Vitamin B12 is a workhorse. It’s a big player in keeping your brain, immune system, metabolism, and nerve and blood cells clicking on all cylinders. 

Low levels of this important nutrient can set you up for a host of problems, ranging from minor to serious. 

The tricky thing about vitamin B12 is that our bodies can’t make it and it’s not always easy to get enough from food alone. Although it’s found in most animal-based foods, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs and dairy products, many people need to take supplements to reach optimum levels.

Topics: B12, vitamin B12 deficiency

While there is a lot of good information regarding breast cancer, there’s also misinformation that continues to be spread about this potentially life-threatening disease. Here are five common myths regarding breast cancer and the real truth about each one.

Topics: breast cancer, myths about breast cancer, breast cancer screening, breast cancer myths

While there have been varying stories over the years on the benefits of drinking milk, scientific research has found that milk contains a host of nutrients that are good for you and a necessary part of a balanced diet. But not everyone agrees that milk needs to be pasteurized to be safe.

Topics: dairy, food safety, listeria, raw milk, unpasteurized milk, health risks, e. coli, salmonella

While people around the world enjoy coffee every day, the globally-famous drink has periodically been the scapegoat for several negative effects from stunting your growth to causing cancer. Are these claims true? As it turns out, studies indicate that coffee is overwhelmingly good for the majority of people who drink it, and there is no known connection between the drink and nearly any of the negative medical conditions it has been blamed for over the years.

Topics: coffee, health benefits of coffee, cup of joe, coffee drinkers

If you live and work in Houston, chances are you spend a lot of time in the car. While behind-the-wheel frustration can easily become a part of everyday life, you don’t have to let it get the best of you! Look at the time you spend in your car each day as time you get to reconnect with yourself and your thoughts. Here are some ideas on how to do just that.

Topics: traffic, commuter health, road trip tips, driving safety

While cases of necrotizing fasciitis, commonly called flesh-eating bacteria, are considered rare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are between 650-850 patients with this infection worldwide each year. Despite being rare, a Beaumont woman visiting Galveston was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis last month and has undergone amputations of her hands and feet. Another patient who contracted the infection in the Gulf waters in Florida died earlier this summer. With the recent reports of low water quality in Galveston and people making last-minute summer vacation trips to beaches all along the Gulf of Mexico, it’s important to keep in mind how to potentially avoid this infection and what to do if you get it. 

Topics: flesh eating bacteria, necrotising fascities, bacterial infection

Now that school is out and we’re easing our way into summer, there’s a good chance travel plans are in your future. Whether you’re staying in Texas or traveling to Malaysia, give yourself and your family peace of mind. Being well prepared for your trip means more than remembering to take your walking shoes and camera. It’s even more important to be medically prepared for anything that your vacation throws at you while you’re away. Children are especially susceptible to illness when traveling, so make sure your pediatrician is aware if they are leaving the country. 

Topics: travel, kit, immunizations, shots, first-aid, traveler resources

Being down with an illness is tough. Missing work, juggling parenting responsibilities or making up for missed school time can be difficult and frustrating.  Many times, patients take their health into their own hands by either taking medication that wasn’t prescribed, or not following instructions for prescribed medication. Neither scenario is without potential consequences, especially when antibiotics are involved. Misuse or overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, rendering it less effective against combatting infection. 

Topics: strep, misuse of antibiotics, penicillin, fungal infections, bacterial infections, viral infections, overuse of antibiotics, antibiotics, antibiotic resistance

Diet trends are nothing new. It seems as if every year there’s a new trend being touted or disparaged. Among the newest fads are the gluten-free diet and the recent focus on coconut oil as a weight-loss aid. While these may not be inherently bad for you, it’s important to remember that all aspects of nutrition have to be integrated into an overall healthy diet in order to see long-term benefits.

Topics: lose weight, dieting, coconut oil, diet, nutrition, gluten-free, weight loss, good fats

Vitamin D has been quite the media star lately. Recent studies have tied vitamin D deficiency to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, depression, heart health and cancer. Other research suggests a possible link between vitamin D and weight loss. By now, you may be thinking of vitamin D as some sort of wonder vitamin. But before you dash out on a supplement run, here’s a note of caution: More research is needed before the link between vitamin D and these conditions is fully known.

I say this without trying to downplay the importance of vitamin D because the fact is, vitamin D does have proven health benefits.

Topics: Health and Wellness