Eat foods that feed your good bacteria
You know about boosting your microbiome with probiotics — beneficial bacteria found in yogurt, kefir, kimchi and sauerkraut — which have been shown to have health benefits, such as improving digestion, immune health and mood. But what are prebiotics? Those are the nutrients in food that feed your gut bacteria, and they may be the next rising microbiome star. “We probably... READ MORE
Sources of free or cheap insulin for diabetics
Diabetes patients struggling to afford insulin, especially those losing health insurance because of the coronavirus pandemic, can get it at sharply reduced prices, even for free. All top three insulin makers are now offering programs to help patients. In April, Novo Nordisk announced a new program offering free insulin for at least three months to those who have lost insurance. Rival... READ MORE
Restoring visual perception to the blind
Although he is blind, Jason Esterhuizen is able to walk on the sidewalk, thanks to an experimental brain implant that enables him to distinguish light areas from dark. Seven years ago, Esterhuizen was in a car crash that destroyed his eyes, plunging him into total darkness. Today, he’s regained visual perception and more independence, thanks to an experimental device implanted in... READ MORE
Virus keeps kids from their grandparents
A few weeks ago, Debbie Cameron saw her grandsons most days, playing the piano, making after-school snacks or singing nursery rhymes with the baby in her home. Then the coronavirus crisis hit, and the boys were suddenly gone. Cameron is 68 and has asthma, making her one of the people most at risk of getting seriously ill or dying. Now she sees her grandchildren from behind the glass of a ... READ MORE
Beware of virus ‘cures’ and other cons
Con artists are finding lots of marks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Watchdog groups and authorities report a surge in complaints about scams targeting people who fear catching the virus or need money due to lost income. Scams include “investments” in phony COVID-19 cures and charging people in advance for nonexistent home tests, fake protective gear or even overpriced toilet paper that ... READ MORE
Older volunteers sought for vaccine tests
Scientists from all over the world are racing to find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus that causes the disease COVID-19. Here in the D.C. area, researchers at the National Institutes of Health are conducting an important clinical trial, and they’re looking for people ages 56 and older to help test a vaccine. This clinical trial will evaluate the mRNA-1273 vaccine. “From... READ MORE
Hope from coronavirus survivor’s blood
Tiffany Pinckney remembers the fear when COVID-19 stole her breath. So when she recovered, the New York City mother became one of the country’s first survivors to donate her blood to help treat other seriously ill patients. “It is definitely overwhelming to know that in my blood, there may be answers,” Pinckney said. Doctors around the world are dusting off a century-old... READ MORE
If you’d like to eat less meat, try ahi tuna
Many people today wonder if they’re maybe eating a little too much red meat, and are looking for alternatives. I suggest they try fresh tuna. To me, a good sushi-grade ahi tuna steak is the closest thing you can eat from the sea that tastes like a great piece of beef. Deep rosy red in color, firm in texture and richly robust in flavor, fresh tuna is definitely the fish you want to ... READ MORE
Five ways to be social from a distance
Social distancing and stay-at-home orders are taking a toll on the human psyche and fueling the loneliness epidemic that has raged for several years. Let’s face it: It’s isolating to stay inside for long stretches. And when we venture outside, we find others who look like aliens with face masks and gloves, darting away from each other. It’s downright creepy. Before coronavirus ... READ MORE
Older adults remember earlier hard times
One person remembers the polio epidemic and the hardships of World War II. One is stoic about it all because, he said, he’s already “here past [his] welcome.” A third, old enough to remember the aftermath of the 1918 flu epidemic, turns to her faith in challenging times. For older Americans, some of the people most likely to be negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic, these ... READ MORE
