Are you surprised to find out that dental organizations around the world recommend different techniques for teeth-brushing? I sure was. But what surprised me even more is the lack of evidence that one method works better than another.
How to brush your teeth
August 25, 2014 By 2 Comments
The science of cooking
August 19, 2014 By 8 Comments
As gardens and local farms are in full swing this month producing vegetables of all sorts, I’ve found myself revisiting America’s Test Kitchen to make sure I’m using evidence-based techniques in my kitchen. I thought it’d be a great time to revisit this post about this culinary research center. [Read more…]
New data on kids’ well-being
August 14, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Ensuring our youth grow up in healthy supportive environments is an important part of building a strong future for any society. Even here in the United States, there are significant disparities in child well-being. [Read more…]
Evidenced-based learning: Play, play, play
August 12, 2014 By Leave a Comment
My two oldest children received letters in the mail this week from their teachers – a sure sign that “back-to-school” is creeping closer. As I start wrapping my head around school supplies and book schedules, I thought back to this post about the importance of play in learning. I’m hoping that my kids’ teachers keep in mind the importance of play in the classroom this year.
Gardening as a treatment for dementia
August 5, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Researchers believe nearly 4 million Americans over age 60 suffer from some form of dementia. Their symptoms may include memory loss, impaired judgment and reasoning, loss of communication skills, agitation and paranoia. [Read more…]
Myth-busting evidence: Childhood vaccines
July 29, 2014 By 1 Comment
When my son was born, I spent a lot of time reading and thinking about whether he should have the routine childhood vaccinations. I had heard about the potential link between vaccines and autism and some anecdotal reports from other moms about adverse reactions to vaccines. But I wanted to consider all of the evidence on vaccines. [Read more…]
Evidence revisited: Sunscreen safety
July 23, 2014 By 1 Comment
It’s that time of year again when our morning ritual includes slathering on the sunblock, so I thought it was a topic worth revisiting. [Read more…]
An update: New evidence on vitamins
July 21, 2014 By Leave a Comment
For decades, health advocates have touted the benefits of vitamins. And it’s a concept that our busy society can easily get behind: Just take a few tablets each day to ward off disease and improve your health. [Read more…]
Evidence-based soccer: How to treat hamstring strains
July 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Over the past month, much of the world has been glued to the television watching World Cup soccer matches. I’m not typically a soccer aficionado, but I did catch a few games. One thing I learned about the sport this year is the increasing prevalence of hamstring injuries among soccer players.
New guidelines about pelvic exams for women
July 15, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Although it can feel counter intuitive, when it comes to medical screenings, sometimes the evidence tells us what not to do. That was the case when considering the data surrounding routine mammograms. And now there is similar evidence about pelvic exams for women.
Technology in the doctor’s office
July 9, 2014 By Leave a Comment
These days when I go to a doctor’s office, my health care provider is nearly always using an electronic device – a laptop or handheld computer – in the examination room. Personally, it makes me feel reassured when my doctor is using the latest technology as part of my medical care. But do electronics really make a difference in health care settings? [Read more…]
Alternative treatments for eczema don’t work
July 7, 2014 By 1 Comment
Researchers estimate more than 31 million Americans suffer from eczema, an itchy skin rash that often includes redness, swelling and cracking of the skin. The most common treatments are moisturizers and steroid creams, but they are not always effective at controlling the symptoms. [Read more…]
