The five most-read stories on Scope this week were:
Does Pinterest promote unhealthy eating?: A dietician-blogger's take on the popularity of sugary dessert images on Pinterest and how the photos might promote unhealthy eating habits.
Stanford study on the health benefits of organic food: What people are saying: A collection of reactions from journalists and sources featured in various articles in response to the Stanford researchers' new study on the health benefits of organic foods.
Research shows little evidence that organic foods are more nutritious than conventional ones: Stanford researchers have completed the most comprehensive meta-analysis to date of existing studies comparing organic and conventional foods. Their findings (subscription required), which were published in the Annals of Internal Medicine this week, did not show strong evidence that organic foods are more nutritious or carry fewer health risks than conventional alternatives, though consumption of organic foods can reduce the risk of pesticide exposure.
Why memory and math don’t mix: They require opposing states of the same brain circuitry: An interesting study led by Stanford neuroscientist Josef Parvizi, MD, PhD, looking at why memory and arithmetical reasoning are mutually exclusive in the brain.
Ask Stanford Med: Urology chair taking questions on prostate cancer and the latest research: Eila Skinner, MD, chair of the urology department at Stanford, is taking questions until Sept. 11 on prostate cancer, recommendations on PSA testing and the latest advancements in diagnosis and treatment for the disease.
