The Quiet Art of Protecting Your Lungs Against COPD

Credit: Amin Mohajeri Take a slow, deep breath. Feel the pleasant airflow entering your lungs, nourishing your blood and fueling your cells. This effortless, automatic rhythm is a priceless gift.  With each breath, oxygen flows into the body and carbon dioxide leaves. Yet this delicate exchange can be disrupted over time by long-term exposure to … Continue reading The Quiet Art of Protecting Your Lungs Against COPD

Enjoy Health Benefits of the Sweet-and-Sour Cranberry This Holiday Season

Credit: iStock/gaus-nataliya As trees change colors and shed leaves and the air cools down, many of us cannot stop dreaming of seasonal festivities. You might think there’s nothing more festive than meeting your loved ones for a Thanksgiving feast. Don’t forget to add a side of cranberries while you gobble up your turkey! Besides adding … Continue reading Enjoy Health Benefits of the Sweet-and-Sour Cranberry This Holiday Season

Stopping Free Radicals in Their Tracks

Credit: iStock “Free radical” is a term you might have heard about, usually in the context of its link to rapid aging and cancer. But what exactly is a free radical? Free radicals—also called reactive oxygen species—and their toxic effects have been on scientists’ minds since their discovery about a hundred years ago. As scientists … Continue reading Stopping Free Radicals in Their Tracks

Vitamin C Might Help Counteract Too Much Sitting

Credit: iStock If you are reading this, chances are you’re sitting down. Whether working at a desk, relaxing on the couch or commuting by car or public transit, the majority of us sit for the better part of our day. All of that sitting could have some not-so-great effects on our long-term health. We have … Continue reading Vitamin C Might Help Counteract Too Much Sitting

Spotlight On: Oxidative Stress

Credit: iStock Oxidative stress is a term that many of us have heard or seen on food and vitamin labels for quite some time, but few people understand what this is. Oxidative stress is the imbalance of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is a byproduct of metabolism that is made up of different compounds, including … Continue reading Spotlight On: Oxidative Stress

The Antioxidant-Activity Connection

Antioxidants: It’s one of the biggest health buzzwords today. The fabled powers of these mysterious compounds have been featured on daytime TV, plastered on age-defying beauty products and foods in the grocery store, and sold to us as a major reason to frequent juice bars and smoothie shops. Antioxidants are not just an overblown fad, though. … Continue reading The Antioxidant-Activity Connection