Bringing wholesome healthy tips
The itching and pain of bacterial vaginosis (BV) is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. And no, it’s not caused by poor hygiene. It’s a common vaginal infection caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the vaginal microbiome. More than half of women worldwide will experience the uncomfortable condition at some time in their life. Simply spending time in a hot tub, swimming pool or douching can upset…
You may think your drinking water is treated to make it safe. But the unfortunate truth is there are still a lot of chemicals lurking in a tall, cool glass. The most shocking might be perchlorate, a chemical found in rocket fuel (yes, you read that right!), fireworks, flares and matches. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yet to set a limit on perchlorate levels in water even though anyone…
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Something about starting my day with food I know does my brain and body good, gives me some incentive to keep that healthy momentum going. Whether I succeed at that or not, at least I’ve got breakfast under my belt. And truth be told, it’s not a chore. Five out of seven days a week I’m more than happy with berries and…
Reviewed by Helen Kollias, PhD and Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD At some point in my mid-40s, the scale started climbing. A pound or two turned into five, then 10, then 20. It seemed as if I was doing all the right things: Eating less, moving more, rinse, repeat. Yet, the harder I worked, the less the scale seemed to respond. Had perimenopause destroyed my metabolism? It sure felt like…
Most of us have heard doctors recommend taking an aspirin a day to reduce the risk of heart disease. Many of us even know that taking the over-the-counter medicine could also help reduce the brain plaques that contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. And even though low-dose aspirin has been found to be a potential preventative tool in the battle against colorectal cancer, there have been concerns. Doctors have questioned whether or…
We all know that we would die without a functioning heart. But many people aren’t aware that the liver, the body’s largest solid organ, is just as crucial to life and health. So it’s scary to think that over 100 million Americans have fatty liver disease, which makes the liver less and less able to perform its vital functions — more than 500 of them! Being without a functioning liver…
To keto or not to keto? On the one hand, keto has been shown to help with body fat reduction — particularly the visceral fat in your belly that can raise your risk of heart disease. It also has been connected to lower blood pressure and reduced inflammation in the body and brain. On the other, low carbohydrate diets like keto have been linked to atrial fibrillation and diabetic ketoacidosis.…
Strokes are incredibly traumatic. After all, one moment you feel fine. The next, you’re in a hospital having difficulty just trying to communicate with your family and likely facing long-term complications, including disability. And that’s if you’re one of the lucky ones to survive. Yet, the truth is that while a stroke may seem to strike without warning, there are danger flares sent up by your body that can indicate…
Let’s be honest — we all want to add more years to our lives. But a longer life that takes a nosedive into disease and decrepitude is not what we’re after. What is there to look forward to about a long lifespan if your healthspan — the amount of time a person spends in good health, free from chronic diseases and the disabilities common with aging — is cut short?…
People who enjoy a morning cup (or two) of coffee have an advantage health-wise, as it has long been tied to improved brain health. Coffee helps to boost focus, increase levels of attention and alertness and improve learning and memory. And studies indicate it can delay dementia and lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Sadly, all of coffee’s brain benefits have left tea lovers like me out in the cold…