Erythritol is a natural sugar substitute made by fermenting corn, called a sugar alcohol. Other sugar alcohols are sorbitol and xylitol. Because they are all natural, the FDA does not consider them to be food additives. Other artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharine are made from chemicals in a laboratory. … Read More
I was quite sick with COVID-19 earlier this year, despite having been vaccinated. I have read that it is possible to be reinfected with Omicron more than once, but that a new antiviral medication can help. Can you tell me more about it? Research suggests that the antiviral medication you … Read More
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), alopecia areata is a disease of the immune system that attacks your hair follicles. Your immune system is your defense against foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria, but sometimes the immune system mistakes normal body tissues as foreign and attacks them. This … Read More
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are three types of bariatric surgeries commonly done in the United States. They are called gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and adjustable gastric band. Before you consider any type of bariatric surgery, you should try diet and exercise to lose weight. If … Read More
Bruising is caused by breaks in tiny blood vessels that are beneath your skin but close to the surface, called capillaries. If you get a blow or bump hard enough to break some capillaries, bleeding will show up as a purple or red bruise. Over a few days, the bruise … Read More
Atherosclerosis is a clogged artery due to plaque formation. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your body. A plaque starts as an injury to the inside of an artery. At the injury site, cholesterol, fat, and other substances start to collect and form … Read More
COVID-19 is a new version of an old virus called coronavirus. Most of the effects of COVID have been on people's lungs, but there have also been effects on the brain and nerves (neurological effects). For now, doctors and researchers have been busy creating a vaccine and finding the best … Read More
A regular stroke is a 911 emergency. It is an interruption of blood flow to part of your brain. Without blood, brain cells start to die. This stroke causes sudden symptoms like numbness and weakness on one side, loss of speech or the ability to understand speech, dizziness or loss … Read More
Eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate may benefit health in many ways. In fact, some research suggests that chocolate is now considered an anti-aging, anti-inflammatory “superfood” for the brain and body. Although we need a lot more research before experts agree, some studies examining the health benefits of chocolate suggest … Read More
A low heart rate may be a sign of an efficiently working heart. Or, if the rate becomes too low, it could be a sign of health complications down the road. A normal or healthy resting heart rate for an adult is between 60 and 100 beats a minute. A … Read More
