Epoch Health

Mitochondria are the microscopic power plants found in nearly all cells in the body and are responsible for producing most of the energy we use on a daily basis. While their energy-producing function is critical for normal cellular activity, it has been recently discovered that they also behave as “first responders” when the cell is

Millions of Americans spend a lot of time on their feet in their day-to-day lives. While minor aches and pains often call for nothing more extreme than a foot rub or a hot bath, there are some signs of discomfort that should never be ignored. Here are seven of the most common causes of foot

California and New York lawmakers have proposed bills to ban five toxic chemical food additives linked to cancer and behavioral and developmental issues in children. Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills), and Buffy Wicks (D-Sacramento), both members of the California Assembly, proposed Assembly Bill AB 418 in February. The bill is co-sponsored by Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

St. John’s wort begins to bloom around St. John the Baptist’s birthday, June 24—hence its name—and continues until August. There is a myth that St. John’s wort sprouted at the site of the beheading of John the Baptist. It was believed that the plant’s healing and protective properties were so profound that the devil perforated its leaves

In the early 1900s, Americans consumed about 18 pounds of butter per person per year—and that doesn’t include the butterfat they got from whole milk, cream, and cheese. Today that number stands at about five pounds, a slight increase over the past few years from a low of four pounds per person per year. What

Everyone likes to talk about the good ol’ days, and in food circles, we hark back to ancestral diets that were more natural and more nutritious. However, in one respect, modern people enjoy a huge advantage over their ancestors: Everybody in the world today has access to plentiful, inexpensive salt. An interesting article on the

Losing weight isn’t easy, and losing belly fat is even harder. Is there a simple and effective way to lose that stubborn fat? The answer is yes. Just adding a certain amount of soluble fiber to your food can help melt belly fat away. There are two types of plant fiber: Soluble and insoluble. Insoluble

Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the United States, and that number is rising every year. Although there is no known cure for asthma, and the condition is normally managed long-term with prescription medications, there are some simple diet and lifestyle steps that may help reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks. These include

Mitochondria have received increasing attention in recent years, as they have a big impact on one’s quality of life and rate of aging. Protecting mitochondria can slow aging, prevent chronic diseases, and even fight cancer. Mitochondria Are the Power Plants of the Cell Mitochondria are organelles in cells. They are very small, typically between 0.75

Asafoetida has been an important herb and spice in Indian cooking and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. India has always had to import it from Iran and Afghanistan, where it thrives in their cold climates. A new experimental crop in the cold Lahaul valley may eventually bring this herb home to India while reducing India’s import

Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an annoying medical condition that once plagued my colleague Zac. Recently, he shared an interesting recipe with me—and drew my attention to kiwis (Chinese gooseberries). Zac’s nasal allergies started in secondary school, where he regularly endured a stuffy nose, sneezing, and puffy eyes. One of his teachers, who suffered from

The term “superbug” conjures images of bacteria with superpowers—able to evade the effects of the antibiotics given to destroy them. The prolific use of antibiotics is thought to be the cause, and bacteria, in a fight for their survival, have adapted—making an increasing number of antibiotics ineffective against a growing number of bacterial infections. A

Do you often go to reach for something essential, such as a phone or a wallet, and find you’ve left home without them? Are you spending more time looking for items around the house you were sure were where you left them? Short-term memory loss is common and should serve as an alert to the

The kidneys, two small, bean-shaped, fist-sized organs, sit above our backsides. They get little attention until they start to complain. Our kidneys hold us to account for past transgressions. Not staying properly hydrated, smoking, or drinking too much alcohol may eventually lead our kidneys to revolt with stones, urinary tract infections, or even kidney failure.

South Korean researchers used an antioxidant found in plants such as grapes, to create a hydrogel, which can effectively suppress cancer cell growth.