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Category: Women’s Health

Blog posts from the drbriffa.com archive — same writing, same categories, on the same domain.

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Category: Women’s Health

Individuals with ‘normal’ thyroid function may still have symptoms of low thyroid function Specific conditions

Individuals with ‘normal’ thyroid function may still have symptoms of low thyroid function

The thyroid gland is the ‘master regulator’ of the body’s metabolism. Should its function falter (hypothyroidism) it can give rise to a wide range of symptoms including dry skin, dry hair, fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold, cold extremities and low mood or depression. Standard blood tests for thyroid function include thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) […]

February 28, 2011· 3 min read
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Protein improves body composition in women without exercise Exercise and Activity

Protein improves body composition in women without exercise

Earlier this month I wrote a blog about a study which found that supplementation with protein (whey protein) and the amino acid leucine resulted in increased muscle mass and muscle strength over an 8-week period. I was particularly interested in this because I sometimes recommend whey protein supplementation to individuals looking to maximise muscle gains […]

February 24, 2011· 2 min read
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Newspaper article reminds us of red meat’s nutritional value Healthy Eating

Newspaper article reminds us of red meat’s nutritional value

Red meat is one of the foods that, on the whole, tends not to get a vote of confidence from health agencies and health professionals. The case against this food is mainly based on the (I think, misguided) belief that eating saturated fat and cholesterol cause heart disease. After this, we have the idea that […]

February 22, 2011· 3 min read
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Most American women don’t have scheduled mammograms. Why? Food and Medical Politics

Most American women don’t have scheduled mammograms. Why?

I came across this story this morning. It tells us that less than half America women attend their scheduled, recommended mammogram examinations. The article cites possible reasons for this short-fall in take-up, specifically “discomfort from the test, lack of available screening centers, general non-compliance or denial.” All of these have some validity, I suppose, but […]

January 4, 2011· 2 min read
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FDA discourages women from sharing breast milk (though freeze-dried, highly processed cow’s milk is fine) Children's Health

FDA discourages women from sharing breast milk (though freeze-dried, highly processed cow’s milk is fine)

Yesterday I was having a conversation at dinner with a lady and the subject of milk-drinking came up. While women have generally been utterly persuaded that milk (and other dairy products) are somehow essential to bone health. Paleontological evidence suggests that we had no bone problems to speak of prior to the introduction of dairy […]

December 3, 2010· 3 min read
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Women again not given the full facts about mammography Food and Medical Politics

Women again not given the full facts about mammography

Mammography involves taking X-rays of the breast, in an effort to detect breast cancer earlier, with the hope that treatment will be more effective. It’s an approach that appears to make eminent sense. Yet, objective study of mammography shows that it doesn’t work so well. For a start, many, many women have to undergo screening […]

November 18, 2010· 5 min read
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Lower-carb diet found to be better than a lower-fat one in pregnancy Children's Health

Lower-carb diet found to be better than a lower-fat one in pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time when many women become a bit more focused on what they are eating. I recently had a conversation with a newly-pregnant women who was also a type 1 diabetic (a condition in which natural production of insulin is inadequate, necessitating the injection of insulin). She has found her way to a […]

October 22, 2010· 3 min read
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Researchers give mammography another vote of no confidence Food and Medical Politics

Researchers give mammography another vote of no confidence

Mammography is a screening tool designed to diagnose breast cancer earlier than it other would be, which should lead to earlier, better and more effective treatment. Well, that’s the theory anyway. But as with the case with many things, theory does not always translate smoothly into practice. There has been for some years now growing […]

September 24, 2010· 4 min read
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Study reveals that women need to exercise for 77 hours to lose a kg of fat, and why knowing this can actually help maintain the motivation to exercise Exercise and Activity

Study reveals that women need to exercise for 77 hours to lose a kg of fat, and why knowing this can actually help maintain the motivation to exercise

Although I am an advocate of exercise, I have more than once felt the urge to express the view that it’s not a particularly effective tool for weight loss. The view is partly based on my experience (the experience of a friend of mind that he recounted over dinner and you can read here is […]

September 13, 2010· 4 min read
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Omega-3 fats found to have antidepressant effects in women Brain and Behaviour

Omega-3 fats found to have antidepressant effects in women

There is little doubt that food can affect brain function. For example, caffeine can enhance mental energy and alertness, while a lull in blood sugar levels can have the reverse effect. Another important nutritional factor in mental functioning are the so-called omega-3 fats that are found most plentifully in “oily”  varieties of fish such as […]

July 30, 2010· 3 min read
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