Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
If you haven’t heard of lupin, the up-and-coming legume soon to reach superfood status, it’s time you were in the loop. Hardly a new player in the food arena, lupin beans, commonly called lupini beans, have nourished ancient Egyptians, Incans, and Romans and they continue to be popular in modern … Read More
If you have ever experienced “butterflies in your stomach” or felt like your guts were “tied up in knots” while under stress, you have experienced the gut-brain connection. [1] According to the Cleveland Clinic, stress can cause diarrhea, it can also cause other symptoms of GI distress like bloating, belly … Read More
Do your favorite foods like cheese and ice cream make your stomach turn? You may be experiencing dairy intolerance symptoms. Lactose is the natural sugar found in dairy products. If you experience dairy intolerance symptoms, your body may have a shortage of lactase, which is an enzyme that breaks down … Read More
Do you think you have iron deficiency symptoms? Learn to identify the symptoms, and what to do about it if you are deficient in this vital element. Iron Deficiency Symptoms Iron is needed for the formation of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to deliver it … Read More
The Chinese first used red yeast rice in the Tang Dynasty in 800 A.D. as an aid for stomach ailments and poor blood circulation and to improve spleen health. But today, red yeast rice supplements are most commonly advertised for lowering cholesterol naturally. (Because of their history, they're sometimes referred … Read More
Hydroxycut is a popular line of weight loss supplements that has received a fair share of attention by the FDA over the last ten years due to safety concerns. Although Hydroxycut ingredients have changed over the years as a result of safety issues, adverse health outcomes linked to the newest … Read More
The myth of “acid indigestion,” perpetuated by the pharmaceutical companies, flies in the face of this well-documented, but little-appreciated, medical fact: heartburn is almost never the result of too much stomach acid, but it may often be a signal of too little! When choosing between conventional drugs or natural heartburn … Read More
A peptic ulcer is a sore that forms in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or the first section of the small intestine (duodenal ulcer). Gastric ulcers can occur anywhere in the stomach, but are most common in the lower part (antrum). Duodenal ulcers occur in the first few … Read More
Coping with gastritis and its many symptoms is about as much fun as getting punched in the stomach. Your first instinct may be to reach for an antacid medication because that usually provides quick gastritis relief. But if you want to keep painful gastritis symptoms away for good, the key … Read More
Many of us can recall the excitement of opening our lunch box at school and discovering that Mom packed our favorite sandwich—peanut butter and jelly. That classic combination of creamy, sweet, and sometimes crunchy flavor is an American childhood favorite. And even if you’re no longer eating PB&J sandwiches for … Read More
