January 21, 2015

Higher Vitamin D Levels Increase Cancer Survival

The 2015 American Society of Cancer Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium held in San Francisco was the site of a presentation on January 12, 2015 concerning the finding of longer average survival among colorectal cancer patients with higher vitamin D levels in comparison with those whose levels were low. Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute analyzed data from 1,043 patients with colorectal cancer enrolled in a clinical trial that evaluted the effects chemotherapy plus the biologic therapies bevacizumab and/or cetuximab. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the study and dietary questionnaire responses were analyzed for vitamin D intake from […]
January 13, 2015

Block Absorption of Killer Carbohydrates

If you’re an American over 20 years old, you may already suffer from some form of impaired glucose control. According to 2007 data from the National Institutes of Health, 25% of Americans 20 years and older had abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood—a pre-diabetic state.
January 6, 2015

Autism & Vitamin D

I (John Cannell, MD) recently learned that I have the Broad Autism Phenotype, or what some people call mild autism. Learning about this was like “coming out of the closet.” It explains so much of myself to me, especially my tendency to get obsessed with things.
January 6, 2015

Whey Protein Helps Preserve Muscle During Weight Loss

An article published online on December 17, 2014 in the Journal of Nutrition reports the outcome of a double-blinded trial of overweight and obese men and women which found a protective role for whey protein supplementation against some of the loss of muscle that occurs with dieting. Researchers at Canada’s McMaster University randomized 19 men and 21 women to receive a fourteen day low calorie diet supplemented with 27 grams whey protein or 26 grams soy protein (resulting in the intake of an average of 1.3 grams protein per kilogram per day), or the addition of carbohydrate providing a number of calories equal to […]
January 6, 2015

‘Healthy Obesity’ Does Not Last, Says Study

People who are obese may appear healthy for a while but their condition declines over time, said a study that followed more than 2,500 people for 20 years. The research by scientists at University College London is the longest of its kind, and its findings support previous research that has shown people who are overweight face a higher risk of heart attack, stroke and some kinds of cancer than thin people as the years go on. For the purposes of the research, “healthy obesity” was defined as not having high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or other metabolic risk factors. A total […]
January 6, 2015

Trans Fats Put Older Women At Risk for Stroke

Now you might think with that title that I’m being ageist, and/or sexist, to all my older women readers.  On the contrary, as a cardiologist, I want to help all of my older women readers to stay youthful and healthy for as long as possible.  That’s why I’m giving you ladies the inside scoop on something you may be eating that’s upping your risk for brain damage. Ladies Over 50:  Trans Fats Up Your Risk of Stroke and Memory Loss     Are you a woman over 50? Are you post menopausal? Do you consume foods that contain trans fats? If […]
December 23, 2014

Nutrients To Combat Stress

Be it work, finances, relationships, or health issues, most of us experience stressful events at some point in our lives. But today, researchers are witnessing levels of stress that are virtually unprecedented. A startling 80% of Americans now report experiencing intense, chronic stress over personal finances and the economy. And the problem is global: the World Health Organization estimates that stress-related disorders affect nearly 450 million individuals worldwide. The effects of this pandemic on the public health are profound. Researchers have linked the cumulative impact of stress to a host of age-accelerating conditions and degenerative diseases. These range from cardiovascular disease to diabetes to various […]
December 23, 2014

Discovering Coffee’s Unique Health Benefits

Every morning, many of us sip our coffee with no real thought given to the beans behind the brew. But coffee beans are extra-ordinarily complex fruits containing over 1,000 compounds – only a handful of which have ever been individually investigated by scientists. Not only is coffee packed with antioxidants, but it is the greatest source of antioxidants in the American diet. The average American coffee drinker consumes about 3.1 cups of coffee a day,5 but extensive research has found that higher volumes – as much as 4 to 12 cups daily – can help prevent most major killers, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, liver disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. […]