The brain communicates with the gastrointestinal tract through a connection scientists call the gut-brain axis. Evidence suggests that when the gut is irritated by triggers such as infection, stress, food, allergies, alcohol, or heredity, the resulting inflammation could influence mood.
Vaginal infections are highly common and often involve symptoms such as vaginal itching, burning, irritation, discharge, and odor. The most prevalent vaginal infections include bacterial vaginosis, yeast infection, trichomoniasis, herpes simplex virus 2, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
Insulin resistance is when the pancreas makes insulin but the body’s cells don’t use it efficiently. It becomes more common in women after age 50 due to hormonal shifts that change the way the body stores fat. It is a key step in the process of developing prediabetes and diabetes.
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are a mixed bag. While their advice to choose whole foods, avoid highly processed foods, and limit added sugars is sound, their promotion of animal-based foods like meat and full-fat dairy products is less supported by rigorous scientific research.
A 2025 study suggests that polyphenols, found in a wide range of plant foods, may have long-term benefits for the heart. Over an average of 11 years, people whose diets contained the most polyphenol-rich foods ranked lowest on scores of heart disease risk.
While many people may think that a more sustainable diet is more expensive, a 2025 study suggests that in fact, foods with smaller environmental footprints tend to cost less. Choosing fewer animal-based foods and more plants can be better for health, budgets, and the planet.
A variety of everyday habits can stealthily reduce bone health. These include consuming too little calcium, excessive caffeine or soda, inadequate protein, and large amounts of alcohol, as well as smoking, being sedentary, dieting frequently, or taking certain medications.
Avocados have a mix of fiber, healthy fat, antioxidants, and key minerals that support heart health. But avocados aren’t low-calorie foods. They’re best added to the diet by swapping them for something else, such as subbing mashed avocado for butter on toast.
Dragon fruit stands out for its striking look, mild sweetness, and a mix of fiber, minerals, and antioxidant compounds. It isn’t a magic “superfood,” but it’s a healthy, colorful way to help people eat more fruit in fun new ways.
Gut health plays a bigger role in overall well-being than many people realize, affecting digestion, mood, and immunity. Simple daily choices around food, movement, sleep, stress, and hydration can support a healthier, more resilient gut.