Oftentimes someone who has been diagnosed with an illness or chronic condition will say that it “just came out of nowhere.” And while it may certainly feel that way, many health problems develop gradually over time, influenced by a combination of genetics, lifestyle, environment, nutrition and other factors. One important piece of that puzzle is your immune system—and how many demands your body is asking it to handle at once. The more your body is...

  In addition to being my birth month, August is also National Wellness Month. While having a whole month dedicated to wellness sounds very positive and encouraging, I have to admit that I don’t see a whole lot of “wellness” going on around me. Everywhere I go, I see people struggling with their health—dealing with excess weight, low energy, aches and pains, limited mobility, shortness of breath or simply not feeling as vibrant as they’d...

If you went to the doctor complaining of a low mood and irritability, there could be a number of possible causes. Constipation? Again, plenty of possibilities. Headaches? Same story. But there’s one surprisingly simple factor that can contribute to all three—and it’s easy to overlook. I’m talking about dehydration. And especially during the hot summer months, you may be losing more water than you realize. Here’s what you need to know about dehydration, how to...

  What if I told you that the same hidden process may contribute to aging, heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, cataracts, arthritis, and many other chronic health concerns? It sounds unbelievable, but this "monster" lives inside every one of us. The good news? It's not always the bad guy. In fact, your body actually needs it. The trouble begins when it's allowed to get out of control for long periods...

  Despite spending more on healthcare than any other nation in the world, Americans are becoming sicker—not healthier. I'll cut right to the chase with some not-so-rosy statistics. Our current healthcare spending in the U.S. exceeds $5.3 trillion, yet chronic disease rates continue to climb. Half of all U.S. adults have high blood pressure. While that statistic increased after blood pressure guidelines were updated in 2017, it still doesn't fully explain why one out of...