Bringing wholesome healthy tips
Why does staying healthy often seem to be a tradeoff? You take a medication that fixes one thing, but creates a bunch of new health problems, often more serious ones. This is the case with a specific type of medication commonly used to relieve acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid flows into the esophagus, creating the burning sensation in the chest we call heartburn. But at what cost? Researchers…
There’s been a breakthrough in how we can identify people at risk of Alzheimer’s disease long before any symptoms appear. Up until now, we’ve depended on MRIs and PET scans of the brain to help doctors look for signs of amyloid plaque, a hallmark of the disease. But we’re finding that it’s just as important, and perhaps even more valuable, to look at brain blood flow as a predictor —…
People living with type 2 diabetes are more likely to experience heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular conditions. If you have diabetes, I’m sure you know the usual ways to lower your risk of heart problems: managing blood sugar to prevent blood vessel damage, controlling blood pressure, keeping your weight under control, and, of course, eating a healthy diet. But have you ever considered that your gender could play a…
High blood pressure affects 126 million Americans. The default is to address those abnormal readings with a drug — or two or three. And there’s no question drugs work well. But as you know, I also like to look beyond pharmacologic solutions and see if there are underlying causes that we can address. Or if there are dietary or lifestyle practices that can allow us to rely on medications less. …
Food is medicine. That’s something we’ve all heard before—largely to inspire us to do our best to follow a diet that supports good health. But the truth is, there are times when food can produce results we might normally attribute only to medication. Take oats, for example. In the early 20th century, German physician Carl von Noorden successfully used oats to treat patients with diabetes. According to Marie-Christine Simon, junior…
As you age, maintaining strength becomes about far more than just fitness. Starting as early as our 40s, we begin losing not only muscle mass but also muscle power — increasing the risk of falls, injuries, and loss of mobility with each passing year. That means simple movements like climbing stairs, getting out of a chair, or catching yourself when you lose your balance can make the difference between living…
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…