Choose your location
The Healthy
8 Foods You Should Never Eat Before Sex, Say Dietitians
Registered dietitians share the snacks you should skip before your next date night. For the most part, the power of libido-boosting aphrodisiac foods is all in our heads. Still, while dining on oysters may or may not help get you in the mood, what we eat has an effect our sex lives—and there are certain foods you should avoid before having sex.
Can You Get Chlamydia From Oral Sex? An Infectious Disease Epidemiologist Explains
Oh, chlamydia. No one asks for this sexually transmitted infection, yet it goes around because it often doesn’t produce detectable symptoms. Sexually transmitted disease diagnoses have been on the rise in recent years. In 2019, the National Chlamydia Coalition stated that cases of chlamydia had increased 19% over the previous five years. And despite imposed social isolation measures, the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t seem to slow the trend down much: Between 2020 and 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis had increased by 4%, 4%, and 32% respectively. The CDC added that it’s possible these estimates were low due to the fact that individuals probably weren’t being screened for these infections at the same levels they would have if the pandemic hadn’t deterred consumers from seeking healthcare.
4 Just-Revealed Facts as the New COVID-19 Vaccines Are Released
The new COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available in the next few days, possibly as soon as September 13, and is expected to help protect against severe disease and death from the XBB.1.5, the Omicron subvariant. This week the US Food and Drug Administration has (FDA) authorized updated COVID...
‘Am I Smart?’ 8 Scientific Cues That Signal Intelligence, from Neuroscientists
Two neuroscience experts shed light on the habits and behaviors that can indicate above-average intelligence. We all knew that kid in school who aced every test. While that person probably was smart, chances are good they were also intelligent. We tend to think being “smart” and being “intelligent” are the...
Here’s Why You’re Hungry After a Nap, Says a Nutrition Expert
If you’re not getting enough sleep at night, an afternoon nap can reduce health risks associated with sleep deprivation, according to 2020 research published in the journal Sleep. Plus, in the short term, a nap can help you feel more alert, focused, and in a better mood—but is it normal to wake up hungry, even after a short snooze?
How to Manage Anxiety, According to an Expert
Stress, emptiness, lack of focus, anger, helplessness, despair: “Anxiety” is the dumpster fire mental health diagnosis that combines all kinds of difficult emotions into one big pile and watches them blaze. The good news is that you might feel increasingly comforted by the fact that many people you know are probably suffering from anxiety.
I Ate Bananas Every Day for a Week—Here’s What Happened
There’s just something universally appealing (I had to!) about a banana. Bananas are the everyday fruit that slice so perfectly into cereal, blend beautifully into smoothies, accompany you on rushed mornings and occasionally sneak into your dessert. Thanks in part to the pure convenience factor of grabbing one when you need something quick and healthy, Americans are bananas about this tropical treasure—so much that the Mayo Clinic suggests the average American eats 27 pounds’ worth of bananas per year.
New Study: Here’s How Weight Loss Surgery Can Lower Women’s Cancer Risk
Bariatric surgery is a medical procedure aimed at helping individuals with severe obesity lose significant weight. This is not just a cosmetic solution—it’s a potentially life-saving intervention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), obesity is linked to a plethora of health complications, including heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. Bariatric surgery works by making changes to the digestive system, either by reducing the size of the stomach, rerouting the small intestines, or both.
This OTC Medicine Linked to 20% Higher Anemia Risk in Seniors, Says Research
It’s a small, white pill that has long been a staple in many medicine cabinets. Its reputation as a preventive measure against heart diseases made it an almost ritualistic daily intake for older adults. Hailed for its potential cardiovascular benefits, the tablet has, for years, been recommended by many physicians as a simple, low-cost intervention. However, with each passing decade the research around medication advances, and what was once considered a universal truth is being reevaluated.
Soccer Icon Mia Hamm on How Being ‘Intense and Focused and Raw’ Can Heal After Loss
Mia Hamm was at the height of her career in 1996 after the Atlanta Olympics when the U.S. Women’s team won a gold medal in the first Olympics where women’s soccer had ever been introduced. Things turned the following year, when Hamm lost her 28-year-old brother, Garrett, due to complications following his bone marrow transplant for aplastic anemia—a rare blood disorder that the Mayo Clinic explains causes a deficiency in the blood cells the body is meant to produce.
Football Food Safety: 5 Tips for Your Next Tailgate, From a Microbiology Expert
You've been looking forward to this since winter! An expert's rules to be the hero and wow the crowd with those goodies off the grill. Labor Day is behind us, which for millions of Americans means one thing: Football season. Tailgating—named, aptly, as a gathering in a sports stadium parking lot with food and drinks sometimes out of the back of a car or truck—is the biggest highlight of the season for many die-hard fans. But along with the carefree spirit of day-drinking and team chants can come food poisoning hazards that can put a damper on the stories about this weekend you and your friends will tell for years.
Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Body if You Chew Gum Every Day
Chewing gum does more than freshen your breath—but is it okay to chew it every day? A clinical nutritionist explains what daily gum chewing does to your body. Surveys show that a majority of Americans chew gum two to three times a week, with the greatest gum lovers among us averaging about three pieces per day.
What Is Food Noise? Experts Explain
Much like our height, eye color and affinity for risk-taking, research shows that genetics strongly influence weight and body size. More than 400 genes are associated with someone’s likelihood to be overweight or obese—and this effect varies widely. According to Harvard Medical School, research has shown that genetics guide our weight by anywhere from 25% to 80%, depending on the person.
Bruce Springsteen’s Tour Pause: Doctors Comment on the Severity of a Peptic Ulcer Diagnosis
An icon like Bruce Springsteen is one of those artists fans live to see live. So it’s not a surprise it made headlines this Wednesday when Springsteen announced a time-out from touring to be treated for what his team is calling symptoms of peptic ulcer disease, a gastrointestinal condition. The postponed September shows include stops in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Albany, and Syracuse in New York, Pittsburgh, and Washington, and some in Connecticut and Ohio.
Wearing This May Reduce Your Dementia Risk, Says New Study
At a summertime concert, in the office or classroom, from the laughter of grandchildren or a Jimmy Buffett song, hearing helps to connect you with the world around you. With much of the Baby Boomer generation now having reached the distinguished senior threshold, recent research has also shown that hearing provides essential stimulation that can fight off depression—and increasing evidence is suggesting that’s also true for dementia.
7 Rules for Love, from Zen Monks
Enlightening keys to anchor into your heart and find a harmonious relationship, from two monks who understand the complexities of partnership. As if we weren’t already living in a complicated era for love and relationships, the pandemic came along and made it trickier than ever to meet somebody special. We’ve all heard that love arrives when you’re not looking for it…which can be one of the most annoying pieces of advice—have you been there? Anyone who’s longing for that special connection can’t help but look for it.
Here’s the Arm You Should Get Your COVID Shot In, New Study Finds
As of August 2023, the World Health Organization has reported that nearly 13.5 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered across the globe. Considering this figure, an August 2023 study published in the peer-reviewed Lancet journal, eBioMedicine, explores a curiously overlooked area of vaccine research: The scientists examined whether the second dose of an individual’s COVID-19 vaccine should be administered on the same side as the first (ipsilateral), or the opposite side (contralateral) from the first.
Here’s How Much Sugar Is Really in a Banana, from a Nutrition Expert
With the rise of the “low-carb” diets in recent years, you may have heard the head-scratching claim that you should avoid bananas because “they have too much sugar” and aren’t great for you. It always seems like this suggestion comes from that keto-fanatic friend who’s ingesting their sixth or seventh piece of bacon as part of their daily breakfast. Not that bacon is necessarily bad for you—but when you think about it, any assertion that a natural, whole food should be avoided and substituted with a high-sodium piece of processed meat should be taken with a grain of salt (figuratively speaking, of course).
5 Merkel Cell Skin Cancer Symptoms Jimmy Buffett May Have Experienced, Say Experts
Jimmy Buffett's passing brings what the Mayo Clinic calls this "rare and aggressive" type of skin cancer to light. Over Labor Day weekend Jimmy Buffett, the 76-year-old legendary singer-songwriter known for beachy folk rock that celebrate the enjoyment of life, lost his battle with Merkel cell carcinoma. “Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive skin cancer which is often and sadly diagnosed late, when it has more metastatic features,” says Dr. Marianna Blyumin Karasik, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder of Precision Skin Institute in Davie, FL (which happens to be located approximately one hour away from Jimmy Buffett’s Palm Beach home). “Metastatic” means the cancer originated in one site of the body and then spread further to other organs and tissues.
The Healthy
4K+
Posts
57M+
Views
The Healthy is a health & wellness site dedicated to providing real, science-backed answers for your most important health questions and problems.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.