Research-based articles on weight management, joint health, gut health, and natural wellness to help you make informed health decisions.
Blood sugar is the amount of glucose in your blood right now. For most healthy adults without diabetes, a normal fasting blood sugar level is between 70 and 99 mg/dL. Two hours after eating, it should be below 140 mg/dL. These numbers come from the American Diabetes Association and are the standard most doctors use. … Read more
What Is Considered Low Diastolic Blood Pressure? A normal diastolic reading is between 60 and 80 mmHg. Readings below 60 mmHg are generally considered low. Some people naturally run in the 50s and feel fine. Others experience symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, or fainting at the same numbers. The American Heart Association defines hypotension as a … Read more
Maseca is a brand of masa harina, the flour used to make tortillas, tamales, and other Latin American foods. The short answer is that Maseca is a processed corn product with a moderate nutritional profile, and its effect on blood sugar is a real concern for some people. While it is not a health food, … Read more
A low total CO2 in your blood usually means your body is too acidic. This is called metabolic acidosis. It is not a disease itself but a sign that something else is going on. Your doctor looks at this number to find the root cause, whether it is kidney trouble, a lung issue, or a … Read more
Getting hair dye on your skin is annoying but it happens to almost everyone who colors their own hair. The good news is that most fresh stains come off with common household items you probably already have. For fresh dye, dish soap and baking soda paste usually works within minutes. For dried stains, oil-based products … Read more
If you have a sore on your lip or in your mouth and you want to know if it is herpes, doctors use two main methods: a swab of the sore or a blood test. The swab test looks for the virus itself directly from the blister or ulcer. The blood test looks for antibodies … Read more
If you are looking into microneedling for hair growth, the needle size matters more than most people realize. The most effective size is between 0.5mm and 1.5mm, with 0.5mm to 0.7mm being the sweet spot for most people starting out. Anything shorter than 0.5mm does not reach the depth needed to stimulate hair follicles, and … Read more
If you are thinking about using a continuous glucose monitor, the first question is usually about pain. The short answer is that the insertion is quick and most people describe it as a brief pinch. The sensor uses a tiny filament that sits just under the skin, not a needle that stays in. After the … Read more
If you have ever looked at a fitness test or a workout program and wondered what they are actually measuring, the answer comes down to five specific areas. The five components of fitness are cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition. These five categories are the standard used by the American College … Read more
Skin inflammation — redness, swelling, itching, or heat — is your body’s way of fighting something it sees as a threat. The most effective treatments include topical corticosteroids, moisturizers with ceramides, avoiding known triggers, and in some cases prescription medications like calcineurin inhibitors. What works depends entirely on what is causing the inflammation. Eczema, psoriasis, … Read more