Help for hay fever from an unlikely place
Posted on: May 11, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Help for hay fever from an unlikely place

There have been numerous studies linking hay fever and the gut microbiome, the collection of bacteria housed there. As weird as that may seem, it’s not all that surprising. The gut microbiome helps regulate the immune system — and short-chain fatty acids produced during digestion play an important role in that process… Short-chain fatty acids are produced during normal digestion of dietary fiber, which includes fermentation. Their superpower? They fight…

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Microcalcification: When minerals go rogue
Posted on: May 11, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Microcalcification: When minerals go rogue

You may be surprised to read about a mineral your doctor will tell you is a must to keep your body healthy, but can sometimes go awry… It’s a mineral that’s known for keeping your bones and teeth strong but can sometimes end up in places it doesn’t belong — and that can be a problem. Yes, we’re talking about calcium. You may have read about what happens when calcium…

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Just 8 hours of loneliness triggers dangerous inflammation
Posted on: May 10, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Just 8 hours of loneliness triggers dangerous inflammation

Obesity. Smoking. Lack of physical activity. No one would question that these are threats to our health. But loneliness? Ask our Surgeon General whether loneliness is a health problem. A Surgeon General’s Advisory is a public statement reserved for a significant public health challenge that requires the nation’s immediate awareness and action. Here’s what our Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, had to say about loneliness in his 2023 Advisory: “Loneliness…

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Could a sleeping pill prevent Alzheimer’s?
Posted on: May 10, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Could a sleeping pill prevent Alzheimer’s?

Poor sleep has been linked to higher levels of both amyloid and tau in the brain, both of which can lead to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. That’s because when we sleep, restorative and reparative processes take place that trigger slow pulses of cerebrospinal fluid that wash through the brain and remove toxins and buildup.   It would be easy to assume taking a sleeping pill is the answer. But I’ve…

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The brain-changing effects of one more fatty, sugary treat
Posted on: May 6, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The brain-changing effects of one more fatty, sugary treat

Sugar and fat. These two ingredients are the fuel behind diabetes, fatty liver disease and heart disease. But even though we know they’re bad for our health, we still crave them. So much so that you might even think that sugar hijacks your brain, causing you to eat more and more of it. Well, according to the latest research, you’d be correct. Eating fats and sugars just makes you eat…

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12 reasons to stop sitting with your legs crossed
Posted on: May 5, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

12 reasons to stop sitting with your legs crossed

I was always taught that it was polite for women to sit with their legs crossed at the knee, especially if I was wearing a dress or skirt. It quickly became a habit, a comfortable one at that (which may be why a lot of men do it too), regardless of what I was wearing. Turns out I should have explored this habit a bit more thoroughly… While it may…

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The plant extract that halts rheumatoid progression
Posted on: May 5, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The plant extract that halts rheumatoid progression

A strong immune system can help you fight off everything from coughs, colds and runny noses to infections caused by bacteria. But if your immune system response goes overboard, it attacks your body as if it were the enemy. When this happens, autoimmune problems can develop. And one of the worst of the worst is rheumatoid arthritis. Sadly, because no one knows exactly why one person’s immune system works perfectly,…

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Women can eat away a quarter of their heart disease risk
Posted on: May 5, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Women can eat away a quarter of their heart disease risk

When you picture someone having a heart attack, you probably picture a man clutching his chest in pain. That’s because, in large part, it’s been seen as a man’s disease — by doctors and by researchers. In fact, most relevant clinical trials have included relatively few women. An analysis in 2020 found that in a decade’s worth of cardiovascular studies, only about 38.2 percent of subjects were women. No wonder…

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How ‘brain age’ affects stroke risk and recovery
Posted on: May 4, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

How ‘brain age’ affects stroke risk and recovery

Four years ago, I had brain surgery to remove a benign cyst. In the aftermath, many people assumed I’d had a stroke. My recovery was almost as difficult. But a stroke is something completely different. It’s where blood flow to part of the brain is cut off, and brain cells are damaged and eventually die due to lack of oxygen. Brain damage is often the result, along with various forms…

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Walk or golf: The best exercise for a healthy heart over 65
Posted on: May 4, 2023 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Walk or golf: The best exercise for a healthy heart over 65

It’s well-established that aerobic exercise can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. However, most studies have tended to focus on younger people exercising at moderate to high-intensity levels. Much less research has been done on the impact of exercise on the more mature crowd, say folks 65 and up. Even people I know who are only in their early 50s have a hard time with the likes of high-intensity interval training. But…

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