Marla Ahlgrimm: Blood Type And Health

Everybody has it, but few people fully understand it. We're talking about blood. And according to women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm, the type you have plays a significant role in your overall health.

Type O and My Heart!

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that people with blood type O, for unexplainable reasons, have a lower risk of coronary heart disease. It’s theorized that something about type O blood reduces cholesterol and lessens the amount of blood-clotting proteins in the body. Something else people with both O+ and O- blood have in common is they have a lower risk of stomach cancer. Specifically, their risk is considerably lower than people with blood types A, B, and AB.

Marla Ahlgrimm | Tylenol And Its Effect On Hormones

Women take Tylenol every day. We use it for aches, pains, and general discomfort. And, until recently, Tylenol was considered safe for use by pregnant women. According to retired pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, researchers are beginning to see a link between acetaminophen, the drug name for Tylenol, and negative effects on birth and hormones.

Marla Ahlgrimm explains that a recent study involving more than 100,000 females found that those who used Tylenol for extended periods, 28 days or more, while they were pregnant, had a significantly increased risk of their children being born with ADHD or autism.

Marla Ahlgrimm on Mammograms

As the sunshine finally is starting to poke its head out for the summer, so too will many parts of your skin that haven’t seen daylight since September. This is a perfect opportunity to pay attention to your entire body, breasts included. And if you are over 40, it may be time for a mammogram.

Q: What is a mammogram?

Marla Ahlgrimm: A mammogram is a way that doctors take a look inside of your breasts. Think of it as an x-ray machine catered specifically for the fatty tissue of your chest. A mammogram is designed to help doctors identify breast cancer early on so that you can get treatment before it becomes progressive.

Marla Ahlgrimm | A Quick Refresher On Hormones

Marla Ahlgrimm is a retired hormone specialist that spent more than 40 years helping women achieve balanced hormones. Here, she offers a quick refresher on what, exactly, hormones are, and touches on key points as to how they affect the body.

Q: What are hormones?

Marla Ahlgrimm: You’ll hear the description “chemical messengers” more often than once when asking this question. Hormones are essentially chemicals that deliver messages, or instructions, from a specific gland to other parts of the body.

Marla Ahlgrimm’s Favorite Spring Foods (And Why You Should Eat Them!)

Many people across the country have begun planning their gardens, and your local grocery store may have an abundance of green on the shelves. Marla Ahlgrimm says that spring is the perfect time to drop unhealthy food habits. Here are her favorite foods that can help you do it.

Arugula

Arugula, along with other leafy greens, contain a host of helpful vitamins, including K and A. They can help to reduce internal inflammation and detoxify the body. You don’t have to create complex dishes to enjoy the benefits, either. Marla Ahlgrimm says a bowl of arugula sprinkled with nuts with a squirt of citrus juice works well as an excellent side salad.

Marla Ahlgrimm | Wash Your Hands!

As we sit in the grip of a national emergency, Marla Ahlgrimm says it’s important to remember basic hygiene. She explains that washing your hands is the single most important thing you can do when you are trying to stop the spread of anything that might make you sick. Here, she shares information on how and why you should wash your hands frequently.

Washing your hands removes germs.

Many people mistakenly believe that soap kills germs. This is not the case, but Marla Ahlgrimm says that soap and water does something even better: it removes the germs completely. Washing your hands can literally wash away everything from E. coli and norovirus to salmonella and even the now-dreaded Covid-19 novel coronavirus strain. It’s important to know that when you do not wash your hands, the germs on your fingers and palms are transferred to everything you touch, including other people. Marla Ahlgrimm stresses that this is akin to a spark on a dry field and can easily turn into a wildfire of disease.

Marla Ahlgrimm Answers Questions About Healthy Habits

For most of us, our days start out the same, says Marla Ahlgrimm. We wake up, have a cup of coffee, and get ready to start our day. This might include eating a quick breakfast on the way out the door and running to Starbucks for one last shot of motivation before work. But if this is your entire routine, you are doing yourself a disservice. Here, Ahlgrimm answers a few quick questions about healthy habits women should adopt every day.

Q: What is the first thing I should do when I wake up in the morning?

Marla Ahlgrimm: I like to begin my days with a long stretch. This gives me a chance to warm my body up for everything that lies ahead. Before ever getting out of bed, it’s a good idea to reach your arms above your head, and flex your feet and ankles. While you’re doing it, think about how you want the next 12 hours to go. If you start your day with a plan and a positive mindset, you’ll have a better experience than if you roll out of bed mumbling a miserable grumble.