It’s that time of year when extra calories lurk around every corner — frosted cookies at the office, eggnog at your neighbor’s, jelly doughnuts for Hanukkah or chocolates in your stocking. All these extras add up, and if you’re like most Americans, you’ll put on a pound or two by New Year’s Day. So what’s […]
Decades ago, Nat King Cole gently crooned about chestnuts roasting on an open fire. But since then, scientists have uncovered some troubling truths about wood smoke. Although the image of a log fire is often associated with the holidays, romance and cozy nights inside shielded from plummeting temperatures, experts say wood-burning appliances are a threat […]
With the holiday season in full swing, hectic schedules and daily distractions can get in the way of your best “keep healthy” intentions, but eating healthier is a good option that may be easier than it seems. As Hippocrates (the “father” of modern medicine) once said, “Let food be thy medicine, and thy medicine thy […]
Chili peppers aren’t for the faint of heart, but maybe they should be. Scientists in Italy say the spice slashes the mortality rate from heart attack and cerebrovascular disease (which restricts blood flow to the brain and includes strokes and aneurysms). The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, included 22,811 Italian […]
Many of the flavorings that add a special touch to our favorite holiday foods confer the gift of brain health at the same time. Researchers have discovered that cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices that we mix into baked goods and savory dishes contain nutrients that sharpen memory, reduce stress, or improve sleep, among other […]
This year’s flu season has already led to as many as 2,400 deaths — including six children — between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In that same time period, the virus has sent 1.2 million people to their doctors and landed up to 29,000 people in the […]
It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday season. This combination of religious and national celebrations can help keep the cold winter away. But the feasts and parties that mark it can tax the arteries and strain the waistline. By eating just 200 extra calories a day — a piece of pecan pie and […]
Doctors at Duke University Hospital performed a first-of-its-kind heart transplant procedure, which could help increase the amount of donated hearts available and reduce wait times for people seeking the transplant. The process — called donation after circulatory death (DCD) — was performed for the first time in the U.S. on a military veteran, who received […]
A new study from the National Institutes of Health finds that women who use permanent hair dye and chemical hair straighteners are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer — and the risk is particularly high for black women. The study, published on Dec. 4 in the International Journal of Cancer, looked at hair product use over a 12-month period in […]
Visiting Santa at the mall may not be anyone’s idea of a soothing activity, but for people with autism or other special needs, it can be hugely overwhelming and stressful. The crush of the crowd, the din, the long lines, the flashing lights — it all creates an unpredictable, highly fraught environment that can upset or cause discomfort for […]