Health Advice
/Health
Managing allergic reactions to foods
There are nine major food allergens -- milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame and fish and crustacean shellfish -- that cause about 90% of serious food allergy reactions in the U.S. They affect about 33 million Americans, including almost 6 million children, and cause around 500 deaths annually.
The treatment for a severe allergic ...Read more
Fuel your quest for a healthier, longer life -- try mindfulness
Around half of the 12 million folks in the U.S. who say they have practiced meditation chose mindfulness -- a technique that has you tune into what you are feeling, thinking or experiencing in the present moment and then accepting your feelings without judgment and letting them float away.
According to the American Psychological Association, ...Read more
Dump the slumps
From getting glasses for the first time to gaining weight, seeing thinning hair and, for women, having hot flashes, the 40s can be a time of surprising physical changes. You may also notice another burst of physical changes that usher in a loss of strength and increased susceptibility to chronic disease in your early 60s. That's the conclusion ...Read more
Are you dumb about your smartphone use?
We're constantly hearing about how social media use is harming kids who get bullied, shamed, and lead astray by the onslaught of "advice" they pick up on their phones from TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Well, Mom and Dad, you're not exempt from harmful digital obsessions and having them do harm to ... your kids! A new study in JAMA...Read more
Are you a sheet cheat?
Did you know that you're going to spend 36 years of your life either hanging out or sleeping in bed? That's a lot of time wrapped in your sheets and snuggling with a blanket or comforter. But a recent survey found that most folks only change their sheets every 24 days and pillowcases every 25 days. (It's too much work to do them together?!)
...Read more
Older and depressed? How to avoid or manage depression
There are around 56 million folks age 65 and older in the U.S., and it's heartbreaking to think that around 14 million of them report some degree of depression, especially if they require home health care.
The consequences are far-reaching. Depression in older folks causes epigenetic changes to genes (turning them on or off) that increase body-...Read more
One more (easy, tasty) way to fight off COVID-19
If you are feeling a bit weary from worrying about catching COVID-19 (again!), sit back and enjoy a nice salad topped with 3 ounces of grilled fish and a couple of sides, like steamed artichokes and whole wheat pasta with olive oil, garlic and minced basil. You might even tip back a glass of Chianti. Now, that should revive your spirits and your...Read more
Making sure the kids are alright
When The Who sang "The Kids Are Alright," they were hoping it was true. But it's looking like it's a hope that we haven't been able to deliver on. However, that doesn't mean that you can't turn that around today -- and see great results.
Two recent studies are instructive. First, a recent one published in Nutrients found that 66% of the baby ...Read more
Hidden hazards: sneaky places fat and sugar show up in foods
When you're surprised by something -- pleasing or frightening -- your emotional intensity ratchets up 400%, according to the authors of the book "Surprise." So how do you feel about discovering that saturated fat and added sugar are hiding out in potentially unhealthy quantities in foods you never thought were risky?
A new study in Nutrients ...Read more
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Around 80% of men and nearly half of women contend with noticeable hair loss at one time or another. It may be hereditary or result from an autoimmune condition (alopecia areata), use of harsh "beauty" products, too much testosterone, thyroid disease or chemo. But hair loss is often caused by nutritional imbalances and stress -- which are often ...Read more
Taking the pressure off -- your blood pressure
Everyone is tense these days. Polls show the majority of us are nervous about staying safe and secure. No wonder high blood pressure (HBP) affects almost half of U.S. adults -- and, according to a commentary published in The American Journal of Medicine, only about 20% of folks with HBP are controlling it effectively. The health consequences are...Read more
How to hold on to the health benefits of your summer vacation
As summer winds down and memories of days spent at the beach or in a national park begin to fade, you want to hold on to the important physical and mental health benefits you got from your vacation.
Inspiration and creativity come from relaxation. Lin-Manuel Miranda says the idea for "Hamilton" came to him while on holiday: "It's no accident ...Read more
Happy feet, happy you!
If a moderately active person takes 7,500 steps a day up to age 80, they'll have put their feet down more than 216 million times! No wonder almost 90% of folks report foot pain at one time or another.
There's a lot that can get sore in a foot, since it contains 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 120 muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Over ...Read more
Is your cookware making you sick?
Flu season is around the corner, but right now there's a lot of talk about Teflon Flu -- a set of symptoms including headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea, sweating and a bad taste in your mouth, that is caused by exposure to toxic fumes from nonstick cookware. It seems that Teflon and some replacement nonstick coatings that claim to be ...Read more