A few pearls for December:
Are you taking an ashwagandha supplement? Ashwagandha
is an Indian herb from the Nepal
region. It has been used by many patients for the treatment of mild anxiety and
insomnia, and also for enhancement of cognitive and physical performance. Some
studies say it may work.
Consumer Lab recently tested several Ashwagandha
preparations, and found some of them not delivering the advertised amount of
the product. They recommend the Pure Encapsulations preparation as the best
one. Click
here for an overview.
Are you on the Mediterranean Diet yet? A recent study
done at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston
inferred that sticking to the Mediterranean Diet increases your lifespan. This
is not surprising; we already knew that with this Diet your weight decreases,
cholesterol profile improves, and the risk of a heart attack is diminished. The
essentials of the diet are: Lots of fruits and vegetables, legumes, fish (it’s
the fatty ones), extra virgin olive oil, and unrefined grains. A glass of red
wine is good, and dark chocolate is not bad. Meats and fat containing milk
products are not part of this diet, and should be kept to a minimum. We have a
good Mediterranean Diet summary in our office. You are welcome to it, just
request it by email at istaw@drstaw.com,
or call the office (make sure we have your email address).
Are you still drinking sugar-sweetened beverages? If
you do – stop it.
Considered one of the most important studies published this
year, this study, an analysis of studies on more than 170,000 people, shows
that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages increases the risk of heart
disease. This is more so among men and American populations. Water is the drink
of champions!!!
Have a great holiday season and stay well.
