Although a stress-induced increase in cortisol secretion is beneficial in the short-term, excessive or prolonged cortisol secretion may lead to high cortisol symptoms. Cortisol is a vital hormone produced and secreted by the adrenal glands. The hormone is released in a rhythmic fashion, with levels peaking in the morning (to … Read More
“I feel tired all the time.” “I have frequent headaches.” “I’m down and I just don’t feel like doing anything.” Do any of these statements apply to you? If so, you may need to look no further for the cause of your complaints than in your mouth! Why? An often … Read More
Scientists attribute C-diff’s spread to unnecessary and incorrect use of antibiotics, which can wipe out beneficial bacteria in the gut, opening an opportunity for C. difficile to infect the colon. While C-diff isn’t (yet) drug-resistant, stronger strains of this bacteria are emerging, and the CDC recently identified it as one … Read More
Originally developed in 1924 to treat epilepsy, the ketogenic diet has most recently rose in popularity as the latest and greatest miracle weight-loss plan. Additionally, proponents of the ketogenic diet—or keto diet, as it's commonly known—advertise health benefits ranging from glucose control to treatment of Alzheimer’s. But, what does the … Read More
Remember that time you cleared your second plate and then went whole hog at the Thanksgiving dessert table? You may not recall the exact foods you ate, but the bloating, nausea, and discomfort that ensued are likely etched into your brain. Now imagine suffering these feelings multiple times a week, … Read More
Eating disorders are more prevalent in young adults, but they can develop later in life too. Compared to men, women are twice as likely to have an eating disorder. According to Danyale McCurdy-McKinnon, PhD, Clinical Psychology Director for the UCLA Fit for Healthy Weight Program, undereating, dieting, or just attempting … Read More
The tools available to increase appetite in older adults are not set in stone. Adults battle myriad physical and mental issues that make eating a low priority. Not eating is dangerous, though, because a lack of needed nutrients hastens death. According to eatingdisorderhope.com, 78 percent of deaths from anorexia—a lack … Read More
The prevalence of clostridium difficile—or C diff —is staggering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are almost half a million cases per year. Of those, 15,000 patients die from C diff, which is a bacterial infection. While those statistics might make you think, “I need medicine … Read More
Bloated, always tired and constantly craving sugar? You may be suffering from leaky gut. There’s a test for that! So what is the leaky gut test, and do you need one? Increased intestinal permeability, also known as leaky gut, occurs when the barrier between the gut and the bloodstream (mucosal … Read More
What does "osteoporosis -2.5" mean? To answer that question, we start with bone density scans, sometimes referred to as bone densitometry or dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA, also written as DXA). Such scans have become an increasingly popular testing modality as more than 10 million adults in the United States alone … Read More
