Viruses “do their damage by invading human cells, taking over the machinery, and replicating themselves like mad,” says Heather Moday, M.D., an allergist and immunologist who is board-certified in integrative and holistic medicine. There are no targeted medical treatments for viruses—antiviral medications may lessen the severity of symptoms, but they don’t stop the virus directly. Many antiviral herbs have been studied, primarily in vitro, but it’s important to know that human research is very limited, and more is needed before making definitive statements about the effects of natural antivirals....

“The plant’s notability comes from its ability to survive in lower light and drought-tolerant conditions. It also has a natural resistance to many pests and diseases,” Pangborn tells mbg. Native to the temperate conditions of Japan and China, the Aspidistra elatior has been a popular houseplant around the world for ages. “The nickname for the cast iron plant emerged alongside its rise in popularity during the Regency era,” Pangborn explains. “It continued to reign as one of the most popular houseplants in the Victorian era....

It makes sense, then, that the body seems to like being naked. A cursory review of the research aligns time spent in the nude with an increased sense of self-confidence and improved health. Scientists agree that sleeping naked is a good way to start, especially for male fertility. “Out of 500 men, they found those who wore boxers during the day and were naked at night had 25 percent less damage to their sperm compared to the guys who wore tight briefs or boxer briefs,” said functional medicine expert Will Cole....

Allosexuality is a fairly new term, which means not everyone will immediately recognize it or its importance, and this often leads to misconceptions. Hodder-Shipp says one of the main misconceptions linked to allosexuality is that the term itself is unnecessary because of “the incorrect and harmful assumption that all people experience consistent sexual desire and attraction, and because it’s the norm, it doesn’t necessitate a label.” “Simply put, allosexual is the opposite of asexual, and the term was created quite intentionally—if there’s language to describe a person who feels little to no sexual attraction, then there also should be language to describe a person who consistently does feel sexual attraction,” they explain....

Inflammation in the body can cause or contribute to many debilitating, chronic illnesses—including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis1, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer2. That’s why, as a doctor and founder of the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine, I recommend my patients eat a diet focused on anti-inflammatory principles. Here, I share some of my top ways to optimize your diet, plus my go-to anti-inflammatory foods. To get your fill of fiber, seek out whole grains, fruits, and vegetables....

In April, Burger King announced the launch of the Impossible Whopper, which will be available nationally by the end of 2019—and reports show it’s already boosting sales at the fast food giant. In May, Beyond Meat went public, and since then, its stock has soared, giving the company a market capitalization of over $10 billion, as of July 10, 2019. It also recently announced the launch of its new Beyond Beef product, meant to taste, look, and cook up just like traditional ground beef....

You might have an autoimmune disease—a condition in which your immune system attacks your own healthy tissue. It’s not a given, of course, but autoimmune diseases are becoming increasingly common, affecting anywhere from 24 million to 50 million people in the U.S., 80% of whom are women, according to various estimates. Under normal conditions, the immune system protects your body by responding to invading microorganisms, like viruses or bacteria—if your immune system deems anything dangerous, it will produce antibodies to ward off these harmful intruders....