2013
Hiccups Explained
Everyone has had hiccups at one time or another. The ability to hiccup begins at a very early age. Fetuses of less than 28 weeks have been shown to hiccup, and this ability continues throughout childhood and into old age. It is believed to be one of the evolutionary remnants
What Are “Alkaline Water Products” and Do They Provide any Real Health Benefits?
So-called “alkaline” water products are being promoted by their manufacturers and some health gurus as the answer to health problems ranging from indigestion to cancer. They claim that those with high body acidity are at an increased risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones, among other medical problems, and an alkaline
What’s Inside the Average American Medicine Cabinet? And What Should Be.
Take a look inside the average American’s medicine cabinet and you are likely to find out-of-date prescription medications, half-used bottles of lotion, some painkillers and a box of Band-Aids. Some of these are useful, and some should have been disposed of long ago. Along with the annual maintenance that you
Top 7 Exercises for More Core Muscle Strength
Sitting for long periods of time has a detrimental effect on our “core” muscle strength. These are the muscles responsible for keeping us upright and allowing us to twist and bend without falling over. It is important to keep these muscles strengthened in order to avoid chronic low back pain
Superfoods: Science or Marketing?
There is no medical definition for a “superfood”. Food manufacturers are eager to use the word to promote sales of their products that contain traces of supposed superfoods such as blueberries, pomegranates and chocolate. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a superfood as “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial
How Much Sleep is Too Much?
We all know how important it is to get a good night’s sleep and the detrimental effect on our health if we get too little of it. However, it is also possible to get too much sleep, and this may be even worse than getting too little. Sleeping too much
What Are Blood Clots and When Are They Dangerous?
The ability for blood to clot evolved as a mechanism for keeping us from bleeding to death when we receive minor injuries. People with the genetic condition hemophilia lack the substance in their blood that spurs it to clot. This can lead to death at a young age due to
Inside the Teenage Brain
If you have ever wondered why the teenage years are so difficult for parents (and often the teens themselves) you need look no further than their brain. The brain undergoes rapid and profound development during the teen years, much more so than during most of childhood. It is a time
Keys to Safer Painting—Products and Practices
Nothing cheers up a room like a new coat of paint, but it is important to keep in mind that paint can release harmful chemicals into the air you and your family breathe. Many of these chemicals have been shown to have detrimental effects on health. Luckily, we have come
Dieting in the U.S.—A Statistical Snapshot of What Works and What Doesn’t
If there is one thing that Americans are obsessed with, it’s dieting. Just turn on any television and you are bombarded with ads for weight loss drinks, programs and foods that are guaranteed to have you looking slim and trim in a matter of weeks. But given the enormous amount
