Did you know that depression is predicted to be the leading cause of disease burden by 2030? In fact, it's already the leading cause in women worldwide. When including depressive-related deaths due to suicide and stroke, depression has the third highest global disease burden. (1) For people with depression, their negative thoughts overshadow all of…
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, cognitive condition that’s claiming more and more people every year. Experts now estimate that in the world’s most populated nations, rates of Parkinson’s disease will climb to almost 40 million sufferers by the year 2030. (1) As the world’s population of older adults increases, and people on average live longer…
Is pasta healthy? Like other processed carbohydrates — including most cereals, bread and baked goods— pasta has been deemed a problematic food when it comes to packing on the pounds. In fact, in recent decades pasta has even been blamed for contributing to the obesity epidemic, despite the fact that it's been a staple food…
When the heart muscle doesn’t get enough oxygen-rich blood, discomfort or chest pain occurs. This is pain called angina. Angina isn’t actually a disease; it is a primary symptom of a heart problem like coronary heart disease or coronary microvascular disease. (1) The pain or discomfort experienced can be a burning or fullness sensation or…
If you’re a woman, you either already have or almost undoubtedly will hear the tick of your biological clock at some point in your life calling you to become a mother. What if that tick goes unanswered? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), millions of women in America suffer from infertility,…
Impotence, also called erectile dysfunction (ED), can be a very frustrating problem. Some men are able to achieve an erection but are not able to maintain one. Others are not able to achieve one at all. Causes of impotence can be both physiological (affecting mostly the body and organs) or psychological (affecting the mind). Luckily,…
What is nux vomica? Well, there is a Nux Vomica band, but I'm talking about nux vomica as in the homeopathic medicine that — despite known dangers — is used for a range of common problems like motion sickness, headaches and menopause symptoms to more serious concerns like lung, eye and circulatory diseases. (1) Nux vomica is…
Vanilla extract is widely used in both commercial and domestic baking, perfume manufacturing and aromatherapy, but many people don't realize the array of health benefits that come from using vanilla oil, even though it is not technically an essential oil. Internally, pure vanilla oil fights inflammation, works as an antidepressant and contains high levels of antioxidants…
Across America, food "scraps" are often trimmings, skins and seeds tossed in the garbage. But as I started investigating these "waste products," I quickly found many of these actually serve as edible food parts with robust nutrition. In fact, many ancient cultures, including Chinese medicine and Native American remedies, tapped the healthy compounds in some of…
Can you remember laughing at the kids on TV sitcoms who found that "special channel" late at night and tried to decipher sexy shapes from the static? I didn't pay much attention to it then, but it now seems pornography — and the complications of it, like porn addiction — should be more concerning than…
