Women who use a breast pump should make sure the device is well cleaned to prevent contamination. Breast pumps are regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency suggests how to clean the device: As soon as possible after pumping, wash each piece separately using liquid dishwashing soap and plenty of warm water.…  read on >

If you’re 65 or older, your immune system probably is weaker than when you were younger, and you’re at higher risk of contracting foodborne illness. The foodsafety.gov website cites these specific changes among older people: The gastrointestinal tract holds on to food longer, affording more time for bacteria to grow. The liver and kidneys may…  read on >

Holiday overeating can harm your kidneys, a kidney expert warns. “The body absorbs nutrients from the gut and then the liver metabolizes them. Whatever is left that can’t be used by the body is excreted by the kidneys,” Dr. Sreedhar Mandayam, a specialist in nephrology at Baylor College of Medicine, said in a college news…  read on >

People with diabetes can have a healthy and safe Thanksgiving dinner if they follow certain guidelines, a diabetes expert says. The keys are pre-planning and moderation, according to Dr. Vanessa Arguello. She is a health sciences clinical instructor in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles.…  read on >

What if you could have your cake, eat it, too, and lose weight? A nutritional fad called CICO — short for “Calories In, Calories Out” — promises just that for those looking to shed some pounds. The pitch is straightforward: Eat whatever you want, junk food included, and still shrink your waistline — as long…  read on >

Though foodborne illness can put a quick end to Thanksgiving festivities, that need not be the case, food safety experts say. That’s because ensuring that homemade holiday meals are not only delicious but germ-free is within the grasp of not just experienced chefs, but rookie cooks as well. Food safety starts while you’re grocery shopping…  read on >

HealthDay News) — Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder that’s triggered by the misperception that a person is overweight. This causes the person to eat less, triggering dangerous weight loss. People tend to develop anorexia in their teens or young adulthood. It is more common among females. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services…  read on >

Working up a good sweat when you exercise lets you know you’re working hard, but it’s also a sign that you’re losing water — water that needs to be replaced. Water not only regulates your body temperature, it also helps lubricate joints and transport nutrients. If you’re not properly hydrated, you won’t be able to…  read on >

Teens who abuse prescription drugs, like opioid painkillers, are prone to initiating or being victims of dating violence, a new study finds. In a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 teenagers who had dated in the past year, the researchers found that non-medical use of prescription drugs by boys was associated with sexual dating violence.…  read on >

Women who are overweight or obese may need to be screened for breast cancer more frequently, new Swedish research suggests. The reason? Overweight or obese women are at greater risk of having breast cancer detected after the tumor has grown large — over 2 centimeters — than their slimmer counterparts, the study found. Heavier women…  read on >