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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
I just love to travel! I’m endlessly curious about other cultures and have been fortunate to travel throughout Asia, Europe and North America on a pretty regular basis. Eating and exploring the food in each country or region really gives me insight into their history and how the people live. Spice blends are an easy way to bring international flavor to the most common of foods, like vegetables or chicken breasts. A few shakes of curry powder in an otherwise predicable tuna salad takes it to a new dimension. Following are some spice blends from around the world that are […]
Bitter melon, which resembles a wrinkly, light-green cucumber, is something of an acquired taste. Soaking it in salted water to remove the bitterness is the first step in getting people to fall in love with it. It’s worth the trouble, because boiling bitter melon in water releases its antioxidant power. Bitter melon also has immune-boosting beta-carotene, potassium, and detoxifying fiber. Asian herbalists prescribe it to diabetes patients to help them stabilize their blood sugar. This salad makes an excellent side dish for grilled meat, fish, and vegetables. Serves 2-4 Ingredients 4 medium-size bitter melons ¼ cup kosher salt Pinch of […]
Specialized eating plans are no longer that “special.” In a recent Nielsen survey, 31 percent
Memory declines as we age, but most people will never experience the severe neuronal loss of dementia. “The Aging, Demographics and Memory Study” on the prevalence of dementia concluded that 13.9 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 71 has some form of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for just less than 10 percent, says brain researcher Carol Barnes. “That means 86 percent of us age normally.” The likelihood of dementia increase as people age, hitting 1 in 3 by age 85. Barnes, director of the University of Arizona’s Mc-Knight Brain Institute, has studied the aging brain for […]
While you may think of prescription medications as being created by scientists in a lab, the truth is that many drugs started as natural products. These plant-derived compounds are refined, isolated, and replicated in a lab where they become the common medications you’re familiar with. Many natural products can still offer health-promoting support and have powerful effects, just like medications. Keep in mind that you’ll need to work with your doctor on this for safety but here are some examples of natural counterparts to pharmaceutical drugs you may already be using. 1. PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG: IBUPROFEN Ibuprofen is one type of […]
Q: With every change of seasons, the skin on my hands and around my nails gets really dry and cracks. It’s so painful. What can I do to prevent this? “Changes of season can bring about a lot of skin changes,” says Dr. Caroline A. Chang of Dermatology Professionals in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Temperatures rise or drop, and the air’s moisture content may change drastically. Irritants in the air can also cause skin dryness. Research published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, for instance, shows that pollen may provoke both contact and atopic dermatitis. If you know which seasons […]