Diet and Lifestyle

According to an observational study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jun 1999; 281: 2289 – 2293), a low level of vitamin C in the blood is associated with high levels of lead. To quote the conclusion reach by the authors “Our data suggest that high serum levels of ascorbic acid are […]

A large study was performed at the University of California at San Francisco where blood levels of vitamin C was measured on more than 13,000 people. The study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (2000;160:931-936).It was found that women (but not men, interestingly enough) with low vitamin C levels are more likely to

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with low vitamin C levels, according to researchers at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. Helicobacter pylori isthe bacteria that causes peptic ulcers. In a study, published in the August 1, 2003 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition,blood samples were analyzed and data taken from nearly

People living with chronic pain, like fibromyalgia, often equate activity with increased pain. Researchers writing an article appearing in the January, 2005 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism (52(1):296-303) actually measured the physical activity of fibromyalgia patients. They found that increased activity does not lead to increased pain. Actually increased activity and exercise improves the well-being

SAD is an acronym for “seasonal affective disorder”. It is caused by the shortage of natural light available in the fall and winter, when the days become shorter. Symptoms of SAD include fatigue, depression, overeating and weight gain. Patients with SAD respond well to full-spectrum light. Sitting next to a light source for one half

About 8% of the American population has type II diabetes. Type two diabetes exists when the body becomes insensitive to insulin and thereby has an increasingly difficult time handling sugar.  Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine (February 7, 2002;346:393-403) shows that lifestyle change outperforms both drugs and placebo for prevention of diabetes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend $9 million to expand the Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program (FVPP) in the 2004 school year. The program is designed to get children to eat fruits and vegetables. The program was born of a concern about childhood obesity. Two-thirds of all adults are overweight, and childhood obesity is

Is there an Alternative to Expensive and Dangerous? It is hard to go through the day without hearing about the high cost of health care in the United States. According to the journal, Lancet (Nov 20; 364(9448):1829-30), we spend over $1.5 trillion on health care; this represents about 15% of our GDP (gross domestic product).

One possible cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. In research appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (2004;292(7):852-858) suggests that the bloating seen in IBS can be caused by bacteria in the small intestine. Bloating immediately following a meal is an indication of small intestine bacterial

A chemical called methylisothiazolinone (MIT), which is found in shampoo and many other household products, has been shown to kill nerve cells. Nerve cells, when directly exposed to MIT, die. The concentration of MIT needed to kill the neurons is about the same as the amount found in hand cream. Long-term exposure to low concentrations