Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees: Which Is Better?
The holiday season is fast approaching and soon we will be decorating the Christmas tree — an exciting tradition for many families. When you dress your tree with the ornaments you've collected over the years, are you jazzing up an artificial or real tree? Just as processed foods are often purchased based on convenience, the same is true for artificial...
A Daily Handful of Walnuts May Decrease Diabetes Risk, Possibly Obesity Too
Walnuts serve up a wealth of nutritional benefits that your body can use for fuel all day long. And it turns out, a daily handful of walnuts may actually decrease your risk for diabetes, according to recent research published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care (2015). Researchers at Yale University Prevention Research Center and Griffin Hospital in Connecticut...
Are Microplastics in Your Sea Salt?
Substituting table salt for sea salt offers a wide variety of health benefits. Sea salt has been found to strengthen your immune system, decrease asthma symptoms, increase heart health and decrease your risk for developing diabetes, among other benefits. But a recent study has found that sea salt, specifically sea salt from China, may contain microplastics that could be...
Are Americans Pill-Popping Addicts?
A new study published on November 3 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) uncovered America’s insatiable use of prescription drugs. The study’s lead researcher Elizabeth D. Cantor, PhD, and colleagues examined data collected by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in order to better understand the reasons for the increase in U.S. prescription drug...
5 Foods That Work as Well as Over-the-Counter Drugs
We all know that natural foods like vegetables, fruits and healthy fats contain beneficial nutrients that build up the body’s systems and work to promote overall health, but did you know that some foods also have specific health benefits? Research suggests that for many of life’s minor aches and pains, “food medicine” can be just as beneficial as over-the-counter...
Podcast Episode #19: A Practical Discussion on Guns, Why Tilapia Is the WORST Fish Ever
After reviewing the results of the Official Alternative Daily Presidential Poll, it’s clear that our readers are interested in News, Current Events and even Politics. One of the questions that was split right down the middle was the issue of gun control. So we took on the uncomfortable task of tackling this polarizing discussion. This is a very divisive issue...
The North Face Founder Douglas Tompkins Dies in Kayaking Accident in Patagonia
The founder of outdoor adventure brand The North Face and Esprit clothing company, Douglas Tompkins, has died in a kayaking accident in Chile. Tompkins, 72, was a longtime ecological and environmental activist, as well as a successful businessman. On Tuesday, December 8, Tompkins succumbed to hypothermia after a kayaking accident in Patagonia, a place he loved and sought to...
80 Boston College Students Sickened by Chipotle Foodborne Illness Outbreak
The latest Chipotle foodborne illness outbreak has sickened roughly 80 Boston College students, including members of the men’s basketball team, according to Boston College (BC) Health Services. A health notification issued Tuesday by BC Health Services stated that all 80 of the affected Boston College students ate at the Chipotle in Cleveland Circle, Boston over the weekend. “The number of...
Two Sweetened Drinks Daily May Significantly Increase Your Risk of Heart Failure
Sweetened beverages are omnipresent in our daily lives. It is almost impossible to even buy something as uncomplicated as orange juice without acquiring a sugar rush of epic proportions shortly after. Soda, juice, sports drinks, and overly creative lattes at your local coffee shop all offer up a considerable dose of sugar. Even if you have serious cravings for...
10 Healthy Food Splurges Worth the Price
The food you purchase is vital to your health and wellness. Making smart choices at the grocery store will assist you in being the happiest and healthiest you, but health smart decisions often come with a higher price tag. Being a healthful food shopper means knowing what to buy, while also understanding the balance between quality and price. Unfortunately, sometimes...
