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Can't lose weight? A new study reveals two glasses of wine before bedtime could help you shed some pounds. But resveratrol, the chemical in question that some have boasted as a miracle compound, is basically just part of a fad. But if someone hands us a glass of vino, who are we to complain? 

In some circles high sugar consumption, especially from sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), has been considered to be virtually the root of all evil when it comes to health issues. But a recent study tried -- and failed -- to find a link between high SSB consumption and cancer survivors. Thus any supposed link with cancer recurrence or cancer mortality wasn't supported by this report.

Kratom, a mixture of 40+ chemicals derived from the leaf of the Mitragyna speciosa tree, has a core of very devoted followers, some of whom think it is a panacea to what ails them. Some maintain that it isn't even a drug. They are partially correct. It is a mixture of drugs. 
 
 

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Michael Pollan, food activist and journalist, is the proverbial man trapped in the past. His latest piece for The New York Times criticizes the Obama administration for not catering to his bizarre beliefs about how food production actually works. And along he tries to smear ... the American Council's president, and you.

As many as half of lab tests ordered may not be necessary, and cutting back on them can not only minimize the "ouch factor," but it can also lower medical costs. Some research has been done in this area, producing some eye-opening conclusions.

We did not evolve in a world of plentiful food; instead nature was out to kill us. Today, food is a commodity and when something becomes a commodity, it takes a while for culture to catch up. Science has outpaced our cultural maturity, and it has led to a certain amount of doublethink about food.

Due to increasing antibiotic resistance, microbiologists are on the lookout for unconventional ways to kill bacteria. Atypical methods range from phage therapy, in which bacteria-killing viruses are unleashed upon the microbes, to the use of "bed-of-nails" surfaces that physically rip bacteria apart.

To kick off our new interview series Making the Rounds, we invited surgical oncologist Dr. Ogori Kalu to our New York office for a Facebook Live video streaming session to help educate the public on breast cancer prevention. Take a few minutes to learn about the discredited myths, and to watch the interesting round-table discussion with this Stanford-educated doctor.

Much current nutrition research aims to clarify possible links between eating and getting various diseases. Is diet really responsible for cancer? For multiple sclerosis? Hard to tell, because it's really hard to know what people really eat.

Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi was honored for discovering autophagy, which is a type of programmed cell death. Some cells in multicellular organisms, like animals and plants, choose to self-destruct for the greater benefit of the organism. This can occur for a variety of reasons.

We know how the flu is spread. We know the importance of getting a flu shot. But what we may not know is the difference between the strains, and how they are named. While a bit "inside biology" for some, here's what these names mean and how they come about -- a look into the virology behind the influenza virus. 

As we enter the final stretch of this uber-vitriolic Presidential campaign, it's not a surprise that scandalous accusations are still being thrown in all directions by both sides. Recently, it was the possibility that a Bill Clinton "love child" exists. All of which raises the following: How do you answer questions about paternity?

According to SpaceX, more than 200,000 people from around the world want  to be the first to travel to Mars. But the rocket maker cautions that (1) this isn't a Moon quickie; the trip will take roughly six months; and (2) the company has no plans to bring its astronauts back to Earth ... ever. That danger aside, reportedly there are 100 finalists vying for a shot at blasting off for the Red Planet.
 

Physical activity is known to provide health benefits for young and old alike. Now, new data support emphasizing a prescription of exercise for older folks recovering from conditions that limit their mobility, to improve their quality of life and to help stave off depression and social isolation.

Now that pharmacies are regularly distributing vaccines, their push to get people in for shots is not entirely in the interest of public health. Rather, often they are betting on the customer picking up something else while in the store. But has this commerce complication made the push for the flu vaccine too early? 

A teething baby tests the sanity of even the calmest parent, causing some to look anywhere for help. However, the FDA cautions that homeopathic teething tablets and gels may be harmful to babies and warns against using them. 

A new non-profit group, The Fed Is Best Foundation, supports feeding newborns with formula in their first few days of life, primarily to reduce the possibility of jaundice and hypoglycemia. Although its message of respecting parents' choices -- no matter what feeding method is used -- is a good one, the proposed link between delayed feeding and autism takes the matter away from science and into the world of speculation.

There's a long history of ridiculous fearmongering -- centering on BPA, MSG, Alar, DDT to name a few -- by environmental activists masquerading as health experts. Today, the whipping boy that takes the brunt of the unfounded chemophobic assault on science is the herbicide glyphosate.

1. The medical testing company Theranos didn't need any more bad news - so it is odd that they went out of their way to find some. Starting on July 21st, we had been trying to put our scientist Dr. Julianna LeMieux in touch with someone - anyone - from the science part of the company, especially after “one of the top 10 medical and technological innovations in 2013” fell from grace so far in so short a time.

A new, genetically engineered drug that counteracts non-coumadin, anti-clotting agents has passed some safety and efficacy tests. If future research confirms the results of a recent study, it may well remove one of the major drawbacks to the use of these newer anti-clotting agents.

There is nothing like a 5,000 percent hike in the price of an old, generic drug to make people furious. There is never a legitimate reason for this. But while people are screaming at drug companies (with reason), there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye.

Who comes to the rescue of animal healers when they themselves need healing? According to a recent CDC survey, one in six practicing veterinarians has considered suicide. One veterinarian's insight on the challenges of veterinary. 

Last Monday marked the first debate of of three Clinton-Trump debates. Though no fits of any kind -- coughing or otherwise -- were thrown, the two presidential candidates did throw many jabs, as expected. But when Trump said her Democratic rival "doesn't have the stamina," it eventually led us to this question: Who does have the stamina?

There's no time like the present to do our part, so our team decided to pitch in on the #22KILL push-ups challenge to honor those who serve. 22KILL is a global movement bridging the gap between veterans and civilians to build a community of support.
It wasn't all that pretty, but we did it!
 
To find out more, visit www.22kill.com
 

Our public health system has a very bad habit of fighting the last war. Instead, it's best to prepare for exotic diseases before they become uninvited guests. Will policymakers apply that lesson to another potential troublemaker: Chagas disease?