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.
Is a Green Mediterranean Diet Healthy for Head a…
Many previous studies have shown that following a Mediterranean diet has cardiovascular benefits. Such an eating pattern leans heavily on vegetables, fruits and whole grains and is light on meat and s…
Will Onion Cough Remedy Help Your Cold?
Every fall or winter, we hear from people who'd like to share their favorite family remedies for coughs, colds and flu. We haven't conducted research on any of these, but one that keeps cropping up ye…
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…
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…
Can You Manage Your Blood Sugar Naturally?
Metformin is a first-line medication for people with type 2 diabetes. Although doctors also prescribe it for different disorders, from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) to prostate cancer, the majori…
Cherry Juice Eases Arthritis Pain
Whoever said "Growing older isn't for sissies!" probably had arthritis. Although it sometimes strikes younger people, the constant ache in knees and hips can make it hard for older adults to keep movi…
Dandruff: Why Yeast Feast and How to Control the…
Dandruff may be difficult, but in general, it is not a serious medical condition. Though people who have it may be frustrated by it, or even desperate for relief, dermatologists don't get too excited …
Do Raisins Really Control Nighttime Urination &#…
For years now, we have been hearing from readers that munching a small handful of raisins before brushing the teeth at bedtime can help limit nocturia. That's the fancy medical term for having to get …
Home Remedies for Hemorrhoids – Skip Smart…
Over the last few decades we have collected an amazing array of remedies for hemorrhoids, from blackstrap molasses and rutabaga to banana peel and green tea. They keep coming in like the tide. We have…
Beet Juice Was Better Than a Drug for Lowering B…
Some natural products have an impressive ability to affect human physiology. Among these are vegetables naturally high in nitrate, particularly beets (referred to in England as beetroot). Scientists h…
Too Little or TOO MUCH Potassium Poses Major Dan…
We refer to potassium as the "Goldilocks" mineral. That's because too much potassium or too little potassium can cause serious health problems. Potassium needs to be "just right." Normally, the body h…
Gin-Soaked Raisins Offer Relief for Arthritic Pa…
Millions of people have stiff, sore joints. Some rely on NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, MotrinIB) or naproxen (Aleve) to get relief for arthritic pain. However, while these medications can be helpfu…
What Should You Eat to Reduce Your Risk of Demen…
Do you know how to keep your brain healthy as you grow older? Often, people want to know what you should eat to reduce your risk of dementia. The Framingham Offspring Study offered some answers to tha…
Will Tart Cherry Juice Really Soothe Gout Pain?
People who have had one episode of gout are usually anxious to learn how they can avoid another attack. The pain is so intense that even the light touch of a sheet on the affected joint may be unbear…
Sore Throat Remedy Is Hot Stuff
A sore throat is a common symptom of a respiratory infection. Colds, flu, COVID-19–any of them could make it uncomfortable to swallow or sometimes even to speak. Readers have shared a number of reme…
Will Olive Oil Protect Your Brain?
Scientists have found plenty of evidence that extra-virgin olive oil can fight inflammation. Now they believe that it might help protect your brain against cognitive decline or even Alzheimer disease.…
Should You Try Yogurt to Combat Constipation?
Anyone who has suffered from constipation would be grateful for advice on preventing this troublesome problem. Avoiding medications such as opioid pain relievers or even supplements like calcium that …
Can You Use Cinnamon to Reduce Your Cholesterol?
Most people want to keep their cholesterol under control, but some would prefer to do so without medication. It is possible to use your diet to lower your cholesterol levels. Some people report that e…
How Can You Use Beets for Better Blood Pressure?
With concerns about contaminated antihypertensive medications, many people are interested in ways to lower their blood pressure without drugs. The options are varied: exercise, weight loss, slow breat…
Make Sure Your Vegetarian Diet Is High Quality
A vegetarian diet can be beneficial, but the quality of the diet matters. A meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials covering more than 3.5 million participants found that there can be a big d…
Will You Have Better Poop With Blackstrap Molass…
Some home remedies are perennially popular. Others are more unusual. Although we have heard from readers that blackstrap molasses can ease hemorrhoids, we were surprised when a reader reported that ta…
Watch Joe & Terry Demo Unusual Remedies for…
We have been collecting hiccup remedies for more than 50 years. Some have been written up in prestigious medical journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine (December 23, 1971). Others have c…
Can Herbs Prevent a Recurrence of Prostate Cance…
A few decades ago, any suggestion that herbs might reduce the risk for cancer would have been greeted with suspicion. As researchers scramble to find out what natural products might be helpful, they …
Could Olive Oil Make Weight Loss Easier?
Have you been looking for natural ways to lower your blood pressure? People who manage their blood pressure with medications are less likely to experience cognitive decline (JAMA, May 19, 2020). What'…
Tart Cherries Fight Pain and Inflammation Natura…
When most people experience pain, they take NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Physicians prescribe medications like celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Cataflam, Voltaren), meloxicam (Mobic…
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 Nopal Cactus Control Blood Sugar?
We love it when scientific research reveals that a home remedy actually works. One that seems quite improbable is eating nopal cactus pads to help with blood sugar control. A few readers have tried th…
Power of Pomegranate to Promote Health
Do you agree with me that pomegranate season is too short? In the US, this ancient fruit is available fresh roughly between October and December. That's when we get to savor the sweet-tart flavor of t…
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…