In the United States, every year roughly 100,000 people will develop primary hyperparathyroidism. (1) If you're over the age of 50, a woman or have a history of kidney stones, calcium or vitamin deficiency, you're at an increased risk for developing this condition. What are the symptoms of parathyroid disease? Not everyone with hyperparathyroidism will…
Pepsin is considered one of the main digestive enzymes that humans (and many other animals) produce. When is comes to digestive/gut health, what is pepsin needed for? It is essential for us to properly digest the proteins found in the foods we eat. In addition, it helps with functions like nutrient absorption and protection against allergies, yeast…
It happens naturally by our bodies every day — protease in our digestive system, like trypsin, work to break down proteins. Perhaps this sounds like a simple task, but it's actually a multifaceted process called proteolysis. This important process requires trypsin, a proteolytic enzyme that's released by the pancreas and works to break long protein chains…
Cardiomyopathy, a condition that commonly results in an enlarged heart and reduced blood flow, affects as many as 1 in 500 adults living in developed nations like the U.S. (1) What can you do to help lower the chances you'll experience cardiomyopathy and give yourself the best chance of fully recovering? Not all cases of…
Each year in the U.S. about 34,000 patients are admitted to the hospital for infective endocarditis. While endocarditis, a condition that affects the inner lining of the heart, is not very common, there are many risk factors that can increase your chance of dealing with this condition. For example, having gum disease, various bacterial or…
Far from being a new "fad diet", the keto diet— a very low carb, high fat diet — has been used by doctors since the 1920's to treat patients with serious illnesses. In recent years the keto diet has steadily been gaining more attention, due to how it promotes weight loss by forcing the body…
Classified as both a legume and a fruit, the tamarind fruit is unique in just about every way. From its pod-like appearance to its distinct sour-sweet taste, it's true that there's nothing ordinary about this tasty fruit. The tamarind fruit is a staple ingredient in cuisines around the world. Used to make everything from candy…
Interstitial lung disease (or ILD) is more than one disease; in fact, this term describes more than 200 different lung disorders that all affect the tissues and spaces around the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs, called the interstitium. (1) Today, ILD is believed to be more common than previously thought. Research indicates that in the…
Maybe we don't give enzymes enough credit. They are required for literally every single chemical action that takes place in our bodies — from digestion to immune function and blood flow. We are able to see, think and breathe because of protease. What are proteases? They're enzymes that allow for the breakdown of proteins in…
Colorectal cancer — now the second most common cause of cancer death in the U.S. — usually begins as a "polyp," which is why another name for colon polyps is "colorectal polyps." The type of colon polyp called an adenoma is a known precursor of colorectal cancer. While in some cases small colon polyps will develop…
