I’m always counseling my patients on a heart-healthy diet. They’re often surprised to learn that the worst offender is not what they’ve always thought – fat. No, in fact, more and more research has shown that the amount of refined, unnatural sugar in your diet is the real culprit of damaging heart health. So, I’d like to share with you what I tell my patients about the damage that their love of sweets is doing to their heart – and the rest of them. Your Love of Sweets Is Souring Your Heart Health We all like a sweet treat once […]
There’s increasing evidence that caffeine can be good for you. A mild stimulant that works on the central nervous system, caffeine is something most of us use to “get going in the morning,” said Marcie Prachyl, a dietitian at Hendrick Medical Center. The popular substance — an estimated 90 percent of Americans consume it daily — has been linked to benefits such as potentially minimizing cognitive decline associated with aging, including the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, Prachyl said. “It makes them more alert and improves their quality of life if they continue to drink it,” she said of older consumers […]
Since many of my patients and readers have entered the over 65 age bracket, or will in the near future, I always like to
Toxic chemicals found at high concentrations in fried and grilled meats may raise the risk of diabetes and dementia, researchers say. US scientists found that rodents raised on a Western-style diet rich in compounds called glycotoxins showed early signs of diabetes, along with brain changes and symptoms that are seen in Alzheimer’s disease. The findings matched what the researchers saw in a small number of older people, where those with higher levels of glycotoxins in their circulation had memory and other cognitive problems, and signs of insulin resistance, which precedes diabetes. The results are tentative, but if confirmed by other […]
Many of my older patients have told me that if they had to pick a condition to get as they got older, it would be something other than one that affected their brain and mental performance. After all, who you are now, who you were in your past, your life’s memories are all stored in your brain. If you started to develop impairment of your cognitive function, who you are may be decreased, or completely lost, to you. That’s why I tell my patients to do everything possible to keep their brain function healthy and optimize their mental performance. These […]
Today, many people have adopted a vegetarian diet or are considering a switch. Reasons range from disease prevention to concern for the environment. A typical vegetarian diet not only has less saturated fat and cholesterol than a meat-based one, but it also provides a number of beneficial plant polyphenols, many of which have only been recently identified. However, there are some potential deficiencies to consider as well. Below, we’ll explore the possible pitfalls and how to avert them if going “meatless” is your thing. First, Let’s Define Vegetarian A vegetarian diet technically contains no animal products, but a number of people who […]
At this point in the year I start to lose my enthusiasm for my New Year’s resolutions. My energy fades. Fortunately, there are foods I can turn to that will help me. What a relief! And I’m not just talking about caffeinated beverages. They will boost my energy for a short time, but I’m looking for a long-term solution. I want foods that will stimulate my metabolism, help me build muscle, and help me grow new red blood cells. The catechins in green and black tea can raise your metabolism, so even if you drink decaf tea, you will get […]
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 […]
Recent studies have led to an interesting correlation between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. One prominent study (published online by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health) concluded that sugar consumption “correlated significantly” with diabetes, “independently of other socioeconomic, dietary and obesity prevalence changes.” In plain English, they found that the more sugar you consume and the longer you consume it, the higher your diabetes risk; and as sugar consumption drops, diabetes rates drop as well. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the most common form, is caused by insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and is most frequently […]
How many of us give much, if any, thought to keeping our brains in working order? Think about it: Our brain and our heart are our two most vital organs. If they stop working…we stop living. But, while we’re inundated with information and advice about how to keep our cardiovascular systems purring, the gray matter inside our skulls is usually ignored — unless something goes horribly wrong. Well, we thought, why wait until there’s a brain problem? Instead, let’s think ahead. So, we asked a few Palm Beach County health experts for tips on maximizing brain health… BRAIN-BOOSTING FOODS Load up on […]