Traveler’s Tummy, Dheli Belly, Montezuma’s Revenge. Whatever name it goes by one thing is certain, Traveler’s Diarrhea (TD) is uncomfortable at best and downright deadly at worst. And if you’re planning that summer vacation to faraway destinations, you likely have legitimate concerns about getting sick. The good news? Taking a good quality probiotic supplement… Continue Reading
Wellness Supplements
Jan 2018
Depressed? How Probiotics Might Help
Here’s a new neuroscience buzzword you need to know: psychobiotics. No, it doesn’t mean you’re crazy about probiotics, although you should be. Psychobiotics are live organisms (probiotics) that ingested in sufficient quantities; work on the brain-gut axis to help with psychiatric illnesses, including depression. Wait, what? That’s right, depression, the mood disorder that causes… Continue Reading
What are Prebiotics?
By David H. Rahm, M.D. Q: I’ve been taking a probiotic for years but lately I’m hearing more about prebiotics. What’s the difference between prebiotics and probiotics? And, should I be taking a prebiotic supplement? Emerging research over the past decade, has given us a greater appreciation for the role that probiotics –… Continue Reading
Consuming Probiotics May Help Reduce Blood Pressure
To lower and keep your blood pressure in check, you’re supposed to reduce sodium, eat fewer processed foods, drink less, and weigh less. For those looking for more, it seems like taking more probiotics, the all-important beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, can also help you lower hypertension. A review published in Hypertension,… Continue Reading
Do I Need to Take a Fiber Supplement?
By David H. Rahm, M.D. Q: I try to eat whole grain bread and pasta but I wonder if I’m getting enough fiber in my diet. Should I take a fiber supplement? Ideally you want to get your daily fiber requirement from the foods you eat. Unfortunately, many popular foods from pizza to… Continue Reading
How to Prevent Getting a Cold
By David H. Rahm, M.D. Q: Everyone around me is sick! I don’t want to catch a cold and can’t afford the time off from work. Do you have any suggestions on how I can avoid catching a cold or worse, the flu? With the cold & flu season at its height in… Continue Reading
What Vitamins and Supplements Should I Take?
by David H. Rahm, M.D. Q: If I took every supplement that I read about, I would be taking dozens of nutrients. How do I know what dietary supplements I should take? In the 30 years I’ve practiced medicine, this is one of the most commonly asked questions I hear from patients. Unfortunately,… Continue Reading
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)
Vitamin B12 is one of the eight vitamins that make up the B-complex. It is also known as cobalamin because it contains high levels of the metal ion cobalt. Like all B-vitamins, B12 is water-soluble. However, B12 differs from the other B-vitamins as it can be stored in the liver and kidneys for years. … Continue Reading
Thiamin (Vitamin B1)
Thiamin is a water-soluble nutrient that was the first of the eight B-vitamins to be discovered, hence its name vitamin B1. Severe thiamin deficiency causes a syndrome known as “beriberi”. In the early 20th century, doctors discovered that when sailors ate a diet of white rice they were likely to suffer from muscular weakness,… Continue Reading
Selenium
Selenium is a trace mineral that works as an antioxidant in the body. Selenium is incorporated into glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme that plays a critical role in reducing free-radicals and oxidation in the body. Free-radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that are a byproduct of metabolism. Diet and lifestyle also impact the amount of free-radicals… Continue Reading