Wellness

Most of us think we can subsist on Chick-fil-A sandwiches and Krispy Kreme doughnuts as long as we pop a multivitamin each day. But vitamins can be more sinister than you think.

By Charles W. Bryant

Stress, which sometimes seems an inevitable part of daily life, is also a source of wear and tear on both body and mind. Learn more about the effects of stress on the body and mind in this article.

By DiscoveryHealth.com writers

Cigarettes are packed with ammonia, arsenic and turpentine. Take a deep drag. Those same substances clean toilets, kill rats and strip varnish from wood.

By Charles W. Bryant

You know how some people try to commit suicide by enclosing themselves in a garage with a running vehicle? When you smoke, you're filling your blood with that same deadly chemical -- carbon monoxide.

By Charles W. Bryant

Reflexology is a complementary therapy that has some people putting down their painkillers. Is the key to reducing postoperative pain on the soles of your feet?

By Julia Layton

Surgery is tough on a body, and postsurgical pain can be all-encompassing. It's no surprise people are turning meditation as a way to manipulate their brains and manage their pain.

By Julia Layton

Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against you. Cigarette makers have found more than one way to make your brain scream for another cig. And another. And another.

By Charles W. Bryant

Carbon monoxide has been called "the senseless killer" because it is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. Learn more about carbon monoxide and what you can do to minimize your exposure to it.

By Jan Garavaglia, M.D.

Your home might feel like a safe haven but it does present many dangers that you should be aware about. Check out this article that is filled with helpful content on how to improve the safety of your home.

By Jan Garavaglia, M.D.

Imagine you have to take cigarette breaks alone. Your old smoking buddies -- those quitters -- won't even hang out with you anymore. You can't believe it, but you just might have to quit too.

By Charles W. Bryant

The Atkins diet paperback has been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 350 weeks. No wonder it seems like almost everyone is on the Atkins diet. Originally a diet craze in the 1970s, the Atkins program has made an amazing comeback.

By Allison Klein

Leg cramps can stop you dead in your tracks, anytime day or night. What causes your muscles to spasm like that, and what can you do about the pain?

When it comes to medicinal drugs, the FDA's standards are pretty high: Only about 0.1 percent of the drug compounds tested in labs ever receive approval. So if herbs like ephedrine are causing psychosis and death, why doesn't the FDA eradicate them?

By Josh Clark

Have people in blue zones discovered the so-called Fountain of Youth? Blue zone inhabitants are frequently reaching 90, or even well past 100 years of age. Is it possible to create your own blue zone?

By John Fuller

The strange feeling arrives suddenly. Intense heat feels like a blast furnace has just been ignited below the surface of your skin. As quickly as it arrived, it vanishes. What causes hot flashes?

By Brette Sember

Athletes know that the body loses salt through sweat. It's important for the salt to be replaced to minimize things like muscle cramps that are associated with salt imbalance. That's where electrolytes come into play.

By Jill Ferguson

When you spy your slim self in the mirror, you may wonder where that lost weight went. Your body has been rearranging molecules to create a svelte you.

By Cristen Conger

Beans and peas are high in fiber, low in fat and packed with lean protein. Exploding with vitamins and minerals, beans and peas are a natural way to slim down and stay healthy. Discover how you can add beans and peas to your diet.

By the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.

Short people might get the short end of the stick in some activities, but they (literally) may have the last laugh. New research claims short people may outlive everyone.

By Jessika Toothman

From mantra to yoga. From deep breathing exercises to plain old exercise. Get into your happy place and eliminate stress, before stress on your body and mind eliminates you.

By Jane McGrath

Fluoridated water helps strengthen our teeth. But are we getting too much of a good thing? Some European countries have banned fluoride in drinking water.

By Julia Layton

When you exercise, you're using your muscles to create motion. The body has an incredibly complex set of processes to meet the demands of working muscles. Find out how your body responds to exercise.

By Craig Freudenrich, Ph.D.

Sodium is essential to life, but too much of it can cause edema and contribute to high blood pressure. The average American eats almost four times the recommended sodium intake per day.

By Jill Ferguson

Electrolytes are important for athletes and play a large part in many medical treatments. Just what are electrolytes anyway?

Heating things up burns calories -- that's a scientific fact. But can drinking ice water really help you burn calories?