The old adage goes - “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. Indeed, apples are extremely nutritious fruits, and should form a part of a health promoting diet.
And recent research has validated this saying, showing the beneficial effects of eating apples against heart disease and other health conditions. Read more in the following article. (more…)
Our exposure to mass media today is immense, almost to a frightening level. And, without realizing it, we are being brainwashed every single day by these sources. After all, it’s very naive to think that the media presents objective views of information; the media is heavily influenced, even governed, by strong political and corporate interests.
The situation is worse for children and teenagers, because they are still at an impressionable age and are even more easily influenced by what they see and hear. With kids today spending so much time on the internet and in front of the television, we find that even their health is taking a hit. And why wouldn’t it? Such media not only promote sedentary lifestyles, they also inculcate poor values and undesirable living and eating habits. Read more in the following article. (more…)
The role of stress and one’s working environment in the disease process cannot be understated or underestimated. Yet, little attention is often given to such factors in preventing as well as reversing health conditions.
Recent research has drawn an interesting link between one’s risk of heart disease (and death) and working for a poor boss. This connection is discussed in more detail in the following article. (more…)
Conventional medical wisdom says it’s fine to move your bowels only once in a couple of days, as long as your pattern is regular. Natural healers and alternative practitioners, however, know better - a minimum of once per day is necessary for good health and vitality.
Constipation may seem like a trivial and harmless problem, but the fact is that this seemingly little ailment can have far reaching and detrimental effects on various aspects of a person’s health. The following article discusses more. (more…)
Conventional wisdom tells us that, if you have heart problems, you really shouldn’t be exercising, as that can put your health and your life at risk. Rest instead, we’re told.
Recent research has debunked that theory. Exercise is critical for good health, and that applies even to persons who have suffered from heart failure. Learn more about the benefits of exercise for heart patients in the following article. (more…)
Although it is termed a “vitamin”, vitamin D is actually more of a hormone, one which regulates literally hundreds of different functions in the human body. It is no wonder, then, that this nutrient affects health and disease outcomes in so many ways.
The piece of research discussed in the following article gives us a broad idea of the usefulness and importance of vitamin D - it improves overall longevity. (more…)
Two to three centuries ago, the American population was quite healthy overall.
Fast forward two to three hundred years, and, despite being one of the technological leaders of the world and being the top national spenders on medical care (spending a very large proportion of its GDP on medical bills), th US today is very heavily diseased and chronically ill. What’s gone wrong? (more…)
Exercise and physical activity boost health and increase longevity. For many of us, though, in particular those who have reached a certain age, there might be a bit of the “too little, too late” mentality.
Well, there needn’t be, because a recent study has found that beginning a good exercise program in one’s latter years can raise one’s level of longevity to that of counterparts who had been exercising all along. Read more in the article below. (more…)
Everybody knows that exercise is critical for good health and vitality. Yet exercise, especially higher impact ones such as jogging, has also been blamed for causing damage to one’s joints, especially the ankles the knees. Is this a fact, or a misconception?
In the following article, research which puts this myth to bed is discussed. Exercise is important! (more…)
Poor diets, sedentary lifestyles and ballooning waistlines are major reasons why so many people die from heart attacks and cardiovascular-related conditions every year.
The following article highlights research into how exercise and keeping healthy weight are two critical elements of preventing heart failure. (more…)
Smoking has already emerged has one of the major killers in the world today. Evidence, though, is growing that excess body weight is very harmful to health, too.
And research highlighted in the following article suggests that just being overweight can shorten one’s life significantly, with the effects perhaps being as bad as smoking. So, it’s not just obesity which kills, but even excess weight of a smaller degree. (more…)
When we make lifestyle changes to try and improve our health, we often focus a lot on what we eat and what we drink. Indeed, the quality and purity of our food and water play a great role in our state of health.
But there’s one thing we often overlook - and that’s the air we breathe. Without oxygen, we die within minutes, if not seconds. As the following article suggests, cleaner air can translate to longer lives. (more…)
When a cellphone or mobile phone is placed next to a computer monitor or a television and an incoming signal is received, either for an SMS or a call, the image on the screen gets all distorted and contorted. After using a cellphone for a number of minutes, it is not uncommon for one’s ears to hurt, and one’s side of the face to feel almost like it’s burning.
These are signs of the potential dangers of cellphone radiation. With these little contraptions becoming so common and so much a part of our daily lives (some of us even sleep with our cellphones next to us!), what detrimental effects on health are lurking and waiting to explode on the cellphone-using population? (more…)
The connection between one’s mind, emotions and body is one which is still not very well understood by humans, but yet is definitely a very important one. Emotional trauma, stress, unhappiness, grief and other unresolved mental and emotional issues all have a great part to play in the disease process.
On the flip side, a positive attitude and bright outlook are, in essence, great tonics for health. Indeed, staying positive and being optimistic is arguably the most important thing you can ever do for your health, perhaps even better than all the healthiest foods in the world. (more…)
Wondering about the health benefits of turmeric?
When a food or herb has been used for its healthful properties for centuries in both the ancient cultures of China and India, then it must surely be something quite special. The following article discusses some of the amazing health benefits of turmeric. (more…)
Do you or someone you know hold rather negative views of old age? Do you fear aging? Do you think that old folks are destined to be weak, sick and helpless?
Such viewpoints could actually have an adverse impact on one’s health later in life, as discussed in the following article. Probably something like a self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps. (more…)
Are you wondering how to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease?
This condition tends to hit older or elderly persons. But it is not an eventuality, and we can do our part to keep this ailment away. Having active, happy and fulfilling latter years is possible, and the following article highlights a few tips from some recent studies. (more…)
Omega 3 fatty acids are critical for many aspects of good health. And among its benefits include improved brain health and function.
The following short video clip shows a little experiment conducted on rats, which give us an insight into the effects of omega 3 fatty acids on brain function. (more…)
There are big things wrong with the medical and health care (are they the same thing?) system in developed nations today. There is also much wrong with the food and beverage industry, much wrong with the pharmaceutical industry. There is just too much emphasis on profits, on dangerous drugs, and not enough on simple, effective, natural remedies, like nutrition and exercise.
In the following short, 4-minute clip, which was aired in Sept 2007, Bill Maher takes a dig at the abovementioned areas. It’s a good watch - a lot of important information, and at the same time also a good laugh. Enjoy! (more…)
Do you do volunteer work? If you do, then good for you! Many of us, perhaps even most of us, have thought about volunteering our time for needy people or needy causes. But, somehow, excuses and reasons always crop up. ‘Next time’, or ‘one day’, are typical thought processes.
Besides helping others who are in need, volunteerism also gives ourselves a big boost. And we’re not just talking emotionally or mentally, but in terms of physical health, too. The wise men are correct - when we give, we receive, too. (more…)
No man is an island, and humans are social, emotional creatures. Here, an interesting study describes how caring for a sick spouse helps to boost one’s longevity.
Whether it is because it makes us feel useful, or it makes us happy, or it gives us a purpose in life, or some other reason, this gives us evidence of a very tangible health benefit of loving, sharing, caring and giving. (more…)
Conventional cancer treatment or therapy - either word is highly misleading regarding its effectiveness and safety - is woefully ineffectively and frightfully dangerous.
There are literally countless adverse and side effects of chemotherapy, radiation, cancer drugs and even surgery. Hair loss, nausea, organ failure, even death. Now, we can add bone loss to the list, too. (more…)
Intuitively speaking, it is hard to imagine fruits and vegetables having a role to play in bone and joint health. Yet, they do. Nutrition, after all, has a critical role to play in every aspect of human health, even emotional and mental ones.
The following article gives us some interesting insights into the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, specifically on how their influence on the acid-alkaline balance in the body contributes to bone health. (more…)
Fish is highly lauded by many experts as a food with significant health benefits. This applies quite specifically to wild-caught fish, as farm-raised fish, like many commercially farmed animals, are fed many undesirable substances in less-than-ideal living conditions.
Another point of concern is heavy metal contamination. Because fish do not have a mechanism for getting rid of heavy metals from their bodies, these substances tend to accumulate in their bodily tissues. With our waters becoming increasingly contaminated, fish are beginning to contain increasing amounts of mercury. Mercury, of course, is a deadly toxin. (more…)
Osteoporosis, thanks to degenerate dietary and lifestyle habits, is a growing problem in developed nations. It also follows that fractures arising from osteoporosis are on the rise.
But did you know that fractures due to osteoporosis actually kills a significant number of people? I certainly didn’t. The following article gives us some suggestions on a few possible protective measures. (more…)
When it comes to bone health, the nutrient which immediately comes to mind is calcium; not many people know much about the role of vitamin K in ensuring healthy bones and joints.
In fact, not many people know about the health benefits or positive effects of vitamin K. The following article gives us some information on the protective benefits of the vitamin. (more…)
Do you have the habit of speaking to older folks, especially those who may be ill, in a simplistic and child-like manner, in much the same way you speak to a baby or little children?
If you do, you may want to reconsider having such a habit, as doing so may have a negative impact on the health of elderly folks, as revealed in research. (more…)
The health benefits of exercise are numerous and undeniable. But some doubt has always existed on whether persons with heart disease can safely partake in exercise.
The Norwegian study discussed in the following article has revealed that coronary heart disease patients can safely exercise, too; in fact, physical activity helps to lengthen their lives. (more…)
We have been told for years that having fluoride in our drinking water is good for us, in particular our teeth. Without fluoride, we are told, our teeth will decay and fall out.
How true are these assertions? And what about the health dangers of fluoride? The authorities barely speak about that. If you wish to take responsibility for the purity of your drinking water supplies and the health of your family, read the following article on the potential negative effects of fluoride, in particular on fetuses and infants. (more…)
Heart or cardiovascular health is actually strongly affected by the presence of pollutants in the air. Indeed, dirty air can affect heart health and even cause heart attacks.
The following article highlights a Boston study which joins others in revealing the harmful effects of air pollution on cardiovascular wellbeing. (more…)
Happiness and health are closely tied. This is something which traditional wisdom has always told us. Now, we have scientific evidence to prove it, too.
On the flip side, unhappiness and other negative emotions, such as excessive worry and anxiety, depress the immune system and create a lot of toxins in the human body.
An American study has shown a positive link between running and health of elderly persons.
This study dispels myths about how running may be damaging for older persons by potentially causing injuries. (more…)
Want to increase your life expectancy?
Exercise certainly helps a great deal. And a Swedish study has found that golf is one specific activity which could help you achieve this goal. (more…)
The number of potential indoor health hazards in our homes and offices just seems to get more and more. A recent study carried out at the Queensland University of Technology has found that laser printers could produce tiny airborne particles which are potentially harmful to our health.
These particles are said to be produced by the bonding of toner to paper, and they could be hazardous to humans. (more…)
We all know that smoking increases one’s likelihood of getting a host of serious diseases, and that it shortens lives. What a recent study has further revealed is that its negative effects impact people of all social classes.
In addition, it found that the adverse effects of smoking do not spare either females or rich people. (more…)
Don’t you just love the feeling of being in amongst nature, enjoying the serenity and fresh air? I most certainly do, and, compared to the polluted and noisy cities, it really feels like a different world altogether.
And it’s not just about feelings, too. There are clear, quantifiable health benefits, as the following studies outline. (more…)
Numerous studies have linked obesity or extra weight with a list of various diseases. Now, a recent study has found that, during a car crash, obese or overweight children have double the risk of suffering injuries to their arms, legs and feet, as compared to children in the normal weight range.
The study had looked at a group of boys and girls aged between 9 and 15 years and was published in the December issue of Injury Prevention. (more…)
A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association has found that brand-name drugs which treat heart disease are not better than their FDA-approved generic counterparts.
The study was led by Aaron Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, and had focused on clinical outcomes. These include factors such as blood pressure, heart rate, illness and death. (more…)
Religion – there is possibly no other topic which can evoke as much discussion and debate as it. And a recent study, termed the “The relationship between religion and cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in the women’s health initiative observational study”, has found that people who attend religious services regularly for a sustained period were one-fifth less likely to die from any reason, as compared to those who did not.
The study, published in Psychology and Health, looked at the health status of over 90,000 women for a mean period of over 7 years. Data from the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-term study which followed women aged 50 to 79 years from 40 different locations in the United States, was used. (more…)
Getting sufficient sleep is important for optimal immune function and good health in general. Having at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night has been linked to lower risks of certain serious diseases, including heart disease and cancer. Risk of death is lowered, too.
Now, a study has found that sleeping less than 7 hours each night increases one’s risk of getting a cold by almost 3 times. On top of insufficient sleep, poor quality sleep raises risk about 5 times, too. (more…)
In Dec 2008, an issue of the medical journal Nature published an article which gathered 7 scientists (two of them were on the payroll of the pharmaceutical companies). What did it say?
It said that doctors should be able to prescribe psychotropic drugs, for example the drugs given to children for ADHD, to healthy people. The purpose? To “improve brain function”. (more…)
On 1 July 2003, Pueblo, Colo banned cigarette smoking in work venues as well as other indoor public places. Three years after the change in legislation, the hospitalization rate from heart attacks fell from a pre-ban figure of 257 per 100,000 people to 153 per 100,000 people.
Could there be other reasons? In the two adjacent communities, no such fall in statistics was noted. (more…)
We have all heard of first-hand smoke and second-hand smoke. But have you heard of third-hand smoke?
Quite honestly, I hadn’t, until now. And a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics has revealed the health dangers of third-hand smoke, which continue to linger long after a cigarette has already been put out. (more…)
When a friend is ill, we sometimes bring plants or flowers while visiting. People also report feeling better after going for a walk in the park. Indeed, nature gives us an array of health benefits, including fresh air, stress reduction and peace of mind.
A recent study at Kansas State University has strongly suggested that contact with plants directly benefits the health of hospital patients. (more…)
I recently came across this article by a medical doctor (MD) on some tips for better health for the year 2009.
I have to say I disagree with a number of his recommendations. (more…)
Welcome to the world of magic beans!
Beans are a great source of nutrients and a wonderful addition to a healthy diet. Studies have shown their many health benefits, including the prevention of diseases like cancer, helping to maintain healthy weight, being high in protein, having good amounts of fiber; furthermore, there is just such a great variety of beans to eat, and they taste great too! (more…)
A recent study at the University College London has found that stress raises the risk of heart problems, including heart attack, by steering people toward undesirable lifestyle habits.
Published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the study had tracked 6,576 participants of the Scottish Health Study for a period of 7 years. (more…)
In August 2008, the Harvard School of Public Health released findings of research – the Nurses’ Health Study, which had followed over 85,000 nurses for a period of 14 years.
One finding was that those who consumed 5 ounces or more of nuts each week had 35% lower risk of dying of heart disease. (more…)
According to recent research at the Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Avastin, the cancer drug, increases the risk of blood clot in the veins by about 33% when taken together with chemotherapy. (more…)
Air pollution is bad for the lungs, the nose and the throat. That is pretty obvious.
Now, a study earlier this year, conducted by the University of Southern California, has shown that it directly damages blood vessels too. (more…)