Metabolic syndrome - you might know it as pre-diabetes - is that
increasingly common collection of low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure. 1 in 4 Americans now have it.
Metabolic syndrome might be better called "metabolic turmoil," since there's a boiling pot of metabolic disruptions at... Read more
Susie is a petite 5 ft 3 inch woman who weighs 102 lbs. Her starting 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 42 ng/ml in summer.
Claire, on the other hands, struggles with her weight. Also at 5 ft 3 inches but weighing 221 lbs, Claire's starting vitamin D level was 23 ng/ml, also during the summer - severe deficiency.
I ask patients to... Read more
Why are we advised to take calcium supplements?
Men and women are advised to take calcium because it has been shown to reduce blood pressure a small amount (2-3 mmHg). Women, in particular, can stall the deterioration of bone strength (demineralization) by taking calcium supplements, 1200-1300 mg per day, and eating calcium-rich foods... Read more
Organic produce is grown without synthetic agents. Such farming practices generally yield less per acre compared to farming that makes use of high-tech fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. Organic vegetables and fruits are more costly to produce, thereby costing more at the fruit and vegetable stand or at the supermarket.
One obvious... Read more
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
