Sugar is toxic. No, it won’t kill in seconds like cyanide does, but it does kill—in a slow, insidious manner. Sugar is linked to a wide variety of conditions, including heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.

You probably crave salty food from time to time -- whether it’s crunchy potato chips or a slice of pizza. A wide range of variables can trigger a salt craving, throwing a monkey wrench into your diet. But there’s good news: Eating spicy foods can curb your salt cravings, according to a study published in Hypertension.

You’re sneezing, coughing and long for your bed. Is it a cold, which will probably clear up in a couple of days? Or is it the flu, which will sideline you for weeks?

As many as 20 percent of Americans catch the flu annually, leading to about 200,000 hospitalizations and between 3,000 and 4,000 deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

How to tell if you're getting the flu:

The American diet is notorious for processed meals, salty foods and sugary drinks. In fact, more than 80 percent of Americans eat too many refined grains and sugars and not enough fruits and vegetables, according to an NPR poll conducted in 2016.

Depending on factors including age, health conditions, lifestyle and whether you travel internationally, adults need immunization protection against these diseases.  

Nobody likes getting vaccines. But the conditions they protect against can be really nasty. Consider pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Although most people think of whooping cough as a disease affecting young children and infants, it can affect adults, causing pneumonia and hospitalization.

As the days shorten during the winter time, the longer spans of darkness may leave you feeling a little down, even gloomy. This is known as the “winter blues” or seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

What’s seasonal affective disorder? Psychology Today sums it up as a type form of episodic depression that affects people during specific times of the year and estimates that about 10 million Americans struggle with it.

Have you seen What the Health? It’s a Netflix vegan documentary that critiques the meat and dairy industries. I've gotten a lot of questions about it lately and I thought I’d share some of my insights.

Keep in mind that What the Health? is a movie produced to promote veganism. And like other movies, it doesn’t require the same level of “proof” that scientific publication needs to show before it’s published. 

For years high blood pressure was defined as a reading of 140/90 or higher. Now 130/80 or higher is considered high or hypertensive, according to new scientific guidelines released by the American Heart Association. Although 120/80 remains normal, systolic readings (top number) between 121 and 129 are now elevated. The American Heart Association graphic below summarizes the changes.

Giving the gift of health to your family and friends can be expensive. But this year, you can be a “Healthy Santa," with our list of wellness gift ideas that won’t break the bank.    

An Herb Mill is a thoughtful gift for someone who cooks or is trying to cut down on salt. Herb mills quickly and safely chop fresh herbs without bruising or crushing them. They’re easy to use, usually dishwasher safe and generally run between $10 and $20.