SR

SR

Boosting immunity with food

berries

In addition to getting enough sleep and exercise, managing stress, avoiding tobacco and minimizing alcohol use, choosing the right foods can boost immunity and help defend against infections.  Some of the best foods for the immune system, as research shows,…

Colorectal cancer: things to know

gut bacteria

March is colorectal cancer (CRC) awareness month.  The American Cancer Society now recommends that people at average risk for CRC start regular screening at age 45.  What are some things you should know about prevention and getting screened? What can you…

Research on probiotics

probiotics

Recently, two studies published in Cell on probiotics have been getting a lot of attention. I’ve written previously about probiotics, including when it would be appropriate to take a supplement, how to pick a supplement if you are going to take one, and the…

Is juicing good for you?

juicing

Table sugar, or sucrose, is made of glucose and fructose.  The same glucose and fructose is also found in fruit, like apples.  So why is table sugar so much worse for you? It all comes down to how your body…

Is intermittent fasting healthy?

fasting

Fasting to improve health has been around for thousands of years, with early support from Hippocrates and Plato.  From an evolutionary perspective, our habit of having three meals a day (plus snacks) is abnormal.  For much of human history, access…

Get dirty—for your gut germs

gardening

As the amount of concrete and glass in a neighborhood increases, the diversity of microbial species on peoples’ skin decreases, and their risk for allergies and asthma goes up.   Developed nations with thriving, modern economies have the highest rates of…