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There’s no one uniform Mediterranean lifestyle or eating pattern because its followers don’t all live in the same place. That complicates the effort to assess the potential health benefits of the diet. “Did you live in Italy? Did you live in Greece? Did you live in Spain? So then, when you do research studies, the diet might be a little different in each,” says Jo Ann Carson, PhD, a former professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a former chair of the nutrition committee for the American Heart Association....

What Is Calcium, and Why Do I Need It? Calcium is a mineral that plays a role in many body processes, including clotting blood and releasing hormones. (2) “Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the body, is a critical building block for both bones and teeth,” says Emily Kyle, RDN, a dietitian in private practice in Rochester, New York. “Calcium also plays many important roles in some metabolic functions within the body....

Today, the rice under that stir-fry you made for dinner last night likely came from one of six states, including Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri. (1) Most of the rice produced is used for the dinner table, but you can also find it in processed foods, beer, and pet food. (1) If there was one type of rice, things might get boring, but you can buy a variety. You’re probably most familiar with brown or white — and the iterations thereof, like basmati and arborio — but there’s also black, purple sticky, and red, all of which have their unique taste and potential health benefits....

An estimated 48 million Americans get food poisoning each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s one in six people! And if you have ever had a close encounter with some spoiled food (I did when I was younger), you know the effects are not pleasant: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. Because of that personal experience and my background as an RD, food safety is near and dear to my heart....

Researchers examined the electronic health records of about 82,000 children and found that those who experienced oxygen deprivation in utero were significantly more likely to develop ADHD than children who had not been exposed, according to a release. Overall, prenatal exposure to low oxygen conditions — like birth asphyxia and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome — was associated with a 16 percent greater risk of developing ADHD. The specific low-oxygen conditions (also called ischemic-hypoxic conditions) were found to be associated with different levels of risk:...

As a result, some people who have ankylosing spondylitis may feel isolated and lonely, and that can actually further complicate overall health. According to Susan M. Goodman, MD, a rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City, isolating yourself socially because of ankylosing spondylitis may be a result of not having an adequate support system to help you navigate the condition. It can also lead to depression, which is common in people who have ankylosing spondylitis, or even worsen your pain or other symptoms....

“I use the word veteran because it feels more authentic to me,” says Miller. “In our community, we are constantly getting phone calls or seeing on social media when another one of us passes away and we have to go back to that traumatic experience. Many of us are diagnosed with PTSD.” Miller was diagnosed in 2017, when she was just 33 and in the best shape of her life....

Jeff Szymanski, PhD (ocfoundation.org) OCD can start at any time from preschool to adulthood. Although OCD does occur at earlier ages, there are generally two age ranges when OCD first appears: Between ages 10 and 12 and between the late teens and early adulthood. Jonathan Abramowitz, PhD (jabramowitz.com) It typically starts between 18 and 25 but can begin anytime. I’ve met kids as young as 6 or 7 years old with it....

Acne, the term for what’s commonly called pimples or zits, occurs when oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells clog hair follicles. People with oily skin may be more susceptible to pimples because of their acne-prone skin, but breaking bad habits can still help them — and everyone else — prevent acne. Break These Acne-Causing Habits Here are the top bad habits that can take a toll on your acne-prone skin, resulting in pimples and blemishes: Bad Habit No....

Face masks are a soothing part of many people’s skin care routine, and they can bring lots of benefits such as brightening, moisturizing, and absorbing oil. But for anyone suffering from acne, whether you’re dealing with regular pimples or occasional breakouts, it’s important to avoid irritation, which can worsen any skin condition. Acne-sufferers who want to give drugstore face masks a try just need to keep a few things in mind, according to Mona Gohara, MD, an associate clinical professor in the dermatology department at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut....

Many social media outlets, including TikTok, have enabled mental health professionals, activists, and advocates around the world to create helpful content — from reels about what it’s really like to live with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) using the #ocdawareness hashtag, to anxiety coping tips, to often-missed signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in girls and women — that could potentially reach, and help, millions of viewers. This was especially true for mental health content during COVID-19-related lockdowns and social distancing....

These DIY therapies can’t substitute for psoriasis treatments prescribed by your physician, but they might help your skin feel less dry, inflamed, and itchy. “Medications can work separately from natural remedies or as part of a combination or adjunct treatment,” says Anna Chacon, MD, a dermatologist in South Florida. “I don’t believe it has to be one or the other.” It’s important to check with your doctor before you try any home remedy for psoriasis, since even so-called natural ingredients can interact with medications or irritate sensitive skin....

“Although there are some suitable acne treatments out there, there is no treatment that works for everyone, and some people can develop serious side effects to some treatments,” says Miguel Rentería, PhD, a researcher at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, and coauthor of a new study exploring the genetic links to acne. Some parents of teenagers may recall when the acne treatment Accutane (isotretinoin) was linked to miscarriages and severe birth defects in the 1980s....

The research is part of a larger study that looks at the effects of blue wavelength light therapy as a way to help people recover faster from their concussions, says lead author William D. “Scott” Killgore, PhD, a professor and clinical neuropsychologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. “On average, about half of people who have a concussion will go on to have some sort of sleep-related issue,” says Dr....

Fast-forward 30 years, and there has been a plethora of evidence showing that Botox can help treat chronic migraine, says Zubair Ahmed, MD, a neurologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin, which is produced by the same bacteria that cause botulism, according to the American Migraine Foundation. When given as an injection, Botox stops the release of key chemicals in the body that may cause migraine pain, says Dr....

A new study published on April 1, 2019, in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggested that baby steps toward that goal could make a big difference when it comes to managing osteoarthritis. Researchers discovered that brisk walking for just one hour a week can make a huge impact when it comes to maintaining independence and postponing disability for people with arthritis pain. A Reasonable Walking Recommendation, Even if You Have OA “This is less than 10 minutes a day for people to maintain their independence....

So when you combine the good and the bad, does it add up to a diabetes-friendly dish? That’s the question researchers at the Oregon Health and Science University posed in their recent study published in Nutrition Journal as part of an effort to help tailor diabetes care to cultural groups. After examining the blood glucose levels of adults with type 2 diabetes who consumed either pinto beans and white, long grain rice, black beans and white, long grain rice, red kidney beans and white, long grain rice or white, long grain rice alone, researchers found that the pairing of any type of beans with rice can help stop unhealthy blood sugar spikes....

A large body of research points to therapeutic substances in marijuana that could help with Crohn’s symptoms, and some studies have even found a direct link between marijuana use and benefits in people with Crohn’s. But many experts still urge caution. “I think there’s a decent number of IBD patients using cannabis and noticing symptomatic improvement,” says Kian Keyashian, MD, a gastroenterologist and IBD specialist at Stanford Health Care in California....

These treatments typically contain minoxidil, and they may be referred to as topical minoxidil more broadly. Minoxidil is an ingredient that has been used for decades and is generally considered safe and well tolerated. But its efficacy is variable, says Sandeep Sattur, MD, a hair restoration surgeon at the HairRevive Centre for Hair Restoration and Skin Rejuvenation in Mumbai, India. Also, this form of minoxidil can come with some unpleasant side effects, among other downsides....

New research suggests that an extra hour of sleep every night could help sleep-deprived people who are overweight eat 270 fewer calories per day without even trying. Participants in the new study were not asked to restrict calories and did not even know that calorie intake was being measured for the trial, as it was done by analysis of urine samples the participants thought were being collected to measure other things....