by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Doctors frequently recommend avoiding popcorn, seeds and nuts if you have diverticulosis (pouches in the lower intestine) because they could clog these pockets and increase your risk of bleeding and inflammation. A new JAMA study refutes this. In fact, it finds that these foods may even prevent those complications. How so?

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by Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

With Labor Day and its backyard cookouts around the corner, it’s time to set the record straight. We need to stop picking on mayonnaise. In fact, instead of villainizing mayonnaise, we should be celebrating it. Commercial mayonnaise is made with pasteurized eggs and vinegar. The vinegar makes the spread acidic and therefore an unlikely breeding ground for bacteria. Some research studies have even found that the growth of bacteria in meats has been slowed or stopped in the presence of commercial mayonnaise.

So what’s the likely source of the food borne illness at your picnic? (more…)

by Jill Weisenberger, M.S., R.D., C.D.E.

If you are among the fortunate one-third of the population who is at a “healthy weight”, does it also mean that you are fit and healthy? Likewise if you are overweight, does it mean that you are not fit or healthy? Researchers recently studied these questions and reported their finding in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

They analyzed data of 5440 US adults, and found that approximately 29 percent of the obese men and 35 percent of obese women had no metabolic risk factors for heart disease. About 30 percent normal-weight men and 21 percent normal-weight women showed at least two metabolic abnormalities. The researchers looked at blood pressure, triglycerides, blood glucose level, HDL (good) cholesterol and indicators of insulin resistance and inflammation.
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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The FDA has put out a primer called FDA 101: Dietary Supplements. There is nothing new but loads of information you need to know. Supplements are defined as vitamin, mineral, herbal, botanical or amino acid products, or enzyme supplements. The thing is they are not regulated in the same way as medications

Some take-home messages from the report are:

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

An article in the most recent issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine attempts to discover what it takes to keep weight off after losing it. The participants lost an average of 8 to 10 percent of their original body weight after a year but gained back 5 percent by year two even while trying to stick with the same regimen. That is, all but one group, who kept all of their weight off.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

Attempting to keep up with all the latest medical advice can be daunting. Just when you think you’re doing everything right, you discover news reporting just the opposite.

“Don’t drink tap water–too many contaminates!”

“Don’t drink bottled water–plastic containers can leach out chemicals!”

Is coffee good or bad? What’s the best diet? “Get checked for moles, diabetes, colon cancer” … fill in the blank. Some people just get frustrated and want to give up, thinking, what’s the use? Well, this blog’s for you.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

The FDA has ruled out the Texas distribution center as a source of the Salmonella outbreak.  The source is thought to be Jalapeno peppers from Mexico.  They say it is ok to eat U.S. grown peppers.

I am not sure how you know they are grown in U.S. unless you trust who is selling them.  We’ll see

As you probably know, the FDA found a jalapeno pepper contaminated with the same genetic match of the salmonella strain that has caused the recent outbreak of over 1200 cases in 43 states.  The pepper was found at a distribution center in Texas and was grown on a farm in Mexico.  So is that the end of the story?  Not yet.

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by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

You can now eat any type of domestically grown tomatoes so says the FDA .  They are still investigating serrano and jalapeno peppers.  The episode seems to be coming to an end with no answers and a lot of mad tomato farmers.

by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.

By age 15, the majority of teens don’t meet the 60 minutes of daily exercise the Department of Health and Human Services recommends, says a new study the July 16 Journal of the American Medical Association.

“Lack of physical activity in childhood raises the risk for obesity and its attendant health problems later in life,” said Duane Alexander, M.D., Director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in an NIH press release. “Helping American children maintain appropriate activity levels is a major public health goal requiring immediate action.”

With all the recent publicity regarding the “obesity epidemic” in children, their risk of diabetes, heart disease and the recommendation of cholesterol lowering medicine in some, Dr. Alexander’s statement seems timely. But what can parents do? (more…)