Approximately 1 in 10 women of childbearing age in the United States have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS. Understanding what is going on in the body, why it’s happening and how to make positive changes are key to reducing PCOS symptoms…

The human body is a beautifully complex thing. It constantly directs every system in your body to maintain optimal health. Whether in response to stress, inflammation, or foreign invaders a series of checks and balances keeps your body operating smoothly. One significant piece of health maintenance is your immune system. When it is working correctly you can fight off infections, recover from illness more quickly, and have limited or no allergic responses to your food and environment. However, when your immune system is not working properly, the potential for autoimmune diseases is a real threat…

Most likely in your journey of staying healthy and fit you count, or have counted, calories. Whether in the pursuit of some number on the scale or an improvement in health markers, counting calories seems like a smart way to stay on target with your goals. You may even use a fancy gadget to tell you how many steps you’ve taken, how many calories you’ve burned and how you’ve slept. These gadgets can be very useful to motivate you to move more or go to bed earlier, but they won’t necessarily help you reach your health goals by counting calories alone. That is because the number of calories your body actually consumes and burns is mostly a guessing game…

Are You Awake? It is morning; the alarm goes off, you roll out of bed and shuffle along to start your day. But are you really awake? If you are like most of us, you resume autopilot mode as soon as your feet hit the floor. Following your routine; for meals, exercise, work, sleep and even how you deal with stress; is easy because you don’t have to think about it. But is this mechanical, conveyor belt survival mode really a good thing?

The word cancer can instill fear in all of us. Although cancer is scary, you can take power into your own hands to lower your odds of diagnosis or recurrence. When you better understand your genes, what pathways in the body influence cancer risk, how you can keep those pathways happy, and which nutrition and lifestyle tips may reduce your cancer risk, you can take control of your health…

If you were to look back on your entire life, could you say your life is less stressful now than 10, 20 even 30 years ago? Unfortunately, this question is most likely met with a resounding no…

Standing in the produce aisle you stare at all the different choices for apples, including organic varieties. Then you look down at the price, eek! There is a heftier price tag on those organic apples so you decide to reach for the cheaper, conventional one. I mean, what does it matter; an apple is an apple, right? Not necessarily. Once you understand more about one major difference between conventional and organic – pesticide use – you may just change your mind to choose health over expense…

Your thyroid gland is a tiny butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of your neck near the Adam’s apple. Despite its tiny size, the thyroid has a big job controlling energy production for every cell in the body. The thyroid works in concert with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to regulate thyroid hormone production. The health of your thyroid is also intricately tied to the health of your gastrointestinal tract, gut microbiome, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands and even your immune system…

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) dominate our grocery store shelves. They are meant to feed the world with safe and nutritious food. But are they really holding up their end of the bargain?

With mega farms and genetic modification, we live in a world where food is plentiful. To ensure our farmers provide safe and quality food in the United States there are government regulations that standardize food safety, food quality, farm practices and conservation efforts.

When searching to optimize your health one question always remains, “Which diet is best for me?” With so many diet books on the shelves today, answering that question can be overwhelming and confusing. Your “best diet” then becomes a lifelong pursuit of the great unknown.

Whether for preventing pregnancies or regulating menstruation, many women have been “on the pill.” Birth Control Pills, or Oral Contraceptive Pills (OCPs), are one of several options for contraception. Women also have the option of injectables such as Depo-Provera, implants like IUDs, and vaginal rings. The pill still remains the most popular choice.

Your bones are often something you never think about, unless one breaks or they become compromised by osteoporosis. To understand how to prevent fractures and weak bones, especially as you get older, you first need to appreciate the structure and function of your bones.