Health and Environment: A Closer Look at Plastics
Jan. 23, 2013 — Plastics have transformed modern society, providing attractive benefits but also befouling waterways and aquifers, depleting petroleum supplies and disrupting human health. Rolf Halden, a researcher at Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute has been following the chemical trail of plastics, quantifying their impact on human health and the environment. In a new overview
Sugar, not fat, exposed as deadly villain in obesity epidemic
Sugar – given to children by adults, lacing our breakfast cereals and a major part of our fizzy drinks – is the real villain in the obesity epidemic, and not fat as people used to think, according to a leading US doctor who is taking on governments and the food industry. Dr Robert Lustig, who was this
Reducing Salt Does Not Reduce Heart Disease: Cochrane Study
Salt reduction is a third rail of medicine. There is simply too much money to be made on blood pressure drugs, and Big Pharma must not be crossed. But the reality is that reducing salt intake provides no benefit for heart health. Nonetheless, the official stance doesn’t change. by Heidi StevensonSalt does not cause heart
Did you know May is National High Blood Pressure Education and Stroke Awareness Month
Did you know that May is both National High Blood Pressure Education Month and Stroke Awareness Month? Most of us know someone who has high blood pressure, or hypertension, a condition that affects one in three U.S. adults. High blood pressure can lead to strokes, which kills more than 65 million people annually and is the
New Link Between Heart Disease and Red Meat: New Understanding of Cardiovascular Health Benefits of Vegan, Vegetarian Diets
Apr. 7, 2013 — A compound abundant in red meat and added as a supplement to popular energy drinks has been found to promote atherosclerosis — or the hardening or clogging of the arteries — according to Cleveland Clinic research published online this week in the journal Nature Medicine. The study shows that bacteria living in the
What you thought you knew about obesity is wrong
Editor’s note: Dr. Aaron E. Carroll is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine and the director of the university’s Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research. He blogs about health policy at The Incidental Economist and tweets at @aaronecarroll. (CNN) – I’ve written quite a bit about medical myths, so I’m always a bit skeptical about medical
Racism & Health: New Evidence
Racism is bad for your health, new evidence suggests. We’ve written before about the link betweenracism and health. Traditionally, scholars have conceptualized this in only one direction; that is, racism is bad for people of color. African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans who are the targets of racism are worse off than whites in terms of their health
Diabetes workshops at Baystate Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center ~ sponsored by Health New England
Health New England is sponsoring FREE diabetes educational workshops at the Mason Square Neighborhood Health Center’s Community Room on Thursdays from 1 to 2:30 pm with clinical educator Maria Consedine, RN, BSN, CDE. There are workshop classes available in English and Spanish. HNE 413-787-4000 or (800)842-4464 ext. 3033 Diabetes Management Program HNE’s Diabetes Management Program
GAZPACHO FOR YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
We usually think of gazpacho as a refreshing summer treat, but researchers from the University of Barcelona in Spain have shown that the traditional spicy blend of tomatoes, cucumber, garlic and olive oil can help control high blood pressure year round. The study, published online on November 12, 2012 by the journal Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular
Women and Diabetes: An extra burden for mothers to be
Diabetes can be especially hard on women. The burden of diabetes on women is unique because the disease can affect both mothers and their unborn children. Diabetes can cause difficulties during pregnancy such as a miscarriage or a baby born with birth defects. Women with diabetes are also more likely to have a heart attack, and at
