Research-based articles on weight management, joint health, gut health, and natural wellness to help you make informed health decisions.
Diarrhea is your body’s way of flushing something out of your digestive tract, and in many cases, that something is harmful bacteria. The short answer is that diarrhea primarily helps your body get rid of bacteria, but it can also help those bacteria spread to other people. Both things are true at the same time. … Read more
Waking up to a high blood pressure reading can be confusing, especially if your numbers are usually normal during the day. For most people, blood pressure follows a natural daily rhythm where it dips lowest during sleep and then rises sharply in the early morning hours. This morning surge is a normal biological response, but … Read more
Your blood carries more than just red and white blood cells. It also carries proteins that do essential jobs. Two of the most important groups are albumin and globulins. These proteins help move nutrients, fight infections, and keep fluid in your blood vessels. When doctors order a blood test called a total protein test, they … Read more
An incline pushup is closer to a decline press than an incline press. The angle of your body changes which part of your chest does the most work. In an incline pushup, your hands are elevated, which shifts more tension to your lower chest. This is the same muscle emphasis you get from a decline … Read more
Yes, hydrogen peroxide will bubble on dried blood, but the reaction is much weaker than on fresh blood. The bubbling happens because of an enzyme called catalase, which breaks hydrogen peroxide down into water and oxygen gas. Fresh blood has plenty of active catalase, so it bubbles vigorously. Dried blood still contains catalase, but the … Read more
Men do not experience menopause. The term “male menopause” is a popular label, but it is not a medical diagnosis. Women’s menopause is defined by the end of ovulation and a sharp drop in estrogen. Men do not have a biological event that stops sperm production or halts testosterone completely. What men experience, when they … Read more
Getting an MRI after getting a tattoo is a common question, and the short answer is that six weeks is a reasonable and often recommended waiting period. The main reason for this wait is to allow the skin to fully heal and to reduce the risk of the MRI machine’s magnetic field interacting with the … Read more
Selenium is an essential mineral, but too much of it can be harmful. High selenium levels in the blood are almost always caused by taking too much selenium from supplements, not from eating normal foods. In rare cases, it can also result from drinking water contaminated with high selenium or from certain medical conditions. What … Read more
Seeing a higher cholesterol number on a recent blood test can feel confusing and frustrating, especially if you feel healthy and have not changed your diet. The reason your cholesterol went up suddenly is rarely one single factor; it is usually a combination of a recent change in your body, a new medication, a shift … Read more
Skin tags are extremely common, and almost everyone wonders if they can just cut them off at home. The short answer is yes, a doctor can remove them safely and quickly, but doing it yourself carries real risks. While the internet is full of home remedies and DIY methods, the safest and most reliable way … Read more