Stephanie Anderson Witmer

The placebo effect remains one of medicine’s greatest mysteries. Here’s what we know about how it works and how we can use it to help our bodies heal.

In an ideal world, we’d all eat perfectly balanced, healthy meals and snacks all of the time and get all of the nutrients we need. Reality check: Many people don’t eat as many fruits, veggies, and other recommended foods as they should. That means they may have some missing pieces in their nutrition puzzle. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer than one in 10 Americans (including children) eats the recommended daily amount (RDA) of vegetables. Only four i...

Kids in bed? Check. Email to the boss sent? Check. Laundry folded? Mostly. You grab your phone and plop on the couch for some relaxing time on Facebook. But past the cute kid pics and cooking videos, you see that a high school friend has posted yet another political rant, and you totally disagree with their opinion. Instead of feeling relaxed, you’re feeling mad — really mad. Before you hit the comments with your two cents, know that there is science behind politics and anger, and the discour...

As if the thought of savoring a square (or a whole bar) of dark chocolate wasn't enticing enough, dark chocolate's health claims are pretty appealing too. But before you eat your way to the bottom of a heart-shaped box, check out what experts had to say about how healthy this treat actually is.

As the children's book says, everyone poops. But everyone sometimes can't poop---especially as we age. Staying active, drinking plenty of water, and eating a fiber-rich diet are great ways to prevent constipation, but sometimes you need a little help. Here's what experts say can get things moving.

As if the thought of savoring a square (or a whole bar) of dark chocolate wasn’t enticing enough, dark chocolate’s health claims are pretty appealing too. We’ve heard everything: It lowers blood pressure, busts stress, improves cognitive function, protects your skin, and more. But before you eat your way to the bottom of a heart-shaped box, check out what experts had to say about how healthy this treat actually is.

Those three letters will make just about any woman shudder. It's true --- urinary tract infections are the worst, and this season is prime time for them. We've got the real deal on what you should know, cranberries and all.

If it seems like everyone’s talking about burnout lately, it’s for good reason. In May, the World Health Organization recognized workplace burnout as a global phenomenon. Unlike basic job stress, true burnout doesn’t stop once the work day does — it can damage relationships with family and friends, your ability to function at home and at work, and your health.

“When you’re in burnout, it affects all areas of your life,” says Sheryl Ziegler, Psy.D., a psychologist based in Denver, Color...

Boutique fitness offers focused, specialized workouts in smaller studios — and their popularity is booming
From barre and bootcamp to strength training and spinning, exercise options seem endless. Sure, some people prefer to pump iron or pound the treadmill in big gyms, but others want something more than just a place to get fit.
Boutique fitness isn’t new. (Remember Jazzercise?) But there’s no doubt studio fitness classes are huge right now, as evidenced by the popularity of ClassPass and bo...

Originally published by Civil Eats

Essential oils are having a major moment: They’re now found in everything from air fresheners to beauty products. Yet aromatherapy (using essential oils to heal the body and mind) isn’t new; it’s been around for centuries throughout Europe and Asia. Oils extracted from plants are popped into products that promise to improve sleep, calm anxiety, soothe digestive distress, and promote good skin.
But essential oils and some of the products they’re found in aren’t regulated by the Food and Drug A...

What causes stretch marks, exactly? Fun fact: Stretch marks are a type of scar. When skin is stretched or wounded, new collagen fibers form at the stressed spots as part of the healing process, leaving marks behind.
There’s no surefire way to prevent stretch marks and other scars, and they’re difficult to get rid of entirely, says Rebecca Baxt, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Baxt Cosmedical in Paramus, New Jersey.
Some stretch mark treatments, however, promise to reduce their size or ap...

Many elementary, middle and secondary schools are integrating some form of farming or gardening into their classrooms and cafeterias. The chance to connect kids more closely with science, technology, engineering and mathematics — disciplines known as STEM — and other educational concepts as well as to the food they eat is among the reasons why.

It's not just you: More people are suffering from allergies than ever before. The advise these doctors give their closest pals can help you get relief and enjoy spring again.

ABOUT 40% of men and 24% of women in the US frequently snore. Several categories of over-the-counter products claim to be able to silence the racket, as long as the snorer shows no signs of sleep apnea (high blood pressure, daytime fatigue, or gasping or choking during sleep). Apnea should be treated by a physician, says Nitun Verma of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine; OTC aids won't help. "Things that fix apnea also fix snoring," Verma says, "but things that fix snoring may not fix apn...