July 2010
- Having a 'healthy' BMI is not necessarily as healthy as we think
- Diabetes costs 'out of control', and why this is no surprise given standard dietary advice for diabetics
- Nonsense study being used to claim that meat causes weight gain
- Low cholesterol levels associated with depression and other mental health issues
- Multivitamin and mineral supplementation found to help fat loss and speed metabolic rate
- More evidence suggests that rapid weight loss leads to better results than slower progress
- Not just what you eat, but how much believe you've eaten, determines how satisfying food is
- Drug company accused of hiding hazards of diabetes drug rosiglitazone (Avandia)
- Sedentary behaviour does not lead to weight gain (it's the other way round)
- Mysterious bitter taste in my mouth turns out to have simple solution
- Are wholegrains good for the heart?
- Artificial sweeteners linked with pre-term delivery
June 2010
- Do statins save lives in essentially healthy people? (No)
- Higher vitamin D level linked with reduced risk of infection
- Study reminds us of the superior performance of low-carb diets over low-fat ones for weight loss
- Low-GI/GL diets may help reduce risk of disease and death by quelling inflammation
- Fructose and trans fatty acids implicated in ‘fatty liver’ and liver damage
- Food companies that put trans fats in food may be breaking the law
- Snacking associated with improved weight control
- Selenium supplementation found to reduce risk of post-natal depression
- More evidence comes in that saturated fat does not cause heart disease
- BMJ piece reminds us just how ineffective much of modern-day medicine is
- Talk reminds me that many women may not be aware of this very effective remedy for PMS
- BMJ investigation exposes corruption and conflicts of interest within the World Health Organization
- Study linking regular tooth-brushing with reduced risk of heart disease should remind us of why cholesterol is unlikely to be the 'killer' it's made out to be
- Might vitamin D therapy help individuals with Crohn's disease?
May 2010
- ‘Food for Thought’ – nutritional advice for those preparing for and taking exams
- Psychiatrist blows the lid on the psychiatric profession
- Research unearths another reason why exercise is not particularly effective for the purposes of weight loss
- For better brain function, just add water
- Low-GI diet helps women with PCOS, but is there something that might work better?
- Beware low-carb propaganda
- Antidepressant effect of omega-3 fat appears to depend on the specific type of omega-3 fat used
- With medicine, it seems less can be more
- For weight loss, does 'slow and steady' really win the day?
- Higher-protein diet with resistance exercise best for fat loss
- Sunlight's ability to protect against multiple sclerosis may go beyond vitamin D
- Home blood-pressure monitoring better than doctors' readings
April 2010
- Diabetics continue to be misinformed regarding healthy eating
- Can sunlight and vitamin D help to preserve physical function and independence as we age?
- My advice for those looking to have an energised and productive afternoon
- Forget the BMI, and concentrate on getting rid of your gut
- Calorie counting is stressful (and other reasons to avoid it if you want to lose weight)
- My new book - Waist Disposal - now available!
- Vitamin D supplementation linked with reduced risk of cancer including breast cancer
- Zinc supplementation found to improve mood in women
- Can milk cause acne?
- My love-hate relationship with dairy products
- Is eating less saturated fat and more carb good for the heart? Actually, the reverse may be true.
- Random acts of kindness: an update
- Lack of sleep can cause people to overeat
- Natural Health for Kids: How to Give Your Child the Very Best Start in Life
- The True You Diet - The revolutionary diet programme that identifies your unique body chemistry and reveals the foods that are right for YOU
- WAIST DISPOSAL - the Ultimate Fat Loss Manual for Men
- NUTRINALYSIS™ – the on-line nutrition profiling tool
- Banishing IBS
- Overcoming Joint Pain and Arthritis
- Overcoming Fatigue and Tiredness and Boosting Energy
- 6 Essentials to Emotional Health and Happiness
- 6 Essentials to Physical Health and Wellbeing
March 2010
- Could advising people to eat less and exercise more INCREASE their risk of getting fatter?
- BMJ piece asks serious questions about the effectiveness of mammography
- Study suggests high fructose corn syrup is uniquely fattening, a that a calorie is not a calorie after all
- Coffee drinking has biochemical benefits for the body
- Prostate cancer screening called into question
- Why are melanoma survivors found to be at increased risk of other cancers?
- When is the best time to take your vitamin D supplement?
- Vitamin D supplementation found to help prevent flu in children
- Gluten and milk linked with constipation in kids
- Why are there a lot of redheads in Scotland?
- My personal fat loss experience and forthcoming book
- Rye bread helps relieve constipation, and other tips for bowel regularity
- Cinema popcorn highlighted as a nutritional hazard (and how to avoid it)
February 2010
- Iron supplementation found to improve brain function
- The meaningless and misleading nature of food health claims
- Walking and glucosamine helps people with osteoarthritis
- Natural strategies for individuals who have difficulty falling asleep at night and getting up in the morning
- No good evidence flu vaccination helps the elderly
- Higher protein diet plus resistance exercise aids weight and fat loss in type 2 diabetics
- Why drink water, and how much is enough?
- Cranberry found to be effective for urinary tract infection prevention in girls
- My friend's son reminds me how important blood sugar control is to energy and mood
- Can vitamin D help keep you infection free?
- Another study links being 'overweight' with lowest risk of death
- Omega-3 fats found to protect against psychotic illness
January 2010
- Magnesium therapy found to benefit asthmatics
- Article reminds us of the importance of focusing on drug effects on health (not cholesterol)
- Low-carb diet pitted against low-fat PLUS medication (low-carb still wins)
- Does fish oil retard the ageing process?
- Heart surgeon waging war on saturated fat seems seriously short on science to support his claims
- Is another reason why
- Two major studies conclude that saturated fat does NOT cause heart disease
- Artificial sweeteners fail to fool the brain
- More evidence comes in which suggests exercise does not do much in the weight loss stakes
- Study shows being more conscious about eating speed and feelings of satisfaction help individuals eat less
- More evidence links pedometer use with increased activity and potential benefits for health
- Early to bed...
- Editorial reminds us of the importance of looking to our nutritional past to improve our future health
December 2009
- 10 realistic and achievable New Year resolutions worth considering
- A case of oesophageal spasm, and the 'unproven' treatment that helped it
- A random act of kindness
- Can vitamin D help to combat depression and enhance mood?
- Getting control of food binges is not necessarily just for Christmas
- On-line advert depicts the fattening effects of carbohydrate
- My vitamin D results are in (take 2)
- Why eating a lot of 'polyunsaturates' is not necessarily healthy
- Does Tamiflu actually work (and is it safe)?
- Losing the taste for sweetness trumps using 'healthy' sweeteners, in my book
- Excess weight is not always the result of eating too much or not exercising enough
- Light appears to have powerful painkilling properties for some people
- Cinnamon shows promise as blood sugar-lowering agent
- High GI diet leads to reduced fat-burning and increased fatness in mice
November 2009
- Abdominal obesity again linked with increased risk of dementia
- The deadly consequences of drug side-effects being 'neglected, restricted, distorted and silenced'
- Gastroenterologist disses the value of chewing
- Do regular exercisers really benefit by eating a load of bread and pasta?
- Low vitamin D levels linked with increased risk of type 1 diabetes (again)
- More bad news for the makers (and takers) of cholesterol-reducing drug ezetimibe (Zetia)
- Faster walking associated with reduced risk of death
- Statin side-effects that the pharmaceutical industry appears not to want you to know about
- Slower eating leads to higher levels of appetite-sating hormones
- Chocolate found to protect skin from light damage
- Higher protein diets found to have benefits for bone
- Can drinking tea help mitigate against the effects of stress?
October 2009
- Adverse effects of drugs are "neglected, restricted, distorted and silenced"
- Vitamin D associated with signficantly reduced risk of death from stroke
- World Health Organization study links mobile phone use with enhanced risk of brain and other tumours
- Could our ancient ancestors have given today's champion athletes a run for their money?
- Are we really becoming steadily more sedentary?
- Is there such as thing as a 'metabolic advantage'?
- More evidence comes to light that fat is not fattening
- 'Blue' light found to be most effective in combating seasonal affective disorder
- Vitamin D supplementation found to improve insulin sensitivity
- Vitamin D shown to reduce risk of falls in the elderly
- Exercise associated with reduced levels of fat in the liver and abdomen
- What is food combining good for?
- Can higher-protein diets help weight loss maintenance?
- Scientist claims margarine manufacturers are misleading us on omega-3 claims (and that's not all...)
September 2009
- More evidence links higher vitamin D levels with a reduced risk of death
- Fructose found to rapidly raise blood pressure and induce metabolic syndrome in men
- Recent studies remind us of vitamin D's cancer-protective potential
- High glycaemic load diets associated with insulin resistance
- Study suggests it's never to late to be active
- Can wheat cause diabetes?
- Exercise shown to produce benefits in the absence of weight loss
- Can stress make us fat?
- Vitamin D found to enhance muscle strength in the elderly
- Could eating late in the day promote weight gain in a way that has nothing to do with calories?
- The myriad of reasons why artificial sweetners may not deliver on their weight loss promise
- Evidence that there is still lots of potential for study researchers and their sponsors to only let you see what they want you to see
- More evidence that vitamin D requirements are much, much higher than traditionally recommended amounts
August 2009
- Why human, not mice, studies are the most appropriate for judging the effects of diet on human health
- American Heart Association highlights hazards of consuming sugar, including fructose
- Could consumption of olive oil help protect against obesity?
- Sunlight exposure linked with improved brain function
- Decaf coffee drinking found to benefit arterial function
- Probiotics reduce risk and duration of cold and flu symptoms in children
- Chocolate-eating associated with benefits for heart attack survivors
- Does exercise promote weight loss? (No)
- Salt linked with stubborn blood pressure problems
- Is aspartame about to be banned? (I hope so)
- Mindful eating associated with lower risk of weight gain
- Higher levels of body fat associated with health and death risk advantages in the elderly
July 2009
- High carb diets are bad news for the blood vessels
- With blood pressure, is lower always better?
- Just because someone doesn't have coeliac disease, doesn't mean they don't have a problem with gluten
- Does the Atkins diet cause heart disease?
- High glycaemic load diet associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms
- Study demonstrates health hazards associated with a low-fat, high carbohydrate diet
- Indigestion drugs can cause the symptoms they are designed to treat
- My vitamin D results are in...
- High carb diets again linked to increased risk of breast cancer
- More evidence that the 'overweight' are at the lowest risk of death
- Lower vitamin D levels linked to higher risk of death
- Lower GI diets found to boost levels of appetite-sating hormone
- Eating breakfast found to be major boon for diabetics, and why this may be important for non-diabetics too
- Don't be fooled by the study which found lower cancer rates in vegetarians
June 2009
- Why nuts are a great food for diabetics
- High GI carbs again implicated in cardiovascular disease
- Effective strategies for combating carb cravings
- Vitamin D helps to combat tuberculosis, flu and other infections
- How we eat appears to influence how much we eat
- Skin Cancer Foundation recognises value of vitamin D but still advises us to keep out of the sun
- Higher vitamin D levels linked with speedier weight loss
- Study finds lower-carb diet better for sating the appetite
- Doctors suggest that the 'overweight' need help, despite being at the lowest risk of death
- Low GI diet halves need for insulin in pregnancy-related diabetes
- Whenever it's given, the evidence suggests HRT does more harm than good
- Walking may be ideal exercise as we age
- Physical activity found to reduce iron levels in women, and why it's important to correct this
May 2009
- Sunlight found to bring big benefits for psoriasis sufferers
- More evidence links vitamin D with body weight
- B-vitamin supplementation reduces risk of macular degeneration
- Could sitting in the sun make you fitter?
- Evidence supports the incorporation of nuts in the diet
- Coconut oil supplementation found to have benefits for health
- Another study attests to the value of low-carb eating in diabetes
- Low vitamin D levels linked with raised risk of metabolic syndrome
- Study suggests the burgeoning rates of obesity are due to people eating more, not exercising less
- Higher fat, rather than high-carb, diet appears to have benefits for nursing mothers and their babies
- Study demonstrates the key role insulin plays in obesity
- Curtailed sleep found to lead to increased food intake
- More evidence comes in that demonstrates a calorie is not a calorie
April 2009
- Tips for healthy shopping
- The nonsense of food labeling
- Sleep duration again linked with diabetes risk
- Staying upright during childbirth found to reduce labour time as well as the need for epidural analgesia
- Letter from FDA insiders accuses it of corruption, wrongdoing and intimidation
- Higher protein diet outperforms lower protein one in terms of fat loss and body composition
- No evidence that saturated fat causes heart disease (it's official)
- Can diabetes be cured?
- Reduced sugar and increased fibre intake found to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes
- Court documents show how drug company attempted to 'neutralise' or 'discredit' dissenting doctors
- Study suggests vitamin D deficiency can be the cause of muscle pain in statin-treated individuals
- Carbohydrates linked with infertility in women
March 2009
- Lower GI carbs, compared to higher GI ones, found to improve satiety and fat-burning in women
- Are conventional thyroid function tests as reliable as we're led to believe?
- Vitamin D levels found to be falling in Americans
- Can omega-3 fats protect against peri-natal depression?
- Evidence suggests that vitamin C can help prevent gout
- Does eating meat really increase our risk of colon cancer?
- Could the reason why some people put weight on in the winter be down to vitamin D?
- Are the financial incentives given to UK doctors regarding diabetes doing more harm than good?
- Why might afternoon nappers be at greater risk of diabetes?
- Paleolithic diet again found to bring rapid health-related benefits
- Taking up exercise in middle-age appears to give a handsome return on investment
- When testing the effects of different diets, it helps to ensure that the diets are truly different
- Coenzyme Q10 found to improve arterial function in statin-treated diabetics
February 2009
- Water fluoridation forced on UK residents despite considerable concerns about the safety and effectiveness of this practice
- Evidence links low vitamin D levels with increased risk of death
- Sugary soft drinks associated with increased heart disease risk in women
- Women kept in the dark about the facts about mammography
- Coffee-drinking associated with reduced risk of stroke in women
- Study finds low-carb diet leads to improved mental wellbeing compared to low-fat one
- BMJ review questions the 'evidence' on which flu vaccine policy is based
- Study suggests extracts from green tea may help the body shed abdominal fat
- Chondroitin sulphate found to help osteoarthritis
- Getting out and going easy on the carbs seems to help kids avoid the need for glasses
- Coffee drinking found to be associated with reduced risk of dementia
- Study suggests that a diet richer in protein can speed the metabolic rate
January 2009
- Short bursts of high intensity activity found to improve body's ability to handle sugar
- Omega-3 fats found to improve the psychological wellbeing of menopausal women
- More recommendations come to cut our cholesterol to levels that may hasten our demise
- Protein-supplemented diet found to be more effective than carb-supplemented one for maintenance of weight loss
- Evidence suggests that one way to lose fat is to drink more water
- Deep sleep found to be important for memory function
- BMJ letter reminds doctors of limitations of science and the importance of clinical experience
- Research suggests good sleep habits can help improve resistance to viral infection
- Calcium supplementation found to reduce risk of serious pregnancy-related condition
- Why are individuals with melanoma at much higher risk of other cancers?
- Low-carb diet shown to be hugely effective for type 2 diabetics
- Cranberry offers alternative to antiobiotics for the prevention of urinary tract infections
- Research suggests low-carb is the way to go for those seeking to preserve their memory as they age
- High insulin levels linked with enhanced breast cancer risk
December 2008
- More research links vitamin D with protection from cardiovascular disease
- Getting enough (but not too much) sleep may be important for preventing heart disease
- Dark chocolate found to sate the appetite more than milk chocolate
- If you need to take antibiotics this winter, consider probiotics too
- Is there really no help for hangovers?
- Low GI diet outperforms high fibre one in diabetics
- Evidence suggests activity has very limited role in weight control
- Advice for those wanting to keep their eating (and mood) under control this Christmas
- What is it about nuts that may help those with metabolic syndrome?
- Study assesses dietary requirements for vitamin D in the winter
- Another push to get cholesterol levels ever lower, but let's make sure it isn't killing people first
- Research suggests vitamin D may reduce cardiovascular disease risk
- Omega-3 fats may help to control asthma
November 2008
- Can losing weight around the midriff reduce the risk of visual loss and blindness?
- Triglyeride levels associated with cardiovascular disease risk, and why we need to be wary of low-fat diets
- Caffeine fails to enhance the taste of cola, so what's it doing there?
- Change in fatty composition of the diet found to boost the body's fat-burning potential
- Waist size found to be strongly associated with risk of death
- Short bouts of activity found to bring similar benefits to more extended periods of exercise
- Peppermint oil comes out top in review of treatments for IBS
- Shorter sleep time found to be associated with increased risk of cariovascular disease
- Statins reduce cardiovascular disease in healthy people, and why this study is a poke in the eye for the cholesterol hypothesis
- Diet higher in protein and lower in carb shown to be superior for fat loss and other things
- Can rain cause autism?
- More evidence that the 'overweight' are not risking their lives
October 2008
- What does it mean to say a treatment "works"?
- Frequent drinking associated with reduced risk of unhealthy weight gain
- What have the tobacco and food industries got in common?
- Should women who have paid for statins be given their money back?
- Why hunger can be the enemy for those wishing to lose weight
- Low GI diet again found to be associated with reduced risk of macular degeneration
- Low carb diet found to lower insulin levels (go figure)
- Research shows vitamin D has natural anti-depressant action
- Coffee consumption again associated with benefits for health
- Review finds herbal remedy effective for the treatment of depression
- Chromium supplementation found to reduce hunger and food cravings
- Why the evidence on nuts and weight makes a mockery of the calorie principle
- The value of sunlight in the winter, even for those not suffering from SAD
- Animal study explores how high GI diets might cause fatty accumulation in the body
September 2008
- Probiotics found to be helpful for sufferers of IBS
- What can be done about the muscle-related side-effects induced by statins?
- Review finds 'publication bias' endemic in medical research
- Mobile phone use associated with increased risk of brain tumours
- What alternatives to fish oil are there for those who don't eat fish?
- Why warning of the heart risks associated with high cholesterol doesn't tell the full story
- Britons failing to get their recommended amout of fruit and veg each day (and what to do about it)
- How effective is arthoscopy for osteoarthritis of the knee? (Not very)
- Letter in BMJ draws our attention to profiteering by the pharmaceutical industry
- Does the flu vaccine really reduce risk of death in the elderly?
- Former medical journal editor details why doctors can't rely on medical literature for valid and reliable information
- Is it right for scientists to put the links between cholesterol reducing medication and cancer down to 'chance'?
- Homeopathic arnica found to be an effective post-operative aid
August 2008
- Which nutrients might help prevent the most common cause of blindness in the elderly?
- New evidence links low cholesterol with increased risk of cancer and death, and what are we to make of conventional cholesterol guidelines?
- Can MSG cause obesity?
- Low cholesterol levels linked with increased risk of cancer, so is cholesterol reduction safe?
- Arsenic in drinking water linked with increased risk of diabetes
- Review confirms superiority of low-carb over low-fat for weight loss and cardiovascular disease risk factors
- Two studies question the validity of the BMI in the assessment of health
- Low vitamin D levels linked with chronic generalised pain in women
- Zinc lozenges found to be useful for the treatment of the common cold
- The importance of taking as wide a view as possible when advising the public about sun exposure (or anything else)
- Vitamin C shows promise as an anti-cancer agent
- Increasing potassium intake may lower blood pressure and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
- Review confirms garlic's ability to reduce blood pressure
July 2008
- More data from the Women's Health Initiative study that shows restricting fat is a fat lot of good
- Middle-aged and elderly men with urinary symptoms may not have a prostate problem, but a nutrient deficiency
- Does exercise really explain how those eating a high-animal fat diet can be at low risk of heart disease?
- Cholesterol-lowering combination found to have limited benefit (again) and now is linked with increased risk of cancer
- UK osteoporosis charity advises us to get more sun
- Study finds low-carb diet outperforms low-fat diet in terms of weight and blood fat levels
- Higher omega-3 fat intake associated with enhanced satisfaction from food
- Research finds strong men are at a reduced risk of death
- BMJ highlights the problem of drugs residues in drinking water
- Man dies from water intoxication, and advice on how to stop this happening to you
- Research links coffee and tea consumption with reduced stroke risk in men
- Green tea found to bring benefits that may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
- Omega-3 fat supplementation found to improve brain function
June 2008
- More evidence that waist size is a much better measure of health than the BMI
- Evidence links low vitamin D levels with increased risk of death
- Why might a leading diabetes charity offer dietary advice that is likely to increase the need for medication?
- BMJ article explores the cosy relationship that drug companies often have with doctors considered
- Artificial Sweetener Fails to Fool the Brain
- Coffee-drinking associated with a reduced risk of death in women
- BMJ editorial casts doubt on the notion that sunlight causes malignant melanoma
- FDA acknowledges that the jury is still out on whether mercury amalgam fillings can be hazardous to health
- Study suggests that low-carb diets can bring long term benefits for type 2 diabetics
- Pesticide exposure linked with increased risk of diabetes
- Health professionals ignore their patients at their, and their patients', peril
- Last of the summer whine
- I was going to write about beta-carotene and sunburn but...
May 2008
- Why the MMR-autism 'war' is far from over
- More evidence supports fish eating in pregnancy, but again finds mercury is to be avoided
- BMJ editorial highlights the evidence that food additives can have adverse effects in children, and questions the decision by official bodies to be unmoved by this research
- The limited value of 'statistical significance' in the real World
- If vertical growth is hormonally driven, couldn't horizontal growth be too?
- It's not just the salt that makes many meat-substitute foods a thoroughly unhealthy option
- A slightly more personal message than usual as drbriffa.com reaches the 500 mark
- High GI/GL carbohydrates again linked with an increased risk of breast cancer
- Why does TV-watching appear to increase our risk of being overweight?
- Study shows a 'primal' diet can bring rapid weight loss and health benefits
- Researchers recognise the power of the placebo
- Supermarket bans aspartame from own-label products, and a food fight is brewing...
- Another study attests to the value of a lower GI diet in the management of diabetes
April 2008
- More evidence that 'normal' thyroid function tests do not necessarily mean that all is well with the thyroid and health
- Study links fruit juice consumption with increased risk of diabetes
- Review details why many carbs aren't 'harmless for the heart'
- What can we learn from a man who undergoes an operation without anaesthetic?
- What are we to make of the recent warnings about antioxidant supplements?
- When is a 'healthy' food not a healthy food after all?
- Review suggests that 'ghost-writing' and undeclared interests are common in medical publishing
- Doctors detail the benefits of carbohydrate restriction in diabetics
- More evidence that insulin plays a role in the development of dementia
- Multivitamin use associated with improved fertility in women
- Omega-3 fats found to help depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy
- Low thyroid function may be a factor in weight gain despite 'normal' tests
- New review catalogues the myriad of ways aspartame can mess up your body and brain
March 2008
- (Some) doctors suggest that lower cholesterol levels may not be better after all
- Why big bellies could mean big trouble for brain function in later life
- Combination of chromium and biotin found to benefit individuals with type 2 diabetes
- Why going 'dairy free' may bring relief to kids who stop breathing in the night
- Could salt be contributing to the rising rates of obesity?
- Advice for sun-seekers regarding safe tanning
- Green tea extract again found to help the body burn fat
- Does vitamin D help protect against type 1 diabetes?
- New evidence links high-carb diets with increased risk of diabetes and other ills
- Glucosamine sulphate supplementation seems to help keep people off the operating table
- Another study attests to the ineffectiveness of conventional 'healthy' eating advice
- Study finds melatonin to be useful in the treatment of insomnia
- Is eating breakfast a key to successful weight control?
February 2008
- Where weight loss is concerned, could it be that it's more than calories that count?
- Antidepressants generally no better than placebo, but that doesn't mean they're easy to stop
- Is the public cottoning on to the fact that the British Government does not give reliable advice regarding healthy eating?
- Animal foods linked with reduced risk of breast cancer, while starch found to be associated with enhanced risk
- Study finds those eating low-fat diets with high insulin levels are most prone to weight gain
- Vegans found to be more likely to break bones, but not if they get enough calcium
- Why carbs can turn your liver into foie gras
- More evidence (should you require it) that supports the notion that fat doesn
- More evidence that artificial sweeteners don
- Study of aggressive drug treatment of diabetics halted due to enhanced risk of death
- More 'healthy' eating advice from the UK Government that is unlikely to do any good at all
- UK health minister calls for mass medication through water supply
- Feeling fat may be worse for you than actually being fat
January 2008
- Are criminals 'bad' or just malnourished?
- Trial results forced out of drug company support the concept that cholesterol may not 'cause' cardiovascular disease
- Scientists claim that conventional 'healthy eating' messages may be doing more harm than good
- Research shows that protein-rich, low-carb diets are most effective for sating the appetite
- Review finds data on antidepressants biased and misleading
- Children no longer seeing junk food as a
- Walking exercise programme found to improve measures of health and function
- Why 'experts' are sometimes not to be trusted
- Meta-analysis show superiority of lower-carb diets in diabetes, but further studies said to be needed. Why?
- Get some sun (or die)
- Doctors found to be overprescribing indigestion medication - and advice for those wanting to take a drug-free approach to this problem
- Should doctors prescribe placebos?
- My New Year resolution recommendation: get some sleep
December 2007
- Chief Scientist of FSA discredits detox regimes without using any, err, science
- UK doctors warn of 'resurgence' in rickets
- Research suggests overall fat intake has little or no bearing on breast cancer risk
- Merry Christmas - and have a drink on me...
- 3 simple tricks to curbing alcohol intake without any sense of sacrifice
- Why those wanting to avoid over-indulging over the festive season should eat breakfast (but not cornflakes)
- Evidence suggests that moderate activity significantly reduces the risk of death
- Women with breast cancer advised to lower insulin levels - but how?
- Iron supplementation found to help hyperactive children
- The Japanese eat rice. So what?
- Compounds in green tea have the potential help the body 'burn' fat
- Honey found to soothe children
- Scientists appear reluctant to admit that a serious blow has been dealt to the cholesterol hypothesis
November 2007
- Low GI diet found to bring rapid benefits for health
- High GI and GL foods linked with significantly increased risk of diabetes
- Study finds meta-analysis conclusions biased by drug company funding
- Could investing in a pedometer help you be more active?
- Vitamin D may hold the key for those who 'hurt all over'
- Weight loss drugs revealed to have only slim benefits
- Walking found to lower cardiovascular disease risk in diabetics
- Long-term beta-carotene supplementation found to improve brain function
- Recent studies suggest benefits of omega-3 fats for the ageing brain
- Is fat the new fit?
- Lower fat 'healthy' eating shown to be a dismal failure for cancer prevention (and other things)
- Why do doctors find it so hard to say 'sorry'?
- Are the recent recommendations designed to ward off cancer justified?
October 2007
- Organic food found to be better for us - and why this finding is unlikely to lead to an official endorsement of organic food
- More evidence linking omega-3 fat intake with improved pregnancy outcomes
- Study shows nutrient supplementation benefits brain function in kids
- BMJ editorial questions the effectiveness of mammography
- On-line photos that help to demonstrate the inappropriateness of the BMI
- 10 ways to lose weight without hunger
- Can small changes make a big difference?
- Nestl
- Could low levels of vitamin D help explain why we're prone to infections in the winter?
- High glycaemic index and glycaemic load foods associated with increased risk of breast cancer
- When it comes to cholesterol, is lower really better?
- Pregnant mums urged to eat more fish, but what about mercury?
- Why is the dietary advice given to diabetics so often so woefully inadequate?
- New review proclaims aspartame to be safe, but is it?
September 2007
- 'Walking to work' associated with a reduced risk of diabetes
- Can cutting back on sleep kill you?
- Korean ginseng found to help men with 'erectile dysfunction'
- Garlic linked with reduced risk of colon cancer
- UK Food Standards Agency continues to mislead the public on the 'value' of starchy foods
- Weight-training found to lead to fat loss in women
- Family meals associated with healthier eating habits in later life
- Vitamin D supplementation appears to save lives
- Food additives proven to trigger hyperactivity, so why not ban them?
- Research makes case for higher vitamin D levels to combat cancer
- Poor bedside manner associated with increased risk of complaints against doctors
- Study links blood sugar imbalance with increased appetite
August 2007
- The link between low iron levels and fatigue, and why this diagnosis is often missed
- Study shows that doctors tend not to listen to their patients regarding side-effects of statins
- Drug company-funded statin studies shown to be highly biased and unreliable
- How much exercise is enough?
- Compounds in olive oil found to 'thin' the blood
- More evidence that vitamin D is linked to better physical function in the elderly
- Parents told to feed kids fat!
- 'Pot bellies' again found to be a marker for cardiovascular disease
- Acetyl-L-carnitine found to relieve fatigue in the elderly
- Doctors question the use of statins in the elderly
- Vitamin deficiency implicated in the complications of diabetes
- Dentists warn against the drinking of fruit juice and squash, but what are the alternatives?
- Coffee drinking linked with reduced risk of colon cancer in women
- Low-GI diet linked with reduced risk of most common cause of loss of vision in adults
July 2007
- Sunlight linked with relative protection from multiple sclerosis
- Scientific review confirms superiority of carbohydrate control
- Could 'diet' drinks actually promote weight gain?
- Fish-eating found to be associated with reduced risk of disease markers
- Lower GI breakfasts found to improve kids' brain function in the morning
- Older (and cheaper) drugs found to be better for diabetics
- Meditation found to benefit those suffering from chronic pain
- Another less-than-impressive study trumpets the 'benefits' of statins
- Shoddy science used (again) in an attempt to discredit low-carb eating
- Low-carb diet found to be effective for acne
- More evidence that lower-carb is the way to go
- 'Primal' diet outperforms 'Mediterranean' eating in study
- More evidence suggests cranberry can help prevent bladder infection
June 2007
- Adding fluoride to water supplies is bad for our teeth
- Yoga found to boost feel-good brain chemical
- Why we need to be wary of doctors who dismiss the role of food sensitivity in health
- Vitamin D linked with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease
- What's so unhealthy about 'going to work on an egg'?
- Omega-3 supplementation in pregnancy found to improve problem-solving ability in infants
- Study suggests that obesity might be 'healthy' after all
- Vitamin C linked with reduced risk of cataracts
- Research highlights the potential health benefits of walking
- Vitamin D supplementation found to reduce cancer risk in women
- Vitamins C and E linked with improved mental function
- Sunscreen dubbed 'snake oil' by American lawyer
- Science show that one person's meat can be another's poison - and how The True You Diet can reveal the foods that are right for YOU!
May 2007
- CoQ10 found to reverse the side-effects of statin drugs
- What really causes irritable bowel syndrome?
- Diabetes drug linked with adverse effects on health - again
- The great cholesterol con?
- Apple-eating in pregnancy associated with lower risk of childhood asthma
- Boiling broccoli found to sap its nutritional power
- 'Keeping fit' can take much less time than we might imagine
- Combating depression might be as easy as 'taking a walk in the park'
- The drinking of unpasteurised milk found to be associated with lower rates of childhood asthma
- Food additives linked with hyperactivity - again!
- Apples found to protect the body from
- 'Stealth vegetables' and other tactics for getting healthy food into our kids
- Recent study suggests magnesium may help PMS, but I recommend herbal help for this condition
April 2007
- Sun exposure looks like a free way for the elderly to maintain their physical function and mobility
- Could folate protect against the apparent ability of alcohol to boost breast cancer risk?
- Men with migraine found to be at increased risk of heart attack
- Resistance exercise may help to protect us from diabetes
- New research shows that salt reduction seems to save lives
- Fatty acid imbalance linked with increased risk of depression
- Is there an easier way to make healthy sperm than growing them from stem cells?
- How worried should we be about the latest oily fish scare?
- 'Restless legs' may up cardiovascluar disease risk, and what to do about it
- Artifical sweetener manufacturers 'face off' in court
- Red and processed meat-eating associated with breast cancer in post-menopausal women
- The research on sunlight and cancer puts melanoma scare stories in the shade
- Recent research links omega-3 fats with benefits for mood and behaviour
March 2007
- Hailed 'METEOR' statin trial results not as stellar as we are led to believe
- Despite recent research, I reckon pizza remains a roundly unhealthy food
- Vitamin D linked with blood pressure reduction
- The 'quality' press has the capacity to churn out 'bad press' too, it seems
- God bless Allen Carr and my big brother Joe
- Is purple grape juice really the answer to all our ills?
- Nuts shown to reduce the glycaemic index (GI) of foods eaten with them
- Why soft drinks, and research funded by the companies that manufacture them, need to be handled with caution
- Metal fatigue - iron deficiency found to slow brain function in women
- Should medical treatments need to be scientifically proven?
- Study confirms superior effectiveness of low-carb eating for weight loss
- Are wholegrain breakfast cereals really good for the heart?
- Saturated fat said to be as bad as 'trans' fats - but is it?
February 2007
- Why letting children choose what they eat is a recipe for disaster
- Make you own mind up about the BDA and the dietetics 'evidence-base'
- It's not so much nutritionists, but dieticians we need to know the truth about
- Spearmint and cutting carbs may help 'hairy' women
- World Health Organisation accused of improper soliciting of funds from the pharmaceutical industry
- Getting the 'balance' of dietary fats right seems to be important whatever our age
- Why chocolate can be a really healthy Valentine's day treat
- Enviga's manufacturers forced to substantiate 'weight loss' claims
- High-GI foods aid sleep? Dream on!
- Omega-3 fats found to help those who self-harm
- Why do drug companies put caffeine in headache remedies?
- Why removing tonsils is not usually the answer for children who do not breathe easily
January 2007
- Study finds that overweight children eat the LEAST fat and most sugar
- Drug companies charged with using money to influence treatment guidelines
- Why we need to run for cover when the food industry appears to 'come to our rescue'
- Should prison inmates be taking nutritional supplements?
- Statin drugs shown to be largely ineffective for the majority of people who take them, but why does this fact seem to have passed researchers by?
- Why 'slowing down' can help those seeking to lose weight
- Why epidemiological studies don't 'prove' anything
- Why fructose needs to be consumed with caution
- UK food labelling scheme gives oven chips a green light and why this makes me see red!
- Study reveals the potential for the food industry to pervert the course of science
- Doctors come clean about the 'effectiveness' of weight loss drugs
- Carbohydrate, not fat, consumption is linked with increased risk of metabolic syndrome
- 5 facts about me I wouldn't normally publicise!
December 2006
- Creating time for the whatever new behaviours you may have planned
- More research shows abdominal obesity is linked with chronic disease
- More research suggests that green tea has cancer-protective properties
- The health benefits of Brussels sprouts
- Getting the balance right over Christmas
- Olive oil is famed for its heart-healthy properties, but might it help protect against cancer too?
- Advice for those seeking to 'enjoy' a drink over the festive season
- Are vegetarian diets healthy?
- Recent evidence suggests that bigger is better
- Does science suffer from institutionalised corruption?
- What are we going to do about the diabetes 'timebomb'?
- How drug companies can cause us to forget what 'medicine' is really for
- Bulimia shown to be more common in cities, and two highly effective remedies for this condition for those not planning on moving to the country
- Why I won
November 2006
- How vitamin D deficiency in winter poses hazards for our health (and what to do about it)
- For some women, it seems HIGH fat diets are best for the breast
- Recent evidence suggests that fish really is the ultimate 'brain food'
- Yet more evidence that 'high-carb, low-fat' diets are 'fatally' flawed
- Junk food ads aimed at children to be partially banned, and the practical steps that can counter the negative influence TV has on kids' health
- Why the body mass index (BMI) is virtually useless for assessing health
- Red meat under fire again, but does it really cause breast cancer?
- Low carb diets bad for the heart? Actually, it seems the reverse is true
- Juicy details - why fruit juices pose a hazard to our health
- Big fat lies - why do health professionals continue to dish out advice about fat that is not supported by science?
- Resveratrol, red wine and the French 'paradox' that isn't a paradox at all
- Trans fat campaigner and lawyer takes aim at saturated fat too - but would it stand up in court?
- NHS knuckles rapped for putting patients at risk
October 2006
- Trans fat ban planned in New York - what we need to know to protect ourselves from this toxic food ingredient
- Is moderate drinking genuinely good for our health?
- Drug company accused of 'disguised marketing' - and why we all need to be aware of industry funding of patient advocacy groups
- Does eating white bread 'cause' cancer?
- Effluent to be turned into drinking water? No thanks - tap water is already a health hazard as it is!
- More evidence that eating fish does more good than harm
- Should women eat oily fish in pregnancy - yes or no?!
- Exposed: the way drug companies can influence research and the medical journals that publish it
- Yet more evidence that calcium and dairy products do little or no good for our bones
- Why the only place Coca-Cola's Enviga is likely to leave you lighter is in the pocket
- NICE's decision to restrict Alzheimer's drugs upheld, and natural treatments that offer real potential for this condition
- Get in tune with the drbriffa.com podcasts!
- Why exercise is not a cure for obesity and what works better for those seeking to shed weight in the long term
- Soft drinks cause soft bones, but is it also time to slay the sacred cow?
- More protein is usually what's needed when hunger strikes
- Is breast really best?
- Needled by the flu vaccine shortage? Don't be!
- No time for exercise? New research suggests you may need less time than you think
- Fat chance - why cutting down on saturated fat will do little or nothing for your health
September 2006
- More evidence that obesity is not the spectre it
- Snack attack
- GORD blimey!
- Why the notion that eating nuts causes weight gain is, well, nuts!
- Get oiled up! Why dressing helps you get maximum nutritional benefit from your salad
- Spending a penny at night? - more of one mineral can often put a stop to it
- Jamie Oliver calls parents
- Older dads at risk of fathering autistic children
- Tea - the perfect cuppa?
- Foetal feeding - the evidence that supplementation during pregnancy helps ensure babies have all their fingers and toes
- Fruit juice to prevent Alzheimer's - are they losing their minds?!
- Have the purveyors of fizzy drinks gone soft in the head?
- The facts about why margarine is worse for us than butter
December 2005
November 2005
- Could omega-3 fats, be the answer for many individuals with depression and schizophrenia?
- Does echinacea really work for colds and flu?
- Sound advice for those who have acid relux at night
- Is this the death of the body mass index (BMI) as a measure of body weight?
October 2005
- Cheese for supper and getting a good night's sleep
- Preventing dementia by controlling homocysteine levels in the body
- Hold the salt! Why cutting down on processed foods is the key to reducing salt in the diet
- Practical advice for those wanting to construct healthy lunchboxes for their kids
September 2005
- Sunlight, malignant melanoma, and the healing powers of vitamin D
- Alleviating repetitive strain injury (RSI) naturally
- Kid's breakfast cereals are notoriously rubbishy - what can you feed them in the morning that really sets them up for the day?
- Treatment with zinc can help in the treatment of anorexia nervosa
August 2005
- Could vinegar actually reduce the tendency of certain foods to cause weight gain?
- The health benefits of chocolate
- The appetite-sating power or protein
- Could folic acid help prevent Down's syndrome?
July 2005
- Do high-protein diets cause osteoporosis?
- The benefits of taking omega-3 fats in pregnancy
- Can vitamin C cure the common cold?
- From my post-bag - a selection of questions about PMS, carrots, heart attacks and salt
- The declining nutritonal state of our diet
June 2005
- Is iron essential for the bonding of mother and baby?
- Most of us love a barbeque, but could chargrilled meat represent a serious hazard to our health?
- Combating anxiety using natural approaches
- Doctors say 'detox' diets are worthless - are they right?
May 2005
- Does red meat really cause colon cancer?
- Even Medical Journals are Capable of Chruning out Bad Press
- A dulled sense of smell is a common problem - what natural approaches are there for this condition?
- What can be done to prevent our supper from making its presence felt in the night?
April 2005
- Why the food labelling schemes proprosed by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) will do little to safeguard our health
- Natural treatment for restless legs syndrome (RLS)
- Avoiding certain foods can really help the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Do 'healthy' bacteria have a role in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?
March 2005
- Herbal help for depression in the form of St John's Wort
- The evidence that vegan and vegetarian diets come up short on specific nutrients
- Is there a natural way to combat Alzheimer's disease and dementia?
- Do kids really need milk to build strong bones?
February 2005
- 10 basic tips for ensuring your child gets all they need for healthy growth and development
- Why regular eating provides a route to better health and weight loss
- Dietary help for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Natural relief for constipation
January 2005
- Could 'salvestrols' help in the prevention and treatment of cancer?
- Does folic acid really cause breast cancer?
- The health benefits of drinking sparkling (yes, SPARKLING) water
- The health benefits of olive oil
December 2004
- Why nutritional variety is the spice of life
- Natural approaches to arthritis
- Does saturated fat really 'cause' heart disease?
- Dietary approaches for raised uric acid and gout
November 2004
- What can be done about female hair loss?
- Easy does it - why serving smaller portions can reduce the risk of us piling on the pounds
- Pizza a health food? I don't think so!
October 2004
- Vitamin D and its role in preventing and treating seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Natural approaches to preventing kidney stones
- Getting control of diabetes with diet
- Natural remedies for flu
- Are antioxidant supplements really killing people?
September 2004
- Dietary approaches to gallstones
- Natural treatments for head lice
- Natural approaches to alcoholism
- Is fruit juice really 'healthy'?
August 2004
- Natural approaches to heart failure
- A selection of questions from my mailbag concerning cramp, water, omega-3 fats and honey
- Why using salad dressing is healthier than you may think
- The hazards of taking statins to reduce cholesterol and what you can do about it
- The benefits of yoghurt over milk
July 2004
- Is there a natural cure for cellulite?
- Why eating a grain-based diet will do nothing for your 'vitality'
- Natural relief for headaches
June 2004
- The health benefits of strawberries
- Why low-carb may be the way to go for those wanting to lose weight (and keep it off!)
- Soft drinks
- Can diet help to prevent cancer?
May 2004
- Is there any point to 'food combining'?
- Hope for chocoholics everywhere....
- Omega-3 fats show promise in the treatment of depression
- Is cholesterol really the 'killer' it is made out to be?
- The benefits of breast feeding
April 2004
- Sunscreens, vitamin D and cancer
- Why a lot of breakfast fodder are nothing but cereal killers
- Food at work - simple strategies to ensuring a better diet in the workplace
March 2004
- Is it possible to drink too much water during endurance exercise?
- Does eating fat really increase our risk of being fat? (apparently not!)
- Dietary approaches to autism
- Can microwaves nuke the nutritonal value out of our food?
February 2004
- The health benefits of green tea
- Advice for those partial to a midnight feast
- Does milk really prevent osteoporosis?
- What's wrong with the 'Western' diet?
- Why bulimia is not all in the mind, and the dietary approach that can put a stop to this condition
January 2004
- Why having a bit of belly is worse than accumulating weight elsewhere
- Low-carb approaches for shedding weight around the mid-riff
- Natural cures for cold sores
December 2003
- Natural approaches to Raynaud's disease and poor circulation
- The nutritional properties of dates
- Preventing weight gain over the festive season
- Simple strategies for combating hangovers
November 2003
- Natural treatments for psoriasis
- Tips for getting healthy food into your kids
- Natural approaches to polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
- The benefits of fish and cod liver oil
- When it comes to losing weight, it's more than calories that count!
October 2003
- Is there a natural way to combat jet-lag?
- The health benefits of ginger
- What should we feed kids who like to snack in front of the TV?
- The health benefits of beans
September 2003
August 2003
- Getting rid of gout with the right diet
- How to boost 'heart-healthy' HDL cholesterol levels
- How to avoid 'pester power' when food shopping
- The health hazards of consuming the 'fruit' sugar fructose
- Natural alternatives to HRT (hormone replacement therapy)
July 2003
- The evidence that drinking tap water poses hazards for our health
- Impotence - is there a natural alternative alternative to Viagra?
- A guide to the healthiest bar snacks
- Why snacking can actually help you lose weight
June 2003
- Are nutritional supplements safe?
- Natural insect repellents
- Why those low in iron can suffer from metal fatigue
- The benefits of eating family meals
- Is turmeric the spice of life?
May 2003
- What can be done to prevent the 'mid-afternoon slump'
- Tea - the perfect cuppa?
- Natural treatments for acne
- The nutritional properties of the avocado pear
April 2003
- Why the potato is one vegetable it makes sense to keep a lid on in the diet
- Natural approaches to eczema
- Is the 'French paradox' really a paradox?
- When it comes to healthy eating, it pays to know your onions
March 2003
- How to easily get the recommended 5 portions of fruit and veg each day
- Avoiding mercury contamination in fish
- Natural approaches to boosting male fertility
- Natural approaches to curbing alcoholism
- Is microwave cooking really safe?
February 2003
- Can eating chocolate actually enhance health?
- What food can help to prevent prostate cancer?
- Dietary approaches for osteoporosis
January 2003
- Easy approaches to detoxification
- How to lower homocysteine levels naturally
- The health benefits of honey
December 2002
- Slowing the ageing process naturally
- Natural treatments for benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
- The healing properties of water
- The benefits of eating Brussels sprouts
- Healthy New Year resolutions
November 2002
- Combating seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
- Reducing the impact of stress with Siberian ginseng
- Natural cures for the common cold
- The health benefits of eating nuts
October 2002
- Is sticking fluoride in the water supply really a good idea?
- Is margarine really healthier than butter?
- Why for proper digestion, it pays to chew, chew, chew
- Why an apple a day can really help to keep the doctor away
September 2002
- The truth about eggs
- The importance of eating breakfast
- The health giving properties of tomatoes
- Natural approaches to pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS)
August 2002
- Breast Cancer Prevention
- Iron - a double-edged sword
- Can omega-3 fats from fish prevent and treat depression?
- Can nutritional therapy help to prevent of cataracts?
July 2002
- Eating out doesn't necessarily mean pigging out
- Can food affect behaviour?
- The benefits of olive oil
- Protecting ourselves from the damaging effects of the sun's rays
June 2002
- Natural treatments for hayfever
- Are raised cholesterol levels really a hazard to health?
- How changing how you eat can cure indigestion
- Natural approaches to asthma
May 2002
- Natural cures for insomnia
- Why healthy diets for children can't be had from a tin
- Effective natural relief from the pain of osteoarthritis
April 2002
March 2002
- Natural cures for cystitis
- The health benefits of folic acid
- Natural approaches to high blood pressure
- Do the RDA's (recommended daily allowances) have any relevance?
- Healthy snacking - the benefits of eating between meals
February 2002
- Natural cures for migraine
- The many benefits of garlic
- Caffeine caution - even a little may be enough to cause upset in the brain
- Using diet to protect yourself from macular degeneration
- The hazards of too consuming too much salt
January 2002
October 2001
September 2001
- Natural Strategies For Lowering Cholesterol
- Is fluoride really effective in preventing tooth decay, or could it be doing us more harm than good?
August 2001
July 2001
- Dietary And Lifestyle Changes to Reduce The Risk Of Diabetes
- A Guide To The Safe Use Of Herbal Remedies
- Cranberry To Combat Cystitis
June 2001
May 2001
- Green Tea's Cancer-Protective Effects
- Preventing Sight Degeneration
- The Health Giving Properties Of Sunlight
- Does Fibre Protect Us From Colon Cancer?
April 2001
- Natural Treatments For Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
- H.Pylori and Stomach Ulcers
- Preserving The Function Of The Brain As We Age
- Depression and Diet
March 2001
- Panic Attacks - The Natural Approach
- Dietary and Natural Health Approaches to Hypertension (High blood pressure)
- Olive Oil - disease protective-properties or marketing hype?
- Dealing With Childhood Ear Infections
February 2001
January 2001
- Agnus Castus and the Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Natural Ways Of Dealing With Insomnia
- Natural Treatments For Osteoarthritis
December 2000
- The Diverse Health Giving Properties of Pycnogenol
- Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA's) - Are They Useful?
- The Natural Way To Keep Colds And flu At Bay
November 2000
- Natural Strategies To Control Migrane Attacks
- Is vitamin E an alternative to aspirin?
- Iron
- Understanding Food Cravings
Get in tune with the drbriffa.com podcasts!
In our first, introductory podcast, John talks to Carl Munson of the drbriffa.com team about how, as a young doctor, he accidentally discovered the power of natural health principles. They also discuss some of the medical myths surrounding a range of health issues as well as the cynical politics of food.
In his unique, often controversial yet scientifically-backed way, John questions the validity of the body mass index (BMI) as the gospel of obesity; takes the diabetes charities to task on their nutritional advice and is likely to put you off margarine for life.
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