New vaccine recommendation if you have diabetes and are under 60

On October 22 of this year, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in favor of recommending  the use of hepatitis B vaccine in adults under age 60 who have not yet been vaccinated for it. The recommendation is not considered official until it is in print, which is anticipated over the next weeks.
Why [...]

Outsmart Obesity Tip #1: Leave the serving bowls in the kitchen, especially if you are a man eating pasta.

How to outsmart obesity if you are man and like pasta

Ask the Doctor question: How can I prevent prostate cancer?

It is not clear that screening for prostate cancer is beneficial, but we may be able to prevent it.

Warmer Spring = More Ticks: How to Prevent Lyme Disease

Lyme disease (named for Lyme, Connecticut where it was first described) is an infection carried by Deer Ticks that can cause a skin rash, as well as serious nerve, heart and brain problems. The infection is most common in late spring or summer and in most people the first sign is a flat or raised [...]

Read This Before You Travel Abroad

Reader Question: Do I need the TWINRIX vaccine if I go to Jamaica?
One of the most frequent questions I get in the Ask a Question section of Proven Health Ways is:  How do I stay healthy when traveling abroad?
Strategies to protect your health while traveling include vaccinations, avoiding times of political unrest or violence, protection [...]

So Who Really Needs Pap Tests, Anyway?

A 45 year-old woman once came into my clinic for a Pap test to screen for cervical cancer. While no patients that I know actually like having Paps done, for this individual it was truly a traumatic experience. You see, she was cognitively delayed. Her view of the world was more like that of a [...]

Reader Question: Is the Acai Berry (advertised everywhere) a scam? Many say its worthless.

The Acai (pronounced “ah-sah-EE”) Berry is a fruit from Central and South America that contains antioxidants. Antioxidants are thought to accomplish many wondrous things such as preventing cancer and heart disease, and even slow down the aging process.
Whoever submitted this question is wise to question the advertised claims. Remember that what happens in a research [...]

Diana’s Fennel Mashed Potatoes

FENNEL MASHED POTATOES
Hands-on time: 15 minutes?
Time to table: 45 minutes?
Serves 8
Salted water to cover
2 large russet potatoes, peeled, cut into six or eight same-size pieces
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon fennel seed, crushed (or fennel powder, I used a mixture)
Salt & pepper
1 large fennel bulb, outside layer trimmed if needed, cored, chopped roughly in fairly big pieces [...]

Diana’s Vegan Green Bean Casserole

Vegan Green Bean Casserole
Ingredients (use vegan versions):
1 can French cut green beans
1 1/2 canisters vegan French fried onions
1 1/2 cups soy milk
1 cube veggie bouillon
2-3 tablespoons corn starch (or potato starch) mixed with 2-3 tablespoons [...]

Making Sense Out of the New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

In November 2009, an updated recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) on screening for breast cancer was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The updated recommendation, which was written to help guide health care providers, differs from prior recommendations in several ways, including these:
• Prior recommendation: Routine mammograms every 1-2 years for [...]

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