Dr Erickson

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Disclaimer: Content for educational purposes only.

Standing on one leg may look simple, but your body must coordinate vision, inner-ear balance signals, brain processing, ...
09/16/2026

Standing on one leg may look simple, but your body must coordinate vision, inner-ear balance signals, brain processing, joint stability, and muscle control to keep you upright.

Because several systems are involved, single-leg balance can provide a useful snapshot of functional ability as we grow older. Balance can also be improved through regular strength and stability exercises performed safely.

This test alone cannot diagnose a health problem. Anyone with dizziness, joint pain, or a history of falls should attempt balance exercises near stable support or with professional guidance.
Shared for information purpose only.

Sweet potatoes provide dietary fiber and starch, including portions that may resist digestion in the small intestine and...
09/16/2026

Sweet potatoes provide dietary fiber and starch, including portions that may resist digestion in the small intestine and reach the colon.

There, gut bacteria can ferment these carbohydrates and produce short-chain fatty acids such as butyrate. Butyrate is an important energy source for cells lining the colon and is involved in processes that help maintain the intestinal barrier.

The amount of resistant starch varies according to the sweet-potato variety and how it is prepared. Cooking and cooling can also change the starch structure, so every serving will not produce exactly the same effect.

Sweet potatoes are not a treatment for digestive disease, but they can contribute to a varied, fiber-rich diet that provides fuel for the gut microbiome. Combine them with vegetables, legumes, whole grains and other plant foods for greater dietary diversity.

This post is for general information and education only and is not medical advice.
Sources: Chen et al., Food Chemistry: X,; Li et al., Journal of Food Science and Technology.

Sesame seeds may be tiny, but they contain several nutrients involved in everyday bone nutrition.Unhulled sesame seeds r...
09/16/2026

Sesame seeds may be tiny, but they contain several nutrients involved in everyday bone nutrition.

Unhulled sesame seeds retain their mineral-rich outer layer and can provide calcium, magnesium, protein, and plant compounds called lignans. Sesame lignans have also been studied for their possible role in supporting normal cholesterol metabolism.

Tahini offers many of the same nutrients in a creamy form, although its calcium content varies depending on whether it is made from hulled or whole sesame seeds.

Sesame can contribute to a balanced diet, but no single food can prevent osteoporosis or replace prescribed cholesterol treatment. People with sesame allergies should avoid it.
Shared for informational purposes only.

When preparing a red onion, removing the dry papery skin is normal—but cutting away several fresh purple layers can disc...
09/16/2026

When preparing a red onion, removing the dry papery skin is normal—but cutting away several fresh purple layers can discard part of its most concentrated plant compounds.

Quercetin and other flavonoids are distributed unevenly throughout an onion. Research has found higher concentrations in the darker outer layers than in the progressively paler inner portions.

Remove any dry, damaged or spoiled material, but consider keeping the clean, firm and deeply colored edible layers underneath. They can be sliced and used normally in salads, sauces and cooked meals.

Shared for informational purposes only.

Mushrooms contain ergosterol, a natural compound that can be converted into vitamin D2 when exposed to ultraviolet light...
09/16/2026

Mushrooms contain ergosterol, a natural compound that can be converted into vitamin D2 when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Research shows that placing mushrooms in sunlight before cooking can increase their vitamin D2 content. The final amount varies depending on the mushroom species, exposure time, weather conditions and which surfaces receive the light.

This simple kitchen step can increase the vitamin D supplied by mushrooms, but it does not guarantee that a meal will meet your complete daily requirement or correct a diagnosed deficiency.

Shared for informational purposes only.
Source: Research on sunlight exposure and vitamin D2 production in edible mushrooms.

CAR-T therapy involves collecting a patient’s immune cells and genetically engineering them to recognize specific target...
09/16/2026

CAR-T therapy involves collecting a patient’s immune cells and genetically engineering them to recognize specific targets on cancer cells.

In a single early-phase case, a patient with chemotherapy-resistant hepatoblastoma and metastatic disease received two infusions of experimental GPC3-targeted CAR-T cells. Imaging showed complete resolution of the metastatic disease after the second infusion, and the response continued one year after treatment.

This is an encouraging result, but it involved only one patient. It does not establish CAR-T therapy as a proven treatment for liver cancer or other solid tumors. Larger clinical trials are needed to confirm its safety, effectiveness and long-term durability.

Shared for informational purposes only.
Source: New England Journal of Medicine case report; Texas Children’s CARE study.

Fenugreek seeds contain several biologically active compounds that researchers are investigating for their potential eff...
09/16/2026

Fenugreek seeds contain several biologically active compounds that researchers are investigating for their potential effects on abnormal cells.

In a laboratory study, fenugreek extract reduced the survival of cultured HepG2 liver-cancer cells and activated pathways associated with apoptosis, including p53, Bax and caspase-3. Apoptosis is the controlled process through which damaged or abnormal cells dismantle themselves.

These findings were observed in isolated cells—not in people. They do not show that eating fenugreek or taking fenugreek supplements can prevent or treat liver cancer. Human clinical trials would be required before any treatment claims could be made.

Shared for informational purposes only.
Source: Khalil and colleagues, BioMed Research International.

Researchers collected extracellular vesicles from human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells found in the placental amniot...
09/16/2026

Researchers collected extracellular vesicles from human amniotic mesenchymal stromal cells found in the placental amniotic membrane. These nanoparticles can transport proteins and other biological signals between cells.

In preclinical research, an intranasal formulation containing these vesicles reached different regions of the hippocampus. Treatment was associated with reduced amyloid-beta deposits, lower activation of inflammatory microglia and astrocytes, and improved performance in tests of object recognition and spatial memory. However, it did not appear to reduce tau phosphorylation.

The researchers also tested the vesicles on laboratory-grown neurons created from cells donated by people with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment reduced signs of neuronal deterioration and restored healthier expression of several proteins associated with neuroplasticity.

These results are promising but remain preclinical. The formulation has not been proven safe or effective in people with Alzheimer’s disease and is not an available nasal-spray treatment.
This post is for general information and education only and is not medical advice.
Source: Papait et al., Translational Neurodegeneration, 2026. DOI: 10. 1186/s40035-026-00581-1.

Most people scoop out papaya seeds and discard them, but these glossy black seeds are edible and have a distinctly sharp...
09/16/2026

Most people scoop out papaya seeds and discard them, but these glossy black seeds are edible and have a distinctly sharp, peppery taste.

Papaya seeds contain natural plant chemicals, including benzyl isothiocyanate. Laboratory experiments have reported antibacterial and antiparasitic activity from papaya-seed extracts and isolated compounds.

One small pilot study also investigated a preparation made from dried papaya seeds and honey in children with intestinal parasites. Although the results were interesting, the study was small and does not establish papaya seeds as a reliable treatment.

The concentration used in an extract or prepared research product can differ substantially from eating a few seeds with fruit. There is no standardized medicinal dose, and the safety of consuming large or concentrated quantities has not been firmly established.

Papaya seeds should never replace testing or prescribed medication for a suspected parasite or bacterial infection. Enjoyed occasionally and in modest food amounts, they can simply provide a peppery addition to a varied diet.
This post is for general information and education only and is not medical advice.
Sources: Okeniyi et al., Journal of Medicinal Food, Kermanshai et al., Phytochemistry.

Scientists in Japan are developing an experimental antibody drug called TRG035 that targets USAG-1, a protein involved i...
09/16/2026

Scientists in Japan are developing an experimental antibody drug called TRG035 that targets USAG-1, a protein involved in suppressing tooth development.

Blocking USAG-1 restored missing teeth in animal models, leading researchers to investigate whether dormant or developmentally arrested tooth buds could also be stimulated in people.

The first human study enrolled adult men who were missing at least one molar. This Phase I trial was designed primarily to evaluate safety—not to prove that the treatment could regrow teeth. Toregem BioPharma has reported that the safety stage was completed, although detailed results have not yet been publicly released.

The next planned trial will study children with severe congenital tooth agenesis, a rare condition in which several permanent teeth never develop. The treatment has not yet been shown to grow a complete, functional new tooth in a human.

A wider application for teeth lost through decay, injury or gum disease remains a future possibility rather than an available treatment. The proposed 2030 timeline is a development goal, not a guaranteed release date.

This post is for general information and education only.
Sources: Toregem BioPharma Phase I and Phase IIa announcements; Takahashi et al., Journal of Oral Biosciences. PMID: 39389160.

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