You’ve seen the ads: “Tone your abs—just five minutes a day!” and “Tone your legs with this simple, everyday workout!” Well, as grating as they may be after repeated viewing, their message does have value. When we “tone” our muscles, we nourish them and bolster their strength. Generally speaking, a daily or frequent workout can … Read more
My doctor just diagnosed me with diverticulitis. What does this mean, and how can I treat this condition naturally? Diverticular diseases have become very common in the US, especially among the over-50 set, so you’re certainly not alone. People often develop diverticulosis, a condition characterized by small, pouch-like herniations called diverticula in the lining of … Read more
At age 16, Dawn Montefusco developed a serious case of psoriasis that covered 85 percent of her body in itchy, red scales. Her doctor dashed her hopes of an easy cure for clear skin, telling her she’d most likely have the autoimmune disease the rest of her life. “I was a sophomore in high school, … Read more
Dialysis is a surrogate for the crucial function of filtering waste from the blood that is usually gone by our kidney. Without this technology, toxic wastes build up in the blood and tissues and cannot be filtered out by the ailing kidneys. This condition is known as uremia, literally meaning “urine in the blood.” Eventually … Read more
I’m in a healthy, happy relationship, but my sex drive has started to lag in recent years. Why is this, and how can I revive my libido? It’s common for our sex drives to dwindle as we grow older—and the numbers tell the story. The Kinsey Institute notes that while 18- to 29-year-olds have sex … Read more
Even the name sounds ugly. Bluish, purple starbursts of tiny veins tend to creep up on us unnoticed and then surprise us in summer, just as we gear up to show off that new bathing suit. Spider veins, similar to varicose veins, only smaller and closer to the skin’s surface, appear when blood pools in the … Read more
A new study from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston offers important insight into how Alzheimer’s disease begins within the brain. The researchers found a relationship between inflammation, a toxic protein and the onset of the disease. The study also identified a way that doctors can detect early signs of Alzheimer’s by looking … Read more
For people who want to control their weight or reduce their intakes of sugar, sodium and saturated fat; tap water may be the drink that the doctor ordered. A new study that examined the dietary habits of more than 18,300 U.S. adults found the majority of people who increased their consumption of plain water — … Read more
Hunger suddenly strikes. You need food, and you need it now. You rummage for that long-lost candy bar buried somewhere in your desk—anything to get a sugar fix. That rapid rise in blood glucose, along with the attendant release of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin, may make you feel better in the short term, but when your … Read more
Its name isn’t sexy, and neither are its living arrangements. Probiotics, which are live microorganisms (read bacteria) that are added to your gut, sound like some sort of squirming critter you’d rather steer clear of. But because of their supposed powers to soothe stomachs and boost immunity, probiotics have become increasingly popular. And that’s a … Read more