Health in a Heartbeat

Are you feeling a little nauseous? Before you reach for an over-the-counter medicine, consider an old-school remedy: fresh or powdered ginger. This culinary spice has been praised for its healing properties in Asian and Middle Eastern cultures for thousands of years. Plenty of modern research backs up the anecdotal health claims. Ginger can help relieve […]

It may take more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away, at least when it comes to gastrointestinal health. Nearly 70 million Americans are affected by digestive ailments such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or irritable bowel syndrome. Many factors can affect GI health, including stress, genetics and diet. A research team at […]

Pediatricians have long told parents it’s fine to give infants and young children fruit juice as they expand their diets to include solid foods. But the American Academy of Pediatrics has flipped that view on its lid, and now recommends that parents don’t give children fruit juice until after they celebrate their first birthday. The […]

Some people with diabetes shun fruit due to its high sugar content. Now, a study suggests fruit may actually reduce the risk of developing diabetes and could ward off complications from the disease. An observational study that tracked more than a half-million Chinese men and women for seven years found that eating fruit is associated […]

So, you want to stay mentally sharp into your golden years? Along with making healthy life choices — like eating well and getting exercise — scientists say a key may be to stay frisky in bed. A team of British researchers studying men and women between ages 50 and 83 has found the more sexually […]

If you’re fasting every other day to lose weight, the pounds might not come off much faster than if you followed a traditional diet. Skipping most food every other day, a diet plan known as alternate-day fasting, has gained popularity as a tool for rapid weight loss. But a recent study has found it’s no […]

Is your mood as cloudy as the weather? Well, you might draw a lesson from a fidgety 10-year-old doodling during class. A team of researchers at Drexel University recently found that drawing, coloring and doodling activated reward pathways in the brain. Doodling had the biggest effect. The findings, published in The Arts in Psychotherapy, suggest […]

It’s long been known that having a father involved in his child’s life in positive ways is a great help to the child’s development, but new research points to a very specific advantage: The child is less likely to become obese. When dads help their children with chores such as brushing their teeth, getting dressed […]

Does your day begin with a jolt of coffee? You’re in good company. Fifty-four percent of American adults drink coffee daily, according to the National Coffee Association. Research shows coffee has health benefits that go beyond helping your eyelids open up each morning. It has been shown to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, […]

Your lower back is aching, but you don’t want to reach for the bottle of pain pills. What can you do to get some relief? New research suggests the answer may be in the downward dog, locust or other gentle yoga poses. Researchers at Boston Medical Center have released new guidelines specifically designed for back […]

Up to 10 percent of people are allergic to dogs—but that doesn’t stop some from having canine kids. Traditionally, they’ve focused on so-called hypoallergenic breeds. Dander was long thought to incite allergic reactions, so nonshedding dogs that release less dander were deemed hypoallergenic. But the real culprit is a protein in a dog’s saliva or […]

It’s no secret among health advocates that trans fats can be bad for you. Now, there is proof of how much eliminating it from your diet can help. A study of people in several counties in New York state, where restaurants were banned from using trans fats for several years, shows a significant drop in […]

Scientists, and many parents, know that if a child spends too much time in front of a TV screen or a computer monitor it can lead to sleep problems and developmental issues. Now, research has shown that playing with touchscreen devices may be costing children valuable time getting to — and staying — asleep. While […]

Stevia, a popular artificial sweetener found in diet sodas, candy and desserts, is up to 400 times sweeter than refined white sugar. But a new study has found that the no-calorie sweetener might lead to new treatment options for diabetes. Studies have suggested that stevia, derived from the sweetleaf plant found in South America, can […]

Many retirees are finding it difficult to cover the astronomical cost of health care after their retirement, according to a report released by the United Health Foundation and the Alliance for Aging Research. Health care expenditures are expected to exceed $3.5 trillion by the end of this year and to continue climb at a rate […]