Diabetes is a serious disease that affects the body's ability to properly handle glucose, or sugar, in the blood. In type 1 diabetes, the body is unable to produce any insulin -- the hormone responsible for ushering sugar from the blood into the cells where it can be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, the body can make insulin...

The holiday season is an especially problematic time when it comes to maintaining a healthy weight, simply because many holiday traditions in themselves are unhealthy. People tend to gorge themselves on foods that are high in saturated fats and sugar, while at the same time taking a break from regular routines and becoming more sedentary. Each year, the average individual...

Glucose, or sugar, is the body's primary source of fuel. Insulin is responsible for moving this sugar into your cells so it can be used as energy. Not only do people with type 2 diabetes have a limited ability to process glucose, they also often exhibit a resistance to insulin, exacerbating the problem and contributing to uncontrolled higher-than-normal blood sugar levels. Alternatively...

Colorectal cancer amounts for about 700,000 deaths worldwide. Could taking a daily dose of a certain supplements offer protection while also promoting stronger brain and heart health? A new study from the UK called the 2018 seAFOod Trial that discovered a link between aspirin, omega-3 and colon cancer supports this theory. Colon Cancer, Polyps, and Pre-cancerous Conditions The National Cancer Institute anticipates over 140,000 new...

The holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy, happiness and goodwill. However, the often unrealistic demands that accompany it can make it tough to keep the holiday spirit alive, fostering stress -- and even depression -- instead. Holiday stress can become overwhelming; when you feel it creeping in, it's a good idea to stop, regroup and reset...

The black pepper plant produces a unique fruit that is harvested and used to create black pepper, a substance used all over the world daily. In fact, many people add black pepper to their foods so frequently that they don't even think about it. This has made it one of the most valued spices in the world for generations. After harvesting, the...

Many people associate melatonin with sleep -- with good reason. Helping to regulate and maintain the circadian rhythm appears to be the most important and best-known role of this pineal gland hormone. However, melatonin also plays a variety of other important roles in the human body. According to recent studies on melatonin and fertility, it may play a very important...

Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks, of family and, most of all, of tradition. Although every American family has a unique way of celebrating this fall festival, most traditions have two things in common: turkey and rest. This has led to a widespread belief that turkey, or more precisely, tryptophan, an amino acid that turkey contains in large proportions...

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...