Peritonitis is a serious infection or inflammatory response that can either be confined to the peritoneum (abdomen) or widespread. What can cause peritonitis? A number of things can trigger peritonitis. Peritonitis is usually caused by infection from bacteria or fungi that enter through a leakage or a hole in the digestive system, such as the intestines…
One of the most common questions I have been asked over the years is “what is the best diet for cancer?” And while I don’t claim to be a cancer curer, I do believe there is sufficient evidence that there are certain healing foods, herbs and treatments that can help to fight and prevent cancer.…
Vanilla extract is widely used in both commercial and domestic baking, perfume manufacturing and aromatherapy, but many people don't realize the array of health benefits that come from using vanilla oil, even though it is not technically an essential oil. Internally, pure vanilla oil fights inflammation, works as an antidepressant and contains high levels of antioxidants…
Pruritus, or skin itching, is a common skin problem associated with many different diseases — some of which only affect the skin and others that stem from underlying conditions affecting the whole body. Almost everyone will deal with skin itchiness, dryness and irritation at some point, but what makes pruritus different is its intensity and…
Uveitis is a group of eye conditions that cause inflammation in the eye (usually in the uvea, which is in between the outer and inner layers of the eye). (1) It can happen on its own or as part of another disease affecting the body. About 38,000 cases happen each year in the U.S. (2)…
Are a plant-based diet and breast cancer treatment options related? That could be the case, according to a 2017 animal study. But first, let's take a step back: About on in eight women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. That's 12 percent of women in the…
Nutritionally, apricot seeds are similar to other nuts — they're rich in healthy fats and provide some fiber and iron. There are a number of ways that apricot seeds are used in our foods today. Seeds or kernels of the apricot grown in central Asia and around the Mediterranean are so sweet that they're sometimes substituted for almonds. The Italian liqueur amaretto, and amaretti biscotti, is…
If you or a loved one is struggling with hypogonadism, you may already know that it can be a devastating condition that reduces your quality of life and livelihood. People with hypogonadism can experience muscle loss, low libido, infertility and depressed mood. In fact, these symptoms can make talking about hypogonadism difficult. (1) Thankfully, research…
Spoiler alert: all of us will die at some point. But how we die is fascinating, because it provides insight into the health “trends” in our society as a whole, like what progress we’ve made and where we’re lagging. A great measure of that is the Global Burden of Disease (GBD), released annually by the Institute for Health Metrics…
Prostate health is of the utmost importance for men, particularly men over the age of 40. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), prostate cancer is second most common cancer in American men, trailing only skin cancer. (1) This is why so many men are encouraged to get a prostate exam, but recent…
