Author: healthtost

Understanding the Powerful Connection Between Stress, Digestion, and Your Microbiome—And How to Calm BothAuthor: Megan XipolitosHave you ever felt “butterflies” before a big event… or had your digestion completely out of whack during a stressful week?This isn’t in your head – it’s in your gut.Welcome to gut-brain axisone of the most exciting and powerful systems in your body. This constant communication between your brain and your digestive system is why stress doesn’t just affect your mood—it shows up naturally in your gut. We’ve talked about this before about a connection to hormones, but I want to take a different look…

I am sharing my full review of Danger Coffee. If you want to try it, you can get 10% off your purchases here with the code FITNESSISTA. Updated May 2026. Hello friends! Let’s talk about something near and dear to my heart: coffee. As one Integrative Health ProfessionalI’m pretty particular about what I put in my body and that includes my morning cup of happiness. So when I came across Danger Coffee at Dave Asprey’s Biohacking conference (they literally had it flowing everywhere), I knew I had to try it and report back. I’ve been drinking the decaffeinated version daily…

An international research team recently showed that the antibody NG101 promotes the regeneration of damaged spinal cord tissue. Now, led by scientists at the University of Zurich and Balgrist University Hospital, the team has revealed for the first time how the treatment actually works. With a boost from this new antibody, new nerve fibers form functional connections once again, allowing patients to become more independent. Spinal cord injuries – often caused by sports or car accidents – can lead to quadriplegia or paraplegia and severely limit independence. In late 2024, an international research team led by the University of Zurich…

A huge multinational analysis suggests two leading cardiovascular risk tools can help clinicians identify high-risk patients across regions, but local calibration remains key to making prevention more precise. Study: Multinational validation of the PREVENT and SCORE2 cardiovascular risk equations in 6.4 million subjects. Image credit: Dragon Claws / Shutterstock cardiovascular disease (CVD) Risk calculators guide treatment decisions for millions of people around the world every day. Most of these, however, have been developed for specific populations and regions. A large multinational analysis has been accepted for journal publication Nature Medicine supports the wider application of two main forecasting tools. These…

When comedian Paula Poundstone takes the stage wearing one of her signature zoot suits, she takes the microphone and does what she does best – make people laugh.What her audience may not realize, however, is that Poundstone has been busy all her life obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)a mental health condition that causes obsessive thoughts that lead to compulsions and depression. Doing stand-up comedy is just one way she manages her conditions. Diagnosed with OCD Although Poundstone believes she may have had OCD as early as fourth grade, she was officially diagnosed about 25 years ago.“I would find someone I was…

Did you know that? Your body is a vast and complex system of molecules that work together to sustain life. Every cell, no matter how small, plays an important role in the overall system. One of the key players in the realm of blood circulation is nitric oxide. Nitric oxide (NO) plays a crucial role in the transport of nutrients and blood to various organs of the body. This key molecule is one of the body’s most important vasodilators—a molecule that widens blood vessels to increase the volume of blood flow. Healthy blood flow is essential for the healthy functioning…

It happened again. I came home from my son’s soccer practice, ran up the stairs and felt it immediately. They got my back and shut up. And then that sinking feeling hit immediately: “Not again. I was doing so well.” Me too it was he is doing well It’s been about 2 years without a major flare, about 4 times longer than my average in most of my 30s. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’ve been busy back pain for over 20 years thanks to congenital spinal stenosis and previous injuries. So I’ve been able…

Struggling to remain stable under pressure may not just be ‘in your head’. The researchers found that mental stress can directly affect muscle blood flow and fine motor control during simple physical tasks. Study: The effect of cognitive stress on vascular response and force stability during a handgrip task in men and women. Image credit: VADZIM SHUBICH/Shutterstock.com Force stability during very low-intensity contractions and vascular responses involved in the performance of motor tasks may be reduced under cognitive stress, according to a new study published in Journal of Applied Physiology. Cognitive stress affects physical performance Adequate blood flow to the…

– By Kelsey Pabst, RN for the Cerebral Palsy Center If you’re a parent of a child with cerebral palsy, you’ve probably heard the same conversation at every appointment: treating symptoms and working on mobility. What you probably haven’t heard is: We think we know how to do things better. More than 1 million Americans live with CP. For years, therapy helped people adapt rather than aiming for real change. But in 2025, things started to change. THE Cerebral Palsy Center reviewed the most promising research of the past year and found three important developments. Cord blood therapy produces real…

Preschoolers are children ages three to five who are in the early stages of learning and development. At this stage, they develop their primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, which will eventually fall out and be replaced by permanent teeth. However, this does not mean that dental health should be neglected. In fact, tooth decay is the most common dental disease among preschoolers, with one in ten two-year-olds already having one or more cavities. As a result, it is important for parents and caregivers to be aware of dental health tips for preschoolers to prevent dental disease and ensure…