FitSugar

LeAnn Rimes Has Psoriasis - What Is It?

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:59:00 PST

LeAnn Rimes has no problem belting out songs in public, but she's been hiding a secret. At age two, LeAnn was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease known as psoriasis. The condition is characterized by reddish, thick, and flaky skin with silver-white patches. This common condition can appear suddenly or slowly and flares up repeatedly over time. It's not contagious but can be hereditary.

Poor LeAnn was tormented by her peers. She recently told Health, "Kids didn't want to hang out with me or touch me. I remember being called 'Scaly Girl,' and never ever wanting to go out in a bathing suit."

To encourage people to get help, LeAnn joined a campaign called Stop Hiding. For more details and to watch a video of LeAnn discussing her experience with the disease,

read more. LeAnn hasn't had a flare up in five years since she's made some changes. She said, "I found great medication and a great doctor and began really living a healthy lifestyle." She even felt confident enough to show off her skin in a bikini on the March of Fitness magazine. She said, "To feel vibrant, to feel like a woman, to want to show off that I have clear skin, it's the happiest day of my life." Below is the public service announcement LeAnn recorded for Stop Hiding. Source

Could Changing Your Mood Be as Easy as Changing What You Eat?

Allure — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:08:25 PST

We're excited to present this story from our friends at Allure:

Turns out eating well won't just make you feel better in some abstract, "brown rice is healthy so I'll feel virtuous if I eat it" kind of a way. A diet that is specifically designed to reduce inflammation may boost your mood. Recently, inflammation has been implicated in nearly every physical woe, from blemishes to the biggies like heart disease and Alzheimer's. Here at Allure, we've reported on how anti-inflammatories benefit the skin: topical antioxidants, and certain foods and supplements may all reduce acne, signs of aging, and skin cancer. Now Dr. Andrew Weil, health guru and author of the new book, Spontaneous Happiness, argues that eating certain foods won't just make us look better; it could actually keep the blues away. "It looks as if depression is another manifestation of inflammation," says Weil. He outlines a diet that will suppress harmful inflammation throughout your body when you keep reading.

7 Tips For Gluten-Free Entertaining

Susannah Chen — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:23:13 PDT

Did you know that today's National Celiac Disease Awareness Day? Neither did I - but then again, I didn't know that imitation crab meat, oyster sauce, and licorice all have gluten, either. Gluten may seem innocent enough - it's a protein composite found in all wheat products - but for an estimated 3 million Americans with celiac disease, it can have devastating effects if consumed.

A whopping one in 133 Americans has this autoimmune disease, so if you're big on entertaining at home, chances are, you'll need to be equipped to go gluten-free at some point or another, whether it's an intimate dinner, tailgating bash, or Christmas party. I asked Alice Bast, president of the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness and a sufferer of the disease herself, for some advice on doing just that. Keep reading to see her tips for gluten-free entertaining at home.

DrSugar Answers: Stiff Knees?

FitSugar — Wed, 19 May 2010 08:00:00 PDT

DrSugar is in the house! And she's answering your health-related questions.

Dear Doc,
I just turned 32 and boy are my joints feeling it. This aging thing is real. I run and bike regularly and try to add yoga into my workout schedule, but really only do it once a month. The problem is my knees - well, knee - my right one. If I keep it bent for a short period of time (five minutes or so), like sitting crossed legged or a low kneel with my butt on my heels, my knee gets super stiff. It takes a couple minutes before I can walk normally again. I have just been ignoring the stiffness (it isn’t exactly painful), but is this a sign of arthritis? Or do I need to stretch more? Is there anything I can do to help my knee?
-One Knee Off

This is a great question, as I am also in my early 30s and have noticed that my right knee becomes very swollen and painful after sitting for a long period of time. I’m sure there are many FitSugar readers who have had these same symptoms! First I will discuss knee stiffness and pain and its possible diagnoses. I will then provide some information on treatment and prevention for knee pain and stiffness. For all this information, keep reading.

DrSugar Answers: Vitamin D Dosage?

DrSugar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 09:00:28 PST

DrSugar is in the house, and she's answering your health related questions.

Dear Doc Sugar,
I have heard from multiple sources (my kids’ pediatrician, an osteopath, an acupuncturist, etc.) about the importance of taking a vitamin D supplement. Coming from multiple sources has convinced me to start taking a supplement, but I am confused about how much to take. I just read from a Dr. Weil newsletter to take 2,000 IU of vitamin D daily, but other sources recommended 1,000 IU, and I have also read that the recommend amount is as little as 200 IU. So I am confused about how much to take. Can you tell me the proper daily dosage?
- Vitamin Popper

This is a fantastic question to discuss, as there is much debate even in the medical literature about what the adequate daily intake of vitamin D should be. Thus, you are not alone in your confusion regarding the proper daily requirement of vitamin D for adults! Read my answer when you

read more. First, some background information on vitamin D. The primary function of vitamin D is to maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus. Vitamin D aids in the absorption of calcium, which helps to form and maintain strong bones. Recently, research also suggests vitamin D may provide protection from osteoporosis, hypertension (high blood pressure), cancer, and several autoimmune diseases. Therefore, the advice given to you about the importance of vitamin D was correct! Very few foods in nature contain vitamin D. Fish, such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, is a good source of the vitamin and small amounts are found in eggs and fish liver oils. Fortified foods such as milk and some brands of orange juice and yogurt provide most of the vitamin D in the American diet. The sun also contributes significantly to the production of vitamin D. According to the National Institutes of Health, most people meet their vitamin D needs through exposure to sunlight. But they also advise that despite the importance of the sun to vitamin D synthesis, it is prudent to limit the exposure of skin to sunlight and UV radiation from tanning beds. Adequate daily intake levels have been established by the US Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Recommendations for all adult individuals under the age of 50 including males, females, and pregnant women are 200 IU (International Units) daily. Some researchers have questioned whether the current recommended adequate levels are sufficient, particularly for individuals deprived of regular sun exposure.The upper limit of vitamin D has been recommended at 2,000 IU daily due to toxicities that can occur when taken in higher doses. Obtaining sufficient vitamin D from natural food sources alone can be difficult. For most people, consuming vitamin D-fortified foods and being exposed to sunlight are essential for maintaining a healthy vitamin D status. Additionally, dietary supplements might be required to meet the daily need for vitamin D. As detailed above, there is a range of acceptable daily intake of vitamin D, and adjusting your diet, sunlight exposure, and supplementation to fall within that range is the best idea. But, if you are at all concerned about vitamin D supplementation, talk to your primary care doctor regarding what dosage is right for you. Have a question for DrSugar? You can send to me via private message here, and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Can Grapefruit Interfere With Medications?

FitSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 08:00:08 PDT

Orange and grapefruit juices are great sources of potassium and vitamin C, but some of you said you shy away from grapefruit - not because you don't love the taste, but because it interferes with the effectiveness of certain medications. It's true. There are chemical compounds in grapefruit known as furanocoumarins (FCs) that affect the enzymes in the intestines and liver that break down meds.

There's a list of drugs that doctors insist you avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while taking, because it can cause dangerously high levels of the drug in the blood, which can lead to serious side effects. Pomelos and Seville oranges, a type of bitter orange often used to make marmalade, should also be avoided.

To see a list from the Mayo Clinic of which meds may be affected by grapefruit, keep reading