It’s not uncommon to have a late-night dinner (or snack) right before hitting the hay. But according to a new study conducted by Northwestern University, cutting yourself off approximately three hours before bed can actually improve your cardiovascular health over time. “Among middle-aged and older adults who are at higher risk for cardiometabolic disease, extending the participants’ overnight fast by about two hours, dimming the lights, and not eating for three hours prior t

When was the last time you tried something new? The idea might sound scary, but novel experiences can do wonders for your personal growth. It can also challenge you—in a good way!—and help you learn about your thoughts, strengths, habits, and emotions. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with familiar experiences, like regularly visiting a coffee shop or cooking certain meals. Such habits can establish routines and make us feel safe. But there’s also value in switching

Why It Happens It’s normal to have some gas. Each day, most people make 1 to 3 pints of it as we digest our food. It escapes 14 to 23 times a day, one way or the other. But if the gas can’t easily get out, you may feel uncomfortable and bloated. Two Sources The gas inside you builds up two ways. Some of it starts as air that you swallow along with your food. Most of that goes away when you burp, but a little flows on into you. Your large intestine makes the rest of the gas as

If you have symptoms such as severe increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger, and tingling in your hands or feet, your doctor may run a test for diabetes. According to the CDC, some 38 million children and adults in the U.S., or over 11% of the population, have diabetes today. Yet, millions of Americans are unaware that they have diabetes because they may not have symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, your doctor will or

As we grow older, fighting off belly fat can feel like an impossible mission. In the years following menopause, fat tends to migrate from the thighs to the belly. In both sexes, more fat accumulates around our middles with each passing decade, according to a study of more than 10,000 people. That accumulation can eventually put you at higher risk for serious health problems. As more fat surrounds internal organs like the liver and heart, the likelihood of developing chronic h

Swelling occurs whenever the organs, skin, or other parts of your body enlarge. It’s typically the result of inflammation or a buildup of fluid. Swelling can occur internally, or it can affect your outer skin and muscles. A range of conditions can cause swelling. Insect bites, illnesses, and injuries often result in external swelling. Internal swelling is often a side effect of a medication or the result of organ dysfunction or serious injury. You should seek immediate medica

When it comes to controversial foods, dairy is often near the top of the list, especially with the specific recommendation of whole milk and other full-fat dairy products in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans . Full-fat dairy is a source of saturated fat, a nutrient known to have adverse effects on heart health when consumed in excess, so many people are confused by the new recommendations to prioritize it. 1. Your Blood Fats May Rise Research shows that foods hig

Lower back pain affects millions of people each year, but some treatment options, like working with personal trainers or using specialized equipment for exercise, are not always accessible or affordable. A recent study in Australia found that walking, a free and accessible exercise, can help reduce lower back pain recurrence. “The nice thing about walking is that everybody knows how to do it. People can do it in any location or any place. It’s not difficult to teach anybody

Eating a satisfying and nourishing meal in the morning sets you up for a healthy day. And many of us prefer to spoon into a bowl of cereal for breakfast because it’s a quick, filling and delicious choice. So much so, that nearly 300 million Americans eat cereal each day. A healthy box of cereal can help older adults meet their overall nutritional needs. Unfortunately, many of the eye-catching packages in the cereal aisle are low in nutrition and big on sugar and additives — m

Glyphosate is an ingredient found in several herbicide products, including those from a major brand that has been in the news for settling a lawsuit around glyphosate’s potential link to cancer. Recent research links glyphosate to Hodgkin’s lymphoma and raises questions about the ingredient’s carcinogenic properties, however, more research is still needed. What is glyphosate? Glyphosate is an herbicide that’s widespread in the environment. “It was initially registered as an

The fact that we now have medications to treat everything from everyday infections to cardiovascular conditions is nothing short of miraculous. At the same time, ongoing research has revealed that some of these drugs may have unexpected effects on the body. So what is the number-one medication that impacts your gut microbiome? When we asked gastroenterologists which medication impacts the gut the most, they had the same answer: Antibiotics , which are used to treat bacterial

We get it: Absolutely no one wants cancer or even wants to think about getting cancer. The good news is that we’ve come a long way in treatment and prognoses for many types of cancer, especially when doctors catch them early , thanks to research and modern medicine. Yet, despite all we’ve learned about the disease, there are still a bunch of things we don’t know. “We are still trying to figure out risk factors for many types of cancer,” states Dr. David Yashar, MD , a hemato

For the last century, heart disease has sat atop the list as the most common cause of death among U.S. adults. And symptoms often start with something other than the severe or sudden chest pain that signals a heart attack . “Heart disease remains the leading cause of death, yet many people either don’t recognize early warning signs or misinterpret them as something minor,” says Dr. Tina Shah, MD , a cardiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Seattle. “The sooner symptoms are ident

The Department of Health and Human Services announced new resources to make drug abuse treatment more affordable and accessible for families at risk of entering the foster care system. HHS’ Administration for Children and Families will announce that three Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for Opioid Use Disorder meet eligibility criteria for Title IV-E, a federal funding program supporting families involved with the child welfare system. The agency says expand

Republicans can “win big” in midterm elections if they “unwrap the gift of MAHA” that President Donald Trump has handed them, according to a new memo from Tony Lyons, president of MAHA Action. Four to six percent of former non-Trump voters cited the “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, movement in explaining their decision to switch their support to him and the Republican Party in 2024, according to Trump’s go-to pollster, Tony Fabrizio. But the Republican Party is just “re