Vital Stem is a dietary supplement mixture that supposedly reverses the changes of normal aging by increasing the body’s production of stem cells. We can’t know if it works, because it hasn’t been tested. Is Vital Stem a Miracle Anti-Aging Remedy? Evidence is lacking. Stem cell treatments are very promising.… read more "Vital Stem: Affordable Stem Cell Treatments for Everyone? Anti-Aging Breakthrough?"
The Vicissitudes of the Egg: From Vilification to Vindication
Eggs are an excellent source of protein and other nutrients in a convenient, inexpensive package. One egg contains 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of healthy fats, plus: Vitamin A: 6 percent of Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) Folate: 5 percent of RDA Vitamin B5: 7 percent of RDA Vitamin… read more "The Vicissitudes of the Egg: From Vilification to Vindication"
How Do Doctors Learn to Diagnose, and Can Machines Learn to Do It, Too?
Siddhartha Mukherjee weighs in on how doctors arrive at a diagnosis and how computers can assist but not replace them. Is this the doctor of the future? Probably not. I am a big fan of Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, a cancer physician, researcher, and stem cell biologist who is also a phenomenally… read more "How Do Doctors Learn to Diagnose, and Can Machines Learn to Do It, Too?"
Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Graded Exercise Therapy: How the PACE Trial Got It Wrong
The PACE trial said graded exercise is an effective treatment for CFS. CFS patients disagree. Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and the recently-suggested IOM term systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID), is characterized by long-term fatigue and a host of other symptoms that impair the patient’s ability to… read more "Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Graded Exercise Therapy: How the PACE Trial Got It Wrong"
Stem Cells for Macular Degeneration: Meticulous Science vs. Unethical Carelessness
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of vision loss in people over 50. Thirty percent of us will develop it by age 75-85. There is no cure. For the 10% of patients with wet AMD there are several mainstream treatments that can slow progression of the disease, including… read more "Stem Cells for Macular Degeneration: Meticulous Science vs. Unethical Carelessness"
Do I Really Need to Drink 200 Ounces of Water Every Day?
The word on the street is that we need to drink eight to ten eight-ounce glasses of water (8×8) every day to keep hydrated and healthy. The word on the street is wrong. The myth says: 75 percent of Americans are chronically dehydrated In 37 percent of Americans, the thirst… read more "Do I Really Need to Drink 200 Ounces of Water Every Day?"
Dietary Associations with Cardiovascular and Diabetic Mortality: “Bacon, soda, and too few nuts”?
A recent study attempted to quantify the association of ten dietary factors with deaths from cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Headlines about the study were misleading. How likely is bacon to kill you? I’ve been seeing differing headlines about a recent study: MDLinx said, “Bacon, soda and too few nuts tied… read more "Dietary Associations with Cardiovascular and Diabetic Mortality: “Bacon, soda, and too few nuts”?"
Update on Testosterone Supplementation
Testosterone supplementation is a legitimate treatment for properly-diagnosed androgen deficiency, but it is being overprescribed by doctors who make exaggerated claims for it. New evidence clarifies its modest benefits and worrisome risks. Lots of men are taking testosterone supplements, some of them for good reasons and some for not-so-good reasons.… read more "Update on Testosterone Supplementation"
Magnets Provide Amusement, But Not Health Benefits
Over the years, the claims for health benefits of magnets have provided me with much amusement. Here are just a few examples: A skeptic pointed out that if magnets in health products really attracted red blood cells as claimed, an MRI scan with magnets many orders of magnitude stronger would… read more "Magnets Provide Amusement, But Not Health Benefits"
Why Do Things That Are Unlikely to Harm Us Get the Most Attention?
We are very bad at assessing risk, often giving the most attention to the things that are least likely to harm us. Geoffrey Kabat’s new book teaches us how to think more clearly about scientific studies of environmental health risks. Sharks get a lot of bad press and inspire a… read more "Why Do Things That Are Unlikely to Harm Us Get the Most Attention?"