6 Key Ways to Keep Your Bladder Healthy

Bladder problems are more likely to appear the older you get, but they are not an inevitable part of the aging process. Staying well hydrated is key for bladder health, although you may want to limit caffeinated beverages, carbonated beverages, and citrus juices, which are not “bad” but can irritate the bladder. Also, don’t hold urine for too long, and try to fully empty your bladder when you pee. Exercises that strengthen and/or relax the pelvic floor can also help prevent or improve bladder issues. (More)

Replacing Animal-Based Foods With Plants Is a Recipe for Weight Loss

More and more research is demonstrating that swapping out animal-based foods for plant-based ones is a great move for overall health. A new study provides even more confirmation for this by finding that participants who followed a vegan diet with no calorie limitations lost an average of 13 pounds over the course of 16 weeks. The control group – who did not change their diet – did not lose any weight at all. (More)

Phthalate Exposure May Make It Harder to Get Pregnant

Phthalates are a group of plasticizing chemicals commonly found in many household products, including shampoo, makeup, vinyl flooring, and medical devices. They are already linked to a number of negative health effects, particularly hormone disruption. Some new research now indicates that exposure to phthalates in the household could be linked to a lower probability of getting pregnant and also raises levels of inflammation in the body. (More)

A Diverse Gut Microbiome is Essential to Block Harmful Pathogens

The human gut is home to hundreds of different bacterial species and other microbes that are collectively referred to as the gut microbiome. One role the gut microbiome plays is to help protect against invading pathogens. Interestingly, a new study has found that individual bacteria don’t appear to be very protective against pathogens, but putting them in communities of 50 or more species increases their effectiveness 1,000 fold, indicating that diversity is key for a well-functioning microbiome. (More)

12 Ayurvedic Herbs to Know About & Their Incredible Health Benefits

Ayurveda is an ancient traditional Indian healing system that makes use of a variety of herbs that now have shown impressive health benefits in modern research. For example, amla (Indian gooseberry) is incredibly rich in vitamin C and antioxidants and features in the digestion-boosting formula known as triphala. Ashwagandha may help lower stress, while brahmi may boost memory. Turmeric is now well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, but guggul (which could lower cholesterol) and shatavari (hormone-balancing) remain lesser known. (More)