Fasting has been a common human activity since the beginning of recorded history. At its most basic level, fasting is abstaining from food and liquids, or sometimes just solid food. But is fasting healthy? More specifically, can fasting be used to lose weight, or detoxify (detox) harmful materials from the body? Fasting to lose weight Medical...

Know someone dealing with a serious illness? Learn some ways to support them. In "Healthy Heart Foods", Registered Dietitian Vivienne Soo will show you which fruits, vegetables and whole grain products are better for your heart.  Cardiovascular disease is one of the deadliest diseases in North America, but many of the risk factors -- such as...

Can you get too much of a good thing? Every year Americans spend billions of dollars on vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements. Usually, the amounts we take are within safe limits. Occasionally, however, fads come along that advocate mega-doses as the latest cure-all. But more isn't always better. In fact, mega-doses can cause more problems...

How often do you feel you have eaten too much? For most people, the answer is too often. The fact is, the size of our meals has been increasing in recent years to beyond what is considered a healthy intake. The same goes for beverages - we are drinking larger and larger bottles of sweetened drinks. Most of us have a pretty good idea of what...

Heart Associations in North America recommend eating two or more servings of fish per week. It is well known that salmon has many health benefits. Salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, helping protect against heart attacks and strokes. New research suggests that salmon may enhance brain function, help combat depression and reduce...

Nuts have had a roller coaster of a reputation. Once upon a time, nuts were held in high esteem:  Romans considered nuts food for the gods.  Incas made pots in the shape of highly prized peanuts.  Walnuts were used to treat head ailments in Renaissance days, given their similarity to the brain. More recent decades have shunned nuts, fearing...

Having recently acquired a love for flavored coffee, I figured I should check out the latest health virtues of this world-famous bean. While coffee has been cleared of almost all former health charges, many still ask whether decaf is healthier. Others wonder whether the decaffeination process poses its own set of health risks. And still, others...