Brain and Behaviour
Variously on this site I have extolled the virtues of sleep. Only last week I reported on a study which showed that shorter sleep duration and lower sleep efficiency (percentage time spent asleep as a percentage of time spent in bed) were associated with significantly advanced risk of the exposure to the cold virus leading […]
Food and Medical Politics
Last November I reported on a review of treatments for irritable bowel syndrome that had recently been published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The review showed that, of the treatments it assessed, peppermint oil was the most effective. One of the other treatments that was the subject of this review was fibre. As the […]
Sleep
Variously on this site I have reported on the health benefits of getting enough sleep (see here for a relevant article). My attention was drawn to a study published this week which assessed the relationship between sleep time and susceptibility to the common cold in a group of about 150 male and female adults [1]. […]
Pregnancy and Fertility
Pre-eclampsia is a condition that can develop in the 2nd half of pregnancy. It is characterised by high blood pressure in the mother, along with protein in the urine. Late in pregnancy the condition can cause fitting, which can have serious (and even fatal) consequences for the mother and her baby. I was interested to […]
Sunlight
I was reading this morning about a study which assessed the relationship between skin cancer risk and risk of other cancers [1]. There are three main forms of skin cancer; squamus cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and malignant melanoma. This study found that having SCC or BCC was associated with an increased risk […]
Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
Diabetes is a condition characterised by elevated levels sugar in the bloodstream, derived primarily from sugars and starches in the diet. One obvious approach to this condition would be, then, to cut back on carbohydrate intake. I have known many, many diabetics take this approach and reap the reward in terms of better blood sugar […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Less than a month ago I wrote about one specific hazard associated with the taking of antibiotics, specifically their capacity to disturb the ‘ecosystem’ within the gut. In the short term this may lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, but theoretically there may be longer-term consequences too, in the form of chronic digestive symptoms such […]
Brain and Behaviour
Many individuals would like to live to a ripe old age, but at the same time dread the thought of losing their mental capabilities as they do this. One nutritional strategy that may well have some merit in preserving the function of the ageing brain is to ensure a good intake of omega-3 fats, especially […]
Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
A year ago I reported on some research which had found a link between elevated levels of a substance called C-reactive protein (CRP) and worse outcomes for women with breast cancer. CRP levels tend to be higher in individuals with insulin resistance (where insulin levels tend to be high but the tissues in the body […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Vitamin D was once a nutrient associated with important benefits for our bones but little else. In the last few years this vitamin has racked up an impressive list of potential benefits including protection from cancer, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease. In January I discussed another study here which found that higher levels of vitamin […]