Do toddler formulas deliver on nutrition claims?

Once babies are a year old, those who have been drinking infant formula don’t need it anymore. By that age, they can and should get most of their nutritional needs met by solid foods. Drinking cow’s milk, or a fortified plant milk such as soy milk, is perfectly fine. And honestly, they don’t even need

Could men with advanced prostate cancer avoid chemotherapy?

When we think about radiation therapy, we typically picture treatments directed at tumors by a machine located outside the body. Now imagine a different scenario — one in which radioactive particles injected into the bloodstream find and destroy individual cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unscathed. The drug One such “radioligand” is already available for

3 ways to create community and counter loneliness

Loneliness is complicated. You can feel lonely when you lack friends and miss companionship, or when you’re surrounded by people — even friends and family. Either way, loneliness can have devastating health effects. It boosts risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, depression, high blood pressure, declining thinking skills, inability to perform daily living tasks, and

What to do if you think your child has the flu

Once influenza season is underway, it’s natural that if you hear your child start coughing, you wonder: could this be the flu or another virus? And if you think it is the flu, what should you do? Is it the flu, RSV, COVID –– or just a cold? It’s not always easy to tell these

When should you hire in-home help or health aides?

Most people want to age in place and live at home for as long as possible: according to an AARP survey, three-quarters of people 50 and older are hoping to do so. But managing this successfully may mean hiring outside help, such as health aides who can assist you with daily activities that have become

Immune boosts or busts? From IV drips and detoxes to superfoods

Ever see ads for products that promise to supercharge immunity? Activate your body’s natural defenses? Support a healthy immune system while delivering a potent boost derived from nature’s hottest immune-enhancing ingredients? While the words may change to reflect the latest trends, the claims certainly sound amazing. But do the multitude of products promoted as immune

What does a birth doula do?

Childbirth — painful, messy, unpredictable — has been part of humankind for time immemorial. And in the US, which has surprisingly high rates of avoidable complications and maternal deaths, more people seem to be seeking out doulas for additional care during pregnancy and birth, says Natalia Richey, interim chief midwife in the Department of Obstetrics

What to do when driving skills decline

Part 2 of a two-part series on making decisions about driving as we age. Read Part 1 here.  It’s a simple but unfortunate fact: driving skills can wane over time. Eventually, driving can become unsafe for an older driver, their passengers, and others on the road. If you notice a decline in driving abilities in

Veins are a key player in the body: Here’s why

Blood circulation is vital to our health. Our arteries deliver oxygen, energy-rich nutrients, hormones, immune cells, and other essentials throughout the body. When deliveries are cut off, organs and tissue can be irreversibly damaged within minutes. But a second part of blood circulation is also vitally important: the return trip. After our arteries deliver the

Holiday arguments brewing? Here’s how to defuse them

The holidays, as painted by idealists, are hardly the time for disagreements. They’re supposed to be filled with love, laughter, good cheer, and those tiny sparkly lights that make the mood feel festive. Unfortunately, joyous celebration often deteriorates into epic discord when family and friends gather during the season. But you don’t have to get