Having a “normal” cholesterol level in a society where it’s normal to die from a heart attack isn’t necessarily a good thing. “Consistent evidence” from a variety of sources “unequivocally establishes” that so-called bad LDL cholesterol causes atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease—strokes and heart attacks, our leading cause of death. This evidence base includes hundreds of studies involving millions of people. “Cholesterol is the cause of atherosclerosis,” the hardening of

What effects do fasting and a plant-based diet have on TBI and migraines? An uncontrolled and unpublished study purported to show a beneficial effect of fasting on migraine headaches, but fasting may be more likely to trigger a migraine than help it. In fact, “skipped meals are among the most consistently identified dietary triggers” of headaches in general. In a review of hundreds of fasts at the TrueNorth Health Center in California, the incidence of headache was nearly

Switch up your iron intake with these plant-based options. Key Points Many plant-based foods—including white beans, lentils, tofu, and spinach—are rich in iron, supporting oxygen transport, energy, and immune health. Since non-heme iron from plants isn’t absorbed as easily as heme iron from meat, pairing it with vitamin C-rich foods boosts absorption. Dietitians recommend combining iron-rich plant foods in creative ways—like lentil soups, tofu stir-fries, and chickpea pasta—t

Treat the underlying cause of chronic lifestyle diseases. It’s been said that more than 2,000 years ago, Hippocrates declared , “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” In actuality, it appears that he never actually said those words, but there’s “no doubt about the relevance of food…and its role in health and disease states” in his writings. Regardless, 2,000 years ago, disease was thought to arise from a bad sense of “humors,” as you can see here and at 0:32

Personally, I’m one of coconut oil’s biggest fans. I moisturize my face and hands with it, use it as a mild sunscreen, style my hair with it, swish my mouth with it, cook with it…and eat great spoonfuls of it straight out of the jar. Sometimes I worry that I might actually turn into coconut if I eat just one more dollop of the stuff. It might seem trivial, but I have no doubt that my life would be a whole lot less enjoyable without coconut oil. To me, it’s one of nature’s tru

Did you know that olive oil can boost your sex life and may also reduce wrinkles? There are a lot of outstanding olive oil benefits in and out of the kitchen that you may not be acquainted with. Extra-virgin olive oil has recently become a catalyst for research as part of the Mediterranean diet and is becoming widely known as a healthy alternative. But what else can olive oil do? Olive oil contains vitamins A, D, E and K, which are essential to your inner and outer health and

A few years ago, the lemon and cayenne diet was hugely popular with celebrities as a weight-loss “detox.” The diet consisted of lemon water sweetened with honey and spiced with cayenne pepper. In order to detox, it was recommended that this alone should be consumed for 10 days. The diet naturally led to rapid weight loss, but for most people, it had no long-term benefits. As with most diets, a less extreme approach is often more effective in the long run. The properties of ca

Key Takeaways It’s often the amount or dose of the supplement that can lead to an increase in inflammation. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is a supplement-free way to reduce inflammation. Always consult with your health care provider before starting a supplement to determine what’s right for you. Some dietary supplements are widely used to support health or reduce inflammation. However, not all supplements are suitable for everyone, especially if your goal is to lower infl

KEY POINTS Chronic inflammation can increase the risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease, diabetes and cancer. A nutritious diet, exercise and mindfulness may protect against inflammation. Healthy morning habits like yoga or a quiet cup of coffee or tea may help fight inflammation. Starting your day on the right foot sets the tone for the rest of your day. So, why not begin by helping your body fight off inflammation?  We hear a lot about the negative effects of inflamma

The use of bagged pre-shredded cheddar might come with some tradeoffs in your recipe. Few recipes in the North American culinary canon can’t be improved by the addition of cheese. It can bring a rich and creamy element to casseroles, burgers, and even apple pie . Knowing the right kind of cheese to use will guarantee you make the most of this cherished ingredient. And depending on the dish you're making, you might want to avoid using the bag of pre-shredded cheese in your fri