Nutrients and Supplements
Recently a couple of blogs have focused on the potential role that vitamin D may play in the regulation of body weight (see here and here). One of these blogs concerns a study which found that low. Levels of vitamin D were associated with increased body weight and waist circumference. This does not mean that […]
Brain and Behaviour
Nutritional needs can vary a bit between men and women, and this does certainly seem to be generally so for iron. Women who menstruate are at risk of iron deficiency because of the iron lost in menstrual blood each month. In my experience, a very significant proportion of such women have low or suboptimal iron […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Back in March I wrote a blog which explored the concept that low levels of vitamin D may predispose the body the fatty accumulation. Part of the evidence for this comes from a couple of studies [1,2] cited in the blog which found this association in female teenagers and women aged 16-22 respectively. More recently, […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Back in April 2008 one of my blogs focused on the nutrients which might help prevent the development of age-related macular degeneration (the most common cause of visual loss in the elderly). The blog highlights the potential of omega-3 fats and zinc to be or particular value here. However, more recently, evidence has emerged which […]
Exercise and Activity
For a while now I have been interested in the role that vitamin D plays in health. My interest was recently heightened when I discovered earlier this year that my own vitamin D levels were very deficient. As I revealed here, I since commenced on a programme of supplementation (3000 IU per day). I’ve also […]
Exercise and Activity
The poor reputation that saturated fat has led many to avoid consuming not just animal foods such as red meat and cheese, but certain plant foods that are rich in this brand of fat, notably coconut. However, the fact that there is no evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease (see here), not that fat […]
Cholesterol and Statins
Statin drugs are the most commonly-used medications for reducing cholesterol levels. They do seem to help prevent cardiovascular disease, though whether they do this through their cholesterol reducing effects is a moot point. And despite them being billed as the wonder-drugs of the age, I think it’s worth bearing in mind that these drugs are […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Vitamin D has gained a reputation for helping to ward off a plethora off ills, including bone disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, multiple sclerosis and infection. However, while there has been increasing awareness about the multitude of benefits vitamin D can bring, there has also been growing concern that many of us do not have optimal […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Gout is a condition caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the body. If levels are high enough, uric acid can end up crystallising in one or more joint, which typically causes intense pain and inflammation. Gout quite often affects the ball of the foot (the major joint of the big toe), but the […]
Cholesterol and Statins
Statins are the most commonly used cholesterol-reducing drugs. There is evidence that taking them reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, though it certainly isn’t assured that this is because they reduce cholesterol levels. For more on this see here. While statins may indeed have benefits for health, they are not without risk. The cholesterol-producing enzyme […]