Does diet impact your brain?
We all know that the food we eat has an effect on health. There is plenty of evidence that the risks of developing health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, are directly related to our diets....
View ArticleCan the Use of Probiotics Effect Crying Babies?
First off, I want to congratulate Sheri Hall on the birth of her daughter Charlotte, born on October 13th weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces!! Since babies have been on my mind in anticipation of...
View ArticleCan eating garlic lower your blood pressure?
My grandmother, a health food fanatic long before it was popular, frequently munched on raw garlic “for medicinal purposes.” So I wasn’t surprised to see the results of a recent systematic review...
View ArticleThe real story behind MSG
Every now and again, I crave Chinese food – cashew chicken, fried rice, and moo goo gai pan. So my husband and I will splurge on takeout and eat with chopsticks out of the cardboard containers. It’s...
View ArticleTips on avoiding holiday weight gain
The holiday season is officially here – with its decorated cookies, happy hours and workplace lunches. We’ve already established that gaining weight has a negative impact on your health. So what can...
View ArticleThe evidence on social pressure and food choice
As we’re nearly a quarter of the way through 2014, are you still focused on the New Year’s resolution you made? If you vowed to lose weight, a new meta-analysis may help your cause. The systematic...
View ArticleUsing evidence to ask the right questions
For decades, health and nutrition experts have built weight-loss programs around the commonly-accepted notion of balancing calories in and calories out. In other words, to lose weight, one simply...
View ArticleHow to measure childhood obesity
Obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Now a new systematic review has found that even more...
View ArticleHow important is breakfast?, Part 1
Crowning breakfast as the most important meal of the day is a long-held conviction among many Americans and some nutritional experts. In reality, there are data on both sides of the debate showing that...
View ArticleHow important is breakfast, Part 2
Earlier this week, we wrote about the body of evidence that shows eating breakfast does not lead to weight loss. But does eating breakfast impact cognitive function and learning? As my kids head back...
View ArticleExploring the link between diet and mental health in kids
Over the past 30 years, the rate of childhood obesity has more than doubled in the United States, increasing the risks for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and joint problems. Last month, a new...
View ArticleEvidence-based health: Lose those extra pounds now
Christmas cookies are my worst dietary weakness. If they’re in the house, I can’t help but munch on them. So I’m coming back from a lovely holiday break at least a few pounds heavier than before. It...
View ArticleThe evidence on sugar
If you pay any attention to advice about healthy eating, you’ve heard that you should avoid added sugar as often as possible. Now a team of health scientists from the University of California, San...
View ArticleRecess before lunch to improve eating habits?
When my son started kindergarten last year, I was astonished at how little of his lunch he actually ate. I would pack a nutritious meal displayed in a cute, compartmentalized tray, and often he only...
View ArticleThe health benefits of chocolate, redux
Chocoholics rejoice! The evidence is growing even stronger that regularly eating chocolate is good for your health. A new study and systematic review published in the journal Heart confirmed previous...
View ArticleWeight-control: The size of your plate matters!
Here at EBL, we’ve written regularly about the data available on obesity for two reasons. First, obesity is a major health problem in the U.S. affecting millions of adults and children. Second, there...
View ArticleTea: It’s good for you!
Here at EBL, we’ve covered the health benefits of coffee pretty extensively. (Surprise: It’s really good for you!) But — although it’s hard for this coffee-drinker to believe — there are some people...
View ArticleThe body of evidence on meat and cancer
The media has been full of stories this week about a recent determination by the World Health Organization: That processed meats such as bacon, sausage and ham increase the risk of developing colon...
View ArticleArtificial sweeteners: Better than sugar?
I never know what to think when I see a Diet Coke or jar of jam labeled as sugar-free. On the one hand, I know that consuming sugar leads to weight gain, among other problems. But on the other hand,...
View ArticleThe evidence on avoiding holiday weight gain
It’s the holiday season! With that comes the cocktail hours, cookie-baking, end-of-year celebrations and countless other festivities that include delicious food. Unfortunately, along with that...
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