Image of Hilo

The other side of Hawaii

November 14, 2023

The Hawaiian Islands, tucked away in the central Pacific Ocean, call to mind year-round sunshine, gorgeous white-sand beaches, and an iconic brand of global tourism. The fleeting few days of paradise amidst the daily grind of life can range from free campsites to resort hotels and secluded, thatched-roof bungalows charging thousands of dollars per night.

But the dark clouds hanging over Hilo, the rainiest city in the US, portend a feature of the Hawaiian Islands that is not often depicted in popular culture or in the media…

Photo of Omeprazole pills

Is your heartburn medication more harmful than helpful?

September 15, 2023

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole are routinely prescribed for conditions like heartburn and inflammation or ulceration of the stomach or intestines.

But their long-term use has been associated with adverse issues, including gastrointestinal infections, microscopic stomach and intestinal inflammation, malabsorption of vitamins and minerals, bone fractures, kidney disease, and a potential increase in gastric and other cancers. These drugs are also associated with alterations in the gut microbiome.

Studies show that many people currently taking PPIs do not have an indication for remaining on these meds.

New guidelines from the American Gastroenterological Association recommend that doctors should consider de-prescribing PPIs for any patient without a clear indication for taking these meds. When indicated, patients should be treated with the lowest PPI dose required.

Life Between the Tides

September 6, 2023 “We still go to the seaside for consolation and simplicity…but there are ironies in choosing the shore as a theatre for reassurance.  A tidal coast is filled with that paradoxical quality: reliable unreliability, both closed and open-ended, both familiar and strange. Regularity toys with uncertainty there…the intertidal is rich but troubled; as…

Why are more young people getting colon cancer?

August 9, 2023 I spoke with Forks Over Knives about the alarming rise in early-onset colorectal cancer and how lifestyle may play a part.  Some of the topics we covered: Why are more young people being diagnosed with colon cancer? When should people get screening colonoscopies? Which foods are linked to colon cancer? What’s the…

The truth about inflammation: all you need to know about 2023’s hottest health topic, from causes to cures | Guardian

June 27, 2023 Inflammation, one of the least understood and most debated topics in health, works a bit like this. There are hundreds of cookbooks that promise to deliver an “anti-inflammatory diet”, with supplements, gels, teas, workouts, saunas and cryotherapy chambers offering the possibility of even more dramatic results. But inflammation, at its core, is…

What are the benefits of eating sweet potatoes?

To the anonymous, generous individual who put out a bucket of free sweet potatoes that I ran into while walking around town one day: thanks for sharing this superfood with your neighbors! All potatoes are not created equal.  If I had to choose a dietary centerpiece, the sweet potato would be a major contender.  In…

5 Surprising facts about gut health

“Ugly” food, which I write about in A Silent Fire, is good for both your gut and the environment. Each year, around a quarter of produce in the U.S. is thrown away for cosmetic reasons, including strange shapes and curves and minor blemishes, contributing to global food waste and climate change. But these so-called imperfect…