Dr John Briffa's blog, A Good Look at Good Health — writing on food, cholesterol, weight, energy and the science behind everyday health, from the drbriffa.com archive. Filter by topic, browse by category, or search the library.
Healthy Eating
I’m a coffee drinker, and believe this beverage has done little to deserve its quite unhealthy reputation. Much of the negativity concerning coffee comes from the fact that it’s generally rich in caffeine. One effect of caffeine is to raise blood pressure – and raised blood pressure has links with heart disease and stroke. Perhaps, […]
Exercise and Activity
Hydration is important during exercise, controversy around FDA’s plans to relax conflict of interest rules, study shows light exposure can improve energy and wellbeing in the winter. For RSS feeds, click on http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/8966 and then the ‘RSS feeds’ button to the right. For help regarding the playing, downloading and subscribing of the podcasts, click here.
Exercise and Activity
Over the years, I have become increasingly interested in the value of resistance exercise in maintaining or increasing muscle mass and strength, as well as its impact on general health and wellbeing. Individuals engaging in resistance exercise are often concerned that they fuel themselves adequately afterwards. A usual goal here is to supply the muscle […]
Brain and Behaviour
Alcohol disrupts sleep and how to drink less without trying, a little exercise goes a long way, and can drinking cold water and wearing shorts aid weight control? For RSS feeds, click on http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/8966 and then the ‘RSS feeds’ button to the right. For help regarding the playing, downloading and subscribing of the podcasts, click […]
Brain and Behaviour
I was talking with someone yesterday who is generally fit and well, but has a bit of a ‘sleep issue’. He sometimes fails to get off to sleep easily. But even when he does, he tends to wake several times during the night, and can often have difficulty getting back to sleep again. It’s sometimes […]
Exercise and Activity
It’s one thing to lose weight, it’s another to keep it off. Most of us will be familiar with the concept that the great majority of people who lose weight regain it over time. And the results of a recent study suggest that as the body loses and weight, the body risks undergoing gradual degeneration […]
Food and Medical Politics
Dairy products may help weight loss, aspartame may cause fibromyalgia, and the curious case of the Flora pro.activ advertorial rumbles on and on. For RSS feeds, click on http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/8966 and then the ‘RSS feeds’ button to the right. For help regarding the playing, downloading and subscribing of the podcasts, click here.
Healthy Eating
I’m no fan of the artificial sweetener aspartame. Not only is there no good evidence that artificial sweeteners aid weight control, there is also evidence linking aspartame to adverse effects on health. For example, aspartame liberates methanol into the body which can be converted to formaldehyde (used to preserve dead bodies), which has recently been […]
Exercise and Activity
In general terms, I believe in a eating a diet based on natural, unprocessed foods that are as ‘primal’ as possible. This means eating a diet in which core foods including (where desired) meat, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables. I strongly oppose the idea that grains should be a staple in the diet, […]
Brain and Behaviour
Most people don’t like getting harsh criticism from others. The reality is, though, many of us can be our own worst critics. This is particularly the case with regard to weight and body image. Some of us can consciously and unconsciously spend a lot of time feeling a range of negative emotions about our size […]