Over 200 million Americans use mouthwash. Most of us likely use it to freshen our breath, but it also reduces plaque build up on our teeth, removes food particles that may be trapped in our mouth, and helps prevent cavities. Recent research has pointed to some disconcerting evidence about how mouthwash negatively influences our health. Let’s review the research on the subject and the facts you need to know to make a sound decision for yourself. Claim: Blood pressure increases with regular mouthwash use. A Swedish study recently found that rinsing your mouth twice daily with mouthwash increases... Read More

Recently, a friend of mine posted on social media that he was considering a plant-based diet to reduce his risk of heart disease.  What does that means for those of us who are omnivores – eaters of food that are of both plant and animal origin? Is it necessary to eschew animal protein to have a healthy heart? Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, among others, has been an outspoken critic of both America’s obsession with healthy eating and American food policy.  In 2009, Mr. Pollan spoke to a room full of CDC scientists about how and why... Read More

On a recent trip to visit my family, I brought home an unwelcome souvenir–chigger bites.  Chiggers are mites, but they have many nicknames like harvest mites, harvest bugs, harvest lice, mower’s mites, or red bugs. Technically chiggers are arachnids, in the same family as spiders and ticks. Since I haven’t experienced chigger bites since I was young, I had forgotten how heinous those bites can be.  I want to share my experience with you, so you can avoid a week-long itch fest if you get chigger bites. Where chiggers reside. Chiggers live in every country. Their favorite spots are... Read More

Winter is not a fun time to date.  On the coldest of days you might not feel like going anywhere or doing anything.  You’re bundled up in your warmest, perhaps least sexy-feeling clothes and have hat hair.  So how do you break out of the winter dating funk? Here are some tips to make your winter dating experience a little brighter. Tell your friends.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those who love you. There’s a feeling of trust that comes from meeting your friends’ friends. It can be scary to tell people that you’re looking for love, but 39% of people report meeting their mate... Read More

Do you ever experience ringing, buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, or clicking in your ears?  You might have tinnitus. Tinnitus is the perception of sound when no actual external noise is present. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 15% of the general public — over 50 million Americans — experience some form of tinnitus. There are two types of tinnitus: Subjective tinnitus is usually traceable to auditory and neurological reactions to hearing loss, but can also be caused by an array of other catalysts. More than 99% of all tinnitus reported tinnitus cases are of... Read More

A new survey finds that the U.S. is just the 18th happiest country in the world, because of poor health, poor economic mobility, and a lack of social cohesion.  In each of more than 150 countries surveyed, Gallup asked 3,000 respondents to assess their life on a scale of 1 to 10. The top rung (10) means they are living the best possible life; the bottom means the worst. Americans give an average rung-number of 6.8, while the top four countries all score more than 7.5. There are many reasons why we might not be happy. Social media, while giving the illusion of connectedness actually makes us more... Read More

Life is full of hardships – grief, break ups, addiction – all times we might think about therapy.  You may be surprised to know the best time to get therapy is when your life is going well. There’s a stigma that therapy is only for people suffering a mental illness or going through a massive interpersonal issue. Therapy’s benefits extend far beyond periods of crisis.  Most people want to be more than ‘not depressed.’ They want to be  happy, productive, loving; they want to be well, not just free of dis-ease. Achieving your full potential requires a heck of a lot of self-knowledge,... Read More

Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Not only does it give you energy to start a new day, but breakfast is linked to many health benefits, including weight control and improved performance. Studies show that eating a healthy breakfast can give you: A more nutritionally complete diet, higher in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals Improved concentration and performance in the classroom or the boardroom More strength and endurance to engage in physical activity Lower cholesterol In general, breakfast eaters are leaner, more energetic and have a better memory than non-breakfast... Read More

Sugar is everywhere, almost impossible to avoid.  It’s in foods like bread, pasta sauce, salad dressing, and ketchup. It can be challenging to find sugar in your food because nutrition labels are not required to list all sugar.  In 2018, nutrition labels will be required to call out all added sugar but, in the meantime, you’ll have to do some sugar sleuthing to manage your sugar intake. The Institute of Medicine has made recommendations for sugar intake.  Since sugar isn’t a required nutrient in the diet, the institute has not issued a recommended dietary allowance, but does suggest... Read More

Hospitals around the country are using music therapy as a way to ease a patient’s pain, lower blood pressure, and reduce anxiety and depression, allowing patients to heal faster. Thirty-five percent of healthcare facilities in the US offer music, of some form, to their patients. An article in the journal, Pain Physician, indicates ​that music functions effectively to alleviate both chronic pain and related depression. In general, music was used in combination with other, more conventional pain treatments, rather than as a standalone substitute. Music that listeners find emotionally engaging... Read More