If your gums bleed easily when you brush your teeth, you may need more vitamin C, according to a study by University of Washington (UW) researchers.1 Bleeding gums can be a warning sign of periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, that results from infection and inflammation in your gums and the bone supporting your…
Are Lectins in Food Good or Bad for You?
Might lectins help explain why those who eat more beans and whole grains have less cancer? Lectins are proteins in plants that bind to carbohydrates. Plants use them to defend against microorganisms and some of those useful properties make lectins toxic and hard to digest. Lectins are to blame for the great “white kidney bean incident” of…
A Former Runner’s Take on Walking
A few years ago at a friend’s house, I met a woman who had lost over 100 pounds. I was clearly impressed and asked her how she did it. Her answer was simple. “Walking,” she said. Walking? She went on to elaborate that she just put on her shoes one day and pretty much began walking…
Glucose Monitors: Big Money, Little Evidence
In the nation’s battle against the diabetes epidemic, the go-to weapon being aggressively promoted to patients is as small as a quarter and worn on the belly or arm. A continuous glucose monitor holds a tiny sensor that’s inserted just under the skin, alleviating the need for patients to prick their fingers every day to…
If You Want Better Sleep, Avoid the Late-Night Snack
When you settle into a movie or watch your favorite team play, you might want to hold off on the snacks. It’s not so much about the extra calories but about how it could impact sleep. Eating in the evening doesn’t help you sleep, even if it makes you feel tired. A big dinner at…
What Is Asparagus Good For?
Asparagus officinalis belongs to a large genus of plants grown for ornamental purposes, though it’s one of the few members of this family that’s cultivated for food.[1] Since its domestication, asparagus has become a favorite for its sweet flavor and tender quality, which allows it to be prepared in various ways.[2] You can steam, poach,…
Exercise Spurs Molecular Change
In the most comprehensive study to date of the molecular changes that occur in your body due to exercise, researchers have seen “an orchestrated choreography of biological processes.” Researchers at Stanford University found that one exercise session leads to changes in a remarkable 9,815 molecules in your blood.[1] The findings reveal exercise does far more…
Add Fiber to Beat Diverticulitis
Diverticulitis can be excruciatingly painful. But adding some bulk to your diet may help tame symptoms and stop them from occurring. It’s possible that bulk may prevent diverticulitis from ever affecting you. What’s bulk? The one and only fiber. Diverticulitis is when little pouches that grow along your intestines—called diverticula—become infected and inflamed. It’s entirely…
What Is Kiwifruit Good For?
Known in ancient China as Yang Tao,[1] the kiwifruit earned its place in Chinese culture not just for its flavor, but also its medicinal properties, which science has substantiated in areas such as digestive health and metabolic health.[2] The commercially grown varieties of kiwifruit can be traced to a China and a Church of Scotland…
High Blood Sugar Is No Good for Your Brain
When you hear about high blood sugar, what comes to mind? Diabetes risk, weight gain, and maybe a risk to heart health? But what about your brain? High blood sugar—even below diabetes levels—may boost the risk of dementia. A new study from University College London in the United Kingdom found that “prediabetes”—a condition where blood…
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