‘Clean’ water is harder to find than you think
Posted on: March 7, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

‘Clean’ water is harder to find than you think

The ongoing water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, has many other U.S. municipalities examining water supplies for toxins… many with disturbing results. But even in areas where public water is still deemed safe for drinking, it contains hundreds of unregulated chemicals and contaminants. Here’s how to make sure you’re drinking the cleanest water available. Since news of widespread lead contamination in Flint broke, there’s been a renewed nationwide focus on…

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4 ways to spring forward without stroke risk
Posted on: March 5, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

4 ways to spring forward without stroke risk

Does daylight saving time (DST) throw you off kilter? It does me. I’ve always dreaded when the clocks fall back the most though, in anticipation of shorter days and less sunlight. At least we are nearing the day we will spring forward — March 13, 2016. I’ll be glad to see longer days but not the disruption, minor though it may seem to most, to my circadian rhythm. After all,…

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Triple kicks for resistance band exercise
Posted on: March 4, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Triple kicks for resistance band exercise

Using resistance bands is a terrific way to strengthen and tone your body without the need for fancy weight lifting equipment or a gym membership. They are inexpensive and widely available in chain stores and online, and come in a variety of tensions to match your level of fitness. In today’s exercise video, we’ll look at using a resistance band to strengthen and tone the lower body, including your hips,…

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Secrets of a fat-burning body
Posted on: March 4, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Secrets of a fat-burning body

Why is the mainstream always so far behind the curve? Harvard nutrition expert David Ludwig tells us we should stop focusing on low-fat foods and calorie counting if we want to lose weight. Instead, he says we should opt for natural, unprocessed foods that take time to digest and that deliver energy to the bloodstream in a moderate way rather than in a big rush, the way carbohydrates do. And…

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Why you should run home from the pub
Posted on: March 4, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Why you should run home from the pub

If you live within walking distance of your favorite pub, you may want to consider jogging or running home after your next visit. That’s because aerobic exercise may protect your liver against alcohol-related inflammation and injury. “Excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of chronic liver failure,” said Jamal Ibdah, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, Raymond E. and Vaona H. Peck Chair in Cancer Research at the…

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Bone drugs are causing fractures
Posted on: March 3, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Bone drugs are causing fractures

A group of medicines that were developed to curb osteoporosis are to blame for an increase in thigh bone fractures. When this happens, doctors are recommending that you stop taking the drug and maximize calcium and vitamin D. You think? These drugs, known as bisphosphonates, are taken to increase bone mineral density. Studies have found that bisphosphonates decrease fractures in the vertebrae by more than 50 percent and fractures elsewhere…

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Dehydration affects your heart like ‘smoking a cigarette’
Posted on: March 3, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Dehydration affects your heart like ‘smoking a cigarette’

What does drinking enough water have to do with your heart? A lot, it turns out. In fact, a new study says that even being mildly dehydrated as a healthy young man plays a role in developing heart disease. Stavros Kavouras, associate professor and coordinator of the Exercise Science Program at the University of Arkansas, led the study. He said, “You could be mildly dehydrated without knowing it while you…

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The appetite suppressant available on tap
Posted on: March 3, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The appetite suppressant available on tap

Appetite suppressants can be costly. They can also be dangerous. Do I even need to remind you about ephedra? During ephedra’s heyday, desperate dieters experienced adverse side effects such as stroke, heart attack and in some cases, even death. Unfortunately hypertension is a common effect of many diet suppressants. Other side effects common for appetite suppressants include dry mouth which can lead to increased risk of tooth decay and gum…

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Two-minute trick boosts confidence and T-levels
Posted on: March 3, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Two-minute trick boosts confidence and T-levels

You’ve probably heard how body language is an essential component of how others see you. But it also has a profound effect on how you perceive yourself and — not coincidentally — on your body’s T-levels, the hormones associated with confidence, dominance, and stress. In recent years, Dr. Amy Cuddy has performed experiments in which she tracks the effects of various physical postures on key hormones. The results have been striking:…

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Floss, brush and rinse out the cancer
Posted on: March 2, 2016 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Floss, brush and rinse out the cancer

Could improving your dental hygiene reduce your risk for esophageal cancer? Considering that research has tied the bacteria associated with gum disease to cases of throat cancer, it’s definitely worth the extra effort. Researchers tested tissue samples from 100 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and 30 normal controls, and discovered that 61 percent of patients with ESCC harbored the gingivitis-causing bacteria in their systems. “These findings provide the first…

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