Author: News Room

6 min readIt’s easy to assume that you’ve got your hydration needs covered when you tote a water bottle around with you all day. But there’s a big difference between having water on-hand and drinking enough to meet your body’s needs.The signs of dehydration can be subtle, making it important to at least be aware of them. After all, not being hydrated enough can have a big impact on your health—and no one is off-limits. “Anyone can suffer from dehydration, but certain people are more likely to have problems from it,” says Nicole McAllister, D.O., an emergency room physician at…

4 min readFeeling so stuffed up that you need to keep a stash of tissues in your pocket can be more than a little annoying, especially if you can’t figure out what’s behind your congestion. If you’re not sick and you don’t have allergies, what’s going on? Well, it turns out that there are a handful of surprising reasons you’re congested, some of which are more obvious than others.Meet the expert: Gerald B. Lee, M.D., an assistant professor of allergy and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine.Here, an allergy and immunology specialist explains the other possible causes behind your…

7 min readTart cherry juice has gone viral as the main ingredient in the “sleepy girl mocktail,” a homemade drink that many people swear helps them get a good night’s sleep. But that’s just the beginning when it comes to this eye-catching sipper. Below, dietitians explain the potential health benefits of tart cherry juice. “Among the most promising are improvements in sleep quality, exercise recovery, heart health, cognitive function, and inflammation,” explains Jennifer Pallian, R.D., founder of Foodess. “However, while the findings are encouraging, larger and longer-term clinical trials are still needed to confirm many of these effects.”Meet the experts:…

4 min readIf you’ve recently added more beans, berries, or whole grains to your plate, your gut probably let you know. Maybe you noticed you were more regular. Or maybe, if you jumped in too fast, you dealt with a day or two of gas. That’s all normal. Eating more fiber is one of the simplest diet shifts you can make, and your digestive system tends to respond quickly and noticeably. As a registered dietitian, here’s what actually happens to your gut when you eat more fiber, starting with what you’ll feel first and then moving into the science underneath…

2 min readDenise Austin shared a series of standing ab exercises on Instagram.If you’re looking to “target your tummy” without doing crunches, these moves are perfect for you.Here’s how to do Austin’s workout.Want to strengthen your core, but hate doing crunches? Not to worry: Denise Austin has you covered. The longtime fitness pro recently took to Instagram to share a quick and easy ab workout, made up entirely of standing moves.“These fun standing exercises are a wonderful way to work your core, improve your balance, and boost your energy… no floor required!” Austin wrote in the caption. “Remember… strong ABS…

2 min readKey PointsThe FDA has issued a report warning the public that some dabigatran etexilate capsules have been recalled.Dabigatran, also known by the brand name Pradaxa, is a prescription blood thinner.Here’s how to tell if your medication is included in the recall.If you take an anticoagulant—a class of medications popularly known as “blood thinners”—you may want to check your medicine cabinet. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a report warning that some dabigatran capsules have been recalled nationwide.Dabigatran, commonly known by the brand name Pradaxa, is commonly used to reduce the risk of stroke and blood clots,…

4 min readAs a registered dietitian, one of the questions I hear most often goes something like this: “I’ve cut back on butter and red meat, so why is my cholesterol still off?” More often than people expect, the answer has less to do with fat and more to do with carbohydrates. So, what exactly happens to your cholesterol when you eat carbs?The answer surprises a lot of folks. We’ve been trained to think of cholesterol as a fat problem. But the food you eat, including carbs, gets broken down and reshaped by your body in ways that can nudge…

5 min readKey PointsNew research suggests that eating within a certain window of time can support cognitive health as you age.The findings are from a preliminary study. Doctors say there are likely a few factors driving this.We all know that what you eat can affect your overall health—but new research suggests that when you eat might have an impact, too.The study, which was presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s annual meeting, found that limiting food intake to a specific schedule might help keep your mind sharp as you age. The researchers enrolled 47 postmenopausal women classified as overweight or…

5 min readYou know those types of nights when you’re bone-tired, but as soon as your head hits the pillow, your brain starts buzzing and you’re wide awake. Spending too much time trying to fall asleep feels super frustrating—if only there were a better way to wind down!You might not be able to summon those ZZZs with a snap of your fingers, but there actually is one trick that sleep experts say deserves a spot in your bedtime routine: a quick pre-sleep stretch session.“Gentle stretching of the neck, shoulders, back, hips, and legs can help slow the body down before…

6 min readAs you get older, it can be tempting to accept that new aches, pains, fatigue, or other health changes are just a natural part of aging. But do they have to be? If you were to start eating some of the world’s healthiest foods, for instance, could you eliminate some of these age-related ailments?This is the question internal medicine physician Steven Bowers, D.O., and his wife Elizabeth Shimer Bowers wanted to answer when writing their book Secrets of the World’s Healthiest People. So they tracked down healthy people in their eighth, ninth, and tenth decades of life to…