Anxiety disorders and depression have become common among Americans. Studies reveal that children whose mothers had high stress levels during pregnancy may be more susceptible to these conditions.  One study found that participants who had experienced abnormal levels of stress or inflammation in the womb had “poor stress regulation” 45 years later. “Prenatal stress…creates a […]

When people have limited in-person connections with others, they often forget to care for themselves and lose motivation to keep up lifestyle habits, such as exercise and healthy eating. They also have a greater risk of sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression.  Isolation also impacts physical health, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke by […]

Could the adoption of a low-fat, plant-based diet help you burn more fat without adding more exercise?  A study was conducted involving two groups: one adopted a plant-based diet; the other, a control group, made no dietary changes. Both maintained their usual exercise and medication routines. At the end of 16 weeks, those eating a […]

Coconut oil has been touted as beneficial to the body. The research doesn’t support these claims.  A major misconception is that coconut oil’s saturated fats don’t affect the body in the same way that saturated fat from animals does. Unfortunately, coconut oil is composed mostly of longer-chain saturated fats that raise LDL cholesterol, the kind […]

You’re exhausted after a long day at work. But instead of going to bed, you spend a couple hours scrolling mindlessly on the internet or watching television, finally falling asleep at midnight.  Can you relate? This phenomenon actually has a name: revenge bedtime procrastination. Professor of clinical medicine Dr. Dasgupta describes it as “a cry from overworked […]

With the increase in dementia and Alzheimer’s, everyone is concerned about keeping their brains sharp. But the solution may not be supplements, Sudoku, or learning a new skill.  Turns out, habits for a healthy heart also maintain brain health. Unobstructed blood flow and clean arteries are important for preventing heart attacks, but they also ensure […]

It sounds like a Pollyanna approach to life. But science backs it: Smiling is good for mental health—whether you feel like it or not.  The simple act of allowing your cheek muscles to lift your mouth into a curve releases neurotransmitters—the same brain chemicals that antidepressants raise. These neurotransmitters help lower stress and relax the […]

A hospital in Spain with 216 COVID-19 patients found that 80 percent of them had low vitamin D levels. Another study of nearly 500 people showed that a person who was vitamin D deficient was more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than someone who wasn’t. Lacking this important nutrient also seemed to make the […]

Perhaps people wouldn’t be reaching for weight loss pills if they realized they already have access to a free weight loss beverage: water. Scientific trials revealed that people who drank two cups of water experienced an increase in the hormone noradrenaline. This hormone helped boost the metabolism of participants, speeding up weight loss by 44 […]

Have you ever woken up still feeling exhausted? You thought you had a full night’s sleep, but it sure didn’t feel like it. Your late-night snack may have been hindering your beauty slumber. Because our bodies function on circadian rhythms, eating close to bedtime can disrupt that rhythm, causing your digestive system to have to […]