Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, is a frustrating condition that can disrupt and negatively impact the quality of daily life. The normal, everyday movement of simply standing up triggers rapid heart rate, dizziness, or a drop in blood pressure that usually resolve upon laying down. Although the cause isn’t … Read More
Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Belly bloat often brings with it the dreaded discomfort of a mash-up of seemingly relentless symptoms, like abdominal pressure and pain, distended abdomen, and gas. We don’t like to talk about it, but it’s actually very common in otherwise healthy individuals. In fact, nearly 10 to 25 percent of people … Read More
When you think about gut health, you are thinking about the last part of your digestive system, called your colon. Both the foods you eat and the foods you avoid affect your gut health. Eating for a healthy colon can help you avoid gut problems like colon cancer, inflammatory bowel … Read More
The lining of your gut is directly related to the health of your whole body. This lining forms a crucial barrier between you and the outside world. In a sense, everything inside your gut is outside of you. Only a few very specific substances are normally allowed through, and the … Read More
Hashimoto’s disease is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.[1] You don’t need to have hypothyroidism as defined by the standard thyroid labs to suffer from Hashimoto’s symptoms: fatigue, depression, weight gain, and more.[2] Fortunately, you can treat your Hashimoto’s symptoms yourself with a Hashimoto’s diet. Hashimoto’s … Read More
Leptin is a hormone with a key role in food intake and body weight homeostasis. Made by fat tissue, leptin helps control body fat and prevent weight gain, but only when there’s enough of it and when it’s working properly. When leptin resistance develops, as in obesity, leptin stores are … Read More
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH), digestive disorders affect 60 to 70 million people in the United States. That number is staggering and it clearly indicates we need to take much better care of our digestive health! There are many different digestive disorders … Read More
Rosacea is a very common skin disorder that occurs mainly in adults. Symptoms include redness, bumps, scales, visible blood vessels, and pustules on the face. It can be accompanied by stinging and burning sensations on the affected skin as well as watery and irritated eyes.[1] This skin disorder is characterized by … Read More
Many people believe using probiotics and antibiotics together is a necessity. That’s because antibiotics do not discriminate. They wipe out all bacteria in their path, whether harmful or good, which can upset healthy balances in the gastrointestinal tract and other body functions. To avoid losing the good bacteria, many people … Read More
At any given time, trillions of bacteria live in your body, many of which reside in the large intestine. This colonic community of bacteria, known as the gut microbiota, plays a key role in immune function, digestion, weight management, and blood-sugar control, among other functions. Some of these microorganisms cause … Read More
