Latest Stories

Your skin, hair and metabolism aren’t the only things that start to show the signs of aging once you hit 40. The cells in your retina do too. And that can cause major vision problems as you get older. But red light could help you protect these critical cells and keep your eagle eyes a bit longer…

Your vagus nerve runs from your brain to your gut and controls a long list of automatic body functions. It keeps you breathing and keeps your heart beating. There are things you can do to keep this nervous system “superhighway” functioning optimally.

Even with successful cancer treatment, many people suffer toxic damage from the chemotherapy designed to save their lives. But new research has found a diet has the power not only to boost the effectiveness of tumor-shrinking treatments but also to protect cells against the DNA damage caused by chemo…

New research into hypertension recently proved that a condition long considered to be an uncommon cause of high blood pressure is actually quite common. The problem? Doctors weren’t testing for it enough and when they did their technique was highly inaccurate. Could this be the cause behind your BP problems?

Despite its reputation for raising the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer, some recent studies show that eating red meat in moderation isn’t that bad for you. But that doesn’t mean you’ve got a free pass to indulge until the cows come home. Red meat does contain a compound that poses harm to your arteries and brain.

Over the past decade, the number of people taking muscle relaxers long-term has skyrocketed. These drugs were never approved for long-term use. But that’s not the worst of it. Here’s what you need to know about the potential dangers of muscle relaxers, plus other options to stop the spasms and the pain…

Putting your feet up at the end of a long day comes naturally. But what if your feet, ankles and legs are swollen and painful? More than an annoyance, this could be a sign of a much more serious condition. Here are a few to check out…

Acupuncture, medical marijuana, cognitive behavioral therapy, curcumin and anti-inflammatory diets are all popular, effective options for pain management. But there’s one more natural pain solution I’m willing to bet you’ve never heard about…

Once you hit middle age, chronic and degenerative diseases become the biggest threat to your health and longevity. Many of these diseases occur when oxidative stress causes free radicals to attack your cells… including Alzheimer’s. But a few potent antioxidants could protect you from the oxidative stress that puts you at risk for debilitating diseases like Alzheimer’s…

According to research, the way most of us shower could increase our risks for eczema and even skin cancer. Here’s what you need to know about getting clean, plus the only three areas you should soap in the shower…

Patients and readers often ask me about the risks of soy: Is there a connection to cancer? Can it help hot flashes? And as a cardiologist, I’m probably asked most often… Is soy really beneficial for heart health? Recently, the evidence really swung in soy’s favor…

Chewing your food thoroughly does more than prevent you from choking. It eases the strain on your digestive system, prevents disease and guarantees that the nutrients in your food will be put to good use and not wasted.

A new study has found a plant compound known as the “sugar destroyer” that’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine, a tradition that goes back three centuries that could help you beat your sweet tooth and put down that chocolate bar…

Everyone loses some bone mass with age, but women going through menopause lose the most by far. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to protect your bone mass during menopause, but, unfortunately, one of the most popular methods for maintaining bone density may not work for menopausal women…

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic knee pain and turn to surgery. But after knee surgery usually comes weeks of physical therapy. If you’re going to have to work to rescue your knees and regain range of motion after surgery, it may be easier and less painful to try these Harvard-backed exercises before going under the knife…

Checkpoint inhibitors are the latest powerful cancer drug. They show promise but come with a price tag… they can cause colitis, a form of irritable bowel disease that can itself lead to colorectal cancer. That’s why researchers are looking to an easily available supplement to not only help prevent cancer, but to also help their therapies work better.

A lot of us are working from home now. If you are, or even if you’re still going into a workplace where you sit for much of the day, you’ll want to develop some new habits now, before your health deteriorates. That’s because yet another study indicates not moving can increase your risk of death by cancer up to 82 percent….

Depending on what microbes you have in your gut, you’re going to end up with different metabolites… and potentially, different diseases. If you want to change these metabolites to support a healthy heart with less cholesterol and arterial plaque, a new study shows exactly what you need to do…

For a long time, red meat has been Public Enemy #1, making us more likely to have high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. But there’s some good news for meat lovers: New research on red meat consumption calls much of this into question.

Diet is one of the most effective weapons you have in the fight against heart disease. But can you narrow down all the diet advice to what does your heart the most good? Recent research from Harvard did and found these four approaches can lower your heart disease risk by as much as 21 percent…

The symptoms of low thyroid function, or hypothyroidism, can mimic symptoms of many other conditions. But given the right testing, a case of hypothyroidism is hard to miss. The problem is that the “standard” test for thyroid malfunction can actually hide the problem. Here’s what you should know if you suspect hypothyroidism is behind your symptoms.

If you get diagnosed with high blood pressure, your doctor will advise you to reduce your salt intake. At one point, several large-scale studies conclusively linked high-salt diets to high blood pressure, but we’ve learned that the connection between salt and blood pressure isn’t so cut and dry… and it includes your gut.

Your microbiome goes way beyond your gut. It extends across your whole body, including your most sensitive area. When the bacterial balance gets out of whack down there, you’re left with a nasty infection known as bacterial vaginosis. Luckily, a few specific strains of probiotics can quickly get your vaginal microbiome back on track…

Have you ever heard about the heart-health liver link? Scientists have known for a while that poor liver health can lead to a diseased heart but weren’t sure exactly why. Now they know… and if you want to keep your heart pumping strong, you’ve got to love your liver…

Making a habit of eating close to bedtime can really pack on the pounds. That’s no secret. But beyond weight gain, eating against your circadian rhythm can set you up for one of the most preventable diseases, and that’s just for starters…

Decades of scientific evidence supports the mind-body connection. Still, it’s easy to forget just how closely your mental and emotional state impacts your health. Here’s a good reminder: a new study shows feelings of well-being and happiness could protect you from dangerous intestinal pathogens that cause infection. Here’s how to boost yours…

If you’ve been putting off your trip to the dentist, you may be risking more than just a cavity. In fact, you could be setting yourself up for inflammation of your gut lining. Here’s the connection you’ve probably never heard of between the bacteria in your mouth and your chances of developing inflammatory bowel disease.

If you’re not already taking vitamin D, it’s time to rethink that strategy. Not only can it help you maintain healthy bones and a strong immune system as you age, an exhaustive review of scientific research has found the sunshine vitamin can protect against cancer and even improve prognosis. But it all comes down to your vitamin D status…

There’s a good reason everyone always tells you to eat your greens. They’re chock-full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that keep you happy and healthy — including one specific vitamin that’s essential to your body’s ability to clot blood, create bone, maintain healthy blood pressure and, now, a new study shows it could help you live longer.

When you’re craving a snack, you have two choices. You can reach for something salty, crunchy and processed (like potato chips) that won’t do your heart health any favors. Or you can reach for something that’s just as satisfying that significantly improves your cholesterol, blood vessel health and cardiovascular disease risk…

The core muscles are the ones that can take some of that pressure off of your back, and help you avoid the back pain and even debilitating injury that can impact your day to day activities. But if your back hurts is it too late? Absolutely not…

If you want to boost your testosterone levels without resorting to medications, testosterone replacement therapy, or other conventional approaches, then you’ve come to the right place.

When it comes to meals, you’re probably on a set schedule — breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon and dinner in the evening. But what if a small tweak in this schedule could burn fat and make your weight loss efforts a whole lot easier?

People who ate a lot of red chili peppers had a few things in common. But the most important trait they shared was a decreased risk of premature death, particularly from stroke or heart attack. The right pepper for you…

Science has proven that most of the deadliest diseases we face are preventable. And the best way to prevent them is to work toward changing these three areas of your life: What you think, what you consume and what you do with your body.

This pro-aging protein wreaks havoc by binding to cells and hijacking communication, allowing cancer cells to aggregate and spread, fueling chronic inflammation, suppressing immunity, accelerating the aging process and more…

If you’re lactose intolerant, you’ve probably already resigned yourself to a life free of dairy products — no milk, no yogurt, no cheese. But what if you could add dairy back to your diet without paying any gastrointestinal consequences?

If you’re going to get poked with a needle and have your blood drawn, you might as well get the most out of it. It’s your right to question your doctor about the most specific and most sensitive tests for any suspected underlying condition.

People who have the so-called Alzheimer’s gene are three times more likely to develop the disease. Of course, chances are you don’t have this gene. But if you spend too much time being sedentary, your risk is just as high anyway.

If you’re addicted to any unhealthy habit in your life, whether it’s eating junk food, drinking alcohol or watching too much TV, you might be tempted to take the “willpower” approach to overcoming your addiction. I’ve got something better…

Bootcamp can work for you if you love group training. It’s the best for your upper body. But you may find that supplementing your bootcamp style class with a few exercises done in the weight room helps you get the best of both worlds.

Even if you’re diligent about taking immune-boosting vitamins and supplements, eating right and getting rest, the occasional bug gets you. This time of year, I see a lot of patients with bronchitis, and most expect antibiotics. I tell them…

Protecting your body from serious diseases, like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and autoimmune disorders, feels like an overwhelming task. Grab a cup of coffee and let’s talk about making it easy…

Regardless of age, strong balance is important to lead a healthy, full and active life. Yet over time we become less agile and less sturdy. Falls, and fractures due to falls, become common as we age. They can be debilitating and life-threatening.

An injury to knees, hamstrings or your lower back can be linked to weak glute muscles. But, it’s easy to fix. Here are a few ways to get the strength you need and a nice tush lift to boot!

Whether you’re looking to prevent Parkinson’s disease or improve your overall brain health, give your body the vitamins necessary for maintaining a healthy nervous system…

There are some effective ways to increase your energy after 50 and thoroughly enjoy the second half of your life. Typically these tips involve boosting or strengthening your testosterone (T) levels, which in turn enhance energy.

Corn is controversial in the natural health world. And for good reason. A lot of corn is genetically modified and corn derivatives are one of the most popular fillers in processed junk foods. But blue corn is something else…

You already know that processed meat isn’t doing your health any favors. All it’s doing is contributing to major diseases like cancer, heart disease and asthma. But what about red meat?

For the first time in nearly a quarter century, life expectancy in the United States has dropped. Does this mean we’re doomed? Not at all. The light at the end of the tunnel is a silver lining…

For nearly half of us, the very first sign of a heart problem ends in death. And shockingly most of those deaths happen to women. Since 1984, heart disease, the number one killer of women, has killed more women than men each year.

No matter how busy you are, you can spare 20 minutes per day in the name of good health. And luckily, that’s all it takes to conquer your health’s greatest enemy… chronic inflammation.

If you let harmful bacteria brew in your mouth, you could be in for serious health problems that require more than a filling to fix. Like a dangerous heart infection called endocarditis or squamous cell carcinoma.

Lupus, multiple sclerosis, irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, and depression. What do these health issues have in common? A couple of things, but let’s start with women…

You’ve probably heard the saying “birds of a feather flock together.” But, if you’re like most people, you probably don’t just like to hang out with like-minded people, you like to hang out with like-bodied people too. Surprisingly, the latter can impact your weight loss efforts.

Stress hammers away on the body from the inside and out. It causes tightness, headaches, indigestion, insomnia, pain and so much more. Externally, stress affects how we hold ourselves; that is, how we assume our postures. Time to stretch it all out…

Whether you suffer from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or another joint condition, moving will keep you feeling better. You’ve just got to choose the right kind of exercise… One that trains your body to rely more on your muscles to take pressure off your joints.

Nothing signifies independence quite as much as a set of car keys. Sure, as the years went on, you gradually started to take the ability to drive for granted. But if you’re creeping up on your senior years, it’s something you need to start thinking about again…

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the most effective painkiller is the opium plant, the same plant that inspired modern painkillers. But there are a few problems with opiates… they’re extremely sedating and highly addictive. That’s why it’s time to look to TCM’s second most effective painkiller.

Men who have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) have many treatment options including foods to shrink the prostate, beta-sisterol supplements and other natural solutions we’ve written about. But what can you expect from medications?