[ad_1]
While some health issues are visible to the outside world, many people face chronic conditions that don’t have externally visible signs or symptoms—also known as invisible illnesses. In mindbodygreen’s series, we’re giving individuals with invisible illnesses a platform to share their personal experiences. Our hope is their stories will shed light on these conditions and offer solidarity to others facing similar situations.
[ad_2]
[ad_1]
As the saying goes, there’s an app for that. And inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, is no exception.
IBD is an umbrella term for chronic inflammation-related conditions affecting the digestive system, most commonly Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Both can result in waves of symptoms, typically called flares or flare-ups, involving diarrhea, stomach pain, fatigue, and weight loss. In addition to medication, many treatment plans involve diet and lifestyle changes that require careful compliance and diligence. And that’s where apps come in.
For example, as part of your IBD management, you might see your doctor every six months or so. They’ll likely ask you how you’re feeling, how your symptoms have changed over that time, how you’ve been sleeping, how stressed you’ve been—all challenging details to remember off the top of your head.
But an app that offers symptom and lifestyle habit tracking lets you record all of that information and keep it in the palm of your hand. “Apps that help you track your symptoms, food intake, exercise, and general well-being could give you a better sense of how your disease has been,” says Dr. Victor Chedid, a gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
Having this data on hand might also help you recognize patterns in your symptoms more quickly. And that could lead to better care: If you notice your symptoms have been getting worse after logging them in an app, “it could help pick up flares at an earlier time potentially and [encourage you to] discuss health concerns at an earlier time with your doctor,” Chedid says.
But with so many IBD and gut health apps available, how do you know what’s worth a download? Here, experts and people living with IBD weigh in on which ones to try and how to pick the perfect match for your needs.
Type: Restroom finder
Cost: Free
Available for: iOs and Android
It’s not uncommon for people with IBD to plan their social activities and travel around the closest public bathrooms, Chedid says. Not knowing where the nearest option is in a desperate moment causes a lot of anxiety and stress. So an app that provides that information brings comfort and reassurance, empowering people to live their lives.
“I think it’s a really awesome idea,” says Molly Dunham-Friel, an IBD and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) patient advocate and the founder of the website and social media accounts Better Bellies by Molly. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2012 and IBS—which can cause similar symptoms to IBD such as abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation but without visible signs of damage or disease to your digestive tract—in 2013. Adds Dr. Alan Moss, chief scientific officer of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation: “[The app] has been downloaded 35,000 times, showing you [there’s] definitely a need there.”
Read More: Why Bathroom Access Is a Public Health Issue
Type: Personalized management plan, symptom tracker, education
Cost: $19.99 for the basic plan or $49.99/month with access to a health coach
Available for: iOs and Android
Dunham-Friel assisted in the development of this app and used it for some time herself. “The goal is to collect information about what you’re eating and how your bowel movements are, what your GI symptoms are, to help patients draw some conclusions or generalize a correlation, which is really valuable because of how complicated IBD is,” she says.
The app gives users different levels of access to educational materials, a mobile chat feature that connects to digestive health coaches, and symptom and lifestyle habit tracking to help identify and eliminate trigger foods.
Type: Symptom tracker, education, support
Cost: Free
Available for: iOs and Android
This app was specifically designed for people with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or irritable bowel syndrome, and it’s meant to provide support and education that complements your current treatment plan.
“They have a lot of education, mindfulness tools, and social support,” Moss says. You can use it to track symptoms, medications, and lab results, while also connecting with a team of dietitians and resilience coaches for additional support.
Type: Community forum
Cost: Free
Available for: iOs and Android
Bezzy, from media company Healthline, offers a number of specialized online forums and apps for different health concerns and conditions, including one for IBD, allowing members to connect with other users with IBD and find educational articles on the condition.
“You can find other people that share some of the same things you do with your disease, and get some support and information from people’s experiences,” says Lenette Sparacino, a Crohn’s disease patient and advocate who shares about her experience with IBD on Instagram and Tiktok @_lifewithcrohnsdisease.
Type: Chronic illness symptom tracker
Cost: Free; optional $34.99 subscription for premium features
Available for: iOs and Android
Bearable offers customizable tracking for mood, symptoms, sleep, energy, meals, medications, and more that can be useful for people with any chronic condition, including IBD.
Sparacino appreciates its graphs and charts for highlighting patterns in symptoms and triggers. “I found that really helpful, because with Crohn’s, a lot of my triggers are from stress.” The visuals helped her better manage her symptoms, she says.
Type: Meditation and sleep app
Cost: $14.99/month or $69.99/year
Available for: iOs and Android
There are many popular relaxation and meditation apps that aren’t specifically designed for people with IBD but could still be helpful. “If you really want to focus on ways to cope and manage stress, you could use any of those,” Moss says, such as Calm, which provides guided meditations, music for relaxation, and more. “There is some nice research showing if you can adequately manage stress, you reduce the triggers for flare ups, or help attenuate or minimize a given flare up,” he adds.
“A lot of times people just need a guiding light to help them figure out how to get their stress under control,” Sparacino says.
Type: Gut-directed hypnotherapy program
Cost: $43.99/month
Available for: iOs and Android
While this is technically an app for IBS rather than IBD, Dunham-Friel swears by this guided, gut-focused hypnotherapy system. It offers a six-week program that she followed leading up to her honeymoon. “I was really worried about my IBD getting in the way of my enjoyment of my honeymoon, and so I committed to that app, and I just had an amazing week with very little to no GI upset,” she recalls.
It also helped her cope when she did notice a little pain or sense of urgency. “I didn’t let it mentally derail me into a spiral of worry and anxiety that essentially is a vicious cycle between symptoms and anxiety,” she says.
Type: Social media
Cost: Free
Available for: iOs and Android
While it’s certainly not unique to IBD, Instagram offers an opportunity for connection that Sparacino found to be life-changing after she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. “I was getting ready to have a bowel resection in 2016, and I didn’t know anyone in real life that had Crohn’s or had a bowel resection,” she says. She created an IBD-focused Instagram account and started searching for other people sharing about Crohn’s disease. Asking them questions and learning more about their experiences “was just super beneficial,” she says.
She also likes that you can find people of all different backgrounds on Instagram sharing their IBD experiences, such as accounts specifically for LGBTQ+ people, South Asian people, or Black people with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis.
Some of her go-to IBD accounts to follow on Instagram include @natalieannhayden, @betterbelliesbymolly (run by Dunham-Friel), @crohns_and_colitis_dietitian, and @crohnscolitisfoundation.
When you’re deciding which app might help you the most, there are a few things to keep in mind.
If the app costs money, make sure it has a free trial period. “At least test drive it for a week to make sure, before you sign up, [and decide] if you like how it is and you’re willing to [follow] the prompts,” Moss says.
Think about whether or not you want more pings and dings in your life. Before recommending an app to a patient, Chedid asks himself: “Is it going to feed into making them more anxious with notifications, or is it going to actually help them become more capable of managing their disease?”
Chedid recommends making sure an appropriately credentialed health care provider was involved in the creation of the app you choose.
Identify the aspects of your IBD management you want to track with an app, and look for an option that provides that functionality, Chedid says.
For example, if tracking your food intake is most important, look for a diet-focused IBD app. If stress is a big trigger, look for an app that addresses mental health concerns. If you have trouble remembering to take your daily meds, you may be best off with a medication tracker or reminder app, he says.
Then, make sure it delivers: If you’re mindlessly adding your food and symptoms but not getting any actionable takeaways or conclusions from all that data, the app might not be the best choice. “Something where you can look at the big picture as much as possible is really key,” Dunham-Friel says.
Read More: Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
Remember, an app shouldn’t replace your health care providers. “These tools are meant to be a supplement, to empower you, but they’re not meant to substitute your medical team,” Chedid says. And don’t feel like you have to use an app, either. If you’re not interested, can’t afford it, or don’t have access to a smartphone, you can track many of the same symptoms with pen and paper, he adds.
For some people, using an app can be a little upsetting: You may be faced with discouraging trends in your symptoms or the reality of logging yet another day of sky-high stress levels. If that sounds familiar, remind yourself in those moments that everything changes. “It’s not always going to be like this,” Sparacino says. “There’ve been so many times I thought I’m never going to feel good ever again, but I do have periods where I feel good. There are times you’re going to feel better.”
[ad_2]
Sarah Klein
Source link
[ad_1]
We’re in the midst of a weird cultural moment involving people’s bowel habits. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been trending on social media, including TikTok videos and posts about the disorder on Instagram, X, and other platforms. Billboards proclaiming that Hot girls have IBS have popped up over the past few years in Los Angeles and other cities.
As a result, a subject that was once unthinkable to discuss socially has been normalized. “It’s definitely a phenomenon,” says gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj, an associate professor of medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and author of Gut Renovation. “It’s a topic more people are comfortable talking about, and people are paying more attention to how their guts are feeling.”
A functional GI disorder, IBS is characterized by symptoms like bloating, gas, abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, and/or diarrhea. The syndrome is more common among women—affecting more than twice as many women as men—but men experience it, too.
Thanks to the social-media trend, people may be diagnosing themselves with IBS based on their symptoms, or they may be bringing them to their doctors’ attention.
Read More: Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
“When people share their stories, awareness [of IBS] increases, and with that exposure, people realize their symptoms aren’t normal,” says Dr. Shabnam Sarker, an assistant professor of medicine in the gastroenterology and hepatology division at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “And they’re realizing it doesn’t have to be that way.”
Dr. Bryan Curtin, director of the Center for Neurogastroenterology and GI Motility at The Melissa L. Posner Institute for Digestive Health & Liver Disease at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, agrees. “The upside of this openness to discussing IBS is that it is less stigmatized and people suffering with these conditions feel less alone and isolated,” he says.
While there’s no structural or biochemical test for IBS, there are specific criteria—called the ROME IV Criteria—that are essential for its diagnosis. These include recurrent abdominal pain at least one day per week in the last three months, along with changes in the frequency and appearance of stools (among other symptoms). Subtypes of IBS include constipation-predominant IBS, diarrhea-predominant IBS, mixed IBS, and unclassified IBS.
In other words, it’s a clinical diagnosis based on someone’s medical history, physical examination, and personal set of symptoms. But because other gastrointestinal disorders—such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease—can have similar symptoms to IBS, doctors often order tests to rule those out before making an IBS diagnosis.
Beyond the hashtags, the latest research does suggest that IBS is more prevalent—affecting 6.1% of people in the U.S.—than previously thought. Experts estimate that as many as 10-15%of people in the U.S. have IBS, and many of them may be undiagnosed, Raj says.
The digestive system is complicated, and the precise cause of IBS isn’t well understood. It may be related to gut motility or permeability problems, and many experts believe it has to do with the quality of a person’s diet and dysregulation of the gut microbiome: the community of microbes, including bacteria, that naturally live in the gastrointestinal tract.
The uptick also could be related to stress. “IBS is a brain-gut axis disorder,” explains Sarker. “The gut has a lot of nerves, and the way the nerves are firing affects [gut] movement, pain, and bloating. Psychological stressors play a big role in IBS, and there’s been a lot more stress since the pandemic.”
Read More: Green Tea Is Even Better For You Than You Think
The increase in IBS prevalence also could be related to COVID-19 because “viral illnesses can induce disorders of the gastrointestinal system,” says Dr. Darren Brenner, a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine and surgery at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Indeed, a 2023 review of studies on the subject found that COVID-19 infection was associated with new IBS diagnoses; this was especially true among women and people with depression or anxiety.
While IBS isn’t life-threatening, it can be a miserable experience and negatively affect someone’s quality of life. “With IBS, a lot of people change their behavior to work around their symptoms,” Sarker says. This may lead them to decline invitations to parties or other social events because they’re worried about having a flare-up. Or, it may spur them to avoid physical activity for the same reason.
One of the drawbacks to the IBS social-media sensation: Some of the information being shared isn’t correct, research has found. Another possible downside? If people with GI symptoms start doom-scrolling, their anxiety and hypervigilance can get ramped up, which could worsen their symptoms. They also might be seduced by online products that promise to eliminate bloating that may not actually work.
Because the symptoms and severity of IBS can vary among people, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to treating it. “The nice thing is because we have so many things in our armamentarium, people can choose their treatment,” says Brenner. “There is no cure for this disorder, and the symptoms wax and wane, but we have multiple modalities that can improve symptoms and quality of life.”
Read More: What’s So Great About Cottage Cheese?
These include dietary modifications such as increasing fiber and water intake and avoiding possible trigger foods like gluten and dairy. “Keeping a food diary can help people identify triggers for IBS,” says Sarker.
Other treatments may include botanical preparations (like peppermint oil, which can reduce intestinal spasms), neuromodulators (such as some antidepressants), antibiotics, or medications that influence gut motility. Mind-body approaches—such as cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation, and gut-directed hypnosis—can also be beneficial because “the gut-mind condition is very real and even more pronounced in someone with irritable bowel syndrome,” says Raj.
Getting plenty of sleep and regular exercise is also beneficial for managing IBS. Many people with IBS rely on a combination of therapeutic strategies to treat the condition.
“There’s no definitive cure for IBS,” says Sarker. “But we can manage this and get you to where your quality of life is much better.”
[ad_2]
Stacey Colino
Source link
[ad_1]
There’s a hidden gender gap when it comes to digestive problems, with women taking the lead in this unpleasant contest. While men are hardly immune to gastrointestinal woes, certain digestive problems are considerably more common in women. “Women aren’t broken—they’re just different,” says Dr. Jeanetta Frye, a gastroenterologist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. For one thing, she says, “women have more visceral hypersensitivity so they may feel gastrointestinal symptoms more intensely.”
Symptom sensitivity aside, there’s clear evidence that certain digestive disorders are more likely to affect women than men. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—a disorder that involves repeated bouts of abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements (diarrhea, constipation, or alternating bouts of the two)—is two to six times more common among women than men. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects twice as many women as men, according to the American College of Gastroenterology.
In addition, celiac disease—an autoimmune disorder that causes bloating, chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas, and other GI symptoms and is triggered by eating gluten—is diagnosed nearly twice as often in women as in men. And functional dyspepsia (a.k.a. chronic indigestion) is also more common in women. So is a lesser known brain-gut disorder called cyclic vomiting syndrome—characterized by recurrent episodes of nausea, vomiting, and dry heaving, separated by symptom-free periods in between, says Dr. David Levinthal, a gastroenterologist and director of the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Across the board, “disorders of gut-brain interaction are more prevalent in women than men,” Levinthal says, and the same is true of motility disorders like gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach) and chronic constipation.
Why are women more susceptible to GI disorders? What is it about being born female that puts their digestive systems at risk? The answer is complicated and not completely understood.
This much is known: Reproductive hormones may play a role. “The female hormones estrogen and progesterone have a profound effect on the GI tract in terms of motility, pain sensitization, and how the brain delivers messages to the GI tract,” explains Dr. David Johnson, chief of gastroenterology at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and past president of the American College of Gastroenterology. As a result, women may experience flare-ups of GI disorders at certain times of the month (such as during menstruation) or during pregnancy.
Read More: 15 Things to Say When Someone Comments on Your Weight
For another thing, “women have a more easily activated immune system than men do,” says Levinthal. This is significant because immune function, including inflammatory processes, plays a role in celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
What’s more, the gastrointestinal tract itself is longer in women, and that difference in length can affect transit time through the GI tract, Johnson says. In addition, women’s stomachs empty slightly more slowly than men’s do—“why that is isn’t known,” says Levinthal, but it may explain women’s greater susceptibility to gastroparesis. Research also suggests that the intestine’s nerve cells are more sluggish in women, which may be why IBS and gastroparesis are more common in women.
Another possible contributing factor has to do with psychological issues. “Anxiety and depression, which are more common in women than men, can worsen the severity of disordered gut function,” Levinthal says. “Feeling stressed or depressed or anxious is linked with how our guts work.” When you’re stressed out or anxious, you may be more likely to experience flare-ups of these GI disorders.
Regardless of gender, it’s important to “do everything you can to be proactive about your digestive health rather than just reactive,” Johnson says. That means staying well hydrated and consuming a healthy diet rich in plant-based foods (like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds), and lean protein, and avoiding sugary, highly processed foods.
Read More: 9 Weird Symptoms Cardiologists Say You Should Never Ignore
In particular, “fiber helps good bacteria flourish in the gut,” Johnson says, which contributes to the health of the gut microbiome, the community of bacteria and other microbes that naturally live in the GI tract. Research has found a strong correlation between gut bacteria and the risk of GI disorders such as IBS, IBD, and others.
Being proactive about your gut health also means taking steps to manage stress, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly. “The more you move your body, the more your gut is moving, too,” says Dr. Samuel Akinyeye, a gastroenterologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. That movement is likely to help with many of these disorders.
If these measures don’t help sufficiently, there’s no reason to suffer alone. Medications and other treatments are available for all of these digestive disorders. “If you have symptoms you don’t understand, talk to a gastroenterologist,” Frye advises. “A lot of women are embarrassed to talk about their GI symptoms—I want them to feel empowered to discuss them. I tell my patients that it’s a safe space, and I’m not embarrassed to hear anything. This is why I’m here.”
[ad_2]
Stacey Colino
Source link
[ad_1]
Dog parents know treats are more than just a way to spoil your furry friend—they’re an essential tool for training, bonding, and showing love. But what if your pup’s treats could do double duty by supporting their digestive health too? In this blog post, we’ll explore some easy-to-make, tummy-friendly homemade treats that will have your dog’s tail wagging and their digestive system purring (or should we say, barking) with joy!
Store-bought treats are convenient, and there are some great options out there nowadays, but homemade treats allow you to control the ingredients, ensuring your dog gets what he needs. By using digestive-friendly ingredients, you can create treats that not only taste great but also support your pup’s gut health. Plus, there’s something special about treating your furry friend to a homemade snack!
When it comes to supporting canine digestion, certain ingredients shine. Pumpkin is a superstar, rich in fiber and gentle on the stomach. Greek yogurt provides probiotics for healthy gut flora. Oats offer soluble fiber that aids digestion. Lean meats like chicken or turkey are easy to digest and protein-packed. And don’t forget about dog-safe fruits and vegetables like blueberries, sweet potatoes, and green beans, which offer vitamins and antioxidants.
Let’s start with a simple recipe. Mix 1 cup of pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling) with 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 1 egg, and 1 cup whole wheat flour. Spoon the batter into mini muffin tins and bake at 350°F for about 20 minutes. These treats are packed with fiber and probiotics, perfect for supporting digestive health.
For a protein-rich treat, cook and shred 1 cup of chicken breast, then mix with 1 cup cooked brown rice, 1/4 cup pumpkin puree, and 1 beaten egg. Form into small balls and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. These treats are gentle on the stomach and great for dogs with sensitive tummies.
Simply mix plain Greek yogurt with mashed banana and a touch of honey. Pour into ice cube trays or silicone molds and freeze. These cool treats provide probiotics and are especially soothing for dogs with upset stomachs.
For a chewy treat, slice sweet potatoes into thin strips and dehydrate them in the oven at 250°F for about 3 hours, flipping halfway through. Sweet potatoes are rich in fiber and vitamins, supporting both digestion and overall health.
Combine 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup rolled oats, 1/4 cup ground flaxseed, 1 egg, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 cup mashed blueberries. Roll out the dough, cut into shapes, and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. These biscuits offer a blend of soluble and insoluble fibers great for digestive health.
While these homemade treats are designed to support digestion, remember that moderation is key. Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. If your pup has specific health concerns or dietary restrictions, always consult with your veterinarian before introducing new treats.
Creating homemade treats that support your dog’s digestion is a wonderful way to show your love while contributing to their overall health. These recipes are just the beginning—experiment with other dog-safe ingredients to find your pup’s favorites. (Just be sure to avoid fruits and veggies that are toxic to dogs – e.g. grapes, raisins, onions.) Remember, a healthy gut often means a happier, more energetic dog. So, get cooking, and watch your furry friend’s tail wag with delight at these digestive-friendly delights!
Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
[ad_2]
Animal Wellness
Source link
[ad_1]
From the moment that food enters your mouth to the moment it exits your body, every ingredient you ingest goes on a winding journey of digestion, absorption, and excretion. But while the process takes between 24 and 72 hours to complete, there are some foods that are naturally easier to digest than others, which can have a major impact on the comfort of your body after eating.
[ad_2]
[ad_1]
Speaking of stress, we know it can negatively impact our gut health. If you’ve ever had to give an important presentation, or knew you had to have a serious talk with your boss or coworker, you know the constant anxiety can wreak havoc with your digestion, too. While pets deal with different stressors (like the boredom of sometimes sitting home alone all day, or that neighbor’s cat or dog that keeps taunting them outside the window) constant stress is not good for your pet. Providing a stable and safe environment for your dog or cat where they can relax will go a long way.
If you’re often away from home, don’t assume your pet is happily napping. Buy or borrow a pet camera to see how they react when you are away. Even an iPad set to record will do the trick. If they are relaxed – no problem! But if they are pacing or constantly crying, you may want to come home for lunch, engage a pet sitter, and add some enrichment toys or pet TV.
For pets that are prone to anxiety, consider consulting a veterinarian, dog trainer or a behaviourist for appropriate interventions.
[ad_2]
Karen Weiler
Source link
[ad_1]
After years as a wellness writer, I’ve become all too aware of the fact that gut health is the foundation for a happy, healthy life. Because of this, I’m always looking for solutions to help me prioritize my gut and microbiome health—in ways that fit into my routine easily and effortlessly.
[ad_2]
[ad_1]
There haven’t been a lot of studies done on this directly, but the short answer is: maybe. “In theory, drinking black coffee may assist in reducing belly fat. The caffeine present in coffee has thermogenic properties, meaning it can stimulate the body’s metabolic rate and thus, boost fat-burning processes,” says Greenleaf. “Additionally, consuming coffee before engaging in physical exercise may enhance overall workout performance and increase the number of calories burned during the session, ultimately contributing to reduced belly fat.”
[ad_2]
[ad_1]
If you struggle with any of the signs mentioned above (or simply want to get a glimpse into your gut microbiome), then you may be interested in trying out a microbiome test.
Here’s who might find these tests interesting:
Individuals with digestive complaints: For those experiencing consistent gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, constipation, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)—all key signs of an unhealthy gut microbiome—an at-home test can help pinpoint potential microbial imbalances that could be causing these problems.
People with chronic conditions: Diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune disorders have all been linked to gut health. A microbiome test might offer valuable insights for better management of these diseases.
Wellness enthusiasts: Those keen on maximizing their health could use a gut microbiome test to better understand their unique gut flora and make informed dietary or lifestyle modifications. Wilde puts it best: “Since you are what you eat, you want to make sure your gut is healthy!”
Individuals with mental health concerns: Ongoing research suggests a relationship between gut health and mental health (known as the gut-brain axis). Individuals suffering from mood disorders, anxiety, or depression might benefit from examining their gut health more closely.
Long-term medication users: Certain medications can disrupt the gut microbiome. People on antibiotics specifically should keep an eye on their gut health.
Remember, while these tests offer insightful data, they are not a substitute for professional medical advice. It’s essential to consult with a health care provider about any health concerns.
[ad_2]
[ad_1]
These sun-confounding factors include time of day, time of year, location, skin tone, wearing SPF, air pollution, and even age. Combined with the reality of our lives—which are mostly spent indoors, these factors make getting enough D from the sun unrealistic.
[ad_2]
