How Can You Be Proactive About Your Bowel Health?

A healthy gut is critical for your overall health, energy levels, fighting off diseases, properly absorbing healthy nutrients and eliminating toxins. The average small intestine length ranges from 9 to 15 feet, the large bowel is about 5 feet. Both parts of the intestinal tract have large surface contact with the outside world, much greater than the skin or the lung surfaces. So as you can imagine, taking care of your gut is extremely important.

Follow Your Heart. Ask Your Doctor About Alternatives to Heart Stenting

We cannot stress enough there is no one size fits all approach to health care and the treatment of diseases. A recent study on the use of stents to treat coronary artery disease stresses the importance of properly diagnosing each individual and administering the right treatment.

What About Paternal Depression?

We’ve heard about maternal depression but not much about paternal depression! About 13 percent of pregnant women and new mothers experience depression, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. But have you ever thought about how many expectant and new dads experience depression? A new study uncovers some of the reasons for paternal depression.

Let’s take our heads out of the sand: What we are doing today may be increasing our risk for cancer

When it comes to cancer, what you don’t know can hurt you. And according to a recent survey from the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), it seems there’s a lot more many of us need to know -- like which lifestyle choices contribute to cancer and what we can do to reduce that risk.

Carrie Fisher’s death a wake up call to help more women be proactive about heart attacks

Carrie Fisher, star of the beloved Star Wars franchise, died days after suffering a heart attack on a plane at age 60. Fans around the world were shocked, but should we really be so surprised? Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States. In fact, heart attacks kill six times as many women as breast cancer! One in three women die of heart disease; that’s approximately one every minute, according to the American Heart Association.

Worried about when to introduce your baby to peanuts? New guidelines say earlier may be better!

You’ll never guess what we recently learned about peanuts! In a study where children and adults with a peanut allergy wore a patch exposing them to peanut protein, they actually increased their tolerance to the nut over time (read here!). The new study suggests recommendations for exposing babies to peanuts early on to stop allergies before they even begin.

Be proactive about lead exposure for babies and children

Parents have enough to worry about! Toxic metals shouldn’t be one of them. However, whether we like it or not, lead is all around us -- in drinking water, lipsticks, older paints, foods, soil, air and dust. Although it’s a naturally occurring heavy metal found in small amounts in the Earth’s crust, it can be toxic to your health and even more toxic to your little ones.

What health issue millions of Americans have in common with Kanye West and what to do about it

You may have heard about Kanye West’s recent hospitalization, reportedly for exhaustion and sleep deprivation. Some sources said it was a “mental breakdown,” following what’s been called “erratic behavior,” including controversial rants, ending concerts early, and even canceling the rest of his tour. While most of us aren’t living Kanye’s lifestyle, the Better Sleep Council has found that around half of Americans say they don’t get enough sleep, but many don’t do anything about it.

Pancreatic cancer symptoms: 16 things to look out for

Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, having claimed the lives of thousands of people every year, including some notable public figures such as Steve Jobs and Patrick Swayze.

Be proactive about carbon monoxide poisoning at home!

Each year, at least 430 people in the U.S. die due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, and around 50,000 people visit the emergency department because of it, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. However, carbon monoxide poisoning is preventable! Being proactive about carbon monoxide (CO) could save your life.

Your quick guide to eating clean (don’t get groceries without this)

“Eating clean” is something you hear a lot. But what does it mean for food to be “clean”? And what’s “dirty” about food that isn’t so-called “clean”? Clean eating is all about eating more whole, nutritious, fresh foods -- as nature intended. Clean foods are unprocessed, or minimally processed, and are in their most natural, organic form, free of pesticides, GMOs, added sugar, unhealthy fats, preservatives, color additives, binders, stabilizers and emulsifiers. So if you've ever tried to eat clean or want to, here's a quick cheat sheet.

An alcohol-cancer link more people should know about

A drink after work, drinks with friends, drinks at yet another wedding -- it’s safe to say that there’s always an occasion to lift your glass. You know all about drinking responsibly, and you’d never dream of getting behind the wheel when you’re buzzed. But have you ever thought about the long-term consequences those drinks may have on your health?