Month: November 2014

The Los Angeles Times (11/11, Kaplan) “Science Now” blog reported that according to a study published in the Annals of Family Medicine, there are two good methods to help people swallow large tablets and capsules. (more…)

The Los Angeles Times “Science Now” blog reports that research published in PNAS suggests that “compared with a person who never smoked marijuana, someone who uses marijuana regularly has, on average, less gray matter in his orbital frontal cortex, a region that is a key node in the brain’s reward, motivation, decision-making and addictive behaviors network.” (more…)

As long-time readers know, I have the pleasure of writing a column for the Significant Living magazine. My most recent article, “Thrive Through Thanks,” can be viewed here. The article contains my Thanksgiving Prescription for you. (more…)

This time of the year, many of us fear the inevitable “watch what you eat during the holidays” speech—especially from doctors. Well, I’m skipping the sermon about the meal, to talk about your mind. (more…)

NBC Nightly News reported that “the nation’s top allergists are saying most of those” who believe they are allergic to penicillin are not. (more…)

Bloomberg News reports that according to a report published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, “the amount of NNAL, a carcinogen which comes only from tobacco, was as high in daily cigar smokers as those who regularly smoke cigarettes.” (more…)

The Washington Post “Wonkblog” reported that according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, “preschoolers and kindergartners tend to eat healthier lunches when the food is chosen by their school, not their parents.” (more…)

NBC Nightly News reported that a study from Brown University suggests that children, particularly as they get older, tend to go to bed later due to a shift in sleeping patterns. (more…)

The New York Times reports on the dangers posed by “colorful, single-load packets of” detergents introduced on the US market about two years ago. Since the pods’ introduction, “more than 17,000 children under age six ate or inhaled the contents or squirted concentrated liquid from a packet into their eyes, “ according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics. (more…)

NBC Nightly News reported that “the nation’s top allergists are saying most of those” who believe they are allergic to penicillin are not. (more…)

Laurie Garrett and Maxine Builder coauthor an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times that notes on the rise of vaccine-preventable diseases in places where vaccination is supposed to be common. (more…)

TIME reports that according to a study published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, “more than two million men suffer from osteoporosis” but most are not diagnosed or treated. (more…)

TIME reports “a new study published in the journal Appetite shows that drinking sugar-filled fruit juices does a number on your blood pressure.” (more…)

The Boston Globe reports, following the death of cancer patient Brittany Maynard, who chose to end her life under Oregon’s “Death With Dignity” law, physicians, “medical ethicists, and patient rights activists in the Boston area remain sharply divided over whether doctors should actively participate in patient deaths.” (more…)

The Fox News website reports that according to a study published in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal, working rotating or abnormal shifts over the long-term “may lead to memory loss and slower, irreversible brain processing speed.” (more…)

The Hill reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is "moving forward with new recommendations to the manufacturers of dietary supplements that have drawn increasing scrutiny for their miracle weight loss claims." (more…)

The Wall Street Journal reports that according to the findings of a small study conducted by the researchers at the University of Missouri, eating a high-protein breakfast can be an effective tool for reducing food cravings, boosting dopamine, which may assist efforts to control weight. (more…)

The Los Angeles Times reported that recently, pediatrician Paul Offit, MD, of the University of Pennsylvania and “the nation’s most outspoken childhood vaccine proponent,” came to Los Angeles to “subject several dozen physicians to a faux parental grilling” on the subject of vaccines. (more…)

TIME reported that according to research published in the journal Pediatrics, youngsters, especially those from economically disadvantaged families, “tend to develop poor dietary habits during their first year that stick with them for the rest of their lives.” (more…)

Are you allergic to egg products and yet you want to be vaccinated against the flu virus? Well, I've got some more good news for you. (more…)

The Washington Post reports that, according to a report released by Oceana, a ocean conservation advocacy organization, “43 of 143 shrimp samples obtained from restaurants and grocery stores” in Washington, DC, New York City, Portland, Oregon, and the Gulf Coast “were misrepresented” on the menu. Nationally, 30% of shrimp were found to be mislabeled. (more…)

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that according to two studies published in the journal Nature, which can be seen here and here, “small variations in as many as 1,000 human genes could contribute to the risk of autism.” (more…)

The NPR “Shots” blog reports that research published online in JAMA Dermatology indicates that “half of the top 125 U.S. colleges and universities listed in US News and World Report have indoor tanning facilities either on campus or in nearby student-focused housing.” (more…)

Bloomberg News reports that according to a study published in the journal Radiology, “brain scans may identify people with chronic fatigue syndrome [CFS].” (more…)

TIME reports that research to be presented at the American Society of Nephrology meeting suggests that some home blood pressure monitoring devices may be inaccurate. (more…)

The New York Times reports that the nonprofit Environmental Working Group has developed Food Scores, a comprehensive new web service rating over 80,000 food products sold nationally on a scale from one to ten based on ingredients, nutrition, and processing. (more…)

The New York Times “Well” blog reports that research published online in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests that kids “who do not drink cow’s milk may have insufficient levels of vitamin D.” (more…)

ABC World News reported a new study from several universities tonight has found that light to moderate drinking of two drinks a day for men, one for women, after the age of 60 can stimulate cells in the brain leading to better memory. (more…)

The Washington Post reports that research published online in Nature Neuroscience “suggests that a natural compound found in cocoa, tea and some vegetables can reverse age-related memory loss.” (more…)

In “The Grid,” Bloomberg News reports that “sixteen-year-olds who regularly enjoy marijuana show somewhat diminished grades, according to a new analysis of data on 2,235 British children born in 1991 and 1992.” (more…)