A Consumer Reports article says that a gluten-free diet may not always be healthy and cites a study that found many gluten-free foods caused people to gain weight. Dr. Roshini Raj weighs in.
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Celebrities like Shailene Woodley have been eating clay for its alleged health benefits. Dr. Roshini Raj was asked by Dr. Oz’s The Good Life Magazine to weigh in on whether eating clay is really good for you.
Dr. Roshini Raj joined Better Show to share the skinny on diet fads.
Diet Fads Under Fire
Diet Fads That Can Be Fab
By Dr. Roshini Raj
I read somewhere that caffeine can dampen sex drive. True?
Worry not, java lovers! This is mostly a myth. You may have seen online that coffee messes with blood sugar levels, which stresses your adrenal glands and is said to tamp down hormones related to sex drive. Nope: While caffeine can raise blood sugar slightly in people with type 2 diabetes, it doesn’t have this effect on healthy adults. So it’s highly unlikely that caffeine will decrease your libido. In fact, one study performed on female rats found that caffeine increased sexual motivation.
Still, everyone reacts to a caffeine buzz differently, so there is a chance coffee could hurt your drive. For some, caffeine exacerbates anxiety, which can dampen the mood if you can’t focus because you’re worrying about other things. On the other hand, caffeine is a stimulant, so it may give you more energy to have sex! If you suspect java is blocking your pleasure, try cutting back to see if that revs things up.
Health‘s medical editor, Roshini Rajapaska, MD, is assistant professor of medicine at the NYU School of Medicine.
Originally published on Health.com
Probiotics are great for your gut, but might they also be the next beauty and skincare miracle?
Possibly.
Listen in as Dr. Roshini Raj discusses how probiotics — both externally and internally — can benefit your skin, as well as other top beauty foods you can use to help improve your appearance.
Just this year, the American Academy of Dermatology called probiotics the new beauty breakthrough for 2014, whether used topically or internally.
What sorts of conditions can probiotics help with?
Studies have shown positive results with eczema, acne and rosacea, as well as for general skin health, including anti-aging benefits, decreased sensitivity to UV rays, and decreased skin inflammation (which is the root of all evil when it comes to your skin).
How do these topical products work? Certainly you can’t just crush up a probiotic supplement and apply it to your skin in a mask… or can you?
The process is a bit more complicated than that. Skincare products that contain probiotics have gone through a process in which the live bacteria has been centrifuged (basically stirred up and released all their good benefits) and then mixed with other elements that are good for your skin, like peptides. Then, this whole concoction is manifested as a cream, serum, moisturizer, cleanser, etc. Essentially, these products have all the benefits of probiotics, without applying live bacteria to the face or other skin areas.
Now, that’s not to say that you can’t use live bacteria to try to achieve the same result. Yogurt is always a great element for a homemade facial.
If you only take probiotic supplements internally, can you achieve the same results as using these topical products?
Studies have shown that yes, they both can have the same benefits, but also that […]
The Scientist: Dr. Roshini Raj, board certified gastroenterologist and internist, and founder of TULA probiotic skincare
The Answer: Maybe it has happened to you: over time, you notice that after you drink a glass of milk or eat a bowl of ice cream, you’re running to the bathroom the rest of the day. Could you suddenly be lactose intolerant as an adult? It’s possible.
Most people experience a gradual decline of lactase (the enzyme that helps your body digest milk products) activity as they age. Lactase is produced by the cells lining your small intestine, and if they don’t produce enough, the lactose you consume passes undigested into the large intestine. There, it interacts with bacteria and causes all those nasty stomach problems — diarrhea, gas, bloating — that those with lactose intolerance know all too well.
Lactose intolerance could be caused by anything that disrupts the functioning of the small intestine — for example, surgery, an illness such as Crohn’s disease or even food poisoning. Sometimes the intolerance is temporary and resolves itself; other times, it’s permanent. For some, the natural lactase decline happens quicker and more drastically, causing intolerance that was never there before.
If dairy isn’t sitting as well with you as it used to, try this self-test: stop consuming dairy products for five days, and on the sixth day, drink a glass of milk. If your symptoms resolve during the dairy-free days and come back when you reintroduce it, you most likely have developed lactose intolerance. Your doctor can perform some tests to determine if you truly have the condition, and help you find the right medication if you simply can’t imagine a life without dairy. Many lactase enzyme supplements, such as Lactaid, are even available over the counter.
Originally published on YouBeauty
Dr. Roshini Raj discusses the findings of a state health dept. report on mistakes made by the cllinic where Joan Rivers went into cardiac arrest.
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After all those years of health class, it should come as no surprise to anyone to hear that skin is the body’s largest organ. In that same vein (yep, pun intended), foods that help to keep your body feeling great on the inside will also contribute to helping you look your best on the outside. Add these healthy, delicious foods to your everyday diet, and you’ll be well on your way to looking and feeling amazing, perfect skin included.
Water
You’ve heard it before, but we’ll tell you again: Fruits and vegetables both tend to be high in water content, but it’s always helpful to simply drink more water, particularly with lemon, says Marie Delcioppo, owner of Lush Vitality. Water keeps the skin well-hydrated and “dewy,” and adding lemon to water boosts detoxification and antioxidant intake.
Green Tea
There have been a number of encouraging studies showing the skin benefits of green tea, says Dr. David Bank, dermatologist and Founder & Director of The Center For Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery. “Animal studies showed protection from skin cancer [as a result of green tea consumption]. Both animal and human studies have credibly demonstrated that topical green tea formulations reduce sun damage.” He adds, “Green tea appears to exert sun damage protection by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation rather than by blocking UV rays. Therefore, green tea may synergistically enhance sun protection when used in addition to a sunscreen.”
Coconut Oil
As an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial ingredient, coconut oil will help clear up skin flare-ups, moisturize, and boost antioxidant activity, which slows down the aging process, says Delcioppo.
Pomegranates
To boost the efficacy of your favorite sunscreen, arm yourself with fruits that contain nutrients that can protect from the inside out, says celebrity […]
Thanks to my recent IBS diagnosis, I have a profound interest in probiotics. Just one little capsule of “good” bacteria a day (along with cutting just about everything fun out of my diet) seems to be making my belly less irritable—and treating my skin to probiotics has been beneficial as well. Since committing to TULA (which means “balance” in Sanskrit) my skin is visibly less red, more radiant and all around in a better mood, just like me.
This probiotic-infused collection initially caught my eye because it’s the brainchild of a gastroenterologist named Dr. Roshini Raj (who obviously understands the effect of probiotics when taken internally). Studies about the effects of probiotics on the skin are a bit harder to come by, but I did a quick Google Scholar search and found research linking them to improvement in eczema and atopic dermatitis, so there’s definitely a connection whether it’s well understood or not.
TULA’s probiotic technology uses these good bacteria to defend the skin against “bad” bacteria (one type of which causes acne… Hmm). In addition to probiotics, the Purifying Face Cleanser, Illuminating Face Serum, Hydrating Day & Night Cream, and Revitalizing Eye Cream are also formulated with peptides, antioxidants and omega fatty acids for an all-around skin-nourishing and anti-aging regimen. All of the products are gluten-free as well, which is nice because I’m gluten-free now, too.
Aside from happy skin, I have to say how much I love the scent. It’s soft and powdery, and I’m not one to underestimate the connection between fragrances and emotions. The cleanser does a great job at removing makeup, the moisturizer is amazingly hydrating without being greasy so it doesn’t interfere with makeup in the morning, and the eye cream […]
How close to the edge are the stars going to get healthy? Dr. Roshini Raj joins the Better Show to weigh in.
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