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Dynamic Brain Mechanisms Supporting Salient Memories Under Cortisol

Dynamic Brain Mechanisms Supporting Salient Memories Under Cortisol

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Stressful moments tend to stay with us. Whether it’s a near-miss accident, a heated argument, or a high-pressure exam, memories formed under stress often feel stronger and more vivid than ordinary experiences. This is not accidental. It is driven by cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, which dynamically reshapes how the brain processes and stores information.

Understanding cortisol and memory offers valuable insight into learning under pressure, emotional resilience, and stress-related mental health conditions.

What Is Cortisol and Why Does It Matter for Memory?

Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands through activation of the stress response system during stress. Its role is to prepare the body and brain to respond quickly to challenges.

Rather than strengthening all memories equally, cortisol selectively enhances emotionally salient memories—those linked to threat, reward, or importance. Neutral or irrelevant details are often filtered out.

This selective process explains why stress and memory formation are so closely linked in survival-related learning.

The Brain Regions That Shape Stress-Driven Memory

The Amygdala: Identifying What Matters

The amygdala acts as the brain’s emotional alarm system. Under cortisol exposure:

  • Emotional and threat-related signals are amplified
  • Attention shifts toward danger, reward, or novelty
  • Memory-forming regions receive a biological “priority tag.”

This ensures that emotionally important experiences are stored more strongly than neutral ones, consistent with research on emotional memory under stress.

The Hippocampus: Encoding Context and Detail

The hippocampus plays a central role in episodic memory and contextual learning. It contains a high density of cortisol receptors, making it especially sensitive to stress.

  • Moderate cortisol levels enhance the learning of salient information
  • High or prolonged cortisol exposure disrupts hippocampal plasticity
  • Memories remain strong, but lose contextual detail

This explains why stressful memories often feel vivid yet fragmented, a topic closely related to stress effects on learning.

The Prefrontal Cortex: Reduced Cognitive Control Under Stress

The prefrontal cortex (PFC) supports reasoning, planning, and cognitive flexibility. Under cortisol:

  • Top-down cognitive control weakens
  • Emotional and habitual responses dominate
  • Decision-making becomes faster but less reflective

This shift prioritizes rapid action over thoughtful analysis—adaptive during emergencies, but costly when stress becomes chronic, as seen in discussions about decision-making under stress.

How Cortisol Reorganizes Brain Networks

Stress causes a dynamic reorganization of brain networks:

  • Activity shifts away from the PFC–hippocampal system
  • The amygdala and striatum gain influence
  • Memory processing prioritizes emotion and action over context

At the synaptic level, cortisol supports synaptic tagging, allowing emotionally salient experiences to capture the brain’s plasticity resources more effectively than neutral events.

Timing Matters: Cortisol and Memory Phases

Memory PhaseEffect of Cortisol
EncodingEnhances memory for emotionally salient stimuli
ConsolidationStrengthens long-term emotional memory
RetrievalOften impairs recall, especially neutral information

This explains why stressful events are remembered clearly, yet recalling information while stressed can be difficult — a key aspect of how stress affects memory retrieval.

Adaptive Benefits and Long-Term Costs

Why Stress-Enhanced Memory Is Useful

  • Improves survival-relevant learning
  • Helps avoid future threats
  • Strengthens learning during acute stress

When Cortisol Becomes Harmful with chronic stress or trauma:

  • Memories become overgeneralized
  • Fear responses persist beyond danger
  • Contextual accuracy declines

These changes are associated with PTSD and anxiety disorders, as well as depression.

Final Thoughts

Cortisol does not simply strengthen memory — it reprograms memory systems. By enhancing amygdala-driven salience while suppressing prefrontal control and hippocampal detail, cortisol ensures emotionally significant experiences take priority.

Key takeaway: Under cortisol, the brain prioritizes emotionally significant memories by reorganizing neural networks to favor survival-relevant learning over detailed contextual recall.

Food and Eczema Flares in Children

Food and Eczema Flares in Children

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Food and Eczema Flares in Children: Triggers, Diet & Prevention

Food and Eczema Flares in Children: What Parents Should Know

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a common chronic skin condition in children that causes dry, itchy, red, and inflamed skin. Many parents notice that certain foods seem to worsen their child’s eczema symptoms. Understanding the link between food and eczema flares in children can help improve long-term skin control.

Can Food Trigger Eczema in Children?

Food does not directly cause eczema, but in some children, specific food triggers may worsen existing eczema. This is especially common in infants and young children who also have food allergies, asthma, or a family history of allergic conditions.

Common Food Triggers Linked to Eczema Flares

The most frequently reported foods associated with eczema flares include:

  • Cow’s milk – very common in infants
  • Eggs – delayed eczema flares are common
  • Peanuts and tree nuts
  • Wheat and gluten
  • Soy-based products
  • Fish and shellfish

Each child is different—one child may react strongly to milk, while another may tolerate it without any issues.

Signs Food May Be Worsening Your Child’s Eczema

Parents should watch for the following signs:

  • Eczema flare-ups after eating certain foods
  • Persistent eczema despite proper skincare
  • Other allergy symptoms, such as hives or vomiting
  • Eczema starting in early infancy

Keeping a food and symptom diary can help identify patterns between diet and eczema flares.

Should Parents Eliminate Foods?

Parents should never remove foods without medical advice. Unnecessary food elimination can lead to nutritional deficiencies and poor growth. Always consult a pediatrician or allergist before starting an elimination diet.

Food Allergy Testing for Children with Eczema

Doctors may recommend allergy testing, such as skin prick tests, blood IgE tests, or supervised elimination diets for children with moderate to severe eczema.

Foods That Support Healthy Skin

While no food cures eczema, a balanced diet supports skin health:

  • Omega-3-rich foods like fish and flaxseed
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Doctor-approved probiotics
  • Adequate hydration

When to See a Doctor Immediately

Seek urgent medical help if your child experiences swelling of the lips or face, difficulty breathing, or severe vomiting. These symptoms may indicate a serious allergic reaction.

Final Thoughts

Food can be an important trigger for eczema flares in some children, but it is only one part of eczema management. Combining proper skincare, trigger awareness, and professional medical guidance offers the best long-term control. Read more about eczema treatment options for children to keep your child’s skin healthy and comfortable.

Reference:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/food-flares
https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-disorders/eczema-diet

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https://mygenericpharmacy.com/

Lipoma: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Lipoma: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

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Lipoma: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment A lipoma is a non-cancerous (benign) fatty lump that develops just beneath the skin. It is usually soft, slow-growing, and painless. Lipomas are common and mostly harmless.

What Is a Lipoma?

A lipoma consists of fat cells enclosed in a thin capsule. It can occur anywhere on the body, but is most commonly found on the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and thighs. If you are interested in learning about other benign tumors, you may find our related article helpful.

Causes of Lipoma

The exact cause of lipoma is unknown, but the following factors may increase the risk:

  • Genetic predisposition (family history)
  • Age between 40 and 60 years
  • Minor trauma or injury
  • Certain rare medical conditions

Symptoms of Lipoma

  • Soft, rubbery lump under the skin
  • Moves easily when pressed
  • Usually painless
  • Slow growth over time
  • Pain if pressing on nearby nerves

Types of Lipoma

  • Conventional lipoma
  • Angiolipoma
  • Fibrolipoma
  • Spindle cell lipoma
  • Intramuscular lipoma

How Is Lipoma Diagnosed?

Lipomas are often diagnosed through physical examination. In some cases, doctors may recommend:

  • Ultrasound
  • MRI scan
  • Biopsy (if cancer is suspected)

Read more about medical imaging tests used in diagnosis.

Treatment Options for Lipoma

Treatment is not always required unless the lipoma causes discomfort or cosmetic concerns.

  • Surgical removal – Permanent and most effective
  • Liposuction – For larger lipomas
  • Steroid injections – May reduce the size

Explore our guide on minor surgical procedures for more information.

Lipoma vs Cancer

Unlike cancerous tumors such as liposarcoma, lipomas are benign and slow-growing. However, rapid growth, pain, or firmness should be evaluated by a doctor.

When to See a Doctor

  • Rapid increase in size
  • Pain or numbness
  • Restricted movement
  • Change in skin appearance

Conclusion

Lipoma is a common and non-serious condition. Most lipomas do not require treatment, but medical advice is recommended if symptoms change or concerns arise.

What causes lupus?Lupus Signs, Symptoms, and Co-occuring ConditionsWhat causes lupus?

What causes lupus?Lupus Signs, Symptoms, and Co-occuring ConditionsWhat causes lupus?

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Lupus affects everyone differently, but certain signs and symptoms are common to most individuals. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a sign is a medical finding your doctor observes during a physical exam, while a symptom is a subjective experience, such as joint stiffness or headache. In addition, several autoimmune diseases share overlapping features. Other conditions, such as fibromyalgia in people with lupus, occur commonly but are not directly due to disease activity. These co-occurring conditions are known as “comorbidities.”

Fever

The average human body temperature is approximately 98.5°F, but many people run slightly above or below this mark. A temperature of 101°F is generally accepted as a fever. According to Mayo Clinic, many people with lupus experience recurring low-grade fevers that may signal inflammation, infection, or an approaching lupus flare. Persistent or high fever should always be reported to a physician.

Joint Stiffness

Many lupus patients experience joint stiffness, especially in the morning. Warm showers may provide temporary relief. If stiffness interferes with daily activities, a medical evaluation is important. Similar symptoms are also seen in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory joint conditions. The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) notes that joint pain may occur with or without true arthritis.

If fevers last several days or recur frequently, record your temperature twice daily. A fever of 101°F or higher requires medical attention. Patients taking steroids or immunosuppressive drugs should be especially alert for infection, as outlined by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Weight Changes

Increased lupus activity or medication side effects may cause weight loss or appetite changes. The Lupus Foundation of America recommends reporting unexplained weight changes to your doctor to rule out complications.

Conversely, corticosteroids can lead to weight gain. Maintaining a balanced diet and physical activity is important. Chronic inflammation may also raise the risk of heart disease, making weight management especially important for people with lupus.

Fatigue and Malaise

Nearly 90% of people with lupus experience fatigue at some point. According to Mayo Clinic, fatigue may also be related to treatable conditions such as anemia, thyroid disease, or fibromyalgia. Persistent fatigue should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Up to 10% of people with lupus may develop Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune disorder affecting tear and saliva production. Regular treatment helps prevent discomfort and long-term complications.

Depression

Depression and anxiety affect nearly one-third of people with lupus. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) notes that chronic illness and steroid medications can both contribute to clinical depression, which is treatable with appropriate care.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Heartburn and GERD are common in lupus, often related to medications. The American College of Gastroenterology recommends a medical evaluation if reflux symptoms persist beyond two weeks.

Thyroid Problems

Autoimmune thyroid disease frequently co-occurs with lupus. According to the American Thyroid Association, both hypo- and hyperthyroidism can significantly affect metabolism and organ function.

Osteoporosis

People with lupus are at increased risk of bone loss due to inflammation and steroid use. Learn more about osteoporosis causes, symptoms, and prevention to better understand how to protect long-term bone health. The National Osteoporosis Foundation notes that appropriate treatment can significantly reduce fracture risk.

Dynamic brain mechanisms supporting salient memories under cortisol

Dynamic brain mechanisms supporting salient memories under cortisol

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Stressful moments tend to stay with us. Whether it’s a near-miss accident, a heated argument, or a high-pressure exam, memories formed under stress often feel stronger and more vivid than ordinary experiences. This is not accidental. It is driven by cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, which dynamically reshapes how the brain processes and stores information.

Understanding cortisol and memory offers valuable insight into learning under pressure, emotional resilience, and stress-related mental health conditions.

What Is Cortisol and Why Does It Matter for Memory?

Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to the activation of the stress response system during challenging situations.

Rather than strengthening all memories equally, cortisol selectively enhances memories that are emotionally or motivationally significant—known as salient memories. Neutral or irrelevant details are often filtered out.

This selective effect allows the brain to prioritize information that may be crucial for survival.

The Brain Regions That Shape Stress-Driven Memory

The Amygdala: Identifying What Matters

The amygdala acts as the brain’s emotional alarm system. Under cortisol:

The amygdala plays a critical role in emotional memory under stress by identifying threat and importance.

The Hippocampus: Encoding Context and Detail

The hippocampus plays a central role in forming episodic memories and contextual details. It contains a high density of cortisol receptors, making it particularly sensitive to stress.

Prolonged exposure to cortisol can impair stress and learning processes in the hippocampus.

  • Moderate cortisol levels enhance the learning of salient information
  • High or prolonged cortisol exposure disrupts hippocampal plasticity
  • Memories become strong but less detailed or context-rich

The Prefrontal Cortex: Reduced Cognitive Control

Reduced prefrontal control explains changes in decision-making under stress.

This shift favors quick reactions over careful analysis, which can be adaptive in emergencies.

How Cortisol Reorganizes Brain Networks

Stress triggers a dynamic reconfiguration of brain networks: Research shows that how stress affects memory retrieval depends on the timing of cortisol.

At the synaptic level, cortisol supports synaptic tagging, allowing salient experiences to capture the brain’s plasticity resources more effectively than neutral events.

Timing Is Everything: Cortisol and Memory Phases

The effect of cortisol on memory depends heavily on when it is released.

Memory PhaseEffect of Cortisol
EncodingEnhances memory for emotionally salient stimuli
ConsolidationStrengthens long-term emotional memory
RetrievalOften impairs recall, especially for neutral information

This explains why stressful events are remembered clearly, yet recalling information while under stress can feel difficult.

Adaptive Benefits—and Hidden Costs

Why This System Is Useful

  • Enhances survival-relevant learning
  • Helps avoid future threats
  • Improves learning under acute stress

When It Becomes Harmful with chronic stress or trauma:

  • Memories become overgeneralized
  • Fear responses persist beyond danger
  • Contextual accuracy declines

These changes are linked to conditions such as PTSD, anxiety disorders, and depression.

Cortisol does not simply strengthen memory—it reshapes the brain’s memory systems. By enhancing amygdala-driven salience while reducing prefrontal control and hippocampal detail, cortisol ensures that emotionally important experiences take priority.

This dynamic system is highly adaptive in the short term but can become maladaptive when stress is prolonged. These findings help explain why stressful memories are stronger than everyday experiences.

Key takeaway:
Under cortisol, the brain prioritizes emotionally significant memories by reorganizing neural networks to favor survival-relevant learning over detailed contextual recall.

Reference:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41074653/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41370392/

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https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/anxiety

Can GLP-1 Drugs Help in Alzheimer’s Disease?

Can GLP-1 Drugs Help in Alzheimer’s Disease?

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GLP-1 drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) showed promise in preclinical studies for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) due to neuroprotective effects. Recent large-scale clinical trials have found they do not slow disease progression or improve cognition in early AD, disappointing initial hopes. Researchers remain cautiously optimistic about potential future uses, possibly in combination treatments or different formulations, but current data suggest metabolic improvements alone aren’t enough to stop cognitive decline.

Addressing the dysfunctions of all brain cell types in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) should cure the dementia, an objective that might be achieved by GLP-1 agonist drugs, because receptors for GLP-1 are present in all of the main brain cell types, i.e., neurons, oligodendroglia, astroglia, microglia, endothelial cells, and pericytes. This article describes the benefits provided to all of those brain cell types by GLP-1 agonist drugs. The article uses studies in humans, not rodents, to describe the effect of GLP-1 agonists upon cognition, because rodents’ brains differ from those of humans in so many ways that results from rodent studies may not be totally transferable to humans.

Commercially available GLP-1 agonists have mostly shown either positive effects on cognition or no effects. One important reason for no effects is a reduced rate of entering the brain parenchyma. Dulaglutide has the greatest entry to the brain, at 61.8%, among the available GLP-1 agonists, and seems to offer the best likelihood for the cure of AD. Although there is only one study of cognition that used dulaglutide, it was randomized, placebo-controlled, and very large; it involved 8828 participants and showed a significant benefit to cognition. A clinical trial to test the hypothesis that dulaglutide may cure AD should have, as its primary outcome, a 30% greater cure rate of AD by dulaglutide than that achieved by an equipoise arm of, e.g., lithium plus memantine.

GLP-1 agonists, Alzheimer’s dementia, cure, brain cells
Cure should be the goal of therapy for Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). One approach is to address all of its major causal factors, but that requires the administration of an unfeasible number of drugs. Since the ultimate, underlying cause of the dementia is dysfunction of brain cells, addressing all of those dysfunctions is another approach to curing it; using that approach, GLP-1 agonists may cure the dementia because, as shown below, all of the major, dysfunctional brain cell types in AD, including neurons, oligodendroglia, astrocytes, microglia, endothelial cells, and pericytes, express receptors for the glucagon-like peptide 1.

The account by Holst provides a brief introduction to the 30-amino acid peptide hormone, glucagon-like peptide 1 . GLP-1 is a product of the glucagon gene. The primary translation product, proglucagon, a peptide of 160 amino acids, contains, apart from the glucagon sequence, two glucagon-like sequences designated GLP-1 and GLP-2. They are glucagon-like because, with respect to amino acid sequence, they are about 50% homologous to glucagon. When the prohormone is processed, the glucagon sequence is cleaved out, whereas the part containing the GLPs is secreted as a single, large peptide”.

GLP-1 and Brain Cells
GLP-1 agonists have been extensively studied in relation to their effect on energy metabolism and nutrition. In that respect, and a link with GLP-1, a risk factor for developing AD is being underweight, a condition that is countered by GLP-1 agonists. In fact, the nutritional status of AD patients is significantly compromised and tends to worsen with the progression of AD. Further links between a GLP-1 agonist and AD are the facts that a disturbed circadian rhythm occurs in AD, that blood levels of circadian clock proteins are increased in sleep apnea [6], and that the GLP-1 agonist, tirzepatide, benefits sleep apnea. GLP-1 receptors exist in various brain regions, including the nucleus accumbens and the brainstem. GLP-1-activated paraventricular signaling mounts a whole-organism response to stress. Data in the following sections show GLP-1 receptors in all brain cell types.

GLP-1 and Neurons
GLP-1 is widely present in the brain, where it is neuroprotective by reducing neuronal apoptosis and by promoting both neurite outgrowth and synaptic plasticity. The neuronal marker c-fos shows neuroanatomical connections, and enabled the demonstration that peripherally administered GLP-1 increased neuronal expression in the brainstem and amygdala. GLP-1 receptors are abundant in the c-brain stem, where preproglucagon neurons in the solitarius nucleus produce GLP-1 and project to many regions, including the hypothalamus. In the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, which contains GLP-1 receptor, the GLP-1 agonist liraglutide caused activation of pro-opiomelanocortin neurons and inhibition of neuropeptide Y/agouti-related peptide neurons via post-synaptic GABAA receptors, but enhancement of pre-synaptic GABAergic neurons. GLP-1R mRNA expression was also seen in both cultured, embryonic primary cerebral cortical neurons and ventral mesencephalic (dopaminergic) neurons, both of which are vulnerable to hypoxia- and 6-hydroxydopamine-induced cell death, from which GLP-1 conferred protection.

As regards the effect of GLP-1 in AD, it reduced the effects of Aβ and plaque formation in AD model mice, and measures of nutrition, with which GLP-1 is strongly connected, were associated with mortality in patients with AD. That is notable because in a study of 79 patients with AD, 22 died during five years, and being underweight was a major risk factor for that mortality, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.34, and poor nutrition had an HR of 5.6.

GLP-1 and Oligodendroglia
Oligodendrocytes, which carry a GLP-1 receptor, have a key role in the myelination of neurons and are decreased in AD. After spinal cord injury, administration of the GLP-1 agonist, exenatide, led to a significant increase in survival of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, and those pre-oligodendrocytes were decreased in a mouse model of AD.

GLP-1 and Astrocytes
The presence of GLP-1 receptors in astrocytes was demonstrated by Reiner et al., who found that the uptake of a systemically administered fluorophore-tagged GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 was blocked by pretreatment with the competitive GLP-1R antagonist exendin-(9–39). The addition of GLP-1 reduced the declines in glycolysis in astrocytes that had been induced by Aβ, and liraglutide administered to AD patients prevented a decline in glucose metabolism in their brains but did not benefit cognition.

GLP-1 and Microglia
Microglia express receptors for GLP-1, probably accounting for the anti-inflammatory effects of GLP-1 agonists: liraglutide caused significantly decreased levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6; and semaglutide led to reductions in CRP that were positively correlated with reductions in bodyweight, waist circumference, fasting plasma glucose, and fasting serum insulin.

GLP-1, Endothelial Cells, and Pericytes
Endothelial cells (EC) from human coronary arteries expressed the receptor for GLP-1. EECs are among those protected by the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is induced by GLP-1. GLP-1 agonism also induced up-regulation of miR-155 expression in endothelial progenitor cells. The GLP-1 agonist exenatide prevented high-glucose and lipid-induced endothelial dysfunction in cultured human arterioles. Pericytes were also protected by GLP-1 against the toxicity produced by ROS [34]. Pericytes have contractile properties and control the cerebral microvascular flow (CMF). Because the CMF is dysfunctional in AD, its protection by GPL-1 agonists has a potential therapeutic benefit.

If the premise is correct, that addressing all of the affected brain cell types might cure AD or any other neurodegenerative disease, then this article shows that GLP-1 agonists should cure AD, because they address neurons/synapses, oligodendroglia, astroglia, microglia, endothelial cells, and pericytes. However, as a class, GLP-1 agonists fall short of curing AD, so either the premise is incorrect, or there is some other explanation for the failure. It is improbable that the premise is incorrect, since all neurodegenerative diseases result from dysfunction, however generated, of some or all brain cell types [40]. The likeliest explanation comes from data showing that the available GPL-1 agonists have different percentages of either their entry to the brain or in their beneficial effects.

Reference:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11242057/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/can-glp-1s-actually-help-treat-alzheimers-latest-trial-data

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7 Best Multivitamins for Men Over 50 in 2025, According to Dietitians

7 Best Multivitamins for Men Over 50 in 2025, According to Dietitians

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For older adults, it can be harder to get the nutrients they need through food alone. These multivitamins for men may help. Nutritional requirements can vary depending on factors such as your age, sex, and health, so not all multivitamins may be a good fit for everyone.

Chronic health conditions, nutrient absorption, and body composition can change as you age. As a result, men over 50 may benefit from a multivitamin tailored to their needs.

To help you decide which product is right for you, we rounded up the seven best multivitamins for men over 50, according to registered dietitians.

How We Chose the Best Multivitamins for Men Over 50

  • Expert recommendation: The supplements below were selected and reviewed by registered dietitians
  • Ingredients: We selected multivitamins made with high-quality ingredients and free from unnecessary additives and fillers
  • Nutritional value: We focused on products containing nutrients essential for healthy aging in men , including highly absorbable nutrient forms.
  • Quality testing: Preference was given to supplements that undergo third-party quality testing for purity and potency.

Men’s Nutrients Multivitamin

Designed for adults aged 40 years and older, Men’s Nutrients is an excellent choice for those seeking a high-quality multivitamin to support healthy aging.

In addition to micronutrients that promote bone health , such as calcium and vitamin D, it includes blends that support endurance as well as prostate, heart , and eye health .

It is also rich in vitamin B12, which can be harder to absorb with age.

Men’s Nutrients is non-GMO, vegetarian-friendly, and free from common allergens such as dairy and soy. It is also certified gluten-free. All products are tested in accredited laboratories and audited by NSF International.

Nature Made Multivitamin for Men. 50+

This once-daily multivitamin from Nature Made provides 22 key nutrients to support overall health in men over 50.

It is certified by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and is one of the most budget-friendly options available.


However, it contains vitamin K, which may interact with
blood-thinning medications such as warfarin. Always consult your healthcare provider before

Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-multivitamin-for-men-over-50#our-picks

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/vitamins-enzymes

8 Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2025:

8 Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2025:

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Our dietitians analyzed the ingredients, our medical vetting team evaluated the brands’ reputations and health claims, and our editors provided feedback on their experiences taking these prenatal vitamins. And the results are in. Whether you’re looking for a pregnancy vitamin that will stay put when morning sickness hits, or you want something to take before you get pregnant, these are eight options worth considering.

The prenatal supplements on our list were purchased independently or by mygenericpharmacy. Furthermore, our opinions are our own and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by the supplement manufacturers.

We chose Perelel as the best trimester-specific prenatal because it’s a subscription service that offers supplements tailored to your pregnancy trimester. For example, the First Trimester Prenatal Support Pack contains extra folate, as well as added vitamin B6 and ginger to reduce nausea. These prenatals also contain iron, which can lead to constipation for some who already eat plenty of iron in their diet through food. An OB-GYN founded the company, and each product is free of artificial additives and third-party tested for accuracy and purity.

The First Trimester pack includes 5 capsules, which may be difficult to tolerate if you have morning sickness. However, the company also released a powdered form of its First Trimester Pack as an alternative that may be easier for some people to tolerate. Our first tester had a positive experience throughout her second pregnancy, without any fishy burps from the EPA and DHA. As a dietitian, she appreciated that the brand uses high-quality ingredients in the best forms. She also found the packs really convenient for travel.

Another reviewer (who preferred Thorne’s prenatal) noted a couple of downsides: She found the smell to be really potent. She also felt a little wasteful when she wound up with some leftover product when it was time to switch to the next trimester pack.

Tester Catherine Conelly took Ritual in 2022 during her first pregnancy, choosing it because of the traceable ingredients. She didn’t experience issues with taste or nausea, but did occasionally get the fishy burps despite the capsule’s unique design to help prevent this. Overall, I found the vitamin’s taste and smell to be quite neutral, she said. To round out my daily routine, I also took Ritual’s Essential Protein Daily Shake, Pregnancy & Postpartum for the extra choline. I try to eat a mostly plant-based diet, so I chose this powder because it provides a complete amino acid profile along with an extra boost of choline for pregnancy.

Catherine ultimately switched to FullWell (also featured on our list) toward the end of her pregnancy and throughout breastfeeding. She did this to make sure she was getting a more comprehensive nutrient profile as she was navigating life as a new mom, and not taking as much care to plan balanced meals.

Complete your prenatal product routine.
Even the best prenatal vitamins often lack certain nutrients, such as choline, omega-3s, or iron. Therefore, it may be best to consider purchasing additional supplements as needed to fill in any gaps in your diet that your prenatal vitamin doesn’t cover.

Here are some supplements that may be helpful:
FullWell Iron Bump: For people needing additional iron, FullWell Iron Bump provides 25 mg of easily absorbable iron that’s gentle on the digestive tract.
Ritual Natal Choline: With 550 mg of choline, you might consider using this supplement alongside the brand’s prenatal and postnatal supplements to provide more than 100% of recommended choline needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Ritual Essential Protein Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum: In addition to 20 g of protein per serving, this protein powder also provides choline, calcium, and iron to support nutrient needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Needed Vitamin D: This supplement provides 50 mcg of vitamin D in one capsule and comes in a small size to make it easier to take.

Reference:
https://fortune.com/article/best-prenatal-vitamins/
https://www.thebump.com/a/best-prenatal-vitamins
https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/best-prenatal-vitamins

Medications that have been suggested by doctors worldwide are available on the link below:
https://mygenericpharmacy.com/category/products/disease/vitamins-enzymes

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Health

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Heart Health

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Rheumatoid arthritis can increase the risk of heart disease due to chronic inflammation that damages blood vessels and encourages plaque buildup. Shared risk factors like high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, and a unique effect on blood fats (lipid paradox) further connect RA and heart disease. Individuals with RA can lower their risk of heart disease by managing inflammation with prescribed medications, adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, and undergoing regular screening for heart disease risk factors.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune form of arthritis that affects more than just your joints. It can also affect other tissues and organs, and it may cause problems in the heart. However, just because you have RA doesn’t mean you’ll have issues with your heart. There are steps you can take to keep your heart healthy and avoid developing heart disease. Read on to find out the connection between rheumatoid arthritis and heart disease and how you can lower your risk factors for developing heart disease if you’re living with RA.

How does RA affect heart health?
Chronic inflammation from RA increases the risk of heart disease. Inflammation damages the blood vessels and can cause plaque to build up in the arteries. Plaque in the arteries can narrow the blood vessels and block blood flow, leading to a heart attack or stroke. Proteins called cytokines are linked to the growth and activity of other immune system cells. These proteins are responsible for both the way RA attacks the joints and the way it damages blood vessels in cardiovascular disease.

Risk factors for both RA and heart disease include:
High blood pressure
If you have RA, your blood pressure is likely to be higher due to:
lack of exercise
certain medications that treat RA, like steroids
less elastic arteries
Inflammation is also linked to higher blood pressure. People with RA may have up to 10 times the amount of inflammation as a person who doesn’t have RA.

Obesity
Having obesity may be linked to the risk of developing RA. According to the Arthritis Foundation, the sore joints associated with RA can make it hard to exercise, and a lack of exercise can cause weight gain.
Additionally, obesity is associated with inflammation and other risk factors for heart disease, including high blood sugar and high blood pressure.
Obesity is also linked to metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is a group of symptoms that include other risk factors that raise the risk of heart disease, including:
high triglycerides and cholesterol
high blood pressure
high blood sugar
Metabolic syndrome is twice as common in people with RA compared to people who don’t have RA.

Lipid paradox
RA affects the fats in the blood uniquely. Individuals with RA generally have:
Low levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol
High levels of triglycerides
Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol
While having low levels of LDL is associated with heart health, having too little good cholesterol and high triglycerides can increase the risk of heart disease.

Smoking
People who smoke are more likely to develop RA than people who do not smoke. Further, if you have RA, you’re more likely to have more severe symptoms than someone who does not smoke.
Smoking also makes RA medications less effective. In addition to increasing the risk of and worsening RA, smoking is also a major cause of heart disease. An individual with RA who smokes is 50% more likely to develop heart disease than a person who doesn’t smoke and has RA.

How to reduce the risk
Even though RA increases the risk of heart disease, you can work with your doctor to lower your risk.
One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from heart disease related to RA is by taking the medications your doctor prescribes to control the inflammation from RA.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) reduce the inflammation associated with RA and may reduce the risk of heart disease. Though people living with RA have an increased risk of heart disease, medical guidelines in the United States don’t have specific recommendations to reduce heart disease if you have RA.

However, the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommends that you be screened every 5 years for risk factors of heart disease. You can also make some lifestyle changes to help lower your risk of heart disease.

The American Heart Association suggests the following tips to reduce the risk of heart disease:
eating a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
Getting at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week
maintaining a healthy weight
avoiding smoking or quitting
managing any health conditions like RA that raise your risk of heart disease
Taking any medication prescribed by a doctor to prevent heart disease, like statins

RA increases the risk of developing heart disease due to inflammation and shared risk factors. Though there’s an increased risk, you can take steps to lower the chances of developing heart disease even if you’re living with RA. Some things you can do to lower your risk include taking your medications as prescribed, eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, avoiding or quitting smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/rheumatoid-arthritis-and-heart-health#takeaway

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Most People Aren’t Getting Enough Omega-3: What Are the Health Impacts?

Most People Aren’t Getting Enough Omega-3: What Are the Health Impacts?

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A new research review reports that most people do not consume the recommended amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. These acids are considered beneficial for brain, skin, and heart health.
Experts say a person should obtain omega-3s through foods, but supplements can be considered if a person’s diet doesn’t contain enough fatty acids.
The majority of people worldwide are not consuming a sufficient amount of omega-3 fatty acids, according to new research.

Researchers report that 76% of the global population is not consuming the daily recommended levels of omega-3 fatty acids, specifically eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). They said the health benefits from these fatty acids are “too important to ignore. They recommend that health officials develop official policies on omega-3 consumption and advise the public on how to best obtain these fatty acids through diet, as well as through supplements such as fish oil.

We hope this work will help inform nutritional scientists, clinicians, food and supplement industries, policy makers, and consumer communities, said Anne-Marie Minihane. The researchers emphasized that the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are important at every stage of life, particularly for pregnant individuals, infants, and young children.

The researchers reached their conclusions after reviewing the recommended daily levels of omega-3 fatty acids in over 100 countries. They noted that the recommendations vary significantly from country to country, creating confusion among the public and highlighting the importance of consistent, evidence-based guidance. They reported that the most frequently recommended intake for adults is 250 mg per day of combined EPA and DHA, with an additional 100 to 200 mg of DHA advised for pregnant people.

They said these levels can be achieved by eating more oily fish, such as salmon or mackerel, or through supplementation where needed. The researchers recently shared their findings in Nutrition Research Reviews, a publication of Cambridge University Press. The authors also acknowledged they have ties to companies such as Holland & Barrett that are involved in the supplement industry. Experts not involved in the research said the review sheds light on an important issue.

It highlights the inconsistencies in how much fatty acid intake is necessary,” said Cheng-Han Chen, MD, an interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA.

The overall message is clear that people should incorporate fatty acids in their diet, It’s a good overview of some of the challenges with getting enough omega 3s through diet alone as well as a look into how various age groups are doing with getting enough omega 3s, recommendations for amount, and unique deficiency risk factors based on age, added Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, the president of KAK Consulting as well as a dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine in Ohio.

Health benefits from omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3s are a family of essential fatty acids. In addition to EPA and DHA types, there is also alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). These acids are not produced by the human body, so they must be absorbed through diet or supplementation.

David Cutler, MD, Santa Monica, California, explains that fats, such as omega-3s, are important because they help our bodies absorb other fat-soluble nutrients, including vitamins A, E, D, and K. Cutler wasn’t involved in the new review. Omega-3s, in particular the DHA type, are considered essential for brain, skin, and eye health. Research has been mixed on what other health benefits are provided by adequate levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

However, past research has reported that these fatty acids can improve heart health by lowering triglyceride levels and increasing HDL, or “good cholesterol,” levels. The benefits of these omega-3 fatty acids are mostly attributed to lowering triglyceride levels in the bloodstream,” Cut. “This is important if you have abnormally high triglycerides and probably not so important if your triglyceride levels are normal.

There has been other research that reported that omega-3 fatty acids may help improve blood sugar levels and lower inflammation. Experts say omega-3s are particularly important for pregnant and nursing women as these fatty acids are vital for the brain health of fetuses as well as infants. Fatty acids are important, Chen said. In particular, they’re important for infant health. In pregnancy, omega-3 deficiency may have an impact on the overall cognitive and neurological health of the baby,” added Kilpatrick.

Omega-3s may be more important for older adults simply because they are at higher risk of some of the health problems that fatty acids can help prevent. They’re susceptible to the same issues as people with omega-3 deficiencies, he said. Some symptoms indicate a low level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body. They include:

skin irritation and dryness
dry eyes
joint pain
changes in hair texture

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends two servings of fatty fish per week. Those who are unable to consume sufficient omega-3 acids through their diet may wish to consider omega-3 supplements that include fish oil and algal oil.

Cutler offered a word of caution about fish oil capsules. He noted that supplements are not regulated by government agencies like medications and other products. He also said there can be side effects such as nausea and diarrhea.

Additionally, fish oil supplements may increase the risk of bleeding. He noted that it’s particularly important for anyone taking blood-thinning medications. Any benefits to omega-3 supplements should be weighed against potential side effects and risks.

Chen doesn’t generally recommend supplements to boost omega-3 counts. He says the research doesn’t support the notion that supplements effectively boost fatty acid levels. In general, the recommendation is to get fatty acids through diet,” Chen said. “All supplements affect is your wallet.

Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/omega-3-deficiency-health-impacts#How-to-know-if-you-re-getting-enough-omega-3

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