Bringing wholesome healthy tips
Plastic is everywhere. Over time, it breaks down into microscopic fragments known as microplastics. For years, scientists have known these particles are small enough to enter the human body. Now we have begun to see the damage that occurs when that happens… They have been found inside blood clots, where they’ve been linked to heart problems and heart failure. They can cross the blood-brain barrier and lead to cognitive decline.…
Some things are said to get better with age: wine and cheese, for example. But human beings? Our muscle volume decreases, our cognition declines, our energy tanks and our risk of certain conditions, especially the so-called disease of aging, spikes. No wonder the prospect of aging paints a very negative picture. But is age-related decline an inevitable fact of life? Are we looking at it the wrong way? And there’s…
The other day, my husband confided in me… He’s feeling a little less sharp than he used to… says his memory isn’t what it used to be, and that he finds it harder to focus when he’s working on a complicated task. Like most of us, he needs a little something to give him that cognitive boost we all need at some time or another. So, given my background, I’ve…
Functional foods are no longer a fringe idea. They’re foods that do more than fill you up — they help your body work better. You’re already familiar with some of the most powerful examples: Now coffee — one of the most consumed beverages in the world — may be joining that list in a whole new way. And it’s not the first time it’s been linked to better health… Research…
If you have Crohn’s disease, it can seem as if your daily life revolves around uncertainty. One day may feel manageable, while the next brings abdominal pain, fatigue, or urgent trips to the bathroom. Even with medication, symptoms can flare unpredictably. And you could spend years trying to identify foods that trigger discomfort, adjusting your diet in hopes of finding relief. Luckily, new hope is on the horizon with research…
What happens when the symptom of a disease is also the very thing that makes the disease worse? The disease becomes self-perpetuating. In other words, the worse it gets …. the worse it gets. Such is the case with one of the most common cancers of the head and neck. What if there were a way to reverse those symptoms? Would it weaken the cancer? That’s the question researchers tried…
Why does staying healthy often seem to be a tradeoff? You take a medication that fixes one thing, but creates a bunch of new health problems, often more serious ones. This is the case with a specific type of medication commonly used to relieve acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid flows into the esophagus, creating the burning sensation in the chest we call heartburn. But at what cost? Researchers…
There’s been a breakthrough in how we can identify people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease long before any symptoms appear. Up until now, we’ve depended on MRIs and PET scans of the brain to help doctors look for signs of amyloid plaque, a hallmark of the disease. But we’re finding that it’s just as important, and perhaps even more valuable, to look at brain blood flow as a predictor —…
People living with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions. If you have diabetes, I’m sure you know the usual ways to lower your risk of heart problems: managing blood sugar to prevent blood vessel damage, controlling blood pressure, keeping your weight under control, and, of course, eating a healthy diet. But have you ever considered that your gender could play a…
High blood pressure affects 126 million Americans. The default is to address those abnormal readings with a drug — or two or three. And there’s no question drugs work well. But as you know, I also like to look beyond pharmacologic solutions and see if there are underlying causes that we can address. Or if there are dietary or lifestyle practices that can allow us to rely on medications less. …