In an age where countless people seem to have some kind of food sensitivity or intolerance, elimination diets have become incredibly common. They help you find out what foods, if any, trigger or worsen conditions ranging from joint pain to acne. 

Food usually brings people together in friendship, in celebration, even in sorrow. But it can also be a major source of stress. 

For some, a single bite of the wrong food can mean a trip to the emergency room. This is called anaphylaxis, a classic food allergy reaction. For others, eating a meal with certain ingredients can trigger a day in the bathroom. That type of reaction is more likely to be a food intolerance. 

You know your body, and you know when something isn’t right: a rash you can’t explain, lightheadedness, nausea or diarrhea for no obvious reason. Sometimes these symptoms appear after a meal. But other times, they appear at seemingly random times. 

One possible explanation might surprise you: Food allergies. 

With winter in full swing, you probably find yourself reaching for Chapstick® and body lotion more often. Winter’s dry, cold weather draws moisture away from the skin and can lead to winter itch -- a type of dermatitis that causes itchy, scaly, cracked, possibly even bleeding skin. Winter itch can occur at any age but we tend to be more prone to it as we age, as our skin tends to be thinner and dryer.

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a very common neurodevelopmental disorder diagnosed in childhood. Typical signs include:

• Difficulty focusing
• Difficulty controlling impulsive behaviors
• Being overly active

Although ADHD can span into adulthood, it was largely considered a childhood issue until a few years ago. 

It’s the holiday season – a time of joy, cheer and heartburn. Mainstream holiday fare – high-fat foods, alcohol and desserts – can trigger heartburn. Of course, heartburn isn’t just a holiday thing – many of us experience bad heartburn anytime we eat foods that are spicy or high in fat or drink alcohol – whether it’s New Year’s Eve or Super Bowl Sunday.

“Celebrations can trigger heartburn because people tend to sit down, socialize and eat and drink much more than usual,” says Dr. Andrea Klemes, chief medical officer, MDVIP. 

I love the holidays. From time with family to time away from work to good food and good cheer, it’s a near perfect time of year.

But not for everyone. Some people dread the holidays because of family history and memories that aren’t joyous. Others find the added stress of crowds, finances and travel difficult to manage. In fact, surveys by the American Psychological Association and Healthline found that nearly half of Americans see their stress levels rise during the holidays.

As an internal medicine physician for 36 years, I was never fond of New Year’s resolutions. They always seemed artificial and destined to fail. And if you’ve ever made one, you probably know what I’m talking about. 

For most of us, the term “early death” isn’t scientific. It simply describes death that occurs unexpectedly early: in children, of course, but also their parents and anyone else in the so-called prime of their lives. 

Public health experts offer a clearer definition, and the age cutoff may surprise you.

What is Premature Death?

Early death, also called premature death, occurs earlier than the average age of death in a population. In the United States, that age is around 75 years old.

Americans love salt. From shaking it on their food to gobbling up salty, prepackaged snacks to dining on sodium-rich restaurant food, it’s a staple of our diet. As a result, the average American consumes about 3,400 mg of salt each day, despite the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommending Americans limit their daily salt intake to a maximum of 2,300 mg.