Author: healthtost
In case heat waves and smoky skies weren’t enough, this July, more than 30 US states are currently experiencing an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes watery, “explosive” diarrhea, cramps and fatigue. In the latest news, the CDC announced today that the outbreak has been linked — in part — to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. This contaminated lettuce has been traced to a single supplier, per the FDA. While identifying a source is an important step (and Taco Bell said yesterday that it has “voluntarily removed[d]…
Because pregnancy + celiac disease is a unique skin care challenge Pregnancy and celiac disease are connected in ways that go beyond skin care. Active, uncontrolled celiac disease has documented associations with adverse pregnancy outcome—including recurrent miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, preterm delivery, and low birth weight—through mechanisms such as reduced nutrient absorption (folate, iron, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B12), systemic inflammation, and thyroid autoimmunity. Strict adherence to a gluten-free diet greatly reduces these risks, making pregnancy the most clinically motivated time for celiac patients to be absolutely strict about eliminating gluten. In the skin context, pregnancy creates hormonal changes —…
The gestation period is a critical phase in which environmental exposure can affect the development of the unborn baby. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy exposes the fetus to more than 7,000 chemicals, including the neurotoxin nicotine and the respiratory toxin carbon monoxide. These chemicals can easily cross the placenta and damage the fetal nervous system and lungs by disrupting normal cell differentiation. This article aims to describe the effects of smoking on the baby. Disturbance of fetal brain structure and function Cigarette smoking by the mother and passive smoking during pregnancy can seriously harm the health of the fetus. There is…
Have you ever sat in a restaurant, looking forward to the burger you just ordered, only to feel a sudden wave of guilt wash over you when your friend orders a salad? Or maybe you’ve found yourself scrolling through social media, scrutinizing a fitness influencer’s “What I Eat in a Day” video, and quietly judging your own breakfast choices in response. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. I see it all the time and hear it from my clients. It’s known as the food comparison trap, and it’s one of the most common — and draining — roadblocks to…
In the field of fitness and strength and conditioning we’ve all heard the phrase:”You have to stimulate the muscle to grow, not destroy it.”I can’t say I disagree with the sentiment, though I do think it’s a bit reductive, taken at face value. I mean, assuming one isn’t injured or has a history of injury, most people can train a lot harder than they give themselves credit for.I’ve said it before and I have to say it again here:”Weightlifting isn’t supposed to tickle.”Furthermore, if you pick the brains of coaches like Alex Viada or Chad Wesley Smith, they would be…
Alveolar bone defects and prominent facial deformities affect a significant portion of the population and may increase the risk of other complications. The proposed expert consensus aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of these complications and offers strategies to improve adult orthodontic care. How do orthodontists plan treatment for adults with reduced bone support, periodontal concerns, or complex skeletal discrepancies? As more adults seek orthodontic treatment, answering these questions becomes increasingly difficult. Beyond creating straighter smiles, clinicians balance facial aesthetics, skeletal relationships, periodontal health, and rapidly evolving digital technologies while striving to provide safe, predictable, and personalized treatment.…
July 22, 2026 · By Amy Suzanne Upchurch, Founder + CEO of Pink Stork, Certified Health Coach, INHC It depends on the population. In a national health survey of Mexican women of reproductive age, 8.5% had confirmed vitamin B12 deficiency, about 1 in 12.† In the broader US adult population, overall B12 deficiency is closer to 2 to 3 percent, although this number rises significantly in certain groups, including people who eat a predominantly plant-based diet. B12 is one of the easiest nutrients to quietly deplete, as dramatic symptoms often don’t appear until the deficiency is more advanced. What the…
He never misses work. He closes the deal, makes the mortgage payment and shows up to coach his kid’s team on Saturday. He also can’t remember the last night he didn’t drink, and lately he needs a lot more than he used to. From the outside he looks like a man who has it together. That look is exactly the problem. We tend to imagine addiction as a life in ruins. The job is gone, the family is gone, the bottom. So when a man is still playing and providing, no one thinks to ask if he’s okay. It doesn’t…
In the most aggressive forms of leukemia, the blood cell factories in our bone marrow falter. Instead of dividing and multiplying at their normal productive rate, creating hundreds of billions of new cells every day, some precursor cells are shed at an immature stage. “They never end. They never become what they’re supposed to be. Because they’re progenitor cells, they don’t really have a function and they just expand and break down our bone marrow,” said Raquel Espin Palazon, an associate professor of genetics, developmental and cell biology at Iowa State University. New findings from a research team led by…
If you’ve ever leaked a little when you sneezed or laughed, you’ve probably been told it’s just one of those things that comes with having babies or growing up. But while UI is common, it’s not normal, and new research suggests that urinary incontinence (UI) could also be an indicator of your heart health.A University of Iowa study of more than 20,000 women found that current UI was associated with cardiovascular risk factors, including type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia (unhealthy mix of cholesterol or other fats in the blood), stroke and history of coronary artery bypass surgery. The link held…