When you think of February 14th, your mind probably envisions red boxes of chocolate and long-stemmed, red roses. What you likely don’t think of is blood, or rather blood donation – but maybe you should. In addition to being a day of romance, Valentine’s Day is also National Donor Day, which focuses on on five […]
When Nat King Cole sang about “chestnuts roasting over an open fire,†he wasn’t talking about horse chestnuts. The delicious edible seeds of the sweet chestnut tree are what we eat around the holidays, but mistake it for a horse chestnut and you’ll be sick (and sorry). Is horse chestnut a nut? If not, what […]
Chronic venous insufficiency is a fancy way to describe the swollen, underperforming veins in the legs of so many people. Whether it’s the sight of bulging veins that can be seen through the skin, or the constant swelling and fatigue that annoys you most, if you’ve got them, you’re bound to seek out ways to […]
Have you ever heard of a horse chestnut? (It’s not to be confused with the sweet chestnut that you roast over an open fire during the holidays.) The horse chestnut is a tree, but oddly enough its large brown seeds (which are encased in green spiky balls) actually look similar to sweet chestnuts, except they […]
B12 is part of the family of B vitamins: 8 different vitamins that help the body perform crucial functions. All of them help the body turn food into fuel; in other words, B vitamins generate energy. B12 itself is crucial in the processes of metabolism, forming new red blood cells, and maintaining the central nervous […]
Vitamin B12 is necessary for humans to live healthy lives, but because it is not often found in plant foods, vegetarians and vegans are often short on B12. Chronic vitamin B12 deficiency can result in anemia that both reduces your body’s ability to absorb B12, and result in a negative health state that may potentially […]
Anemia is the most common blood disorder, affecting more than 3 million Americans. (Source)  Are you familiar with the causes of anemia? If not, this post may give you a better understanding of this prevalent condition and how it is manifested in the body. Your Blood & Red Blood Cells Whole blood is comprised of red blood cells, white […]
My dad is currently recovering from his second hip replacement surgery in the last two years. He was in a motorcycle accident when he was younger and the combination of the accident and natural aging meant it was time for a new hip. His initial surgery was in 2012. His recovery was not quick and […]
