January 8-14, 2012 - Original Health Articles

Never mind the over-the-counter and prescription pills that can have numerous side effects, achieving a better night's sleep naturally might be as easy as downing a glass of tart cherry juice. Scientists at Northumbria University in England initially discovered the link between tart cherry juice and better sleep when they studied the drink for its exercise-recovery properties.

Whether eaten raw with your favorite dip, jarred and pickled, or cooked up as part of a savory dinner entrée, peppers deserve a place at your table. By far, the most popular variety of pepper eaten in the U.S. is the bell pepper. Here's a guide to the differences between these bell peppers: Green Peppers The least expensive of the bell peppers and the least sweet, this pepper is picked before achieving full ripeness.

Should you or shouldn't you? That's the big question when it comes to cholesterol screening for children and adolescents, and the answer seems far from clear. In 2007, the United States Preventive Task Force (USPTF), an independent panel of experts, established screening guidelines for lipid abnormalities in children.

Dance-based workouts can provide everything your body needs to get toned, fit, and in-shape. Plus, they're fun, inspiring, and they're great places to meet new people. Here are six kinds of dance that will keep you on your toes: Belly dancing is a centuries-old dance tradition that grew from many different middle-eastern cultures.

Falling and hurting yourself becomes a real danger as you get older, especially if you don't get enough exercise, have vision problems, take sedating medications, suffer from osteoporosis or other bone-weakening conditions, or there are environmental hazards in your home, such as loose rugs, poor lighting, or unstable furniture or fixtures.

We all have days when our energy flags. However, persistent lethargy is one of the diagnostic criteria for depression. Here are simple steps you can take to lessen the impact of lethargy: 1. Get enough sleep This seems obvious enough in theory; however, if you're depressed, this may be easier said than done.

The word arthritis means "joint inflammation" and can refer to any one of more than 100 different diseases and disorders that can affect the joints in your feet, ankles, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists or fingers. This is how the condition works.

If your sex life is suffering because of your inability to reach orgasm, chances are you're trying to figure out why and what you can do about it. Experts say, there are physical, as well as psychological causes to your sexual dilemma. "There are psychological, physical, and biological reasons for the inability to orgasm," says Renee Horowitz, MD, FACOG, director of the Center for Sexual Wellness in Farmington Hills, New York.

If your goal is to cut down on or cut out meat consumption, you may be wondering if there are worthy substitutes out there. Sure, you'll eat more fish, chicken, and beans, but are there any foods that can really stand in for meat in your favorite recipes? Happily, the answer is yes.

A geriatrician is typically an internist or family practitioner who has had additional training in the medical and psychological care of men and women age 65 and older. Geriatricians develop a special understanding of what happens to the body as it ages and what aging means with respect to your health.

Male infertility is a significant problem in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.7 million men are affected by it and 40 percent of couples attempting conception fail because of it. Genital defects, sperm transportation issues (motility), erection and ejaculatory failure, low sperm production or function issues, complications from surgery, and exposure to toxic agents are all factors that cause male infertility.

You rarely hear about the health benefits of coffee. Instead, you're warned that it's linked to elevated heart rates, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and anxiety. But there may be some good news for people who still love their daily cups of joe.

As a parent, you probably thought that you could protect your child from harm if you made sure that she ate right, got enough sleep, and was up to date on all the recommended vaccinations. But everything changed the day your child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Fecal microbiota transplants, also called stool transplants, have been around since the late 1950s, but have had a hard time catching on. That may soon change. At the American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting, researchers reported that the therapy may successfully treat recurring C.

If you've ever found yourself screaming "Share!" or insisting that your child give his playmate a toy, you're in good company. Sometimes it can seem impossible to get kids to act unselfishly. Yet research shows that even young toddlers show a willingness to share.

If you have diabetes and nausea, constipation, and low blood sugar have left you feeling chronically crummy, gastroparesis may be the reason. It's a condition that is found most often in individuals with long-standing or poorly controlled diabetes, explains Spyros Mezitis, MD, of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

Sometimes it seems as if carbs get all the attention from nutrition experts who extol the virtues of "good" ones vs. "bad" ones. But protein comes in various forms, too. Some are better for your overall health, and others should be eaten more sparingly.

Parents are becoming increasingly concerned about the foods school cafeterias serve, which tend to be high in calories, fat, sugar, and salt, and offer very little nutritional value. As a result, many parents are beginning to send their kids to school with a packed lunch.