The KF Blog

Research has been popping up lately in my news reader and inbox about things that add (or subtract) years to our lives. And some of it is fascinating. But let’s face it: a lot of the health advice out there requires a pretty serious level of commitment, energy, and effort. In contrast to all that, I […]

A study was published last week with some intriguing results. The researchers looked at the effect of music therapy on patients with cancer. This was a review study, which meant they analyzed data from multiple studies–30 trials in this case–and drew conclusions from the collection of results. They found that music therapy (“music medicine”) improved mood, anxiety, and quality […]

Everywhere I look these days I see something about the Dukan Diet. it’s the diet that, famously, Kate and her mother went on prior to the Royal Wedding. And it’s touted as the new French woman’s secret. Apparently it swept Europe after it was first published in 2000, and now it’s come to North America. […]

So I talk a lot about coffee. I love my Starbucks. But what about tea? Yes, I love tea too. At my house, 3 pm is definitely tea time. This is more a cultural thing than anything else, for me, having British parents and having spent two sabbaticals in the UK. Most people have a […]

Here’s what I’ve been checking out lately. How Much Protein Should I Eat? (from Fit Sugar). This one’s for my vegetarian sister who has asked me this exact question. Great tool. Train Your Brain To Crave Healthy Foods (from CNN Health). Interesting! I doubt I could re-wire myself, like they describe in this article, to the degree that […]

It turns out being an optimist is good for your health. Harvard grads who were optimists at age 25 had better health outcomes for the next three decades. In broad sweeps, optimists have better cardiovascular health than pessimists. Their immune systems are more responsive, and they have more resilience to stress. The reason? Optimists have a […]

A new study found that celery (specifically, luteolin, a compound found within celery) had brain-boosting power in older mice. Yes, celery. So this got me thinking: are there other things you can do to upgrade your smarty-pants quotient? You betcha. Omega-3 fatty acids are well-known to boost brain function. This, in addition to all the other health benefits of omega-3, […]

Pour yourself a mug of tea, sit & relax and check out some of the interesting things I’ve been reading this week: Salt, Not So Bad For You After All? Great food for thought, highlighting the recent research that shakes up the conventional thinking that salt is a no-no for us all. (from Huffington Post Health/AOL Healthy […]

It’s no secret that, lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about happiness, stress, mortality, and living a fulfilling life …and part of that process has led me to the concept of a Bucket List. You’ve seen the movie with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson, right? Or at least heard about it, I’m sure. I like the […]