It’s not the total amount of fat in your diet that’s linked to disease. What really matters is the type of fat in your diet.
The Harvard School of Public Health has published a nice table along with a concise discussion that compares the 4 types of fats in our diet, including sources and their effects on LDL (bad) and HDL (good) cholesterol.
Last week, New York City became the first city in the US to ban trans fats.
Good news? Here are some other points of view.
Continue reading Libertarian perspectives on anti-trans fat legislation
Two studies published this year came to different conclusions on the value of soy isoflavones to prevent bone resorption (breakdown) in postmenopausal women.
First, the positive results.
Continue reading Conflicting results on the value of soy isoflavones on bone
Healthcare is expensive, but there is nothing more expensive than paying for drugs that just don’t work.
That appears to be the case with policosanol — at least for anyone living outside Cuba.
The “gateway theory” says that each type of drug is associated with certain specific risk factors that can lead to subsequent drug abuse. For example, cigarettes or alcohol lead to marijuana, which leads to cocaine, etc.
A study by Dr. Ralph Tarter from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that environmental factors have a stronger influence on which type of substance is used. For example, if it’s easier for a teens to get marijuana than beer, then they will be more likely to smoke pot.
Continue reading Study disputes the role of marijuana on subsequent drug abuse
The Second World Ayurvedic Congress ended on November 12th.
Aleksandra Suriel, a nurse from Calgary, Albert attended. She’s a yoga teacher, and reiki master, with an interest in energy medicine. Inspired by the meeting, here’s her perspective on Ayurveda and Western medicine.
“Our western world knows only how to cure, but doesn’t know how to live a healthy life.”
Continue reading In Ayurveda “dis” means deprived of, “ease” means Comfort
As a follow-up to an earlier post about horny goat weed here is a positive clinical study using horny goat weed in the management of erectile dysfunction.
One caveat: this study has not been published in a peer-reviewed journal, but on a website that sells horny goat weed. That said, the study design and results are interesting.
Continue reading Horny goat weed: An unpublished clinical trial
The Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide warns, “The daily multivitamin pill is no substitute for a good diet. But none of us is perfect when it comes to healthful eating … The multivitamin is partial protection from our lapses.”
Their value is debated, but here’s the bottom line.
During a seminar at the American Heart Association 2006 meeting titled “The Science Behind Popular Nutrition Claims,” medical researchers summarized the research on a number of complementary options to “help maintain a healthy heart.”
Here is a summary of the Medscape article. Links to more info are highlighted.
Continue reading CAM for heart disease: Current state of the evidence
Most tobacco smokers have a decline in fertility. In some the decline is significant.
A study presented during the 2006 American Society of Reproductive Medicine meeting reported that for smokers who can’t quit, a synthetic cannabinoid called AM-1346 might improve their fertilizing capacity.
Here’s what they did.
Continue reading A synthetic cannabinoid might improve fertility in some smokers
Here are the results. Would you say that aromatherapy was effective?
Continue reading Testing aromatherapy to treat pain after surgery
Northern California shoppers were divided into two groups: “regular organic shoppers” who buy organic produce on a typical grocery-shopping trip; and “nonregulars” who don’t. They were asked how much more they would pay for four different produce items.
Continue reading Are we willing to pay more for organic food?
Radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and some of the tissue around it. It is done to treat prostate cancer, and up to half of all men who have a radical prostatectomy develop urinary incontinence.
Preoperative pelvic floor training (PFT) is used to strengthen the muscles and improve recovery of continence following the operation.
Does adding biofeedback help?
Continue reading Does biofeedback reduce incontinence after prostate surgery?
According to WABC radio, New York City just passed the ban on using trans fats for cooking in NYC eateries.
Skin toxicity is a common side effect of the external beam radiotherapy used to treat patients suffering from solid cancers. In this report on 60 patients (ie, cancer of the head and neck or pelvic region), applying tea extracts to the irritated spots caused by the radiation speeded healing.
How’d they do that?
Continue reading Using tea to help heal radiation injury to the skin
The American Academy of Dermatology and the American Medical Association have called for a ban on the sale and use of tanning equipment for nonmedical purposes. And the FDA and Centers for Disease Control encourage people to avoid the use of tanning beds and sun lamps.
The tanning industry say that dermatologists have a “political agenda,” and that indoor tanning is actually good for you.
What’s the truth?
In the treatment of severe malaria, injecting artesunate directly into a vein results in more rapid action than quinine given the same way. It’s safer and simpler to administer. And a clinical study also shows it reduces the risk of death from this disease.
Details here.
Continue reading Comparing artesunate to quinine as treatment for malaria
Artesunate comes from qinghaosu, the sweet wormwood bush (Artemisia annua). It’s a fast-acting antimalarial drug discovered by Chinese scientists in the early 1970s.
Artesunate is often referred to as the most efficient malaria parasite killer ever discovered.
Continue reading Artesunate: a potent antimalarial treatment
A survey of more than a thousand people trying to quit smoking reveals those treatments most commonly used and most often perceived to be effective.
I listed them here with a brief comment on the scientific support.
? Dr. Ed Zimney has a good