There are lots of sleepless people out there right now. Many of us do not sleep the entire night. Innumerable reasons wake us up – everything from election nights, World Series games, working shifts and tweets from long forgotten lovers, to tobacco (smokers perpetually wake up in nicotine withdrawal) to drinking an alcohol nightcap, depression and […]
Are We Hard Wired to Taste Pizza?
How do we really taste? Are the five “common” tastes of sugary, salty, bitter and sour, plus the Japanese researched savory taste of umami, all that’s required to give food – and much of our life – flavor? Researchers at Oregon State think not. They’ve identified the villain and pleasure of dieters almost everywhere, carbohydrates, […]
Fear and Loathing in the Doctor’s Office (6/7/12)
Need the Regular Doctor’s Visit Foster Dread? Fear makes money. Fear and dread keep people coming back. That’s how many people view their annual physical – the yearly trip to the doctor. Many public health experts argue strongly against such an annual procedure – especially when people are young and feeling well. But for many […]
When sugar tastes bad (2/15/12)
Is All Sugar the Same? Sugar is just sugar, say the television ads. It doesn’t make any difference if it comes in the form of “natural” high fructose corn syrup or the sugar in a sweet potato or pear. The body treats it the same. Don’t believe those ads. Recent studies argue that high fructose […]
Is sugar poison? (5/5/11)
Villain or Hero? We like our villains simple and singular, whether in politics or food. Our brains crave order, but seeing issues as part of larger systems is too complicated, too effortful and time consuming to seem worth it. Besides, it makes for lousy copy. Better to choose a villain. Recently, patients have been coming […]