Tune In and Get Healthy

“The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.” John Milton, Paradise Lost

Our mind plays a role in every healing journey or every healing crisis that we face. It all depends on how you look at it. Read more »

Today I’m going to be writing a different type of blog. I’ll be reviewing a motion picture that I think might warm your heart and lift your spirit. I know this isn’t the typical fare of a health blog. But it will be a regular part of this health blog. Films can provide us joyful entertainment and laughter. They can move us and help us to understand life in a different and more meaningful way. When I find a film that meets some those criteria, I’ll happily share it with you. Read more »

The world of nutrition was rocked this past week by a seemingly innocuous little study. It came in the form of a scientific presentation by Professor Bart Hoebel from the Princeton Department of Psychology. Dr. Hoebel and his team, which included members from the Princeton Neuroscience Institute, revealed findings that suggest that sugar can indeed be addictive. Read more »

Today I want split up my column. One part will deal with a topic that most people associate with women’s health. The second part will focus on a decidedly male issue. But ultimately, I hope you’ll read both segments of today’s blog. We all need to help inform each other, so help me spread the word. Read more »

Let’s go back in time ten years. It’s 1998 and you and I are playing a guessing game. The topic is: What will be the hottest health food in the year 2008? I’m not sure what I would have guessed. But I’m fairly confident that neither of us would have guessed that food would be chocolate. Read more »

Sometimes the best remedies are the simplest remedies. Today’s topic is certainly an illustration of just that.

There’s a special center at Cardiff University that focuses on all things related to the common cold. Earlier today, The Common Cold Centre released a statement touting the benefits of drinking hot drinks. Hot drinks? Yes, hot drinks! Read more »

We all know the most common health benefits associated with regular exercise: enhanced heart health, assistance with weight management, healthier circulation and better mood. But, I think you might be surprised by some of the revelations made in a recent New York Times column by Jane E. Brody. Read more »

This is part one of a two-part series on the mental and physical benefits of simple, everyday exercise. In this first part, I want share some cutting-edge research that strongly suggests that exercising regularly can improve the odds of preserving our memory and mental function well into our “golden years”. Read more »

Obesity is perhaps the greatest health challenge of our time. It doesn’t just make us fat. It also makes us sick. And the number of people becoming overweight is growing at a staggering rate.

It’s important to remember that obesity doesn’t just affect the way we look and how we feel. It also contributes to some of the deadliest diseases known to man. Cancer, diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea (a loss of oxygen while sleeping characterized by loud snoring) and increased stroke risk is just a partial list of diseases to which obesity contributes. Read more »

A Fishy Tale

“Eat your fish”. We’ve heard it a million times before from our mothers, our doctors, nutritionists on TV and even a concerned blogger or two. I’m no different. I’m here to tell you to, “Eat your fish … wisely”. Read more »

The days are getting cooler and the nights are getting downright cold. So, this is the perfect time to adopt the healthy habit of drinking a soothing, warming cup of tea every day. And modern science is giving us more reasons than ever to brew up this hot cup of healing.

Of all the teas known to man, green tea is arguably the favorite among herbalists and scientists alike. The reason for this is because of its long history of medicinal use and its recent history as a scientifically proven superstar.

I want to draw your attention to some recent findings that just might encourage you to try some tea, even if you think you don’t like tea!

The Good News About Green Tea

• A study published in November of 2008 showed that green tea lowered blood pressure and LDL cholesterol (the “bad” cholesterol), decreased inflammation and also reduced oxidation in the body (which may slow the aging process). The amazing thing is that it accomplished all this in as short as three weeks.
• Another recent study in the journal Obesity, found that a green tea beverage helped to promote weight loss in type 2 diabetics. This tea drink also helped improve insulin secretion and assisted in the maintainance of a low hemoglobin A(1c) level. These are both extremely desirable results.

It’s important to note that type 2 diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the world. Drinking green tea regularly may help to stem that trend. And, it’s especially likely to do so if we can replace sugary drinks with this health promoting tea.

• Another important revelation about green tea can be found in the journal, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention. In November, they published a study that found that high green tea consumption could lower the risk of colorectal adenomas by more than half. Colorectal adenomas are pre-cancerous growths that are generally removed for fear that they will develop into colon cancer.

For many people, one of the obstacles to drinking tea is that taste. But, there’s a natural and healthy way to get around that roadblock. All you have to do is brew the green tea with another type of tea that you enjoy. A few of my personal favorites include ginger tea and peppermint tea. The reasons why I use these particular teas are two-fold:

1. I like the taste and they effectively mask the natural flavor of the green tea.
2. They possess medicinal properties of their own. I’ll share some of that information below.

One other brief note: It’s wise to brew your green tea gently and for a short period of time (usually less than five minutes). If you “overbrew” your green tea, it will likely become bitter. Also, if you’d like to add a little no-calorie sweetness to your tea, simply sprinkle a very small amount of stevia to the mix.

The Good News About Ginger and Peppermint Tea

• Ginger tea is proven heart tonic. A study in September of ’08 found that it effectively reduced LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
• Peppermint tea is a traditional remedy for the digestive system. In recent years, it’s even been shown to help those suffering from IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome).

To summarize: If you drink tea, good for you. Keep on enjoying it. If you don’t drink tea, please consider giving it a shot. Try the tips I’ve offered. They may just make drinking tea an enjoyable, as well as a healthful experience.

Here are the links to the studies I referenced:

Green Tea vs. Heart Disease

Green Tea vs. Colorectal Cancer

Green Tea vs. Diabetes

Ginger and Cholesterol

Peppermint Tea for Health

Be well!

JP

It’s an all too common story. A patient walks into his doctor’s office. He sits down with his doctor to review the blood work from his most recent physical exam and he’s given the following speech:

“Your cholesterol is too high. I’d like you to start taking a cholesterol-lowering medication.” Read more »

We all get an occasional headache. But for some people, headaches are a regular part of life. And while taking pain relievers every once in awhile may be reasonably safe, taking them on a long-term basis may not be. Read more »

Shopping for healthy foods is always a balancing act. How do we go about finding the healthiest foods while staying within our budget? The answer is simple: by shopping smarter. Read more »

Finger Foods Made Healthy

I don’t know about you but I love healthy “finger foods”. They’re simple to prepare. They’re easy to eat. Hardly any clean-up. You can make them as appetizers for a dinner party. As a snack for having around the house. You can even use them as a light lunch.

However you decide to use our beloved “finger foods”, try to make them healthy. Allow your whole body to enjoy them! Read more »

Welcome to my first blog entry. Let’s get this show on the road!

There was a recent review in the journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (try saying that ten times fast!) that provides a scientific overview of the benefits of laughing regularly. Laughter and science? You betcha.

So, what are some of the documented medical benefits of “laughter therapy”? Read more »