Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | LGBT Health, News
Guest post by Jose Sepulveda, Co-Chair, New York Eye & Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai LGBT Employee Resource Group
When Apple CEO Tim Cook came out, he said “We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick.” Coming out was not going to change his life. It was not going to change my life much either, but somewhere, there was a young teen who was able to see a little more hope. These small bricks, small steps forward, help the unseen. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | News, Ophthalmology
The internet exploded when a Tumblr user posted the picture below and asked followers whether or not the dress was blue and black, or white and gold, sparking debate across blogs and social media. Reena A. Garg, MD, Ophthalmologist at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai and Assistant Professor of Glaucoma at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai explains why we can’t agree: (more…)
Mar 10, 2014 | Diabetes, Endocrinology, Health Tips, News
This post was written by Gerald Bernstein, MD, Director of the Friedman Diabetes Institute at Mount Sinai Beth Israel.
One of today’s greatest public health issues is the growing number of people with diabetes mellitus, most commonly type 2 and most often (but not always) associated with excess weight. To appreciate the scope of the problem, it is important to understand the true nature of the disease. (more…)
Mar 18, 2013 | Cancer, Community Outreach, News
Guest Post by Aye Moe Thu Ma, MD, breast cancer specialist at Mount Sinai Roosevelt and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s. Earlier this year, Dr. Ma led a 15-member team of doctors and other health care professionals on a week-long medical mission to Myanmar, the Southeast Asian country formerly known as Burma. Under repressive military rule from 1962 to 2011, the country is beginning to emerge from decades of isolation as it moves toward democratic reforms. (more…)
Updated on Jun 30, 2022 | Cardiology, Diabetes, Diet and Nutrition, News, Popular
Guest post by Simone Walters, MS, RD
Whether in the form of a hot beverage to keep the winter chill at bay or as delicious candies received as gifts for Valentine’s Day, it would seem that chocolate holds a special place in everyone’s heart this time of year—perhaps year-round if you fashion yourself a chocoholic! There have also been several reports in recent years regarding the health benefits of chocolate, music to the ears of chocolate lovers everywhere. In spite of these health benefits, it is still quite a stretch to say that chocolate is good for you. (more…)
Oct 24, 2012 | Diet and Nutrition, News, Safety
This guest post was written by Simone Walters, MS, RD.
Since I am a registered dietitian, one of the most popular questions I get asked is, “Is organic food better for me?” My usual response is that the way to better health is to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, organic or not.
No Significant Difference in Nutrition
A new review of the published literature sheds some light on this very question. The authors found that for produce—fruits, vegetables and grains—there was no significant different in vitamin levels of organic items compared to conventionally grown items. They also found that detectable pesticide residues were significantly less likely to be found on organic produce compared to conventionally grown produce.
What do these results mean for the average consumer? The question of whether organic food is better for you is usually coupled with cost concerns, because, in general, organic produce can be more expensive than their conventionally grown counterparts. However, the most recent data indicates that in terms of nutrient content, organic and conventionally grown produce are equivalent. So from a health perspective it may not be worth the added costs for organic produce.
What About Pesticides?
There are, however, other reasons that consumers choose to purchase organic produce, and the fact that they tend to have lower quantities of detectable pesticide residues compared to conventionally grown produce is one of them. This finding, however, may not be as significant as it initially appears to be. First of all, it means that organic produce still contains pesticide residues, just less often than conventional produce. Secondly, the levels of residues found on organic and conventional produce generally are well below upper limits set by government organizations. In other words, exposure at these levels is less than what has been shown to cause adverse health effects. For anyone who still has concerns about pesticide residue levels on produce, I would advise to thoroughly rinse all produce before consumption both to help reduce residue levels before consumption and as a basic hygiene measure.
Bottom Line Advice
In light of these results, it is my opinion that if you’re trying to adopt healthier eating habits, consuming more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, organic or not, is definitely a step in the right direction.
When Apple CEO Tim Cook came out, he said “We pave the sunlit path toward justice together, brick by brick. This is my brick.” Coming out was not going to change his life. It was not going to change my life much either, but somewhere, there was a young teen who was able to see a little more hope. These small bricks, small steps forward, help the unseen. (more…)
