There are certain vitamins that are more important for digestion than others. You can usually get all the vitamins you need by following a balanced diet, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Read on to learn which vitamins are the most important for healthy digestion and how to incorporate them into your eating habits. B Vitamins These vitamins are found in proteins such as fish, poultry, meat, and dairy products, as well as leafy greens and beans, and help your body form red blood cells and get energy from the food you eat, the NIH explains....

“If you undereat or skip breakfast on Thanksgiving morning, there’s a good chance you’ll be ravenous later, which can set you up to overindulge,” says Jackie Newgent, RDN, a chef and nutritionist in Brooklyn, New York. Research backs that up. A meta-analysis of 45 studies published in the January–February 2020 Obesity Research & Clinical Practice found that people who routinely skipped breakfast were 44 percent more likely to be overweight or obese than those who regularly ate breakfast....

“Herbs add flavor and fragrance to dishes without adding unwanted fat, calories, or sodium, and like other plant foods, they are anti-inflammatory,” says Colleen D. Webb, RD, a registered dietitian and clinical nutritionist at the Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City. Your gut will also thank you for adding these particular spices. Natural herbs and spices keep gut bacteria — essential workers for digesting our food and promoting an anti-inflammatory state in the body — healthy and happy, says Sophie Medlin, RD, a consultant dietitian at City Dietitians and chair for the British Dietetic Association for London in England....

If you or a loved one has IBD, you also know that symptoms can be triggered by certain foods and stress. So presents like baked goods, chocolate, and alcohol won’t cut it. “If we’re talking about gifts for IBD patients, it should be something that would make their life easier, especially when they’re having a flare,” says Bethany S. DeVito, MD, a gastroenterologist at Northwell Health in New York. Check out these gift ideas that will likely make a lasting impression this holiday season....

“Respiratory allergies cause symptoms like nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, and itchy nose and eyes, and can be particularly bothersome at night,” explains Neeta Ogden, MD, an allergist in private practice in Englewood, New Jersey, and an American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) spokesperson. “In addition, untreated or severe allergies can lead to blocked sinuses, sinusitis, and even snoring. All of the symptoms can cause night-time awakenings and disturbed sleep....

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows backwards up into the esophagus. The esophagus is the structure that connects the throat to the stomach. Among my patients with acid reflux many are surprised to learn that you can have acid reflux without the traditional complaint of heartburn. Here are seven other facts those with acid reflux are often surprised to learn: Acid reflux affects approximately 60 million Americans. Classically, acid reflux disease was thought to be a disease affecting white males over 50....

The holiday is typically celebrated with a variety of traditional Indian dishes. If you are not of Indian heritage, you may prefer to experience the food by dining out. Like any other cuisine, Indian food that’s prepared in a restaurant differs from dishes that have been prepared at home — often because added fat, salt, and sugar make them significantly less healthy. But Indian food naturally has a few things going for it that can make it a great option when dining out....

Although the damage is sometimes reversible if caught in time, a serious brush with a heart toxin can also be fatal. Here are nine cardio toxins you should know about, and tips for avoiding them or limiting your exposure: 1. Cocaine and Your Heart Cocaine can be profoundly toxic to your heart, both short- and long-term. “Cocaine can cause elevated blood pressure and heart rate,” says cardiologist Kevin Campbell, MD, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina in Raleigh....

Preliminary research to be presented November 6 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2022 found that marital stress among younger adults — ages 18 to 55 — was linked to worse recovery after a heart attack. The study’s findings have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal. “Healthcare professionals need to be aware of personal factors that may contribute to cardiac recovery and focus on guiding patients to resources that help manage and reduce their stress levels,” said the study’s lead author Cenjing Zhu, a PhD candidate in the department of chronic disease epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health in New Haven, Connecticut, in a press release....

Such symptoms are commonly referred to as the keto flu, says Amy Gorin RDN, in Jersey City, New Jersey, owner of Amy Gorin Nutrition. But they aren’t the result of an infection of any sort like influenza. Rather, they’re a byproduct of the body adjusting to a very-low-carb diet as it depletes stored glucose. The body turns to stored fat for energy instead, triggering a state of ketosis, when the liver starts breaking down fat into acids called ketones....

No, you are not losing your grip: You are experiencing a very common spike in anxiety due to hormonal fluctuations. Sometimes the shift in hormones can cause you to experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or even premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). According to American Family Physician, “around 85 percent of menstruating women report having one or more premenstrual symptoms, and 2 to 10 percent report disabling, incapacitating symptoms.” RELATED: 10 Home Remedies to Relieve Menstrual Cramps “Right before your period starts, estradiol and progesterone are declining rapidly," Dr....

Sleeping on the wrong mattress can lead to all sorts of issues that extend far beyond nighttime discomfort. Healthy sleep habits have been shown to lower the risk of many serious medical conditions and even lengthen your lifespan. A good night’s rest starts with having the right mattress for your body type and sleep preferences. But with so many mattress types on the market today, it’s hard to know what to look for....

Chronic allergies affect millions of people around the globe, and there’s no denying the discomfort they cause. A 2017 study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has found that 80 percent of those with seasonal allergies report moderate-to-severe symptoms that significantly impair their quality of life. But although allergies can’t be cured outright, those afflicted can take over-the-counter medications to alleviate some of the symptoms, which may include sneezing, runny nose, coughing and water eyes....

In the past, “people would tell patients, ‘you’ll get really tired, you should just rest,’” says Eleanor M. Walker, MD, the director of breast services in the department of radiation oncology at Henry Ford Cancer Institute in Detroit. Rest is important, says Dr. Walker —but not to the exclusion of exercise. “If you’re not exercising — and that includes your muscles as well as your heart — you lose function that you may never get back afterwards,” she says....

And yes, this is real. This insect is the spotted wing drosophila, says Don Lewis, PhD, a professor and extension entomologist at the Iowa State University department of entomology in Ames. “It’s a very tiny fruit fly that has only been in the continental United States since 2008,” he says, an invasive insect. For thin-skinned fruits, like strawberries or raspberries, the fly pokes through just under the skin and lays her eggs there....

ACV is made through the fermentation of apples, and studies do suggest it may help with weight loss, lowering blood pressure (according to a study published in 2016 in the European Journal of Nutrition), and reducing levels of “bad” cholesterol. But does ACV actually help when it comes to asthma? Here’s what you need to know. RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Asthma Treatment Can ACV Help Asthma? Apple cider vinegar has health properties that may be beneficial for people with asthma, but as of yet no high-quality studies have been published that specifically looked at ACV’s effect on asthma symptoms and proved the tonic helps alleviate the symptoms of the chronic breathing condition, explains Maeve O’Connor, MD, the chair of the integrative medicine committee for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology and an allergist in private practice in Charlotte, North Carolina....

Some oils, however, may provide relief from certain side effects of cancer treatment. RELATED: All You Need to Know About Essential Oils and Cancer What Are Essential Oils? Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts. They’re made by steaming or pressing different parts of a plant, such as the flowers, bark, leaves, or fruit. You can inhale essential oils through your nose, which is called aromatherapy, and essential oils can also be rubbed onto the skin....

Hashtag #runningbackwards has already amassed 1.2M views on TikTok, with #reverserunning (112.4K views), #backwardrunning (102.1K views) and #runbackwards (471K views) also on the rise. TikTokers, including Antonio “LionOfGod” Gillespie (@prolongevityfitness, 30.3K followers), a certified fitness trainer and founder of Prolongevity Fitness, are hyping up the benefits of reversing your run. “The longest I have run backwards is eight miles,” he proclaims at the start of a video with 258K views and 47K likes....

While these types of stressors likely feel like the overwhelming kinds, it’s important to remember that not all stress we face is bad. The National Institutes of Health (PDF) says stress is “how the body and brain responds” to demands. When the demands are more than you can cope with, you start to feel stress, according to a commentary on psychological stress and disease published in JAMA. Anxiety about a doctor’s visit or a performance review at work, for example, or even something scary, like a car heading right at you, are all examples of short-term stressors....

For people with ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic autoimmune condition that causes ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and other symptoms, evidence that vinegar can suppress gut inflammation sounds especially promising — but the research is spotty. Does that mean patients should rule it out? Not necessarily. “It’s low risk, and it’s been used for many, many years,” says Robin Foroutan, RDN, an integrated dietitian at the Morrison Center in New York City and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics....