Videos
Mosquitoes: Why You? The Science of Why You're a Magnet for Bites
Have you ever sat outside with a group of friends, only to wake up the next morning...
- Details
- Written by: InnerSelf Staff
This comprehensive guide explores essential minerals, their health benefits, symptoms of deficiencies, and natural food sources. From calcium and magnesium to zinc and selenium, understanding these nutrients helps in maintaining overall health and preventing various ailments. Learn how to incorporate them into your diet effectively.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
You’re not weak for craving chips at 9 p.m. or ice cream after a long day. Ultra-processed foods are designed to hook your attention, light up your reward system, and slip into your routines until they feel like comfort, company, even relief. If you’ve tried to “just eat less” and felt defeated, you’re not broken—the system is. Here’s a kinder, science-grounded way to regain your footing, one doable choice at a time.
- Details
- Written by: Robert Jennings, InnerSelf.com
Your brain isn’t a mystery box. It’s a hungry neighbor tied to your liver by a short fence and a long memory. A new clinical study shows that trimming liver fat in just two weeks can also dial down brain chemicals linked to toxicity and inflammation. That’s not a diet ad. That’s a reminder: capacity rules. The body runs on parts, power, pathways—and plain food.
- Details
- Written by: Irene Luo, Epoch Times
Defective imports from China pose significant risks to consumers in the United States, particularly concerning vegetables. Issues range from illegal pesticide use to harmful chemical treatments. Key vegetables like garlic, mushrooms, soybeans, taro, and corn have been linked to alarming production practices, raising concerns about food safety and health risks.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Picture a glass that promises connection, ease, or celebration. Alcohol can feel like a shortcut to softer edges—but your body keeps the full ledger. Even small amounts affect sleep, mood, blood sugar, and cancer risk; bigger amounts raise blood pressure, injury risk, and strain on your liver and relationships. This warm, nonjudgmental guide translates the science into everyday language and offers gentle, doable steps to protect your health—so you can choose with clear eyes and a kind heart, whether that means drinking less or not at all.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Open your spice drawer and think of it as a tiny wellness kit. The everyday herbs and spices you already cook with—turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, garlic, oregano, rosemary, cumin, and more—carry plant compounds that can gently support mood, metabolism, immunity, and digestion. Used in normal kitchen amounts, they add color and comfort to your meals while helping you nudge ultra-processed ingredients aside. Here’s a warm, practical guide to which ones to invite in daily, how to use them safely, and what to avoid so your body gets the benefits without the buzzkill.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Are you eating too little protein — or falling for marketing hype? Many families misunderstand how much protein they truly need. This article separates protein myths from reality, revealing how to recognize real deficiency, how needs shift with age and lifestyle, and why more isn’t always better. Learn how to balance quality and quantity for genuine health and energy.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Wild salmon and farmed salmon may look similar on your plate, but the differences run deep. From flavor and texture to nutrition, safety, and sustainability, each carries its own story. Choosing between them isn’t just about taste, it’s about your health and the planet’s future. Let’s break down the wild salmon vs. farmed salmon debate so you can make choices that align with your values.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Most people don’t realize their fridge storage habits may be shortening the life of their food and even risking food safety. From eggs and berries to herbs and leftovers, small mistakes can make a big difference. This article reveals the top fridge storage errors you might be making and shows you simple ways to keep your food fresh, safe, and delicious longer.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Protein intake is one of the most debated topics in nutrition. How much is enough, when should you eat it, and are plant proteins truly as good as animal sources? While protein fuels growth, repair, and energy balance, excess may strain the body. This article unpacks the myths and truths about protein intake and plant protein, offering clarity for a healthier, more balanced life.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
Ginger is more than a flavorful spice, it’s a potent root with powerful effects on the body. While ginger benefits range from lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to easing digestion, ginger risks include side effects and drug interactions you can’t afford to ignore. Learn how to use ginger safely in root and powder form while maximizing its healing potential for heart health and overall well-being.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.com
Proper hydration is more than just drinking water, it’s about fueling every cell in your body. Without it, dehydration signs sneak in: fatigue, headaches, mood swings, and even long-term health risks. This article unpacks why hydration matters, how to spot the warning signals, and simple ways to stay balanced. Hydration isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of your wellbeing.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.com
Microdosing mushrooms has become a wellness trend promising creativity, focus, and emotional balance. Yet psilocybin risks, legal, medical, and psychological, raise serious questions. Science suggests some benefits may be real while others are placebo-driven. By understanding both sides, we can approach microdosing mushrooms with awareness, discernment, and respect for its potential and its dangers.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.com
Soluble fiber is more than a digestive aid—it’s your body’s natural ally against high cholesterol and harmful toxins. By binding to cholesterol in the gut and promoting toxin elimination, soluble fiber reduces heart risks while boosting overall health. Learn how adding fiber-rich foods like oats, beans, and apples can transform your well-being, giving you both immediate and long-term benefits for heart and gut health.
- Details
- Written by: Steven David Pickering, Brunel University of London
New research reveals why seaweed nutrition hasn't caught on in Western countries despite being the ultimate sustainable food. While Japanese consumers eat it daily, cultural familiarity trumps environmental and health benefits in the UK and US. Scientists found that making this climate-friendly superfood mainstream requires more than promoting its nutritional value - it needs cultural integration and strategic positioning to overcome deep-rooted dietary habits.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
After a rich meal, your blood fats rise for hours. That rise, called postprandial lipids, may briefly stress the body’s vessels, including those that help the brain keep blood flow steady through a process called cerebral autoregulation. Human evidence is still developing, but you can take simple, low-burden steps after high-fat meals to feel safer and more in control. This guide shows you how, in plain language you can use today.
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
You’ve probably been told your whole life to “eat more fiber.” It sounds simple enough, right? A sprinkle of bran here, a handful of leafy greens there. But what if I told you that too much of this good thing can actually backfire? Yes, fiber is essential—but balance is the secret ingredient. Let’s walk through why fiber matters, what kinds your body truly needs, and how to make it your digestive system’s best friend, not its worst enemy.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Jordan, InnerSelf.com
Can a sweet plant used in your morning coffee hold the key to treating one of the deadliest cancers in the world? Scientists in Japan say yes—if that plant is fermented and dosed with a little microbial alchemy. In a breakthrough study, fermented stevia leaf extract showed it could selectively kill pancreatic cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. What does this mean for the future of medicine—and for the billions of dollars poured into pharmaceutical R&D?
- Details
- Written by: Robert Jennings, InnerSelf.com
Ever notice how every time someone talks about obesity, they point fingers at the couch? “People just don’t move like they used to,” they say, with the smug assurance of someone who thinks the cure for rising waistlines is a gym membership and a better attitude. But what if the real problem isn’t about how much we move—but about what the system is feeding us?
- Details
- Written by: Beth McDaniel, InnerSelf.com
It’s amazing how a simple whiff of rosemary can stir something inside you. Maybe it’s a memory, a sudden calm, or just the comfort of something natural. For thousands of years, this humble herb has been more than a kitchen staple. It’s been a medicine, a ritual, a healer. And today, it still has so much to offer—if you’re willing to slow down and listen to what this ancient plant has to say.
- Details
- Written by: Dipa Kamdar, Kingston University
Coffee is more than just a morning pick-me-up—it’s a powerful stimulant that can interact with medications you may rely on. From thyroid pills to antidepressants, your daily brew could be making treatments less effective or increasing side-effects. Understanding coffee's interaction with medication is essential for your health. Discover what to avoid and how to keep both your meds and your caffeine fix working in harmony.
