What explains the Achilles’ heel in certain Asian diets? For decades, Japan has had the longest life expectancy in the world, while spending just a fraction on healthcare compared to other high-income countries. This longevity has been attributed in part to Japanese dietary patterns, which are thought to have contributed to their comparatively low rates of coronary artery disease. Japan has historically had among the lowest rates of colon, breast, ovarian, prostate, bladder,

When you hear the term “processed foods,” you likely think of hot dogs, sodas, pizzas, and potato chips — not foods like yogurt and granola bars. Aren’t they supposed to be healthy? Not so fast. Things get murky when we start talking about what exactly makes a food processed or ultraprocessed. Let’s break it down. What Are Ultraprocessed Foods? Most foods today are processed, which just means they’ve been changed in some way from their freshest state. Minimal processing can i

A luscious sauce coats a side of salmon before it hits the oven for juicy, delicious results. Prep Time: Total Time: Servings: 15 mins 40 mins 8 servings This might be the easiest and most delicious way to cook salmon. In this parsley-garlic salmon recipe, a stir-together sauce made with mayonnaise, Dijon, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, lemon, and of course, parsley and garlic, gets slathered on a two-pound pie

Mushrooms are one of the most underrated foods, in my opinion. Mushrooms are flavorful and versatile. They can be grilled, sautéed, roasted, and eaten raw. And on the nutritional side, they are packed with many vital nutrients. What is the Science Behind Eating Mushrooms and Prostate Cancer? A study by the International Journal of Cancer, got much attention because of its simple message: more mushrooms equals less prostate cancer. This study looked at 36,000 men ages

Coffee can improve Parkinson’s symptoms within three weeks compared to placebo, but do the benefits last? When James Parkinson described the classic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, “he could hardly foresee the evolution of our understanding over the next two hundred years”—like the role of nutrition. High dietary intakes of animal fat, mercury, iron, and dairy products seem to increase Parkinson’s disease risk, while a plant-based dietary pattern and the intake of antioxidan

Our gut flora is determined by what we eat, for good or for ill. When we eat meat (including seafood), dairy, or eggs, our gut flora can take certain components in them (carnitine and choline) and produce something that ends up as a toxic compound called TMAO, which may set us up for a heart attack, stroke, and death. The process is illustrated below and at 0:26 in my video How to Cultivate a Healthy Gut Microbiome with Food. Give people two eggs, and they get a spike of TMAO

A superhero supplement for immune and respiratory health, and beyond If black seed oil were a cartoon superhero, it would save the world with its signature super phytonutrient constituent, thymoquinone, a powerful free radical scavenger. When you take black seed oil, thymoquinone springs into action and unleashes its power on everyday “villains” in the most immune-supporting, allergy-relieving, inflammatory-modulating, cardiovascular-protecting, and blood-sugar balancing of w

Vibration plates for lymphatic drainage have become a popular wellness tool for people looking to support detoxification, improve circulation, and encourage healthy lymphatic flow in a simple, non-invasive way. The lymphatic system plays an essential role in removing waste products, toxins, and excess fluid from the body, helping to maintain overall health and wellness. However, when lymph flow becomes sluggish or congested, it may contribute to swelling, fatigue, inflammatio

When does a remedy become a poison—and what happens when the authority to heal escapes the obligation to answer for harm? The Greek word behind “pharmacy” meant remedy and poison at the same time. Revelation used it for the sorcery by which Babylon’s merchants deceived the nations. A 2018 experiment shows why the word may be more accurate than we thought: the drug we give for a “viral” fever can, at a toxic dose, make virus-sized particles that pass the injury on. In 1793, as

The refrigerator changed our relationship to food in ways that, in retrospect, are hard to imagine. Just picture how much harder it would have been to feed your family if you didn’t have the option of keeping meats, produce, and leftovers in the fridge. Most leftovers would have been seriously high-risk except in winter, the only time it would be cold enough to keep them at food-safe temperatures. Today, most leftovers are safe if handled correctly — emphasis on the word “if