In a recent Wellness Wednesday, I teamed up with certified personal trainer, Karen Brownlee, to share the important role that balance plays in healthy aging. Balance has a powerful, positive effect on brain health and mitigates risks associated with many diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and even heart disease.

As many of you know, I LOVE to read! I can always be happy with a book. Here are a few suggestions for this summer.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news this summer as everyone is firing up the grill, but I want to share a few facts about AGEs (advanced glycation products in foods).

Paul Simon wrote in the song, Old Friends: "How terribly strange to be 70." Having just turned 70 years old, I beg to differ with Paul Simon.

In recognition of June as Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, I wanted to share these resources.

This Mother’s Day, I want to acknowledge the very special relationship between mothers with Alzheimer’s disease, and the daughters who care for them. This relationship has been a focus of my graduate research at Indiana University.

There is no shortage of advice about foods to avoid in the fight against inflammation. A Google Search on the term “foods that fight inflammation” yields 485 million results! Note that many of these are blogs and are not supported by scientific evidence.

Supplements have been in the news lately, but not in a good way. A recent study published in a JAMA research letter  found that 22 of 25 melatonin gummy products—a whopping 88%—inaccurately represented the content of their products (1).

There is nothing new about the advice to “eat your greens.” Most likely we heard it from our moms. Most recently, we have heard it from nutrition experts, especially with the emphasis on plant-based eating. To me, the most compelling reason is this: high consumption of leafy green vegetables is linked to a lower risk of dementia.

Erythritol has been in the news a lot these past few weeks because of its possible link to heart attack and stroke. Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that is used to add bulk to sugar substitutes like stevia and monkfruit sweetener. It is also used to reduce sugar in Keto products. Is all the media attention cause for alarm? Let’s look at the facts.

This week's Smart Bite was inspired by a webinar I attended with Annie Fenn, MD, and Lisa Genova, PhD. Annie is the founder of The Brain Health Kitchen and author of a fabulous new cookbook. Lisa is a neuroscientist, author, and one of the Top 50 Influencers in Aging. Here is what Annie and Lisa had to say about the Four F’s of brain health.

A new study is underway at my alma mater, the University of Southern California (USC), to learn more about the secrets of SuperAgers. These are individuals who have not simply lived longer, but have lived to an old age with the mental, physical, and social state of a much younger individual.

As we kick off the new year, I wanted to share a few of my favorite books, including health books, cookbooks, and fiction. 

We hug other people when we are happy, sad, glad, or trying to give comfort. In fact, hugs appear to be a universal way to express “I care about you” and “you matter.” But why does a hug feel so good?

There is scientific evidence that certain dietary components may play a role in promoting a good night's sleep, or preventing it.

It’s no surprise that social relationships are good for our health. What is surprising, according to a new 2022 study, is this…

Music is a proven and powerful way to regulate our mood and help us feel better. Beyond these benefits, emerging research shows that music can play a pivotal role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The global healthy snacks market is nearly $86 billion US dollars and is expected to reach more than $108 billion in the next five years. This represents packaged foods that met the US government regulations for "healthy," at least until a new FDA ruling.

There are a host of reasons for low back pain, but a new observational, longitudinal study (1) published in 2022 shows that stress may play a key role, especially in light of the pandemic.

We might expect feelings of joy to be tied to major, happy events, but joy doesn't work that way. It comes in a whisper when we can simply pause and reflect, and have a moment or two of gratitude.