June 30, 2020

New Findings On The Calcium Supplement Controversy

If you’ve been taking calcium supplements as prevention against osteoporosis and then quit because of the concerning findings of previous studies – you may not have needed to, says a new Harvard study. In an earlier Healthy Answers newsletter article [Why You May Want to Stop taking Calcium Supplements, September 2012], I alerted my readers to research findings from both German and New Zealand studies that suggested the possible dangers of taking calcium supplements. Yet, this new study, out of a Harvard Medical School division, the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew SeniorLife, had quite different findings from these previous studies.  […]
June 30, 2020

Relax! It’s Time for Lavender

Most people agree that lavender smells lovely and aids in relaxation but did you know that it  has a long history of medicinal, relaxing and anxiety-relieving properties? With peak season occurring from June through August, it is important to review the medicinal, culinary, and modern uses for this calming herb. Read on to learn about the history and modern uses of everyone’s favorite fragrant plant. Dating back to ancient Egypt, Greek and Roman Empires, there are records of lavender being used medicinally and in baths. This plant grows naturally in the Mediterranean region, the Arabian Peninsula, Russia and Africa. It […]
June 30, 2020

Supplements You Need for Every Life Stage

We keep track of passing time by different means—presidential administrations, our children’s movement through grades, fashion eras, simple decades. Life has many eras of growth and health, and if you’re a doctor, like Colorado-based Integrative Practitioner, Robert Rountree, MD, you would focus on physiology: childhood, post-pubertal teens, young adults, middle-aged, elderly. “There are definite differences in nutritional needs that correspond to each of those phases,” says Rountree. And the good doctor is, of course, spot-on. As you age, your nutrition needs change. Here’s where to focus in each decade of life, and the supplements that can help. Ages 0–10: A […]
June 23, 2020

Drive-Thru Food Doesn’t Have to Ruin Your Health

When I was a teenager and young adult, drive-in restaurants used to be THE popular place to go.  I know they hold a lot of fond memories for my Boomer-aged patients as well as those who spent many summer nights at the local drive-in restaurant with their friends.  You’d pull your car in and order a chocolate shake, burger and fries from a speaker and a few minutes later a car hop would bring your food to your car.  They’d place it on the tray that attached to your car door; you’d eat your fast foods while you visited with […]
June 16, 2020

Why Your Skin May Be A Cause of Diabetes

In the past few decades, more information has come to light about the role of viruses and bacteria in the development of certain diseases. Now researchers have been able to create type 2 diabetes (T2D) in lab animals just by exposing them to this skin superbug. If you, or a loved one, have type 2 diabetes, you’ll want to know about these new findings… Targeting A Skin Superbug Could Prevent/Treat Type 2 Diabetes In the last few decades, medical researchers have learned that cervical cancer is actually caused by certain strains of the human papilloma virus. Stomach ulcers are now […]
June 6, 2020

9 Sunscreens You Can Trust This Summer

For over a decade, the Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Sunscreens has helped us see the light when it comes to choosing a safe and effective sun care product. While almost three-fourths of the products analyzed were found to offer inferior sun protection or potentially harmful ingredients such as oxybenzone, it wasn’t all bad news in this year’s report. Mineral sunscreens are on the rise, and top-rated products lived up to their claims by using nontoxic and effective ingredients. Other rising trends include non-GMO formulations and sun-protective clothing. These nine picks all received a 1 (safest) rating from the EWG. Tips […]
June 2, 2020

This Mediterranean Food Boosts Heart Health

If you’re over 50, you likely grew up eating beef, a staple of most American diets for the last 50 plus years. I know I did.  Steaks on a summer grill and beef hamburgers are as much American tradition as apple pie.  It’s the reason we have so many (beef) burger businesses across the United States. But there’s another red meat out there that you probably pass right by at your grocer’s.  It not only tastes great but, in many ways, is nutritionally superior to beef.  Let me tell you more about this special red meat and why, now that […]
June 2, 2020

Produce Alert! Get EWG’s New Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides

Nearly 70 percent of the fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains residues of potentially harmful chemical pesticides, according to EWG’s analysis of the latest test data from the federal Department of Agriculture. But the dirtiest produce commodity, according to the USDA’s Pesticide Data Program, is not a fresh fruit or vegetable but a dried one – raisins. Raisins didn’t qualify for the Dirty Dozen, since we don’t include processed foods in the list, but if they did, they would top the list by a mile. Ninety-nine percent of conventional raisins tested positive for at least two pesticides, including some […]
June 2, 2020

Brazilian Pepper Tree: A Berry with BIG Benefits

You may not have ever heard of the Brazilian Peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia, but have likely heard of its relatives which produce pink peppercorns, pistachios, and cashews. This thorny tree is native to Brazil and becomes invasive in subtropical areas like Florida, California, and Arizona. Unlike its relatives, the Brazilian Peppertree isn’t used to season food; its role is more medicinal. The small pink fruits from this tree have been used by traditional Amazonian healers for generations to treat infections and wounds. Traditional folk medicine has asserted that the Brazilian Pepper Tree possesses antibacterial activity which can be harnessed by isolating […]