By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Many of the foods marketed as healthy choices — yogurt, granola bars, bottled smoothies, and fortified cereals — are quietly packed with far more added sugar than most people realize. If you are managing arthritis, joint pain, or any inflammatory condition, excess sugar intake can directly worsen your symptoms by fueling chronic low-grade inflammation throughout the body. According to the Ame

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 04, 2026 · 6 min read Watch the Full Video Can the foods you eat really impact the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis ? Most people assume that joint health is entirely about mechanical wear and tear, but recent science tells a different story. Your diet may be one of the most important—and most overlooked—factors in managing osteoarthritis symptoms. The connection lies in an unexpected place: the trillions of bacteria living in yo

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 04, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Cupping therapy has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly after high-profile athletes like Michael Phelps appeared at the Olympics sporting those distinctive circular marks. But for patients dealing with chronic musculoskeletal pain, the real question isn't about celebrity endorsements — it's whether this ancient practice actually delivers measurable results. In this pos

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Ginger has been a cornerstone of culinary and traditional medicinal practices for over 5,000 years. Revered in Ayurvedic medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ancient Egyptian healing traditions, this humble root has earned a remarkable reputation that modern science is now beginning to validate. Known for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, ginger offers far more t

By Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD · Published March 4, 2026 · 8 min read Watch the Full Video Red light therapy and low-level laser therapy are increasingly being used to treat a wide range of painful conditions, from osteoarthritis and tendonitis to chronic neck and back pain. These treatments fall under the broader category of photobiomodulation (PBM), and they are emerging as safe, drug-free alternatives for managing pain and reducing inflammation. In this article, I review the la

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 4, 2026 | Last Updated: March 4, 2026 Back pain is one of the most common complaints I encounter in my sports medicine practice — and one of the most misunderstood. Patients arrive convinced they have a serious spinal problem, that their MRI findings explain their symptoms, or that rest is the only safe path forward. These beliefs are not only unsupported by current evidence; they ac

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 4, 2026 | Last Updated: March 4, 2026 In my practice, I frequently see patients managing prediabetes, type 2 diabetes, or elevated blood sugar levels who are overwhelmed by the complexity of lifestyle modification. The idea that controlling blood sugar requires radical dietary changes or multiple medications can feel daunting. What many of my patients don't realize—and what a growing

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2025 | Last Updated: March 3, 2025 Selecting the right physician for your platelet-rich plasma injection is one of the most consequential decisions you can make about your treatment. In my practice, I consistently see patients who have had suboptimal outcomes not because PRP failed them, but because the procedure was performed incorrectly — wrong technique, insufficient platelet d

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Maintaining muscle mass and strength becomes increasingly difficult with every passing decade. In clinical practice, I see the consequences of age-related muscle loss — known as sarcopenia — on a regular basis. Sarcopenia is not merely a cosmetic concern. It is associated with higher rates of falls, loss of independence, difficulty performing dai

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 High blood pressure is one of the most common and significant risk factors for heart disease and death — yet many people with dangerously elevated nighttime blood pressure have no idea it is happening. In my practice, I frequently see patients whose daytime readings appear perfectly normal, giving them a false sense of security. But when we look

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Creatine monohydrate is one of the most extensively studied and effective supplements in the health and fitness world. As a sports medicine physician, I have seen firsthand how powerful creatine can be — not just for young athletes, but also for weekend warriors, senior athletes, and anyone looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. What makes creati

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 If you have been diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, you are likely wondering what you can do to keep it from getting worse — and whether surgery is inevitable. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I meet patients every day who are anxious about their diagnosis and overwhelmed by conflicting advice. The good news is that there are three

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 4, 2026 | Last Updated: March 4, 2026 Accurate blood pressure measurement is one of the most fundamental aspects of managing cardiovascular health — yet many people are doing it incorrectly without realizing it. In my practice, I regularly see patients whose blood pressure readings vary significantly depending on how they position their arm during measurement. A recent randomized cli

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Missing even a single hour of sleep can affect your heart, your brain, and your longevity. As a sports medicine physician, I have seen firsthand how critical sleep is for physical performance, injury recovery, and overall well-being. Whether you are rehabilitating from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or simply trying to optimize your healt

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, and while medications and injections play an important role in treatment, nutrition is one of the most underutilized tools for managing joint pain and inflammation. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I have treated thousands of patients with arthritis and have seen firsthand how powerful

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Nocturnal leg cramps are one of the most disruptive and painful conditions that affect sleep quality, particularly in older adults. These involuntary muscle contractions strike without warning, often jolting patients awake and leaving the affected leg sore for hours afterward. In my practice, patients frequently ask what they can do to prevent th

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Osteoarthritis affects millions of people worldwide, and one of the most common questions I hear from patients is whether dietary changes can meaningfully reduce joint pain. The answer, supported by a growing body of clinical evidence, is encouraging. Research now demonstrates that something as simple as eating berries on a daily basis may help r

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Can a daily multivitamin actually slow brain aging and improve memory? According to a landmark clinical trial, the answer is yes — but the details matter. Not all vitamins produce the same cognitive benefits, and understanding which formulation was studied (and what it actually improved) is critical for making informed decisions about brain healt

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Can alcohol actually worsen your arthritis symptoms and accelerate joint damage? Many patients assume that an occasional drink is harmless, but recent research reveals a clear connection between alcohol consumption and worsening arthritis—both on imaging and in daily pain levels. What may be most surprising is not simply how much you drink, but h

Written by Dr. Jeffrey Peng, MD — Board-Certified Sports Medicine Physician Published: March 3, 2026 | Last Updated: March 3, 2026 Push-ups are one of the most basic exercises in fitness, but they may reveal far more about your health than you realize. In my practice as a sports medicine physician, I frequently see how muscular strength — or the lack of it — directly impacts long-term health outcomes. A landmark study published in the Journal of the American Medical Associat