Category: California

Can Coffee Help You Lose Weight?

Coffee may aid your weight loss efforts in the following ways.

It Revs Up Your Metabolism

Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant that blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, enhancing wakefulness and alertness.

Caffeine also affects your body’s physiology in ways that may support a healthy weight. “Coffee increases metabolism because its main component, caffeine, is a stimulant that enhances your metabolic thermogenesis, which is the process by which the body generates heat from digested food substances,” says Daniel Boyer, MD, a medical researcher in Des Moines, Iowa, who focuses on molecular biology and pharmacology, among other subjects, and is associated with the Farr Institute.

A fast metabolism means you’ll burn more calories during the day, whether you’re moving or at rest.

 “This means a faster metabolic rate promotes a quicker weight loss than a slower metabolic rate,” Dr. Boyer says.

It Suppresses Your Appetite

For some people, drinking coffee promotes a feeling of fullness.

That could affect your weight, since if you’re not reaching for extra meals and snacks throughout the day, you may consume fewer calories overall. Excess calorie intake is a major contributor to weight gain, Boyer says.
Research has found that study participants who consumed caffeine 30 minutes to 4 hours before mealtime ate less.

 Other studies haven’t confirmed this link, though.

It’s Associated With Reduced Body Fat

In a study of women, those who regularly drank higher amounts of coffee had a lower body fat percentage compared with those who drank less coffee. But the effects were found to be age dependent. Among women ages 20 to 44, those who regularly drank two or three cups of coffee per day had less total body fat compared with those who didn’t drink coffee. The same was true for women ages 45 to 69 who drank four or more cups per day. The researchers point out that there are likely bioactive compounds in coffee other than caffeine that may help regulate weight.

Coffee consumed before a workout may also boost your body’s fat-burning process, Boyer says. A study of 15 men who didn’t habitually drink coffee found that a strong dose of caffeine 30 minutes before aerobic exercise — about 200 milligrams for a 154-pound person, which is about what you’d find in a tall Starbucks coffee — increased fat burning.

Even in many popular eating plans that limit or eliminate foods or food groups, such as Whole30 (which limits added sugar, alcohol, legumes, dairy, and grains), coffee is rarely off-limits.
Some diets actually encourage drinking coffee. The ketogenic diet, for instance, promotes bulletproof coffee, which mixes coffee with butter and a supplement called MCT oil.

 WW, which uses a point system to track what you eat each day, allocates zero points to black coffee, meaning there is no limit on how much you can drink.

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What Is Treatment-Resistant Depression?

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can be used alone or in combination with medications for TRD to help you identify underlying issues that may be contributing to your depression. It can also teach you coping behaviors to help manage your symptoms and deal effectively with life stressors.

Adding a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy to standard medication treatment has been linked to better short-term, mid-term, and long-term outlooks for people with TRD than drug treatment alone, according to one frequently-cited systematic review and meta-analysis.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

If other treatments haven’t been effective, your doctor may recommend transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a noninvasive treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that uses magnetic waves to stimulate nerve cells in the brain.

Approximately 50 to 60 percent of people with treatment-resistant depression experience meaningful symptom improvement with TMS, and one-third of them experience a full remission of symptoms.

This procedure involves placing an electromagnetic coil on the scalp that directs currents to stimulate nerve cells in an area of the brain involved in depression and mood regulation.

TMS is typically delivered daily, five times a week, over four to six weeks. How long each session lasts will depend on the type of stimulation pattern used, and most people are able to resume their normal daily activities afterward.

Though TMS is generally safe and well tolerated, it can cause side effects such as:

  • Headaches
  • Lightheadedness
  • Scalp discomfort, especially at the site of stimulation
  • Spasms, tingling, or twitching of the muscles in your face

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — in which doctors purposely trigger a seizure by delivering electrical currents through the brain while the patient is asleep under general anesthesia — is sometimes used to treat people with TRD.

ECT is thought to help change the brain’s chemistry in a way that may lessen symptoms of TRD.

ECT is very effective for major depression, relieving symptoms in about 80 percent of people who undergo the procedure.

An ECT session induces a seizure that lasts about a minute, and patients wake up about 5 to 10 minutes later. In the United States, ECT sessions are usually given two or three times per week for a total of 6 to 12 treatments, depending on how severe your depression is and how quickly your symptoms respond to treatment.

ECT is much safer today than in the past, when treatments were administered using high doses of electricity without anesthesia and caused serious adverse effects. Although modern-day ECT is generally safe, it can cause some side effects:

  • Confusion
  • Headache
  • Jaw pain
  • Muscle aches
  • Memory loss, which usually improves within a couple months after treatment ends
  • Nausea
  • Other medical complications, particularly if you have serious heart problems

Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), an FDA-approved surgical treatment for TRD, is usually offered only to individuals who’ve tried at least four medications, ECT, or both without experiencing a significant improvement in their symptoms.

Adding VNS to standard depression treatments is more effective for TRD than standard treatments alone and led to a significantly higher remission rate in one five-year study.

VNS involves surgically implanting a device in the chest that connects a wire to the vagus nerve, a nerve that travels into areas of the brain thought to be involved in mood regulation. The wire delivers electrical signals to the nerve, which transmits them to the brain, potentially improving depressive symptoms.

Potential side effects of VNS include:

Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an experimental therapy that is only used in people with severe depression whose symptoms haven’t improved after trying medication, psychotherapy, or ECT.

DBS involves the surgical implantation of electrodes into areas of the brain that are triggering depression. Doctors use brain scans to identify the most appropriate places to implant the electrodes.

During surgery, doctors implant the electrodes in the brain. The electrodes are connected to a neurostimulator implanted under the skin near the collarbone, similar to a pacemaker. The neurostimulator is used to send electrical currents to the brain to ease depressive symptoms.

After the procedure, you and your healthcare team work together to determine which settings on the neurostimulator work best at relieving your depressive symptoms.

Although not yet an FDA-approved treatment, DBS is a promising option for TRD, according to one systematic review and meta-analysis. Future research is needed to confirm its effectiveness.

Newer Medicines

Some newer medicines may also help TRD.

  • Ketamine This is an anesthetic that’s delivered intravenously in a doctor’s office or clinical setting. Unlike other medications for depression, which can take weeks or even months to fully kick in, ketamine produces rapid relief, especially among people with suicidal thoughts, according to one study. In fact, the study found that ketamine was effective within 24 hours among people with depression who had suicidal thoughts.

     Ketamine also appears to work at least as well as ECT among people with TRD without psychosis, according to another study.

  • Esketamine (Spravato) In March 2019, the FDA approved this ketamine derivative for use in conjunction with an oral antidepressant for TRD. In January 2025, the FDA approved esketamine for use on its own (without an oral antidepressant) for TRD. Esketamine is given as a fast-acting nasal spray in a doctor’s office or clinic setting.

Botox

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections may improve depressive symptoms, according to research.

 However, the FDA hasn’t yet approved Botox for treating depression. Researchers are still studying why Botox might help with depression.

Clinical Trials and Novel Treatments

Researchers are currently studying innovative therapies for TRD.

One receiving a lot of media attention involves the use of psilocybin, a mind-altering psychedelic chemical found in certain mushrooms. According to a study, combining psilocybin with psychotherapy provided a “substantial and rapid” decrease in symptoms for up to a year in patients with major depressive disorder.

Other research suggests that anti-inflammatory medications such as cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2 inhibitors) may help treat persistent depression by targeting inflammation in the body, which is thought to play a role in TRD. COX-2 inhibitors include celecoxib (Celebrex), the only version currently available in the United States, which is approved to treat certain forms of arthritis and related conditions. Additional research is needed to determine whether these medications are helpful for people with TRD.

Investigators are also examining newer classes of antidepressants, as well as ways to make TMS treatments more efficient, according to DeBattista.

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The C-Peptide Test for Diabetes

The results of your C-peptide test will help your healthcare provider determine how much natural baseline insulin your body makes.

C-peptide results are reported with a reference range, which will vary from one lab to another. Your C-peptide may be high, low, or normal. In new patients, high levels tend to indicate type 2 diabetes, and low levels tend to indicate type 1 diabetes.

 Nevertheless, this measurement can be difficult to interpret, and any result should be discussed with the healthcare professional who ordered your test and will help interpret it in the context of your blood sugar level.

High C-Peptide Levels

New patients with type 2 diabetes typically have C-peptide measurements on the high end of normal, or above the normal range. That’s because the insulin resistance characteristic of type 2 diabetes forces the pancreas to work harder and produce extra insulin.

Type 2 diabetes, however, is a progressive disease. Insulin resistance increases over time, and eventually, the overworked pancreas begins to lose its ability to produce insulin. The longer you have had type 2 diabetes, the more your C-peptide levels are likely to decline. After years or decades of life with type 2 diabetes, C-peptide may eventually be so low as to be undetectable.

A high C-peptide measurement may also indicate conditions other than diabetes, such as:

Low C-Peptide Levels

New patients with type 1 diabetes typically have C-peptide levels that are on the low end of normal, or below the normal range, indicating too little insulin secretion. People who develop type 1 diabetes as adults typically have a slower disease onset, and usually have more capacity to secrete insulin both when they are diagnosed and in the following years. In cases of severe onset, such as people diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, there may be no evidence of C-peptide at all.

A C-peptide measurement, however, should not be used alone to diagnose type 1 diabetes. The official diagnostic criteria require both high blood sugar levels and the presence of the autoimmune markers that cause type 1 diabetes.

For people with longstanding type 1 diabetes, even very small amounts of measurable C-peptide are a good sign, and are associated with better blood sugar control, lower insulin requirements, and a lower risk of hypoglycemia.

A low C-peptide measurement can also indicate the presence of Addison’s disease or liver disease.

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Medication, Lifestyle Changes, and More

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants are blood-thinning medications that help prevent harmful blood clots from forming or growing. Doctors often prescribe these medications to prevent a person’s first stroke, repeated strokes after a first stroke, or a heart attack.

Medications in this class include:

  • apixaban (Eliquis)
  • dabigatran (Pradaxa)
  • edoxaban (Savaysa)
  • heparin (various)
  • rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
  • warfarin (Coumadin)

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

ACE inhibitors expand blood vessels by lowering levels of hormones that regulate blood pressure, reducing how hard the heart has to work to pump blood. This allows blood to flow through the body more efficiently, helping to treat high blood pressure and supporting health after a heart attack.

Medications in this class include:

  • benazepril (Lotensin)
  • enalapril (Vasotec)
  • fosinopril (Monopril)
  • lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
  • quinapril (Accupril)
  • ramipril (Altace)

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers

Angiotensin II receptor blockers help manage blood pressure by blocking a hormone that constricts blood vessels, allowing the vessels to relax. Doctors might prescribe ARBs to people with heart failure and high blood pressure.

Medications in this class include:

  • azilsartan (Edarbi)
  • candesartan (Atacand)
  • irbesartan (Avapro)
  • losartan (Cozaar)
  • olmesartan (Benicar)
  • telmisartan (Micardis)
  • valsartan (Diovan)
Sometimes doctors prescribe sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), a combination of ARBs and neprilysin inhibitors known as an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor. This heart failure treatment improves how the arteries open, reduces how much sodium the body retains, and limits stress on the heart.

Antiplatelet Agents

Antiplatelet agents prevent the formation of blood clots by stopping platelets in the blood from clumping together. Doctors prescribe them after heart attacks, strokes, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs, or mini-strokes), and other types of cardiovascular diseases. If plaque has built up on a person’s coronary artery but isn’t yet causing a severe blockage, a person can also take antiplatelet agents to prevent a blood clot.

Medications in this class include:

  • aspirin
  • clopidogrel (Plavix)
  • dipyridamole (Persantine)
  • prasugrel (Effient)
  • ticagrelor (Brilinta)
Nearly every person with coronary artery disease will need to take aspirin for the rest of their life.

People who have undergone surgery like stent placement or coronary bypass graft surgery, or those who have had a heart attack, may benefit from taking another antiplatelet medication known as a P2Y12 inhibitor at the same time. This combination is known as dual antiplatelet therapy.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers work by slowing the heart rate, helping it beat less forcefully, and decreasing the effects of the hormone adrenaline on the heart. They also help lower blood pressure, so the heart doesn’t have to work as hard. Doctors prescribe beta-blockers to prevent future heart attacks in people with a history of them, as well as to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina), and issues with heart rhythm.

Medications in this class include:

  • acebutolol
  • atenolol (Tenormin)
  • bisoprolol
  • metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
  • nadolol (Corgard)
  • nebivolol (Bystolic)
  • propranolol (Inderal LA, InnoPran XL)

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers disrupt how calcium moves into blood vessel cells and heart cells, relaxing the blood vessels and lowering the heart rate. A healthcare professional may prescribe calcium channel blockers to treat angina, arrhythmias, or high blood pressure.

Medications in this class include:

  • amlodipine (Norvasc)
  • diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac)
  • felodipine (Plendil)
  • nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
  • nimodipine (Nimotop)
  • nisoldipine (Sular)
  • verapamil (Calan, Verelan)

Cholesterol-Lowering Medications

Cholesterol-lowering medicines, such as statins, decrease levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad”) cholesterol in the blood, which can help reduce the risk of severe heart problems. Statins are the most common medication doctors prescribe in this class. Other options are often only prescribed when statins cause severe side effects or don’t work as intended.

  • atorvastatin (Lipitor)
  • fluvastatin (Lescol)
  • lovastatin (Mevacor)
  • pitavastatin (Livalo)
  • pravastatin (Pravachol)
  • rosuvastatin (Crestor)
  • simvastatin (Zocor)
Other medication classes that reduce cholesterol include nicotinic acids like niacin or cholesterol absorption inhibitors, such as ezetimibe (Zetia). Some medications like ezetimibe/simvastatin (Vytorin) combine statins with cholesterol absorption inhibitors.

Digitalis

Digitalis can help the heart contract harder when its pumping function has been weakened and can slow a rapid heartbeat. This medication can help people manage arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation or heart failure symptoms when they don’t get good results from ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or diuretics.

Digoxin (Lanoxin) is the main digitalis medication doctors prescribe for heart disease.

Diuretics

Diuretics, or “water pills,” eliminate excess fluids and sodium through urination, helping relieve the heart’s workload and reduce blood pressure. These pills also decrease fluid backup in the lungs and other parts of the body, such as the ankles and legs, due to heart failure.

“Thiazide diuretics are among the oldest heart disease medications,” says Majure. “They’ve been around since the 1960s, and we use them to this day.” Other diuretics include loop diuretics and potassium-sparing diuretics.

Medications in these classes include:

  • amiloride (Midamor)
  • bumetanide (Bumex)
  • chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
  • furosemide (Lasix)
  • hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril)
  • triamterene (Dyrenium)
  • triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide combined

GLP-1 Agonists

GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide mimic a hormone that the small intestine produces that leads to insulin release, blocks glucose-releasing hormones, helps the stomach empty more slowly, and increases a person’s feelings of fullness after eating. These drugs were developed to treat type 2 diabetes and are also prescribed to treat obesity. They can have a broad range of positive effects on heart disease risk factors.

In 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy, a drug containing semaglutide, to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart disease–related death in people who are overweight or have obesity.

Vasodilators

Vasodilators expand blood vessels to improve blood flow to the heart, decreasing the effort of pumping and controlling blood pressure. Nitrates, one type of vasodilator, improve blood and oxygen supply to the heart, which can help reduce angina. Pregnant women can also take this medication to reduce high blood pressure.

Medications in this class include:

  • isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil)
  • isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur)
  • hydralazine (Apresoline)
  • nitroglycerin (Nitro-Bid, Nitro Stat)
  • minoxidil

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Migraine and Depression Connection: Risks, Causes, and Treatments

Both migraine and depression can be treated with pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments, such as:

  • Medication
  • Psychotherapy
  • Healthy lifestyle changes

Can Antidepressants Help With Migraine?

Antidepressants are one way to treat migraine and comorbid depression simultaneously.

Although it may seem unusual to treat migraine with medications designed to treat depression, it’s not uncommon to use off-label medications in migraine prevention. In fact, one antidepressant — amitriptyline (Elavil) — has been used in migraine treatment since the 1970s.

While there are several classes of antidepressant, these three types may be used to treat migraine and comorbid depression:

“SNRIs such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta) are a class of medication that are helpful for treating migraine, and they are also helpful for treating depression and anxiety,” says Minen.

When talking to your doctor, it’s important to let them know about any medications you take.

For example, triptans are a class of medications commonly used to treat acute migraine attacks. They work by mimicking the effects of serotonin, a chemical messenger involved in pain, mood, and other important bodily functions.

 Taking other drugs that increase serotonin — such as TCAs, SSRIs, and SNRIs — raise the risk of developing serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening reaction.

What About Psychotherapy or Mindfulness to Help With Migraine and Depression?

“Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has Grade A evidence for migraine prevention. It is also evidence-based treatment for depression,” says Minen. This type of therapy can help you recognize the relationship between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) can also be beneficial. “Mindfulness training may be helpful for people with migraine because it may shift pain appraisal (or pain perception),” says Rebecca Erwin Wells, MD, MPH, a professor of neurology and social sciences and health policy at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Dr. Wells was the lead author in a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine that tested the effectiveness of eight-week MBSR in people with migraine. According to the results of the study, Wells says MBSR “decreases headache-related disability and improves quality of life, self-efficacy, pain catastrophizing, and depression scores.”

Lifestyle Modifications Can Help Migraine and Depression

Both migraine and depression can be addressed with a holistic approach. Routine and consistency are especially important for migraine management, and it also provides structure and a sense of control.

Since migraine and depression share a bidirectional relationship improving the symptoms of one disorder can help the other.

Here are some lifestyle changes that help migraine and complement any behavioral or pharmacological interventions:

  • Eat a well-balanced diet.
  • Don’t skip meals.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • Incorporate movement or exercise into your routine.
  • Maintain proper sleep hygiene.
  • Manage stress.
  • Keep a headache diary to identify triggers.
  • Utilize relaxation techniques, such as biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation.
  • Build social support, which could include family, friends, or support groups.

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Crohn’s Disease Treatment: Medication, Surgery, and More

Lindsey Konkel is an award-winning freelance journalist with more than 10 years of experience covering health, science, and the environment. Her work has appeared online and in print for Newsweek, National Geographic, Huffington Post, Consumer Reports, Everyday Health, Science, Environmental Health Perspectives, UCSF Magazine, American Association for Cancer Research, and others.

She previously worked as an editor and staff writer at Environmental Health News. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from NYU’s Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program and a bachelor’s degree in biology from College of the Holy Cross.

Konkel lives in Haddon Township, New Jersey, with her husband, daughter, three cats, and dog. When she isn’t writing, she handles social media and content marketing for a small veterinary clinic she started with her husband, Neabore Veterinary Clinic.

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5 Reasons It’s Harder to Lose Weight With Age and What to Do About It

Our muscles, hormones, metabolism, and other body systems are in flux as we get older. (In other words, it’s complicated.) But there are five main factors that may be to blame if your jeans feel tighter these days.

1. You’re Experiencing Age-Related Muscle Loss

The amount of lean muscle we have begins to decline by 3 to 8 percent per decade after age 30, a process called sarcopenia.

 You may also lose muscle if you’re less active because of age-related health conditions, such as arthritis, or if you’ve been sidelined with an injury or surgery for several days, Primack says. “All of these [factors] individually do not cause a significant decline, but cumulatively they surely do,” he says.
Why does that loss of muscle matter? Because lean muscle burns more calories than fat, even at rest, according to the Mayo Clinic.

 Unless you’re regularly strength training with weights to maintain and build muscle, your body will need fewer calories each day. That makes weight gain likely if you continue to consume the same number of calories you did when you were younger.

“Most people will not adjust calories,” explains Marcio Griebeler, MD, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “They keep eating the same amount, but because they have less muscle mass to burn those calories and less activity, they end up gaining weight over time.”

2. You’re Undergoing Normal Hormonal Changes

According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, both men and women undergo changes in hormone levels that help explain why middle age is prime time for putting on pounds.

For women, menopause — which tends to happen between ages 45 and 55 — causes a significant drop in estrogen that encourages extra pounds to settle around the belly, explains Dr. Griebeler.

This shift in fat storage may make the weight gain more noticeable and increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

In addition, Griebeler notes, fluctuations in estrogen levels during perimenopause, the years leading up to menopause, may cause fluctuations in mood that make it more difficult to stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan.

Women may gain an average of 1 to 1.5 pounds annually during the years around perimenopause and menopause, which can add up.

Men, meanwhile, experience a significant drop in testosterone as they age. It begins to decline gradually around age 40 at a rate of about 1 to 2 percent per year.

 Testosterone is responsible for, among other things, regulating fat distribution and muscle strength and mass. In other words, lower testosterone can make the body less effective at burning calories.
The pituitary gland’s production of growth hormone (GH) also slows from middle age onward, per Harvard Health.

 One of GH’s many functions is to build and maintain muscle mass. So with less GH, it’s harder for your body to make and maintain muscle, which, in turn, also impacts how many calories you burn.

“It’s a snowball effect,” Griebeler says. “You start accumulating more fat, have less lean body mass; you burn fewer calories, and that just keeps adding up over time.”

3. Your Metabolism Is Slower Than Before

That decrease in muscle mass is likely to slow your metabolism, a complex process that converts food calories into energy.

Having more fat and less muscle reduces calorie burning. Many people also become less active with age for various reasons, which further slows the number of calories you burn.
The number of calories a body at rest uses is known as basal metabolic rate, and muscle mass is the primary factor in determining it. Age, body size, and sex also play a role. Men tend to have less body fat and more muscle than women of the same age and weight; and people who are larger or have more muscle burn more calories, even at rest, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Certain health conditions, such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome, which become more prevalent with age, can also affect your metabolism.

4. You’re Busier With Work 

By the time you’ve reached your forties and fifties, your career is likely in full swing — which is great, but brings its own weight loss challenges. For one thing, you may be moving less. You may commute an hour or so to and from work, sit at a desk for eight or more hours a day, and have so much on your plate that there’s no time to go for a walk or exercise during the workday.

You may also find yourself too busy to break for lunch, increasing the odds that you’ll scarf down something from the vending machine or order in calorie-dense takeout food, notes Rachel Lustgarten, RD, a nutritionist in New York City. As for work-related stress, that can militate against a healthy weight, too. The stress hormone cortisol increases the level of the hormone ghrelin, which causes you to eat more, according to research.

5. You’re Experiencing Major Lifestyle Changes

Some of the reasons for weight gain in middle age have nothing to do with what’s happening inside your body and everything to do with the way life changes as people enter their thirties and forties. One of the biggest changes comes when you start a family. Suddenly, the hour you spent at the gym after work is spent with your toddler at home. Later, your child’s after-school time is filled with playdates, homework, and other activities that require your attention. Similarly, around middle-age, you may also be caring for your parents or aging relatives. “You do not seem to have time anymore for yourself,” Primack says. As a result, your diet and exercise intentions might slip, causing a few pounds to creep on.

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Does Hand Sanitizer Expire?

Hand sanitizer is a vital tool for killing germs , especially in situations where soap and water aren’t available. In a pinch, a squirt or two can be the difference between staying healthy and getting sick. It makes sense to stock up. But you may have noticed a date on your bottle of hand sanitizer. That’s because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers hand sanitizer to be an over-the-counter medication, which means it must have an expiration date.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629486ea6e6-d1e9-499c-8453-f6b17ebc0cae This raises the question, does hand sanitizer really expire, or does it keep working even after the date on the bottle? Keep reading to find out how this product kills germs, why the expiration date matters, and how to properly store hand sanitizer to maximize shelf life.
How Does Hand Sanitizer Kill Germs? How Hand Sanitizers Work Hand sanitizers are typically alcohol-based rubs containing ethanol or isopropyl alcohol at concentrations between 60 and 95 percent. Alcohol disrupts the cell membrane of bacteria and viruses, causing them to break down. While hand sanitizers with an alcohol concentration below 60 percent may kill some germs, many studies have shown that they aren’t as effective.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292dab2a22-6b2e-47eb-92c1-96864c62dba3 Non-alcohol-based hand sanitizers contain antimicrobial agents like triclosan or benzalkonium chloride. While they can kill germs, they tend to be less potent than alcohol-based formulas, particularly against viruses like the flu or coronavirus.
What Does ‘Expiration’ Mean for Hand Sanitizer? What Expiration Dates Mean Expiration dates on products like medications and cosmetics refer to the point at which the manufacturer can no longer guarantee the product’s full safety or effectiveness. With hand sanitizers, the active ingredient (such as alcohol) slowly evaporates over time. Once levels drop below 60 percent, the hand sanitizer becomes significantly less effective.
Shelf Life of Hand Sanitizer Typical Shelf Life The shelf life of hand sanitizer typically ranges from three to five years, though it can vary depending on the brand and type of sanitizer.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762928f9036a-ee87-42b0-83aa-9cf45a0b79d6 A few factors can shorten how long a bottle of hand sanitizer retains its potency: Opening the bottle: Alcohol is volatile, meaning it evaporates. Once the cap on the sanitizer has been opened, the alcohol levels will slowly decrease, reducing the product’s effectiveness. High temperatures: Hand sanitizer should not be stored at temps above 105 degrees; you wouldn’t want to keep it in a car during the summer months.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762928f9036a-ee87-42b0-83aa-9cf45a0b79d6 To keep hand sanitizer at full strength, follow these tips: Store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight or heat. Keep bottles tightly sealed to prevent alcohol from evaporating. Rather than buying in bulk, purchase only what you and your family might use within a year or two.
How to Know If a Bottle Is Still Good How to Know If a Bottle Is Still Good To determine whether your hand sanitizer is still effective, check the expiration date on the label. This will give you an idea of how much longer the product will work at its full strength. If the expiration date has passed, the hand sanitizer will probably still provide some level of protection, especially if it’s never been opened.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297b008670-5b0b-4599-9ecd-f4af0ee76ba1 If the hand sanitizer still has a strong alcohol odor and evaporates quickly from your hands after you apply it, that’s a good indication that it’s still killing some germs.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297b008670-5b0b-4599-9ecd-f4af0ee76ba1 However, it’s not a guarantee. The FDA doesn’t vouch for the effectiveness of a drug past its expiration date, and that includes hand sanitizers. To make sure you’re protected, replace any expired sanitizer with a new bottle.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762938c9f5d5-7c1a-45b4-b458-f21a4f440fc6
Is It Safe to Use Expired Hand Sanitizer? Safety Concerns While using expired hand sanitizer won’t harm you, it may not be very effective at killing germs. The primary risk is that using expired sanitizer may give you a false sense of protection and leave you more vulnerable to picking up germs.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976293b88c193-5ef6-44ce-86dc-f849b8833d49
Can I Throw Away Expired Hand Sanitizer? Hand Sanitizer Disposal Because alcohol-based hand sanitizer is flammable, it is considered household hazardous waste. Instead of pouring expired hand sanitizer down the drain or tossing it in your garbage bin, check your local regulations for safe disposal.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296aeb397d-ebd5-49bb-9aee-f72f01837d83
The Takeaway Hand sanitizer can lose its effectiveness over time, due to the evaporation of the alcohol in it and exposure to heat or sunlight. To keep your hand sanitizer working at its best, store it in a cool, dry place, and make sure the cap is tightly sealed to prevent the alcohol from evaporating. While expired hand sanitizer is unlikely to cause harm, it may not provide full protection — so, for optimal germ-killing power, it’s important to replace it once it’s past its expiration date.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Infectious Diseases A-Z: Does Hand Sanitizer Kill Flu and Cold Germs?Cleveland Clinic: Your Comprehensive Guide to Hand SanitizerCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: About HandwashingU.S. Food and Drug Administration: Safely Using Hand SanitizerUCLA Health: Handwashing vs. Hand Sanitizer: What’s the Difference?

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How to Eat More Probiotics Every Day

1. Start Your Day With a Parfait

To get a jump on your probiotic consumption, simply top a breakfast bowl of yogurt with your favorite granola (the lower in sugar the better) and some antioxidant-rich berries, says Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CDN, a registered dietitian at the Good Housekeeping Institute in New York City. Yogurt is cultured or fermented milk that has been soured and thickened by adding live active cultures that promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut.

While there are plenty of premade options available at the grocery store, making a parfait at home is simple, too. For convenience, make it the night before so it’s ready and waiting for you in the morning, Sassos adds. “I start with my favorite Greek yogurt, add two tablespoons of organic granola, and then top that with frozen organic berries. Place that in the fridge and, when you wake up, the berries will be perfectly defrosted.” If you like your granola crunchy, store it in a separate container and add it just before serving.

2. Make Yogurt a Kitchen Staple

Plain yogurt with live active cultures can also be transformed from a breakfast food into a key ingredient in salad dressings, dips, and cold sauces, says Kitty Broihier, MS, RD, LD, a nutrition consultant in Portland, Maine.

Just know that any recipe that requires heating the yogurt in any way is going to kill off its good bacteria. So stick to no-cook recipes to reap the most gut benefits, Broihier says.

3. Broaden Your Sauerkraut Savvy

Nutritionists know that sauerkraut isn’t just for that ballpark hot dog. You can buy it or make it with traditional cabbage — or sub in other veggies — to give any meal a whole lot more flavor. Fermented daikon radishes, turnips, cucumbers, okra, and string beans can all make great condiments. They can also be eaten as a snack, or added on to a salad.

4. Add Kefir to Your Smoothies

“Kefir, a tart and tangy cultured milk drink, is packed with various strains of beneficial probiotics and live cultures,” says Sassos, who drinks 4 ounces of it each morning with her breakfast. Choose plain kefir whenever possible, as the flavored varieties often contain added sugar. If you find that kefir tastes too tart alone, she recommends adding it to a smoothie for a nutritious (and good-bacteria) boost.

5. Take a Kombucha Break

Kombucha is a probiotic-rich fermented drink made with tea, sugar (most of which is used up during fermentation), bacteria, and yeast — making it a great vegan alternative to other probiotic-rich dairy products, such as kefir or yogurt, Sassos says. You can swap the refreshing probiotic drink for your afternoon coffee or happy hour cocktail, she adds.

6. Experiment With Kimchi

Kimchi, a spicy Korean condiment, is packed with healthy bacteria called lactobacilli, which gives it a probiotic boost. “This reddish fermented cabbage is a tasty topper for your tacos or an accent for sandwiches and burgers,” suggests Sherry Coleman Collins, RDN, a nutrition consultant in private practice in Atlanta. Traditionally served as a daily side dish in Korean meals, kimchi makes a great side to Asian dishes such as rice, stir fries, and barbecued meats.

7. Try Tempeh

For a tasty alternative to meat, seek out recipes that incorporate tempeh — a preparation of probiotic-rich fermented soybeans. Tempeh is also a healthy vegan source of protein, fiber, and antioxidants. Its hearty texture and versatile taste mean it can be used in a variety of dishes.

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Colostrum Supplements: Health Benefits and Risks

The short answer is: It’s too early to tell. “The research on the benefits of colostrum supplements has had varied results, and most studies involved small sample sizes, making it difficult to know if the results would apply to the general population,” says Alsing. All the studies advise that further research is needed. With that caveat in mind, some early evidence that seems promising points out the following health benefits of colostrum supplements.

They Could Offer Immune Support

Considering that colostrum contains antibodies, which are proteins that are a vital part of the body’s immune defense, it makes sense that one of the major claims about colostrum supplements is that they support immunity.

One review of research notes that the supplements may help boost the immune system in both healthy and sick populations, but it focuses on pediatric populations and mentions that there is little evidence to support similar claims in adults. The authors also note that there aren’t enough well-designed studies conducted on humans to support taking such a supplement yet.

 Another review of research found it helped to prevent illness in preterm infants.

Not every study shows promising results. “A study including children diagnosed with leukemia who took bovine colostrum showed no effect on fever, infections, or inflammatory markers,” says Alsing.

They Might Help With Gastrointestinal Issues

Many influencers on TikTok praise the purported ability of colostrum supplements to help with gastrointestinal (GI) issues, whether that’s bloating, gas, or more gastrointestinal disorders. While bovine colostrum has been used effectively for these purposes in small studies, however, larger scale research is needed.

One review found that human trials showed “substantial evidence” that bovine colostrum may help ease inflammatory bowel disease and infectious diarrhea, although it did go on to say that further work is needed to define colostrum’s role in therapy.

In another review, researchers noted that bovine colostrum helped reduce intestinal permeability in both sick and healthy subjects.

Too much intestinal permeability is often referred to as a “leaky gut” and some people with gastrointestinal diseases have leaky guts (though the term “leaky gut syndrome” is still considered a hypothetical condition).

They Might Help Athletes Recover

Colostrum supplements are often marketed to athletes because some research points to bovine colostrum’s potential benefits for intense exercisers. “One study involving 28 football players taking bovine colostrum supplements found that inflammation was reduced after exercise,” says Alsing, “but it did not lead to improved exercise performance.”

 Also, a review of research found that there was some evidence that bovine colostrum might have benefits on physical performance (particularly in helping the body recover from demanding exercise), but the biggest benefits were seen in protecting against exercise-induced gut permeability (circling back to its potential leaky gut benefits), although the study author notes that more research needs to be conducted.

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