The Defender

For years, cardiologists have been encouraging people to eat more fish with omega-3 fatty acids as a way to boost cardiovascular health. Now, an  article published in August 2019 in the AHA journal  Circulation   further validates the benefits of these acids, finding that prescription fish oil medication lowers triglyceride levels by 20 to 30 percent in patients who already require triglyceride-reducing drugs. Triglycerides  are the most common type of fat found in the blood,  according to the American Heart Association (AHA) . When levels are too high (above 200 milligrams per deciliter, or mg/dL), fatty deposits are more likely to build up in the arteries, which raises the risk of heart problems.  The Cleveland Clinic notes  that very high levels (above 500 mg/dL) of triglycerides can lead to  pancreatitis , an inflammation of the  pancreas . “About 25 to 30 percent of the adult population have high triglycerides [HTG]...

Definition of STDs  The term sexually transmitted disease (STD) is used to refer to a condition passed from one person to another through sexual contact. You can contract an STD by having unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the STD. An STD may also be called a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or venereal disease (VD). That doesn’t mean sex is the only way STDs are transmitted. Depending on the specific STD, infections may also be transmitted through sharing needles and breastfeeding.

What are food allergies? When the body's immune system reacts abnormally to something you eat or drink, it's known as a food allergy. According to  Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) , it’s estimated that 15 million Americans have food allergies. Children are more likely. Approximately 1 in every 13 children in the United States lives with food allergies. A food allergy may affect the skin, gastrointestinal tract, or respiratory or cardiovascular systems. Many types of foods can be allergens, but certain foods are much more likely than others to trigger an allergic reaction. According to FARE, the following 8 foods are responsible for 90 percent of all food allergies: cow's milk eggs peanuts fish shellfish tree nuts , such as cashews or walnuts wheat soy

What is Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of dementia. Dementia is a broader term for conditions caused by brain injuries or diseases that negatively affect memory, thinking, and behavior. These changes interfere with daily living. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s disease accounts for  60 to 80 percent  of dementia cases. Most people with the disease are diagnosed after age 65. If it’s diagnosed before then, it’s generally referred to as early onset Alzheimer’s disease. There’s no cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are treatments that can slow the progression of the disease.  Learn more about the basics of Alzheimer’s disease.

Allergies An allergy is an immune system response to a foreign substance that’s not typically harmful to your body. These foreign substances are called allergens. They can include certain foods, pollen, or pet dander. Your immune system’s job is to keep you healthy by fighting harmful pathogens. It does this by attacking anything it thinks could put your body in danger. Depending on the allergen, this response may involve inflammation, sneezing, or a host of other symptoms. Your immune system normally adjusts to your environment. For example, when your body encounters something like pet dander, it should realize it’s harmless. In people with dander allergies, the immune system perceives it as an outside invader threatening the body and attacks it. Allergies are common. Several treatments can help you avoid your symptoms.

Introduction Many people worry about pesticides in foods. Pesticides are used to reduce damage to crops from weeds, rodents, insects and germs. This increases the yield of fruits, vegetables and other crops. This article focuses on pesticide residues, or the pesticides found on the surface of fruits and vegetables when they are purchased as groceries. It explores the most common types of pesticides used in modern farming and whether their residues affect human health.

What is BPA? BPA (bisphenol-A) is a chemical that is added to many commercial products, including food containers and hygiene products. It was first discovered in the 1890s, but chemists in the 1950s realized that it could be mixed with other compounds to produce strong and resilient polycarbonate plastics. These days, BPA-containing plastics are commonly used in food containers, baby bottles and other things. BPA is also used to make epoxy resins, which are put on the inner lining of canned food containers to keep the metal from corroding and breaking. BPA is an industrial chemical that may find its way into people's food. Some experts claim that it is toxic, and that people should make an effort to avoid it. But is BPA really that bad, and should you avoid it at all costs? This is a detailed review of BPA and its health effects. BOTTOM LINE: BPA is a synthetic compound found in many plastics, as well as in the lining of canned food containers.

Degrading plastics turn into “microplastics.” and are harmful to the Environment and our health.   Plastics are all around us, from the polyester clothes we wear and the packaging that contains our food to construction materials in our homes and more. And according to  new research  presented at the 26th United European Gastroenterology Week in Vienna, plastics are also inside of us. Researchers from the Medical University of Vienna and the Environment Agency Austria tested stool samples from people in eight countries around the world. They found that microplastic particles were present in every stool sample they tested. On average, they found 20 microplastic particles in every 10 grams of stool. Those findings don’t surprise Rolf Halden, PhD, PE, director of the Center for Environmental Health Engineering at the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University. “It would be naïve to think that the plastics that are present in our clothing, on our ...

Get fierce with fiber It’s easy to get caught up in counting calories and grams of added sugars, fats, proteins, and carbs when you’re trying to eat well. But there’s one nutrient that too often gets thrown to the wayside: dietary fiber. Scientists have long known that eating fiber is good for health. Decades ago, Irish physician (and fiber enthusiast) Denis Burkitt proclaimed, “America is a constipated nation… if you pass small stools, you have to have large hospitals.” And yet, years later, many of us are still ignoring our fiber intake. American adults are only eating an average of 15 grams of fiber on any given day, despite the daily recommendations from the  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics  being: 25 grams for women, or 21 grams if over 50 years old 38 grams for men, or 30 grams if over 50 Recently, however, fiber has popped up in headlines thanks to people like journalist Megyn Kelly and model Molly Sims, who have both credited their physiques on m...

Early this year, after President Trump signed the Omnibus Bill, NASA miraculously received $20.7 billion, the highest amount since the 2009 stimulus package. The Trump Administration’s proposed 2018 budget was seen by many as a “War on Science,” but when the bill was actually voted on  most of NASA’s budgets were increased or remained uncut, shocking the scientific community.  This is surprising as Republican senators have historically been opposed to climate and earth-based research,  some of which is carried out by NASA. After a few decades of budget cuts and stagnation, NASA’s revitalized budget has caused much celebration. However, for many years it looked like NASA had been all but abandoned by the federal government. This drought led various entrepreneurs (mostly billionaires who established their fortune in other industries) to create their own private space companies. The goal of these private space companies is to  greatly reduce the cost of space ...

1 in 4 people with cancer also experiences depression. Here’s how to spot the signs in yourself or a loved one — and what to do about it. Regardless of your age, stage of life, or circumstances, a cancer diagnosis often changes your outlook on life, and your approach to health and wellness. Living with cancer can bring with it an overwhelming shift in physical, emotional, and mental well-being. A cancer diagnosis impacts the body in ways that are negative, difficult, and often painful. The same can also apply to cancer treatments and therapies — whether surgery, chemo, or hormone replacement — which can bring on additional symptoms of weakness, fatigue, clouded thinking, or nausea. As someone with cancer works to manage the significant impact that the disease and treatment has on their body, they’re also confronted with the potential impact on their mental well-being. Cancer carries an enormous amount of emotional weight, and sometimes manifests through fear, anxiety...

We ask experts for their thoughts on fasted cardio. Has anyone ever suggested you work out on an empty stomach? Doing cardio before or without fueling with food, otherwise known as fasted cardio, is a hot topic in the fitness and nutrition world. Like many health trends, there are fans and skeptics. Some people swear by it as a quick and effective way to lose fat, while others believe it’s a waste of time and energy. Fasted cardio doesn’t necessarily mean you’re sticking to an  intermittent fasting  routine. It could be as simple as going for a run first thing in the morning, then eating breakfast after. We talked with three fitness and nutrition experts about the pros and cons of fasted cardio. Here’s what they had to say.

Knowledge is your power to reclaim your orgasm. Real talk: What’s more frustrating than losing an orgasm? Not much, really. Except not even coming close to one at all. Reaching orgasm can feel elusive for many women. Some can’t climax at all. This is normal but it’s worth determining whether there’s something getting in the way of having an orgasm. Many of the factors that can impact your ability to have an orgasm can be treated with a little more patience and a lot more understanding about the way women’s orgasms are connected to the mind.

Everyone experiences occasional digestive symptoms such as upset stomach, gas, heartburn, nausea, constipation or diarrhea. However, when these symptoms occur frequently, they can cause major disruptions to your life. Fortunately, diet and lifestyle changes can have a positive impact on your gut health. Here are 12 evidence-based ways to improve your digestion naturally. 1. Eat Real Food Share on Pinterest The typical Western diet — high in refined carbs, saturated fat and food additives — has been linked to an increased risk of developing digestive disorders ( 1 ). Food additives, including glucose, salt and other chemicals, have been suggested to contribute to increased gut inflammation, leading to a condition called leaky gut ( 2 ). Trans fats  are found in many processed foods. They’re well-known for their negative effects on heart health but have also been associated with an increased risk of developing ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease ( 3 ...