In the past year, scientists have examined how exercise alone has the power to alter the bacterial balance of the gut. Now, a group of researchers taking a poke at further unpacking the mechanisms behind how exercise affects gut bacteria have focused their research efforts on endurance exercise in particular. According to a new study, irrespective of changes to one’s...

Vitamins are essential for proper growth and optimal health. Despite this, our own bodies either can’t make them at all or can’t make enough of them, so we have to rely on getting sufficient amounts through our diets. Vitamins are a critical component of good health, yet despite a large body of evidence espousing their benefits, naysayers continue to look...

Found primarily in foods such as fatty fish, nuts, and leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids are an essential fat that boast a wide array of health benefits. Omega-3 consumption has been linked to more restful sleep, improved mental health, healthier aging and even higher IQs. This newest look into marine omega-3 and breast cancer adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that omega-3 fatty acids could play a pivotal role in...

Confused about the difference between probiotics and prebiotics and how they work together? Here, we will take a brief look at what probiotics and prebiotics are, break down the differences between these important digestive helpers and learn how increasing the prebiotics in your diet not only improves digestion but also supports immune function, promotes sleep, lowers stress and provides many...

While sitting down to a never-ending pasta bowl probably isn’t the healthiest interpretation, a growing body of research suggests that eating carbohydrates does come with some benefits. Low- and no-carb diets have become extremely popular weight loss methods, but could they be doing more long-term harm than good? New research suggests there could be a negative link between a low...

Treating depression is one of the biggest challenges facing the field of modern primary care. Although we have treatments that can help, a cure remains elusive for millions of people suffering from this health disorder. According to new research on 5-HTP and tryptophan for depression, a unique formulation combining fast-release 5-HTP and timed-release L-tryptophan may help more people to get...

While amazingly resilient to the effects of short-term stress, the human body simply can’t endure the constant assault produced by chronic stress for long periods of time. Long-term, unresolvable stress, whether it be job-related or otherwise, can eventually produce feelings of exhaustion, listlessness, inability to cope and even depression -- a condition dubbed "burnout" in the 1970s by psychologist Herbert...

All life under the sun possesses innate timing mechanisms that regulate crucial components for survival. In humans, a small part in the hypothalamus of the brain, the suprachiasmatic nucleus, oversees the individual clocks ticking away in every cell of the body. These biological rhythms dictate everything from cellular regeneration, hormone production and metabolic processes, to heart function, immunity and responses...

New studies indicate that even minor lifestyle changes increase heart health, providing hope that drastic changes aren't necessary to benefit the body. Study Proves Simple Lifestyle Changes Increase Heart Health A study conducted by researchers in North Carolina looked at how a 16-week lifestyle change would affect instances of hypertension. Their findings, which were disclosed at the American Heart Association's Joint Hypertension...

There are many benefits to eating healthy, but recent research has linked diet and skin health, indicating the foods we eat affect our skin. Your Dietary Practices May Influence the Condition of Your Skin Crash diets, also known as fad diets, do more harm than good for a number of reasons. Primarily, they represent temporary fixes to a long-term problem...