Psychiatry is supposed to help people with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. That’s the idea anyway. I say this because, in reality, it’s not the most effective of disciplines, I think. The drugs often don’t work too well, and usually come with ... Read More ›
UPDATED:June 22, 2016
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
Drop Self-Criticism and Drop Pounds Too
Most people don't like getting harsh criticism from others. The reality is, though, many of us can be our own worst critics. This is particularly the case with regard to weight and body image. Some of us can consciously and unconsciously spend a lot of time feeling a range of negative emotions ... Read More ›
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
B12 Deficiency Linked with Brain Shrinkage in Later Life
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient found naturally in animal products such as meat, fish and eggs. The nutrient is perhaps best known for its relationship with a condition known as 'pernicious anaemia' – a form of anaemia caused by B12 deficiency which itself is caused by impaired absorption of B12 from ... Read More ›
UPDATED:April 20, 2016
Study finds gaping holes in the cholesterol and heart disease hypothesis
It was recently 'Cholesterol Week' here in the UK. It was accompanied inevitably with a rash of stories about the perils of cholesterol and how we should be more aware of our cholesterol levels and do something about them if they're raised. This will all no doubt help to swell the coffers of the ... Read More ›
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
Dr Robert Atkins’ Arteries and Weight When He Died are Irrelevant
I had an email from a doctor recently who tells me he and his wife are embarking on the dietary recommendations to in my last book "Waist Disposal." He admits, though, that it's hard for him to put his hang-ups about saturated fat to one side. He asks in his email if Dr Robert Atkins (low-carb ... Read More ›
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
Acid-Suppressing Meds Can Do More Harm Than Good
Upper digestive symptoms such as indigestion, 'acidity' and heartburn are common. The mainstay of medical treatment for these symptoms is a class of drugs known as the 'proton pump inhibitors' or PPIs. These drugs, include omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid), inhibit acid ... Read More ›
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
Heading Off Dementia May Be Easier Than You Thought
I've written before that my experience is that individuals believe their physical health and wellbeing is generally much more controllable than their mental function. Many believe, for example, that lifestyle modification can keep, say, heart disease or type 2 diabetes at bay, but that their risk of ... Read More ›
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
Are Women Being Misled Over Mammograms?
Mammography seeks to diagnose breast cancer earlier, with the hope that more timely initiation of treatment will lead to better outcomes. All this makes sense, but there are facts about mammography which do not make it the 'no-brainer' many doctors and researchers would have us believe it to ... Read More ›
February 8, 2016
Coffee Safe For Those With History of Raised Blood Pressure
I'm a coffee drinker, and believe this beverage has done little to deserve its quite unhealthy reputation. Much of the negativity concerning coffee comes from the fact that it's generally rich in caffeine. One effect of caffeine is to raise blood pressure – and raised blood pressure has links with ... Read More ›
UPDATED:February 9, 2016
Light therapy for beating the winter blahs
It's an extremely grey (and rainy) day here in London as I write this, which reminds me that winter isn't too far away. Some look to the colder, darker seasons with some trepidation, because they find that their general vitality and mood take a nose dive. At its worst, this phenomenon can ... Read More ›
