I think many of us assume that if experts say that Vitamin C can boost the immune system, then grabbing a 500mg bottle at your local health nutrition store must be a good idea. I know I've been guilty of this mindset. But it turns out that if you exercise, taking antioxidant vitamins might not be in your best interest. There was a good summary by Derek Lowe at 'In The Pipeline' about a new PNAS paper that argues against popping vitamins while engaged in an exercise routine. The study found that the experimental group that took a combination of Vitamin C and Vitamin E actually lost some of the inherent benefits of exercise, such as changes in insulin sensitivity and formation of natural antioxidants. My only criticism of the study is that Vitamin C is capable of regenerating Vitamin E, so I wonder whether this phenomenon will carry through for all supplemental antioxidants, or if it's limited to the particular vitamins used in this study.
Read MoreSince the 1980's, American soft drinks have been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and it's rapidly becoming the sweetener of choice in most processed foods. Critics are quick to point a finger at this enigmatic sugar as the root of all evil, claiming its empty calories are contributing to the obesity epidemic, and the numerous chemical processes needed to make it are simply "unnatural". These accusations didn't sit well with "King Corn", and The Corn Refiners Association fired back with a series of TV commercials stating that HFCS was in fact natural, and completely safe in moderation. Government officials have been talking out of both sides of their mouths on the issue, first allowing HFCS to be called natural, then recently proposing it be taxed, thereby equating it to other unhealthy items, such as cigarettes. With all this conflicting information, what should the public think? Should we avoid HFCS at all costs? How does HFCS compare to other sugar sweeteners?
Read MoreJust saw the news that the US Public Health Service has declared a public health emergency over outbreaks of swine flu in New York, California, and other states. Might be a good time to post a story I wrote for WIRED a few years ago about modeling pandemics, and various strategies devised at Los Alamos National Labs to contain such outbreaks. The story begins with the story of the last major outbreak of swine flu in the U.S. - the 1976 non-epidemic out of Fort Dix, New Jersey. Though the anticipated pandemic never happened, the threat did prompt President Ford to declare an unprecedented nationwide immunization program.
Read MoreA few weeks ago, I posted a summary of a few gadgets that tracked personal metrics (steps taken, sleep quality, etc.). I highlighted these particular devices because they took some of the hassle out of self-tracking by automating the process of collecting data and storing it in a personal database on the device's website.
Read MoreMy first exposure to cells, DNA, and genetics was in the 4th grade. Our first assignment was to create a cell model, complete with organelles, a nucleus, and DNA, out of clay and candy. My gray-colored clay cytoplasm was laden with jellybean mitochondria, a licorice nucleus, and Tic Tacs to represent chromosomes. It was a modest simplification of the true wonders of our cells and genetic structure, but it was the highlight of the lesson. Although not at all to proper scale, and biologically unsustainable due to missing structures like M&M golgi bodies and a gummy worm endoplasmic reticulum (which ended up in my stomach instead of in the clay), the lesson brought biology to life for me.
Read MoreA new Nature news story discusses the little known fact that there are two different types of adipose (fat) tissue: white and brown. White fat tissue stores excess calories that are not used for energy as lipids, and typically accumulates around the hips and thighs of the girls, and around the belly of the guys. Simply put, it's the excess inches we try to get rid of through diet and exercise. Brown adipose tissue (BAT), on the other hand, typically accumulates around the collarbone, shoulder blade, and neck area. Originally thought to only be present in human newborns and animals, BAT is unique in that it burns excess fat calories, as opposed to storing them, to keep the body warm.
Read MoreAs obesity takes its toll on our nation's health and health care system, I've often wondered what part the ubiquitous fast-food "Dollar Menu" plays on the problem. Would a higher price or tax on high-fat, high-sugar junk food deter people from eating it? Brain Bloggers offer a well-argued perspective on the matter that I recommend you check out.
Read MoreWhen I discuss the ideas of creating a proactive patient with others, I often sense a bit of hesitation and skepticism in their voices. "Is our current health care system ready for a patient participating in their own care", they'll ask. The optimist in me wants to say "of course", but realistically, I know there are many challenges we'll face in trying to change the status quo.
Read MoreNews of 23andMe launching an online community for expecting mothers, and a few recent journal articles talking about the dangers of environmental polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on both prenatal and neonatal brain development, have got me thinking about the future of in utero preventive medicine. Lesson: I guess it's never too early to begin implementing a Decision Tree...
Read MoreIn my opinion, our inalienable rights should be restated as the title of this post suggests. But despite my wishful thinking, health care costs continue to rise. By 2030, the boomer generation will place 57.8 million people in the 66-84 age group, further burdening current government funding for Medicare. The outlook is bleak, and the system needs fixing. One idea for lowering health care costs is to move health services out of the clinic, and into the home. New web-based services and personal diagnostic equipment now enable patients to receive medical care from the comfort of their living room. Is it realistic this model will reduce costs and stick? I'll cover the web-based services in this post, and follow up with another post on home diagnostic equipment. Web-based doctor's appointments are now available in several states. For example, at $10 per month, and $50 per consultation, SwiftMD offers an online health care plan in New York and New Jersey. Within 30 minutes of scheduling an appointment, subscribers have either a phone conversation or an online video chat with an available physician. If prescriptions are required, the physician sends the request electronically to the pharmacy of the subscriber's choice. A step further in service, Hello Health adds conveniences such as the ability to text, instant message, or tweet your doctor, and also offers clinic appointments or house calls for more serious conditions. Both SwiftMD and Hello Health do not cover major medical expenses, so if the subscriber has to go to the emergency room or be admitted to the hospital, the cost is theirs. Also, neither accepts insurance, but compared to ever increasing health insurance premiums and the number of uninsured patients, an affordable "pay for what you need" model may just work.
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