Mehmet C. Oz's Blog, page 70

Save Your Heart: Prevent Heart Disease 5 Ways

Low-fat milk? Check. High-fiber cereal? Check. Brag-worthy blood pressure and cholesterol numbers? Check. "Friend" your ticker in smart ways like this and you'll outlive American Idol. But don't stop there.

Glucosamine Side Effects Include High Cholesterol?

A friend with arthritis said his high cholesterol dropped 20 points when he stopped taking glucosamine for joint pain. Could the supplement raise your cholesterol levels?

Is Thyroid Hormone Replacement Forever?

My doctor put me on thyroid medicine, and I've heard that I'll be on it the rest of my life. Is this true? What would happen if I stopped taking it?

Is Ownership a Stressor? Adopt a Virtual Pet

People who watched just 10 minutes of a video featuring a furry, scaly, or feathered friend experienced dips in their heart rate and blood pressure.

A Healthy Diet Plan Thwarts "The Weekend Effect"

We're not fond of the "weekend effect," which typically starts with fried chicken on Friday night, moves on to a movie and trans-fat-laden popcorn on Saturday night, and ends with a snack-filled Sunday spent loafing around.

Folic Acid Benefits Men, Too

Studies now show 700 micrograms a day puts the brakes on hearing loss, helps keep arteries young (which keeps you and your sex life young), and lowers risky homocysteine, an amino acid that can up the threat of heart disease and maybe dementia.

No Morning Sickness Cures, but There Is Relief

Excuse us if we're repeating what your mother-in-law has already said, but it will get better. Meanwhile, these steps should give you some relief.

Don't Be Fooled by Food Labels

The FDA regulates some claims, such as "low fat," but fewer than you think. Take "low carb": It can mean anything, yet it easily convinces people that many foods are better for weight control than they actually are.

Feeling Lonely? Make Friends with Yourself First

But overcoming loneliness and safeguarding your health takes more than having something to do on Saturday night. Like true happiness, it's an inside job.

Improve Memory with These Brain Boosters

For a razor-sharp brain, less may be more. To keep your memory young, your neurons also crave a few deceptively simple "growth factors." One happens when you do something as deceptively simple as unplugging your digital devices.