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
For many of us, this time of year will bring with it an increased risk of us consuming more than is strictly needed. A few additional pounds can quite easily find their way onto our frames and scales, which can lead us to feel in need of a serious overhaul come the New Year. I […]
Exercise and Activity
Whilst I am an advocate of activity and exercise, I generally encourage ‘doable’ forms and levels of exercise that are relatively easily sustainable. For me, the often-quoted ‘get 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days of the week’ passes this test, especially when one considers that brisk walking can push the heart rate up […]
Food and Medical Politics
Back in October, I wrote about some recently-published research which linked the eating of a high carbohydrate (actually, high glycaemic index and load diets) with an increased risk of breast cancer. One way that fast sugar-releasing foods may promote cancerous growth is through the activity of a compound known as insulin-like growth factor (IGF), which […]
Brain and Behaviour
I not so long ago wrote about the research which has found that hyperactivity in children can seemingly be triggered by certain food additives. However, just like about any health issue one care’s to mention, hyperactivity (or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ” ADHD ” to give it it’s full name) is multifactorial in nature. This […]
Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
My dislike of many starchy carbs like bread, potato, rice, pasta and breakfast cereals is based on a body of evidence which suggests that the gluts of insulin their eating induces can speed our path to conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. And, despite all this talk about their ‘nutritious’ nature, the fact […]
Healthy Eating
Just yesterday I was being consulted by an individual keen to lose weight who was neither sedentary nor ate a rubbish diet. In fact, her diet was what I would call ‘restrained’. It’s easy to be cynical about individuals like this, and just assume that they are eating more than they think or simply not […]
Children's Health
I don’t have anything against pharmaceutical medicine per se, but if there’s a less-toxic, effective and accessible alternative available, then I’ll opt for this every time. So, I was very interested to learn this week of a newly published study which assessed the effect of honey on childhood cough [1]. The study involved more than […]
Cholesterol and Statins
Last Friday saw the publication of an intriguing study which assessed the relationship between cholesterol levels and ‘vascular’ mortality ” namely deaths due to heart disease and stroke. This review appeared in the Lancet medical journal, and assessed data from 61 studies. In short, this piece of research found that higher levels of cholesterol were […]
Cholesterol and Statins
The glycaemic index (GI) is a measure of the extent to which a food raises blood sugar. Generally speaking, the higher the GI, the unhealthier the food is. Lots of sugar generally means lots of insulin ” and excess of which can promote of a slew of unhealthy biochemical processes including increased fat-making and reduced […]
Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
Previously, for instance here, I have attempted to point out that the conventional dietary advice so often given to diabetics is nonsensical and likely to be positively damaging to their health. Why diabetics should be advised to ‘include starch with every meal’ and therefore almost certainly ensure they’re going to get quite a shot of […]