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“Drastic times call for drastic measures.” And the pandemic was one of those times. It was tempting to apply drastic measures to our disinfectant efforts. But something we learned that we can carry forward, no matter what virus we face, is that the simple answer turned out to be the best answer…

Over the years I’ve had numerous occasions where I’ve stopped, clutched my chest and looked at my husband and said, “Am I having a heart attack?” If you knew my family history of heart disease, you’d understand why. But this time, my thoughts went straight to coronavirus…

“Exercise is medicine, and there is no question that moderate to vigorous physical activity is beneficial to overall cardiovascular health. However, like medicine, it is possible to underdose and overdose on exercise — more is not always better and can lead to cardiac events.” Here’s lifesaving info on how to do it right…

Gut health has become a buzzword for those who want to feel better, fight off disease, and live longer. And with good reason: Poor gut health is associated with everything from weight gain and autoimmune conditions to heart and kidney disease. Now, there’s another reason to focus on your gut — fighting cancer.

Studies show diet sodas increase the risk of stroke, dementia and metabolic syndrome, among other issues. If you can give them up, you really should. But, at the least, remember this: Don’t eat carbs with your diet soda. Because new research shows that could be where the real danger lies…

You know what happens when you tip over one domino — the whole row falls. And the same thing happens with your health… In fact, a new study shows that the amount of blood your heart pumps out directly impacts the amount of oh-so-important grey matter you have in your brain…

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced by a portion of the brain called the substantia nigra. Dopamine controls muscle movement, everything from walking and gripping with the hands, to smiling and swallowing. As Parkinson’s patients produce less dopamine, symptoms become more apparent. But a fun activity shows promise for keeping them active.

This past weekend, like most everyone else, I went in search of Lysol disinfectant spray and came home empty-handed. After all, when you want to ward off the spread of anything in your home, that’s been our go-to disinfectant, right? But if you can’t find it, here’s how you can use essentials oils in your home…

Olive oil isn’t just part of the amazingly healthy Mediterranean diet. It can stand alone and still confer all of those benefits… thanks to its high antioxidant content! In fact, extra virgin olive oil shows a unique composition of fatty acids with a higher antioxidant content than any of the other edible oils. But does it stand up to the heat?

Hypertension, stroke, heart disease and diabetes are directly linked to obesity. It’s also viewed as a predictor of a dozen types of cancer or more. So it’s no wonder that research is ongoing into how we can stem the tide of obesity-related conditions that, at worst, lead to death and at the least, greatly affect the quality of life for most Americans…

You may be tired of seeing coronavirus in our headlines… But with information changing every day, we have an obligation to help pass it on. The crisis is now a pandemic, and unlike the flu, anyone of any age is fair game. That’s why you need to know about the common conditions that can make you especially vulnerable to COVID-19…

Chocolate cake at breakfast may help you keep weight off… Hard to believe? Not ready to break out the cake yet? Then you need to know what happens when you eat breakfast that doesn’t when you eat any other meal of the day. Let’s take a look at the research behind these claims…

Although skincare experts have coined the term, vitamin F is not a real vitamin. In fact, the F simply stands for fat. Specifically, vitamin F is two types of fatty acids – linoleic acid (an Omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (an Omega-3). These acids are now the hottest trend in skincare. And here’s why…

Scientists and doctors agree that eating too many calories, and the weight gain that causes, are the biggest factors in high blood pressure for most people. But just cutting back on calories isn’t always enough to get that high BP down. Case in point? A new study shows that this missing nutrient can trigger high blood pressure…

Is it any wonder that poor sleep is one of the fastest ways to send your health down the drain? Not at all. Luckily, thanks to a new study from researchers at the University of British Columbia, there’s a new weapon you can holster in your sleep arsenal to help you rest better — as long as it passes the smell test.

Scientists just published the results of a long-term study that confirmed the fact that sugar doesn’t just lead to metabolic syndrome by messing with your blood sugar… It comes at you in another serious way… So to avoid that cluster of conditions that lead to stroke, heart disease and diabetes, read this asap…

There are so many “milk” options, and the advice about them is constantly changing… Almond, oat, coconut and soy milk. Just when you decide on one, a new one pops up. And you wonder… should I drink that instead? Let’s make it easy: Be wary of the one that increases breast cancer risk by the cup as much as 80 percent.

Being exposed to printer toner can change your genes themselves, alter your protein production, and lead to real and lasting health problems. Don’t believe me? Read what the researchers saw it do in the lungs of mice. It was worrisome enough that they immediately went to a printing company to check out their lungs…

Changes in your cognitive abilities can start subtly. Maybe you forget doctor’s appointments and lunch dates. You lose your train of thought in conversations. You may become concerned it’s dementia. But before you start thinking worst-case scenario, there’s something you should know…

Women are particularly prone to sleep disturbances across their life span. And heart disease is the leading cause of death of women in the U.S. Is there a connection? It’s prompted researchers to examine how poor sleep quality and not enough sleep is related to the risk of obesity and heart disease…

Dietary fat used to be the scapegoat for heart disease, obesity, diabetes, premature aging — you name it. Now we know the opposite is true. Eating fat is one of the best things you can do. In fact, healthy fats may even top antioxidants as the most effective nutrient for fending off disease and aging…

Daylight Savings Time can do far worse than make you late for work Monday. In fact, when we set our clocks forward this weekend, most of us will experience sleep loss that triggers problems lasting for weeks or more. That’s why we’ve put together the best tips for getting good sleep despite the time change…

Study after study has looked at a popular plant pigment found in many foods, like onions, teas, apples, and even red wine, for its potential to protect the heart. In fact, the current news is based on a pooled review of 17 separate scientific studies. The results? It ‘markedly’ reduced systolic blood pressure…

The knee and hip joints are the two joints you hear about most in connection with osteoarthritic pain and joint replacement. Treatments are available that ease the pain of OA, including cortisone injections. But recent research has revealed that these injections are more dangerous than we’ve been led to believe…

In 2018 alone, 9.5 million deaths worldwide were due to cancer. When you combine those facts with an ever-growing list of lifestyle habits that can increase your risk of the disease, is it any wonder that worrying if you’re next can keep you up at night? Put your mind at ease by learning more about actual risk.

Irritable bowel syndrome is a mystery. Doctors don’t know what causes it. And that’s frustrating, especially when you suffer chronic stomach cramping, diarrhea, gas and other uncomfortable symptoms. But it turns out those chronic symptoms may be tied to something that happened to you years ago…

At least 40 percent of Americans suffer from a preventable condition that significantly shortens their healthspan. Not only does this condition cause hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, but it damages the body on a cellular level — the kind of damage that mimics changes that normally come with getting old…

When your liver’s overloaded with calories, fats and sugars from foods, it stores that excess caloric energy in the form of fat. This condition is known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. That’s a problem because a fatty liver creates a welcoming environment for the most common form of liver cancer…

Coffee is an incredible brain booster. That’s why we hit it first thing in the morning. Plus, it has amazing benefits, like lower risk of Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes and liver disease. But if coffee isn’t your thing, there’s another way to make your mind sharp, productive and limitless at the start of the day…

A recent Nielsen survey shows 23 percent of American households were considering purchasing a meal kit within the next six months. Can these meal kits be part of a heart-healthy diet? The answer is possibly… But there are some do’s and don’ts to keep you and your wallet healthier…

Whether your goal this winter is to swoosh down the slopes, maneuver icy sidewalks, or get up from a chair without pain, healthy knees are important to you.

If your shoulders feel sore, tight or painful, you may blame it on overworked muscles or poor posture. But there could be another more worrisome cause behind your shoulder trouble… In fact, shoulder problems may have less do with muscle strain and more to do with a higher rate of heart disease…

Premodern civilizations developed a vast array of mind/body techniques and practices for achieving enlightenment and long life. Science it catching up with the realization that the ancient methods hold modern value…

If you’re not getting quality sleep, you’re missing out on sleep’s biggest benefit: the prevention and reversal of most chronic illness. Because sleep is when your cells and systems do some of their most important work.

Meditation and meditative exercises are powerful tools for optimal health. These time-honored practices promote healing on every level: physical, mental, emotional, and psycho-spiritual. Give yourself a few extra moments to unwind your mind. It’s been a busy year – you deserve it.

If you’re starting an exercise routine chances are that your goals include burning fat and avoiding injury. You also want to enjoy the exercise as much as possible. For all those reasons and more, warming up and cooling down correctly is vitally important to your workout.

Heart disease, cancer and now asthma. Just think of processed meat as the cat burglar of your health and vitality, stealthily stealing it away while you’re busy doing other things… like eating a hot dog, a bologna sandwich, bacon or corned beef.

Do you often feel drained of energy in the morning… or late afternoon… and don’t know why? Sounds like you could be a victim of energy theft. There are several culprits that could be zapping your energy, and they run the gamut from physical to emotional.

If sore, achy or swollen joints are keeping you from being as active, you’re not alone. It’s hard to stay active when it hurts. But, if you don’t do something about it, your health will continue into a downward spiral…

Inflammation truly is the root of disease. And some common factors that most of us experience regularly — stress and difficulty sleeping — are major contributors to unruly inflammation throughout the body.

Bariatric surgery is popular among some people who despite other weight loss efforts — and the dangerous threats obesity poses to their health — resort to surgery to slim up and get healthier. An important vitamin can help with recovery…

Don’t let age slow you down. Use some of theses tips to charge forward and make the years ahead of you the prime of your life!

I get a lot of questions from people about upper body strengthening and toning. Not everyone is comfortable using weights, and if you don’t have much strength to begin with, even small weights can be challenging. I’m happy to report there’s another option…

Hypertension or high blood pressure is scary stuff. But at the same time, it’s the number one treatable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. So why are 25 percent of emergency room visits from hypertensive patients?

Over the past decade, a powerful bioflavonid found naturally in plants, herbs, and vegetables known as luteolin, has been gaining ground in research studies as a potential “big gun” in the treatment and prevention of diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes and others.

Constipation is a serious matter. When you’re constipated, your body is bogged down with extra wastes it should be releasing. And that puts you at risk for health problems like hemorrhoids, incontinence, rectal prolapse, diverticulosis and colon cancer. But for some it’s a chronic problem…

Vitamin deficiencies are at the root of too many health epidemics to count… dementia, cancer, heart disease and mental illness to name a few. So, is it any wonder that another rampant health problem could be caused by a lack of a critical vitamin?

For men who have to take the next step to manage an enlarged prostate, there are more than a dozen surgical options available. Minimally invasive procedures, in which no incisions are made in the skin; and invasive procedures that involve removing part of the prostate gland. Which is right for you?

You may be thinking about recommitting to exercise. But there are real obstacles to exercise for anyone any age. Maybe you think you don’t have the time or the right equipment, and you feel uncomfortable at the gym. Forget about all of that.

We tend to separate our mouths from our bodies. By that I mean, that we don’t consider the issues that arise in our mouths to have any significant impact on our overall health. But nothing could be further from the truth.

We often think hair loss is caused by aging. To some degree that’s true — as many as 50% of Americans over the age of 40 are experiencing some hair loss — but as with any health condition, it’s more complicated than this.

Given that arthritis is the oldest disease known to man, it only makes sense that the Chinese have been diagnosing and treating it for thousands of years. Yet doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine do not look at it as a disease, at least not in the way mainstream medicine does.

Stress can easily put you in a funk. Whether you work too much, sleep too little, are just generally overwhelmed by the state of the world — it can make you irritable, angry and even depressed. So how do get yourself into a happier state of mind? Mood-boosting food…

If you’re trying to overcome junk food cravings, you need to think strategically. That’s because junk food creates an addictive response in your body that’s almost as hard to shake as a drug or alcohol addiction. So if you’re ever going to get over it, you need a solid plan…

A recent review of 200 papers and clinical trials on depression found it’s not “brain chemistry” or some other unproven theory that was closely associated with depression. The authors discovered what really “fans the flames” of depression, and it “feeds on the heat.”

After the holidays, you will probably be asked by those close to you, “What are your New Year’s Resolutions?” Might I suggest just one? Because when you choose it, everything else comes into balance to help create a life worth living…

Sunlight is one of the unsung heroes of good health. Even a few minutes spent basking in old Sol’s glory each day can make a remarkable difference in your overall wellness and risk of disease.

The New Year symbolizes a chance to start over and make new commitments. Regardless of your ambitions, keep this advice in mind: When it comes to starting a new health program, the simpler the better.

If you’re trying to live a healthier life, you don’t need to make drastic, sweeping changes to see results. All you have to do is go to your pantry and grab a handful of nuts. If you don’t have any nuts, that’s okay. I’m sure you’ll want to run to the store and get some after hearing this…

I live in an extremely active community of older adults who think nothing of participating in Ironman distance competitions, training for their first ever short course triathlon at 60 or first half marathon at 62. What’s special about them?