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Rates of obesity among young people are very concerning and on the rise. Between 1990 and 2021, rates of overweight and obesity combined doubled, while rates of obesity tripled. Any safe, natural help would be welcome. Here’s a surprising and simple one. Rising rates of obesity among young people is concerning because being overweight when you’re young has impacts on health when you’re an adult, including increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and prematur

Rates of obesity and of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are on the rise. Artichoke is a powerful natural remedy for the liver. This study put artichoke to the test against overweight people with NAFLD. As many as 90% of people who undergo bariatric surgery for obesity have metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the new name for NAFLD. Previous research has shown that artichoke extract can reduce hepatic stenosis, the excess fat in your liv

Recurrent urinary tract infections are common in kids. Frequent antibiotics can lead to side effects and antibiotic resistance. A new study suggests a natural alternative. Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are not only a pain in themselves for kids, they can lead to long-term kidney complications, especially in kids with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). VUR is a condition in which urine flows in the wrong direction. Instead of staying in the bladder until you urinate, if

Pecans are appreciated for their delicious taste alone or in pies, but they may be underappreciated, compared to other nuts, like almonds and walnuts, for their health benefits. This new review of the research should take care of that! Pecans are one of the few tree nuts that are native to North America. They were an important food for the continent’s indigenous people. Pecans are loaded in healthy unsaturated fats, fiber, protein and minerals, especially potassium, phosphoru

SAMe is a valuable natural treatment for depression that never seems to have quite caught on. This new systematic review is a reminder that maybe it is time that it does. Depression is already too common, and rates are still rising. Among young people, only 36% report that their treatment helped “a lot,” and only 65% say that it helped even “some.” As an added disappointment, conventional treatment for depression has a depressing list of side effects, including suicidal thoug

You already know that valerian works when it comes to helping you sleep. But you may be surprised both how well it works and how fast! A recent double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that taking 200mg of valerian extract, standardized for 2% valerenic acid, significantly improved total scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as well as time taken to fall asleep, sleep time, sleep efficiency, daytime drowsiness and refreshed feeling upon waking when people with mild

You knew that black seed does a lot. But, when it comes to cardiovascular disease, it seems to do it all! There have been a huge number of studies on Nigella sativa, commonly known as black seed, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This very high quality systematic review and meta-analysis put them all together for the most definitive word yet on black seed and cardiovascular disease. The meta-analysis included 82 high quality, controlled studies of a total of 5,026

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes in which the peripheral nerves are damaged. Capsaicin is the active ingredient in chili peppers. This systematic review showed that a 0.075% capsaicin cream applied to painful areas 4 times a day for 8 weeks reduces pain intensity and improves pain relief. Presumably because of the pain relief, the topical application also improved sleep quality. This study suggests that capsaicin cream could provide real relief for peo

Unexpectedly, there is a growing body of scientific evidence recommending asparagus root extract for menopause. There has been a recent flurry of studies demonstrating the benefits of asparagus root extract for menopause. Asparagus racemosus, or wild asparagus, is in the same family as, but distinct from, the Asparagus officinalis that we eat. In traditional herbalism, the most valued part of the plant is the root, which is known in the traditional Ayurvedic system of healing

Ginger is an incredibly useful and versatile herb. This new pain study adds to the list of ginger’s uses. Thirty men and women with a history of joint and muscle pain as well as inflammation were given either ginger or a placebo to see what effect they would have on pain after working out. Ginger reduced pain, stiffness and functional capacity as well as leading to better total scores on the WOMAC osteoarthritis index. There was also evidence that they had less discomfort whi

Despite the evidence that supplementing omega-3 EFA’s during pregnancy reduces the risk of preterm births, omega-3’s are not usually included in prenatal vitamins. This study set out to see if adding them would reduce the risk of preterm births. The study included 9,461 pregnant women. It found women who supplemented omega-3 EFA’s on top of their prenatal vitamins were a significant 36% less likely to have a preterm birth and 35% less likely to give birth to a baby who was sm

This systematic review and meta-analysis of 11 controlled studies found that chamomile significantly reduces inflammation and ulceration of the mucous membrane lining the digestive tract as well as pain, validating its traditional reputation as a natural anti-inflammatory and wound healing herb. Pharm Biol. 2025 Jul 15;63(1):490–502.

10-14% of couples worldwide experience infertility. 15-25% of them have infertility that is unexplained. Help may come from a very surprising place. Previous research has suggested the possibility that female infertility could be associated with microbiota in the genital tract. That has led to consideration of the possibility that probiotics might help. Preliminary research has given cause for hope. This new, double-blind study put the hope to the scientific test. 57 couples

Women going through menopause can experience hot flashes, sweating, loss of libido, depression, anxiety, insomnia and more. Real help that is safe to take would be a huge relief. Meet the ancient herb ashwagandha. The conventional treatment for menopause is hormone replacement therapy and antidepressants. Given the potential side effects of these powerful drugs, that’s a lot to ask for a totally normal change. Nature offers a number of herbs that provide significant relief wi

Chronic kidney disease affects a remarkable 10% of adults globally. Emerging evidence is pointing to diet as a key way to reduce your risk. This new study adds to that evidence. This study looked included 179,508 people. It wanted to see if adhering to the EAT-Lancet diet would affect the risk of chronic kidney disease. The EAT-Lancet diet emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, nuts and unsaturated fats; it is low in seafood and poultry and includes little to n

Way too many people struggle with anxiety, stress, depression and insomnia that can lead to illness and diminish quality of life. This new study shows that a blend of powerful traditional medicinal mushrooms can help. Around the world, rates of stress, fatigue and poor sleep are just continuing to go up. As many as 28% of people may be depressed, 26.9% may be anxious, 36.5% may be stressed and 27.6% may have trouble getting a good night’s sleep. A number of powerful medicinal

Cholesterol problems are an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Several studies have suggested that curcumin can help fight cholesterol. This new meta-analysis put the data on curcumin to the test. This new meta-analysis gathered research that was published up until August 2025. In all, 16 controlled studies of 1038 people were included. The curcumin was combined with piperine to improve absorption. The pooled results showed that curcumin significantly reduced t

A new study suggests that elephants may seek out plants to eat because they are medicinal, adding to the evidence that elephants may have extensive herbal knowledge and that they may even have taught some of it to us. African elephants sometimes forage for the stems and leaves of banana and papaya plants and forgo the delicious fruit. Turns out, that may be because they are seeking, not a snack, but a cure. New research shows that elephants are more likely to eat banana and p

A large body of evidence suggests that curcumin improves chemotherapy outcomes and improves quality of life. This new study of women with breast cancer adds to that important research. This study included 120 women with locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer. All of them were being treated with chemotherapy. Some of them added 500mg a day of curcumin, standardized for 95% curcuminoids. After 12 weeks of treatment, the objective response rate was significantly better in the

Several studies have suggested that ginger can positively influence markers of cardiovascular disease. This systematic review put them all together. Guess what it found. This systematic review of ginger’s effects on markers of cardiovascular disease included 41 controlled studies published up to the beginning of 2025. It found that ginger supplementation effectively improved fasting blood sugar, insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), long-term glycemic control (HbA1c), trigly