April 18, 2017

Antioxidants And Lung Cancer Connection

A study reported on February 28, 2017 in  Frontiers in Oncology reveals an association between increased intake of carotenoids and vitamin C and a lower risk of lung cancer. Martine Shareck and colleagues utilized data from a study that involved 1,105 cases of lung cancer and 1,449 subjects without the disease. Subjects were queried concerning the intake of 49 fruits and vegetables during the two years prior to cancer diagnosis or the date of the interview, and responses were analyzed for the intake of alpha carotene, beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, lycopene and vitamin C. Among those whose intake of alpha carotene […]
April 18, 2017

A Healthy Thyroid Is Important

You probably don’t spend a lot of time thinking about the butterfly-shaped gland in your neck that helps regulate metabolism, heart rate, energy levels and body temperature. But thyroid disorders are very common. It’s estimated that 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease, and as many as 60 percent of those with thyroid disease are unaware of their condition. Thyroid disorders can mimic several other health conditions, making them more difficult to diagnose. If you even suspect you might have a thyroid problem, consult with your primary care physician or endocrinologist as soon as possible. The most common […]
April 18, 2017

Cutting Down on the Caffeine

So you’ve been tracking your daily caffeine intake, and it has quickly progressed from “a little on the heavy side” to “Oh…my.” However, all those years of averaging less-than-satisfactory sleep has made an extra caffeine kick an integral part of your workday (if you want to see it all the way through, that is). Needless to say, cutting back on caffeine is no easy feat. And if you’re in it for the long haul, it may help to cushion the loss of excess caffeine with a longer-lasting alternative. Here are a few of the options we had in mind: 1. […]
April 11, 2017

Liquid Nutrition Drinks Cashing in on You?

There are several commercials on television right now extolling the virtues of liquid nutrition drinks and their important role in senior health.  These nutritional drinks can help boost necessary protein intake as well as other crucial vitamins and minerals.  But, do you really need to buy these expensive bottled drinks to ensure your health? I don’t think so and I’d like to offer a more economical solution. Liquid Nutrition Drinks:  Do You Really Need Them? On today’s market, there are several nutrition drinks out there aimed at seniors and those with diabetes – namely Boost, Ensure and Glucerna.  With the […]
April 11, 2017

The Power of Positive Thinking on Your Health

You’ve likely heard the old Ben Franklin adage, “You are what you eat.”  Turns out, that Mr. Franklin was correct about that – what you feed your body becomes your body.  Eat good food and you’ll have good health.  Well, the same thing applies to your thoughts.  Many medical researchers now believe that your thoughts have much more power over your health than you know.  These researchers believe, as I do, that your mind is the “master” that programs your body to act and re-act.  So, if you want to have better health, or a better life, you can use this mind-over-body […]
March 28, 2017

Natural Remedies for Common Skin Woes

Think acne appears just on teenagers? Or eczema is common only on a baby’s bottom? Turns out , acne, eczema, psoriasis and other skin conditions can crop up regardless of age and have a host of culprits, including the environment, diet, hormones and chemicals in everyday products. “Toxic overload is the cause of all of these skin conditions,” says Laeh Benyamin, a lead practitioner at Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy in Boulder, Colorado. Luckily, managing—or even eliminating—symptoms is not impossible. The first step? Diet. “All people that have these issues need to go on an anti-inflammatory diet and avoid sugar, white refined […]
March 28, 2017

Raspberry Ketones Help Fat Cells Shrink

In the last couple of months, several of my patients have asked me about using raspberries for weight loss. It’s true that ‘raspberry ketones’ has been a popular buzz phrase on television and the Internet as a substance that can, reportedly, actually force your fat cells to shrink and help you lose weight. Raspberries have always been considered a good addition to any weight loss program, as they are high in antioxidants, low in calories and sugar per 4 ounce serving.  However, you’d have to eat about 90 lbs of them to get the concentration of raspberry ketones these products offer.  After a […]
March 21, 2017

Tyrosine and Tryptophan Fight “Baby Blues”

A study reported on March 13, 2017 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found a lower risk of early postpartum blues among women who received the amino acids tyrosine and tryptophan, and an extract of blueberries. The condition peaks on the fifth day after giving birth and is a risk factor for long term postpartum depression. Levels of a compound known as monoamine oxidase A become elevated in the brain during postpartum blues, resulting in increased breakdown of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, which can be deficient in depressed states. While tyrosine is a precursor to norepinephrine and dopamine, […]
March 21, 2017

‘Late-Life’ Genes Activated by Biological Clock

Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered that a subset of genes involved in daily circadian rhythms, or the “biological clock,” only become active late in life or during periods of intense stress when they are most needed to help protect critical life functions. The findings, made in research done with fruit flies and published today in Nature Communications, are part of a unique stress response mechanism that was previously unknown. These genes may help to combat serious stresses associated with age, disease or environmental challenges, and help explain why aging is often accelerated when the biological clock is disrupted. […]
March 21, 2017

How To Keep Your Mental Edge & Memory

Occasionally forgetting where you left your keys or what you were supposed to buy at the market might be annoying, but it’s not usually a sign of Alzheimer’s disease. Nor does it point to Alzheimer’s prelude: mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is characterized by significantly poorer memory than what is common for one’s age, and Alzheimer’s signs include severe deterioration of memory, difficulty completing familiar tasks and trouble with planning or solving problems. By middle age, it’s normal to have occasional memory lapses, especially when we’re juggling so much in our always-on, 24/7 world. “The brain, like every other organ […]