Food allergies are immune-based diseases that have become a serious health concern in the United States. An estimated one-fifth of the population believe that they have adverse reactions to food, but the true prevalence of food allergies ranges between 3 and 4 percent in the general population. Despite the risk of severe allergic reactions and…
It's true that with food allergies, one person's food can truly be another one's poison. The popularity of shellfish has been increasing worldwide, but consequently, shellfish constitute the No. 1 cause of food allergies in the American adult. The approximate prevalence of shellfish allergy is estimated at 0.5 to 2.5 percent of the general population. (1) Shellfish allergy…
A large body of research shows that a healthy, unprocessed diet is very important for managing autoimmune disorder symptoms, including those caused by lupus, because it helps control inflammation stemming from poor gut health. The majority of your immune system is actually located in inside your gastrointestinal tract, which is also known as the microbiome,…
Seborrheic dermatitis, a type of skin condition that most often causes facial dryness and scalp itchiness, affects about 6 million children and adults in the U.S. It can be tricky to recognize or diagnose seborrheic dermatitis because the skin reactions it triggers mimic those caused by similar conditions like psoriasis, other forms of eczema or even allergic reactions.…
A popular food additive used in everything from dill pickles to ice cream is now linked to colon cancer, thanks to the way it impacts the gut. Emulsifiers are added to most processed foods to improve food texture and extend shelf life. But it also throws off healthy levels of intestinal bacteria, triggering chronic, low-level inflammation…
Social isolation and feeling very lonely, trapped and hopeless are some of the most common warning signs that someone could be heading toward having suicidal thoughts. Every year, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 40,000 completed suicides and many more partial attempts. Millions of family members, friends, teachers and therapists are left behind…
For a country obsessed with losing weight, spending more than $60 billion a year trying to shed pounds, Americans are failing miserably. Even though we know the health risks that come with being too overweight, almost 78 million adults and 13 million children are obese — that’s one in three adults. (1, 2) It’s obvious…
Often called “wheat protein,” “wheat meat” or “wheat gluten,” seitan (pronounced say-tahn) has a look and texture shockingly similar to meat when it’s cooked, and its alternative namesakes are quite fitting since it’s made from gluten, the main protein found in wheat. Seitan stands out as one of the only meat substitutes completely free of soy. Like its soy counterparts,…
The terms narcissist and narcissistic personality disorder are thrown around rather loosely today. While a touch of self-centeredness, need for admiration or difficulty being criticized may seem narcissistic, it doesn't necessarily warrant a diagnosis of true narcissistic personality disorder. (And here's an important point to remember: Narcissism is not the same as confidence.) But when…
Have you been fooled by advertisements talking about "corn sugar"? Viewer beware — this is just a more angelic but deceptive term for high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). It's said that corn refiners have already spent $50 million trying to convince us to accept corn sugar as HFCS's new namesake. (1) Manufactured mostly from genetically modified corn, high…
