Monthly Archives: October 2015

The Wall Street Journal reports that the cell-free DNA test, which can be used to predict whether an unborn baby will have Down syndrome, among other genetic disorders, is growing in popularity.

NBC Nightly News reported on “troubling news tonight about the long-term dangers of head injuries while playing football.”

CNN reports that new data from the Centers for Disease Control show that obesity rates remain steady but “high around the country.”

The New York Times reports that “for the first time, a widely used modern diabetes” medication “has been shown to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease, a long-sought goal of treatment, researchers announced.”

USA Today reports on a study published in JAMA “showed that older adults who took nutritional supplements, including omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish and walnuts) and a combo of lutein and zeaxanthin (found in leafy greens), experienced just as … Continue reading →

The NBC News website reports that caffeine appears to disrupt the body’s circadian rhythms, which explains why people who drink coffee at night cannot fall asleep.

The Huffington Post reports that a study by a team of researchers at Korea University, Seoul found that antibacterial soap that contains the antibacterial and antifungal agent triclosan was “no better at killing germs than regular ol’ soap in both lab … Continue reading →

TIME reports that a study published in the Journal of Hepatology suggests that “too many hours spent sitting can increase the risk of developing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).”

USA Today reports that according to a report released by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, US children and teens “get 12% of their calories from fast-food restaurants.”

In a CNN article titled, “How doctors want to die is different than most people,” Dr. Kendra Fleagle Gorlitsky recalls the anguish she used to feel performing CPR on elderly, terminally ill patients. “I felt like I was beating up … Continue reading →

CNN reports a study by the Georgia Poison Center shows that “since 2010, poison control center hotlines across the United States have seen a nearly 400% increase in calls related to children younger than 12 ingesting hand sanitizer.”

The Washington Post reports that the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) “said taking a daily dose of aspirin can help prevent both cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer.”

The New York Times “Well” blog reported, “In schools with short lunch periods, children eat less and discard more than in schools where they are allowed more time to eat,” according to a study published in the Journal of the Academy … Continue reading →

The Washington Post reports that a study by the USDA has found that the health effects of high fructose corn sweetener (HFCS) and honey “were essentially the same,” according to Susan K. Raatz, a USDA research nutritionist involved in the study.

Kaiser Health News reported that while vaccination rates for children “have steadily risen well over 90% the past few years,” the rates for adults over 60 “getting flu, pneumonia, tetanus or shingles shots … have stayed stubbornly flat and trail national … Continue reading →

The Los Angeles Times reported that approximately “half of all Americans have either diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to a new” study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The New York Times reports that the Food and Drug Administration announced that “it had sent warning letters to five producers of pure powdered caffeine, in what consumer advocates said was a long overdue move against the product and the industry … Continue reading →

USA Today reports that research indicates that “teenagers have discovered a new way to inhale marijuana — e-cigarette vaporizers.”

The AP reports that a commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine argues that “federal officials need to do more to prevent for-profit stem cell clinics from exploiting and potentially injuring patients.”

NBC News reports on a new study by the Cleveland Clinic published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases that found “people over 65 were less likely to come down with serious flu-like illness when a third of younger adults in their … Continue reading →

According to ConsumerLab.com, although sublingual B-12 is often promoted for better absorption, there does not appear to be much evidence for this.

TIME reports that research published in JAMA Pediatrics suggests that “young people who use e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to try conventional cigarettes later on.”

An article in the Atlantic, “Gay Rights May Come at the Cost of Religious Freedom,” reports, “The Supreme Court’s ruling in favor of same-sex marriage at the end of June has set the country up for new waves of discrimination … Continue reading →

Many of you know that several times a year I co-teach a course for health professionals called Grace Prescriptions with my dear friend, Bill Peel, DMin. Recently we received some feedback from an attendee I thought you’d enjoy seeing.

A few years ago, Barb and I co-wrote a book His Brain, Her Brain: How divinely designed differences can strengthen your marriage. Recently we were interviewed about the book and thought you might enjoy listening to our interactions and responses.

The Wall Street Journal reports that academic institutions are taking a range of approaches to push students to receive meningitis B vaccinations, following recent campus outbreaks.

According to the New York Times “Well” blog, a study published in the journal Public Health Reports suggests that US school children appear to be throwing away vegetables and fruits required under a 2012 USDA school lunch rule.

A dear friend who is a family physician wrote me that his wife was having difficult preventing terrible migraine headaches using standard prescriptions. He had heard me give a talk about natural medicines (herbs, vitamins, and supplements) and migraine prevention … Continue reading →

Here are the contents of this month’s newsletter: Family Update Publication Update Events of the Last Month Upcoming ­Events