The next time you put together your grocery list, remind yourself that the foods you include and omit can have a profound affect on your well being. Here are several, recent examples of how you can use food to improve you and your family’s health. If you’re obese and on a hypocaloric diet, make sure to consume optimal levels of dietary calcium (1,600 mg/day) and protein (30% of calories/day). A study appearing in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism reports that higher protein diets rich in dairy products may reduce the risk of dieting-induced bone loss in overweight women. The importance of dietary protein was further bolstered in the October 12th edition of the journal PLoS One. In that research, lowering protein intake by as little as 5% was found to increase overall caloric intake by 12% due to increased appetite.

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This past week, Mrs. Healthy Fellow and I had the pleasure of visiting Buenos Aires in Argentina. Our brief time in this complex and intriguing metropolitan area gave us a glimpse into the generous nature of the Argentinian people or “Portenos”, and the distant and recent history that influences the present culture and political climate there. Among other things, we paid close attention to health care and nutritional trends along the way.
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As luck would have it, one of the biggest snow storms in recent history coincided with our stay in Paris in December 2010. On one particularly frigid and icy afternoon, we stopped into a gastro pub located only a few blocks away from our hotel. It was just too cold to walk much further! There, Mrs. Healthy Fellow and I enjoyed a steaming bowl of cream of cauliflower soup and a dozen escargot gently cooked in garlic-parsley butter. During our meal, a lady seated at the table next to us politely commented on our food selection. She mentioned that she wished she could indulge in similar cuisine. However the diet she was on didn’t allow it. The dietary regimen in question, The Dukan Diet, is perhaps the most popular weight loss program currently making the rounds in France. My hope is that one day soon a similar scenario will unfold with someone telling me, “I’m on the Zest for Life diet”. Read more »

Many health experts ranging from Dr. Loren Cordain (The Paleo Diet) to Dr. Barry Sears (The Zone Diet) recommend choosing foods that help balance ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. The primary motivation for doing so is a documented anti-inflammatory shift that takes place when n-3 fats including ALA, DHA and EPA account for a larger proportion of your total calories. The most direct way to achieve this end is to consume more fish and/or supplement with algae, fish or krill oil. But modern science has recently revealed a lesser known means of supporting a healthier omega-3 status – the use of antioxidant pigments such as those found in berries and red wine.
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Red wine has a mixed reputation in the medical community. Some health authorities cite evidence that indicates it may be the one form of alcohol that provides actual health benefits. Generally speaking, the positive research regarding red wine has to do with its impact on cardiovascular health. In recent years, scientists have begun to analyze the specific chemical make up of this popular beverage. In doing so, they’ve discovered several phytochemicals that could be the reason why fermented grapes discourage heart disease. Furthermore, some of these substances have exhibited benefits in other arenas, such as anti-cancer activity in animal models and in-vitro (test tube) experiments. However, these laboratory findings are often at odds with population studies that find negative associations between alcohol consumption and cancer incidence. Today I’ll examine the most recent findings regarding the alcohol cancer connection.
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Traveling can be be a lot of fun but it can also be challenging if you’re on a prescribed diet or wellness routine. Mrs. Healthy Fellow and I were reminded of this when we spent this past July in Martha’s Vineyard. Today I’m going tell you about a few of the strategies we personally employed and also give you an idea about what kinds of foods we ate while away from home. If we can manage to stay true to our health objectives while on the road, so can you. Read more »

It’s Thursday once again and that means it’s Twitter time. This week I’m going to highlight a whole new group of gurus and health authorities that caught my eye over the past several days. In this week’s line-up is “America’s doctor”, Dr. Mehmet Oz; the grandaddy of alt-med integration, Dr. Andrew Weil; the nutritionist, therapist and trainer to the stars, Dr. Jonny Bowden; my local newpaper’s very own health column and finally Mr. Excuses Begone! himself, Dr. Wayne Dyer. Read more »

A few years ago I gave my wife a rather unconventional gift for the holidays. It was a book of “vouchers for lovers”. In it, there were coupons that could be redeemed whenever she chose. Some of the options included requests for “alone time”, “a big kiss”, “breakfast in bed”, “a candlelight dinner”, “a foot massage” and “a weekend getaway”. I don’t know who originally conceived of this idea, but I thought it was very clever. It seemed like an excellent way for couples to give a lot without necessarily having to spend a lot. Read more »

A few weeks ago, I visited a local emergency room and was greeted with a special flyer that described symptoms and precautions pertaining to the H1N1 virus. Over the past month or so, the “Swine Flu” has directly affected several people that I know. In each instance, all of these friends and acquaintances have recovered completely. But judging by a review of various journals, magazines and newspapers, it doesn’t seem as though the level of interest and preoccupation with H1N1 has diminished substantially. Part of the reason is likely due to a very minimal number of cases where this particular strain of influenza has lead to tragic outcomes. One such instance was the focal point of a recent Larry King Live program. Read more »

Red wine has a mixed reputation in the medical community. Some health authorities cite evidence that indicates it may be the one form of alcohol that provides actual health benefits. Generally speaking, the positive research regarding red wine has to do with its impact on cardiovascular health. In recent years, scientists have begun to analyze the specific chemical make up of this popular beverage. In doing so, they’ve discovered several phytochemicals that could be the reason why fermented grapes discourage heart disease. Furthermore, some of these substances have exhibited benefits in other arenas, such as anti-cancer activity in animal models and in-vitro (test tube) experiments. However, these laboratory findings are often at odds with population studies that find negative associations between alcohol consumption and cancer incidence. Today I’ll examine the most recent findings regarding the alcohol cancer connection. Read more »

This Monday is Labor Day in the United States. Among other traditions, barbecuing and grilling frequently play a prominent role in the celebration of this holiday. But little known guests called “heterocyclic aromatic amines” (HCAs) almost always tag along and try to spoil the festivities. HCAs are toxic substances commonly produced during the cooking of beef, chicken, fish and pork. So today, I’ll tell you how to keep HCAs from crashing the party and get rid of the HCAs to which we can’t help but be exposed. Read more »

The best type of health information is easy to apply in a real world setting. Being informed is the foundation to wellness, but having the tools to enact what is learned is equally important. To that end, I’d like to offer a brief summary of products that help me to apply the principles that I often write about here. My selections are based on practicality, price and quality. I hope that sharing a glimpse into my personal daily routine will help you to find your own tools to make a healthy lifestyle easier to manage.
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Resveratrol is a phytochemical most commonly found in bilberries, blueberries, cocoa, cranberries, grapes (purple grape juice and red wine), peanuts and walnuts. Over the last few decades, it’s received a tremendous amount of attention in the research community. In fact, a recent search of the word “resveratrol” in the scientific literature returned over 2,700 citations. Experiments conducted in animal models have demonstrated a possible anti-aging effect and prolongation of lifespan in various test subjects, including fruit flies, worms, fish and mice. Laboratory studies also suggest an application for this polyphenol in supporting cardiovascular health and discouraging the growth of a variety of cancers. But there’s another powerful role that is emerging in the study of resveratrol – that of liver protector.
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Almost everyone is familiar with the term heartburn, which is also known as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). When GERD is left untreated it can create other problems. One possible health consequence of GERD is a condition called Barrett’s Esophagus (BE). Barrett’s Esophagus comes into the picture when acid reflux continually makes contact with the lining of the esophagus. This can be problematic because people with Barrett’s Esophagus are 30 to 40 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer than the average population. Read more »

Time for a pop quiz. I’ll ask you a question and you select the answer that you believe is correct.

Question: What three foods have recently been associated with better mental performance?

a) fruits, whole grains and vegetables

b) coffee, fish and olive oil

c) chocolate, tea and wine Read more »

Eggciting News!

Eggs are loaded with cholesterol and saturated fat. Doctors, neighbors, pharmacists and even zoologists tell us that eggs are bad for our heart. But are they really as harmful as “they” say? And are all eggs created equal? Read more »