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We didn't think that questioning the efficacy of contraception was still a thing. So we took a look at the data, just to be sure. And as we suspected, the facts show that the most-widely used forms of birth control don't just work, but when used properly they are incredibly effective.

Recently the comedian and late-night TV host told a "terrifying" tale of the discovery and treatment of his newborn son's unexpected congenital heart defect. Let's analyze the timeline of events.

Not all nuts – the kind that grow on trees – are created equal. Some, like cashews, macadamia nuts and Brazil nuts, are thought to have too much saturated fat to allow them to bear a FDA "heart-healthy" label. But new research suggests that the type of saturated fat in cashews is actually neutral when it comes to raising LDL-cholesterol. 

Roughly 30-40% of the population has a genetic predisposition to celiac disease. However the amount of people who actually have it is about only 1%. Beyond genetics, what makes this autoimmune disorder affect those in this group? A new study suggests it might be a viral infection – one that often goes unnoticed. 

Physicians give advice, that’s what we do. But a recent meta-analysis suggests that "what people advise others to do is often different than what they choose for themselves.” Here's why.

University of Montana researchers discovered that when grown in co-culture, two different species of the fungus Penicillium – the same genus that produces the antibiotic penicillin – cooperate to synthesize an antibiotic that neither species produces when grown alone.

Reports from around the country – mostly in the northern half of the U.S., where ticks thrive – reveal that 2017 is shaping up to be a pretty bad tick season. The reasons have to do with the combination of a relatively mild winter, and an active and growing population among mice and deer. Oh, and an abundance of acorns. 

Lemons can enhance the taste of tea, a cup of which that may soothe your cold or ease congestion. But lemons certainly can't prevent or cure disease, especially cancer. So let's not boil lemon water and skip the specialist – as some social media activists are advocating – if you've been diagnosed with this serious ailment.

Uh oh. Another Canadian online drugstore gets nailed. Three Canadian residents and their company Quantum Solutions are in all kinds of trouble. In addition to money laundering, they are being charged with conspiring to distribute wholesale quantities of misbranded prescription drugs made for the foreign market. 

If you're wondering where to have dinner tonight, a new study might help you decide. Researchers from the University of Washington have found that people who cook and eat dinner at home tend to have higher quality diets than those who eat out frequently.

The actress revealed in an online post that she's in remission from breast cancer. She eloquently articulated a very harsh reality for cancer patients about what remission does – and does not – mean.

Poor people are forced to eat junk food because of cost, and that's why they are obese. Right? That's a great narrative, but it's simply not true. Here's how it really is.

An investigation by Business Insider found that, "United had more pet deaths in 2016 than any other major US airline." Given United's recent public relations debacle, is this true, too? Technically yes, but statistically no. Becasue it's the statistics that matter, not the raw numbers.

We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of a new rechargeable battery for portable electronic devices – one that doesn't blow up unexpectedly. But the Navy has beaten everyone to it. The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory said it has produced a zinc-based battery that's a safer alternative to the common lithium-ion batteries that have proven to be unreliable, and can combust instantaneously. 
 

Recently, students and practitioners of naturopathy from all over the country made their annual trek to Washington DC to (1) learn how to lobby, and (2) lobby in support of naturopathy. 

The actor and musician knows how to convey a message that effects medical change, helped in part by his visit top be with sick kids at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Now, let's see if Hollywood follows suit. 

In 2015, 7 percent of Americans report being bullied in the workplace. That's a slight improvement from 2010, and it's certainly much lower than the 20 percent figure reported from high school students. Still, there's much room for improvement.

Is it time for dieters to ditch the written food journal, and go high tech? That's what researchers in Washington State are pondering as they study dieters who, instead of writing down everything they eat, document their daily food consumption on Instagram, the picture-laden smartphone app. 

Obesity is not as simple as avoiding exercise or overindulging with food. It's been known for some time that genetics are also involved. A new study shows that not only are there epigenetic factors at play, but they're also present at birth. 

There are probably few, if any, nutritional advisories that are as hotly debated as the appropriate level of sodium intake for healthy adults. Yes, the Dietary Guidelines and the American Heart Association recommend an upper limit of 2,300 mg sodium per day (about a teaspoon). But some new research is being added to the literature indicating that level of restriction may be too strict.

What makes Italian-style coffee good for prostate health? The same style of coffee (high pressure, high temperature) that has also shown to increase cholesterol levels.  Mostly because the relationship between coffee and science is a love-hate. Coffee certainly isn't a miracle drink, but it does have some benefits.
 
 

A young man who recently received a lung transplant, following a terrible case of pneumonia that caused his lungs to collapse, has died. He made national headlines because his petition to receive new lungs was initially rejected because he had smoked marijuana.

Leishmaniasis, transmitted by a sandfly bite, causes 500,000 cases of visceral disease and 1.5 million cases of cutaneous disease – resulting in 50,000 deaths annually. The drugs to treat it are terrible. If the parasite doesn’t kill you, the treatment may make you wish it had.       

With warm weather, it's necessary to be aware of the usual tick-transmitted suspects, Lyme disease and the West Nile virus. These are nasty enough, but there's a bad boy out there that makes them look like creamed spinach. Meet the Powassan virus. It is pure evil.

It's indisputable that we need to develop new antibiotics – and fast. It's also all-but-indisputable that once this gets into the hands of politicians, they will screw it up. They sure did this time. American Council advisor Dr. David Shlaes explains.