Biscuits with the flavor of sweet potatoes

By America’s Test Kitchen
Posted on May 17, 2019

It was only a matter of time before sweet potato-loving Southern cooks combined the fluffy texture and pleasant tang of biscuits with the earthy sweetness of this popular tuber. To add the flavor of sweet potatoes to biscuits without weighing down the dough, we microwaved them to eliminate their moisture while concentrating their flavor. After mashing the flesh, we stirred in cider... READ MORE

Natural remedies for reflux, esophagitis

By Suzy Cohen
Posted on May 17, 2019

I finally got reflux and heartburn after all these years. I have newfound respect for those of you who deal with it! I traced my problem to drinking shots of yerba mate. I drank them several times a week for energy. I noticed heartburn about 20 minutes after drinking one tiny glass bottle of it. After it happened three times last week, I made the connection. I did a little research... READ MORE

Immune therapy fighting more cancers

By Marilyn Marchione
Posted on May 16, 2019

A treatment that helps the immune system fight deadly blood cancers is showing early signs of promise against some solid tumors, giving hope that this approach might be extended to more common cancers in the future. The treatment, called CAR-T therapy, involves genetically modifying some of a patient’s own cells to help them recognize and attack cancer. Richard Carlstrand of Long... READ MORE

Can a vegan diet relieve arthritis pain?

By Margaret Foster
Posted on May 15, 2019

If your joints ache due to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chances are you’ve tried every medication and trick in the book. But have you considered changing what you eat? RA is a progressive disease that currently has no cure. Along with diabetes, heart disease and other major diseases, it has been linked to chronic inflammation. RA is an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune... READ MORE

Relief for leg cramps; digestive issues

By Howard LeWine, M.D.
Posted on May 14, 2019

Q: I frequently have leg cramps that wake me up from sleep. How can I quickly stop the cramps, and are there ways to prevent them? A: Few things are more jarring to a night’s sleep than a sudden cramp in your calf. By the way, you have lots of company. Although nocturnal leg cramps can strike people at any time of life, they become more common with age. Among people over 50, about... READ MORE

Insulin too pricey? Ways to cut costs

By Linda A. Johnson
Posted on May 13, 2019

The skyrocketing price of insulin has some diabetics scrambling to cover the cost of the life-saving medication. Others are skipping doses or using smaller amounts than needed and sometimes landing in the emergency room, patients and advocates told Congress recently. About 7.4 million Americans use insulin to keep their blood sugar at safe levels. Insulin needs vary by patient, as do... READ MORE

New Alzheimer’s-like condition identified

By Lauran Neergaard
Posted on May 10, 2019

Some people told they have Alzheimer’s may instead have a newly identified mimic of the disease — and scientists say even though neither is yet curable, it’s critical to get better at telling different kinds of dementia apart. Too often, the word dementia is used interchangeably with Alzheimer’s when there are multiple types of brain degeneration that can harm people’s memory... READ MORE

Easing pain from golfer’s or tennis elbow

By Christopher Camp, M.D.
Posted on May 09, 2019

Dear Mayo Clinic: A few months ago, I noticed minor pain in my elbow when I’d lift anything — even something light. Recently, the pain is worsening and moving down my inner forearm. My elbow hurts even when I’m not lifting. Turning my wrist or twisting my arm causes pain. What could be the reason for this? Are there things I can do at home to make it better, or do I need to see my... READ MORE

Brain zaps boost memory in people 60+

By Malcolm Ritter
Posted on May 08, 2019

Zapping the brains of people over 60 with a mild electrical current improved a form of memory enough that they performed like people in their 20s, a new study found. Someday, people might visit clinics to boost that ability, which declines both in normal aging and in dementias like Alzheimer’s disease, said researcher Robert Reinhart of Boston University. The treatment is aimed at ... READ MORE

Facing cancer treatment? This can help

By Lindsey Tanner
Posted on May 07, 2019

Before she could start breast cancer treatment, Nancy Simpson had to walk in a straight line, count backward from 20 and repeat a silly phrase. It was all part of a special kind of medical fitness test for older patients that’s starting to catch on among cancer doctors. Instead of assuming that patients are too frail for treatment or, alternatively, recommending harsh drugs tested only ... READ MORE