Wellness

You might not have heard the word phthalates, but you've been exposed to them. They're chemicals that make plastics stronger and they're in just about everything you touch. But are they harmful to your health?

By Stephanie Parker

Sitting on your butt all day can do a number on your health. Calisthenics, which is resistance training using your body weight, is a great way to stay in shape.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Nitrates are found not only in processed meats, but also naturally occur in green vegetables as well. So, are they dangerous?

By Alia Hoyt

In the U.S., normal body temperature has been dropping over the past 150 years. People run cooler today than they did two centuries ago. Why is that?

By Michael Gurven & Thomas Kraft

Phenibut is sold in Russia as an anti-anxiety drug. But it's not licensed as medication in many countries because of its side effects. Still it's easy to find online sold as a brain-booster.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Some experts argue it's not good to run every single day without letting the body rest. But others take running streaks to another level, and their bodies and minds are better for it.

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Stressed out because of work, kids' virtual school and a raging pandemic? Box breathing might be just the chill pill you need.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that grows on insects. It's been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and is said to fix a host of health issues. But is it too good to be true?

By Jennifer Walker-Journey

Floating in a sensory deprivation tank is a form of restricted environmental stimulation therapy. Studies have shown it can be good for your mind and body.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Now that we're all supposed to be wearing masks, we've all become keenly aware of something: our breath. And guess what? It doesn't always smell good.

By Cherise Threewitt

Everybody knows that carrots are good for you, but what happens if you eat too many of them?

By Laurie L. Dove

Never heard of tonsil stones? They're nasty little stones that can form in your throat. So should you freak out if you have them?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

It's something we hear or read a lot: Certain foods can help your immune system. But what does that really mean? And is there any science behind it?

By Maria C. Hunt

During this time of social distancing and isolation, many hot yoga aficionados are craving the heat of the hot yoga studio, but our experts say you can create that heat at home.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Social isolation, boredom and monotony in these days of COVID-19 may seem like passive problems, but they actually trigger the brain's stress reactions. Luckily, there's help.

By Wendy Bowman

Staying fit is more important now than ever. Regular exercise decreases tension, and elevates and stabilize moods — all things we need at times like this. So how do we stay fit from home?

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

What in the world do you wipe with when you're totally out of toilet paper? You can try one of these alternatives. Desperate times call for desperate measures!

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Every year, a version of the flu vaccine must be developed, to compensate for the changes in the flu virus the year before. Will we ever have a one-and-done flu vaccine?

By Alia Hoyt

Social distancing is definitely not something most of us are used to. After all, we humans are social creatures. So what is it exactly, and how are we supposed to do it?

By Patty Rasmussen

Put down the sanitizer and get out the soap! Health experts say washing with soap and water gets more germs off your hands than using the alcohol-based stuff. But why?

By Alia Hoyt

Burning some essential oils around your home may make it smell really nice. But could there be some side effects you should be worried about?

By Alia Hoyt

Kefir is a fermented milk drink similar to a thin yogurt, said to be full of good gut bacteria and capable of lowering blood sugar and bad cholesterol. Sounds great, but does the hype match the reality?

By Laurie L. Dove

Your friends might be talking up this way of eating and have you curious as to whether it may work for you. We talk to the experts to find out, as well as give you our personal experience.

By Alia Hoyt

Some foods have been linked with making the body less inflamed. But what is inflammation anyway and how can food make it better?

By Alia Hoyt

The Finnish people tout the therapeutic benefits of a hot sauna, followed by a cold plunge into a lake. And they would know. They're credited with starting the practice and have been doing it for centuries.

By Stephanie Vermillion