Can You Prevent Picking Up Germs on the Subway? Someone needs to invent a “subway condom,” one expert says. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Do I Carry a Dangerous Amount of Belly Fat? Visceral fat, which collects around the middle, is tied to a host of serious medical problems. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Do Colonics Provide Health Benefits? Are They Dangerous? There is no scientific support for colon cleansing, and the procedure carries risks. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Does Cooking Boost Nutrients in Tomatoes and Spinach? Levels of some nutrients may go up with cooking. But levels of others go down. By RONI CARYN RABIN
Is Coffee Bad for Your Bones? Coffee drinkers may excrete more calcium, but it doesn’t appear to weaken bones or cause fractures. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Can You Sweat Out Toxins? Heavy metals and BPA can be detected in sweat. But whether tiny amounts of chemicals present a health concern is unknown. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Does Colon Cleansing Wipe Out Our Gut Microbiome? Even the foods we eat can alter the rich array of microbes in the gut, but research suggests they bounce back in a few weeks. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Can You Develop Food Allergies at Any Age? Preliminary data from a large, new national study suggests that over half of American adults with a food allergy developed it after age 18. By SOPHIE EGAN
How Much Protein Do We Need? Most Americans are eating far more protein than they actually need. By SOPHIE EGAN
Should We Be Buying Iodized Salt? Most Americans and Europeans who eat a varied diet get enough iodine even if they don’t use iodized salt, though pregnant women are at risk. By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Why Does My Dentist Give Me So Many X-Rays? Dentists should not rely on a blanket policy on X-rays for all patients, according to guidelines set out by the American Dental Association. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Can I Test the Health of My Gut Microbiota? All it takes is a fecal sample and a fee. But you may not learn much about the health of your microbiome. By RONI CARYN RABIN
Can You Have a Healthy Vegetarian or Vegan Pregnancy? A plant-based diet is healthful for pregnant women, as long as there’s appropriate planning. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Do M.R.I. Scans Cause Any Harm? Magnetic resonance imaging doesn’t carry the radiation risks of X-rays or PET scans. But there are safety issues to watch out for. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Is Chlorine in Swimming Pools Safe? A reader asks: Should I be concerned about chlorine and other people’s body products in pools? By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Why Does Hair Turn Gray at a Young Age? Smoking, nutrition and many other factors may contribute to graying locks.
How Worried Should Cat Owners Be About Toxoplasmosis? Pregnant women, babies and immunocompromised people are the only ones who need to worry about the “most successful parasite on the planet.” By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Can Air-Conditioners Cause Sinus Congestion? Air-conditioners can make some people’s noses clog or run for several reasons. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
How Much Sugar Is in a Glass of Wine? Winemakers may add sugar to wine to “improve” the taste, and sugar content can vary widely. By SOPHIE EGAN
How Much Weight Do I Need to Lose to Prevent Diabetes? Blood tests can determine if you have prediabetes, but losing a small amount of weight can prevent its progression to diabetes. By RONI CARYN RABIN
Can You Prevent Picking Up Germs on the Subway? Someone needs to invent a “subway condom,” one expert says. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Do I Carry a Dangerous Amount of Belly Fat? Visceral fat, which collects around the middle, is tied to a host of serious medical problems. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Do Colonics Provide Health Benefits? Are They Dangerous? There is no scientific support for colon cleansing, and the procedure carries risks. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Does Cooking Boost Nutrients in Tomatoes and Spinach? Levels of some nutrients may go up with cooking. But levels of others go down. By RONI CARYN RABIN
Is Coffee Bad for Your Bones? Coffee drinkers may excrete more calcium, but it doesn’t appear to weaken bones or cause fractures. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Can You Sweat Out Toxins? Heavy metals and BPA can be detected in sweat. But whether tiny amounts of chemicals present a health concern is unknown. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Does Colon Cleansing Wipe Out Our Gut Microbiome? Even the foods we eat can alter the rich array of microbes in the gut, but research suggests they bounce back in a few weeks. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Can You Develop Food Allergies at Any Age? Preliminary data from a large, new national study suggests that over half of American adults with a food allergy developed it after age 18. By SOPHIE EGAN
How Much Protein Do We Need? Most Americans are eating far more protein than they actually need. By SOPHIE EGAN
Should We Be Buying Iodized Salt? Most Americans and Europeans who eat a varied diet get enough iodine even if they don’t use iodized salt, though pregnant women are at risk. By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Why Does My Dentist Give Me So Many X-Rays? Dentists should not rely on a blanket policy on X-rays for all patients, according to guidelines set out by the American Dental Association. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Can I Test the Health of My Gut Microbiota? All it takes is a fecal sample and a fee. But you may not learn much about the health of your microbiome. By RONI CARYN RABIN
Can You Have a Healthy Vegetarian or Vegan Pregnancy? A plant-based diet is healthful for pregnant women, as long as there’s appropriate planning. By CATHERINE SAINT LOUIS
Do M.R.I. Scans Cause Any Harm? Magnetic resonance imaging doesn’t carry the radiation risks of X-rays or PET scans. But there are safety issues to watch out for. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Is Chlorine in Swimming Pools Safe? A reader asks: Should I be concerned about chlorine and other people’s body products in pools? By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Why Does Hair Turn Gray at a Young Age? Smoking, nutrition and many other factors may contribute to graying locks.
How Worried Should Cat Owners Be About Toxoplasmosis? Pregnant women, babies and immunocompromised people are the only ones who need to worry about the “most successful parasite on the planet.” By KAREN WEINTRAUB
Can Air-Conditioners Cause Sinus Congestion? Air-conditioners can make some people’s noses clog or run for several reasons. By KAREN WEINTRAUB
How Much Sugar Is in a Glass of Wine? Winemakers may add sugar to wine to “improve” the taste, and sugar content can vary widely. By SOPHIE EGAN
How Much Weight Do I Need to Lose to Prevent Diabetes? Blood tests can determine if you have prediabetes, but losing a small amount of weight can prevent its progression to diabetes. By RONI CARYN RABIN
