You’re cuddled up on a comfy couch, having a romantic moment with your new partner, when suddenly – it happens. There was no sound, no warning. The aroma of something rotten hits your nostrils. You hope they won’t notice. It gets stronger, lingering in the air. You desperately wish there were a dog lying next to you to blame. Alas, there is not. You’ve committed the ultimate act of embarrassment in front of a romantic interest. Could it get any worse? “I can’t be the only one,” you ponder, “Surely, everyone farts, but why do my farts smell like death?” You’re not alone in this experience, but ..read more

By the look on her face, I could tell there was something wrong with my best friend as we sipped on our iced coffees.    After a brief moment of silence, she blurted out: “I kissed someone with a cold sore, what should I do?”  To say she was panicking was an understatement. I did a little research for her and decided to share what I learned with the world. I know there are many people out there that may be wondering the same thing. My simple goal is this: when you finish reading this article, you should be able to walk away knowing what you should do if you kiss someone with a ..read more

Probiotics aren’t just a fad, new diet for weight loss or promises of a healthier version of yourself. Without probiotics living in your microbiome, chances are you will experience an unhealthy body, mind, and weight.  Is it really as simple as taking an over-the-counter probiotic to feel and look better? I put it to the test. I did my research and came up with 15 signs your probiotics are working. I hope this list can help you notice the effects of your probiotics in action, as it did for me!  What Do Probiotics Do? Don’t be alarmed, but there are trillions of bacteria alive and we ..read more

I recently had a nerve-racking encounter while grabbing lunch with a friend. We shared plates, as is common for us. I didn’t notice until after we had chowed down most of our meal that he had a cold sore on his lip. Fear instantly struck me, and I wondered, can you get herpes from sharing food? If you’ve had this thought before - you aren’t alone! Fret not, I did some fervent research to find out just how risky it is to share food with someone who might have herpes. What I discovered might help quell your fears on this. What Causes Oral Herpes?  Is it a pimple, an ingrown hair, or is it ..read more

If you’re prone to HSV-1 herpes outbreaks on your lips, they seem to appear at the most inconvenient times: just before an important event, a night out with friends, a big test, or an upcoming job interview.  Coincidence? Maybe. Bad luck? Possibly.  But realistically, situations like these are stressful and the virus that causes cold sores can be triggered by your physical and emotional stress. Long-term stress can even increase the frequency of your outbreaks.  Overall, knowing what causes herpes flare ups can go a long way towards predicting an oncoming outbreak (which can th ..read more

Science Says A Healthy Gut Is Crucial To A Healthy Immune System While oftentimes probiotics are just short-term visitors to our gut, it doesn’t mean their beneficial impact isn’t felt by the immune system and the long-term microbial residents residing in our bodies. The word probiotic translates to “for life.” The World Health Organization (WHO) defines them as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host”.[1] As we’ll see, probiotics play an important role in optimizing our immune function and supporting the health of our gastrointest ..read more

Healthy Skin, Your Immune System, and You Gut Biome: All Connected Every day, our skin encounters a barrage of toxins, pathogens, and stressors. Apart from being the largest organ in the body, it is an active immune barrier, functioning as the first line of defense for our body to fight off foreign intruders. Our skin is a key component of our innate immune system. This refers to non-specific (physical, chemical, and cellular) defensive strategies employed by our body to fight off foreign invaders, aimed at preventing their proliferation. When our immune system is weakened, our skin health can ..read more

One of the most important things to a parent is how they can keep their children  healthy. You receive non-stop information about what you should or could be doing to protect your little ones at any given age, which makes finding the right answers difficult. One option that more and more parents are interested in is probiotics.  Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. Probiotics work within your gut to boost your immune system and benefit digestive health by supporting the growth and development of healthy bacteria. They can h ..read more

You’re cuddled up on a comfy couch, having a romantic moment with your new partner, when suddenly – it happens. There was no sound, no warning. The aroma of something rotten hits your nostrils. You hope they won’t notice. It gets stronger, lingering in the air. You desperately wish there were a dog lying next to you to blame. Alas, there is not. You’ve committed the ultimate act of embarrassment in front of a romantic interest. Could it get any worse? “I can’t be the only one,” you ponder, “Surely, everyone farts, but why do my farts smell like death?” You’re not alone in this experience, but ..read more

Do you just want to take a nap after you eat a meal? Do you experience health related issues such as anxiety, high blood pressure, or acne?  While any diseases and health issues can have a variety of causes, more and more research is showing us that at least part of the cause is your diet.   The good news is that if the cause is your diet, there is plenty that you can do to improve your diet and improve your overall health. Better food choices and understanding how food affects your body is the first step toward better gut health which will lead to feeling better both physically ..read more