Exercise and Activity
I was having a casual conversation with a lady a few weeks ago on a cold and dull day. She mentioned that she was training for the London marathon (and racking up some significant mileage by the sounds of things) and eating what seemed to me to be a genuinely healthy diet (not rammed full […]
Healthy Eating
Vitamin D, nutrient that we can get for free when the sun’s rays hit our skin, has been associated with a reduction in risk of a wide range of health issues including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. In theory at least, having high levels of vitamin D in the body should protect against […]
Sunlight
I was reading this morning about a study which assessed the relationship between skin cancer risk and risk of other cancers [1]. There are three main forms of skin cancer; squamus cell carcinoma (SCC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and malignant melanoma. This study found that having SCC or BCC was associated with an increased risk […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Vitamin D was once a nutrient associated with important benefits for our bones but little else. In the last few years this vitamin has racked up an impressive list of potential benefits including protection from cancer, multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease. In January I discussed another study here which found that higher levels of vitamin […]
Nutrients and Supplements
Here in the UK we’ve had a distinct downturn in temperatures of late, and this is something that will make us more reluctant to venture out. And even if we do, we’re likely to be very well wrapped up and protected from the elements. The net results is that at this time of year we […]
Brain and Behaviour
There are a lot of different theories about what causes autism, but not much consensus of opinion. In recent years, vaccination has been mooted as a potential cause of this condition, but so have lots of other things including pre-natal ultrasounds, wireless technology and certain environmental toxins. This week another potential cause of autism was […]
Brain and Behaviour
Earlier this month I wrote a blog highlighting the need for adequate sunlight exposure for maintaining mood and vitality in the winter months, even perhaps for people not suffering from ‘seasonal affective disorder’ (AKA winter blues). Quite how it is that sunlight that exerts a mood modulating effect is not known for sure, though there […]
Brain and Behaviour
I had a press release the other day from the PR people of a department store here in the UK telling me that sales of sunlight simulating lamps are up 80 per cent on last year. The proposed explanation but this surge in sales has been the dismal, largely sunless summer we’ve had in the […]
Food and Medical Politics
When judging the effects of any factor on health, there is a tendency by scientists and the medical profession to focus on it’s effect on defined conditions. For example, we hear a lot about the supposed ability of a raised blood cholesterol to increase the risk of heart disease or the link between cigarette smoking […]
Sunlight
The summer weather in the UK has been a bit stop-start, though personally I am delighted that the last couple of days at least have been very much ‘start’ as far as sunshine is concerned. So, perhaps with perfect timing, the National Osteoporosis Society (NOS) here in the UK has just highlighted the value of […]