Chances are you know that melatonin, a hormone produced in the pineal gland, is an effective natural sleep aid, but that’s not all it is. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant and anti-aging therapy that has been shown to help prevent or treat multiple medical conditions. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other lesser-known benefits of melatonin.

Psychological research is advancing our understanding of how time in nature can improve our mental health and sharpen our cognition

Research indicates that taking time to enjoy nature is largely a panacea. From reducing stress and psychiatric disorders to enhancing empathy and cooperation to boosting working memory to providing a sense of purpose, experiencing green and blue spaces facilitates mental and physical wellbeing. A study in Environment and Behavior demonstrates that even simply looking at images featuring natural settings provides healthful benefits.

[I]odine is labeled an “essential nutrient” because the body doesn’t produce it on its own, which means that we have to get it through food, drink, or supplementation. Iodine is a trace mineral that’s found naturally on earth and in certain foods but the tough thing about iodine is that it’s not found in all that many common foods; for example, iodine is found mostly in sea vegetables like seaweed, dulse, and kelp. But how often do you eat kelp? Probably not often . . .

Holistic dentists practice a form of dentistry that takes into account a person’s entire state of health — physical, emotional, and even spiritual.

Oral health is crucial for your overall health. Poor oral health may be a risk factor for — or indicate the presence of — diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and stroke. . . .

Views among holistic dentists may differ. But, most holistic dentists advise and offer programs . . .

So, what is the vagus nerve? The vagus nerve is the longest nerve in your body, traveling from the base of your brain down your body and into your abdomen. On its way there, it attaches to almost every major organ, including the heart.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about the vagus nerve, but what we do know is that it has a major influence on our parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which is also known as our “rest and digest” response. The PNS works to bring our body . . .

Numerous people throughout the world are now working from home rather than going into the office. This new dynamic presents various complications and potential health threats such as too much blue light from computer and phone screens, which breeds inflammation. Listen to Dr. Taz’s 7 tips to stay healthy and productive while working from home.

Have you heard of this cool thing called meditation? As someone who has fixed a cup of tea and sat down to get quiet on a daily basis for the past few decades, I am a total convert on the benefits of meditation. And science is finally catching up to what we’ve known about meditation since ancient times  – that regular contemplative practice improves attention and awareness . . .

The common saying, “too much of a good thing,” does have a place in nutrition. [T]he body prefers a happy medium, and too little and too much of many essential vitamins and minerals can lead to imbalances and health problems. Many nutrients also work as antagonists with one another, which can mean that when one is too high, it causes the other to become too low, which could increase your susceptibility to certain acute or chronic conditions.

No pair better exemplifies this than zinc and copper.

New research adds credibility to the "raw foodism" movement.

Haters of cooked peas and carrots rejoice: It may be time to update Mom's wisdom about always eating your fruits and veggies.

According to new research published in the April issue of Frontiers in Psychology, how you prepare your fruits and vegetables can matter a great deal to your mental health.

Many experts tell us that when it comes to managing our health, including our body weights and moods, we should be careful not to underestimate the power of sleep. One reason why so many adults and children today are thought to be living in a sleep deprived state is because of high exposure to electronic devices that emit blue light. Because blue light is capable of disrupting our circadian rhythms, or “internal clocks,” blue light glasses are now recommended . . .