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9 Celebrities Who Have Autism

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and chairman of X (formerly known as Twitter), revealed during a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live in 2021 that he has Asperger’s syndrome.

“I won’t make a lot of eye contact with the cast tonight. But don’t worry, I’m pretty good at running ‘human’ in emulation mode,” he joked.

Musk was likely referring to two common symptoms of ASD: lack of eye contact with others, as well as “autism masking” (per research, the term refers to behaviors that people with ASD use to try to mirror the mannerisms of neurotypical people and hide certain aspects of their condition).

In an interview aired at TED2022, Musk talked in more detail about the symptoms he’s experienced.

“Well, I think everyone’s experience is going to be somewhat different,” Musk said during the interview. “But I guess for me, the social cues were not intuitive. So I was just very bookish, and I didn’t understand. … I guess others could sort of, intuitively understand … what was meant by something. I would just tend to take things very literally, like, the words, as spoken, were exactly what they meant.”

In hindsight, Musk added, he thinks having Asperger’s syndrome may have helped him in his career. “I think there’s maybe some value also from a technology standpoint, because I found it rewarding to spend all night programming computers just by myself,” said Musk. “And I think most people, most people don’t enjoy typing strange symbols into a computer by themselves all night.”

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Why Is My Poop Black? 4 Possible Causes

Stool color is primarily determined by the amount of bile, or digestive fluid, it contains. Bile starts out as a yellow-green but tends to turn brown as it’s broken down by the enzymes in your digestive tract.

Diet, medications, and health conditions can turn stool tan, red, yellow, black, and green.

Here are a few potential reasons your stool may be black.

1. You Eat a Lot of Dark-Colored Foods

Dark foods can turn your poop nearly black, especially if you’ve eaten them in great quantities (much more than typical serving size). Common culprits include black licorice, blueberries, beets, and blood sausage.

The natural compounds that give these foods their dark color can stain your stool, Dr. Johnson explains. Blueberries, for example, contain pigmented antioxidants called anthocyanins, which can give poop a darker brown shade.

2. You’re Taking a Supplement, Like Iron

Black poop is a potential side effect of certain dietary supplements, particularly iron supplements, says Janese Laster, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist, internist, obesity medicine specialist, and nutritionist in private practice in Washington, DC.

If iron is the culprit, your stool will likely be a greenish or grayish shade of black.

Dr. Laster says this is a normal side effect caused by the way iron pills are broken down in the gut.

Supplements that contain activated charcoal — which are sometimes touted as a remedy for gas and bloating — can also darken your poop.

Activated charcoal is a black powder, and just like dark-colored foods, its midnight hue can stain your poop black.

3. You’re Taking Anti-Diarrheals

Black stool is a common side effect of over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medicines, which are used to treat digestive issues like heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and nausea.

The offender is bismuth subsalicylate, the active ingredient in many anti-diarrheal medications.

“Bismuth subsalicylate can react with naturally occurring substances in your gastrointestinal tract and result in black or dark poop,” Johnson explains. You might notice your tongue appears darker, too.

These are typical side effects that disappear after you stop taking the medication.

4. You Have a Gastrointestinal Bleed

In more serious cases, black stool can signal bleeding in the digestive tract. Doctors refer to this kind of black poop as melena, Johnson says, and it can signal bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, or small intestine caused by ulcers (open sores in the lining of the gut), cancer, or a tear in the lining of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Johnson explains that melena is black instead of red because the blood has passed through the colon, where bacteria break down its hemoglobin (the protein that lends blood its scarlet hue). For this reason, it also usually has a tar-like texture.

Some people are more prone to this kind of internal bleeding, including those who take blood-thinning medications like warfarin or use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium, Laster says. Blood thinners make it harder for your blood to clot, so a small tear or sore in the intestines that would normally heal just fine could lead to worrisome bleeding, Laster says. NSAIDs, on the other hand, can damage the inner lining of the GI tract, leading to ulcers in this lining that cause bleeding.

People who had gastrointestinal surgery or have mechanical heart valves (often used to replace diseased or damaged heart valves) are also at greater risk of melena, as are those with the following conditions:

Melena requires immediate medical attention.

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Hypothyroidism Symptoms

These are the most common symptoms you may have if you have an underactive thyroid gland.

Symptoms of Hypothyroidism in Adults

The most common hypothyroid symptoms are fatigue, cold intolerance, constipation, slower metabolism, and dry skin, while more surprising signs may be a slower heart rate, joint and muscle pain, and dry or puffy skin, says Gregory Dodell, MD, an assistant clinical professor of medicine, endocrinology, diabetes, and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Some people might experience one symptom but not the others. Adults with hypothyroidism may have any of the following signs and symptoms:

High cholesterol
Puffy face
Weight gain
Fatigue
Sensitivity to cold
Constipation
Slowed heart rate
Memory decline
Stiff, swollen, or achy joints
Irregular or heavy periods
Muscle weakness, aches, stiffness, or tenderness
Hoarseness

Hypothyroidism Symptoms in Infants

Babies born without a thyroid gland will develop hypothyroidism while those born with a dysfunctional thyroid gland may develop the condition.

Thyroid function is typically screened at birth. Babies may not immediately have signs or symptoms of the condition, but when they do, they include:

Growth abnormalities
Yellowed whites of eyes or skin (jaundice)
Puffy skin
Constant sleepiness
Constipation

Signs of Hypothyroidism in Children and Teenagers

Like infants, children and teens are also at risk of hypothyroidism. Often, symptoms in this age group mimic those of adults.

In addition to the symptoms that occur in adults, signs of hypothyroidism in this age group include:

Cognitive delays
Short stature
Late development of permanent teeth
Delayed puberty

Weight Gain Is Often One of the First Signs of Hypothyroidism

Gradual weight gain is perhaps one of the first noticeable signs of hypothyroidism.

This is related to a slower than normal metabolism. You may find losing weight more difficult, or perhaps you gain weight despite diet and exercise. On top of that, you may also feel bloated from hypothyroid-related constipation.

Fatigue That Persists May Signal Hypothyroidism

Excessive fatigue is another common symptom of hypothyroidism.

You may feel extremely tired all the time, no matter how much sleep you get.

Habitual daytime naps or a constant need for caffeine may also be signs of excessive fatigue related to this condition (unfortunately, these practices can also make it more difficult to sleep at night).

Reproductive Changes in Women Could Mean You Have Hypothyroidism

Women are at an increased risk for developing thyroid disease. Women are also more likely to develop thyroid conditions after pregnancy and following menopause.

“Women may experience a change in their menstrual cycle if their thyroid function is off,” says Dr. Dodell. Not only might you experience irregularities in your cycle, but hypothyroidism may also cause periods that are much heavier than normal.

Women who are trying to conceive may have difficulties getting pregnant.

“Therefore, women who are trying to get pregnant or are planning to try and get pregnant in the near future should have their thyroid levels checked,” Dodell explains. “We also monitor women who are being treated for hypothyroidism closely during pregnancy, since the dose of medication may need to be adjusted.”

Menopausal women may experience worsening symptoms.

Cold Intolerance Is a Symptom of Hypothyroidism

A slowed-down metabolism from hypothyroidism may also lower your body heat. This can make you more cold intolerant.

Depression and Hypothyroidism Are Comorbidities

A lack of adequate thyroid hormones can make you feel unusually depressed. Aside from feeling depressed, forgetfulness is also common in people with hypothyroidism.

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Beans, Lentils, and Peanut Butter: Are Legumes Good for Diabetes?

Plant-based proteins like legumes and nuts are a good nutritional choice for people with diabetes. They can help lower blood sugar spikes, improve glycemic control, and they don’t contain the unhealthy saturated fats that many animal proteins do.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762917cdad13-aeae-4e80-9e60-1df06a8ac67f “Legumes are rich in protein and fiber, both of which are helpful nutrition tools for managing blood sugar levels,” says Mary Ellen Phipps, MPH, RDN , a registered dietitian-nutritionist in the Houston area and the author of The Easy Diabetes Cookbook . Nutrition authorities agree that most people — including ones with blood sugar issues — should eat more legumes. Beyond being a rich source of protein and fiber, they’re also a good source of vitamins and minerals, and they don’t contain any cholesterol.
What Are Legumes? What Are Legumes? The term legumes is not just a synonym for beans. They are a broader group of plants that are members of the bean family.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299bd07a2c-9182-480c-abc9-ceb5adff8b30 “You may have heard terms like legumes, pulses, or beans sometimes used interchangeably,” says Melissa Joy Dobbins, RDN, CDCES , a registered dietitian-nutritionist and certified diabetes care and education specialist in Chicago and the host of the Sound Bites podcast . “However, while all beans are legumes, not all legumes are beans.” Legumes include: Beans (lima, snap, string, navy, black, kidney, pinto, cannellini) Broad beans (fava beans) Chickpeas Lentils Peanuts Peas Soybeans
What Are the Health Benefits of Legumes? Health Benefits Legumes are generally inexpensive, environmentally friendly, versatile, and fit into both vegan and gluten-free diets. Legumes can help manage diabetes symptoms as well as other related health conditions. Lower Blood Pressure Legumes are beneficial to cardiovascular health. This is extremely important for people with diabetes, since they are twice as likely to develop heart disease or stroke than those without the disease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762957768549-be6e-434a-a540-9e92845d049e Other research shows that people who have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure (a risk factor for heart disease) who eat three servings of legumes per week had better blood pressure control than those who ate the least.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762983d7bc64-bbc4-4ff2-acb7-9e7c740ce114 Healthier Body Weight Weight management is an important component of diabetes treatment for type 2 diabetes. Weight loss can increase insulin sensitivity, helping with blood sugar control and potentially reducing reliance on diabetes medications.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762967e3a36f-8000-4a32-8567-68655e68cac5e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295cf2885a-1bd0-4202-9753-0505457fc6e3 With their combination of fiber, plant protein, and lower calorie content, legumes are a great addition to a weight loss diet. People who eat legumes regularly gain less weight and have leaner waistlines over time than those who don’t.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762904a09d51-e7bc-4b81-b380-d32563190522 Fiber and protein help promote weight maintenance and weight loss because they are so satisfying and help people feel fuller sooner and for longer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762935d294c4-521c-4ef8-8c90-b51cd162c40b Lower Cholesterol Levels Diabetes can lead to elevated triglycerides and LDL cholesterol , while also lowering HDL cholesterol , known as “good” cholesterol.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762909025142-8100-4999-b568-7b96676db95d One small study found that eating a cup of canned beans decreased total and LDL cholesterol in adults with high cholesterol, and concluded that doing so is a practical strategy to lower cardiovascular disease risk.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762935dc42ed-26a8-4d3b-8302-3c2e25327d92 The benefits can be even larger if you’re using legumes to replace red meat.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629d0f8524d-f66f-47db-b73b-d009acde5c2d
Legumes and Blood Sugar Legumes and Blood Sugar Legumes do contain carbohydrates, which means that these tiny nutritional powerhouses can lead to a gradual increase in blood sugar. If you use insulin before meals, you’ll almost certainly need to count the carbs in legumes and dose accordingly. But as far as carbohydrate sources go, you can hardly find healthier options, especially if they’re replacing sugars, refined starches, or ultra-processed foods in your diet. “While it’s important to be aware of and manage your carbohydrate intake, choosing quality carbohydrates, such as legumes, that include fiber, vitamins, and minerals is recommended,” says Dobbins. Legumes are very low on the glycemic index, a scale used to measure how foods affect blood sugar levels.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f675030c-807f-4e72-b63c-728d8aba1dd1 “Foods that are low on the glycemic index scale have less of an impact on blood sugar levels compared to foods that rank as moderate or high on the glycemic index scale,” explains Phipps. “Legumes are low on the glycemic index scale because of their low sugar and high fiber content,” she says. Fiber-rich foods slow digestion, resulting in lower blood sugar spikes after meals. One review of five studies found that people who ate legumes regularly for at least six weeks saw blood sugar benefits, such as decreased fasting blood glucose levels and a reduction in A1C by up to 0.5 percent.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296613baa1-0622-44b3-8680-1795c3fdf430 Phipps says you can incorporate legumes into your diet every day if you’d like — starchy carbohydrates like peas, beans, and lentils can also fit into almost any healthy eating pattern.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762944a500d1-ce9d-4054-9f15-f93a2ed6c959
Low-Carb Legume Options Low-Carb Options Many people with diabetes choose to manage their condition with a low-carbohydrate diet , and may eat few legumes. For committed low-carb eaters, however, there are some options with surprisingly low carbohydrate counts. Green Beans We tend to think of these more as a green, nonstarchy veggie, but green beans fit into the legume family. One cup has 31 calories, 7 grams (g) of carbohydrates, and 3 g of fiber.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629eb906d1a-c173-43d7-9728-92b0654d2ac6 Peanuts Dobbins recommends peanuts for people with diabetes, although they are extremely calorie dense. A serving of peanuts is 1 ounce (oz), which contains 166 calories, 6 g of carbohydrates, and more than 2 g of fiber.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976299aeaf91f-4213-42db-81db-088cbca7f689 Soybeans When eaten whole, they’re known as edamame, and roughly a half cup of raw green soybeans has 112 calories, 7 g of carbs, and 4 g of fiber.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762977560c96-24ef-4872-8024-56545bc55c03 Soybeans are also used to make tofu, tempeh, soy milk, and soy yogurt. And there’s a canned variety of this legume known as black soybeans, which could be used as a substitute for higher-carb black beans or pinto beans. Lupini Beans These Mediterranean beans have been around for centuries, but they’ve only recently made their way into specialty and high-end food stores. They’re typically sold lightly salted in brine and eaten as a snack. A ¼ cup contains only 40 calories, 3 g of carbs, and 1 g of fiber.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629983f2fd6-3667-4305-bece-7825e214db5a
Are Peanuts and Peanut Butter Good for Diabetes? Peanuts and Peanut Butter Yes and no. Dobbins says peanuts and peanut butter contain many nutrients that may reduce cardiovascular disease risk, but they are high in calories and can cause weight gain — a known risk factor for type 2 diabetes — if eaten too liberally. “[Peanuts] are high in antioxidants like vitamin E, heart healthy unsaturated fats, and phytonutrients such as resveratrol,” says Dobbins. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring plant compound known for its antioxidant properties.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629f6ddda17-0461-4fe5-b97c-114127face72 If you choose to snack on peanuts, avoid those that are flavored and excessively sweet. Honey-roasted peanuts are a healthier choice than most junk foods, but you can easily find yourself eating more sugar, fat, and calories than you intended. Sometimes oils and sugars are added to peanut butter to improve the flavor and texture. Choosing a natural variety is the best way to avoid added sugar, since they’re typically just ground peanuts.
How to Incorporate Legumes in Your Diet Incorporating Legumes Into Your Diet Beans, peas, and lentils can all make delicious additions to your diet. But if you’re not sure how to make them a regular part of your meal plan, try these expert tips. Watch the serving size. Aim for a half cup, Phipps recommends. In this amount, you’ll average around 8 g of protein and 8 g of fiber. Swap legumes for animal protein . Legumes can lend a meaty texture and taste to familiar dishes you enjoy. They especially shine as a substitute for ground meat, says Phipps. “Swap out half the meat for cooked beans or lentils,” she suggests. Sprinkle them on other foods. Think salads, veggies, or rice, suggests Dobbins. When you’re cooking, think about adding a few spoonfuls to your recipe. Make them a side dish. Cooked legumes pair well with chicken or fish. Try bean salad, cooked lentils, or some steamed or roasted green beans in place of traditional rice, pasta, or potatoes, says Dobbins. Whip up a dip. Dobbins suggests hummus, which is made with chickpeas, or black or white bean dip. Use low fat and low carb baby cucumbers, mini bell peppers, or carrot slices to scoop it up.
The Takeaway Legumes, which include beans, lentils, and peanuts, are excellent plant-based protein sources that may help manage blood sugar levels due to their high fiber content. Although legumes contain carbohydrates that can impact blood sugar, they still can be a safe dietary choice for many people with diabetes. Peanuts and peanut butter are nutritionally sound but calorie dense. Be mindful of serving sizes when integrating them into meals. People who follow a low-carb diet can try green beans, soybeans, and lupini beans, which offer lower carbohydrate options without sacrificing their nutritional benefits.
Resources We Trust Cleveland Clinic: How to Follow a Diabetes-Friendly DietMayo Clinic: Bean and Legume RecipesHarvard Health Publishing: Love Those Legumes!Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes: Getting Started on a Plant-Based DietAmerican Diabetes Association: What Superstar Foods Are Good for Diabetes?

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Does Cinnamon Lower Blood Sugar?

Given its mixed scientific results, cinnamon seems unlikely to make a significant impact on your health, especially in the smaller amounts that most people are likely to add to their meals. But even so, there’s good reason to sprinkle it on toast, add it to tea or coffee, or mix it into oatmeal or yogurt anyway, says Sandra Arévalo, RDN, MPH, CDCES, the director of the Jacob’s Family Pride Wellness Center at Montefiore Nyack Hospital in New York.

“I recommend cinnamon and nutmeg to add flavor to desserts and other sweet treats while reducing the amount of sugar used in the recipe,” she says.

Cinnamon supplements, on the other hand, make it easier to consume larger amounts of it. They can contain as many as 6 g (1¼ tsp) per dose, according to some studies.

But taking supplements comes with some risk. Unlike prescription and over-the-counter medications, supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and their manufacturers are not required to provide evidence of their safety or efficacy.

If you decide to try cinnamon supplements, Arévalo cautions against consuming too much, since they can cause gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or heartburn.

“There are studies that show cinnamon can also affect the liver when taken in large doses because of the effects of a component in cinnamon called coumarin,” she says. A small percentage of people may be especially sensitive to liver damage from to coumarin consumption.

Check with your doctor to ensure that cinnamon supplements won’t interact with any other medicines or supplements you take. If they won’t, look for a supplement that’s been third-party tested by NSF, ConsumerLab, or U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).

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FDA Approves Blujepa (Gepotidacin), a New Drug for UTIs

Women and girls with urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially stubborn ones that tend to recur despite treatment, have a new medication option now that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the oral antibiotic gepotidacin.

The drug, okayed for females 12 years old and up with uncomplicated UTIs (that have not spread beyond the bladder to the kidneys), will be marketed under the brand name Blujepa. It is the first in a new class of UTI antibiotics, and the first to be approved in almost three decades.

“The new antibiotic is a fantastic event, as there is a significant minority of women with UTIs that have become resistant to the current armamentarium of antibiotics. This gives an option to those who would otherwise need intravenous antibiotics,” says Craig Comiter, MD, a professor of urology and urologist at Stanford Health Care in California.

UTIs are the most common type of infection in women, impacting up to 16 million women in the United States annually. Over half of all women are affected by a UTI in their lifetime, and an estimated 30 percent experience recurrent UTIs.

Blujepa Approval Provides ‘Another Important Choice’ for UTI Treatment

Blujepa’s approval is based on positive outcomes from two late-stage clinical trials, EAGLE-2 and EAGLE-3. In these studies, Blujepa was compared with nitrofurantoin, a leading treatment for uncomplicated UTIs.

In the EAGLE-2 trial, Blujepa demonstrated non-inferiority, meaning it was at least as effective as nitrofurantoin, and 50 percent of the women were symptom free and had no microbiological signs of infection, compared with 47 percent for nitrofurantoin.

In the EAGLE-3 trial, Blujepa showed slightly better efficacy, with a success rate of 59 percent compared with 44 percent for nitrofurantoin.

Bluejepa appears to be about as effective as the currently available options, says Dr. Comiter. “But when bacteria are resistant to other antibiotics, choices are limited, and so this gives us another important choice,” says Comiter.

What Are the Side Effects of Blujepa?

Blujepa was generally well tolerated in the clinical trials. As is typical with antibiotics, gastrointestinal side effects were the most common. Diarrhea topped the list, occurring in 14 to 18 percent of participants. Nausea was also noted, at close to 9 percent.

These side effects were mostly mild to moderate, with only a small percentage of patients experiencing more severe symptoms, and there were no life-threatening adverse events.

UTIs Increasingly Involve Drug-Resistant Bacteria

UTIs, also called bladder infections, are most often caused when bacteria that are typically found in the digestive tract migrate to the urinary tract during sex or while wiping after a bowel movement.

A strong urge to urinate that doesn’t go away
Burning and painful urination
Cloudy, red, or pink urine
Pelvic pain

Most UTIs are caused by the bacteria Escherichia coli, and for decades, these infections were easily treated and cured with antibiotics. But that’s changing because of antibiotic resistance, which is when bacteria don’t respond to the medicines used to treat them.

Evidence suggests that more than 90 percent of bacteria that cause UTIs are resistant to at least one common antibiotic, and almost 80 percent are resistant to at least two.

That’s why new antibiotics are necessary, explains Comiter. “Resistance is acquired, generally ascribed to overuse of antibiotics, but it is a natural part of bacterial evolution and may be unavoidable,” he says.

Blujepa will be most appropriate for people with UTIs caused by resistant bacteria, commonly called ESBL (extended spectrum beta-lactamase) or MDR (multidrug resistant) strains, says Comiter.

“This approval will also help patients everywhere who have multiresistant infection,” he says.

When Will Blujepa Be Available and How Much Will It Cost?

Blujepa is expected to be available in the United States sometime this summer, says Lyndsay Meyer, the director of U.S. Corporate Media Relations at GSK.

“Details are forthcoming,” on how much a round of the antibiotic will cost and insurance coverage, she says.

Given that most antibiotics are generic, and Blujepa will be a new branded option, will cost be a consideration in prescribing to patients?

“Cost is always a consideration, and this treatment should be ‘saved’ for those bacteria that are known to be resistant to current antibiotics,” says Comiter.

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Migraine During Pregnancy: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

When it comes to treating migraine, it’s important that you discuss with your medical provider what medications are safe during pregnancy.

“Acetaminophen is considered first-line medication therapy for headache in pregnancy,” says Dao. “Second-line agents include a class of migraine medications called triptans, which have shown to be effective, with growing evidence that they are relatively safe during pregnancy. There is growing evidence of other migraine medications that have been deemed safe during pregnancy, so it is always important to talk to your doctor regarding your options.”

Triptans

Triptans cannot prevent your migraine attacks, but they can stop the pain by altering blood circulation in the brain and changing how your brain processes the pain.

Your doctor may recommend sumatriptan, as it has been used most commonly in the past, without adverse effects.

A few other triptans, such as rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, and eletriptan, have been logged by major pregnancy studies, and were found to have no increased risk of birth defects.

Occipital Nerve Blocks

Occipital nerve blocks are a pain relief treatment that injects local anesthetic, such as lidocaine, near the occipital nerve on the back of the head.

Sometimes, this is combined with a steroid injection.

Anti-Nausea Medications

Your doctor might also choose to prescribe anti-nausea medication if you experience additional nausea with migraine attacks. This might include cyclizine, ondansetron, or prochlorperazine. Discuss all potential side effects and any plans for breastfeeding with your doctor, as some anti-nausea medications, like promethazine, can affect milk production.

Others, such as ondansetron, which is connected to heart-rhythm problems, may not have enough history of proven use during pregnancy to be categorized as safe.

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Diagnosing Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency

Doctors diagnose EPI using a range of stool tests, blood tests, and sometimes scans. But a diagnosis may be challenging.

No single test can do it, and doctors often use the results of multiple tests as part of an overall clinical picture that includes symptoms and signs of malabsorption and malnutrition.

Testing is just one part of the EPI puzzle that your healthcare team will have to solve, but it still provides essential information.

Stool Tests

A stool, or fecal elastase-1 (FE-1), test is often the first performed for EPI given the hallmark symptom of steatorrhea.

The healthcare provider gives you a container for a stool sample, and you’ll need to provide a semisolid or solid stool.

This tests levels of the pancreatic enzyme elastase, which supports protein digestion, in the intestines.

This enzyme survives passing through the digestive system, so it shows up in stools.

Low levels in the stool suggests you may have EPI.

FE-1 testing is accurate at showing severely impaired pancreas function, such as for children with cystic fibrosis.

But while FE-1 isn’t as expensive or invasive as other tests, it often gives false-positive or false-negative results.

For example, it’s also unsuitable for use when a person has particularly watery stools, because the FE-1 content may be diluted, potentially giving a false-positive result. An FE-1 test also isn’t effective at detecting mild EPI. A doctor may elect to start PERT without this type of test, especially if a person has underlying pancreas issues and symptoms like steatorrhea.

Measuring the fat content of stools through a fecal fat test may show how much fat the body is unable to digest. But doctors rarely recommend this test during routine screening for EPI, because a person needs to eat a specific, moderate-fat diet containing definite fat content for five days beforehand. This places a high burden on the patient.

Fecal fat testing plays a role in clinical research more than in practical medicine. But doctors might suggest a fecal fat test if a person isn’t showing a good response to PERT.

Blood Tests

Healthcare professionals may collect a blood sample to check levels of the fat-soluble nutrients A, D, E, and K and other minerals. People with EPI have difficulty processing fats, so these levels may be lower for them. These tests may help doctors identify malnutrition.

Blood tests can also measure trypsinogen, the pancreatic enzyme that converts to trypsin. This can be a helpful way for doctors to check how you’re responding to PERT treatment, as FE-1 levels don’t change when you take pancreatic enzymes from outside the body, but trypsin levels do.

Pancreatic Function Tests

An endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT), also known as a secretin pancreatic function test, is the most accurate way to directly test how the pancreas is working.

A gastroenterologist inserts a flexible telescope into a person’s mouth while they’re under anesthesia and passes it down through the digestive system; this process is known as an endoscopy. The gastroenterologist administers a hormone called secretin that usually triggers the release of digestive enzymes, then collects pancreatic juice every 15 minutes for an hour to measure the concentration of a compound called bicarbonate. A pancreas will make enough bicarbonate if it is working well.

Despite its accuracy, ePFT is infrequently done and usually limited to specialized centers because it’s complex and time-consuming. The American Gastroenterological Association says that direct pancreatic function tests (ePFTs included) are promising but not widely available in the United States.

The American Pancreatic Association further states that these tests are great at diagnosing early chronic pancreatitis but are often saved for patients being evaluated for chronic abdominal pain and suspected chronic pancreatitis.

Imaging Tests

These can’t directly diagnose EPI, but doctors will often carry out a range of imaging tests to rule out or identify underlying pancreatic problems, such as pancreatic cancer, advanced pancreatitis, or a shrinking pancreas.

These may include a computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, or endoscopic ultrasound (EUS).

During an EUS, along with capturing imaging of the pancreas, the gastroenterologist may also collect a biopsy using a fine needle attached to the end of the scope if they find any tumors or cysts.

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10 Easy Dessert Recipes (That Are Good for You, Too)

Kayli Anderson has over a decade of experience in nutrition, culinary education, and lifestyle medicine. She believes that eating well should be simple, pleasurable, and sustainable. Anderson has worked with clients from all walks of life, but she currently specializes in nutrition therapy and lifestyle medicine for women. She’s the founder of PlantBasedMavens.com, a hub for women to get evidence-based, practical, and woman-centered guidance on nutrition and cooking, hormone health, fertility, pregnancy, movement, mental well-being, nontoxic living, and more.

Anderson is board-certified in lifestyle medicine and serves as lead faculty of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine’s (ACLM) “Food as Medicine” course. She is past chair of the ACLM’s registered dietitian member interest group, secretary of the women’s health member interest group, and nutrition faculty for many of ACLM’s other course offerings. She is the coauthor of the Plant-Based Nutrition Quick Start Guide and works with many of the leading organizations in nutrition and lifestyle medicine to develop nutrition content, recipes, and educational programs.

Anderson frequently speaks on the topics of women’s health and plant-based nutrition and has coauthored two lifestyle medicine textbooks, including the first one on women’s health, Improving Women’s Health Across the Lifespan.

She received a master’s degree in nutrition and physical performance and is certified as an exercise physiologist and intuitive eating counselor. She’s a student of herbal medicine and women’s integrative and functional medicine. She lives with her husband in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, where you’ll find her out on a trail or in her garden.

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What Is Elderberry? Health Benefits, Risks, More

Most likely, you’ll take elderberry as a supplement. You’ll find these in gummies, liquids or juices, syrups, lozenges, dried, and in capsule form.

You can buy elderberry jelly, jam, and wine online and in some stores. The taste is sweet and tart and, overall, enjoyable. But note that most research studies have focused on supplements and pure extracts, and not on other forms of elderberry like juices and jams.

Elderberry Supplements

Elderberry gummies are tasty, but they do have added sugar. When you’re buying elderberry, you’ll frequently find supplements that include a mix of elderberry and potential immune supportive supplements like zinc and vitamin C.

Other supplements may include only elderberry as the active ingredient. Choose the formula that suits your needs the best, and read the ingredients label to know what active and inactive components each contains.

Elderberry Jam

Certain country stores and online outlets sell elderberry jelly and jam; use and store it as you would other jellies and jams.

Elderberry Juice

You can find elderberry juice online. Note that for elderberry juice to be tasty and not too tart, sugar is added to the mix. One cup has about 150 calories and 34 grams (g) of sugar (much of this is natural sugar from the fruit).

Elderberry Wine

While it’s unclear whether wine offers the same potential benefits of elderberry extract, elderberry in this form is common. You can find elderberry wine at some wineries and their associated online stores, where the winemakers may feature wine made from only elderberries or blends with other berries.

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