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The USDA organic seal is typically reserved for food that’s raised or grown without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, says Sam Jones-Ellard, a spokesperson for the USDA. But currently, apple and pear growers are permitted to use oxytetracycline as a last line of defense in fighting fire blight, a bacterial plant infection that eats away at trees and can easily wipe out a whole orchard. Because it can take years to grow an apple or pear tree that produces fruit, untreated fire blight can put an organic farm out of business....

Ashley’s answer: Is that which we call a chip the same by any other name? While Shakespeare didn’t have such concerns, we now do in the form of chip aisle paralysis in our grocery stores. You are right to question, as all chips are not created equal. Not even all bean chips are created equal. Oh my, what’s a chip shopper to do? Here are some questions to consider:...

If you haven’t heard of Mila, get ready. Someday soon, someone you know is going to try to sell you on it. We delved into the business and nutritional facts behind the chia seeds, so you’ll be prepared. Here’s what we found: Claim: Your body can convert the omega-3s from Mila better than from other chia seeds. Facts: “While chia seeds may be a good source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), humans poorly convert ALA to the very long, highly unsaturated fatty acids that are cardioprotective,” says Dr....

A: When you have a cold or other viral infection, it’s not uncommon for the glands, or lymph nodes, in your neck or under your chin to swell. Lymph nodes are a critical part of your immune system, and when you get sick, they expand because they’re producing more lymphocytes (cells that make protein particles that target invaders like viruses) and other virus-fighting cells to help you beat the infection....

Confused about your aspirin intake? Fair enough: Study after study either touts the benefits of daily aspirin supplementation, or else sounds an alarm about the risks. Now, yet another new report is suggesting that aspirin—when taken in conjunction with omega-3 fatty acids—can reduce the age-related inflammation that leads to lung disease, arthritis, and heart disease. The research, conducted by a team out of Harvard and UCLA, found that aspirin triggers the production of resolvins (molecules that the body makes using omega-3 fatty acids)....

It was September 11, 2001. Iucciolino, a police officer and a woman with asthma, was at Ground Zero. Her asthma was totally under control, even at Ground Zero. It still is. Ground Zero Air For many desperate hours after the World Trade Center collapsed, the dense plumes of smoke that raced down New York City’s broad avenues rained white ash, debris, and asbestos-laced dust onto police and rescue workers. Iucciolino, who walked a beat in Brooklyn at the time, was one of them....

It’s time to branch out from the basic bean. While we love the humble black bean or chili’s defining kidney bean, mixing in one of these offbeat bean types can add unique texture, flavor, and colors to a favorite meal. Experiment with these 6 types of beans to discover new dishes or put a different spin on familiar classics. Adzuki BeansThe Kind Mama This simple red bean with a thin white line is amazingly healthy....

University of Florida researchers examined benevolent sexism among nearly 400 college-aged men and women. Unlike the kinds of overt gender discrimination most women would blanch at, benevolent sexism can actually seem quite benign: In essence, it’s the idea that “women are wonderful, but weak,” says lead study author Kathleen Connelly, PhD, a professor in the department of psychology at the University of Florida. “Benevolent sexism shows up all the time, in this attitude that women are warmer and kinder than men, but at the same time weaker and [needing] to be cared for....

Korean researchers measured the urinary BPA concentrations and blood pressure of 60 older adults after the adults drank soymilk from cans (whose linings contain BPA) as well as soymilk from glass bottles. What they found was crazy: After sipping the canned stuff, participants’ urinary concentration of BPA skyrocketed 1,600% (yes, you read that right) while their BP jumped an average of 5 points compared to drinking the bottled soymilk. The BPA-blood pressure relationship isn’t totally understood, but experts suspect that it could have something to do with the chemical’s hormone-mimicking properties....

Approximately 260,000 carpal tunnel surgeries are performed yearly, but some doctors are opting to add vitamin B6 to their treatment regimens, along with wrist splints and anti-inflammatories. Some experts suggest that around 90 percent of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) cases can be cured by B6. (Know what else helps? Eating these pain-fighting foods.) Prescription for Healing Some doctors suggest 50-100 mg of Vitamin B6 to ease CTS symptoms. Why? Doctors are divided on why vitamin B6 seems to provide relief from CTS....

The ultimate beauty indulgence for me is a manicure and pedicure. The icing on the spa cake is when I bring my mom and my daughter with me. Pretty fingers and toes go a long way to making me feel beautiful. And if you know me at all, you’ve noticed that when I talk I use my hands a lot. So those fingers of mine are always waving around! But even more than the actual treatment, what a joy it is to spend an afternoon with my mom and daughter....

I grew up in a nature-worshipping, somewhat hippie family, and with my book, All Natural, I attempted to fact-check our idea that instead of protecting ourselves against nature with technology, people are actually healthier when they embrace nature. In nearly every case, I found that the answers I got when I asked, “Is nature healthier?” always depended on the way I asked the question. When looking at the issue through a narrow, mechanistic lens, it seems as if nature is dangerous....

While past studies have been inconclusive on the UTI-preventing benefits of cranberries, researchers from the National Taiwan University are giving the fruit the green light after analyzing the results of 13 previous studies. Their findings: People who consumed cranberry products had a 38% lower risk of having a UTI than those who didn’t, and women with recurrent UTIs had a 47% lower risk. What is it about the fruit that can help keep UTIs at bay?...

You’ll never guess that there are 2 cups of kale crammed into this dark-purple elixir, which covers the green’s bitter flavor with a sweet-tart blend of blueberries and lemon, plus a little banana for a Frostylike texture. This smoothie’s not high in sugar (only 11 g), but if you’re looking to cut down, swap out the banana for a whole avocado—it will be just as creamy with only 7 g of sweet stuff per serving....

Several recent studies have already suggested an association between both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and hearing loss, but results were inconsistent. Now, however, an analysis of earlier research, published in The Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (JCEM), has established a more consistent link between the two. In particular, investigators concluded that hearing loss in diabetics exists independently of other potential causes, like aging or noisy environments....

A: Water is your most important tool. It allows you to irrigate the area thoroughly to clean out any debris and bacteria that could cause infection. In the ER, we use high-pressure irrigation with saline water to clean major wounds—but, in most that cases, water from a bathroom faucet works just fine for minor cuts and scrapes. You can use mild soap, but be careful with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol, which can be caustic to wounds and damage healthy tissue needed for healing....

How does sitting lead to back pain? Here’s what happens: Too much sitting puts hamstrings in a shortened position, which over time, can lead to back pain. The connection may seem surprising until you consider this: The hamstrings include a group of three muscles (for you anatomy buffs, this includes the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and biceps femoris) located in the backs of the thighs. These muscles attach from the back of the pelvis to below the knee joint, and they’re responsible for bending the knee as well as extending the hip....

Of course, it’s a lot more fun to track what happens when the number on the scale falls—which is exactly what will happen if you take the following five simple prescriptions to heart. Without that extra belly fat, you’ll be healthier, more confident, and more energetic. And nothing says “health” better than having a flat, sexy stomach to show off to the world. Never go on a diet You’ve heard ’em all: the cabbage soup diet, the grapefruit diet, the banana diet....