I often lecture people on exercise, and I frequently mention how 150 minutes a week of “moderate” exercise can be just as healthy as 90 minutes of heavier exercise. But what’s the difference between light, moderate and heavy?
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) defines exercise intensity in three ways: percentage of maximum heart rate, rate of perceived exertion, and METS (metabolic equivalents).… Read the rest
I see a lot of patients with headaches, and when I delve deeper it often is due to muscle strains in the back of the head (the occiput). Some people also have eye fatigue, or numbness and tingling in the fingers.… Read the rest
Those of you with diabetes, or on the verge of the disease, should take note of a new study which reaffirms what nutritionists recommend: white rice is much less healthy than brown rice and can lead to worse diabetes — or cause diabetes for those on the verge.… Read the rest
Those of you who use tanning beds should take heed: there’s new proof that there is no such thing as a safe tanning bed or a safe dose. Last year I warned readers about the new, stronger U.S. government classification of tanning beds as “carcinogenic to humans”; now there’s an even stronger study which shows a strong correlation with tanning beds and the deadly melanoma skin cancer.… Read the rest
Do you know which produce has the most pesticides? The website www.foodnews.org, sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, has a Shoppers Guide to Pesticides which you can download as a PDF. There is also a nice, free iPhone/iPod Touch application called Dirty Produce, which also lists the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15.
How many of you take a daily pill for chronic heartburn? Many Americans are bombarded with TV ads showing “the purple pills” such as Prilosec and Protonix, a couple of which are now OTC. These once-a-day stomach acid-suppressing proton pump inhibitors (“PPI” for short; generic names omeprazole, lansoprazole and other –azoles) really do work very well for acid reflux and heartburn, but many people mistakenly take these chronically instead of the recommended 2-4 weeks.… Read the rest