Public Health
New research based on modern techniques suggests that recommendations for protein intake in healthy populations may be incorrect. In a paper just published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, an NRC Research Press journal (a division of Canadian Science Publishing), researchers put the focus on protein as an essential component of a healthy diet.
Protein helps people stay full longer, preserve muscle mass, and when combined with adequate physical activity, has the potential to serve as a key nutrient for important health outcomes and benefits.
It's not only how much protein…
On the heels of a rather poorly constructed International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) analysis of organophosphate insecticides and pesticides a short while ago and a bizarre claim by the activist-funded group Moms Across America last year, the public is concerned about popular products like glyphosate. Mainstream journalism is no help, science is complex and when the $100 million Natural Resources Defense Council (famous for the Alar on apples manufactured scare) unleashes its public relations team on politically sympathetic journalists, claims are going to be repeated without…
And I
thought *these* were bad products:
Well, maybe they are, but as Bachman Turner
Overdrive sang in 1974 "B-B-B-Baby, you just ain't seen n-n-n-nothin' yet..."
The following is worse. Make that, MUCH worse.
This is because, as poorly conceived as they are, the examples above have at
least some utility.
Why? If these guys were just selling water, it
would be fine. But they are selling this: "Essentia is at the
forefront of this change bringing the benefits of ionized alkaline water to
mainstream consumers interested in better for you beverages."…
A new paper says that Chinese grandparents tend to indulge, overfeed and protect grandchildren in their care from physical chores, thus increasing their risk of obesity. The underlying motive for the action of grandparents may be affection for their treasured grandchild and stems from their personal experiences, misunderstanding and poor recognition of the adverse health effects of childhood obesity.
It's also the case that, like in other countries, science has made it possible for poor people to be fat for the first time in world history and so Chinese children who are mainly cared for by…
Are the first signs that someone is at risk of developing cardiovascular disease detectable in toddlers and preschoolers?
There's evidence that low vitamin D levels in adults are linked to cardiovascular disease, as well as other health issues such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. But that link hadn't been studied in children. Researchers in Toronto examined vitamin D levels in children ages one to five and the non HDL- cholesterol level in their blood, a marker of cardiovascular health. (Non-HDL cholesterol is basically all of a person's cholesterol minus his or her HDL or good…
Ben Goldacre, whom I hold in high esteem, has repeatedly contended that anyone espousing diet philosophies to others is practicing quackery. Eating does not require scientific scrutiny, nor does it take any specialized knowledge to get healthier: walk a little, ride a bike, eat your veggies....who needs a doctor to tell them to do those things? In fact, on his website, which I encourage all to visit, he sells T-shirts with a picture of a large rubber ducky and underneath the caption is simply, "Nutritionist."
Dr. Goldacre is a British physician who rails against quacks and bad scientists…
A lot of attention has been given to city dwellers and the health risks of sitting in front of a computer screen, but almost 50 of the world spends 75 percent of their time on their feet.
Prolonged standing is associated with short-term adverse health issues, including reports of fatigue, leg cramps, and backaches, which can affect job performance and cause significant discomfort. A new study published in Human Factors suggests that, over time, this type of sustained muscle fatigue can result in serious health consequences.
“The work-related musculoskeletal implications that can be…
After examining decades of data, researchers from the University of Colorado Denver have found that a lack of education may be as deadly as smoking.
The study, which included researchers from New York University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, examined population data going back to 1925 to determine how education levels affected mortality over time.
They found a direct link between education levels and death, noting that higher education is a strong predictor of longevity due to factors that include higher income, healthier behaviors and improved social and psychological…
Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the U.S. Constitution (1787) "[T]he Congress shall have power . . . to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries."
If you're going to break the law, you might as well do it in style. Why bother speeding, shoplifting, or stealing cable service, when the sky's the limit? Aim high.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) aimed high, and did so with style. He wants to violate the Constitution by ignoring the concept of intellectual property…
Protein trumps carbohydrate and fat as the regulated parameter driving human food consumption:
Kevin Hall and Carson Chow published their estimation (in 2010) that the rise of obesity prevalence in the U.S. since the 1970s can be attributed to an increase in consumption of just seven calories per day per person. This is calculated by taking the average increase of energy stored in the heavier adult bodies of the present day, divided by the very long time frame it took for the change to occur.
The seven calories, on a daily basis, refers to the excess one would eat at that weight. Once we…