Category: nutrition

8 Foods That Can Help Prevent High Cholesterol

Did you know, almost half of American adults have high cholesterol? A combination of lifestyle factors and genetics mostly influences cholesterol. But what you eat still matters. In fact, when you eat closer to what the Dietary Guidelines recommend, you could lower your risk of heart disease and cholesterol. So, aim to eat more fruits,…


4 Herbs for Stress, One Makes Your Serotonin Levels Soar

Your body has two adrenal glands located just above each of your kidneys. As part of your endocrine system, your adrenal glands secrete more than 50 hormones, including aldosterone (which helps regulate your blood pressure and blood volume), cortisol and adrenaline, the latter two of which can become overactivated by stress. Indeed, your hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)…


Getting Fit as We Get Older

Betty Oare made headlines last year when she and her horse, Sidenote, placed eighth in the Adult Hunter Championship at the Washington International Horse Show in Tyron, North Carolina. Eighth place may not seem like great shakes. But Oare, who lives in Warrenton, Virginia, and spends two to three hours every day riding Sidenote, was…


How to Heal Your Gut Naturally

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a healthy mammal is home to a complex community of bacteria. This microbial community is often called “microbiota,” “gut flora,” or “beneficial bacteria.” These microbes have evolved with us to coexist in a mutually beneficial relationship. An Introduction to Gut Microbes We need beneficial gut microbes for proper B vitamin production, digestion, and assimilation. Some…


A Breakup Letter to Gout

Dear Gout, I’m breaking up with you. I appreciate the time we had together and everything I’ve learned from you, but it’s over; I don’t want you in my life anymore. Before we met, I’d heard about you. I know you’ve been around, going from person to person–often a single night, but frequently returning to wreak…


Arthritis – How to Relieve the Pain and Heal Naturally

Arthritis is painful inflammation of one or more joints in the body. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, though the best-known types are osteoarthritis (which breaks down cartilage), rheumatoid arthritis (which is an autoimmune disorder affecting the lining of the joints), and gout (caused by deposits of urate crystals in the joints). Any…


Best Vegetables for Your Heart

Research has shown that the more vegetables you eat, the lower your risk of heart disease, with different types of vegetables protecting your heart through different mechanisms. Leafy greens, for example, have high amounts of nitrates that naturally boost your nitric oxide (NO) level. Cruciferous veggies, on the other hand, lower your risk of stroke…


9 Reasons to Drink Lemon Water in the Morning

Did you know that lemons have more potassium than apples or grapes? This interesting fact is just one of the many reasons why drinking lemon juice every morning can impact your health. Starting your day with lemon juice is an excellent way to boost vitality, increase energy and cleanse out your system. The first thing…


9 Foods That Calm Your Nerves In Turbulent Times

Many of us operate in high gear much of the day, putting out small (and large) fires, juggling schedules, dealing with traffic, and generally trying to keep our lives and that of our families in order. Even when our days and nights aren’t streaming at a high speed, levels of the stress hormone cortisol can…


Vitamin D Supplements in Pregnancy: What’s the Latest Evidence?

What we Already Know Vitamin D forms from sunlight on the skin and is used by the body to absorb calcium, needed for healthy bones and teeth. Up to half of all pregnant women in the UK are deficient, which is more common in winter than in summer. Vitamin D deficiency disproportionately affects black and…