Bringing wholesome healthy tips
I’ve written before about how pecans benefit the heart — particularly when eaten regularly… How they lowered both total cholesterol and LDL (the “bad” type of cholesterol) 10% better than a diet specifically designed to just that… And that they were more effective at lowering cholesterol than exercise. But both of those studies were taken at snapshots in time. Is there enough long-term evidence to truly confirm that pecans benefit…
About 20% to 30% of people with psoriasis develop painful joint inflammation over time, a condition known as psoriatic arthritis. The disease combines the swollen, sore joints of arthritis with the itchy, scaly red skin of psoriasis. If left untreated, psoriatic arthritis can lead to permanent damage to bones and joints. Why do some people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis and not others? That was the question an international team…
I tend to be a bit of a night owl. My usual bedtime is sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight, though I do force myself to go to bed closer to 10 p.m. if I have to be up early the next day. I’ve noticed something about the late hours I keep. Around 9:30 or 10 p.m., I suddenly have a craving for a snack. And I’m not proud to…
I listened to an interesting podcast recently. It reminded me of something I learned along the way, have not actively thought about in some time, but is important for all of us to keep in mind: Our bodies thrive on a schedule. This isn’t just about our daily planner; it’s about our circadian rhythm — the internal clock that governs almost every biological process we rely on. When our body can predict what…
Dental health is about far more than just your smile. After all, research has proven again and again that if you don’t protect your mouth health and gum disease sets in, your risk of everything from stroke and heart failure to osteoporosis and dementia goes up — way up. Luckily, new research from a team of scientists at Connecticut College is revealing a simple, nutritional way to lower your risk…
Alpha -ipoic acid (ALA) is a potent natural antioxidant that is produced in small amounts within the mitochondria of our cells, primarily in the liver, kidneys and muscles. ALA acts as a “universal antioxidant” because it dissolves in both water and fat. We need plenty of antioxidants to fight off free radicals — unstable rebel cells that cause damage to healthy cells, organs and tissues in your body. This is known…
In the world of wellness, ashwagandha is quite popular. But have you ever wondered why? Ashwagandha has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years as an adaptogen: a compound that increases a person’s ability to resist, adapt or become resilient to biological, physical or chemical stressors. In today’s ever-changing world, ashwagandha sounds like a necessity. If you’ve ever wondered how it can help, and if it’s right…
For many people, drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy feel like a miracle after years of struggling to lose weight. But everything is not coming up roses when it comes to GLP-1 drugs… In fact, studies have started trickling in, warning that these medications can lead to unexpected and unwelcome side effects, such as gum disease and shrinking hearts. On top of that, the weight loss achieved with GLP-1s may not…
I wanted to bring your attention to a couple of blood tests that everyone should have but most have never heard of, let alone undergone. I’m talking about Lipoprotein A and Apolipoprotein B. Lipoprotein A (LpA) is a genetically determined risk factor for earlier, more aggressive atherosclerotic disease. You can think of LpA as being an extra protein that attaches itself to LDL (bad cholesterol), making it much more toxic — almost like…
For many men in their 30s, a heart attack feels like a distant concern — something that happens later in life. Routine screening for blood pressure, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI) is often not emphasized until the mid-40s. But growing research suggests that coronary heart disease (CHD) risk in men may begin rising much earlier — sometimes as early as age 35. Understanding this early turning point could make…