In August 2016, the New England Journal of Medicine published a striking report on cancer and body fat: Thirteen separate cancers can now be linked to being overweight or obese, among them a number of the most common and deadly cancers of all — colon, thyroid, ovarian, uterine, pancreatic and (in postmenopausal women) breast cancer. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added more detail: Approximately 631,000 Americans were diagnosed with a body fat-related cancer in 2014, accounting for 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed that year. Increasingly, it seems not only that we are losing the war on cancer, but […]
In today’s food-conscious world, many of us want to get more benefits from the food we eat. Functional foods provide just that. A functional food is a natural food or manufactured food that has benefits beyond basic nutrition and calories. According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist Jennifer K. Nelson, R.D., L.D., “All foods are functional because they provide varying amounts of nutrients and energy to sustain growth or support vital processes. However, functional foods are generally considered to offer additional benefits that may reduce the risk of disease or promote optimal health.” Functional foods can also act like health supplements. For […]
More of today’s modern beauty concepts and products are incorporating Ayurveda—a 5,000-year-old Indian medicinal system that combines yoga, diet, meditation and herbal remedies. “The focus of modern beauty regimens has shifted away from chemical-based therapies to natural, herbal-based treatments and almost every such therapy can trace its roots to Ayurveda,” says Sushrut Badhe, Ayurveda expert and executive manager of KVM Research Laboratories. As we seek holistic approaches to skin and hair care, mindfulness practices and ancient traditions are also making their way into our beauty regimens to clear not only our skin but also our minds. Some of these practices […]
It’s easy to be skeptical of the word, detox. Why? Well, for starters, the sheer amount of products on the market
Like many of my over-40 patients, you’re probably trying to stay healthy and active as you get older. Great! Yet, many of you may not know that once you pass the over-40 milestone you can lose as much as 8% of muscle mass every 10 years. That means by age 60, you could have lost as much as 16% muscle mass! And it accelerates even further after the age of 75. But this doesn’t have to be the case if you take measures to prevent it. Let me tell you about the 10 best foods that can make a big […]
There are a couple of ways to look at Mexican ‘superfoods’. First, if you eliminate the tortilla chips, full-fat cheese and beans cooked with lard, much of the basics of Mexican cuisine are quite healthy. Beans (cooked, but not refried) and rice, fresh seafood, chicken, lean beef, tomatoes and avocados are all highly nutritious foods that provide plenty of benefits. And many of these foods qualify as ‘superfoods’—nutrient dense and high in healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals and protein. The other way to look at Mexican superfoods is to seek out indigenous foods that have been staples of the traditional […]
Chronic liver disease appears to be promoted by taking stomach acid blockers known as proton pump inhibitors, according to a study led by University of California San Diego researchers. The drugs, including such best-sellers as Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid, change the population of gut microbes. This leads to overgrowth of a bacterium that causes liver inflammation and cell death, the study found. The study was published in Nature Communications. It was performed with mouse models, healthy human volunteers, and data from chronic alcoholics. Bernd Schnabl, M.D., was the study’s senior author. Cristina Llorente, also of UCSD, was first author. Proton pump inhibitors are the most effective […]
It’s no coincidence that the smell of coffee wakes you up in the morning or that the scent of lavender relaxes you. And it’s no secret that scents can have a powerful effect on the body, and rosemary is no exception. According to the results of a study, the scent of rosemary may help to boost your cognitive function. Captured your attention? Then please keep on reading! Rosemary Enhances Cognitive Function Scientists recruited 20 healthy participants and placed them in an area where rosemary essential oil was being diffused. The volunteers were not aware of the true nature of the study. They […]
I see many patients with nail complaints rather than skin issues. Especially my patients over 40. As you get older, your nails may not grow as well. They may break, peel easily, or have other physical characteristics that can tip your doctor off to underlying nutritional deficiencies or health conditions. That’s why I want to tell you about 3 critical nutrients that can help restore your nail health as well as protect your overall health. In addition, I’d like to caution you about certain nail care practices that may actually be undermining both your nail and general health. Protect Your […]
When you have digestive problems, it’s easy to become dependent on over-the-counter drugs. I’ve had