I'm not ashamed to admit that I dork out for Disneyland. I was there a few weeks ago, wearing a Minnie Mouse T-shirt and sprinting …
Author: Susan Ipaktchian
Stanford study spoils hopes that raw milk can aid those who are lactose-intolerant
I have a few friends who can tell pretty quickly when they've eaten a food that contains milk or lactose, the sugar found in …
Having a (volley)ball
It's not hard to have a ball - or at least play with one - around the Stanford School of Medicine's campus. As long as …
Learning weight-maintenance skills first helps prevent diet backsliding, Stanford study shows
All of us who have struggled with our waistlines over the years know that sometimes losing weight isn't the hardest part. Keeping it off is. …
Stanford experts argue need for health care, not sick care
Discussions about U.S. health-care reform have largely focused on broadening insurance coverage. That's unfortunate, says a Stanford researcher, because we should spend more time looking …
The not-so-sweet findings on non-nutritive sweeteners
Using aspartame or stevia instead of sugar will help you lose weight, right? Well, the answer isn't quite so simple. A scientific statement released today by the American …
Testing medical 'truths'
You might want to ask your doctor a few questions the next time he or she hands you a prescription. An interesting commentary in this …
How fast-food restaurants respond to limits on free toys with kids' meals
Do ordinances that restrict the ability of restaurants to give away toys with unhealthy kids' meals have an impact? A new Stanford study looks at …
Toying with Happy Meals
As you may have heard, a new San Francisco law forbids fast-food restaurants from giving away toys with children's meals that don't meet specific nutritional …
Kicking the smoking habit for good
I still smile when I remember talking with a friend who told me he had quit smoking a few years back. "But I saw you …
Menthol cigarette marketing aimed at young African Americans
Previous research has shown that menthol cigarettes are more popular among minorities, teenagers and low-income populations. And now a new study from Stanford scientists explores …
Improving communication between doctors and patients
I was speaking recently with a friend who, concerned about his father's health, accompanied his dad to the doctor's office. The doctor asked his dad …
Studies document risky use of powerful clotting drug
What happens when physicians latch onto a "wonder" drug for uses that are distinctly different from its original purpose? Stanford researchers today showcase a clear …
Become a blood donor
Do you know your blood type? I was surprised when many of my friends and family members said they didn't know theirs. But here's an …
Advancing the careers of women in academic medicine
Studies have shown that low expectations for particular groups of people often cause these people to perform poorly, becoming something of a self-fulfilling prophecy. So, …
Pine-bark extract doesn't lower blood pressure levels
The list of nutritional supplements that live up to their promises keeps getting shorter. The latest one on the firing line is pine-bark extract. Although …