As put forth in the McDonaldization of Society, "the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society." including medicine.  »

Not long after environmental watchdog group Center for Environmental Health cried foul on the levels of a controversial caramel coloring in Pepsi, soda giant PepsiCo announced its intention to phase out the ingredient nationwide by February 2014.  »

Men with prostate cancer had a lower risk of dying of the disease as consumption of vegetable fat increased, data from a large prospective study suggested.  »

The practice of integrated medicine involves the use of a wide variety of approaches and treatments to help tap into the body’s own healing power to cure disease and promote optimum wellness. In recent years, one therapeutic approach that has been gaining popularity is the practice of aromatherapy.  »

US researchers have discovered that some people who are overweight have hidden fat inside their bones that could make them weak and prone to fractures.  »

Diet soda drinkers have the same health issues as those who drink regular soda, according to a new report.  »

Buddhist teachings on happiness have long held that accepting that which cannot be changed or controlled is key to reducing suffering. Now, this ancient doctrine has science on its side  »

Once upon a time, people routinely took a short walk after a meal. That old tradition should make a comeback according to a study released today in the journal Diabetes Care. It found that a 15-minute, moderate speed walk about 30 minutes after eating exerts significant control over the high blood sugar of older people.  »

California research finds 12% lower risk of dying for those who don't eat meat.  »

Derived from “vita,” meaning life in Latin, vitamins are necessary to convert food into energy. When people don’t get enough vitamins, they suffer diseases like scurvy and rickets. The question isn’t whether people need vitamins. They do. The questions are how much do they need, and do they get enough in foods?  »

Early-life risk factors such as fast food exposure and a TV in a child's room may explain much of the previously observed racial-ethnic disparities in childhood obesity rates, researchers found.  »

Regular doses of the dietary supplement Coenzyme Q10 cut in half the death rate of patients suffering from advanced heart failure, in a randomized double-blind trial.  »

Washing your hands after using the bathroom might be a common practice to stop the spread of germs, but not many women may wash their hands after they put them in their purse. But, according to a study conducted by the company Initial Washroom Hygiene, perhaps they should.  »

Biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease increased linearly with severity of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in normal-weight older people, according to a study reported here.  »

Easily distressed individuals may be at higher risk of heart disease, a Danish population-based study showed.  »

The Mediterranean diet has long been hailed as healthy. But what exactly defines that diet and accounts for the benefits is still being worked out, researchers explained here.  »

A new study, published in Heart, suggests that a higher resting heart rate is an independent predictor of mortality — even in healthy people in good physical condition.  »

Scientists have discovered what may be an important new risk factor for heart disease. And here's the surprising twist: The troublesome substance seems to be a waste product left behind by bacteria in our guts as they help us digest lecithin — a substance plentiful in red meat, eggs, liver and certain other foods.  »

Smoking can harm the heart, and while quitting is the most powerful way to avoid heart disease, taking vitamin E after putting out the cigarettes may speed the process along.  »

Alternative treatments like transcendental meditation, biofeedback and guided breathing appear to reduce high blood pressure in some people, a new report suggests. But only one method that does not involve medication -- aerobic exercise -- is both proven to have a major impact and highly recommended.  »

High levels of cortisol — the so-called stress hormone — have been associated with cardiovascular disease in some studies, but not in others. This may be because measuring cortisol in blood or saliva at one point in time may pick up acute stress, but it fails to account for long-term stress.  »

Eating mushrooms may be as effective at raising serum vitamin D levels as taking capsuled supplements, researchers reported here.  »

The supplements, also known as omega-3 fatty acids, increase levels of a hormone called adiponectin that's linked to insulin sensitivity, Harvard researchers found. Higher levels of this hormone in the bloodstream have also been linked to a lower risk for heart disease.  »

Here's a scientific finding that may knock you off your feet: At least 80 types of fungi reside on a typical person's heel, along with 60 between the toes and 40 on the toenail. Altogether, the feet are home to more than 100 types of fungus, more than any other area of the human body, according to a study published Wednesday by the journal Nature. And that fungal fellowship is in constant motion as we walk through life.  »

People who follow the ancient practice of yoga may be getting an added health boost, with a new study suggesting it can fight high blood pressure -- also known as hypertension.  »

Scientists have finally succeeded in using cloning to create human embryonic stem cells, a step toward developing replacement tissue to treat diseases but one that might also hasten the day when it will be possible to create cloned babies.  »

People who are obese or out of shape in their 40s or 50s might think it's too late to start getting fit, but new research finds that shaping up in middle age lowers the odds for heart failure later in life.  »

Danish study found overweight males in their 20s had worse health in middle age.  »

You can reduce your risk of potentially deadly blood clots by following seven simple lifestyle steps, a new study suggests.  »

People with plots in community gardens are less likely to be overweight or obese than those who don't garden, a new study suggests.  »

Folks who want to get in better shape and eat healthier are often encouraged to make one change at a time, but a new study finds that people are the most successful when they tackle their diet and exercise habits simultaneously.  »

A diet high in fried, sweet, and processed foods is not associated with healthy aging, a large cohort study found.  »

Losing weight through exercise and healthier eating may have long-term benefits for people with mild sleep apnea, a new study suggests. Researchers found obese study participants who went through a one-year lifestyle intervention were about half as likely to see their sleep apnea progress to more severe disease, compared to those who received little extra help.  »

Certain mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can increase a woman's chances of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer dramatically. But that doesn't mean all women should line up for laboratory testing to see if they have those risky versions of the genes, members of a government panel said Monday.  »

Regularly eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids might lengthen your life, new research suggests. A study of more than 2,600 older adults found those with the highest blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids -- found in salmon, mackerel, herring, lake trout and albacore tuna -- lived more than two years longer on average than those with lower blood levels.  »

Soy foods, long shown to help lower the risk of cancer, may also help people survive at least some forms of cancer better, researchers reported on Monday.  »

The shingles vaccine prevents incident herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia in older individuals, even those who are immunocompromised, researchers found.  »

A natural extract from unroasted coffee beans may be a tool in fighting the uncontrolled blood sugar levels characteristic of diabetes, a small, preliminary new study suggests.  »

Men who have higher levels of the mineral known as selenium may also face a lower risk of developing advanced prostate cancer, new research suggests.  »

Drinking a cup of nitrate-rich beetroot juice significantly lowered blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive individuals, a small, proof-of-principle study showed.  »

Rates of celiac disease -- a condition where people's immune systems react to gluten found in wheat, rye and barley -- increased between 2000 and 2004, but then stayed nearly the same from 2004 onward, according to a new study.  »

Dr. Tsewang Tamdin, a world-renowned expert in Tibetan medicine, visited Emory University in Atlanta on Monday as part of his effort to reach more American medical practitioners. He wants to develop collaborative projects between the Tibetan medicine system, which is more than 2,500 years old, and Western medicine.  »

Fat has been villainized; but all fat was not created equal. Our two main types of fat—brown and white—play different roles. Now, two teams of NIH-funded researchers have enriched our understanding of adipose tissue. The first team discovered the genetic switch that triggers the development of brown fat and the second figured out how the body can recruit white fat and transform it into brown.  »

Smoking, obesity and diabetes are all associated with an increased risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, a new study suggests.  »

People who are socially isolated are more likely to die prematurely, regardless of their underlying health issues, according to a study of the elderly British population.  »

In recent years, a growing number of doctors have begun holding group appointments — seeing up to a dozen patients with similar medical concerns all at once. Advocates of the approach say such visits allow doctors to treat more patients, spend more time with them (even if not one-on-one), increase appointment availability and improve health outcomes.  »

Acupuncture is a method of both complementary and primary therapy that is used around the world to treat a broad range of health conditions. According to the World Health Organization, acupuncture can be effectively used for the treatment of many health conditions including back pain, knee pain, headaches and various diseases, symptoms and conditions. The therapeutic effects of acupuncture have been shown to alleviate or completely eliminate the symptoms of many health conditions.  »

Excessive sugar consumption may be the main driver of a global rise in diabetes, independent of obesity, according to a study rekindling old debates about the sweetener’s role in an illness affecting 350 million worldwide.  »

A study published in the Feb. 27 issue of the journal PLoS One links increased consumption of sugar with increased rates of diabetes by examining the data on sugar availability and the rate of diabetes in 175 countries over the past decade. And after accounting for many other factors, the researchers found that increased sugar in a population’s food supply was linked to higher diabetes rates independent of rates of obesity.  »

Drug overdose deaths rose for the 11th straight year, federal data show, and most of them were accidents involving addictive painkillers despite growing attention to risks from these medicines. "The big picture is that this is a big problem that has gotten much worse quickly," said Dr. Thomas Frieden, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which gathered and analyzed the data.  »

A staggering one in eight Americans has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll suggests. And more than one third of those polled have been diagnosed with diabetes or have a parent, sibling, spouse or child with the condition.  »

Exposure to smog is linked to higher death risk among people admitted to the hospital for a heart attack, a new study suggests. British researchers found death rates for these patients increased following exposure to air pollution from fine "particulate matter" measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less. They calculated that death rates would drop by 12 percent among heart attack survivors if they were not exposed to higher concentrations of air pollution.  »

The diet features lots of fruit, vegetables, nuts and olive oil; moderate amounts of fish and poultry; but little dairy, red or processed meat or sweets; as well as moderate amounts of wine with meals.  »

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