Ever heard of the glycemic index?  It refers to a carbohydrate’s ability to raise blood sugar to a particular level within a given period of time. Some starchy foods have a high glycemic index that may cause high blood sugar levels after meals. Most non-starchy vegetables, fruits, and legumes have a low glycemic index. The […]

Studies have shown that hormones play a role in elevating the desire to eat foods containing carbohydrates during prolonged periods of stress. When our brains are notified that we are experiencing stress, they respond by releasing cortisol, a hormone whose primary function is to raise blood sugar and promote the metabolism of carbohydrates, protein and […]

Thirty percent of Americans only brush their teeth once daily.  That is certainly enough to reduce the level of plaque-causing bacteria–it takes about 24 hours to develop on teeth–but you are more likely to have cavities if you only brush once daily, particularly if you are only brushing in the morning.  If you are going […]

You may have already heard about the health benefits of apple cider vinegar.  Some of its uses include treatment for weight loss, leg cramps and pain, upset stomach, sore throats,  sinus problems, high blood pressure, cholesterol redand fight infection.  While there is insufficient scientific evidence to substantiate all of the claims made about apple cider […]

Maybe you’ve had JuJubes at the movies? The precursor to gummy bears, JuJubes are faux fruit flavored chewy candies that keep your dentist in business. The hot JuJube right now is actually Ziziphus jujuba, commonly called jujube, red date, Chinese date, Korean date, or Indian date. Mounting evidence shows the red date can protect us […]

It’s long been known that improving your physical fitness is associated with living a longer life. Studies show that past age 65, your walking speed at your natural pace is a surprisingly reliable predictor of survival. The study looked at the natural gait speed of more than 34,000 participants age 65 and older from nine previous studies. These studies followed […]

This year was a crazy one, with a tumultuous election cycle, protests, shootings, issues of sexual assault on college campuses — it was a year to remember. Some important things happened that informed our health habits.  These events will have impact on our lives and our health now and in the future.  Here are some […]

Humans have been fasting throughout our existence, sometimes because food was not available, or as a part of major religions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Buddhism. As hunter-gatherers humans went for stretches when food was not available, our bodies evolved to be able to function without food for extended periods of time. Intermittent fasting is […]

If you ever wake up in the morning with a tight or sore jaw, fatigue, or sensitive teeth, you could be grinding or clenching your teeth at night.  The condition, known as bruxism, can lead to headaches and dental problems. Teeth grinding can be caused by stress and anxiety,  and it often occurs during sleep, […]

Researchers have found that people who stuck to a diet that included foods like berries, leafy greens, and fish had a decrease in their risk for the dementia and related brain diseases, which affects more than 5 million Americans over age 65. There is an eating plan associated with this research called the MIND diet, […]