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.
Cholesterol and Statins
Earlier this year, the editors of the Archives of Internal Medicine in the US launched a series entitled ‘Less is More’ – essentially to highlight the overuse of investigations or treatments in medicine. One example they cited was the use of statins for people without known heart disease, saying that this practice has “known adverse […]
Low-Carbohydrate
There’s no doubt about it, fructose has got itself an increasingly bad reputation in nutritional circles over the last few years, and has been linked with all sorts of ills including obesity, type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of heart disease. This week saw the publication of a study which further points a finger […]
Brain and Behaviour
Why I’m letting the latest big debate in nutrition wash over me, why getting hungry is a disaster for healthy eating, and a new study finds gaping holes in the cholesterol hypothesis. 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 […]
Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome
For quite a long time, there has been quite a debate going on in some nutritional circles about what causes obesity and how we should tackle it. One faction has argued that dietary fat is the main offender, and the solution is a diet that is low in fat (and calories). Another faction (of which […]
Brain and Behaviour
What is it that drives some of us to eat foods that we know aren’t good for us? Lot’s of things, perhaps, but one thing I have found to be consistently the most important factor overall is plain old hunger. For me, keeping one’s appetite from running out of control is a core strategy for […]
Cholesterol and Statins
It’s ‘Cholesterol Week’ here in the UK. It’s been accompanied inevitably with a rash of stories about the perils of cholesterol and how we should be more aware of our cholesterol levels and do something about them if they’re raised. This will all no doubt help to swell the coffers of the drug and food […]
Food and Medical Politics
Why the state of Dr Robert Atkins’ coronary arteries and general health when he died are irrelevant, thorough chewing food can help curb a tendency to overeat, scientific evidence appears to be getting steadily more unreliable. For RSS feeds, click on http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/8966 and then the ‘RSS feeds’ button to the right. For help regarding the […]
Food and Medical Politics
I am a relative fan of science. I say ‘relative’ because while it can often afford considerable illumination, it’s most certainly not the be-all-and-end all. For example, there are plenty of things that may have merit that have not even been subjected to proper scientific study. For example, there are no studies (in the form […]
Healthy Eating
In my last blog post I declared that, generally speaking, I follow my own advice, but I’m no angel either. One area which I quite often fall down in concerns the speed of my eating. I have, for as long as I can remember, been a rapid eater. If I’m eating with my girlfriend, it’s […]
Healthy Eating
I had an email from a doctor this week who tells me he and his wife are embarking on the dietary recommendations to in my last book Waist Disposal. He admits, though, that it’s hard for him to put his hang-ups about saturated fat to one side. He asks in his email if Dr Robert […]