A Boeing 777 aircraft is seen passing the sun in this undated photo. (Sebastien Lebrigand) Environmental pollutants are all around us — from pesticides to air pollution to naturally occurring metals in the food we eat, these substances can profoundly affect our health. For frequent travelers, there's another substance in the air that might cause concern: space radiation, defined as the cosmic energy traveling throughspace in the form of high-speed particles and electromagnetic waves, according to NASA. (ABOVE: Airplanes Silhouetted...

Antioxidant-rich walnuts are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation, promote heart and brain health and may even help you live longer, according to a new study. Here, more foods that reduce inflammation, possibly extending longevity. (Jupiterimages) Eat a handful of tree nuts every day, and you may live longer, researchers from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital said in theNew England Journal of Medicine. Nuts have long been thought to be nuggets of nature's medicine....

Hawaii is not only a tropical paradise for stressed-out mainlanders who want to soak up some sun, but it’s also the ideal location for people who want to live the longest, healthiest life possible, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unfortunately, warm weather isn’t enough to add healthy years to the end of your life (though stress-relieving sunshine helps), evidenced by the several Southern states that top the CDC’s state-by-state ranking of the shortest healthy life...

Vitamins Fruits and vegetables are nature’s vitamins, so adding additional supplements can be toxic — several studies have linked multivitamins to heart attacks and even shorter lifespans. Other risks include irregular heartbeat, pain and seizures, according to the NIH. (Thinkstock/Ablestock.com) Although arsenic is a natural element found in water, air, food and soil, certain forms of the semi-metal can be toxic. High consumption of inorganic arsenic — commonly found in some pesticides and insecticides — poses cancer and digestive health...

The number one cause of death in America — heart disease — is about to enter its peak season. Cold winter weather means constricting blood vessels, which raises blood pressure and worsens heart problems, contributing to a yearly spike in heart-related deaths. But heart disease isn’t just a problem for winter — it’s a year-round public health crisis that’s been raging since the 1930s, despite awareness, societal changes and medical advancements. Thanks to modern medicine and public health initiatives, we...

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) — a widely used chemical in electric equipment and cooling systems — were banned in 1979 because of health and environmental risks, but they're still affecting the brain health and cognition of older adults, according to a study from the University of Montreal published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. (ABOVE: Vintage Health Risks: Color '40sPhotos Show Past Hazards) The analysis of 708 participants — aged between 70 and 84 — showed that those with higher exposures...

((Thinkstock/John Foxx)) Wintertime means little exposure to natural sunlight — and an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, particularly for those in northern climates. Although it is considered a common condition, especially in black Americans, research shows that the number of people living with low levels of vitamin D might be inflated, according to a study from Massachusetts General Hospital published in New England Journal of Medicine. (MORE: Avoid the Sun, Risk These Diseases) As many as 70 to 90...

(Thinkstock/Stockbyte) Too often around the holidays, people adopt an attitude that once they slip up on their diet or stop exercising, it's all over. But a new study shows that's untrue — particularly when it comes to preventing chronic conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and Alzheimer's disease, researchers wrote in theBritish Journal of Sports Medicine. Investigators from the University College of London tracked 3,500 adults around retirement age for eight years. Those who took up exercise...

((Thinkstock/Photodisc)) Eating plant-based foods might sound like a natural and healthy way to improve your diet. But when plants are processed at high temperatures — particularly potatoes —acrylamide, a cancer-causing chemical also found in cigarette smoke, can form. Foods that may contain this chemical includepotatoes, French fries, cereal-based foods and coffee. Acrylamide is thought to be “a human health concern” by the United States Food and Drug Administration, which recently issued draft guidance for Americans and the food industry to...

Chilly fall temperatures mark the beginning of the flu season, which officially runs from October to April. What do you need to know about this year's flu? Click through to find out. (Thinkstock/Digital Vision) As flu season drags on, researchers continue to look back at a past pandemic to help prepare for future worldwide outbreaks. In 2009, H1N1 killed 18,499 people worldwide, according to a 2010 estimate. But the actual number of causalities might be ten times greater, according to...

Rose Monetti, left, and Olga Haines, right, at their home in Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn. Both women lost all of their personal posessions during Superstorm Sandy. (Camille Mann/weather.com) More than a year after SuperstormSandy devastated much of the East Coast, those who were hardest hit have not fully recovered their health, according to a new survey from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Residents of affected zip codes in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are more likely to smoke and less likely...

Cassey Ho is a fitness trainer who has inspired millions to lose weight and get in shape through her workout program, Blogilates. Her bubbly personality and fun fitness mantras (think: 'train like a beast to look like a beauty') inspire legions of her 20-something female fans. (Courtesy of Cassey Ho) The best way to lose winter weight? Don't gain it! "Everyone's going to be crowding the gym in January, so instead of starting over, and having to kick your butt...