Here’s what it really means to be an HSP, the pros and cons, and how to deal with it, according to experts. As psychologist and relationship counselor Margaret Paul, Ph.D., tells mbg, much of what we now understand about HSPs comes from the work of clinical research psychologist Elaine Aron, Ph.D., who authored both The Highly Sensitive Person and The Highly Sensitive Child. Aron’s research found that about 15 to 20% of the population are born with a nervous system that’s different from the rest of the population, says Paul....

Merris has celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that affects the intestines. When people with celiac disease eat any food containing gluten, their immune system attacks the villi, tiny structures in the intestines. The result: diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, and absolute misery. Merris wanted a better solution. And when she saw me on TV one day talking about treating inflammation with food, she decided to give me a chance. After she’d followed my protocol for only four days, Merris’s severe diarrhea completely stopped....

Many couples come to couples therapy because they’re dealing with a specific challenge, such as communication issues, difficulties around sex, affairs, or considering a breakup. At core, marriage therapist Linda Carroll, LMFT, says it’s about helping couples “get unstuck from painful dynamics that keep getting repeated.” A good couples therapist teaches couples how to ask for what they want without causing the other person to shut down, Carroll explains. “A therapist knows how to help couples get to the real trouble [at the heart of the issue] and can teach skills or appropriate referrals to help them through it,” she says....

That’s why I was excited to speak with relationship expert Margaret Paul, Ph.D., on this episode of the mindbodygreen podcast. As a bestselling author with a Ph.D. in psychology, Paul seems to have relationships down to a science: She knows just what it takes to make a relationship last, as well as what really happens when a couple just “loses their magic.” No need to fret—here, the secret to finding true love....

It makes sense, then, that the body seems to like being naked. A cursory review of the research aligns time spent in the nude with an increased sense of self-confidence and improved health. Scientists agree that sleeping naked is a good way to start, especially for male fertility. “Out of 500 men, they found those who wore boxers during the day and were naked at night had 25 percent less damage to their sperm compared to the guys who wore tight briefs or boxer briefs,” said functional medicine expert Will Cole....

The short answer: It’s an awesome, healthy alternative to cornstarch (and a few other questionable ingredients you may want to avoid); and yes, you should consider using it to upgrade the texture of sweet and savory recipes. Think of it as your secret weapon for thickening up sauces and fillings, adding a crisp finish to meats and veggies, and lightening up gluten- or grain-free baked goods that might otherwise be too heavy or dense....

So I wanted to share the stories of four patients who successfully improved their health by switching to a plant-based diet. All of them gave their permission to be featured here. “My weight hit 274 pounds on my 5'7” frame, my joints were aching from the statin drugs used to lower my cholesterol, I was winded walking up stairs, and I was taking blood pressure medicine that wasn’t working all that well....