Vitamins, minerals & supplements Archive

Many spices inhibit damaging inflammation that can cause or worsen a variety of chronic diseases. Four beloved holiday spices-cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and turmeric-boast a variety of health benefits, but need to be used liberally to maximize the effects. People can challenge their palates to use more spices all year long by trying new recipes, testing spices in restaurant or ready-made meals, and bringing spice-laden dishes their ancestors once enjoyed to their own tables.

A 2025 study suggests that eating higher amounts of ultra-processed foods such as chips, frozen pizza, cereal, and other prepackaged items high in unhealthy fats, sugar, and sodium is linked to a host of health problems.

Light therapy uses light boxes that emit a bright, white light. Exposure to this light can control a person's circadian rhythm-the body's internal 24-hour sleep-wake clock-and help manage and prevent seasonal affective disorder.

A 2025 study found that eating large amounts of saturated fat raised LDL (andamp;ldquo;bad") cholesterol levels in the body but dietary cholesterol from eggs did not.

Vaginal probiotics contain live microorganisms and come in oral and suppository forms. Some ads claim these products can prevent or treat infections. But the vagina regulates its own bacterial mix, so vaginal probiotics aren't necessary.

The trend toward eating plant-rich diets has led to a number of new dietary terms and buzzwords. Examples include the terms "plant-forward," which describes the shift toward the gradual incorporation of more plant foods into the diet; "plant-based protein," used for foods that contain a high amount of protein, even some processed foods; and "sustainable eating," whichrefers to the big picture of food choices and how they can help sustain the environment, the planet, and health.

In a 2025 study of nearly a million people with diabetes, those who took GLP-1 drugs had a reduction of 10% to 20% in heart failure, cardiac arrest, lung failure and pneumonia, and dementia, compared with people who took other diabetes medications.

Coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease, occurs when cholesterol-laden debris narrows the arteries that supply blood to the heart. It is treated with lifestyle changes and medications. However, sometimes people also need a procedure called angioplasty to open a blocked or narrowed artery to improve blood flow to the heart, along with insertion of a stent to hold it open. Most people need this if they experience a heart attack or unstable angina, when chest discomfort occurs repeatedly and unexpectedly, often at rest.

Salt intake fuels high blood pressure, which is the top risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Sodium is hidden in many everyday foods, including bread, sauces, condiments, cereal, rice, pasta, and processed items such as canned soups, deli meats, and frozen meals. People can cut back on salt by reading food labels, rinsing canned goods, cooking at home more often, and using other seasonings instead.

The vast majority of older adults would want to know if they're in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and would want a blood test to learn for certain, according to a 2025 poll. Advances in testing and treatment may fuel this desire for knowledge. There are pros and cons to knowing this information. People with an early Alzheimer's diagnosis can plan ahead, seek support, and may feel motivated to maintain their health. But the diagnosis may jeopardize their job or insurance coverage, as well as trigger anxiety or depression.