who has the downtime to combat it? With a never-ending list of tasks to accomplish, scheduling time to relax seems like a distant dream. Lucky for us, researchers found it only takes 10 minutes to boost your body’s physiological engine of relaxation — and they’ve identified the most effective way to do it…

Humans are omnivores who can survive on a long list of foods… plants, meat, fish, dairy, fruit, grains, nuts and even whatever the heck is in those processed, packaged foods we eat. But which of these foods will help you not only survive — but thrive… especially when it comes to heart health? Loads of research points to this diet as the ideal for omnivores who want to keep their hearts ticking…

A “runner’s high” is a reference to a feeling of euphoria brought on following a strenuous run or even after engaging in other intense forms of exercise. It’s triggered when the brain releases endocannabinoids — fantastic molecules that research shows could be key to giving your memory a boost and even preventing Alzheimer’s.

When you get a cholesterol test back, you’re typically given four numbers: The total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Your doctor is probably great about going over your results with you, but it can be confusing to remember all the details once you leave their office. Here’s what you need to know to interpret the results like a pro…

Your bone health isn’t something to be taken lightly. A hip break can land you in the hospital, even shorten your life span. But it’s not a heart attack, right? Not so fast. The development of mineral deposits in your arteries, which can lead to arterial stiffness, and bone mineralization share many overlapping processes. That’s why weak bones may be a sign of serious heart trouble…

There’s no denying that diabetes is hard on the kidneys. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About one in four people with diabetes has it. And as a result, they often go on to develop kidney failure. Why exactly is diabetes so damaging to the kidneys? It turns out that diabetes prevents them from performing one of their most critical functions…

Your microwave can be your best friend. Use it to make life easier, more flavorful, and more aromatic. Here are seven things your microwave can do that you may not have thought of, and here’s one good reason why: Mounting evidence shows that microwaving may help foods and beverages retain nutrients and beneficial compounds better than other heating methods.

Coffee has received recognition as a serious superfood in recent years for boosting energy and metabolism and enhancing mental and physical performance. It’s also been shown to reduce the risk for diseases like Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes and dementia, not to mention reducing colorectal cancer by 26 percent. But coffee may do even more than just help prevent colorectal cancer… it may help people survive it.

Living with pain can make all aspects of your life more difficult… from the dread you feel just getting out of bed in the morning knowing the stiffness, aches and discomfort will be there… to having to give up the activities you love. Luckily, a new study might have the answer to reducing your pain, and it’s as easy as counting down.

Since I entered my 60s, my hearing isn’t what it used to be. I find myself asking people to repeat things. They don’t seem to mind and neither do I. After all my hearing is not that bad. But what does bother me is this: Research establishes a firm connection between age-related hearing loss and memory problems, possibly even Alzheimer’s. This is what we can do to combat that threat…

Feeling lonely and being alone are very different things. Loneliness is a strong predictor of the onset of type 2 diabetes. Loneliness also elevates blood pressure and blood sugar and puts us at greater risk of early death than either obesity or alcoholism. Loneliness isn’t a weakness, it’s a health warning to heed…

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…

Everyone may feel stressed at times, but burnout is a whole other level. Burnout is a hyper-stress state induced by continued workplace pressures, elevated chronic stress and feelings of not being in control of your work environment. And it can boost your risk for coronary heart disease by almost 80 percent…

When it comes to botanicals, there’s no such thing as a magic bullet — one herb that supports all aspects of health. However, there are many which are known for their versatility and wide range of benefits. One of these is milk thistle.

Chronic pain can destroy your wellbeing. Even low-level aches and pains can derail your mood. Sometimes injury is to blame, but commonly it’s our own bad habits, starting with posture…

Did you know that it’s possible to have the young, supple blood vessels of a 20-year old when you’re 70 or even older? It’s rare, but completely achievable if you know what to do. There are just seven steps you need to follow, and I’ll tell you exactly what they are…

The cells of your skin, gut, and blood are in a constant state of renewal. They only have a lifespan of a few days. So, your body also hosts stores of dormant stem cells in your bone marrow, as a back-up you can draw from if needed, like during injury or illness. But they don’t work without this vitamin…

You probably know that the fats you consume on an everyday basis can influence your cholesterol levels. But one thing that may not be as clear is that those same fats can affect your risk of insulin resistance. But it seems there may be more to the story…

Without realizing it, most female baby boomers are following a fat belly formula instead of the flat belly formula they want. The old advice can and does actually backfire. But these seven components have helped my midlife clients finally lose weight and feel great…

Some molds are known human pathogens that can make you quite sick. It’s thought that removing mold can cause those toxins to be released further. That’s why it’s important to know the symptoms of mold mycotoxins, and just as important is how to heal after exposure.

There’s no doubt coffee has some amazing neurological benefits. In fact, it protects you from three of the most devastating neurological diseases — Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and MS. But did you also know that coffee also has a protective effect on your liver?

It’s the quintessential gateway condition… and with each symptom comes a stronger warning that a bigger, meaner chronic disease is stalking you. But there’s still something to be done at this point…

We all know that the most common cause for abnormal weight gain is the unhealthy foods we put into our mouth (in addition to genetic predisposition). But what many don’t know is there is a host of medications that also cause weight gain.

There’s one snack you may have been avoiding that can cut your risk of dying from cancer, heart disease and respiratory illnesses by an average of 20 percent. That’s a snack even your doctor would give you the all-clear to eat, right?

It’s habit that most of us take part in… and most of us end up with high blood pressure. Is there a connection? There most definitely is… and it comes down to bacteria.

Hip tightness and pain often prevents people from being as active as they’d like. Even simple things like walking and biking and hiking become problematic when the hips are tight and painful. But these yoga moves will loosen you up in no time…

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…