(Originally published in 2023; updated in 2025) Summer is almost here and so is the urge to throw caution to the wind now that we no longer have deal with snow and ice and biting temperatures. Yet despite the feelings of lax security that warm weather brings, there are still hazards that require our attention […]

A Personal Report by Dwight Kalita, PhD Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is a worldwide epidemic affecting 37 million people, and its rising prevalence will most certainly account for increasing public health costs. I am 76 years old and have had A-fib for almost 10 years. During that time various cardiologists gave me 2 ablations and 5 […]

I enjoy every season, but as a student of nature and a herbalist I have to admit I love spring the most – observing the gradual return of birds that flew south for the winter, and watching all of my plant friends awaken from their winter slumber. My anticipation begins with the return of red-winged […]

Blood clots are very much in the news these days but the mainstream media has not carried any information about their prevention. Many of my patients have been asking me to detail what they can do if they are confronted with a greater risk of blood clots that lead to circulation blockages and death from […]

Every year over 800,000 people in North America have a heart attack and over 90% of them survive, at least initially.  In fact, heart disease is considered to be the number one cause of death in North America and around the world. This is likely because the Standard American Diet is so bad that even […]

“When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I’ve discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think I'm going to say something important!” Kirk Douglas The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes has reported that strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in North America. A […]

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." James Baldwin Once thought to be a rather rare occurrence, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) incidence in men under 30 has been on the rise. This increased incidence, according to the Centers for Disease Control, is thought […]

The berry season starts with wild strawberries in mid-June and ends with blackberries in late August. When I’m out wandering around in the woods and fields, I’m always grateful when I come across a good crop of berries and can enjoy a handful or two and then carry on, leaving most of them for the […]

WALKING HELPS TO PREVENT HEART FAILURE A new study found that walking for at least 40 minutes, several times per week, at an average-to-fast pace may reduce risk heart failure risk among post-menopausal women by 25%. The benefit appears to be consistent regardless of body weight. About 6.5 million adults have heart failure, a condition […]

Enzymes are complex proteins naturally produced by the body to help digest and break down the foods we eat. Most of these enzymes are manufactured in our bodies. But when the body is unable to make enough enzymes to meet its needs, these same enzymes, extracted from either plant or animal sources, can be supplemented […]

(Updated December 23, 2022) Vitamin D May Reverse Cardiovascular Damage Scientists have identified the role that vitamin D plays in preserving cardiovascular health. They used nanosensors and a cell model to identify the molecular mechanisms that vitamin D3 can trigger in the endothelium, which is the thin layer of tissue that lines blood vessels. Often […]

OMEGA-3s LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE IN YOUNG ADULTS A study has found that healthy young people may be able to help prevent the onset of high blood pressure by eating diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids. (Omega-3s are essential fats, mostly found in fish and some types of plant oils.) Researchers studied 2,036 young, healthy adults […]

“My heart flip-flops every time I lie down on my right side”; “I feel as though my heart is pounding against my rib cage”; “My chest feels uneasy and I get so fatigued”; “My heart races and I’m gasping for air!”; “Dizziness comes first, then my heart goes crazy!” All of the above are symptoms […]

The Role of Stress, Malnutrition, and Environmental Toxins In the May 28, 1997 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Duke University researchers published findings showing that “moderate to strong feelings of sadness, tension, and frustration can more than double the risk of having a heart attack within the next hour.” The opposite […]

Cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) are highly preventable, and yet they constitute the most common cause of death. So it follows that the ultimate goal of cardiovascular therapy, whether natural or pharmaceutical, is to prevent death or injury from a cardiovascular event. In the conventional medical model, the most commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications are […]

Eating More Home-Made Meals Lowers Risk of Diabetes According to new research, people who eat more home-cooked meals have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Researchers analyzed data from nearly 58,000 women and more than 41,000 men and followed them for as long as 36 years. None of the participants had diabetes, cardiovascular […]