My family belongs to a Community-Support Agriculture farm, which means we get a big box of fresh veggies from a local farm each week. In addition, we like to pick blueberries, tomatoes and raspberries locally. Put together, it means we need to find a way to preserve all of this local fresh food for the winter months. [Read more…]
Evidence-based canning: Preserve your summer bounty
July 23, 2015 By Leave a Comment
A link between cycling and prostate cancer?
July 14, 2015 By Leave a Comment
The lore among male cyclists is that riding a bike can interfere with men’s ability to father children and increase their risk of developing prostate cancer. I know! I’m married to someone who is passionate about bikes and biking riding.
How effective is medical marijuana?
July 8, 2015 By Leave a Comment
A total of 23 states and the District of Columbia allow the sale of marijuana for medical purposes. Despite these state laws, marijuana is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a prescription medication. Essentially, this means the U.S. government has not approved marijuana as safe and effective. But is it?
Therapy for insomnia?
June 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Chances are you know someone who has difficulty sleeping, or you experience insomnia yourself. About 30 percent of adults in the U.S. experience symptoms of insomnia and 10 percent experience sleeplessness that impacts their daily activities. [Read more…]
The evidence on flossing
June 2, 2015 By 2 Comments
I visited the dentist last week, where she found a small cavity in between my upper back molars. She put in a filling and recommended more flossing. “Make sure you get all of the way up to the gum line when you floss,” she told me. [Read more…]
The evidence on sunscreen: Revisited
May 26, 2015 By 1 Comment
It’s only May, but I’m already slathering sunscreen on my kids each morning before school. Every year, before I stock up on our summer supply, I check with Environmental Working Group’s annual sunscreen report to make sure the formulation my family uses is as effective and safe as possible. [Read more…]
Can you wash pesticides off your fruits and vegetables?
May 15, 2015 By Leave a Comment
Here at EBL, we love hearing from readers who have comments or questions about the evidence. Recently, a commenter on our post about organic food asked whether washing conventional produce reduces the amount of pesticides consumed compared to eating organic fruits and vegetables. [Read more…]
Acupuncture for itchiness: An evidence-based solution
May 13, 2015 By Leave a Comment
There are dozens of medical conditions that include itchiness as a symptom – including allergic reactions, viral rashes and nerve disorders and drug reactions. Most likely, you’ve felt itchiness at some point during life, and you know how miserable it can be. [Read more…]
Evidence-based exercise: What’s the optimal amount?
May 5, 2015 By Leave a Comment
When a doctor prescribes a medicine, he gives a precise dose calculated to maximize the health benefits while minimizing any side effects. Similar to medicine, we know that exercise is good for our health; it reduces the risk of developing chronic disease and prolongs our life. But exactly how much exercise is optimal? [Read more…]
Evidence-based dieting
April 16, 2015 By 1 Comment
Here at EBL, we’ve written a lot about the health problems associated with obesity in the U.S. The good news is that an estimated 45 million Americans go on diets each year to lose excess weight. But many weight-loss programs are never evaluated in scientific studies, leading participants to spend time, energy and money on programs that are not evidence-based. [Read more…]
The science of avoiding jet lag, revisited
March 30, 2015 By Leave a Comment
This week, my family is headed to England to visit my in-laws. So once again, I find myself searching for the latest proven methods for coping with jet lag. [Read more…]
The evidence on children and napping
March 10, 2015 By Leave a Comment
For most stay-at-home moms, naptime is a much-welcomed break during a hectic day. Personally, having 2 hours to myself every afternoon allows me to catch up on messages, start preparing dinner, do some cleaning, and generally enjoy quiet that is elusive when my young children are awake. [Read more…]
