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This endocrine-disrupting chemical increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and infertility, as well as cancer. And guess what? The FDA and other regulatory agencies have underestimated our exposure to BPA by as much as 44 times the average levels! Time to start protecting yourself…

You’ve probably heard of irritable bowel syndrome. And most people have heard of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. But there’s a lesser-known condition that, on its own, can totally disrupt your gut health in addition to contributing to others. Is it behind your pain?

It’s funny how common certain beliefs about aging are. Everybody will need glasses. Everybody’s memory will slip. Everybody will lose hearing. Well, hold on… A 20 year study says what you eat can help you avoid hearing loss. It’s the best diet you’ve never “heard” of…

By your 50s, your risk of breast cancer is 1 in 43 and by 60, a scary 1 in 29. But according to a new study from investigators at the American Cancer Society and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, even if you’re over 50, it’s not too late to lower your breast cancer risk significantly…

Researchers say that giving up a certain type of drink offered the same A-fib benefits as the drugs they prescribe to treat the condition. But that wasn’t the only heart-healthy perk…

The relationship between sleep and migraines hasn’t been well understood or even well-studied, leaving migraine sufferers with no information on exactly what type of sleep issues are more likely to cause problems, much less what they can do about it… Until now. And the connection is clear…

Of all the vitamins and minerals, there’s one that seems to hold the key to aging well. In fact, low levels of this nutrient have been linked to heart disease, brain disorders, diabetes and cancer. No, this time it’s NOT vitamin D, but it can help make healthy aging a snap…

All of us feel good when things are going well. But when feelings of frustration, anger or despair erupt, it’s time for help. It’s easy to take the pills any doctor can prescribe to mask your symptoms. But you have other options, proven effective, safe, and inexpensive for pain, depression and anxiety…

Yoga is for everybody, no matter if you’re young or old, in shape or out of practice. As a senior, you also have a lot to gain from yoga. Read on to learn how yoga could improve your health and life as a mature adult.

It’s the perfect time to think about supporting your heart health to live longer and better. That’s because winter can be particularly harsh on your heart. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of heart-protective nutrients that can put your mind at ease while your heart keeps ticking away…

Maybe you’ve wondered whether you should go with plant-based milks over whole milk. Or maybe you’ve asked yourself a far more common question among milk drinkers: Should you choose whole milk or reduced-fat milk? If weight loss is part of the equation, there’s something surprising you should know…

Cranberry juice is perhaps best known as a way to prevent the misery of a urinary tract infection, or UTI. Now, a Canadian study has shown that the mighty berry may also hold an answer to the crisis of antibiotic resistance. That’s because cranberries launch a two-pronged attack to help stop superbugs…

If you have been diagnosed with any of the components that add up to metabolic syndrome — high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol or high blood sugar — here’s some good news: There could be an alternative path to health that doesn’t involve counting calories or calculating the fat content of your meals…

The truth is that after a prostatectomy, not only do many men deal with erectile dysfunction, almost every patient has incontinence immediately post-surgery. Most doctors recommend physical therapy. But therein lies the problem…. for some men that makes matters worse, so here’s what your therapist needs to know…

If you drink green tea, you probably do it for one of two reasons… To keep your cancer risk down or to keep your metabolism up. These are two of green tea’s most popular perks. But green tea has a huge benefit that most people forget about…

The Food and Drug Administration exists to protect us from putting toxic or otherwise harmful stuff into our bodies. Yet every single year, dozens of medications we commonly depend on are recalled by the FDA because they are contaminated with poisons. How does this happen?

When most of us consider the possibility of disease, we tend to think physical symptoms will be the first indication of a problem. That’s not always the case… Many diseases, including heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and more can present with subtle emotional changes long before any physical ones…

You can’t change your birth date. But you do have some control over many aspects of the aging process. That’s why you hear more about heart age, mental age and biological age these days. Can you guess a simple way you can improve the resilience and longevity of your heart, brain and even your chromosomes?

If you’re like me, the next few weeks and months will be a whirlwind of rich foods, thanks to the upcoming holidays. Last January, my pants were a little tighter, my scale showed I was heavier, and I just didn’t feel as healthy as I like to. But some interesting research may make it easier for all of us to get back to our “normal” quicker.

As we get older, insulin’s response to a large meal tends to be weaker later in the day. If you want to control your blood sugar, prevent diabetes and obesity, digest your food more efficiently and sleep better, you’d do well to imitate the Italians. It’s time to bring back the evening constitutional…

Our lives have changed a lot in the past fifteen years… and most of those changes can be traced back to smartphones. You can FaceTime with friends and family across the world. You can instantly access weather reports. You always have directions. It’s amazing stuff. But with good comes bad…

Did your doctor ever tell you to take low-dose aspirin daily? You’re not alone. For years, doctors promoted this habit to prevent heart attacks. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology even advised it for a while. Why the change? It just doesn’t work anymore and here’s why…

The FDA doesn’t approve each ingredient used in hair dye. It’s up to manufacturers to include cautions and warnings on their packaging. If any of their ingredients are found to be unsafe, the FDA can request a recall but cannot require it. Why does this matter? Well, coloring your hair may give you cancer…

If you drink soda, you have a higher risk of dying. It doesn’t matter whether your beverage of choice uses natural sugars or an artificial sweetener… just drinking it could lead to an early death. The only difference is what you may die from, according to The Journal of the American Medical Association.

In my last post we touched on a rather hushed subject… female sexual dysfunction. Hopefully, more women are realizing there’s no reason to say goodbye to a healthy and fulfilling sex life as they age. And no reason not to talk to others about it and seek help, including these natural helpers…

Chili peppers not only have a powerful effect on your taste buds, but they also have a powerful effect on your cardiovascular system. In fact, research shows chili peppers can reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. But the hot heart-healthy benefits don’t stop there…

It feels like there’s not enough compassion in the world nowadays… People, whether family or strangers, are more likely to jump to judgment than kindness. But there is one big benefit of cultivating compassion… one that would inspire even the most selfish among us to give it a try…

In the world of fruits and vegetables, the color purple signifies something special. Any time you’ve got a purple or dark blue fruit or vegetable on the menu, you’re consuming a healthy dose of a special antioxidant-rich plant pigment known as anthocyanin.

You may have heard that coffee reduces blood sugar problems. In fact, numerous scientific studies have linked higher coffee intake to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. Now, thanks to a cutting-edge technique, the one type of coffee that can truly give you that diabetes protection has been identified…

Lots of factors affect the health of your hair, skin and nails… Thyroid issues, hormonal imbalances, medication, aging. But no matter what’s behind your issues, the result is the same: slipping self-confidence. A lot of people turn to beauty supplements. But one could affect the lab work at your next checkup…

If you’re trying to lose excess fat but can’t quite overcome hunger and cravings, you can help your body out by eating the right kind of fiber. But it’s not about soluble vs insoluble fiber, as you’ll see in a minute.

The fat on your belly may be much more likely to kill you than bacon, sausage, or the “red meat” the mainstream is so concerned about.

Ham, mashed potatoes, cheesy casseroles, rolls and sweets are all traditional holiday fare that aren’t so diet friendly. But there could be nutritional bright spots on your holiday table: Keep and eye out for these lipid-lowering nuts that help decrease cholesterol…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a potentially lifesaving announcement concerning the link between eating meat and the development of cancer, specifically colorectal and stomach cancers. But why didn’t they mention this cancer?

Compassion is when you show others love and respect and kindness. This is certainly a wonderful thing but often we are less compassionate or caring with ourselves… and it takes its toll on our health and well-being.

An ancient remedy reported to fight cancer may launch your health to new heights. It’s a potent, health-boosting berry that received its nickname because the ancient people who used it believed it was a gift from the heavens.

The holiday season has begun and Halloween is one of my favorites. That means there may be enough candy to binge on for days and weeks in my house soon, and all that sugar is not good for one person. So the dilemma I’m facing: What to do with all this candy? Try this…

If you want to resist colon cancer, a starch known as “resistant” starch offers a way to lower your risk. You can consume this special starch in a variety of foods, but you have to eat them the right way.

Low back pain seems to be a common thread that plagues many people. Not only is it one of the leading causes of primary care office visits in the United States, but it has also been reported that 2.63 million annual hospital emergency department visits are related to low back pain.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That’s what mom would say. But hype and gimmicks aside, I’ve got a quick routine that can actually help you look thinner — and feel healthier — in about 10 minutes.

It is entirely possible to boost your T levels without resorting to testosterone replacement therapy by learning which natural testosterone treatments work and applying them on a consistent basis. Here are ten great ones to get you going…

You can exercise, eat a healthy diet, keep your brain stimulated and stay socially connected — all proven ways to reduce your Alzheimer’s risk. But even if you do all that, there’s still another risk factor you may be overlooking…

There’s one kind you want more of — brown fat. Brown fat is healthy fat that causes your body to burn more calories. In fact, its main purpose in your body is to keep your body warm by burning calories to generate heat. What if all your fat could be that easy to burn?

There’s a simple health habit that takes 20 seconds to perform but provides health protection 24/7. And it will make you the toast of the office because, let’s face it, no one likes that co-worker who sneezes into their hands and spreads their germs all around the office — especially during cold and flu season.

Even if you don’t eat an apple a day to keep the healthcare practitioner away, researchers have something else that can boost your health: a daily, desirable beverage that helps your immune system beat off the colds, flu and other illnesses that go from house to house each year.

What causes high blood pressure? Unfortunately, it’s complicated, and there isn’t just one smoking gun. High blood pressure, aka hypertension, can be caused by age, weight, chronic stress, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, smoking or other issues. Usually though, hypertension is caused by…

If you want to know what type of cancer you are most at risk for, take a look at your paycheck. While both rich and poor get cancer, the kind of cancer that presents the highest risk for you could depend on how much you earn and the affluence of your neighborhood.

Vitamin E has impressive abilities at fighting free radicals that cause heart disease, Alzheimer’s, eye disease and even cancer. It can also boost your immune system, improve blood flow and prevent blood clots. But your body is struggling to absorb it…

You’ve heard all about the benefits of being active and exercising. But what about the benefits of some good old fashioned down time? The truth is they’re equally as important to your health. The trick is striking the right balance, which most people aren’t doing.

Today, there are enough people practicing meditation, and enough research, that meditation is gaining ground as perhaps the best overall non-medical practice for promoting well-being. And science shows the practice really changes your brain — and your health.

Non-specific abdominal discomfort is a very common complaint among my patients, as well as many people across the country. These complaints often result from various causes that contribute to a perplexing disorder known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The cause can be as individual as the person, but there is hope…

Have you heard of epigenetics? Sounds like science fiction, right? It’s definitely science, but the reason this is important is that the study of epigenetics is the study of why your DNA is not your destiny.

This is true even if you don’t have diabetes. Yes, research at the University of Pennsylvania shows that type 2 diabetes is linked to accelerated brain degeneration.

You’ve probably heard the old saying “Feed a cold, starve a fever.” But is there any truth to it? A recent study suggests it’s probably not as accurate as your mom led you to believe. In fact, there may be a new adage to guide you next time you’re feeling under the weather…

You’ve probably figured out your body mass index (BMI). But the jury’s been out on what this number really tells you about your weight or your health. Despite its faults, the latest research suggests BMI can tell you one important thing… the future of your brain health.

One of my main health goals is to feel good each day. I’ve found something that works for me, and I want to share it with you. I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use more energy. It’s not half as complicated as you may think either…

Testing for cholesterol has been the standard used to evaluate heart disease risk for decades. But if you look at all the data, you might be surprised. Cholesterol itself is not even a real cause of heart disease. It’s time you heard the truth…

With the holidays around the corner, travel may be on your horizon. With a little forethought you can make your travels more enjoyable, lessen your mental and physical stress and survive them without bringing home an unwanted souvenir — excess baggage around your middle.

One of my friends came to me the other day. She was not feeling well and had lost much of her energy. She had decided to follow a new diet after learning about the success I had in turning my health around when I first converted all those years ago. But I forgot to warn her…

The core muscles are very important for the stability posture of the entire body. The hamstrings help move and bend the legs and balance the lower body. Often one of these areas is stronger or weaker than the other, and muscle imbalance occurs. When this happens, your posture is shifted and can cause pain.