Dear Kelley My (nutritional) Christmas wish list I read a piece this week by the editor of the Britsh Medical Journal, in which she argues for healthcare decisions to be made on the best available evidence. This reminded me just how much conventional nutritonal 'wisdom' is not based on any good evidence. In today's blog, I list 14 things I wish were more widely known in the area of diet and nutrition. Greater awareness of these, I think, would allow individuals to make more informed choices about their diets and have greater control over their health. For more on this, click this link. Omega-3 fats linked with improved muscle formation in the elderly As we age, we can be prone to loss of muscle that puts us at increased risk of things such asfrailty and falls. Inmy blog on Tuesday, I write about some recent research which suggests that omega-3 fats (such as those found in 'oily' fish) can stimulate muscle development in the elderly. For more on this, click this link.
Placebos seems to work even when those taking them know they're placebos. When studying the effects of a drug or treatment, placebos are often employed in an effort to ascertain whether the active treatment has real benefits. In such studies, individuals will not normally know whether they are getting the active treatment or not, and this is generally thought to contribute to any placebo effect. However, in a recent study published on-line, individuals with irritable bowel syndrome were treated with a placebo and told precisely that that's what they were getting. Despite this, individuals saw a considerable improvement in their symptoms compared to a group who got no placebo. For more on this, click this link. Thank you and Merry Christmas! I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all of the readers of drbriffa.com a very Merry Christmas. Over the last year, many of you have emailed me or commented expressing sentiments of gratitude and support that I am truly grateful for. Dr John Briffa | |
