The Cornell men’s basketball team didn’t qualify for the NCAA basketball tournament this year. And our next nearest team, Syracuse University, was knocked out last weekend. Even still, much of the county will spend the next several weeks watching to see which college basketball team comes out on top this year. [Read more…]
Evidence-based basketball, redux
March 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
A new way to help mistreated children
February 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Each year in the U.S., more than 600,000 children suffer abuse or neglect that warrants the intervention of Child Protective Services. Often times, these children need support for emotional and behavioral difficulties. It’s a heart-breaking problem, but there is evidence that some treatments can help. [Read more…]
Hand soap: Is antibacterial best?
February 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Colorful bottles of liquid hand soap line the shelves of stores across the country – and most contain the antibacterial agent triclosan. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is questioning whether these products actually prevent the spread of germs, and whether their use has any negative consequences. [Read more…]
Are mammograms worthwhile?
February 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment
The National Cancer Institute recommends that women age 40 and older have a mammogram to screen for breast cancer every 1 or 2 years. But now a new study is raising questions about whether mammography is really worthwhile. [Read more…]
The evidence on vacations
February 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment
The cold and snowy winter has inspired my family to take a last-minute, warm-weather vacation. The idea of escaping frigid temperatures to lounge in the sunshine seems like it will lift our spirits. But now that our plane tickets are booked, I’m wondering what the evidence says. [Read more…]
What we know about eating wheat
January 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
If you’re at all interested in losing weight, you’ve likely come across the en vogue advice to avoid eating wheat. People across the country are following diets that avoid wheat including the paleo and gluten-free diets. Now a new systematic review answers the question, is eating wheat bad for us? [Read more…]
A resolution to exercise? It’s good for body and spirit
January 6, 2014 By 1 Comment
It’s well documented that fitness centers across the nation will see their busiest days this month as people embark on New Year’s resolutions to exercise more.
Tips on avoiding holiday weight gain
December 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The holiday season is officially here – with its decorated cookies, happy hours and workplace lunches. We’ve already established that gaining weight has a negative impact on your health. So what can you do to avoid putting on the pounds at this time of year?
New evidence: The internet and self-harm
December 10, 2013 By 1 Comment
As the Internet and social media continue to transform our society, today’s youth are growing up in unchartered waters. For young people who confront problems like depression, the Internet is a particularly tricky issue to navigate.
The real story behind MSG
November 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Every now and again, I crave Chinese food – cashew chicken, fried rice, and moo goo gai pan. So my husband and I will splurge on takeout and eat with chopsticks out of the cardboard containers. It’s absolutely delicious! And I fully understand why. Most Chinese restaurants cook with monosodium glutamate – commonly known as MSG. The additive has long gotten a bad rap for being unhealthy, but is it really bad for us?
Can eating garlic lower your blood pressure?
November 20, 2013 By 3 Comments
My grandmother, a health food fanatic long before it was popular, frequently munched on raw garlic “for medicinal purposes.” So I wasn’t surprised to see the results of a recent systematic review on the potential virtues of eating garlic to lower blood pressure. My grandmother’s seemingly quirky behavior may prove to be healthy ones after all. High blood pressure is clearly something to avoid given its link to heart disease and stroke. And it affects a lot of people: according to the American Heart Association, one out of every three adults has high blood pressure. Could garlic be the answer?
Does diet impact your brain?
October 28, 2013 By 1 Comment
We all know that the food we eat has an effect on health. There is plenty of evidence that the risks of developing health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, are directly related to our diets. Now a new systematic review finds evidence that diet effects brain function as well.
