In a previous post, I discussed how the common sugar, fructose, exerts unique and undesirable effects on health distinct from other sugars, like glucose. Fructose is commonly found in sucrose (table sugar¾half glucose, half fructose), the widely used sweetener high-fructose corn syrup, and sweetened soft drinks and fruit... Read more
The last 40 years of health advice has been dominated by the "eat low-fat" mantra. It was a period dominated by concerns over saturated and total fat as causes for heart attack, stroke, and cancer. It witnessed the explosion of low-fat "heart healthy" foods. It prompted low-fat cookies to be viewed as "heart healthy." It led to the American Heart... Read more
Can you improve health by increasing muscle strength or size?
Emerging clinical studies suggest that, yes, you can.
Loss of muscle mass is one of the inevitable processes of aging, a process that begins in our 40s, only to accelerate over the years.
Everyone already recognizes the extremes of lost muscle: the... Read more
Q: When are "heart healthy" foods not heart healthy?
A: When "heart healthy" is just a marketing claim with no real basis in reality or science.
In an ideal world, a food label proudly bearing the claim "heart healthy" truly would be heart healthy.
But, no, Dorothy, it's not a perfect world.
I'm not talking... Read more
Can missing an hour or two of sleep every night shorten your life?
Yes, it can. It's a frightening prospect in a time when long hours and hard work are valued, sleep discouraged.
Not only that. Habitually shortchanging sleep needs can:
Increase blood sugar and blunt insulin responses
Increase appetite
Cause weight gain -... Read more
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on MyHeartCentral.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2005-2009. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. All rights reserved.
 | We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. |
