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?”

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?”

Harvard study: childhood exposure to pesticides linked to cancer

According to a meta-analysis by the Harvard School of Public Health, young children exposed to insecticides inside their homes may be slightly more at risk for developing leukemia or lymphoma during childhood. The article, published in Pediatrics in October 2015, found that children exposed to indoor pesticides had a higher risk of developing blood cancers. “WeContinue reading “Harvard study: childhood exposure to pesticides linked to cancer”

Antibiotic use in infancy linked to disease later in life

Antibiotics are the most common prescription drug given to children nowadays, and in a new study in the journal Cell Host & Microbe, researchers discuss the connection between antibiotic use in infants, imbalance in gut bacteria and the development of disease later in life. “Previous studies showed links between antibiotic use and unbalanced gut bacteria, and others showed linksContinue reading “Antibiotic use in infancy linked to disease later in life”

Optimal pregnancy: steps to a healthy, full-term baby

Ever wonder why some women sail smoothly through pregnancy? Want to carry a healthy baby to full term and reduce the risk for pregnancy-related complications? It turns out that what you do during pregnancy has a huge impact on your pregnancy journey and your baby’s health. Nutrition and other lifestyle factors during the early periods in theContinue reading “Optimal pregnancy: steps to a healthy, full-term baby”

How to boost your immune system to avoid the flu

This season, the flu virus strain H3N2 is getting lots of media attention. Just like other H3N2-dominant seasons in the past, there are more hospitalizations and deaths, especially among the elderly, the very young and those who are immunocompromised. A mismatch of the vaccine this season means that those who were vaccinated are not getting the protection they hopedContinue reading “How to boost your immune system to avoid the flu”

Recurrent miscarriage, other ailments may be linked to MTHFR gene mutation

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR for short) is an enzyme that is responsible for the process of methylation in every cell in your body.  Methylation is a core process that occurs in all cells. People with a genetic defect in the MTHFR gene may be at an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, several types of cancer, chemicalContinue reading “Recurrent miscarriage, other ailments may be linked to MTHFR gene mutation”

Is brain health linked to gut bacteria?

There is now strong evidence that links conditions such as autism, ADHD and depression to the the gut microbiome, i.e. the microorganisms that live in the gut. Recently, neuroscientists presented evidence for this link in a symposium at the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington DC called “Gut Microbes and the Brain: Paradigm Shift inContinue reading “Is brain health linked to gut bacteria?”

Cough medicines- a waste of money. Now what?

UK’s Royal College of General Practitioners’ vice chair, Dr. Tim Ballard, has warned that cough medicines are a waste of money. “The medical evidence behind cough medicines is weak,” he stated. “And there is no evidence to say that they will reduce the duration of illnesses – as such, GPs are unlikely to prescribe them.”Continue reading “Cough medicines- a waste of money. Now what?”