Some unconventional thoughts on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Public health authorities are advising frequent hand washing and social distancing, especially in the absence of confirmatory testing for COVID-19. I don’t have any wisdom to add to these practices. Vaccines are in the works, as are anti-viral drugs—nothing to add here, either.
But let me reiterate what we do in the Wheat Belly and Undoctored lifestyles. In general, we do not treat diseases; we correct the factors that allow disease to emerge in the first place—a big difference.
Take rheumatoid arthritis, for example. In conventional healthcare, the joint pain and swelling of rheumatoid arthritis are sup...
Source: Wheat Belly Blog - March 18, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Dr. Davis Tags: Open probiotic undoctored wheat belly Source Type: blogs
Go figure: A healthy eating approach helps people be healthy
This study was not perfect. You could argue, as these authors do, that the fact that participants chose their preferred diet is a good thing, as it could theoretically improve adherence. However, it also resulted in very different-sized groups to start with. The varying adherence and exercise option choices were adjusted for as well as possible. And the study relied heavily on self-reporting, which is always iffy.
Healthy eating patterns have benefits beyond weight loss
But we can still learn a great deal here. The Mediterranean approach to eating (which can be easily modified to suit any country or cultural food preferenc...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - March 16, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Cooking and recipes Diet and Weight Loss Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
What ’s new with the Nutrition Facts label?
The Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (NLEA) mandated nutrition labeling on most packaged foods. These include canned and frozen foods, breads, cereals, desserts, snacks, beverages, and a variety of other foods that line the aisles of grocery stores. Food labels — officially called Nutrition Facts labels — are intended to help consumers choose healthy foods. It is the FDA’s responsibility to make sure that foods are properly labeled.
Over the years there have been many changes to the initial law, and to the label. The newest version of the food label rolled out on January 1, 2020 for larger food manufactur...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - February 27, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Health Healthy Eating Nutrition Source Type: blogs
Exploring Beyond the Cage
I just read an interesting BBC article about why there are significantly more vegan women than men, which is mostly summarized by this statement at the top:
When women hold two incompatible beliefs, they’re more likely to change their behaviour to reconcile them. Men, by comparison, tend to dig themselves in.
The article cites a variety of studies that delve into gender differences and how these connect with dietary decisions. Reading it had an odd effect on me, making my vegan side feel good and my male side feel primitive and stupid.
While I do consider myself an ethical vegan today, this article reminded me t...
Source: Steve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog - February 19, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Steve Pavlina Tags: Health Lifestyle Values Source Type: blogs
With a little planning, vegan diets can be a healthful choice
Recently there has been much discussion and many questions about vegan diets. Are vegan diets — which exclude meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy — healthful? Do they provide complete nutrition? Should I try one? Will it help me lose weight?
Many people around the world eat plant-based diets for a variety of reasons, some because meat is not readily available or affordable, others because of religious convictions or concerns about animal welfare. Health has become another reason people are moving to plant-based diets. And research supports the idea that plant-based diets, including vegan diets, provide health benef...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - February 6, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Katherine D. McManus, MS, RD, LDN Tags: Healthy Eating Source Type: blogs
Food allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity: What ’s the difference, and why does it matter?
Chances are that you or someone you know has experienced unpleasant symptoms after a meal or snack. Maybe you experienced some degree of sneezing, wheezing, rashes, brain fog, joint pain, nausea, bloating, diarrhea, or another symptom. This may have led you to believe you have a food allergy — and maybe you do. But it’s also possible that you have a food intolerance, celiac disease, or a food sensitivity. This is important, because some of the reactions can range from just annoying to life-threatening.
Food intolerances
Food intolerance refers mostly to the inability to process or digest certain foods. The most common ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 30, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Marcelo Campos, MD Tags: Allergies Digestive Disorders Source Type: blogs
Menopause and insomnia: Could a low-GI diet help?
Sleep disturbances such as insomnia are extremely common, especially in women after menopause. According to data from the National Institutes of Health, sleep disturbance varies from 16% to 42% before menopause, from 39% to 47% during perimenopause, and from 35% to 60% after menopause.
Insomnia is a serious medical problem defined by frequent difficulty falling or staying asleep that impacts a person’s life in a negative way. Hormone changes around menopause can lead to sleep problems for many reasons, including changing sleep requirements, increased irritability, and hot flashes.
What menopausal women eat could have an ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 17, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Fatigue Food as medicine Healthy Eating Menopause Nutrition Sleep Source Type: blogs
What parents need to know about a vegan diet
A vegan diet is made up of only plant-based products — no meat, fish, dairy, or eggs (some people also exclude honey). While these diets are still relatively rare, they are becoming more common. Some families or teens choose them for health reasons, and it’s certainly true that plant-based diets are low in saturated fat and can have other health benefits. Some choose them for philosophical reasons — either sustainability, or not wanting to harm animals, or both.
Whatever the reason, it’s important to get educated before you begin. You should talk to your doctor, and if possible it’s a good idea to also meet with ...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - January 7, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Claire McCarthy, MD Tags: Adolescent health Children's Health Nutrition Parenting Source Type: blogs
Eosinophilic esophagitis: A new food-related allergic condition on the rise?
In the early 1990s, doctors began describing a new condition affecting the esophagus of patients who were predisposed to allergies including food allergy, asthma, and eczema, and who were having trouble swallowing. Today, we call this condition eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
What is EoE?
EoE is an allergic inflammation of the esophagus that causes a range of symptoms. Adolescents and adults most often experience it as difficulty swallowing, sometimes feeling like food moves too slowly through the esophagus and into the stomach. In some cases, food actually gets stuck (and may require urgent removal). Children and some adu...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - December 26, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Garber, MD Tags: Allergies Digestive Disorders Health Source Type: blogs
A Few Details on the US-China "Phase One" Trade Deal
Simon Lester andHuan ZhuLast Friday, the U.S. Trade Representative's Office released a "fact sheet" about the U.S. - China trade deal that it had just announced. Reports suggest that the deal will be signed in early January, with the text released some time after that. A full analysis of the deal will have to wait until then, but in this post, we offer some comments on the details set out in the fact sheet.The first issues mentioned are intellectual property and technology transfer. The fact sheet addresses these as follows:• Intellectual Property: The Intellectual Property (IP) chapter addresses numerous longstanding co...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - December 16, 2019 Category: American Health Authors: Simon Lester, Huan Zhu Source Type: blogs
Protectionist Love Child of the Labor Left and the Nationalist Right
Daniel J. IkensonPresident Trump famously called the North American Free Trade Agreement “the worst trade deal ever made.” Bygones. The need to debate that claim has been mooted by the fact that NAFTA’s likely successor—the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement—now holds that distinction.There ’s a reason that neither “Free” nor “Trade” appears in the agreement’s name. There isn’t much of any new trade liberalization in the deal. Then again, an agreement pursued with import reduction and supply chain repatriation as its main objectives was never going to be an exemplar of en lightened trade policy.I...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - December 13, 2019 Category: American Health Authors: Daniel J. Ikenson Source Type: blogs
Evaluating the New USMCA
Inu Manak andSimon LesterYesterday's biggest trade news was that the House Democratic leadership reached a deal with the Trump administration on changes to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was signed by Canada, Mexico and the United States last year. The agreement was an effort to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Reception of the new deal was mixed, and after taking leadership of the House in January of this year, Democrats wanted to leave their own imprint on the new trade agreement.In light of yesterday ’s announcement and today’s release of theProtocol of Amendment by the O...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - December 11, 2019 Category: American Health Authors: Inu Manak, Simon Lester Source Type: blogs
Living with Crohn ’s disease: Recognizing and managing flares
Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Together with ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s is one of the two main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn’s affects approximately 500,000 Americans and is a chronic, lifelong condition that typically alternates between periods of relatively stable or absent symptoms (remission) and periods of symptom flare-ups that can last for days, weeks, or even months.
The goal of treatment is to induce remission and then to maximize the chance that patients stay in remission. However, almost everyone with Crohn’s diseas...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - November 26, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: John Garber, MD Tags: Digestive Disorders Health Source Type: blogs
Fragrance free hair care and No-BS skincare – episode 200
The Beauty Brains answer questions about…
Why can’t I find more fragrance-free hair products?Living Proof hair care (is the price worth it?)What’s the deal with No-BS SkincareCan magnesium be used for cleaning?
Beauty News
Skin care in the dairy aisle – will probiotics help strengthen skin and hair? There isn’t a lot of evidence to say it will.
Tom’s launches toothpaste tube that’s recyclable – will the other brands owned by Colgate follow suit?
Social media
On this Instagram post we debated the idea that parabens are perfectly safe for cosmetics. There is ample evi...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - November 19, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Tags: Podcast Source Type: blogs
Fragrance free hair care and No-BS skincare – episode 200
The Beauty Brains answer questions about…
Why can’t I find more fragrance-free hair products?Living Proof hair care (is the price worth it?)What’s the deal with No-BS SkincareCan magnesium be used for cleaning?
Beauty News
Skin care in the dairy aisle – will probiotics help strengthen skin and hair? There isn’t a lot of evidence to say it will.
Tom’s launches toothpaste tube that’s recyclable – will the other brands owned by Colgate follow suit?
Social media
On this Instagram post we debated the idea that parabens are perfectly safe for cosmetics. There is ample evi...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - November 19, 2019 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Tags: Podcast Source Type: blogs
