mediterranean diet wins!

The Annals of Internal Medicine reports that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in healthy fats like olive oil and nuts may be better than a strict low-fat diet. People on the Mediterranean diet exhibited increases in good cholesterol (HDL), as well as improvements in blood pressure & blood sugar. The low-fat group demonstrated decreased levels of the good cholesterol (HDL), and no change in blood pressure & blood sugar levels. What a relief to know that we don't have to cut out tasty, healthy fats in order to lose weight and improve health.

lignans & breast cancer

An abundant intake of plant lignans may reduce the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women, a report from Germany finds. Lignans are present in flaxseed, sesame seeds, fruits and vegetables. The higher the intake of lignans, the greater the decrease in the risk of breast cancer.

qigong (chi kung) classes in san fran

I wanted to let everyone know that there will be a new qigong class series starting at my clinic on 11/15 (650 Chenery St, SF, CA 94131 in Glen Park, 1.5 blocks from BART). It will be 8 Wednesday nights from 6:30-7:30pm, and the cost is $120 (cheap!). The qigong form is called Guigen Qigong, and it is a Daoist Five Element healing qigong that strengthens the body while calming the mind and ridding the body of stress & tension. The class size is limited to 10 people. If you are interested, send a check made out to Summer Scott, the amazing instructor, and send it to my clinic address listed above. For more info, copy and paste the following link: http://home.earthlink.net/~earthmonkey68

the sweet news on cinnamon

We already know that cinnamon helps to promote healthy blood sugar levels. The Journal of the American College of Nutrition now reports that cinnamon may help promote healthy blood pressure levels in those suffering from elevated blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure & diabetes both tend to run in families, so why not add cinnamon to your oatmeal? What a delicious way to maintain health.