Blogs

An interesing study out of Brandeis University and University College in London and published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine reports that spouses in bad marriages face greater risk for serious health problems.

The study goes on to say that marital problems affect men and women equally, increasing both spouses' risks for stroke and heart disease. Read more

Ingredients:

2 cups of brown or white rice, uncooked
1 can of chickpeas
1 red or vidalia onion, chopped
Cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil
Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice
Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or basil
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Cook rice using two cups of water for white rice, or four cups of water for brown rice.

Drain chickpeas and boil them for 1-2 minutes. Drain again. This will help remove any preservatives that may have come with the chickpeas. Read more

When I was in elementary school, I remember spending several hours following an appointment with the dentist chewing away at the inner portions of my mouth, thinking that it was neat that I could gnaw away without feeling any pain.

It just didn't occur to me that the local anesthetic that I had received made it impossible for me to feel pain while I was doing severe damage to the tissues that lined my inner mouth. Read more

A new study published in the journal Annals of Surgery indicates that for three complicated surgical procedures - heart bypass, removal of the pancreas, and unblocking carotid arteries - older surgeons have higher rates of patient death within 30 days of surgery than younger surgeons.

Specific findings of this study are as follows: Read more

Researchers at the University of California at Riverside are set to publish a paper in the journal Free Radical Biology & Medicine that indicates that sunscreens may actually be harmful to the health of your skin and make it age faster than normal.

Sunscreens contain special molecules called ultraviolet (UV) filters that are supposed to prevent ultraviolet radiation in the sun's rays from reacting with molecules in your skin and creating compounds called reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are unstable molecules that can damage your skin from the inside out and accelerate its natural aging process. Read more

Ingredients:

1 small to medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and chopped into bite-size chunks
2 medium leeks, washed and chopped into big slices
2 carrots, cut into thick chunks
1 medium to large parsnip, chopped into big chunks
1 yellow onion, quartered
6 cups of vegetable broth or organic chicken broth
3-6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and ground black pepper (optional)

Directions: Read more

Michael Jackson and I both have a skin condition called vitiligo, a condition that results in loss of skin color in patches throughout one's face and body. Read more

Lead poisoning has become less of a health threat to the general population since lead-based paint and leaded gasoline were phased out in the 1970s. Still, those who work around lead, pregnant women, infants, and young children continue to be at significant risk of suffering from mild to moderate cases of lead poisoning. Unborn babies, infants, and young children are especially at risk because exposure to even small amounts can lead to permanent damage. Lead can be absorbed through the placenta and breast milk. Read more

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cups of washed baby spinach leaves
1 fennel bulb
1/2 cup of green lentils
5 tablespoons of cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil
1 clove of garlic, unpeeled
4 tablespoons of lemon juice or red wine vinegar, whichever you prefer
Sea salt and black pepper
Small handful of roughly chopped parsley, basil, or mint

Directions: Read more

In the summer of 2005, I wrote a short book that details how I went from being an average university student to the top of my class.

The book is called 8 Essential Strategies For Academic Success.

Changing the momentum of my academic career didn't happen overnight. Read more