Christmas cookies are my worst dietary weakness. If they’re in the house, I can’t help but munch on them. So I’m coming back from a lovely holiday break at least a few pounds heavier than before. [Read more…]
Evidence-based health: Lose those extra pounds now
January 5, 2015 By 1 Comment
Exploring the link between diet and mental health in kids
November 13, 2014 By 1 Comment
Over the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in the United States, increasing the risks for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and joint problems. Last month, a new systematic review found obesity among kids is associated with yet another health problem. [Read more…]
How important is breakfast, Part 2
September 5, 2014 By 4 Comments
Earlier this week, we wrote about the body of evidence that shows eating breakfast does not lead to weight loss. But does eating breakfast impact cognitive function and learning? As my kids head back to school this week, it’s certainly a question on my mind.
How important is breakfast?, Part 1
August 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Crowning breakfast as the most important meal of the day is a long-held conviction among many Americans and some nutritional experts. In reality, there are data on both sides of the debate showing that breakfast is essential to maintaining a healthy weight, and also that breakfast is no more important than any other meal for weight loss. Recently, new evidence sheds more light on the topic. [Read more…]
How to measure childhood obesity
June 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Now a new systematic review has found that even more youth may be classified as obese. [Read more…]
Using evidence to ask the right questions
June 5, 2014 By 2 Comments
For decades, health and nutrition experts have built weight-loss programs around the commonly-accepted notion of balancing calories in and calories out. In other words, to lose weight, one simply needs to burn more calories than he eats. But there is growing evidence that’s only part of the equation for losing and maintaining a healthy weight. [Read more…]
The evidence on social pressure and food choice
March 11, 2014 By Leave a Comment
As we’re nearly a quarter of the way through 2014, are you still focused on the New Year’s resolution you made? If you vowed to lose weight, a new meta-analysis may help your cause. [Read 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?
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?
Can the Use of Probiotics Effect Crying Babies?
November 11, 2013 By 1 Comment
First off, I want to congratulate Sheri Hall on the birth of her daughter Charlotte, born on October 13th weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces!! Since babies have been on my mind in anticipation of Sheri’s maternity leave, a recent review about crying and colic behavior caught my eye. [Read more…]
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.
