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...

  According to the CDC, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States for more than a century. Despite incredible advances in testing, early detection, surgical procedures, and medications, cardiovascular disease continues to claim more lives than any other condition. Why? One major reason is that many adults are unknowingly increasing their risk through everyday habits. Some of these risk factors are obvious. Others may surprise you. Here are six...

  According to the CDC, nearly three out of four American adults are overweight or obese. It's safe to say there's no shortage of belly fat—but is all belly fat created equal? And what's really driving this epidemic of expanding waistlines? Is it simply that we're eating too much? Or is there more to it than that? Let's take a look at some of the biggest factors behind stubborn belly fat and, more importantly, what...