Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a skin condition that affects the "pediatric population" (babies and children) most often. The virus is common among children between the ages of 1–10, especially those who spend a lot of time in daycare where germs tend to linger and spread. That being said, anyone can acquire the MCV virus— especially…
Are you taking time to think about the best and worst foods for your teeth? You may be brushing your teeth, flossing regularly and visiting your dentist twice a year, but are the foods you’re eating supporting a healthy smile? While I advise doing that, the foods and drinks we consume also play a significant role…
Sometimes, powerful world-changers come in small packages. Believe it or not, this is very true for broccoli sprouts, the precursor to mature broccoli. Until the last couple of decades, vegetable sprouts were given little to no attention from a nutritional standpoint. However, a 1997 piece in the New York Times changed all that, making the…
I had been a professional food writer — as in, it was literally my job to eat my way around the world, reporting on the most delicious foods for magazines — for half a decade, and a bona fide food lover for 25 years before my “iron stomach” began to fail me. It started with…
Hypothermia causes a lot more deaths than many people realize and it affects people of all ages. Hypothermia can occur both outdoors as well as indoors and it doesn't have to be below zero for someone's body temperature to get dangerously low fast! In fact, hypothermia can occur at cool temperatures (those above 40 degrees…
Many of us will recall those itchy, red blisters we suffered as children. Chicken pox is the common name for the varicella-zoster virus, which causes a very itchy, highly-contagious skin rash. The virus most commonly affects children between the ages of 4–10, but chicken pox can also affect adults who have never had the virus…
If you spend time along rivers or lakes in the southern or northeastern parts of the U.S., be sure to watch out for poison sumac. Poison sumac is considered a much rarer plant compared to poison ivy (but it is more poisonous). So depending on where you live, you probably have much less of a…
More than 2 million new cases of the sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis were reported in 2016, according to a new report, 2016 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (1) This is the highest number of cases reported for these diseases, and the CDC is…
When most people think of protein, they think high-protein foods like chicken, grass-fed beef, eggs, and beans and legumes. But did you know that this essential macromolecule your body needs to build new cells can be consume through protein bread? Yes, you read that right — high-protein bread. Manufacturers all over have launched the revolutionary…
Proton-pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world. In fact, one study estimates Americans spend $11 billion on PPIs each year. (1) These popular pills are prescribed for the prevention and treatment of acid-relation conditions like acid reflux. But you may or may not be surprised to learn that…
