April 15, 2014

Can a Mushroom Extract Prevent Cervical Cancer?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is present in most sexually active women. Their lifetime risk of acquiring genital HPV is 80%. For the most part, HPV infections do not cause any health problems and are cleared by the human body. Certain strains, however, are more virulent and may cause cervical cancer. HPV can be detected up to 99% of cervical cancer biopsies worldwide. Currently, there are no medications that treat the virus. The only option for prevention (though controversial) is the HPV vaccine, which can be administered to people under the age of 26. Fortunately, new hope may be found in AHCC (active hexose […]
April 15, 2014

Blood Sugar, Hypertension and Your Brain

Achieving and maintaining a normal weight is always beneficial to your health, no matter what age you are.  It decreases your risk for other obesity-related diseases like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease to name just a few.  But, if you’re middle-aged, ages 40 to 64, there’s one more reason for keeping your weight, and your blood sugar levels normal – protecting your brain health as you get older.  Let me tell you why… These 2 Numbers Can Predict Your Brain Health As You Age If you’re middle-aged and you came to me for a check-up, I would first want to […]
April 8, 2014

Introducing Gluten-Free Girl Scout Cookies…

As some of you may know, this past year graced us with some exciting news regarding Girl Scout Cookies. For the first time, Girl Scouts are now offering a gluten-free cookie! The cookie, a bite sized, chocolate chip shortbread cookie, boasts no artificial flavors or colors, no high fructose corn syrup, palm oil or hydrogenated oils, and of course no gluten. They will come in a 5-ounce re-sealable pouch. This year is a pilot test of the cookie and it will unfortunately only be available through 20 Girl Scout councils (you can click here to find out where). The good […]
April 8, 2014

Vitamin K Intake Associated With Lower Risk of Dying

A study reported online on March 19, 2014 in the Journal of Nutrition links higher intake of vitamin K with a lower risk of dying from any cause over a median follow-up of 4.8 years. The study included 7,216 participants in the PREDIMED study, which sought to evaluate the protective effect of a Mediterranean diet against the risk of cardiovascular disease in older men and women. Annual dietary questionnaire responses completed by the participants were analyzed for the intake of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and menaquinone (vitamin K2). Over a 4.8 year median, there were 323 deaths, including 81 deaths from cardiovascular disease and 130 […]
March 12, 2014

Feeding the Gut Microbiota

The American Gastroenterological Association issued the following news release: A healthy and balanced diet, as well as probiotics, have been known to be helpful in preserving gastrointestinal health for quite a long time. But it is only recently that the underlying mechanisms have become somewhat clearer. A rapidly increasing body of knowledge promises to further clarify the effects of our daily food on the gut microbiota and to indicate more targeted applications of probiotics in the near future. This was one of the topics presented at the Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit in Miami, FL. On March 8 and 9, 2014, internationally leading […]
March 11, 2014

This Common Food Lowers Risk of Diabetes

I know you just read that title and thought, whaaat? A fat that helps you prevent and even lose belly fat?  Yes, you read it correctly.  But, you wonder, doesn’t eating fat cause you to store more fat? According to new research, the answer is No. It all depends on what type of fat you eat.  Let me tell you more about it… Polyunsaturated Fats May Be Key to Belly Fat Loss, Muscle Gain Over the last several years, I’ve told you about the different types of dietary fats present in the foods you eat.  Before I tell you about how PUFA’s (polyunsaturated fatty […]