Author name: Kateryna Braitenko
After the holidays, patients often visit the pharmacy complaining of heaviness in the stomach, bloating, and discomfort after meals. The most common question is “Do I need enzymes?”.However, in many cases these symptoms are not related to enzyme deficiency but to disrupted eating patterns and overeating. The pharmacist’s task is to distinguish functional overload from […]
Low iron and ferritin are among the most common deficiencies in both women and men. They manifest as fatigue, hair loss, weakness, shortness of breath, anxiety, and the inability to regain energy even after rest. Ferritin is the body’s “iron bank.” When it is low, the body cannot properly produce hemoglobin, transport oxygen, or support […]
War-related stress is not just “anxiety.” It is a prolonged, systemic impact on all organs and systems. Ukrainians have been living in a state of heightened anxiety for years, which means: altered hormonal balance, exhausted adrenal glands, disrupted sleep, a burdened gut, and increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Nutraceuticals do not replace psychotherapy […]
Microplastics are no longer just an environmental issue — today they are a factor that directly affects human health. Studies show that an average person may ingest between 0.3 and 5 g of microplastics per week — the equivalent of a “credit card.” Particles are found in water, seafood, fruits, vegetables, salt, tea, coffee, and […]
Vitamin D has become a “star” of the media space over the past decade. It is credited with effects on bones, immunity, mood, cancer prevention, and even COVID-19. Some of these claims are exaggerated, but the role of vitamin D in bone-muscle health and immunity is indeed well documented, especially in regions with low sunlight […]
Many patients with the first symptoms of ARVI go not to the doctor but to the pharmacy. It is the pharmacist who becomes the first point of triage: assessing the condition, identifying “red flags,” explaining the principles of symptomatic therapy, and warning about the uselessness of antibiotics for viral infections. This article offers a practical […]
In winter, we more often encounter ARVI, influenza, and exacerbations of chronic diseases. The reason is not the “cold itself,” but a combination of factors: enclosed spaces, dry air, less sunlight, vitamin D deficiency, stress, sleep disturbances. This article examines physiological and behavioral factors of winter morbidity, the role of vaccination, nutrition, physical activity, and […]
Folic acid (Vitamin B9) and its role in mood, hematopoiesis, and body detoxification. Introduction Folic acid is often mentioned in the context of pregnancy — supposedly a “women’s vitamin”.In reality, vitamin B9 is needed by everyone, especially in autumn and winter, when the body switches to energy-saving mode and the diet becomes poorer in green […]
How a flavonoid from larch (dihydroquercetin ) supports blood circulation, the respiratory system, and the body’s resistance to stress and toxins. Introduction Modern humans breathe air daily that contains dust, exhaust fumes, allergens, and viruses.Blood vessels and lungs take the brunt of this first, so cell protection from oxidative stress becomes not a luxury, but […]
A new type of fatty acid that works as a natural “cell moisturizer” and a gentle metabolic regulator. Introduction We are used to omega-3 and omega-6, but there is another class of fatty acids — omega-7, which has recently attracted researchers’ attention.Its main representative is palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7), naturally present in the skin, adipose tissue, […]
Why this “unnoticeable” Vitamin B1 determines how we cope with stress, cold, and fatigue. Introduction November is the month when days are shorter, the body needs more calories, and the brain — more energy.During this period, complaints about fatigue, apathy, forgetfulness, and cold hands and feet increase.One of the main reasons for this is a […]
In November, when the days get shorter, most people receive less vitamin D3 — the very vitamin that triggers calcium absorption.However, without two other key nutrients — vitamin K2 and magnesium — this calcium can settle in the wrong place: in the blood vessels instead of the bones.The result is the “calcium paradox”: strong arteries […]
