Here’s how to choose a toothbrush, one that won’t cause gum recession or other oral health hazards. “One of the most important things about choosing a toothbrush is to make sure that your toothbrush has soft bristles,” says Deborah Foyle, clinical assistant professor and director of pre-doctoral periodontics at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry. “You’re much less likely to do damage...
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The Benefits of Starting Your Day with a Walk
When you wake up in the morning, movement might not be your first priority. But starting your day with a walk — whether it’s around your neighborhood or part of your commute to work or school — can offer your body a number of health benefits. Here are 10 reasons why you may want to...
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How sleepless nights compromise the health of your gut
by Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown It is well known that individuals who work night shifts or travel often across different time zones have a higher tendency to become overweight and suffer from gut inflammation. The underlying cause for this robust phenomenon has been the subject of many studies that tried to relate physiological processes with the...
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Q&A: Mild hypothyroidism may not need treatment
by Mayo Clinic News Network Dear Mayo Clinic: I recently was diagnosed with mild hypothyroidism that isn’t causing symptoms. My doctor says I don’t need treatment now, but she wants me to come back for regular checkups. Does hypothyroidism usually get worse over time? If it does, how is it treated? A: For mild cases...
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For gut microbes, not all types of fiber are created equal
by Washington University School of Medicine Certain human gut microbes with links to health thrive when fed specific types of ingredients in dietary fibers, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The work—conducted in mice colonized with human gut bacteria and using new technologies for measuring nutrient processing—is a step toward developing...
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Collagen in your coffee? A scientist says forget it
by Brooke Russell, The Conversation Collagen products are popping up everywhere. While collagen is probably most well known for its touted skin care benefits and as a major component of lip enhancers and injections, some celebrities, like Kourtney Kardashian, are suggesting that people drink it. Products derived from collagen are not just in skin creams...
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Do tea bags benefit eye health?
By Hannah Nichols Reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, APRN Benefits Types How to use them Summary Using tea bags on the eyes is an accessible and inexpensive home remedy. It not only aids relaxation but may also help with several eye ailments. Camellia sinensis and Camellia sinensis assamica are two varieties of tea plant that grow in around 45 countries, including China, India,...
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New tool to decipher the gut microbiome
By Dr. Liji Thomas, MD The millions of bacteria residing in the gut play a very important role in health and in disease. However, a constant issue has been the lack of understanding of the actual composition of the healthy human gut microbiome. Now, a group of scientists have come up with a new method for...
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Enhancing the way epilepsy is managed by engaging community pharmacists
by University of Washington The University of Washington’s School of Pharmacy announced on Thursday, Sept. 12, a collaboration with global biopharmaceutical company UCB to improve access to care for people living with epilepsy. This interdisciplinary project will explore ways in which community pharmacists can better support people living with this neurological disorder. The roughly 3.4...
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The music therapy that helped Gabby Giffords speak again is getting dementia patients moving
by Stacey Burling Many of us know of music therapy as a way to soothe the troubled and stressed or to activate memories of favorite songs embedded deeply in the minds of people with dementia. For her exercise classes in the nursing home at Paul’s Run, a retirement community in Northeast Philadelphia, music therapist Molly Bybee taps the emotional power of music. But she...