Does coffee sober you up?

We’ve all seen it on tv. A part in the show where someone suddenly runs for coffee in a bid to sober someone up. But does it actually work? It’s one of the most popular medical myths (yes, myths) out there, that drinking coffee will somehow make you sober. The truth is, no amount of coffee — black or otherwise — will make a drunk person sober. The only way… Read More »Does coffee sober you up?

What does low fat, light mean on a food label?

In an age where confusing food labels are enough to drive consumers crazy, they are still an important part of the food choices we make. That, and the fact they are a huge selling feature for manufacturers. A plain black and white label pasted over a tub of ice cream will not sell nearly as many (or as fast) as a tub of ice cream with a fancy color-filled label… Read More »What does low fat, light mean on a food label?

What are Moringa health benefits?

Many traditional grandmothers have insisted on having a Holy Basil (Tulsi) tree in the front yard and a Moringa in the back yard…and for good reason. Phytomedicines, such as Moringa oleifera, are believed to have many health benefits for their wide range of antibiotics, antioxidents and nutrients. Phytomedicines, which are traditional plant-based medicinal practices, are used for both therapeutic and preventative treatments over conventional drugs. Moringa oleifera is an Asian… Read More »What are Moringa health benefits?

The keto fad diet vs the real ketogenic diet

If you’re in the market for information on the keto diet for beginners, the first thing you should know is that this diet is not your typical “get rid of excess body fat diet”, but is a person-specific way of eating to help treat those with epilepsy. The protein-controlled diet was created in the 1920s as a way to treat epileptic seizures in people, mostly children, who did not respond… Read More »The keto fad diet vs the real ketogenic diet

Are powdered spices good for you, even expired?

A very common question is are powdered spices good for you? It makes sense since the US is not only the world’s largest spice importer, but also spice consumer averaging 3.7 pounds per person each year. Powdered spices are a staple in most kitchens and include everything from common spices like cinnamon to more ethnic spices like epazote, a ground leaf spice used in Mexican bean dishes. They can be… Read More »Are powdered spices good for you, even expired?

Does beer really cause a beer belly?

That infamous paunch that many like to blame on beer is often the butt of a joke when it comes to having a large stomach, but is beer really to blame? Does beer really cause a beer belly? Beer guzzlers around the globe may be happy to learn that beer in itself is not the cause of that large inflated stomach, but an excess of calories in general. While beer… Read More »Does beer really cause a beer belly?

Does Ginkgo Biloba help your memory?

Ginkgo Biloba is one of the oldest tree species in the world. This popular supplement in its dried green leaf form, is one of the top selling herbal medicines in capsule, tablets and liquid. People selling it claim the therapeutic properties of the plant include improved eye health and memory problems as well as treatment for blood disorders and enhancement of cardiovascular function by providing protection against oxidative cell damage… Read More »Does Ginkgo Biloba help your memory?

Does gum actually stay in your stomach for 7 years?

My grandmother told me that if I swallow my gum, it will stay in my stomach for seven years. I’ve never been sure if grandmother’s actually believe that or just enjoy the scare tactic on their grandkids. Either way we need to know, does gum actually stay in your stomach for 7 years? The simple answer is no. It does not. It may be passed through a little slower than… Read More »Does gum actually stay in your stomach for 7 years?

Is dairy really bad for you?

Just imagine where the world would be without ice cream, yogurt and world-class cheeses. These are part of what are considered dairy products that are enjoyed by millions each and every day, but are they good for us? Obliviously, not all dairy is considered equal since not all mammals are raised equally and not all milk processed the same. These are only some of the factors into the discrepancy, depending… Read More »Is dairy really bad for you?

What is colloidal silver good for?

That truly depends on who you ask. Holistic therapists will tell you that colloidal silver can cure a host of diseases from cancer and diabetes to arthritis, HIV/AIDS, herpes and even tuberculosis. The medical community, along with the US Federal Drug Association and Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, agree those claims are unfounded and that colloidal silver has no place in the human body. So let’s start somewhere in the middle… Read More »What is colloidal silver good for?

What should you do if you’re stung by a jellyfish?

Are you supposed to pee on a jelllyfish sting? I think we’ve all seen that show where a group of friends head to the beach and one gets stung by a jellyfish. The solution…pee. But since that is television and not reality, there’s no point in peeing on a sting since, according to science, it doesn’t work anyway. That’s right. Peeing on a jellyfish sting does not relieve the pain,… Read More »What should you do if you’re stung by a jellyfish?

What is a high PSA level for a prostate exam?

A lot of men believe that a high level of PSA means cancer, but this gets filed in with common health myths. The reason being your PSA level can be effected by many factors, not only cancer. Let’s back up a bit and figure out what PSA is and how it relates to a prostate exam. First of all, PSA stands for Prostate-Specific Antigen, which are the results of a… Read More »What is a high PSA level for a prostate exam?

The toxic truth about nail polish

If you’re a polish lover and a mani-pedi fan, we may not be friends after this since the truth is nail polish is loaded with toxic chemicals. Perhaps you’ve seen nail polish labeled toxic free or even three-free (five-free and even 10-free). This refers to the lineup of toxic chemicals found in nail polish. When you see three-free, for example, manufacturers are advertising that their product is free of the… Read More »The toxic truth about nail polish

Is it bad to brush your hair too much?

It was a nightly ritual for many. The 100 brush strokes before bed, that is. Sitting in front of a mirror and counting out 100 brushes was supposed to make hair healthy and shiny, but does it? Does brushing your hair make it healthier? The answer is, not so much. According to Schwarzkopf salon professionals, brushing your hair 100 times a day or night before bed will make your hair… Read More »Is it bad to brush your hair too much?

Is eating dirt bad for you?

You may find this to be an odd question, but it’s a serious one given that the average person unknowingly consumes about six pounds of dirt over their lifetime. On top of that, we eat approximately two pounds of insects each year without realizing it. The dirt and insects we consume are naturally found on the foods we eat such as fruit and vegetables and in other common products like… Read More »Is eating dirt bad for you?

What that chlorine smell at the pool really means

Many of us have been taught to appreciate the smell of clean like the smell of bleach or chlorine. Maybe not necessarily to the degree of hospital clean, but clean to the point stinky smells are, well, not so stinky. The smell of chlorine when walking into a public swimming pool area is supposed to be the smell of clean, but this is one health belief that truly is a… Read More »What that chlorine smell at the pool really means

Can you get cancer from using a cell phone?

With more than 4.6 billion cell phone users worldwide, a lot of people are wondering if cell phones cause cancer. The use of cell phones has exploded since the 1990s, and along with an increase in the number of cell phones has also been an increase in the amount of use time. American adults spend an average of 3.5 hours per day on their mobile phones, a figure that continues… Read More »Can you get cancer from using a cell phone?

Is an aspirin a day good for you?

Some people swear by it. That an aspirin a day has done them wonders. Many who take it do so to lower blood pressure, especially if they’ve already experienced a heart attack or stroke, but new research says daily low-dose (81 mg) aspirin may not be for everyone. The results of several new 2018 and 2019 studies have found that the risks of taking a daily aspirin may not outweigh… Read More »Is an aspirin a day good for you?

Which salt is healthiest, sea salt or regular salt?

I live in a region where sea salt is the go-to salt in so many different forms, it can take ages to choose one from the shelf. The salt choices are all so neatly packaged and range in granular size and shades of color from white to rose. That level of pretty packaging is also reflected in the (sometimes hefty) price. We have a belief that exotic salts like sea… Read More »Which salt is healthiest, sea salt or regular salt?

Does toothpaste get rid of pimples?

How many of us have ever wondered (hoped and prayed) that toothpaste could get rid of pimples overnight? It’s a question we’ve all asked at some point in our lives when we wake up with a zit the size of an erupting volcano the day before an important event. The answer to the question is yes, it can help. There was a time when many of us found success with… Read More »Does toothpaste get rid of pimples?

Are air fresheners bad for you?

Ever asked yourself if air freshers can be harmful? Small and convenient, they’re a great way to get rid of stink as well as just freshen up a small space such as your vehicle. If you’re a lover of air freshening products, you’re probably not going to like what follows. Researchers have found that pretty much anything that emits a scent, including all-natural and even organic-labeled products, can be hazardous.… Read More »Are air fresheners bad for you?

Brown food choices that are not always better

You’re on your way to buy groceries and are wondering why is brown food better than white? When we think healthy in terms of color, we tend to navigate toward foods that are brown as opposed to white, since brown (natural) are supposed to be better than white (bleached). While more times than not it is a good rule of thumb, it’s not always the case. Let’s take a quick… Read More »Brown food choices that are not always better

Are supplements good for health?

Living in a world where millions rely on a daily dose of multivitamins or other forms of supplements to stay healthy is nothing new. Perhaps this is one reason the dietary supplement industry is a multi-billion dollar business. Catering to people who would rather swallow supplements than eat healthy foods, the dietary supplement industry is worth nearly $200 billion USD. That’s a lot of capsulized vitamins and minerals. The dietary… Read More »Are supplements good for health?

Are whey protein shakes bad for you?

We’ve all seen protein shakes advertised as a way to become leaner and stronger, especially when combined with resistance exercises, but is the extra protein necessary? Are protein shakes even a healthy choice? The answer, according to several medical sources, remains inconsistent. The results of testing on dozens of powdered protein brands showed many of them contained unhealthy levels of heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic and even… Read More »Are whey protein shakes bad for you?

Is drinking 8 glasses of water a day good for you?

Good question! And the answer is….maybe. It’s become a generic health claim that you need to drink 8 glasses of water a day because no one clarifies just how big those glasses are! Are they eight shot glasses, eight mason jars or eight big-gulp sizes that require two hands and a straw? The truth is the average person requires about two liters or half a gallon of liquid per day.… Read More »Is drinking 8 glasses of water a day good for you?