Education:Messiah University Location:Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Expertise:Writing, editing, social media management During her undergraduate career at Messiah University, Camryn studied English and Public Humanities, as well as Digital Marketing. She was a senior fellow for three years with the university’s Center for Public Humanities. In that role, she was privileged to connect with the diverse community of Harrisburg through projects focusing on racial justice and historical movements. Additionally, Camryn made a conscious effort to expand her passion for food and social justice through coursework in food insecurity, psychology and nutrition....

Close Photo: Gabriela Tulian / Getty Images You might already know that your gut microbiome—aka the bacteria that live in your gastrointestinal tract—can have an impact on your immune system. And if not, let us fill you in: research suggests that good-for-you bacteria compete with illness-causing pathogens to help keep you healthy. But this requires high numbers of those beneficial microorganisms, otherwise so-called “dysbiosis” (an imbalance of the system) occurs and that may help foster an environment that breeds illness....

Close Photo: Photographer: Jason Donnelly, Prop stylist: Annie Probst Beans are a beloved pantry staple across the globe because they’re affordable, filling and brimming with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, according to a 2021 study published inNutrients. The tiny-but-mighty food is most notable for its plant protein and fiber contents, plus it’s naturally free of cholesterol and saturated fats. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-free or following a heart-healthy eating plan, beans can suit a variety of dietary needs....

So what can you do if you are struggling to get enough sleep but finding that practicing good sleep hygiene—think no late caffeine or alcohol, turning off electronics, going to bed at the same time every night—isn’t quite cutting it? There might be a case to make for trying cannabis to help you sleep. As it becomes legal in more states, there is more and more research coming out about the potential benefits of moderate cannabis use for certain conditions....

CBD, aka cannabidiol, has skyrocketed to the forefront of alternative medicine in the past few years and is being used for a slew of ailments. In fact, according to a2019 Gallup poll, 1 in every 7 Americans, or about 14%, use CBD. Of all its purported uses, CBD is especially popular as a sleep aid, but there’s lots of information out there surrounding this subject. To understand more about using CBD for sleep and CBD itself, we tapped Jessie Gill, RN, who is a cannabis nurse, aka a registered nurse with a special focus on cannabis therapeutics....

Close Photo:Maria Korneeva/Getty Images Maria Korneeva/Getty Images What the Study Found The findings indicate that participants with the most disrupted sleep had more than twice the odds of experiencing poor cognitive performance compared to those with the least disrupted sleep, even after adjusting for various factors such as age, sex, race and education. Notably, the amount of time spent sleeping and participants’ subjective reports on the quality of their sleep didn’t show a significant association with cognitive performance in middle age....

Close Photo: Getty Images As the extreme heat continues across the country this summer, those of us who need or like to spend time outdoors sometimes suffer the consequences of sunburns, despite our best efforts withSPF creamsand sun-protective clothing. However, one of the easiest ways to help heal your sore or damaged skin might be in your kitchen, rather than your medicine cabinet. Olive oil is loaded withhealthy nutrients, including essential fatty acids such as oleic, palmitic and linoleic acids that can help keep your skin looking sleek....

Close Photo:Getty Images Getty Images If you walk down the beverage aisle in the grocery store, you may notice sparkling water has taken up more shelf space than five to ten years ago. Both flavored and unflavored sparkling water are undoubtedly hydrating and have become a popular alternative to plain water. Its fizziness also offers a similar texture and mouthfeel to other carbonated drinks like soda. Sparkling water is one of the next best beverage choices for people looking for an alternative to sodas who find plain water too plain....

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleCan It Help You Lose Weight?Can You Eat Too Much?Weight-Loss Tips In This ArticleView All View All In This Article Can It Help You Lose Weight? Can You Eat Too Much? Weight-Loss Tips When it comes to weight loss,proteinisn’t exactly the most groundbreaking nutrient. Recall, for example, the Atkins diet, the well-known low-carb, high-protein diet on which you could eat bacon and burgers (hold the bun) and still lose weight....

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleHealth BenefitsSide EffectsDaily LimitsAlternativesFAQs In This ArticleView All View All In This Article Health Benefits Side Effects Daily Limits Alternatives FAQs Chia seeds have a lot of culinary talents, like making silkypuddingsand fiber-rich smoothies and adding crunch to oat bars. These tiny but mighty seeds come from theSalvia Hispanicaplant, according to theAcademy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and they pack a ton of nutritional value and health benefits....

In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleWhat Is Diabetes?How Your Body Metabolizes SugarSugar & Diabetes RiskOther Risk FactorsEating for DiabetesFAQs In This ArticleView All View All In This Article What Is Diabetes? How Your Body Metabolizes Sugar Sugar & Diabetes Risk Other Risk Factors Eating for Diabetes FAQs While theAmerican Diabetes Associationnotes that there is an association between increased intake of sugary beverages and type 2 diabetes, eating sugar doesn’tcausediabetes. Causation and association aren’t the same as correlation....

Having trouble remembering things from just one a week ago, ever since you had COVID-19? Or maybe you feel like you can’t concentrate and get tasks done? If so, you’re not alone. According to a 2022 study published inJAMA Network Open, almost half of more than 16,000 participants have reported brain fog or memory loss after being infected with COVID-19. But what exactly is COVID-19-related brain fog, and can food help get rid of it?...

High blood pressure, dubbed the “silent killer,” often has no symptoms, which is why many people don’t even know they have it, according to theNational Institute on Aging. However, some people talk about specific high blood pressure symptoms, one being if it affects your thirst. Here, we dive into the research on the relationship between high blood pressure and increased thirst. Plus, we’ll talk about common high blood pressure symptoms and share some healthy strategies for managing this condition andimproving your heart health....

Close Photo: Getty Images According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, more than 100 million Americans have been advised to stay indoors during a historic heat wave that broke several records in recent weeks in the West and Southwest. With this record-setting heat wave now hitting many across the East Coast, it’s more important than ever to notice the signs and symptoms and take preventive actions so you and your family can avoid heatstroke, heat exhaustion andsevere dehydration....

If you’ve hit a weight-loss plateau you may be wondering, what gives? There’s plenty of reasons weight loss might stall out, but is your metabolism slowing down one of them? Metabolism gets a lot of attention around weight loss. It also gets a lot of unnecessary credit and blame. Your metabolism is important when it comes to weight, but it’s not the only factor at play. Here, we explain the biological changes that happen to your metabolism and your body during weight loss and what you can do about them....