Have you noticed that food allergies are becoming increasingly common? Chances are if you don’t have a food allergy yourself, you can probably name several people you know who do. When it comes to food allergies, my experience is both occupational and personal. I love being a clinical dietitian and certified nutrition support clinician at … Continue reading 6 strategies for managing your family’s food allergies
From specific conditions to overall health and wellness, diet is becoming a part of nearly every health-related conversation — What should we eat? What should we avoid eating? What foods are paramount for a healthy life? For our hearts in particular, the food factor is especially important. While medication remains a primary treatment for high … Continue reading Is soy good for your heart?
As the popularity of high-impact, strength-building exercise programs increases, the shoulder is being increasingly called upon to function as a high demand, weight-bearing joint. This has led to an increase in shoulder-related complaints among active adults. If that’s you, read on to gain a better understanding of what is causing your shoulder pain — and … Continue reading Why rotator cuff injuries are the most common cause of shoulder pain
Have you heard all the recent buzz about alkaline water? People claim alkaline water has powerful health benefits, from preventing cancer to boosting weight loss. All these health claims probably have you wondering — what is alkaline water and should you be drinking it? What is alkaline water? Alkaline water is water containing a higher … Continue reading Is alkaline water worth the hype?
Growing up as a little girl in Puerto Rico, I naively associated hurricanes with happiness: no electricity and no running water for days in a row meant no school, fun outside with the neighbors and candlelit board games. Until I watched my beautiful island get destroyed by hurricane Maria on September 20, 2017. Extreme weather … Continue reading How severe storms impact your mental health
From coughing and a sore throat, to fever, to sinus and nasal congestion, and even wheezing, respiratory symptoms can leave you feeling miserable. Potential causes include allergies, sinus infection, throat infection and pneumonia, but one of the most common causes is acute bronchitis. (The word “acute” means the symptoms came on suddenly rather than being … Continue reading 7 things you should know about bronchitis
You’re likely well aware of the dangers of high cholesterol. Over time, elevated cholesterol — specifically LDL cholesterol, the kind many people refer to as “bad” cholesterol — causes your arteries to harden and narrow. Having high cholesterol can significantly increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. For most adults, less than 200 mg/dl … Continue reading Could low cholesterol actually raise your stroke risk?
Most of us have experienced cancer from at least one perspective — as a family member or friend, a caregiver, a patient or perhaps a volunteer. Each perspective is different, like looking through a prism. My story links all of these. My journey with cancer began as that of a loved one. My mother-in-law and … Continue reading Why I became a patient navigator
Have you ever walked out of a dark movie theater in the middle of the day? Like most people, you probably squint and find the light uncomfortable for a brief period. This is an instance of photophobia (light sensitivity). Photophobia is described as a condition where light, natural or artificial, causes an abnormal sense of … Continue reading How to cope with photophobia
Over the past several decades, there has been a fast migration into cities as our societies get more industrialized, more urban and more digital. We’ve grown accustomed to spending our time indoors behind screens. But have we been hurting our brains in the process? Have we been missing out on the protective factors that nature … Continue reading How nature can improve your mental health
