“killer” fungus threat overblown
A little study out last week used the words “hypervirulent” and “infection”together and created a...
cholesterol: it’s not just about fat anymore
Want to lower your cholesterol? It’s not about the fat. Turns out sugar — added to processed foods...
Vitamin D may slow cognitive decline
Researchers have found a new ally in the effort to maintain memories with advancing age: Two new...
what exactly is “natural” flavoring?
If you’re a label reader, you may have taken comfort in the word “natural” that sometimes appears...
Hunger and obesity combine as “Bronx Paradox”
The French Paradox considers that rich French foods don’t translate into fat French people. The...
do sugary sodas cause pancreatic cancer?
You know that sugary sodas aren’t healthy, but are they really that bad? A 2010 study reported in...
animals and the pharmaceutical industry
Many folks have deep concerns about animals, and often work selflessly and tirelessly to support...
fear not the flower
It’s that season again, when a young plant’s thoughts turn to pollen — making an estimated 60 million people in the United States miserable.
While farmers and gardeners have greater exposure to seasonal allergens, they also have great tools to prevent and treat its symptoms: fruits, vegetables and medicinal plants.
If you know of seasonal trigger for your allergies, approach that season like an athlete preparing for a big sporting event by getting into shape. Starting four to six weeks ahead of the season with your garden’s tools can make a big difference when the pollen strikes.
herb and garden book roundup
At the end of a talk I gave the other day about gardening with medicinal plants, a lovely woman...
the happy heart prescription
Happiness is good for the heart metaphorically, but science shows it’s true physically as well....
why grandpa really loved rye bread
Finnish researchers have uncovered grandpa’s secret: Turns out that rye bread is nature’s great...
singing past a stroke
The brain is a source of endless fascination to the minds of scientists, and researchers have now...
placebo blues
There’s big money in medications for depression, and drugs such as Prozac and Wellbutrin help many...
third-hand smoke
You know the smell that's left on clothes, furniture and hair after being around cigarettes? Turns...
Bisphenol A linked to reduced male fertility
Bisphenol A (BPA), a common chemical used in polycarbonate plastics and often found in the lining...
cell phone warnings
Cell phones are now indispensable to many people around the world, but are they endangering your...
fish as brain food
You've always heard that fish is brain food. Now, a growing body of research is supporting that...
the scoop on radon
Radon, common in Portland basements and homes, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Here are resources to learn more about radon — and protect yourself from its harmful effects.