Kristen N. Smith, PhD, RDN, LD
Greens powders have long been a fixture on supplement shelves. With a little help from social media, their popularity has exploded. The market for greens powders is estimated to reach nearly $400 million in the US—that’s double its value since 2018! A lot of us are giving them a try, … Read More
Prostatectomy is the surgical removal of your prostate gland. During an open prostatectomy procedure, your surgeon makes a long incision in your lower belly, stands by your side, and removes your prostate through the incision. During a robotic prostatectomy, your surgeon sits at a computer console and controls tiny surgical … Read More
The Glycemic Index (GI) chart shows how much and how quickly a carbohydrate-containing food raises your blood-sugar levels. The lower a food is on the GI, the lower the effect on your blood sugar. The standardized Glycemic Index ranges from 0 to 100. Zero-glycemic foods—those without carbohydrates—include items like meats, … Read More
If you want to lower LDL naturally, the answer may lie in your spice rack. Turmeric is the Indian spice that gives curry its golden color. While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind for cholesterol health, research indicates turmeric's benefits include that it is one … Read More
Erectile dysfunction causes can be attributed to many diseases and medical conditions known to cause ED. The first step treatment is ensuring that you are appropriately treating any underlying medical disease causing your ED. For example, if you have diabetes, managing your blood glucose levels is not only critical for … Read More
Surgery for prostate cancer is a common treatment choice for men who are in good overall health and who have early stage prostate cancer. This would include men whose prostate cancer is localized to the prostate (stage T1 or T2 cancers) or to the prostate and seminal vesicles (stage T3 … Read More
Is your depression the type that causes carb cravings, weight gain, and fatigue in addition to your low mood? If so, you’re certainly not alone, despite the fact that you have what is classified as “atypical depression” in the medical world. Up to 42% of individuals seeking treatment for depression … Read More
High cholesterol can have wide-ranging effects—both direct and indirect—on your heart and several other organs served by your vascular system. As cholesterol builds in the arteries of your heart, brain, and throughout your body, it usually does so silently. In some cases, the first signs of atherosclerosis may be a … Read More
Shingles pain can be debilitating for seniors. I experienced the effects of shingles several years ago, and it’s something I’d rather not repeat. I hope that sharing my personal experience will encourage you to get vaccinated or, if not, to recognize the symptoms of shingles early enough to benefit from … Read More
BPH is known by a number of names, among them enlarged prostate, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and benign prostatic hypertrophy. But, what is hypertrophy? Hypertrophy is the process by which a cell grows beyond its normal size and causes tissue growth. Some forms of hypertrophy are positive–as when your muscles grow … Read More
