Gut health is intricately tied to the trillions of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and fungi that live inside our intestines. Together, these germs make up the gut microbiome, a rich ecosystem with a metabolic capacity that exceeds that of the liver1 . Today, research on the role of the gut microbiome in human health—and how we…

I’ve been pregnant a time or six and had the wonderful thick hair that comes with it. Then comes the postpartum hair loss. For years I also dealt with hair loss from thyroid issues. These events prompted me to search for how to naturally promote hair growth and hair health. Some post-pregnancy shedding is hormonal…

By SAURABH JHA Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic a seroprevalence study from Santa Clara indicated that the viral spread was far greater than was believed. The study suggested that the infection fatality rate (IFR) was much lower than the case fatality rate and perhaps even lower than the suspected IFR. The researchers estimated that…

When you look in the mirror, you're actually looking at 100 trillion cells—but when was the last time you thought about how those cells are doing? The health of your cells, after all, literally dictates how well your body works. But since cellular health naturally declines over time—contributing to signs of aging and age-related disease—focusing…

The callous and even mocking reactions on social media to the cold-blooded murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson last week serve as further evidence that many Americans' frustrations with the health insurance industry are boiling over. But some experts say the government, not health insurance companies, deserves much of the blame. "There is a very…

By TREVOR VAN MIERLO In 2021, digital mental health and substance use startups attracted a record-breaking $5.1 billion in funding. Despite the surge, the promise of scalable, transformative digital health platforms remains unfulfilled. Following the surge, investment plummeted. Unlike other industries that have been revolutionized by digital-first solutions, digital health struggles with models that fail…

Wonder why you feel better after a good laugh? There’s reliable evidence that laughter improves various aspects of mental, emotional and physical health. If you’re experiencing stress, pain or challenges to your immune system, finding ways to incorporate laughter into your daily life could be an effective remedy. Health experts say humor and giggles can…

I’ve been enjoying pomegranates most of my life. As a child, I enjoyed sucking on the seeds until the juice was extracted, and then spitting the seed as far as I could. Later I learned that the seeds are edible and add fiber into your diet. Much later I learned how to make a pomegranate…

TOPEKA — Thousands of Kansans are crossing the Missouri border with medical marijuana cards in hand, and that’s unlikely to change as Kansas lawmakers resist medical legalization in 2025. Legislators tabled a medical marijuana bill in March and promised to revisit it at the beginning of the 2025 session, which begins Jan. 13. In October,…

Tony Huang has been playing the violin since he was a kid growing up in Taiwan. Now a Professor of Medicine practicing Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Huang played it off and on throughout his years studying and training to be a physician. Soon after he came to Duke for his fellowship 36 years ago,…