As scientists look more deeply into the effects of diet on health, they’re finding that more and more everyday foods offer benefits that go well beyond making dishes tastier. Garlic, an ingredient found in almost every type of cuisine, is emerging as one such superfood. Part of the allium family, which includes onions and leeks,… read on >
Deciding to have weight-loss surgery is tough enough, but then you have to choose between several procedures — each with different risks and potential weight loss. So how do you decide which one is best for you? New research that compares three types of weight-loss surgery in more than 46,000 patients may help. The three… read on >
Unhealthy gums can be swollen, red and painful. Common triggers for this condition include improper dental care, malnutrition, poorly fitted dentures or side effects of certain medications. The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests ways to help prevent swollen gums: Eat a balanced diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables. Avoid foods that… read on >
Diabetes is a formidable foe that can tax the bodies and the spirits of people diagnosed with the blood sugar disease. But a plant-based diet may help boost the physical and the mental health of unhappy people with type 2 diabetes, a new evidence review reports. Diabetics who switched to a plant-based diet tended to… read on >
Giving trace amounts of wheat to children with wheat allergy shows promise in treating the allergy, according to new research. The researchers started with 46 wheat-allergic children, average age about 9 years, and gave them trace amounts of wheat. The researchers gradually increased the amount, to desensitize the children to wheat. This process is called… read on >
It’s the most frustrating part of dieting: Regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose. It helps to understand why this happens so you won’t blame yourself as you get back on track. Many hormones that regulate body weight and rule your appetite seem to go haywire after weight loss, possibly because the body… read on >
Vitamin D helps build strong bones, regulate the immune system and ward off illness. It also helps maintain blood calcium levels and regulate calcium and phosphorous, which are crucial to keeping bones and teeth firm, the Arthritis Foundation says. People with arthritis who take oral corticosteroids are at greater risk of being vitamin D deficient,… read on >
Colorful or unusual-looking contact lenses are popular at Halloween, but they could harm your eyes, vision experts warn. “Decorative contact lenses may seem like a fun costume accessory, but if you’re not careful, they can cause serious eye and vision problems,” said Samuel Pierce, president of the American Optometric Association (AOA). “Many people mistakenly believe… read on >
Obese patients in need of a kidney transplant may find themselves denied one because of their weight, but a new study says that shouldn’t happen in all cases. Researchers have found that kidneys given to obese patients fared as well as those transplanted into normal-weight patients. In addition, no difference was seen in patient survival,… read on >
Though the term “functional foods” currently has no legal definition, it’s more than just a clever marketing catchphrase. According to health organizations like the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, these are foods that go beyond providing calories and basic nutrition to actually improving your health. They can be whole foods in their natural state or… read on >
