drardyceyik

Should I go gluten-free?

Gluten-free foods, gluten-free menu options… Gluten-free choices are everywhere nowadays, but does it mean you should go gluten-free? Consider the following: If you’ve got celiac disease, then going gluten-free is necessary. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks gluten (a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains). Eating gluten orContinue reading “Should I go gluten-free?”

How to prevent unwanted side effects of antibiotics

Sometimes, pharmaceutical antibiotics are necessary to eradicate bacterial infections. While most side effects such as diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, etc. aren’t serious, some of the stronger antibiotics do come with a risk of more severe side effects. When taking pharmaceutical antibiotics, here are some things to consider: Choose the right type of probiotic. Many people know thatContinue reading “How to prevent unwanted side effects of antibiotics”

Do you get menstrual cramps?

Anyone with menstrual cramps knows how dreadful getting your period can be. Dysmenorrhea (the medical term for menstrual cramps/ painful menstruation) can be intense at times and can radiate to the thighs or lower back. In some women, it may even cause nausea, dizziness and vomiting. If you experience severe pain, see a healthcare practitionerContinue reading “Do you get menstrual cramps?”

Top back-to-school concerns (and solutions)

It’s back-to-school season again, and with it come a variety of issues that parents and kids face. Here are a few of the most common concerns that arise at the beginning of the school year: 1. PRESSURE TO SUCCEED: Kids nowadays often feel pressured to get top grades, earn numerous awards and trophies as well asContinue reading “Top back-to-school concerns (and solutions)”

Can I take melatonin for jet lag or insomnia?

What is melatonin? Melatonin is a hormone that helps control our sleep-wake cycle. It is made by the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain. Normally, melatonin levels begin to rise during mid- to late evening, stay high for most of the night, and then decrease in the early morning. As we age, melatonin levelsContinue reading “Can I take melatonin for jet lag or insomnia?”

Male infertility: what’s killing your sperm?

It is estimated that about one in seven couples faces difficulty conceiving. If you’ve been having regular unprotected sex for more than 12 months (or less, if you’re over 35) and you’re still not pregnant, you may begin to wonder if you have a fertility problem. While people think that most fertility problems involve theContinue reading “Male infertility: what’s killing your sperm?”

World Health Organization: Processed meat causes cancer

In October 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, classified processed meat as a carcinogen, something that causes cancer. A report released by the American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund in April 2016 also concluded that eating processed meat canContinue reading “World Health Organization: Processed meat causes cancer”

Study: Daily vitamin D improves heart function

A recent study has found that daily vitamin D3 supplementation can improve heart function in people with chronic heart failure. In the study, researchers gave one group of patients 4000IU of daily vitamin D, and gave the other group a placebo. They found that those who took a daily vitamin D supplement showed improvement in cardiacContinue reading “Study: Daily vitamin D improves heart function”

Healthy children, naturally

Did you know, a recent study showed that children given vitamin D daily were less likely to catch the flu (influenza A)? And that children taking probiotics were half as likely to develop eczema (atopic dermatitis) than those who didn’t? How can parents empower their child to stay healthy into their adolescent years (and beyond!) andContinue reading “Healthy children, naturally”

Food allergy or food intolerance? What’s the difference?

Some people think the terms “food allergy” and “food intolerance” are interchangeable, or variations of the same thing. However, the biological processes behind them, how they affect you and hence forms of treatment are markedly different.What’s the difference between a food allergy and a food intolerance? FOOD ALLERGY: During an allergic reaction, the body’s immune system producesContinue reading “Food allergy or food intolerance? What’s the difference?”