Latest news with #DrTrishaPasricha


Washington Post
4 days ago
- Health
- Washington Post
How pickle juice can fix muscle cramps
Well+Being How pickle juice can fix muscle cramps July 25, 2025 | 5:21 PM GMT Ask A Doctor columnist Dr. Trisha Pasricha tries a trick that many athletes use to check muscle cramps—a sip of pickle juice. This content was created independently by The Washington Post and is not influenced by the advertiser and their affiliates. The advertiser had no involvement in the reporting, writing, or editing of this article or video. Presented by Amazon One Medical.


Fox News
13-07-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Two of these fruits a day can boost gut health, fight cancer risk, doctor says
Eating two of a specific type of fruit each day may keep the gastroenterologist away. Dr. Trisha Pasricha, a gastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, "prescribes" two kiwis a day to her patients to help with digestion and deliver a boost of vitamins and antioxidants. "I hesitate to say there's any one magic fruit out there that will cure all your gut health woes, but in some respects, kiwis do seem to rise above some of the other tried-and-true methods out there, like prunes or psyllium fiber," Pasricha told Fox News Digital. A single kiwi packs up to eight grams of fiber, which prevents constipation and promotes regular bowel movements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But the superfood also contains actinidin, an enzyme that helps digestion by breaking down proteins. It's not found in many other foods. Actinidin is so powerful that it's used commercially as a meat tenderizer, Pasricha wrote in her "Ask A Doctor" column for The Washington Post recently. Pasricha said she recommends it over other high-fiber foods such as prunes, which can actually contribute to bloating and are harder to convince people to eat. She has seen kiwis work wonders for her patients and her own family, she said, but a 2022 study proved what she and other gastroenterologists have long observed anecdotally. Scientists from New Zealand, Italy and Japan found that two kiwis a day helped participants have more frequent and complete bowel movements and helped alleviate abdominal pain, indigestion and straining while going to the bathroom. "The fiber helps with digestive issues and constipation, specifically by adding bulk to stool so it can move through the colon easier and also softening stool so it's easier to push out," New York-based certified holistic nutritionist Robin DeCicco told Fox News Digital. The study found the fruits proved to be more effective than psyllium husk, a supplement Pasricha said has "long reigned queen in the gastroenterology world." Meanwhile, researchers in Norway found in 2011 that kiwi consumption helped prevent DNA breaks that can cause cancerous growths and reduced triglycerides, which are tied to heart attack risk. A 2023 study done in China also suggested that people who ate more kiwis had a 13% lower risk of colorectal cancer. "More research needs to be done to fully understand kiwi consumption and cancer risk – but the scientific groundwork has been laid," Pasricha wrote in her column. The little green fruits are also bursting with vitamins C, E and K and antioxidants known to protect against cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, according to Pasricha. Those effects are gleaned from a healthy diet, she stresses, not supplements. She recommends eating kiwi at any point in the day. "My kids and I eat them after dinner as dessert," she said. While she enjoys eating the kiwi skin, which is loaded with even more fiber, she said it's not necessary. She advises adding them to a balanced diet of colorful fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes and to consult a doctor about any gut issues. DeCicco suggested getting additional kiwi in your diet by adding it to Greek yogurt with cinnamon, raw nuts and berries; giving a salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumbers and avocado some sweetness; eating it on the side of eggs; and blending it into a protein smoothie.


Washington Post
04-07-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Try This: What exactly is the gut microbiome?
While "The 7" team is off for the holiday, you can still read the newsletter version of the seven most important and interesting stories you need to know here. And we are bringing you another useful listen today. The Washington Post's Cristina and Dr. Trisha Pasricha break down what the microbiome is, where it lives, and how it influences everything from digestion to disease. It's the first episode of The Post's latest season of "Try This." Pasricha explains how the gut microbiome acts as a key player in our overall health and why fiber may be one of the most underrated tools in supporting it. She also offers insight into what science currently understands about gut function and what's still being uncovered. Read more of Pasricha's work, including 8 tips to improve gut health and why probiotics can be a waste of money. For more advice, follow her on Instagram. Now 'Try This' has a newsletter! Think of it as a supplemental guide and sign up here. Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.


Washington Post
24-06-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
What exactly is the gut microbiome?
Together, Cristina and Dr. Trisha Pasricha break down what the microbiome is, where it lives, and how it influences everything from digestion to disease. Pasricha explains how the gut microbiome acts as a key player in our overall health and why fiber may be one of the most underrated tools in supporting it. She also offers insight into what science currently understands about gut function and what's still being uncovered. Read more of Pasricha's work, including 8 tips to improve gut health and why probiotics can be a waste of money. For more advice, follow her on Instagram. Now 'Try This' has a newsletter! Think of it as a supplemental guide and sign up here. Subscribe to The Washington Post or connect your subscription in Apple Podcasts.


Washington Post
19-05-2025
- Health
- Washington Post
Questions about prostates you were too embarrassed to ask
Well+Being Questions about prostates you were too embarrassed to ask May 19, 2025 | 8:56 PM GMT With former president Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis in the news, Dr. Trisha Pasricha has some facts about the organ and when to see your doctor about it.