Getting enough protein is important, especially as we get older. Not only is protein critical for all our cells to function properly, but it’s also essential for building and maintaining strong bones and muscles. There are other benefits to adding more protein to your daily meals, too. A higher-protein diet can help promote weight loss, keep you feeling fuller longer and improve blood sugar stability. But it isn’t always easy to eat enough of it. For most older adults, daily

Inflammation can help your body defend itself from infection and injury. But chronic inflammation can lead to disease. Stress, low activity levels, and foods that cause inflammation can increase this risk. For this reason, eating foods that can help reduce inflammation is strongly advisable. What are the top anti-inflammatory foods? Foods like fruits, vegetables, and spices contain anti-inflammatory compounds and may help reduce inflammation. The most anti-inflammatory foods

The sudden, urgent need to pee the moment you arrive home is a common phenomenon known as "latchkey incontinence." It is not a medical condition, but rather the combination of neurological (brain-related) and behavioral (conditioned) responses that allow you to hold it in until you are within reach of a toilet. How the Brain Controls Urination Urination is not a reflex—it's a carefully regulated process in which the brain constantly monitors how full your bladder is and decid

Fraud in government programs is often treated like an urban legend—something that happens in faraway blue cities run by corrupt political machines. But the truth is more unsettling: Some of the most brazen theft of taxpayer money is happening in places governed by Republicans, right under their noses. Consider Ohio. At one address in Columbus, investigators found 94 different companies registered in the same building. The windows were covered. The offices appeared empty. Yet,

While there are many healthy foods to choose from when grocery shopping, some are more nutrient-packed than others. These so-called superfoods are richer in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, offering maximum health benefits for minimal calories. They can include vegetables, fruits, grains, and more. So, what are the top superfoods worth adding to your grocery cart ASAP? According to Pollock Communications and Today's Dietitian's annual "What's Tre

Bananas are notoriously high in potassium, an electrolyte that’s important for fluid balance, nerve impulses and muscle contractions. It’s why they’re often handed out at the end of races, sports games or other high-traffic areas for a group of sweaty people. But bananas do more for the body than replenish electrolytes after working out. For example, bananas help support healthy blood pressure when eaten regularly because the potassium it contains helps the body get rid of e

Diabetes is one of the most common health conditions around the world and in the United States. About 11.6% of people in the United States live with the condition. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form you may have heard of, but you might be surprised by what you still don’t know. Ongoing research in recent years has improved diagnosis, treatment, and knowledge about type 2 diabetes, allowing for better prevention and management. We’ve partnered with Stelo by Dexcom to brin

Starting around age 60, your nutritional needs change. This happens for a number of reasons, and it’s important to make sure you’re tweaking your diet appropriately so that you get the nutrients you need. Why Nutrition Needs Change as You Age As people age, the body’s metabolic rate—how much energy the body uses—gradually changes. “A key contributor to the decrease in metabolic rate is a loss of muscle mass. Peak muscle mass is usually reached around the early to mid-thirties

It’s not often that something simple, cheap, science-backed and easily accessible trends on social media. Against the odds, #WaterTok is all the rage right now, and as a registered dietitian, I’m not mad about it. Yes, it annoys me that there are influencers trying to sell you expensive electrolyte powders that you don’t need. (Don’t even get me started on the fact that one of the most popular powders contains 1,000 milligrams of sodium, which is almost half the recommended d

The Bigger Picture You've probably heard to watch the amount of salt you eat, especially if you're concerned about your blood pressure. That's because it makes your body hold on to water, putting extra stress on your heart and blood vessels. Salt -- and worry, and anger -- aren't the only things that can raise your blood pressure. Although temporary "spikes" aren't necessarily a problem, numbers that remain high over time can cause serious damage. Added Sugar It may be even m

The abortion issue won’t go away, as so many politicians wish it would. It persists because the discussion and debate are about our very existence. What is life? The Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade, which has defined the abortion landscape in the United States since 1973. That landscape defined a right to abortion protected by the U.S. Constitution. Dobbs reversed this, concluding that the Constitution co

Stress Long-term stress floods your body with cortisol, a hormone that plays a part in your fight or flight system. In order to refuel your body after a stressful encounter, cortisol makes you want to eat more. If stress is a near-constant state for you, those cortisol levels stay up and keep you reaching for the snacks. Binge Eating Disorder (BED) Binge eating disorder (BED) is a category used in diagnosing eating disorders. It describes ongoing sessions of eating more food

You may fall asleep occasionally when you sit down if you don’t get enough high quality sleep. Falling asleep regularly when you sit down, however, may be a symptom of a sleeping condition that could require medical attention. Is falling asleep when sitting down a sign of a sleep disorder? Falling asleep regularly when you sit down may be a symptom of hypersomnia, a sleeping condition characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness. According to the United Kingdom’s National He

It’s natural for blood sugar to rise after eating. But if you are older or have diabetes or prediabetes, they can rise to a dangerous level that can damage your health over time. Making a habit of walking after dinner can make a huge difference. Why Blood Sugars Rise After Meals “What you eat sends [blood sugar] up, and then insulin gradually pushes it back down,” explains Daniel Cox, Ph.D. Cox is a University of Virginia professor researching the effectiveness of lifestyle c

Sugar often gets blamed for everything from weight gain to heart disease. But is it really the villain it’s made out to be? The answer isn’t simple. Sugar appears in many forms, and those distinctions matter for health, says Tara M. Schmidt, M.Ed., RDN, LD, a lead registered dietitian and instructor of nutrition at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Before deciding whether sugar is “bad,” it helps to understand where it comes from, how it’s used and what else comes with it. Comparing

Bathing Too Often Showering every day may be a habit, but unless you’re grimy or sweaty, you may not need to bathe more than a few times a week. Washing removes healthy oil and bacteria from your skin, so bathing too often could cause dry, itchy skin and allow bad bacteria to enter through cracked skin. When you expose your body to normal dirt and bacteria, it actually helps strengthen your immune system. Plus, showering too often wastes water. Still, make sure you are washin

Bread tends to be one of the first foods people eliminate from their diet when they're concerned about blood sugar management, but it doesn't have to be. The type of breads you eat, how they're made, and what you eat them with matters most for your blood sugar and overall health. 1. Sprouted Grain Bread Sprouted grain bread is made from whole grains that have started to sprout. This process breaks down some of the starch into compounds that are easier to digest, leading to a

When Assistant Secretary of Health Alex Adams led the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, he ended the state’s “orphan tax.” Now he is helping every other state do the same thing. “We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re gonna keep at this,” said Adams, who leads the Administration of Children and Families at the Department of Health and Human Services. “I think it’s morally wrong, and we’re gonna use every lever available to us.” When parents die before withdrawing their

One of the most powerful influences on how well you age may be how you feel about it. A recent study that tracked thousands of older adults for over a decade suggests that physical and cognitive improvement is indeed possible with age—and one factor stood out in predicting who might boost functioning over time: mindset. Participants with more positive views of aging were more likely to improve as they got older, researchers reported in the journal Geriatrics. A Deeper Look at

Take Care No matter what you've heard or how badly you want relief, talk with your doctor or pharmacist before trying any home remedy. This is even more important if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, because some can affect how drugs work. And keep in mind that many don’t have any research to back them up. Peppermint Mint has been used for hundreds of years as a health remedy. Peppermint oil might help with irritable bowel syndrome -- a long-term conditio

If you’ve ever wondered how often you should pee on a daily basis, you’re not alone. How often you urinate is actually an important sign of your overall health, beginning in infancy and continuing throughout your life. Keep reading to learn more about urination and when peeing frequently may signal that you need to visit your doctor. Urinary frequency and your health Urinating as much as seven times in 24 hours is considered typical, with most people urinating about six to se

You might want to drop the bacon, because it could be the reason behind your bad knees, recent research suggests. Ultraprocessed foods have been studied extensively for their negative health effects, and now a new study has linked them to an increased risk of arthritis in the knees. Foods in this category are designed for longer shelf life, strong flavor appeal and convenience. Common examples include breakfast cereals, bacon, hot dogs, pre-packaged snacks and sweets. "Over t

Swap your vitamin C supplements for nutrient-rich foods such as kiwi, tomatoes, and strawberries. These foods easily cover your daily vitamin C requirement while providing fiber and other essential nutrients. 1. Acerola Cherry Serving: 1/2 cup Vitamin C: 825 milligrams (mg) Daily value: 1,100% for women, 917% for men Acerola cherries, grown in some tropical regions, have the highest vitamin C content of any food, making them a natural vitamin C supplement. If you live in the

Over 62 million Americans — roughly 1 in 5 people — may be exposed to potentially dangerous levels of nitrates in their tap water, a new report has shown. A compound of nitrogen and oxygen found naturally in air, water, soil and plants, nitrates become a health risk when rainfall causes nitrogen-rich fertilizers used in agriculture to leach into groundwater, streams and rivers and end up in public water systems miles downstream. Invisible, tasteless and odorless, nitrates at