Why Sticking a Lit Candle in Your Ear is Not Such a Good Idea
Ear candling is a technique that involves placing a lit, hollow, cone-shaped candle into your ear canal, with the theory being that the heat from the flame will create suction that draws the earwax into the hollow candle. A person undergoing this procedure lies on his or her side, and a paper plate or other collection device is placed just...
Study: Omega-3 Molecule Shows Promise in Treating Type 2 Diabetes
Essential omega-3 fatty acids, found in fatty fish and flax seeds, among other food sources, have been shown by a large body of research to have potent anti-inflammatory properties, thus benefitting heart and brain health, and helping to reduce the risk of chronic illness. Now, a new study has singled out a molecule in omega-3's that may prove beneficial...
It’s Not Just the Bees: Pesticides Kill Birds, Too
Neonicotinoids, one of the most widely used classes of insecticides in the world, have been in the news lately due to their connection with colony collapse disorder (CCD), which has been wiping out adult bees in devastating numbers. Now, new research has found that neonicotinoids may deteriorate the populations of birds, as well. Last year, we reported on the European...
The 2 Real Factors in the Obesity Crisis
You've probably heard the statistics: over one-third of Americans, or 34.9 percent, are obese. The skyrocketing obesity problem has been one of the most discussed health topics in recent years, but what are the two main factors in this growing crisis? One is fairly obvious. We're eating too much junk, with access to cheap foods readily available in the form...
UCLA Researchers Develop Guidelines for Translation of Chinese Medical Texts
In response to more and more people in the Western world discovering and utilizing traditional Chinese remedies, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles Center for East-West Medicine have developed a set of guidelines for translating Chinese medical texts into English. While many Chinese herbs are embraced by Western naturopathic practitioners, and acupuncture is a relatively popular treatment,...
The Cholesterol Myth Debunked: It’s Not Butter’s Fault
Every 39 seconds, on average, someone in the United States dies of cardiovascular disease. The frightening epidemic of this condition in our country has many people scared - and for good reason. Many of us know at least one person who suffers from heart disease, and many families have been forever changed by the toll that this dreaded disease...
Stabilize Blood Pressure and 8 Other Reasons to Eat More Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper has been used for centuries throughout the world, particularly in China and the Americas, for culinary as well as medicinal purposes. It contains capsaicin, the compound which makes it spicy and also offers a number of therapeutic properties. If you don't have this fabulous spice in your kitchen cabinet, it's one you should definitely put at the...
Can Running Add Years to Your Life?
A new study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, revealed that runners may live an average of three years longer than those who don't run. What was even more interesting was that the 15-year study suggested that you can reap the same benefit even running at slow speeds for just minutes each day. Lead author, Dr....
Cheesecake Factory Earns ‘Reward’ for Serving Up the Unhealthiest Fare in America
The Cheesecake Factory, according to the watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest, is said to be serving up the unhealthiest food in the country. The eatery won the not-so-coveted award of the group's Xtreme Eating survey, revealing that three of America's nine most calorie-laden dishes on its list are served at Cheesecake Factory restaurants. For example, the...
Prenatal DDT Exposure Linked to Chronic Health Risks
Some readers viewing this headline may wonder why we're still reporting on DDT - after all, this insecticide has not been used in the US since the 1970s. However, even though it is now banned, this dangerous chemical compound continues to negatively affect our population's health. A new study performed at the University of California-Davis found a link between prenatal...
