Caffeine's Effect in the Brain
Scans show just what caffeine does to make our brains alert. It's surprisingly good and may protect against dementia...   > >
Give a Child an Orange...
When children were given easy or free access to fruit, they not only ate more healthy stuff, they ate fewer unhealthy snacks...   > >
Sleep Those Calories Off
People who sleep too little have reduced insulin sensitivity, leading to weight gain and diabetes. The fix is simple...   > >
Calcium May Prevent Parathyroid Tumors
Your parathyroids are only the size of grains of rice, but they can cause bone loss, cancer, and depression...   > >
The Organic Food Debate, PG-13 Version
The American Academy of Pediatrics weighs in, focusing on what non-organic foods may do to developing brains...   > >
Stroke-Fighters
Are tomatoes fruits or vegetables? Whatever they are, they're our best source of a nutrient that helps prevent stroke...   > >
Go Fish: Omega-3's Slow the Aging Process
Telomeres, bits of DNA, grow shorter with age which leads to cell malfunctioning. But diets rich in Omega-3s made them longer...   > >
The Coffee-Glaucoma Connection
Three or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day significantly raises your risk for developing a form of glaucoma...   > >
Gaining Weight Changes the Brain
Obese rats show brain changes consistent with an inability to regulate consumption. It may be the same for people...   > >
Another Cold Cure Bites the Dust
Echinacea, zinc, steam, vitamin C, garlic, antihistamines, herbs, are among the fallen cures. A new candidate joins the list...   > >
Consumption Raises Exposure? BPA Linked to Obesity
Children and teens with high levels of bisphenol A were over two and a half times more likely to be obese. Why?   > >
Sugary Drinks Linked to Genetic Predisposition to Obesity
As more studies spotlight the role of sugary drinks in obesity, governments step in to address the problem and contain costs...   > >
Clicker Training for Over-Indulgers
There's help for those who find it hard to limit their intake of certain foods. Reform is possible. Really...   > >
Walnuts Put the Swagger Back in Sperm
The fatty acids in walnuts amp up the vitality and motility of sperm. Good news for those with fertility problems...   > >
Bad to the Brain
Overweight kids with metabolic syndrome symptoms score lower on IQ and achievement tests. Why? Their brains are affected...   > >
No Nutritional Advantage to Organic Food
A large study has found organic food is not nutritionally superior. But health and environmental effects are another story...   > >
Losing Weight: Online or In Person?
People who go online to lose weight are more successful than those who go it alone. But there’s still a better way...   > >
The Dividends of Feeding Your Children Well
An Australian study has found that children with a healthier diet by age 2, had a higher IQ at age 8. It's no coincidence...   > >
The Red Meat-Cancer Connection
We now understand more about how meat is linked to cancer. And why how you cook your meat matters...   > >
What Do You Weigh? Honestly.
Most of us underestimate our weight. This self-delusion can blind us to the need for weight-loss...   > >
Grapefruit Boosts Cancer Drugs
Adding a glass of grapefruit juice can enhance the effect of an anti-cancer drug. And with no added side effects...   > >
Lack of Vitamin D Linked to Frailty
Frail seniors tend to be low in vitamin D. Though it's not clear which way the relationship works, a deficit is dangerous...   > >
Three Secrets of Successful Weight Loss – Really!
When researchers analyzed the behavior of women who successfully lost weight, they found three behaviors stood out...   > >
Cranberries To Stave Off UTIs
A long-time folk remedy for urinary tract infections, cranberries may prevent UTIs in people who are susceptible...   > >
Putting Health on the Menu
The Affordable Care Act will require that more restaurants put calorie and fat information on their menus. It can help...   > >
Flavor Preferences Begin in the Womb
Infants' food and flavor preferences are shaped during pregnancy. Think of your baby before reaching for cookies or chips...   > >
What the Munchies Are Teaching Us About Weight Loss
A new drug desensitizes cannabinoid receptors and improves the appetite-reducing action of leptin...   > >
The Highway to Heavy
Where you live and the roads along which you walk or drive have a big impact on the likelihood you will become obese...   > >
A Diet of a Different Color
The color contrast between your plate and your food can prompt you to eat more, or less. Try a green plate for kids' veggies...   > >
Right Salad, Wrong Dressing
Fat-free salad dressings prevent the absorption of nutrients. But certain heart-healthy oils do not...   > >
Is The Soda Industry Blaming Us?
In the “war” against obesity, it seems that the soda industry wants to shift the blame to consumers. ..   > >
Your Metabolic Clock's Guide to Weight Loss
It's not just what you eat. It's when. Changing when you eat could have a big impact on your weight...   > >
The Downside of Calcium Supplements
People who only took calcium supplements had twice the risk of heart attack than those who took no supplements...   > >
Rx: Dark Chocolate Daily for 10 Years
You have to love a study that finds the cardio benefits of daily dark chocolate are even greater over time. But how much?   > >
Lose Weight, Save $550 Billion
The cost savings of better health are as astronomical as those of medical care. Drop 10 pounds and save $50,000?   > >
Cash for Calories
We all basically know what we need to do to become healthier. A new study offers some insights into how to get us to do it...   > >
In-Store Nutrition Counseling
People make better food choices when stores label foods according to their health benefits. A little advice helps even more...   > >
A Simple Change Lowers Stroke Risk
Eating and drinking low-fat dairy products reduced the risk of stroke in a large study. But it's not about the fat...   > >
"The Medicinal Plant of 2012"
It helps reduces blood sugar levels and prevents insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. Now to develop a human dose...   > >
Sunscreen and Kids' Brainpower
If you use sunscreen to protect your child's skin, are you also preventing vitamin D synthesis and mental development?   > >
A Breakfast to Prevent Diabetes?
Eating certain foods for breakfast can prevent overeating and blood sugar spikes throughout the day...   > >
Dieting, What Works is Not News
That new diet you heard about? Forget about it. A diet plan may help you, but for most, the tried and true works best...   > >
A Simple Switch Boosts Weight Loss
It's official: replacing your can of soda with water or a diet drink is one of the best diet strategies around...   > >
Hunger Changes Everything
Hungry people see food cues as bigger and bolder than satiated people. Reason not to shop on an empty stomach...   > >
Organic Sweetener Adds Arsenic to Diet
Brown rice syrup, used in baby formulas and energy bars, contains arsenic, often in amounts exceeding safe limits...   > >
Popcorn Packs a Powerful Polyphenol Punch
With its high concentration of antioxidants, popcorn rivals fruits and vegetables. Just don't use the microwavable variety...   > >
Berries Are Brain Food
Berries change the way that neurons in the brain communicate, and can help protect against dementia, including Alzheimer's...   > >
Hide and Sneak with Veggies
Jessica Seinfeld made the practice of hiding veggies in other foods famous. But it may not be such a great plan after all...   > >
Chocolate Lovers are Thinner
People who eat chocolate regularly tend to weigh less, though it's not clear why. Careful: It can still make you fat...   > >
Are We Unfair to Fried Foods?
They're not all bad. How you fry and what you fry with make a difference. Quantities matter, too, of course...   > >
Profiles in Sugar: Kids' Consumption Patterns from the CDC
The Centers of Disease Control have released a report on sugar consumption. Some of the news is encouraging, but not all...   > >
Bad News Bacon
Eating red meat, particularly processed red meat, raises the risk of premature death. How much you consume matters too...   > >
Put a Little More Magnesium in Your Diet
Magnesium lowers the risk of stroke. But should you take a supplement, or just eat some nuts?   > >
Chicken Found to Be a Major Source of UTIs
The CDC says that the E. coli from chicken is behind many urinary tract infections. Some precautions...   > >
Orange You Glad You Eat Citrus?
Women who ate the most citrus fruit had a nearly 20% reduced risk of stroke. But grapefruit can cause problems for some...   > >
Color-Coded Health
Two simple changes help people make the smarter food choices. Now to get stores and cafeterias to use them...   > >
Step Aside, Mom and Dad?
Parents have long been key players in helping their kids lose weight. But for teens, peers may be more important...   > >
The Buddy System
You, too, can exercise more and lose weight. All it takes are these two ingredients, according to a recent study...   > >
Calorie is a Calorie is a Calorie
Subjects in a study each lost nearly three pounds of abdominal fat. The similarities were as interesting as the differences...   > >
Overeating and Memory Loss
Older people who ate many calories were over twice as likely to suffer cognitive impairment as those who ate moderately...   > >
ADHD, The Food Connection
Sugar, preservatives and allergies have been thought to contribute to attention deficits. A meta-analysis finds a new culprit...   > >
Obese Teens
Teens rated as less attached during infancy were almost 2.5 times more likely to become obese. It's no coincidence...   > >
When Less Equals More
There's a really simple way to increase kids' intake of fruits and veggies. Probably works for parents, too...   > >
Eat Out, Lose Weight
It can be done; you just have to know some of the tricks that make it possible, like sharing an entrée...   > >
Muffins Get a Makeover
Think that low-fat muffin is healthy? Think again. The Culinary Institute and Harvard come to the rescue...   > >
A Real Write Off
Writing can help you lose weight, a study has found. It just depends on what you write about...   > >
FDA: Let's Stop Resistant Bugs
Finally: The government plans to curb antibiotic use in food animals, hoping to reduce antibiotic-resistance in humans...   > >
Deconstructing Diets
High- and low-protein and carb diets affect not just weight, but body fat and muscle mass. A study traces the effects of each...   > >
Exercise in a Pill?
Irisin, a newly-isolated hormone appears to help raise insulin levels and burn energy, just the way exercise does...   > >
Feed Your Head
Good nutrition and a sharper brain are more strongly linked that we knew. Resist the fries and resist cognitive decline...   > >
Help for Chocoholics
Self-proclaimed chocolate-lovers who were asked to do this ate half as much chocolate as a similar group who didn't...   > >
Salty Food Preferences Form Early
Parents may unknowingly create a lifelong preference for salt in their babies as they introduce solids. What to look for...   > >
Childhood Obesity Risks Reversed
If obese or overweight kids lose the weight as they become adults, the associated health risks also seem to vanish...   > >
Baking? Don't Lick that Bowl!
An outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E-coli sent dozens to the hospital. The culprit was raw cookie dough...   > >
Snacking May Sabotage Weight Loss
Women who snacked before lunch lost less weight than those who didn't. But calories may not be the real reason...   > >
Energy Drinks Fuel ER Visits
Energy drink-fueled visits to the ER have risen 1600 percent since 2005. What you take in with the drinks also matters...   > >
Toxic Soup?
BPA is not only in plastics; it's in the lining of cans. Eating canned soup puts more of this toxin in your body...   > >
Iron Babies, a Delicate Balance
Iron is routinely added to formula to prevent anemia, but too much iron seems to also carry risks...   > >
Feed Your Sperm Well
Good nutrition and lifestyle choices are just as important for men's fertility as for women's. So be kind to your sperm...   > >
Cheese Please?
A study finds cheese consumption didn't raise total cholesterol. The same was not true for butter.   > >
Wider Waist, Bigger Risk
Your pants size may be a good indicator of your risk of colorectal cancer. But the criteria are different for women and men...   > >
Green Veggies and the Gut
A lack of green vegetables turned off a chemical signal key to immune function in the gut. The effect was immediate...   > >
Consumers' Dismal Label Reading Scores
If we read road signs as poorly as we do nutritional labels, ten car pile-ups would be commonplace. What would help...   > >
Why Some Fats Are Good
Researchers have discovered just why unsaturated fats are so heart healthy. Now to get people to eat more of them...   > >
Solid Food, Growth, and Obesity
Does introducing solids sooner aid infants' growth or obesity? And when do you know a baby is ready?   > >
Can Parents Compete with Cartoons?
It's hard to encourage kids to eat well when you have to compete with cartoon character marketing, but it is possible...   > >
Omega-3s' Effects on the Heart Questioned
The men in a Danish study did not seem to benefit from the fatty acids in fish. Is something else at work?   > >
Trick Your Appetite with Controlled Portions
Those pre-packaged lean meals with the calories printed on them? Turns out they actually can help you lose weight...   > >
Students Eating Badly
Most college students don't even eat one serving of fruits or vegetables a day. Guess how many you are supposed to eat?   > >
Chocolate's Health Benefits
A study finds that the more chocolate a person ate, the greater the reduction in cardiovascular risks. But there is a catch...   > >
Pai You Guo: A No Go
The banned weight loss supplement Pai You Guo is showing up masquerading as a "natural" supplement. What to look for...   > >
Add Foods, Cut Cholesterol
When it comes to lowering your bad, or LDL, cholesterol. It may be what you are not eating that is the problem...   > >
Salmonella, Lessons from the August Outbreak
Is the flurry of outbreaks this year the result of food production issues or a breakdown in regulation? What you can do...   > >
Alcohol and Food Habits
Drinkers eat fewer healthy calories in favor of empty, alcoholic ones. This compounds their risk of disease...   > >
Making Your Fat Burn More Calories
Brown fat burns many more calories than white fat. Now, a surprising new way to make white fat behave like brown...   > >
Superhuman Vitamin-Users
Vitamins are good for you, right? Not necessarily. In some people they lead to more health risks. It's called licensing...   > >
Lean and Spicy
A study has found that eating fatty foods seasoned with herbs and spices can reduce triglycerides and insulin responses...   > >
Postmenopausal Weight Loss
Older women – men too – who see a lower number on their scales are likely to be delighted. But it could be a bad sign...   > >
Folate Boosts Grades
Students who had high levels of folate, (think "foliage" or leafy greens) did better in school. A lot better...   > >
Stealth Nutrition
Hiding vegetables in kids' food isn't deception, it's helping them gain nutrients and lose calories painlessly...   > >
More than Impulse Control
Three neurobiological processes underlie overeating. What do they tell us about how to stop?   > >
Misleading Calorie Counts
Calorie counts in the menus of your favorite chain restaurant often underreport the actual values by hundreds of calories...   > >
Are You An Overweight Personality?
A new study shows that certain personality traits are linked to a tendency to be overweight. There were some surprises...   > >
Grapes vs. Alzheimer's
Grape seed extract – and perhaps red wine – shows promise as a way to slow the progression of Alzheimer's...   > >
The Sodium-Potassium Connection
Americans' overindulgence in salt is well-known, but our tendency to eat too little potassium may make it even more deadly...   > >
Keeping Weight Off
The strategies that help you lose weight won't help you keep it off. A new game plan is what's needed...   > >
Fiber Trims Belly Fat
Just making sure your diet contains a particular type of fiber reduces the visceral fat that accumulates around waistlines...   > >
An Amazing Number
A Harvard study figures out how much various healthy lifestyle choices reduce your risk of sudden cardiac death. It's huge...   > >
Guilty Pleasures
Where does that pound or two you gain every year come from? The foods that are the culprits are very small and seductive...   > >
Death and Vegetables
George H.W. Bush, take note: Vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are related to a longer life according to a new study...   > >
No Fat Can Make You Fat
Rats eating a fat substitute gained more weight than those who ate only the high-fat alternative. The lesson?   > >
Earlier Menopause for Celiac Women
Women with undiagnosed celiac disease go through menopause earlier than celiac women who are diagnosed. Why?   > >
Olive Oil — More Benefits
A new study has found that people who use olive oil for cooking as well as salad dressing are over 40% less likely to...   > >
Bottle-Feeding and Obesity
Children still being bottle-fed at two years old are 33% more likely to be obese. They also may not get a varied diet...   > >
Exercise and Your Heart
A new study offers proof that even moderate exercise – like mopping – dramatically boosts heart health. Now, no excuses!   > >
Stent Recipients and Omega-3s
Omega-3 fatty acids reduced the clotting factor present in a group of heart patients who had received stents. A major benefit...   > >
Apples Work Wonders
A compound in apples, ursolic acid, helps prevent the muscle atrophy that comes with illness and age...   > >
From Bad Cholesterol to Worse
LDL, is the bad artery-clogging lipoprotein. Now researchers have found something that makes it even worse...   > >
Probiotics Seized for False Heath Claims
The FDA directed US Marshals to seize several varieties of probiotics because their labels made false treatment claims...   > >
No More Leathery Pork Chops
New USDA guidelines mean that beef, lamb, veal and now pork have the same recommended cooking temperature...   > >
From Pyramid to Plate
MyPlate, the replacement for the food pyramid, is easy to follow. First, fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables. Then...   > >
Gluten-Free for the Symptom-Free?
Some people with no symptoms of celiac disease may benefit from being gluten-free. Are you one of them?   > >
Fooling Dieters
Is it salad or pasta? Dieters tend to eat more when food sounds healthy. But that "salad" has more calories than a sandwich...   > >
Low Vitamin D Raises Risk of Diabetes
People with low levels of vitamin D are far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Can taking vitamin D prevent it?   > >
Who's Counting Calories? Not Many.
Taste and price drive food most people’s food choices. Many don’t even know how many calories they should eat anyway...   > >
The Calcium Controversy
Recent research suggests that taking calcium raises heart risk. But what about osteoporosis? Two experts comment...   > >
Bogus Acai Berry Claims and Sites
The Federal Trade Commission urges courts to crack down on fake news sites’ phony claims about acai berry and weight loss...   > >
Supplement Use Up, But Are We Healthier?
More of us are taking nutritional supplements, but can a pill make up for poor dietary choices?   > >
Fast Food + Coffee
Drinking coffee after a fatty meal causes blood sugar levels to spike and that doubles the damage fat does to organs...   > >
Food Addictions
The same areas of the brain are activated in food addiction and drug addiction. But you can't go cold turkey on food...   > >
Big Mac's Secrets
Nutrition labeling, including calories, is now the law for big restaurant chains and vending machine operators. Uh-oh...   > >
Are Food Dyes Safe for Kids?
Some studies show a link between artificial dyes and ADHD. So why did an FDA panel reject warning labels for these foods?..   > >
Fat But Fit Better
Fitness level may be a better predictor of heart disease than obesity. But thin and fit is still the best bet...   > >
A Sugar By Any Other Name
Is high fructose corn syrup getting a bad rap? Is agave in your coffee a good idea? Answers from recent studies...   > >
Is Obese the New Normal?
People who are seriously overweight tend not to see themselves – or their kids – as being as heavy as they really are...   > >
Chocolate and Health
The benefits of chocolate are being widely reported, but how real are they? A look at cocoa's pros and cons...   > >
Exercise Cuts Salt's Effect on BP
Regular exercise can inhibit salt's tendency to raise blood pressure. But don't break out the chips yet...   > >
Celiac Disease or Gluten Sensitivity?
Even if you have tested negative for celiac disease, you may still have gluten sensitivity, according to new research...   > >
Tomatoes Rule
Tomatoes are more nutritious when cooked and are even better for you than anyone knew. Pizza, anyone?   > >
Big Belly — Big Deal?
A diet rich in potassium appears to reduce stroke risk by 21%, but some need to be careful about their intake...   > >
Potassium and Cardiovascular Health
A diet rich in potassium appears to reduce stroke risk by 21%, but some need to be careful about their intake.   > >
Confusing Vitamin D
There's more evidence that at high doses vitamin D greatly reduces cancer risk. But what about the risk of toxicity?   > >
Nuts, Beans, Fruit, Seeds...
A study of 400,000 people over 50 found that those who ate lots of fiber tended to live longer. Post your favorite recipe...   > >
The Trans-Fat Blues
Certain fats may be as bad for your head as your heart. A study has found a link between hydrogenated fats and depression...   > >
Zinc Shortens Colds After All
Taking zinc supplements at the first sign of a cold may actually shorten its duration. But it's also possible to over-dose...  > >
Virility Boosters Antioxidants appear to improve male fertility, perhaps reducing the damaging effects of oxidative stress on sperm cells...  > >
Solid Foods Up Baby's Obesity Risk
Introducing solid foods too early raises the risk of obesity. But breastfed and formula-fed babies are different...  > >
What Every Vegan Needs
A large-scale review found that vegans often have low levels of two key nutrients. Some foods and supplements that help...   > >
Beer Beats Red Wine?
Turns out beer really is good for you. Of course, more isn't better, but the nutritional benefits are many and real...   > >
No Tanning Bed Needed
Carotenoids – found in certain fruits and vegetables – can improve skin tone with no cancer risk. Eat and look healthier...  > >
Diet and ADHD
Are kids with ADHD just exhibiting an allergic response to certain foods? A study suggests that may be true, but is that all?  > >
Memo To Parents of Obese Kids
When parents of overweight children took a healthy lifestyle course, their children's BMI dropped by 10%...  > >
Hold the French Fries
Updates to the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program lower fat and salt and increase leafy greens. You can comment...  > >
Formula for Weight Gain
When it comes to babies' weight gain, not all formulas are alike. Which is right for your baby?  > >
Teens on Sugar
Teens consume an average of 28 teaspoons of sugar a day, raising "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides. Where the sugar hides...  > >
Good News for IBS
A new antibiotic may bring significant relief to IBS sufferers; but will it work over the long-term?   > >
Chubby Kids, Cute But...
Childhood obesity is on the rise, and new research suggests that the seeds of it can be sown – and avoided – in infancy...  > >
Foods to Rescue You
Research finds that eating certain foods now can seriously reduce the risk of heart attack later...   > >
Viva Fruits, Vegetables — and Vino
Seniors who eat – and drink – a more Mediterranean style diet have less cognitive decline than people who don't.   > >
Echinacea and the Common Cold:
A small study finds this ancient herbal remedy doesn't cut the length or severity of a cold by much. But is that enough?   > >
Bacteria to the Rescue
Beneficial bacterial may trigger white blood cells to form, suggesting a new way to treat autoimmune diseases and colitis...   > >
Aging Better
A 10-year study of people 70 and over has found that those following simple healthy eating guidelines live better and longer...   > >
Resolutions 101
There is an art to making resolutions you can actually keep and use to make changes in your life. What works; what doesn't...   > >
Raise the Cholesterol?
More evidence that "good" cholesterol really is good: Higher levels of HDL may reduce risk for Alzheimer's disease. ..   > >
Eating For Your Blood Pressure
If you use blood pressure medication you may be able to reduce your reliance on medication by eating more whole grains. Here's how...  > >
Foodborne Illness Hits 1 in 6 Americans
The Centers for Disease Control's new figures are pretty startling. What can you do to avoid food that can make you sick?..   > >
How Much is Enough?
The dietary recommendations for calcium and vitamin D have changed. Having too much can be risky, but debate abounds...  > >
Nutritious Vending Machines
Vending machines full of junk food? The landmark nutrition bill, on the way to the President, is a game-changer...  > >
A Weight Gain Wake-Up Call
Gaining weight wreaks havoc on the heart and significantly ups the odds for heart disease. So go easy on the cookies...  > >
Wait, Fat is Good???
Yes. Replace too much of the fat in your diet with carbs and you actually increase your risk of heart problems. What to do...  > >
More Kids Skipping Meals
When kids skip breakfast or dinner, they snack instead which raises the likelihood they will take in more empty calories...  > >
Boot Up to Trim Down
Want to lose weight? Let your computer or cell phone help you. Online feedback can improve results, a study has found...  > >
With Friends Like These...
Obesity can spread among friends. Rising obesity rates are partly related to a phenomenon known as social contagion...  > >
Stress: Not So Bad for the Belly?
Stress isn't behind as much weight gain as was previously thought, but there are sex differences to consider...  > >
A Healthy Raise
A new study suggests a good way to raise your good HDL cholesterol: MUFA, also known as monounsaturated fatty acids...  > >
Lose Your Belly Fat
This simple eating adjustment can help reduce belly fat, as well as your risk for diabetes and heart disease...  > >
New Diet Idea
Paying with cash is more psychologically "painful" than paying with credit, which leads to less junk food spending...  > >
Now Remember This
Higher levels of vitamin B12 were linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease — so eat your eggs!...  > >
Low Fat! Reduced Calorie!
The health claims on the front of packages often offer a false impression. Those low-fat snacks still aren't good for you...  > >
Give Whole Grains a Chance
Many people don't eat whole grains, a key part of a healthy diet, because they are afraid they won't like them. Popcorn? ...  > >
Soda in Disguise
Many people drinking sports drinks think they are making a healthy choice. But these drinks are nearly as caloric as soda...  > >
Quick, Before It Multiplies!
In contrast to conventional beliefs, the body can actually grow new fat cells, rather than just enlarge those it already has...  > >
Type 2 Diabetics, Good News
Lifestyle changes produced larger and longer-lasting health improvements than expected...  > >
Helping Families Get Healthier
A study at IBM shows that modest company-sponsored incentive programs can increase the health of workers and their families...  > >
The Whole Grains Secret
Researchers find that people who consume more magnesium are less likely to develop diabetes. So have some whole grains...  > >
Bad Habits = Costly Workers
People who smoke, overeat, or don't exercise take more sick days, while those who drink take fewer. Go figure...  > >
Can a Virus Cause Obesity?
New research finds a link between childhood obesity and a virus that causes the common cold. But how are the two connected?  > >
Joint Disappointment
A major study of the joint supplements glucosamine and chondroitin found they offer no benefit to arthritic joints...  > >
Another Diet Pill Bites the Dust?
A panel of FDA experts says the risks outweigh the benefits of the highly anticipated weight loss drug, Lorcaserin. What's next?  > >
B for the Brain
People taking high doses of B vitamins had less brain shrinkage than those who didn't in this Oxford University study...  > >
Omega-3's and Diabetes
Researchers show how these beneficial little fats reduce inflammation in fat cells, and could help stave off diabetes...  > >
Beyond Salmonella
The FDA says Salmonella was found in chicken feed and mounds of feces on the egg farms in the recent recall...  > >
Black Rice?
Researchers find that black rice has more antioxidants than blueberries. The trick will be figuring out where to buy it...  > >
You Can Change Your Heart's Fate
By adjusting the diet, it's possible to reverse metabolic syndrome, the precursor to heart disease and diabetes...  > >
New Path to Happiness
People who lose weight have less body pain. This immediate benefit may be the best diet incentive yet...  > >
Cut the Meat
Women who eat more fish, nuts, and low-fat dairy seriously decrease their risk of heart disease, compared to red meat eaters...  > >
Lose the Belly
Gaining weight, especially around your middle, can hurt the blood vessels. Luckily this reverses once the weight is lost...  > >
More Bad News for Fructose
Cancer cells actually prefer fructose over glucose to fuel themselves and help them proliferate...  > >
More Fun With Fruits and Vegetables
You can get your kids to feel positively toward fruits and veggies – and eat them. Carrot puppets, anyone?   > >
Calcium: Trouble for the Heart?
Calcium supplements may strengthen the bones, but they may also raise the risk of heart attack, researchers say...  > >
Weight Loss Media Campaigns
Even well-meaning weight loss campaigns may end up turning off the people they are meant to inspire. What do you think? ...  > >
Fish for the Eyes
Age-related macular degeneration can cause blindness in seniors. Eating fish loaded with omega-3's may help prevent it...  > >
Weight-Loss Supplements Offer Poor Results
In two studies, each of nine different supplements, "fake" weight-loss pills worked just as well as those marketed in stores...  > >
Chief Sitting Still
Researchers find that the longer you sit, the shorter your lifespan...  > >
The Biggest Losers
Slow and steady doesn't always win the race. A big loss can help offset the inevitable back-sliding....  > >
Convenience Stores Raise Risk of Obesity
That store on the corner with its bags of snacks and tall sugary drinks is a hazard to your waistline, a study has found...  > >
One down, two to go
Lorcaserin seems to help people slim down with fewer side-effects than past drugs. But will the FDA approve it?...  > >
Best Ways to Get Healthly
The American Heart Association has released a study of the best ways to change behaviors to achieve heart health...  > >
Not So Hot Salsa
Mexican food-lovers beware: the CDC says that 1 out 25 cases of food poisoning are the result of contaminated salsa or guacamole...  > >
Eat Less or Exercise More?
Kids are overweight, but what's to blame? And what's the cure? ...  > >
British Beet Pressure
People who drank a glass of beet juice had a maximum drop of 10.4 points systolic blood pressure. Nitrate is what does it...  > >
Cut, Cut, Cut
Do you know where your salt is? Most Americans, even those who watch salt intake, eat twice as much salt as they should...  > >
Read the Leaves
Drinking 3-6 cups of tea per day was linked to a big reduction in risk for heart disease and stroke...not so for coffee...  > >
The Hormone That Makes You Crave
The "hunger hormone" ghrelin not only makes you hungry, but it may make you choose fried chicken over a salad...  > >
Vitamin D Eases Asthma
Children with insufficient vitamin D are more likely to experience severe asthma attacks, a new study has found...  > >
Bigger Isn't Always Better
Obese individuals report reduced sex life, not to mention more STDs, sexual dysfunction, and unwanted pregnancies...  > >
Rice Is Nice
White rice eaters had increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while brown rice eaters had a decreased risk...  > >
Fat Cells Multiply In Fructose
If fructose didn't already have a bad enough rap, now it seems to help kids' fat cells proliferate, too...  > >
Cartoons Linked to Child Obesity
Kids say foods taste better when cartoon characters are on the label, possibly adding fuel to the childhood obesity epidemic...  > >
eAT: Dangerous Diets
Websites that hype eating disorders are too common these days. Even worse, they're often aimed at children...  > >
FDA Warning on Vitamin D Dosing
Parents can accidently overdose babies with a dropper of Vitamin D. Too little can be dangerous, but overdoses can be deadly...  > >
Feds Seize Tainted Chinese Honey
The FDA has found a potentially fatal drug in honey from China, adding evidence to support growing concern in Washington...  > >
More Good News for Mediterranean Diet
Have some nuts and veggies: a new study shows that eating a Mediterranean-style diet protects the heart from a second attack....  > >
No, Thanks, I'll Have Water
Reducing your intake of sugar-sweetened drinks (iced tea, soda, lemonade) by just one can a day can lower blood pressure...  > >
Breathing and Mickey D's
High fat meals appear to increase inflammation and decrease lung function. An immune response may be to blame...  > >
Bran Helps Heart Health in Diabetics
Diabetic women who eat lots of whole grains – especially bran – have better heart health and lower risk of death...   > >
To Lower Cholesterol, Go Nuts
Eating a handful of nuts every day may be a healthy way to bring down your “bad” cholesterol and reduce blood fats...   > >
"Eat Your Broccoli"
A new study finds that a compound in broccoli called sulforaphane may stop the growth of breast cancer stem cells....   > >
The See Food Diet
Research shows that taking serving platters off the table cuts calories 20%; a salad bar by the register gets kids eating it...  > >
It's the Olive Oil
The phenols in olive oil appear to affect genes involved in inflammation, one reason why the Mediterranean diet is healthful...  > >
Babies Deficient in Vitamin D
Most babies do not meet the crucially important MDR for Vitamin D (400 I.U.), a new study has found...  > >
Cola May Reduce Sperm Count
A study of 18-year-olds found that those who drank the most cola were more likely to have low sperm counts...   > >
Fruits, Veggies Not a Cure-All
Fruits and vegetables may not be the cancer preventives we all might hope. But they can't hurt and can help in other ways...   > >
A Really Easy Diet Tip
Sleep. A study has found that the sleep-deprived tend to consume over 500 calories more a day than those who are well-rested...   > >
Cut Fat, But Don't Add Bread
Cut the fat to help your heart, but eating more high-glycemic foods like white bread will negate the benefits...   > >
Dieting Is Stressful
Dieting raises levels of the stress hormone cortisol, making it harder to lose weight. Exercise can help...  > >
Chocolate for Heart Health?
Eating the equivalent of a square of chocolate every day can reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack. Really?...  > >
Overcoming Severe Peanut Allergies
Children can become far less dangerously allergic to peanuts through a process of "immunotherapy" which desensitizes them over time...  > >
High Protein = High Cholesterol
While you may lose weight on a high protein diet, you are also raising blood fats. High−carb diets had the opposite effect...  > >
Adults: Diet Makes A Difference
It's not too late: Even older adults can lower their cholesterol by eating fish and cutting down on butter and saturated fats...  > >
Fish Oil May Reduce Psychosis Risk
A small study of young people at risk for developing a psychotic disorder found that taking fish oil may be protective...  > >
Weight Can Interfere With Vaccines
Overweight people who are vaccinated with regular needles may not receive as much vaccine as they should...   > >
Over 70? A Few Pounds Can Help
People over 70 who are a bit heavier than the ideal BMI tend to live longer than those in the "normal" range. But obesity was of no benefit...  > >
Selenium May Cut Risk of Some Cancers
Consuming enough of the trace element selenium, found in meats, grains and nuts, seems to reduce the risk of certain gastric and esophageal cancers...   > >
An Apple A Day...
It appears apples provide beneficial bacteria and a pH environment that keep the intestines healthy and the doctor away...   > >
Junk Food and Diabetes
Frequent eating of fast food fried chicken and burgers raises the likelihood of type 2 diabetes by 40−70%...  > >
The Ghrelin Made Me Eat It
Call it the chemistry of overeating. This hunger hormone may be behind that obsession you have with brownies...   > >
Better Relationships Prevent Weight Gain
When teenagers receive help with social skills and have happier peer relations, their weight tends to stabilize...   > >
Green Tea An Antidepressant?
The more green tea elderly subjects drank in a day, the less likely they were to be depressed. Theanine may be behind it...   > >
Calorie Counts on Menus Reduce Overeating
People who see calorie information on menus tend to eat less. It helps to put that 500−calorie dessert in context...  > >
Milk Thistle for Chemo−Induced Inflammation
The folk remedy milk thistle appears to help keep levels of two key liver enzymes low during chemotherapy...  > >
More Coffee, Less Type 2 Diabetes
Drinking three to four cups of coffee a day lowers a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes significantly...  > >
Eat Soy to Prevent Some Cancers
Because they mimic estrogen's effects, soy foods seem to lower the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers...  > >
The Spice of Life
Compounds in tumeric and pepper slow the growth of cancer stem cells, which can in turn prevent tumor formation...  > >
Discovering Real Brain Food
A diet rich in polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids seems to encourage the growth of new neurons and prevents damage...   > >
Breastfeeding: New Guidelines
Breast milk is the best milk for most infants. Three organizations offer their recommendations...   > >
Higher Temps Reduce Hunger
Working out in warmer conditions (think non−AC rooms] reduces hunger, thanks to peptide YY, which signals fullness...  > >
Diet Slows Muscle Loss
Diet may help reduce frailty. Those who had plenty of vitamins C and E had greater strength than those who didn't...  > >
Selenium Raises Cholesterol
Selenium supplement−takers, beware. High blood selenium raises cholesterol as much as 8%...  > >
Yo−Yo Dieting, It's Addictive
Dieting can cause a withdrawal effect, just as other addictions do. Repeated dieting and relapsing makes the effect worse...  > >
Heart Drugs Head−to−Head
A recent study found that a drug offering a high dose of the B vitamin, niacin, performed much better than the much−prescribed ezitimibe (Zetia^®)...  > >
Keep Digestive Bacteria Healthy
When it comes to keeping the balance of bacteria in the digest tract functioning at peak effectiveness, increasing fiber in your diet should be your first line of defense...  > >
Trade Your TV For A Treadmill
Making activity part of your home life helps maintain weight loss. People who lose weight and keep it off implement relatively simple changes to their home life...  > >
Exercise Beats Diabetes Meds
For people with elevated blood sugar who are worried about developing type 2 diabetes, diet and exercise have been found to be better preventives than medication...  > >
Hot Cocoa for Heart Health?
Drinking cocoa made with skim milk actually reduces the number of adhesion molecules in the blood and raises levels of "good" cholesterol...  > >
Raise Fiber, Lose Belly Fat
Eating fiber reduces belly fat, the fat associated with an increased risk of heart attack and diabetes. Those who didn't eat much fiber had a belly fat increase of 21%...  > >
Fiber Fights Inflammation
Scientists have recently discovered why fiber is so good for the immune system. The answer lies in short−chain fatty acids, the by−products of the breakdown of fiber, which act as anti−inflammatory...  > >
Guzzle Green Tea
Drinking lots of green tea (5+ cups a day) can significantly reduce lymph and blood cancers, a recent study has found...  > >
The Benefits of Healthy Fats
Certain fats actually lower blood sugar. Fats high in omega—6 unsaturated fatty acids, found in safflower, flax seed and other oils...  > >
Coffee Won't Keep You Sharp
A Finnish study has found that drinking coffee offers no protection from the natural decline of mental abilities as we age. But it did find several factors that seemed to be good predictors ...  > >
Whole Grains Lower BP Risk
Men who add more whole grains to their diet reduce their risk of hypertension or high blood pressure, a recent Harvard study has found. The study targeted men, but women see the same benefits...  > >
Leafy Greens, Folate & Cancer
A study of women has found that folic acid or folate, a B vitamin found in green vegetables, citrus fruits and beans, reduced the risk of colon cancer. The effect did not seem to extend to men...  > >
Fructose and Blood Pressure
Large quantities of fructose, the sugar sweetening most foods (don't worry about fruit), raises blood pressure and the risk of metabolic syndrome. The waste product uric acid is the culprit...  > >
Vitamin D Helps Prevent Falls
Seniors who take over 700 IU a day of vitamin D were up to 26% less likely to fall, according to a recent review article. Vitamin D3 seemed somewhat more effective than D2. Bone strength is probably behind...  > >
This is Your Brain On Fat
Eating foods high in saturated fats actually changes your brain chemistry, short−circuiting the normal messages telling you that you are full. No wonder those fries are so hard to resist...  > >
Meat Fuels Independence?
People who ate meat a couple times a week in middle age remained independent longer than those who did not, a recent study found. Eggs and fish seemed to have no effect...  > >
A Speed Limit For Weight
The Maximum Weight Limit, a simplification of the BMI, gives people what they most need – a weight over which they should not go. The calculation is easy...  > >
Mediterranean Diet & Diabetes
For recently−diagnosed diabetics, following a Mediterranean−style diet may reduce the need for blood sugar medications. The effect of this diet on insulin sensitivity is one reason it appears to help...  > >
Bad Habits Fuel Memory Problems
Two studies suggest that if you find you are forgetting more and remembering less, consider your lifestyle. Interestingly, not drinking wine at all was also a risk factor...  > >
Weight Loss Renews Heart
Your heart is more forgiving than you may think. The hearts of people who lost significant amounts of weight (45 pounds over a year) regained much of their ability to hold blood and...  > >
For Antioxidants, Grab a Snack
Snacks like nuts, cereal, crackers or popcorn may equal fruits and vegetables when it comes to providing antioxidant's to combat the free radicals that can lead to oxidative stress...  > >
Larger Waists, Smaller Brains
As your waist is getting larger, your brain is growing smaller, a new study has found. Obese and overweight people has between 4% and 8% less brain tissue...  > >
Health Is A Four Lane Road
Following four basic healthy behaviors – not smoking, eating well, staying trim, and exercising – can cut your risk for most major diseases by 80%. But you have to do all of them together...  > >
Men and Alcohol And Cancer Risk
Men who consumed the most alcohol in a recent study had an up to 700% increased cancer risk. Wine appeared not to be implicated, but it is too soon to tell...  > >
A One−Two Punch For Alzheimers
The risk of Alzheimer’s disease appears to be reduced among those who exercise and among those who eat a “Mediterranean” diet. People who did both had even less risk...  > >
Mindful Eating, The Yoga Diet
It may be no surprise that being mindful about food appears to be very useful to losing weight. But it may surprise you to learn that yoga practice may be a dieting tool...  > >
Red Meat Raises Colitis Risk
One’s risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease may be linked to a particular omega−6 fatty acid in meat and margarine. Omega−3 fatty acids greatly reduced the risk...  > >
Seafood Fights Depression?
Pregnant women who ate seafood during pregnancy were half as likely to suffer from depression. While one must be careful of mercury levels, depression puts mothers and babies at risk...  > >
Doctors and Parents Unite!
Pediatricians can help parents plan a realistic strategy for helping kids lose weight. Make small, gradual changes and keep the health risks and benefits in mind...  > >
Protein Lowers Blood Pressure
Eating a little more vegetable protein (think whole grains, beans and tofu) reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Glutamic acid appears to be the source of the benefits...  > >
Glycemic Load & Breast Cancer
Women who ate the highest glycemic load were at an 81% increased risk of developing estrogen receptor (ER)–positive/progesterone receptor (PR)–negative breast cancer...  > >
Caffeine As Anti−Asthma Aid
A big dose of caffeine may work just as well as an albuterol inhaler for exercise−induced asthma, according to a recent study. But don't replace that inhaler yet...  > >
Red Yeast Rice, Natural Statin
When red yeast is grown on rice, it produces an effective, natural statin that lowered cholesterol by 31 points without side effects. But is it an unregulated drug, or is it a dietary supplement?...  > >
Young Adults Need More Milk
Teenagers and young adults are not getting enough calcium. Their intake drops off even though their bone mass is due to peak between ages 20 to 30. What can be done?...  > >
The Breakfast Of Arteries
Eating a low−glycemic index breakfast, such as high−fiber cereal, can actually improve your arteries' ability to dilate and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease...  > >
Let Them Drink Water
When kids switch from sugar−sweetened beverages to water, this simple change can result in a reduction of 200+ the calories a day. Eventually, pounds follow...  > >
Lettuce Praise The UV Boost
Darker leafy greens like kale and spinach are more nutritious than lettuce. But the antioxidant content of lettuce − polyphenols − increases when the leaves are hit with ultraviolet light...  > >
Colored Labels Help Consumers
It could end squinting at food labels in the grocery aisle: A system of red and green dots on labels helps shoppers make better nutritional choices, an Australian study has found...  > >
Acidic Drinks Erode Teeth
The acidity of soft and sports drinks, as well as tea and fruit juice appears to be taking a toll on our tooth enamel. But wait before brushing...  > >
Hidden Salt − How to Find It
What's the first thing you should do to reduce the amount of salt in your diet? We'll give you a hint: It does not involve putting away your saltshaker, but you do need to plan to...  > >
How Fiber Fights Cancer
Butyrate, the byproduct of the bacteria−driven breakdown of fiber in the gut, actually acts as an anti−cancer agent, helping the colon prevent cancer from becoming established...  > >
Go Green − Lose Weight
Epidemiologists estimate that global obesity raises carbon dioxide emissions (and thus global warming) by about 450 tons a year. And then there's the extra fuel to needed to move such big bodies around...  > >
Better Put That Donut Down
Women who ate a low−glycemic breakfast − eating high fiber foods which take longer to break down and result in a slower rise in blood sugar − felt fuller and burned fat more quickly than...  > >
Real Men Eat Vegetables
It's about potency. Eating vegetables (and not eating meat) raises the quality of sperm men produce. In another study, cooking some vegetables actually raised their antioxidant content...  > >
Fructose Poses Risk to Heart
Sweeteners might seem a simple subject, but unfortunately, the truth is fructose has a negative effect on cholesterol and triglyceride levels, while glucose does not...  > >
Omega−3 Oils Reduce Tumors
Research on mice with tumors has found that the more Omega−3 fatty acids the mice consumed, the more their tumors shrank. Other variables related to tumor growth also showed...  > >
Teen Vegans, What to Know
Vegetarianism in all its forms can be a very healthy thing. But for some, particularly adolescents, it can be a cover for an eating disorder that is far from healthy. New research looks at the odds...  > >
Lipoic Acid & Triglycerides
A study of fat rats with high triglyceride levels has found that when they were given the coenzyme lipoic acid, their skyrocketing levels were cut in half...  > >
This Is Your Brain On Fish
Teenage boys who ate plenty of omega 3 fatty acids − primarily through consumption of fish − had improved memory and other cognitive skills...  > >
This Is Your Brain On Fish
Teenage boys who ate plenty of omega 3 fatty acids − primarily through consumption of fish − had improved memory and other cognitive skills...  > >
Get Fresh −− Antioxidants
Foods like green tea and olive oil need to be fresh in order to pack their full load of antioxidants. Buying in bulk or from a store with low turnover may mean you are not getting full benefit...  > >
3 Grams Less Can Save Lives
We're talking about salt, of course. A computer model predicts that if Americans reduced their salt intake by just 3 to 6 grams a day, it would save up to 800,000 life−years over the next decade...  > >
Green Tea May Help Gums
Japanese researchers have found that men who drink more green tea have healthier gums and fewer periodontal problems than those who don't. It may be the antioxidants in green tea..  > >
Don't Try This At Home
Giving children with peanut allergies tiny amounts of peanut protein can help build tolerance over time, according to a new study..  > >
Keep It Simple 100 Steps/ Min.
Walking at a rate of 100 steps a minute, for 150 minutes a week, ensures that most people will get the moderate level of exercise recommended by doctors..  > >
Hey Kid − Get a Bike!
For most kids, bikes are a readily available ticket to controlling weight. A new study suggests that riding a bike beats most exercise programs for effectiveness and instilling...  > >
Exercise, How Much is Enough?
Numbers may not lie, but they can confuse. There is a great deal of inconsistency among the various exercise guidelines out there today. What's a person to do?...   > >