Posted on: March 13, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

How potent antioxidants could protect against microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that pervade our environment. Worse, they pervade our bodies… Some are intentionally produced, like microbeads, plastic pellets and microfibers, and some result from the breakdown of larger plastics due to wear and tear. Regardless, microplastics have been found throughout the human body… breaching the blood-brain barrier in seconds, lodging in blood clots and arterial plaques and taking up residency in organs like the liver and…

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Posted on: March 13, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The discovery that could make root canals obsolete

For a long time, I thought that my oral and physical health were totally unrelated… that what happened in my dentist’s chair had nothing to do with how I felt in general. Then I started writing about health and discovered that I couldn’t have been more mistaken if I’d tried. It’s a confirmed fact that your mouth is the gateway to either health or disease in your body. Diabetes, kidney…

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Posted on: March 12, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

A strange connection: The immune system’s impact on blood sugar

Most of us only think of our immune system when we’re worried about avoiding colds and flu. But the truth is, your immunity does a lot more than fight off viruses and bacteria. In fact, research has proven that your immune system is involved in preventing depression, decreasing pain sensitivity, reducing fibromyalgia and even helping your body burn fat. Having exceptional immunity has even been tied to exceptional aging. Yet,…

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Posted on: March 12, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Harnessing the anti-aging potential of hormones

Like many women “of a certain age,” I’ve tried my fair share of skincare products that claim to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. But to be honest, a lot of them haven’t lived up to their lofty promises. I’ve found the ones that are genuinely effective contain very specific ingredients, like retinol. Retinol, a form of vitamin A, is available in over-the-counter skin creams and serums and…

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Posted on: March 12, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Normal B12 levels link cognitive decline and stroke

If you’re in your 60s or beyond, there’s good reason to pay close attention to how much Vitamin B12 you’re getting. A lack of B12 is generally associated with anemia. That can significantly impact older adults because our bodies don’t absorb B12 as well, but also people who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet. The danger for older adults who don’t get enough B12 includes a higher risk of cognitive…

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Posted on: March 11, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Flossing could prevent stroke and atrial fibrillation

While we used to believe that what happened in our mouths stayed in our mouths (kind of like Las Vegas), research results over the past decade have shown that’s just not so. The implications of poor oral health are far-reaching and alarming. It’s not just about cavities and bad breath. It’s about potential brain shrinkage, dementia, weakened immune system against viruses, diabetes, and even cancer. These findings should serve as…

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Posted on: March 11, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

The cholesterol-lowering trifecta that supports your heart

We hear a lot about individual nutrients and their benefits, but sometimes, the real magic happens when they work together. Lowering cholesterol isn’t just about cutting back on high-cholesterol foods or unhealthy fats; it’s about strategically incorporating nutrients that actively work to improve your lipid profile. Fiber, plant sterols, and omega-3s each play unique roles, and when combined, their effects are amplified. This week, let’s explore the powerful synergy of…

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Posted on: March 7, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

Toxic metals linked to coronary artery calcium

When you think about factors that increase your risk of developing hardening of the arteries and heart problems, you probably think about genetics, an unhealthy diet and spending too much time on the couch instead of exercising. I bet the words “toxic heavy metals” never come to mind, but they should… Exposure to heavy metals has become a newly recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease — a fact that recent…

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Posted on: March 7, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

When good cholesterol is bad news for your eyes

We’ve all heard the standard medical advice when it comes to cholesterol. More of us than not have likely gone to the doctor’s office for a checkup, only to be told we need to lower our ‘bad’ cholesterol or raise our ‘good’ cholesterol. But what if there’s more to the plot of this cholesterol story? What if the so-called “good” guy — HDL cholesterol — isn’t always so good? That’s…

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Posted on: March 6, 2025 Posted by: Michele Lee Comments: 0

How to maximize the health benefits of vacationing

If you work a full-time job, you probably earn some vacation time every year. Hopefully, you take advantage of it. Until recently, common wisdom had it that even if a week off from work left you feeling relaxed, it was only a matter of days before your stress would return to pre-vacation levels. But there’s new evidence that it doesn’t have to be that way… A University of Georgia study…

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