Posted on: November 19, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Busting the myths about what causes gout

Imagine being awakened from a sound sleep by an unexplained burning pain in your big toe joint. It’s swollen, red and tender to the touch. This is often how someone finds out they have gout. Until now, science has attached a stigma to this painful condition. Sufferers have been led to believe that they are causing their own pain, mainly through poor diet. Fortunately, new research has blown that stigma…

Posted on: November 19, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Foods that send aging into overdrive

I doubt there’s anyone who wouldn’t want to slow aging. Yet, many of the choices we make each day actually accelerate aging, including choices like skipping out on exercise and not getting enough sleep. However, as bad as these are, when it comes to sending our biological clocks into overdrive, the foods we eat could be the worst offenders. That’s because according to a massive research study out of Italy,…

Posted on: November 19, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Micro-walks: Short bursts, bigger benefits

By now, we’ve all heard the mantra that to stay healthy, we need to get in 10,000 steps a day. But let’s face it… Those 10,000 steps work out to about 4.4 miles and for most of us, the idea of heading out for an almost 4 ½ mile walk can seem out of reach. Well, I’ve got good news for you. Researchers have discovered a health hack that can…

Posted on: November 16, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

How fermented black garlic slows prostate cancer

We know that garlic has excellent antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial properties. This potent bulb has long been linked to heart health and reduced inflammation, not to mention a strong immune system. But I’ve been hearing a lot recently about black garlic, which has twice the antioxidant level of the better-known white variety. Black garlic is simply white garlic that’s been subject to a fermentation process that’s been used in Asia…

Posted on: November 15, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The sleep trigger that could prevent a 2nd heart attack

Our bodies have their own wisdom. Much of it hinges on communication that occurs between different organs and systems that work together not only to maintain our health but to protect us when we especially need it. An example we’ve heard a lot about is the gut-brain axis and the vagus nerve that connects them and various organs along the way. Now, we’re learning about another such crucial “conversation” that…

Posted on: November 13, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

A cardiologist answers: What can apple cider vinegar really do?

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has always been a versatile household staple, from brightening salad dressings to unclogging drains. But recently, this sour, fermented apple liquid has found itself in the spotlight — and not just for its cleaning power. ACV is now being touted as a health elixir, with claims that it can aid in weight loss, control diabetes, improve cardiovascular health, and more.  But how much of this is…

Posted on: November 13, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The environmental threat hardening our arteries

It can be completely invisible. For decades environmentalists have sounded alarms about it and the harm it’s doing to our planet. But a more dire warning may be that an estimated nine million people each year die prematurely because of the damage it does to the human body, making up a whopping 16% of all deaths worldwide. Can you guess what it is? Pollution. And while we’ve long understood many…

Posted on: November 13, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The disease-fueling denominator 6 in 10 Americans share

It’s no secret that inflammation and poor health go hand-in-hand. In fact, experts now agree that inflammation could be the missing link that unifies the worst of the diseases we face, with doctors at Harvard going so far as to state that, “The four horsemen of the medical apocalypse — coronary artery disease, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s — may be riding the same steed: inflammation.” The question then is, if inflammation…

Posted on: November 12, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Say goodbye to nighttime leg cramps

Have you ever been awakened from a deep sleep by the stabbing pain of a leg cramp? If so, you’re among 70 percent of adults, especially those over 60, who deal with pain, the likes of which you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy. As painful as they are, though, leg cramps aren’t typically life-threatening. But they could be a sign that something else is seriously wrong. Medications have provided…

Posted on: November 7, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Ditch IBS symptoms when you ditch just 2 foods

I’ve suffered from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) for years, and the only thing that has helped to some degree is adopting a low FODMAP diet. FODMAP is an acronym for fermentable oligo-di-monosaccharides and polyols. A low FODMAP diet involves decreasing the consumption of FODMAP foods, which can linger in the gut where they ferment and cause the uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms of IBS. Foods to avoid include: High fructose corn…