All The Blogs -- May 2016

Filter By:

Treating Pancreatic Cancer with Turmeric Curcumin

Michael Greger MD | May 31, 2016 | Health

Read More: animal fat, cancer, carcinogens, chemotherapy, chicken, curcumin, dried fruit, fake meat, fat, FDA, fruit, heterocyclic amines, legumes, meat, mortality, pancreatic cancer, poultry, red meat, side effects, spices, standard American diet, turkey, turmeric, vegetables, veggie burgers, veggie dogs, white meat

Pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive forms of human cancer, characterized by a very high mortality rate. It represents the fourth leading cause of cancer death in United States, killing 32,000 people annually. With a five-year survival rate...

Preventing Breast Cancer with Flax Seeds

Michael Greger MD | May 26, 2016 | Health

Read More: aging, blood clots, brain health, breast cancer, breast cancer survival, breast health, cancer, cognition, flax seeds, fruit, grains, interleukin-1, lignans, longevity, mental health, mortality, ovary health, phytoestrogens, plant-based diets, seeds, side effects, tamoxifen, uterine cancer, vegans, vegetables, vegetarians, women's health

I've previously discussed the role of dietary lignans in the reduction of breast cancer risk and improvement in breast cancer survival, based on studies that showed that women with breast cancer who ate the most lignans appeared to live...

Children's Supplements Found Contaminated With Pollutants

Michael Greger MD | May 24, 2016 | Health

Read More: algae, anchovies, asthma, breast milk, children, cod liver oil, DHA, fish, fish oil, industrial toxins, lung disease, lung health, omega-3 fatty acids, PCBs, persistent organic pollutants, supplements, tuna, vitamin A

A number of case-control studies have found that giving kids cod liver oil supplements may increase their risk of asthma later in life. Case-control studies are done by asking about past behavior in cases (those with asthma) versus controls...

No More Than a Quart a Day of Hibiscus Tea

Michael Greger MD | May 19, 2016 | Health

Read More: aluminum, antacids, black tea, breast milk, children, citric acid, citrus, fruit juice, green tea, heavy metals, herbal tea, hibiscus tea, iron, kidney failure, lemons, limes, manganese, oolong tea, orange juice, pregnancy, safety limits, tea, white tea, World Health Organization

Over the counter antacids are probably the most important source for human aluminum exposure in terms of dose. For example, Maalox, taken as directed, can exceed the daily safety limit more than 100-fold, and nowhere on the label does...

Aluminum Levels in Tea

Michael Greger MD | May 17, 2016 | Health

Read More: aluminum, Alzheimer's disease, antacids, bioavailability, black tea, brain disease, brain health, candy, cans, cheese, dementia, gravy, green tea, heavy metals, herbal tea, hibiscus tea, junk food, kidney failure, oolong tea, phytonutrients, processed foods, safety limits, tea, water, World Health Organization

While aluminum is the third most abundant element on Earth, it may not be good for our brain, something we learned studying foundry workers exposed to particularly high levels. Although the role of aluminum in the development of brain...

Rinse Your Mouth After Sour Foods and Drinks

Michael Greger MD | May 12, 2016 | Health

Read More: blackberries, blood pressure, burgers, citrus, Coca-Cola, dental health, erectile dysfunction, food additives, fruit, hamburgers, herbal tea, hibiscus tea, hypertension, impotence, liver disease, liver failure, meat, mortality, oral health, orange juice, periodontal disease, plant-based diets, side effects, tea, vegans, vegetables, water

Hibiscus tea has been found to be as effective at lowering blood pressure as a leading hypertension drug without the potential side-effects (which include everything from lack of strength to impotence, including rare cases of potentially fatal liver damage)....

Plant-Based Diets for Hypertension

Michael Greger MD | May 10, 2016 | Health

Read More: animal fat, animal protein, athletes, blood pressure, calories, cholesterol, dairy, DASH diet, diabetes, eggs, exercise, fish, fruit, heart disease, heart health, herbal tea, hibiscus tea, hypertension, junk food, Lifestyle medicine, meat, mortality, nitric oxide, obesity, plant protein, plant-based diets, processed foods, salt, side effects, standard American diet, stroke, tea, vegans, vegetables, vegetarians, weight loss, World Health Organization

Recently, researchers from Taiwan pitted the herbal tea hibiscus against obesity. They gave hibiscus to overweight individuals and reported that subjects showing reduced body weight. However, after 12 weeks on hibiscus subjects only lost about three pounds, only one...

How to Treat Prediabetes with Diet

Michael Greger MD | May 5, 2016 | Health

Read More: American Diabetes Association, calories, cholesterol, chronic diseases, dairy, diabetes, eggs, exercise, fat, fiber, flax seeds, grains, Institute of Medicine, insulin, junk food, Lifestyle medicine, meat, medical education, mortality, omega-3 fatty acids, phytosterols, plant-based diets, prediabetes, processed foods, saturated fat, sugar, trans fats

For people with prediabetes, lifestyle modification is considered "the cornerstone of diabetes prevention." Diet-wise, this means individuals with prediabetes or diabetes should aim to reduce their intake of excess calories, saturated fat, and trans fat. Too many of us...

Are Sprouted Lentils Healthier Than Canned Lentils?

Michael Greger MD | May 3, 2016 | Health

Read More: aging, Alzheimer's disease, anthocyanins, antioxidants, astrocytes, beans, boiling, brain disease, brain health, breast cancer, cancer, cans, chickpeas, chronic diseases, cognition, cooking methods, dementia, elderly, kale, kidney cancer, legumes, lentils, Lou Gehrig's disease, Parkinson's disease, phenolics, phytonutrients, polyphenols, raw food, split peas, sprouting

Beans, chickpeas, split peas and lentils are packed with nutrients and play a role in the prevention of chronic disease, but most can't be eaten raw. Some can be sprouted, though. Boiling is the most common cooking method, which...