The top-ranked diet may be one you’ve never heard of — but one I recommend often
US News & World Report ranks the DASH Diet Plan as BEST overall diet plan. If you’ve never heard of the DASH diet, you’re not alone. (more…)
Flaxseed does not help reduce hot flashes
A new study is showing that flaxseed is NOT associated with a significant reduction in hot flashes for women with menopausal symptoms or breast cancer survivors taking anti-estrogen drugs. (more…)
One in three adults unaware sun exposure causes eye health risks
Wearing a hat and protecting eyes from harmful UV rays is as much a part of sun protection as slathering on sunscreen. (more…)
MEDIA ALERT: Barb and I were featured on “Your Family Live”
Today, Barb and I were interviewed on the Internet TV show, Your Family Live, about our book, His Brain, Her Brain: How divinely designed differences can strengthen your marriage. (more…)
App for smart phones helps diagnose concussions
A physician at the University of North Carolina has teamed with other head-trauma researchers to develop an app (application) for mobile devices that helps determine whether someone may have suffered a concussion. You can see the iPhone app here. (more…)
FDA warns against using breast thermography as stand-alone breast imaging method
The FDA is warning “women NOT to substitute a type of imaging known as breast thermography for traditional mammography.” (more…)
US replaces food pyramid with nutrition plate
The US Department of Agriculture recently unveiled the long awaited replacement for the food pyramid, the triangle of nutrition introduced back in 1992. And I, for one, think it’s a great change! (more…)
Report recommends most children avoid sports drinks
In a new report, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), representing most of the nation’s pediatricians, is advising children and teens NOT to down sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade unless they’re actually playing sports and to forgo energy drinks like Java Monster, Red Bull and Full Throttle altogether. (more…)
Can pistachios help erectile dysfunction?
Recently a research team investigated the effects of Antep (Turkish) pistachios erectile dysfunction (ED). The results were somewhat surprising ... at least to me. (more…)
Precision-tinted sunglasses may help prevent migraines
Precision-tinted sunglasses may help prevent migraines in people whose pain is triggered by certain visual patterns according to a study published in the journal Cephalalgia. (more…)
White mulberry for type 2 diabetes
For some strange reason, I've had more folks searching my web site for "white mulberry for diabetes. So, here's my take on the topic. (more…)
Shingles and pneumonia vaccines may be given together
In a recent blog, (If you’re 50 or older, get the shingles vaccine) I told you the good news that the shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine is now available to those 50 and older. In addition, the pneumonia vaccine (pneumoccal vaccine) is now also indicated for many adults younger than 65 (i.e., smokers and those with diabetes, asthma, COPD, lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and a number of high-risk factors). But, can these immunizations be given together? (more…)
Study: High percent of women using abortion drug hospitalized
A new study from Australia finds a high percentage of women using the dangerous RU 486 abortion drug require hospitalization — undermining the argument that the drug (mifepristone) is safe for all women. (more…)
Group says cholesterol screenings should begin during childhood
All children should be screened for high cholesterol when they're 9 to 11 years old according to new guidelines from the National Lipid Association (NLA). (more…)
Measles, other childhood diseases reemerging as parents refuse vaccines
For the doctors and nurses caring for patients with measles, the return of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles — a viral illness that once killed 3,000 to 5,000 Americans a year — is both frightening and all too predictable. (more…)
CDC: US experiencing largest measles outbreak in 15 years
Measles – a disease that was declared eliminated in the USA in 2000 – is again breaking out across the country. Who do you think is the primary culprit? You might be surprised! (more…)
A well-loved child more likely to be a loving spouse
The ability of men and women to have staying power and a strong level of commitment in their romantic relationships and marriage can be traced back to their early childhood and adolescence, a new study reports. (more…)
Some NSAIDs potentially dangerous for heart attack survivors
When heart attack survivors or those with heart disease take certain pain relievers it puts them at higher risk for heart attack or death according to a new study in Circulation, a journal of the American Heart Association. (more…)
Burning the midnight oil may lead to weight gain
'Night owls' take in an average of 248 more calories per day, a recent study found. As such, folks who consistently stay up late may be putting themselves at higher odds for weight gain and obesity. (more…)
Pediatric society rejects ‘personal belief’ exemption for vaccination of kids
Research has shown that children who are exempted from vaccinations have a 35-fold higher risk for measles, a 23-fold higher risk for pertussis and a nine-fold higher risk for varicella than do vaccinated children. (more…)
Feds issue warning to makers of unproven STD treatments
The AP reports, "Federal health officials are cracking down on bogus pills and supplements that their makers claim will cure or prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like HIV, herpes and genital warts." (more…)
People who let go of regrets are happier and more satisfied with life
The Bible teaches, "'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry ..." (Ephesians 4:26). In other words, let go of your anger, regrets, bitterness, sorrow, etc. Why? Wallowing in these emotions is always harmful to our physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health. (more…)
Prescribing Jesus gets doctor unjustly censured
A Christian doctor in England has been threatened with an official warning from his professional body for discussing Jesus with a patient, The (London) Sunday Times reported. (more…)
The list of long- and short-term benefits of breastfeeding continues to grow
Long-time readers of this blog know I'm a big, big fan of encouraging, equipping, and enabling new moms to exclusively breastfeed their infants for at least six months. Here's a summary of some of my reasons for this: (more…)
Breastfed babies have better head growth and lower blood pressure
Breastfeeding is universally recommended as the superior method for feeding infants because it's linked to prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and long-term prevention of various illnesses including asthma, diabetes,and obesity ... and even behavioral problems. Now a study is showing that breastfed babies have improved head (and presumably brain) growth and lower blood pressure. (more…)
Breastfeeding protects against SIDS
According to a review (meta-analysis) of 24 studies in the journal Pediatrics, breastfeeding substantially reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), especially when breast milk is the sole nutritional source. (more…)
Breast-feeding reduces later behavior problems
A recent British study finds more behavioral issues among kids who were formula-fed, as compared to kids who are breastfed. In fact, breast-fed children are significantly less likely to have behavioral problems at age 5 than are those who were given formula as infants. (more…)
Prolonged bottle feeding boosts kids’ obesity risk: study
Nearly one-quarter of 2-year-old babies who are still drinking from a bottle at 2 years of age may be prone to obesity by the time they turn 5, a new study suggests. (more…)
Daycare centers purposely flout TV guidelines
A shocking study has reported that media, such as just turning on the TV, is used far too often as a replacement for adult-child interaction. In fact, the study showed that, "More than two-thirds of daycare centers included in a new U.S. study have TVs available for children to watch, and nearly 60 percent of the centers ignored the American Academy of Pediatrics' guidelines for television exposure in young kids." (more…)
Caution about ‘ear candles’
After my blog, "Cotton swabs linked to ruptured eardrums," a reader wrote, "Dr. Walt, what do you think about ear candles?" I thought I had blogged about ear candles in the past, but cannot find it. So, here's an update about them: (more…)