Food & Drink Remedies
Thousands of years ago, Hippocrates said Let food be your medicine. Foods and beverages provide relief from an amazing number of common ailments.
Amazing Benefits from Half a Tablespoon of Olive…
We have been writing about the health benefits of olive oil for decades, although at one time doctors thought it was too high in saturated fat to be healthy. Data from long-running cohort studies cont…
When Drugs Are Dangerous, Natural Remedies Ease …
People with arthritis often face a terrible dilemma because the medications that are most commonly used to ease stiffness and discomfort in the joints can have nasty side effects. NSAIDs such as diclo…
Is Stevia a Safe Sugar Substitute?
Artificial sweeteners have been controversial for decades. In the 1960s, when the idea of low-calorie substitutes for sugar was still fairly new, animal studies suggested that saccharine and cyclamate…
Can You Lower Blood Sugar with Cinnamon?
You've no doubt heard that type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic levels in this country and many others. That means that millions more people have pre-diabetes. That means their blood sugar is headed i…
Lemon Juice Fights Kidney Stones
Kidney stones occur when minerals in the urine crystallize into particles that can block urine drainage. This is usually extremely painful; moreover, people who have had one such episode are at risk f…
Why You Should Eat the Mediterranean Way
The Mediterranean diet has been associated with a number of health benefits. We have written previously about studies showing that a Mediterranean-style eating plan can protect the brain, reduce arthr…
Overdosing on Vegetable Oil Could Be Deadly
For decades, nutrition experts urged Americans to substitute vegetable oil (aka seed oil) for saturated fats such as butter and lard. They assumed that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in oil…
Why You Should Exercise and Eat Right, Now
We've all been told that we should exercise and eat right. That's true even after a person has been diagnosed with colon cancer. A new study shows that staying active can increase a cancer patient's c…
Gin-Soaked Raisins Are Not Suitable for Everyone
People often treat debilitating arthritis with pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen. However, while these OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are pretty good at relieving acute pain, they…
Why Grandma Was Right About Vegetables
Your grandmother may have told you to eat your vegetables. Ours certainly urged us to do so. If she did, she was right. Vegetables and fruits are good sources of flavanols, plant compounds that appear…
Are Pecans Good for Your Heart?
Have you ever wondered whether your favorite food is good for your heart? If your favorite foods include ice cream and cookies, you don't have to wonder. The answer is a clear no. If you love oatmeal …
Will Spices Help Protect Your Memory?
Dementia is as frightening to most people as the prospect of heart disease or cancer. You probably know that to avoid heart disease you want to control your weight, eat a healthful high-vegetable diet…
Tropical Fruits Fight Inflammation
Foods with anti-inflammatory activity can often relieve pain and inflammation without the scary side effects possible with drugs like NSAIDs such as celecoxib or ibuprofen. Chronic low-grade inflammat…
Why You Should Sip Chicken Soup for a Cold
When cold viruses are on the loose, you need a few trustworthy remedies to help with sniffles and coughs. One of our favorites is a hot bowl of homemade chicken soup for a cold. When our kids were lit…
What Is the Best Diet to Lower Cholesterol?
Have you ever wondered what you should be eating to optimize your health? Nutrition scientists have been arguing that the entire dietary pattern matters more than a handful of individual foods reputed…
Show 1420: The Cooking Oil Controversy Spotlight…
This week, we dig into the cooking oil controversy. For decades, we’ve heard that we should be using vegetable oils rather than butter, lard or other fats (possibly even olive oil). Oils from corn, …
Up to an Egg a Day Is Fine, Scientists Say
For decades, people have been confused about whether it is safe to eat eggs. Doctors warned that yolks contain a lot of cholesterol and worried that might translate into atherosclerosis for omelet lov…
New Guidelines on Flavanols Can Help Improve Hea…
For generations, children have been urged to eat their fruits and vegetables. Perhaps you were told the same thing. As an adult, you may have been advised to “follow a plant-rich diet.” Scientists…
Salt Substitute Can Cut the Risk of High Blood P…
Americans love salt (and we are not the only ones who do). However, doctors warn us sternly that sodium chloride (aka salt) raises blood pressure, and that, in turn, increases the risk of stroke. Publ…
Can You Control Cholesterol Naturally?
Let's not arm wrestle about the cholesterol theory of heart disease. Most cardiologists believe LDL cholesterol is the culprit behind clogged coronary arteries. That's why they are very quick to presc…
Will You Live Longer If You Sip Green Tea?
Is coffee or tea your beverage of choice? A study from China, where a lot of people prefer tea, suggests that you might want to sip green tea. And a study from Japan, where green tea is just as popula…
Does Grape Juice Have Heart Healthy Benefits?
Over the years, readers have told us about using grape juice to manage a range of conditions. Some people mix it with plant pectin (Certo) to ease the pain of arthritic joints. Others report it soothe…
Will Gin-Soaked Golden Raisins Help Your Joint P…
Have you heard of using gin-soaked golden raisins to ease joint pain? People have been sharing this home remedy with their friends and family members for decades. We have no idea where it comes from o…
What’s in Your Frying Pan? Omega-6 or Omega-3 …
Americans have long been urged to embrace polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) vegetable oils because they are low in saturated fats. These oils made from corn, peanuts, soybeans, safflower and sunflower…
Vinegar Vanquishes Body Odor
No doubt you have seen television commercials that promote whole body deodorants. There was a time when people used deodorants and antiperspirants exclusively on their armpits. That's where most peopl…
Where Can You Find Vitamin C in Food?
Are you getting your vitamins? Trying to stay healthy to avoid infection with COVID-19 is prompting some people to take a closer look at their diets. Do you need to make some changes to ensure you are…
Benefits of a Mediterranean Diet as Women Grow O…
For decades, nutrition scientists have been touting the benefits of eating like the Greeks or Italians do. The benefits of a Mediterranean diet range from cardiovascular health to preventing stroke or…
Will a Mediterranean Diet Benefit Your Brain?
The Mediterranean diet has earned a reputation for promoting heart health, as we discuss below. A Harvard study suggested it might also be good for the brain, especially for people with type 2 diabete…
Can You Lower Your Blood Pressure with Food?
When the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association collaborated on new blood pressure guidelines in 2017, the cut-off numbers for hypertension got lower. That means a lot more …
Don’t Smear Molasses on Hemorrhoids!
Hemorrhoids (also known inelegantly as piles) are swollen veins in or near the anus. They are rather like varicose veins, although their awkward location can cause trouble. They may bleed during bowel…
What Are the Health Benefits of Cocoa Flavanols?
Do you think of chocolate as a sinful snack or a healthy bite? Chocolate candy itself probably should be considered sinful. It usually contains too much sugar to count as health food. The cocoa flavan…
Will a Plant-Based Diet Lower the Likelihood of …
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men after skin cancer. Roughly one man in eight will develop this disease sometime during his life. Can a man's diet reduce his likelihood of p…
Can You Reduce the Impact of Air Pollution?
Air pollution is harmful to health, with bad effects on the lungs, heart and cardiovascular system. New research suggests that the nervous system, particularly the brain, is also subject to damage fro…
What Are the Health Benefits of Coffee and Choco…
Americans have a puritanical streak. This way of thinking suggests that if something hurts or tastes bad, it must be good for you. Conversely, if it tastes good, you might conclude it's bad for you. T…
What Is the Evidence That Cocoa Flavanols Improv…
An ongoing argument often surfaces around certain holidays, especially Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween. You'll see a number of feature pieces suggesting that chocolate is actually good for you. …
Will Certo and Grape Juice Help Your Sore Knees?
People with sore joints face a terrible dilemma. Pain interferes with quality of life. On the other hand, medications like diclofenac and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can make p…
Are There Natural Remedies for Constipation?
Constipation is a very common complaint. While doctors rarely become concerned about constipation unless the patient seems to have obstructed bowels, sufferers find that this problem really affects th…
Can a Mediterranean-Style Diet Protect Your Brai…
How can you protect cognitive function as you age? Several studies suggest that a Mediterranean-style diet plan can help. What does that entail? Lots of veggies, fruits and whole grains like farro, no…
How to Lower Blood Pressure with Hibiscus Tea
Blood pressure control is essential to maintain good kidney health and reduce the possibility of a stroke or heart attack. But it can be difficult to find blood pressure medication that does not have …
Make Sure Your Vegetarian Diet Is High Quality
A vegetarian diet can be beneficial. Scientists who want to know more about the value of vegetarianism often study groups that avoid eating meat, such as Seventh Day Adventists. Many Seventh-Day Adven…