At first glance, allergies and diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, may not seem like they have much in common. On one hand, our body is flagging harmless environmental allergens as dangerous and then going on the offense mode. While on the other hand, our immune system is “attacking” our own tissues. However, both are responses generated by the immune system, and that is where their similarities begin. Allergies Allergies involve an abnormal or hypersensitive reaction of the immune system when it encounters certain substances (e.g., pollens, certain foods, dust mites, etc.). The variety of symptoms produced

Our 20s are often a time for self-exploration, growth, career and social development. Often considered our physiologic peak, our 20s are often overlooked as a time to actively engage in self-care and develop healthy practices, not only to help us thrive during this time but also in the future. In fact, major predictors of health in your 60s and 70s are initiated decades earlier. These decades-long observational studies can help guide young adults by establishing the clear correlations between health behaviours and future outcomes. Some of these common correlations include low calcium intake and risk of osteoporosis, toxin exposure and

In recent years, there has been much talk about the importance of the gut microbiome for our overall health. Consequently, we now systematically associate the terms microbiome and microbiota with communities of microorganisms inhabiting our digestive system while forgetting that humans do not host one, but several microbiotas including the skin, the oropharyngeal and the vaginal microbiota. Often overlooked, the vaginal microbiota performs several important functions and deserves some TLC, so let us learn about our friendly bacteria and how to take care of them! Discovering the Vaginal Microbiota The composition and proper functioning of the vaginal microbiota contributes to