For decades, we – and especially women – have been conditioned to think a high level of calcium intake is required for maintaining bone health as we age. The mantra is crystal clear: “Calcium equals bone health,” which translates into, “Consume dairy and take calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis and promote bone health.” But is this actually misguided advice? In […]
We’re all familiar with the highway driving experience of being behind a person who is continually braking for no apparent reason. This is especially problematic if you’re in the left-hand lane. You’re zipping along at the posted speed limit and suddenly the brake lights of the car in front go on. You have to immediately react and hit your brakes. […]
The Mayo Clinic is recommending that doctors routinely ask patients about energy-drink consumption because of an increased risk of cardiac events. A Bend cardiologist who treated healthy young soldiers serving in Afghanistan for irregular heartbeat seconds the advice. “Even healthy people, if they use it in excess, it can be bad,” said Dr. Ian Riddock of Bend Memorial Clinic. He […]
Plato’s Ideas were perfect templates, of which everything we perceive are tangible representations. But the Ideas were not to be found in the world around us. Rather, they were conceptions of rational thought, transcendental objects of knowledge existing in a realm beyond our own. And yet, Plato’s Ideas continue to be a source of inspiration and wonder, more than 2400 […]
A pediatrician recently told me that to treat colds, chicken soup may be a better choice than over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. Now, with government experts questioning the safety and effectiveness of cold medications for kids, the best option for parents this cold and flu season may be home remedies like chicken soup. As it turns out, a handful of […]
If a great Shakespearean protagonist had, anachronistically, joined a gym, his internal existential inquiry might have been, “To lift or not to lift?”. Many centuries later, the identical inquiry, or controversy, persists. Joining a gym (health club) usually implies the new club member is going to engage in strength training in one form or another. Such exercise provides an abundance […]
Several recent studies suggest regular consumption of nuts may provide a significant degree of protection against certain types of cancer, heart disease, possibly type 2 diabetes and some neurodegenerative diseases. The Netherlands Cohort Study A 2015 prospective study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology found individuals who ate at least 10 grams of nuts or peanuts per day (a […]
Even experienced exercisers sometimes find it difficult to know how much to do. For the beginner this uncertainty represents a significant stumbling block. Fortunately well-established guidelines and protocols exist to provide assistance to all exercisers, regardless of your skill level. In general, the beginning exerciser requires the most instruction. The key is to build up strength and endurance slowly and […]
Having a pair of healthy hips is a key to healthy aging. But healthy hips are not only important for people in their 60s, 70s, and beyond. Your hips are one of your most important structural components, regardless of how old you are. Whether you’re 20, 30, or 40, your hip joints provide biomechanical support to your entire body. Thus, […]
Unlike the health challenges doctors faced in the past (mostly due to infectious diseases), our current health epidemics are the chronic diseases of aging, diabetes, heart disease and obesity – epidemics fueled by the one-two punch of free-radical damage to cells and chronic, systemic inflammation. Inflammation – The First Great Threat to Wellness Inflammation is a natural part of the […]
