Why you shouldn’t rely on your BMI

Olympian Kerri Strug. NBA player Yao Ming. Actor Peter Dinklage. Model Twiggy. People come in all shapes and sizes, yet doctors have been taught to measure them all the same way for the last 40 years. Yes, we speak of the infamous BMI, or body mass index.

How to get your vitamin D and practice safe summer sun

Now that summer is here, you will likely be spending much more time in the sun. While the sun has many health-promoting benefits, such as vitamin D production, it can also lead to other undesirable effects, including sunburn and cancer.

Paw-some ways dogs make you healthier

Many people own dogs, cats, and other small animals. But few people truly understand how beneficial our furry friends actually are to our overall health and wellbeing. Studies dating back to the 1980s have endorsed the positive health benefits of pet ownership.

Proactive hospitals opt for antibiotic-free meats

Recently, as I was waiting in a hospital lobby, an article in their newsletter caught my eye. It said that they are now serving antibiotic-free meats in their cafeteria. I was elated! Why? Because by serving antibiotic-free meats, the hospital may very well reduce the likelihood of its patients developing a resistance to antibiotics.

Can self-prescribing with calcium supplements do more harm than good?

Calcium is a very important mineral for the body. As you know, it keeps bones and teeth strong, but it does other helpful things as well. For example, calcium plays an essential role in blood clotting, muscle contractions and nerve impulse transmission. Studies further show that calcium plays a role in blood vessel contraction and dilation, which affect blood pressure. Women, in particular, need sufficient calcium to prevent osteoporosis, especially after menopause.

Stay ahead of the curve when it comes to your health

Before penicillin, there was bloodletting. Before asthma inhalers, there were potent morphine syrups for coughing children. Well-meaning doctors have always followed the most current medical guidelines and knowledge available to them. But sadly, their practices have not always stood the test of time. Being a patient, it seems, has always been a risky business.

Vitamin B12: Cure-all or waste of money?

“B12 injections given here!” Doctor’s offices, chiropractic centers and other wellness-focused operations love to advertise B12. And why not? It’s profitable, and patients swear it gives them an “energy boost.” But while a “quick fix” for irritability or fatigue might be tempting, the notion of B12 as a cure-all, and a fast one at that, has a shaky foundation.

Know the facts on mercury to reduce your exposure

Many of us are old enough to remember mercury thermometers. The silvery liquid slid beguilingly up and down the thermometer, telling mom whether you were faking your sudden test-day illness or not. But mercury thermometers soon disappeared from existence — the incidents of broken glass and exposure to a toxic metal made their use too dangerous. However, mercury is still all around us and in our bodies, and it’s not a good thing.

Aloe vera: more than your summer sunburn salve

Aloe vera. It’s a quirky beverage choice and a kind savior in the hours after a bad sunburn. It’s been used for healing the skin for thousands of years, and has long been a home remedy for constipation. But our reliable summer standby might well be good for even more.

Beating your biological clock: How to increase fertility later in life

More and more women are having babies later in their reproductive years. Though many women are trying to make sure they are fully prepared to take on parenthood, waiting can sometimes lead to fertility issues. To help you make informed health decisions, here are some answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about fertility, followed by some practical tips you can begin using right away.

Naturally prevent, decrease spring allergies

For people who suffer from allergies, spring means bulk purchases of Kleenex and sniffling trips to the medicine cabinet. But while nasal steroids and decongestants might make you feel good temporarily, they have side effects as well. And while allergies might seem inevitable, a healthy dose of prevention may well keep you away from your usual medicines.

If you take vitamin C when you get sick, you’re using it all wrong

“Take some vitamin C.” You’ve probably heard it since you can remember, since your very first cold. As a kid, you probably downed glasses of orange juice at the first sign of the sniffles under your mother’s watchful eye. Later, you graduated to those popular powdered vitamin C drinks, hoping a sudden assault of extra vitamin C would make viruses retreat. But does it work?