Over 200 million Americans use mouthwash. Most of us likely use it to freshen our breath, but it also reduces plaque build up on our teeth, removes food particles that may be trapped in our mouth, and helps prevent cavities. Recent research has pointed to some disconcerting evidence about how mouthwash negatively influences our health. Let’s review the research on the subject and the facts you need to know to make a sound decision for yourself. Claim: Blood pressure increases with regular mouthwash use. A Swedish study recently found that rinsing your mouth twice daily with mouthwash increases... Read More

Since 2016, Meat 2.0 has become the trending food topic. Beyond Meat and Impossible Food are the two major plant-based meat companies now serving consumers at restaurants from A&W to White Castle, as well as in grocery stores. The rise in popularity is based on consumer’s desire to cut down on meat consumption. According to a survey conducted by Johns Hopkins University, nearly 60% of U.S. consumers have expressed interested in eating less meat, driving the market for alternative protein sources that taste like beef.  Why? Studies have shown a link between frequent consumption of red meat... Read More

If you didn’t know the Amazon rainforest is on fire, you may be on a media diet or hiding under a rock. The Amazon rainforest, located in northwestern Brazil and extending into Colombia, Peru, and other South American countries, is the world’s largest tropical rainforest. It has been called the planet’s lungs because its vast forests release oxygen and store carbon dioxide. Some scientists say a better way to understand the Amazon’s role is as a sink, draining heat-trapping carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Currently, the world is emitting around 40 billion tons of CO2 into the... Read More

I’m going to talk about a subject may be uncomfortable for some… low testosterone. Testosterone is a sex hormone that belongs to a class of male hormones called androgens.  The National Institutes of Health regards testosterone as the most important male hormone, but women also produce testosterone at lower levels. For men, testosterone is produced mainly in the testes, with a small amount made in the adrenal glands. Women, on the other hand, produce testosterone in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Low testosterone affects both men and women, although each is affected differently. For men,... Read More

Science has given us so many tools to make our lives better and healthier.  Information about how we address health issues now and how we can address them better in the future is all over the news right now.  Here are three important news stories that are influencing the conversation about major health issues. New treatment for antibiotic resistant bacteria With antibiotic resistant bacteria on the rise, scientists have been searching for new ways to treat bacterial infections.  One promising drug is bithionol. Previously used to treat parasitic infections in horses, bithionol is now being... Read More

It’s almost here again…back to school. Getting your kids back in the school year groove doesn’t have to be stressful as long as you plan ahead for classes, sports, and getting up early. Here are some tips to make your back to school strategy operate smoothly. Get back on your school year sleep schedule. Pediatricians recommend that children age 6 to 12 get 9 to 12 hours of sleep a night, and that teens get 8 to 10 hours a night. If it’s still light outside when your kids go to bed, consider light blocking shades to help your child’s body send the appropriate signals for sleep.  All devices... Read More

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, an annual observance to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Many Americans have embraced the myth that vaccines cause a number of conditions, including autism. This fear originated with a 1997 study published by Andrew Wakefield, a British surgeon. Published in The Lancet, a prestigious medical journal, the study suggested that the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine was increasing autism in British children. The paper has since been discredited due to serious errors in the way the study was conducted and conflicts of... Read More

Nearly 114 million Americans—roughly half the adult population—take at least one nutritional supplement. Scientific investigations conducted have failed to confirm that supplements, particularly multi-vitamins, work. So, if multi-vitamins are not effective, are there any supplements that are effective? The answer is yes! About 70% of Americans don’t get enough vitamin D. Typically, we get vitamin D by producing it in our skin from sun exposure. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium from the intestines, making it a very important vitamin, but it’s found in very few foods and is hard to obtain... Read More

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health technology as “the application of organized knowledge and skills in the form of devices, medicines, vaccines, procedures and systems developed to solve a health problem and improve quality of lives.” We live in an era where technology touches our lives almost everywhere, but in terms of healthcare, we have more access than ever to our healthcare providers and tools to guide our personal health strategy.  For example, mobile apps give us access to price comparisons for prescription medicines. Fitness devices and apps can give us feedback on... Read More

Feeling a little stuffy?  Congestion is a common problem, as anyone who has had a cold or suffers from allergies can attest.  Congestion refers to a feeling of stuffiness in the nasal or breathing passageways. Nasal congestion, stuffiness, or a runny nose is generally caused by increased blood volume to the vessels that line the passages inside the nose. There are a number of causes of congestion that we all know: sinus infection, cold or flu, and allergies.  There are a few other reasons you may be snotty that fall into the category of “none of the above.” You might be able to breathe easier... Read More