Saunas have been around for hundreds of years as a relaxing and therapeutic practice. The Finnish enjoy sauna baths weekly or more often—a custom that we might want to adopt. Read on to learn about the many health benefits of regular sauna use, both in healthy people and in patients with a variety of health conditions.
Posts with Category:
Heart Disease
Has Ancestral Health Gone Mainstream?
Not long ago, the concept of “ancestral health” was met with complete skepticism. The general response was that our ancestors’ short life expectancy “proved” that they lived in poor health. But a renewed interest in studying the health of modern hunter–gatherer tribes is signaling a change in conventional thinking.
Coconut Oil Is Still Healthy, Despite AHA Claims
A recent AHA presidential advisory recommends yet again that we reduce our saturated fat intake to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This time, coconut oil was added to the “avoid” list. But is it really unhealthy? Read on to learn what the research says and why we shouldn’t take this AHA report to heart.
Why Has the American Approach to Heart Disease Failed?
A recent New York Times article correctly suggests that diet and lifestyle changes are far more effective ways to prevent and treat heart disease than statins and stents. But what diet, and what lifestyle? Is it as simple as avoiding “artery-clogging saturated fat,” as the author suggests? Read on to find out why the American approach to heart disease has really failed.
RHR: The Functional Medicine Approach to High Cholesterol
The message that “cholesterol is bad and if you have high cholesterol you should take a statin to lower it” is out of date and not in sync with the most recent scientific evidence. Unfortunately, the latest findings have not trickled down to the average primary care doctor—or even the average cardiologist. Today I discuss the six underlying causes of high cholesterol and how addressing those issues can often alleviate the need to take statins.
An Update on Omega-6 PUFAs
Advice to increase omega-3 fatty acid consumption and decrease omega-6 consumption is widespread in health communities and the popular press. But is it omega-6 that’s the problem, or just how we cook omega-6-rich foods? Read on to learn about the benefits of whole foods high in omega-6 and the negative effects of industrial seed oils on human health.
