Adding a little spice to your diet might help increase your metabolism and help ward off chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, authors of a small but intriguing study reported August 1 in the Journal of Nutrition. Men in the study who added antioxidant-rich spices to their meals experienced several metabolic benefits, including […]
Spices May Help Boost Metabolism and Ward Off Chronic Disease Read More »
As parents, we stock our kids’ lunchboxes with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, hummus, salads, and other healthful foods. Then we ship them off to school, feeling confident that we’re offering them healthier food for lunch than the high-sodium, fat, and sugar meals of hot pockets, corn dogs, and meatloaf so common
Are Germs Hitchhiking in Your Child’s School Lunchbox? Read More »
Prunes (dried plums) may be a secret weapon in preventing decreased bone density, a condition known as osteoporosis. Osteoporosis affects about 8 million women and at least 2 million men in the United States. Women are most commonly affected after menopause, when hormone production suddenly decreases. In one study of 95 postmenopausal women, women who
Prunes Stave Off Osteoporosis Read More »
A popular bodybuilding supplement does not live up to its labels’ promises of improved muscle strength and endurance, said two unrelated groups of researchers this summer. The supplement, arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate (AAKG), is widely marketed as a strength-enhancer to weight lifters and bodybuilders. For example, AAKG is supposed to “extend muscle pump, enhance muscle growth, and get
Popular Bodybuilding Supplement Does Not Improve Muscle Strength Read More »
Eating more fiber could help you lose dangerous “belly fat,” the fat that surrounds vital organs in the belly. Also called visceral fat, belly fat has been linked to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other metabolic syndromes. In one study, people who ate 10 additional grams of insoluble fiber per day – the
Eat More Fiber to Reduce Belly Fat Read More »
I have mild pain in my knee every now and then. My doctor took an x-ray, which showed advanced arthritis. She advised a knee replacement. Is this a good idea? Doc: This is a good question. Knee replacement is now a very common procedure. It has helped so many people. But there are too
Should I have a knee replacement? Read More »
Question: I was recently diagnosed with asthma, and my doctor prescribed Advair Diskus and Ventolin for when I feel short of breath. I really don’t like taking medicines. Can I control my asthma with diet and nutritional supplements? Answer: Despite claims to the contrary, there’s no evidence that a specific diet, nutritional supplements, or herbal
Can I control my asthma with diet and herbal remedies? Read More »
Standing in front of the array of sunscreens at my local grocery store the other day, I scratched my head. What was the best sunscreen for me to buy? Was there a good reason to buy a kids’ sunscreen for my three-year old? Was SPF 15 enough? Should I pay twice as much for a
How to Choose the Best Sunscreen – and Use It Well Read More »
It’s hot. You’re exercising hard, you’re sweating hard, and you’re thirsty. Should you reach for a specially formulated sports drink – or plain water? Sports drinks are available at convenience stores, grocery stores, bulk discount supermarkets, online, and more. They’re widely and aggressively marketed. Manufacturers spout claims that their products can improve performance and endurance,
When Do You Need a Sports Drink? Read More »
About 80 percent of people who stop smoking gain weight after they quit the cigarette habit. In our weight-obsessed society, that simple and incontrovertible fact is enough to make many a smoker – and ex-smoker – light another cigarette. However, you can break out of the cycle of quitting smoking, gaining weight, and starting smoking
Do You Have to Gain Weight When You Quit Smoking? Read More »
In recent years, media outlets have spread the word about the health benefits of blueberries, with headline after headline trumpeting claims that eating blueberries can prevent chronic disease, reduce belly fat, prevent diabetes, improve vision, memory, and balance, and more. But are blueberries worth all the hype? What’s the truth about blueberries and your health?
The Truth About the Health Benefits of Blueberries Read More »
Researchers have identified a new strain of gonorrhea that is resistant to cephalosporin, the only antibiotic that can be used to treat the disease. The new strain of gonorrhea, labeled H041, has only been found in a very few infections. But the strain has doctors worried for two reasons: First, it does not respond to
Gonorrhea “Superbug” is Resistant to all Antibiotics Read More »
