On April 11th, the California Assembly’s Committee on Health approved a bill to ban five chemical food ingredients: brominated vegetable oil, potassium bromate, propylparaben, Red Dye No. 3, and titanium dioxide. In the United States, these are found in candy, cereals, and many other common foods on grocery store shelves. They’ve been banned because of...
The cocklebur plant is a weed that is often found in the wild. It’s known for its spiny, burr-like seeds, which attach themselves to clothing and fur so that they can be carried away by animals. The plants are native to North America, although they can be found worldwide. These plants are just annoying weeds,...
In North America, it can sometimes feel like there’s some kind of dollar store on every block. Whether it’s a Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Family Dollar, or otherwise – they’re everywhere. Beyond the environmental issues of buying cheap, throwaway goods, new research shows that many items in dollar stores are full of potentially toxic chemicals....
Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that produces hormones that regulate many important body functions. The hormones produced by your thyroid include thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and calcitonin. When these hormones are out of balance, you will develop thyroid disease. According to the American Thyroid Association, an estimated 20 million Americans have...
Eating heavy meals can trigger heart attacks. An older but relevant study published by the American Heart Association found that people who eat a large meal after their main meal have a higher risk of having a heart attack than those who do not eat a large second meal. The researchers concluded that eating too...
Vitamin A is an essential vitamin that helps keep your immune system healthy and protects your vision. It’s also needed to maintain healthy skin, teeth, and bones. In rare cases, too much vitamin A can be dangerous. This is everything you need to know about vitamin A toxicity. What is Vitamin A? Why do we...
Getting adequate sleep is crucial for overall health and well-being. Despite sleep’s importance, many of us still struggle to have consistent, high-quality shut-eye. One of the key factors that contribute to a good night’s sleep is a well-balanced diet. Certain foods have been shown to have sleep-enhancing properties, while others may hinder the quality of...
Let’s be honest: Women were not given an easy lot in life. Often before we’re even teenagers we have to learn to cope with painful periods, accompanied by massive changes in the structure and function of our bodies. We sacrifice our bodies and temporarily our careers to have a child, spend years dealing with wildly...
Do you ever think while flying through another busy day, walking down your noisy street, or cleaning up the rooms in your home that you rarely use: “Wouldn’t it be great if life were a little simpler, quieter, and serene?” While for most of us this is just a dream, this couple in Finland has...
When you’ve got a nagging headache or your neck hurts after a wonky night’s sleep, what’s the first thing you do? For many of us, it’s to go to the medicine cabinet for something such as an ibuprofen. Unfortunately, this might not be our best choice. Anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids, commonly used to alleviate pain,...
Tapeworms are a type of intestinal parasite that can cause mild symptoms or sometimes no symptoms at all. These parasites can lead to various complications if left untreated. In this article, we will explore what tapeworms are, how one can get infected, common symptoms of tapeworm infestation, rare complications associated with tapeworms, available treatment options,...
Muscle cramps or spasms can be a painful and uncomfortable experience. These involuntary contractions can happen to any muscle in the body, but are most commonly experienced in the legs, feet, and abdomen. While there are various medications available to alleviate muscle cramps, there are also natural muscle relaxers that can provide relief without any...
