Losing weight is hard, but many weight loss supplements promise to make the journey easy. Unfortunately, there’s little high-quality research to back these claims, a new study shows. Hundreds of weight loss supplements like green tea extract, chitosan, guar gum and conjugated linoleic acid are being hawked by aggressive marketers. And an estimated 34% of…  read on >  read on >

Cost and lack of time are among the reasons parents don’t enroll their kids in swimming lessons, a new survey finds. “Swimming is one of the most important life-saving skills that children and adults should master. Whether for fun or for exercise, swimming will serve them well for the rest of their lives, and it’s…  read on >  read on >

Many older adults are still taking a daily baby aspirin to ward off first-time heart problems — despite guidelines that now discourage it, a new study finds. Researchers found that one-half to 62% of U.S. adults aged 70 and up were using low-dose aspirin to cut their risk of heart disease or stroke. And aspirin…  read on >  read on >

Older adults who use certain blood pressure drugs may retain more of their memory skills as they age, a new study suggests. Researchers found the benefit among older people taking medications that are allowed past the “blood-brain barrier,” which is a border of specialized cells that prevents toxic substances from crossing into the brain. Those…  read on >  read on >

Fish oil supplements are often touted as good for your heart health, but a new study finds they may also help fight depression. “Using a combination of laboratory and patient research, our study has provided exciting new insight into how omega-3 fatty acids bring about anti-inflammatory effects that improve depression,” said lead author Alessandra Borsini,…  read on >  read on >

The coronavirus pandemic has had an unexpected side effect — a wave of bad reactions to alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Vapors from the products can cause headache, nausea and dizziness, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which advises consumers to use the products in well-ventilated areas. “We have received increasing reports of these side…  read on >  read on >

More and more Americans are seeking out healthier, greener and more ethical alternatives to meat, but are plant-based alternatives like the Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat truly nutritious substitutes? The answer is yes, according to new research funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. It found the imitation meats to be a good source…  read on >  read on >