It has long been known that exercise improves the physical well-being of our body. We also know that intense exercise causes a release of feel-good endorphins in the brain (contributing to what some call a “runners’ high”). But can exercise change the actual structure of...
Can your diet affect your genes? More specifically, can it affect the way you age? It turns out the Mediterranean-Style Diet can do just that. Telomeres are small protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes (genetic material) which protect our genetic information from being damaged....
Probiotics are “good bacteria” which live in our bodies, particularly in our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. There are about 100 trillion of these critters living in a diverse and dynamic community within our bodies, outnumbering human cells by a factor of ten to one! They play...
The smoke point of various oils and fats is the point at which the oil begins to break down both nutritionally and from a flavor perspective. A lot has been said about the downside of high heat cooking such as frying and broiling in the...
I’ve been excited about the research showing that coffee is not all that bad for us… The Science: In fact, it’s been associated with a decrease in “all-cause mortality” (though, admittedly, the study had some significant flaws). But, as I tell my patients frequently, the research about...
As the days are becoming more chilly and the sun is setting earlier, I’m thinking about the changing of the seasons and how it affects our health. The Science Chronobiology is the science of biological rhythms. Unbeknownst to many of us, our bodies are deeply affected by...
A new review of studies supports the use of the Mediterranean style diet to lower cardiovascular risk. The diet consists of the following: high monounsaturated/saturated fat ratio (read more olive oil, less butter, more nuts and seeds, fewer animal products), low to moderate...
I’ve been looking into the issue of palm oil used in many food products in lieu of butter or hydrogenated fats. The Science: It turns out not all palm oils are alike! High oleic palm oil has a higher portion of oleic acid (the fat found in...
Question of the day: is there any truth to the old adage “Eat Breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Lord, Dinner like a pauper”? The Science It turns out that a study published in the journal Obesity in 2014 found that eating your largest meal at...
Today is my day off. My daughters and I met my husband for lunch in Newark where he works. On our way back to the car, we saw a woman who was sick at the curb-side. Initial response: “yuck, sick, gross, is she drunk, move away,...
