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
Being constipated stinks—your bowel movements are dry, almost painful to pass, with little relief. Worse yet, you can manage to push something through only a couple of days a week. You feel bloated, fatigued, and just plain uncomfortable. It’s all you can think about. And, after a week or so, … Read More
Colon cleansing is in fashion—and it’s a big business. You’ve likely heard people talking about having a colon cleanse as if they were going to a spa for a massage. But be very careful! There are no scientific studies that support any benefits from this practice—except for the bank accounts … 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
We know that calcium is crucial to bone health, but it can't do its job without magnesium. Without magnesium, the body cannot: Adequately absorb calcium Stimulate calcitonin, a hormone that draws calcium from the blood and tissues back into the bones. Suppress parathyroid, another hormone that breaks down bone Convert … Read More
Exercise-associated muscle cramps (EAMC) are painful muscle spasms that occur during or immediately following a workout. They are spawned by an involuntary contraction of a muscle that will not relax. Muscle cramps typically start in the leg—often in the calf muscles (i.e. the dreaded Charley horse). But they also can … 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
Potassium deficiency is the result of hypokalemia—the medical term for blood serum potassium levels that are below normal. Normal blood potassium levels are typically between 3.6 and 5.2 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). A potassium level that is very low (less than 2.5 mmol/L) can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical … Read More
The thick gel found in the leaf of the aloe vera plant has been used for thousands of years to heal a variety of topical conditions. In fact, aloe gel was one of the most frequently prescribed medicines in the 18th and 19th centuries. The gel is composed of 95 to … Read More
Up to 60 percent of adults have had nocturnal leg cramps.[1] These recurrent, painful cramps usually strike the calf muscles and can cause frequent awakenings and severe insomnia. They are more common in people aged 50 years and older. If you’ve suffered through them, read on to learn how to … Read More
