Bringing wholesome healthy tips
Every year, heart disease kills more people than any other disease on earth, including cancer. So, is it any wonder that we’re all searching for ways to keep our ticker ticking? From exercise and supplements to diet, we all want to know how to keep our hearts healthy. And now, science has found a sweet answer to that problem in an unlikely place. Pass the chocolate Yes, the answer is…
It’s becoming more and more obvious that the sunscreen we’re told to apply religiously all summer long (heck, all year long) comes with serious baggage… And by baggage, I mean chemicals. It comes with potentially dangerous chemicals that are seeping into our bodies at excessive levels. Earlier this year, I wrote about an FDA study that determined six common sunscreen chemicals are ending up in people’s blood at much higher…
The last thing I do before turning in each night is fill my diffuser with water and add a few drops of lavender essential oil. The next morning, I often can’t remember how or when I drifted off into a sound sleep. Lavender has a long history as a relaxing herb. Its name comes from the Latin “lavare,” meaning “to wash.” The Romans used Lavender to scent their baths, beds,…
Eating a healthy diet is important for anyone who wants to live better, longer. Yet, the truth is that in many ways, dietary recommendations are not one-size-fits-all. Women’s nutritional needs change throughout their lives, fluctuating through menstruation, pregnancy, breastfeeding and menopause. So, throughout our lives, maintaining healthy eating habits is important every step of the way. In fact, certain foods — yes, we’re looking at you, superfoods — are especially…
It’s easy to get confused about exactly what you should eat to lower your risk of type 2 diabetes. Should you go low-carb? Vegan? Low-cal? There’s so much conflicting information out there. And that’s partly because there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to preventing diabetes with diet… A lot of different diets have been shown to improve blood sugar, reduce insulin resistance and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. Many of…
Oxidative stress is like kryptonite for your heart. It’s tied to atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), high blood pressure, cardiac fibrosis (scarring), plaque rupture, arterial blood clots and even heart failure. In case you forgot exactly what oxidative stress is, it’s a physiological process that happens when the free radicals in your body outnumber the antioxidants. Antioxidants typically counteract free radicals. But when there’s not enough around, free radicals start to damage…
Most people think that arthritis is just an unavoidable complication of getting older. And to some degree that’s true. About 70 percent of adults over the age of 65 have some evidence of osteoarthritis in their x-rays, even if they don’t have symptoms. But even though advancing age does increase the risk of wear and tear on joints that leads to osteoarthritis, anyone can develop the disease. And a genuine…
Research has proven time and time again that optimists live longer than pessimists. In fact, one 2019 study found that they live 11 to 15 percent longer than pessimistic folks on average. But what exactly is it about a sunny disposition that leads to a longer life? There are a lot of theories out there. It could be that optimists are better at coping with stress and bouncing back from…
High-protein diets are all the rage right now. But a lot of people who go on these diets rely mostly on animal products like meat, dairy and eggs to pump up their protein intake when eating more plant-based protein could do their health some good. Why should you pick plant protein more often? Because science keeps showing that it’s fantastic for your health… A 2019 study from researchers at Harvard…
I’m a creature of habit. I haven’t switched doctors in decades, partly because I’ve found one that I can communicate well with… and partly because I hate to fill out all the paperwork that’s required. That’s because when it comes to filling out that sheet about family health history, well, let’s just say I could write a couple of chapters. In fact, the second I start listing all of my…