Articles

The internet says seed oils are poison. Science says it's complicated. Here's what the research actually shows.

You've probably seen the headlines: seed oils are inflammatory, toxic, and responsible for everything from obesity to heart disease. But before you throw out your canola oil, it's worth asking what the evidence actually says—because the picture is far more nuanced than social media would have you believe.

They're marketed as health food, but your protein bar might have more in common with a candy bar than you think.

You grab a protein bar on the way out the door and feel good about it. It has 20 grams of protein, right? It must be healthy. But flip that wrapper over and take a closer look at the ingredient list. What you find might surprise you.

Researchers studying the world's longest-lived people keep noticing the same three drinks in their daily routines.

You might assume that living to 100 requires some impossible combination of perfect genes and radical discipline. But researchers who study centenarians around the world keep finding something surprisingly ordinary at the center of their daily lives: what they drink. Coffee, water, and red wine show up again and again in the diets of people who live the longest. Here's what the science actually says about each one.

Gastroenterologists say two simple food strategies may do more for your gut than any supplement on the shelf.

You've heard the word "probiotics" so many times it's practically background noise. But what does the science actually say about keeping your gut healthy — and what do the doctors who specialize in digestive health really recommend? The answers may surprise you.

New animal research suggests resistance exercise may trigger changes in fat tissue faster than scientists expected—here's what it could mean for your workout routine.

Most people assume you need months of lifting weights before your body starts to change in any meaningful way. But a new study is challenging that assumption. Researchers found that just seven sessions of resistance exercise were enough to start shrinking fat cells in mice—and the implications for human health are worth paying attention to.

Millions of Americans take vitamin D every day — but many may be reaching for a form that doesn't work as well as they think.

You've probably heard that vitamin D is important. But here's something most people don't know: not all vitamin D supplements are the same. The form on the label matters more than you might expect, and choosing the wrong one could mean your body isn't getting the full benefit you're paying for.

GLP-1 medications are changing lives — but dermatologists are now flagging a side effect that many women weren't warned about.

You've heard the headlines about GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) helping people lose significant weight. What you may not have heard is what some women are noticing months into treatment: more hair in the shower drain, scalp tenderness, and changes to their nails. Here's what the latest data actually shows — and what you can do about it.

Research suggests that what you eat while taking antibiotics may matter just as much as the medication itself — and sugar could be making things worse.

Most people know antibiotics can upset your stomach. But new research suggests that eating sugar while you're on a course of antibiotics may deepen the damage to your gut microbiome — the trillions of bacteria that keep your digestion, immunity, and even your mood running smoothly. Here's what the science says and what you can do about it right now.

A new study tracked what happens inside the body during a full week without food — and the findings go far deeper than weight loss.

Most people think of fasting as a weight-loss tool, a quick reset, or something monks do. But researchers have now mapped, in remarkable molecular detail, what actually happens inside the human body when someone goes seven full days without eating. The results are surprising — and they raise new questions about what fasting can and cannot do for long-term health.

Most Americans fall far short of their daily fiber needs — and their bodies are paying the price. Here's what the science says happens when you start closing that gap.

You've probably heard that fiber is good for you. But do you know what it actually does inside your body — and how fast it starts working? The answer might surprise you. Changes can begin within days, not months.

Consumer sleep trackers have come a long way — but sleep specialists say there's still a lot they miss.

You wake up, check your app, and it tells you exactly how much deep sleep you got. Feels pretty official, right? The truth is, your wrist-worn tracker is making an educated guess — and for most healthy adults, that's fine. But for people with real sleep problems, that guess can fall short in important ways.

A large new study suggests that people with Parkinson's who stay more physically active may experience a slower decline in motor and cognitive function.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, you know the condition can feel relentless. But new research points to something within reach that may help slow the journey — and it starts with getting moving.

You don't need an hour at the gym to hold on to your muscle — here's what the research actually says.

Most people assume meaningful strength training requires a serious time commitment. A full hour, a weight room, a personal trainer. But a growing body of research suggests that even short bouts of resistance exercise — as little as 10 minutes — may deliver real benefits for adults over 40 who want to protect their strength and independence as they age.

If you take medication for epilepsy or certain other conditions, your birth control may not be working as well as you think.

Most women assume that if they take their birth control pill every day, they're protected. But for women on certain common epilepsy medications, that assumption can be dangerously wrong. Some of the most widely prescribed seizure drugs can quietly reduce the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives — and many women have never been told.

New research links everyday exposure to phthalates — chemicals found in plastics, fragrances, and personal care products — to reduced ovarian reserve in women.

You might not be able to see them, smell them, or taste them. But phthalates, a family of chemicals used to make plastics flexible and to help fragrances last longer, may be quietly affecting women's reproductive health. A growing body of research, including a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, suggests that higher levels of phthalate exposure are linked to lower ovarian reserve — a measure of how many viable eggs a woman has remaining. Here's what the science actually says, and what women can do with that information.