Welcome to our new column, "Ask the Tokyo Dietitian," that provides expert insights on food and nutrition – tailored specifically for life in Japan. Whether you're looking for tips on how to balance traditional Japanese foods with modern dietary needs, navigating local food labels or you want to learn more… Read
I began practicing psychotherapy during the Reagan administration. Thirty years went by before distress about politics became a clinical issue for any of my clients. I remember the moment it first happened: There was a long voicemail from a distraught woman requesting therapy for anxiety and depression in reaction to… Read
For generations, Gatorade and similar electrolyte beverages have been helpful tools for athletes seeking a competitive edge. In 1965, Dr Robert Cade and a team of scientists at the University of Florida College of Medicine created Gatorade to help their football players combat heat exhaustion and muscle cramps during long… Read
A doctor’s visit often ends with you leaving with a pathology request form in hand. The request form soon has you filling a sample pot, having blood drawn, or perhaps even a tissue biopsy taken. After that, your sample goes to a clinical pathology lab to be analyzed, in whichever… Read
When wildfires spread into neighborhoods, they burn all kinds of materials found in cars and houses and everything around them – electronics, paint, plastics, furniture. Research shows that the mix of chemicals released when human-made materials like these burn is different from what is emitted during a vegetation fire and is potentially… Read
Feeling drained and lethargic is common: A 2022 national survey found that 13.5% of U.S. adults said they felt “very tired” or “exhausted” most days or every day over a three-month period. Women ages 18 to 44 had the highest rate of fatigue – just over 20%. Being tired is linked… Read
There’s no question that exercise is good for the heart. Regular exercise lowers blood pressure and cholesterol and reduces the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. But sometimes it can be hard to find the time (and motivation) to exercise. So, what’s the least amount of exercise you can… Read
After my first couple of hours in a Japanese hospital, I started to feel like I was in prison — a prison where everyone was friendly and polite and always said “please” when they gave you an order, but a prison nonetheless. There were many rules, but after a couple of… Read
Imagine a world where food on grocery store shelves is ranked by its healthiness, with simple, research-backed scores. In some countries, that world already exists. Nutrient profiling systems, or NPSs, support clear front-of-package labels that assess food quality based on nutrient content. Nutri-Score in France is a rainbow-colored system grading… Read
“I’m tracking my macros.” “I’ll pass on that, it doesn’t fit in my macros.” “I’m on the Macro Diet.” Macros seem to come up often in the corners of the internet and social media devoted to people trying to lose weight, improve their health, look better and feel better about… Read