Bringing wholesome healthy tips
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…
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…
We hear a lot about the health benefits of nuts — for good reason… Walnuts, for example, are great for the heart and contain neuroprotective compounds that support brain health and motor function. And almonds have a reputation for being the world’s most nutritious nut, with cholesterol-lowering benefits and more. Then there’s my favorite nut, the pistachio. This tree nut doesn’t get quite as much attention, and that’s a shame…
Do you live with seemingly never-ending nasal congestion and recurrent sinus infections? Maybe it feels as if you just don’t get enough air through your nose each time you breathe… Or you might have noticed that your sense of smell or taste just isn’t what it used to be. If so, you might be suffering from nasal polyps. The good news is that while these growths inside the nasal passages…
In the eternal quest to slow aging, researchers have given us a few things of note, including how to gauge if our biological age is older or younger than the age our driver’s licenses indicate. It’s information that can let you know if your aging is accelerated and currently headed towards earlier-than-usual functional decline and chronic disease (and need to change your ways) — or if you’ve nailed down healthy…
When you think of cancer treatment, chemotherapy probably comes to mind — not mushrooms, right? But for thousands of years, medicinal mushrooms have been used for tumor therapy in traditional Chinese medicine. It’s a process that modern science calls fungotherapy. One of the most important of acinal mushrooms is the Ganoderma lucidum — more commonly known as the reishi mushroom. Over the years, it’s demonstrated health benefits ranging from fending…
Acute pancreatitis, what some people might call an “attack,” usually comes on suddenly and can be painful enough to require medical care. In fact, it’s the leading cause of hospital admissions due to gastrointestinal disease. Roughly 20 percent of patients develop moderate to severe pancreatitis, which carries extremely high mortality and disability rates. Even those who recover often experience lifelong complications that significantly affect their quality of life. In pancreatitis,…
Mitochondria are organelles that power cells by synthesizing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary source of energy for most cellular processes. That’s why their nickname is the “powerhouses of our cells.” And as mighty power generators, mitochondria are associated with longevity — as long as they’re functioning optimally. But when they aren’t, cellular energy production wanes, oxidative stress runs rampant, mitochondria become prone to DNA mutations, and the cellular processes that…
Just when we think we’ve got one important aspect of our health all figured out, research throws us a curve ball. Take HDL cholesterol — the “good” stuff. While it’s true that optimal HDL levels are important for good cardiovascular health, research has also linked very high HDL to a 42 percent increased risk for dementia in adults over 75. But research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has…
I’ve seen my primary doctor once a year for as long as I can remember. More if I have a problem. My female friends are in the same routine. Maybe it’s because women cross a proverbial threshold — menstruation — that eventually opens a door for young women to begin regular gynecological checkups. Along with those yearly visits come screenings for female-specific cancers. This kickstarts a habit of regular preventive…