Posted on: June 16, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Low vitamin D linked to more pain after surgery

Vitamin D is best known for helping build strong bones. But research continues to show this nutrient does far more than support your skeleton. Vitamin D also appears to influence inflammation, immune function, muscle health, nerve signaling and the way the body experiences pain. In fact, previous studies have linked low vitamin D to several pain-related conditions in the general population, including musculoskeletal pain and neuropathic pain. Researchers are still…

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Posted on: June 13, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Leucine May Support Mitochondrial Function After 50

Most people think about protein in terms of muscle. It’s something you take to stay strong or after a workout. Experts even remind you that getting enough protein after 50 can help protect against age-related muscle loss. And all of that is true. But new research suggests that one specific protein building block may be doing something even more fundamental inside the body… It may help your cells produce energy…

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Posted on: June 12, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Vitamin D and depression: Meta-analysis finds a dose-response effect

The “sunshine vitamin” has long been linked to depression risk — especially in people who get little sun, carry extra weight, are older or have trouble absorbing nutrients. And for years, the question has lingered: Could improving vitamin D status actually help improve depression symptoms? The answer has never been as simple as we’d like. Some studies have shown a benefit. Others haven’t. And that has made it easy for…

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Posted on: June 8, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Peppermint Oil Lowered Blood Pressure in 20 Days

Peppermint is one of those natural remedies we tend to underestimate. Most of us think of it as something that freshens breath, calms an upset stomach or adds a cool, clean flavor to tea. But peppermint oil is far more concentrated than a cup of mint tea — and new research suggests it may do something surprising for the cardiovascular system. In a study published in PLOS ONE, researchers found…

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Posted on: June 5, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Smart snacking: What to look for, what to skip, and why it matters

Most of us snack. In fact, research suggests that snacks now account for nearly a quarter of the average adult’s daily caloric intake. That’s not inherently a problem – it’s actually an opportunity. Because when you snack well, you’re not just holding hunger at bay until your next meal. You’re giving your body extra chances to take in the nutrients it genuinely needs more of. Here’s the thing: the typical American…

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Posted on: June 5, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Can serotonin worsen tinnitus? New research links SSRIs and ringing ears

Serotonin is best known as your body’s “feel-good” chemical. It’s a chemical messenger that helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite and other important functions. That’s why many common antidepressants are designed to increase serotonin’s availability in the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors — better known as SSRIs — work by blocking the brain from reabsorbing serotonin too quickly, leaving more of it available to help nerve cells communicate. But for some…

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Posted on: June 5, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

This occasional drinking habit may triple the odds of liver scarring

You may not drink every day. You may not even drink every week. Maybe you enjoy a glass of wine with dinner once in a while. Or maybe you rarely drink during the week, but occasionally have several drinks at a party, wedding, barbecue or weekend dinner with friends. No harm done, right? Not necessarily. New research from Keck Medicine of USC suggests that for people with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic…

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Posted on: June 3, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Can eating grapes help protect your skin from sun damage?

Summer is here, and I’m spending a lot more time in the sun — which means I’m also thinking a lot more about sun protection. But lately, that’s been a little complicated. Over the last few years, we’ve learned that many of the chemical ingredients in sunscreens carry health risks. So, like many people, I’ve tried to be more careful about what I put on my skin. I switched to…

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Posted on: May 27, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Meniscus Surgery May Not Help Knee Pain, Study Finds

Knee pain can change your life — from forcing you to take the elevator instead of the stairs to bracing yourself before standing up from a chair. So when your knee aches, catches or feels like it might give out, it’s easy to assume something inside must be “torn” and needs to be surgically cleaned up. That’s especially true when an MRI shows a meniscus tear. For decades, people with…

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Posted on: May 26, 2026 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Perimenopause may be the heart warning women are missing

Most women know perimenopause, the transition leading up to menopause, when hormone levels fluctuate and periods often become irregular, can bring hot flashes, mood changes, sleep problems and unpredictable periods. What they may not know is that this transition can also quietly open the door to heart disease. That sounds discouraging. But new research from the American Heart Association points to something far more useful: Perimenopause may be a window…

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