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

The not-so-sweet stroke danger of two popular sweeteners

In recent years, artificial (or “non-nutritive”) sweeteners have become a popular alternative for those looking to reduce their sugar intake. These low-calorie or no-calorie substitutes are often recommended in dietary guidelines, especially for individuals with cardiometabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. However, the long-term effects of these sweeteners on heart health have not been thoroughly evaluated.  A recent study has shed light on the potential risks associated with one such sweetener:…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 13, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The vitamin that boosts cancer-fighting bacteria

The human body is such a wonderfully complicated thing. Our bodily systems are connected in ways we’d never expect. And the role of the gut has become a focal point of those unexpected links. For example, there’s the latest on preventing cancer. There are hundreds of unique bacterial species living in the gut, but it seems that one in particular might be able to fight cancer. Research is still in…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 10, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Microplastics: From your gut to your kidneys, liver and brain

Microplastics been discovered in the air, the ocean, tap and bottled water and in animals — including humans. Scientists estimate that people are ingesting an average of five grams of microplastic particles a week. That’s the equivalent of eating a credit card! And it’s building up in our bodies… Research shows microplastics can enter the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier. In the human brain, researchers warn this could potentially…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 10, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The 3-minute activity that helps you sleep longer

Poor sleep over time can skyrocket your risk for heart disease, diabetes, and more. That’s one reason that so much research has gone into finding ways to help people fight insomnia and get a good, solid night’s sleep. A recent study might seem to fly in the face of conventional wisdom, which cautions against exercising before bedtime. When it comes to high-intensity exercise, that’s still good advice. But this study…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 9, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Boost your cancer-killing white blood cells in 30 minutes

Being a health writer, I have a good grasp of how our immune system works. I’ve written about it often, including how to know if your immune system isn’t working properly, how to slow immune system aging and how inflammation can turn your immune system harmful. And when it comes to the involvement of blood cells, I’m quite familiar with the immune system’s first line of defense: white blood cells…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 8, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Beta-glucan fiber mimics how popular weight loss drugs work

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro are all the rage in the weight loss industry. And there’s no doubt they work for many people, helping them to shed as much as 10 to 15 percent of their body weight. But what the marketers of these drugs aren’t telling you is that weight loss comes with a lot of drawbacks: weight loss plateaus, scary gastrointestinal side effects, a…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 8, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

6 supplements that put the brakes on late AMD

Age-related macular degeneration or AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in people over the age of 60 in the United States. And by the time we hit 75, approximately 30% of us will suffer from this condition that steals our eyesight bit by bit. Fortunately, scientists have been hard at work looking for ways to slow the condition as it progresses through three stages. After two separate human…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 6, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The 8-week diet proven to slow aging

Would you switch to a vegan diet if it would help you live longer? I’m not a big meat eater, but I know I’d find it hard to walk away from yogurt, eggs and cheese. But if I could do it for a few months and add a few years to my life on the other end? Now THAT’S something I’d consider. A recent study tells me that this is…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 6, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Switch could turn fat cell ‘default’ setting to burn, baby burn

You have no doubt heard of the latest weight loss craze known as GLP-1 inhibitors. From Ozempic to Wegovy and Mounjaro, these drugs have taken the nation by storm with more and more celebrities — including the past poster girl for Weight Watchers, Oprah herself — admitting to using them to drop huge amounts of weight fast. However, there’s an absolute mountain of evidence building showing that just like with…

READ MORE
Posted on: August 6, 2024 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

What facial exercise does for signs of aging

The visible signs of aging can be a real bummer… Lines around the mouth, jowls, a sagging neck and wrinkles — including crow’s feet, the infamous “11” between the brows and horizontal lines across the forehead — can get to those of us even with the most positive outlook on aging. No wonder anti-aging creams and serums line store shelves, while medi spas have popped up on every corner offering…

READ MORE