Story at-a-glance New research shows that people with Alzheimer’s have higher cortisol levels and a skewed cortisol-to-DHEA-S ratio, revealing that chronic stress drives early brain degeneration long before memory loss appears Cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, damages neurons and disrupts energy metabolism when it…
Story at-a-glance California became the first state in the U.S. to ban ultraprocessed foods from public school lunches under the “Real Food, Healthy Kids Act,” but the full phase-out won’t take effect until 2035 Ultraprocessed foods — packed with vegetable oils, additives, and refined sugars…
Story at-a-glance A thick neck is more than a cosmetic issue — it’s one of the clearest physical signs of metabolic stress, indicating higher risks for diabetes, heart disease, and stroke Research shows neck circumference predicts disease risk more accurately than BMI or waist size…
Story at-a-glance Visceral fat — the deep fat around your organs — acts like a hormone-producing organ that fuels inflammation, disrupts metabolism, and increases the risk of aggressive endometrial cancer New research shows that fat activity, not fat amount, predicts cancer severity, meaning even women…
Story at-a-glance A study of more than 1.3 million Americans found that people living in areas with high trichloroethylene (TCE) levels had a 10% greater risk of Parkinson’s disease than those in cleaner regions TCE, a solvent once used in dry cleaning and degreasing, persists…
Story at-a-glance Autism needs to be approached as a system; systems biology looks at everything in biology as a web where everything is connected. When you tug at one part of the web, the rest of the web changes Dr. Martha Herbert believes autism develops…
Story at-a-glance Leah Segedie founded Mamavation to investigate toxic chemicals in consumer products, inspired by family tragedies. The organization conducts independent testing and collaborates with scientists to educate the public about endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) EDCs, often found in plastics and other products, can activate estrogen…
Story at-a-glance Obesity is not just about eating too much — it develops when your cells cannot burn oxygen and fuel efficiently, leading to fat storage even at normal calorie intake Polyunsaturated fats in vegetable oils slow down your metabolism, mimic hibernation signals, and make…
Story at-a-glance Depression affects how your body heals after surgery by increasing inflammation and weakening your immune defenses, which lead to longer recovery times and higher complication rates Older adults with cancer who also have depression experience significantly higher post-surgical costs — nearly $25,000 compared…
Story at-a-glance Beta-blockers offer no survival benefit for most heart attack patients with normal heart function, even though they’re still widely prescribed Women face higher risks on beta-blockers, including nearly double the risk of death when given higher doses, while men show no measurable harm…
Story at-a-glance Due to Alzheimer’s research focusing on a symptom of it (amyloid plaques), rather than its actual cause, Alzheimer’s has remained “incurable” for decades Rather than being a single disease, Alzheimer’s has multiple different subtypes (e.g., those due to insulin resistance, nutritional deficiencies, inflammation,…
Story at-a-glance Compounds in the essential oil of the Vicks plant act on the same enzyme targeted by Type 2 diabetes drugs, helping your body maintain steadier blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity naturally The plant’s essential oil contains more than 30 bioactive compounds that…
Story at-a-glance Chronic stress triggers a neutrophil invasion into brain-protective layers, driving depression-like behaviors through immune activation rather than just hormonal changes Stress-induced immune signals hijack brain reward circuits, reducing dopamine and shifting neural activity toward threat detection over pleasure-seeking behaviors Prolonged stress damages brain…
Story at-a-glance Estrogen is an obesity promoter and well-established human carcinogen The Women’s Health Initiative studies, which began in 1991, showed estrogen replacement therapy in menopausal women significantly increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes, dementia, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer, not just in the breast…
Story at-a-glance Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are complex sugars that pass undigested to your baby’s colon, where they feed beneficial bacteria, strengthen defenses, and support healthy brain and immune development A systematic review and meta-analysis in Frontiers in Pediatrics found that breast milk continues supplying…
Story at-a-glance Chronic low back pain is the leading cause of disability in older adults and often limits daily movement and independence Many treatments exist but do not always provide lasting relief and can have side effects or risks Acupuncture has been used for centuries…
Story at-a-glance Sleep is not just downtime but a built-in survival mechanism that protects your brain from toxic byproducts created when mitochondria leak electrons New research shows that the more electrons your cells fail to use, the greater the buildup of reactive oxygen species, which…
Story at-a-glance A major clinical trial in The Lancet Psychiatry found that boosting dopamine with pramipexole improved symptoms in treatment-resistant depression. This challenges the long-dominant serotonin deficiency theory Supporting those findings, another study showed that agomelatine, a serotonin-blocking drug, consistently reduced anxiety and depression in…
Story at-a-glance Everyday exposure to pesticides, even from conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, disrupts sperm function and reduces fertility in otherwise healthy men Researchers found that higher levels of pesticide residues in urine were linked to slower, less motile sperm, showing that even non-occupational exposure…
Story at-a-glance Low potassium intake is strongly linked to higher rates of depression and anxiety, making this mineral a key factor in protecting your mental health Large-scale studies from Korea, the U.S., and China all show that people who consume more potassium experience greater emotional…
