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	<title>Dr John Briffa's Blog</title>
	
	<link>http://www.drbriffa.com</link>
	<description>A health-focused blog that makes sense of science, and offers accurate, trustworthy and practical advice about all aspects of healthy living.</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:16:35 +0000</pubDate>
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		<managingEditor>john@drbriffa.com ()</managingEditor>
		<webMaster>john@drbriffa.com()</webMaster>
		<category />
		<ttl>1440</ttl>
		<itunes:keywords />
		<itunes:subtitle />
		<itunes:summary>A Good Look at Good Health</itunes:summary>
		<itunes:author />
		<itunes:category text="Society &amp; Culture" />
		<itunes:owner>
			<itunes:name />
			<itunes:email>john@drbriffa.com</itunes:email>
		</itunes:owner>
		<itunes:block>No</itunes:block>
		<itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit>
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		<image><link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog</link><url>http://www.drbriffa.com/images/feedlogo.jpg</url><title>Dr John Briffa</title></image>
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		<title>Chocolate found to protect skin from light damage</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/06/chocolate-found-to-protect-skin-from-light-damage/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/06/chocolate-found-to-protect-skin-from-light-damage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:16:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Eating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Nutrients and Supplements]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sunlight]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=785</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I generally advise against eating refined sugar. I, personally, eat hardly any, but I do eat some. Practically all of this comes in the form of 85 per cent cocoa chocolate. I, for quite some time now, have been recommending dark chocolate as a sweet treat of choice. Firstly, dark chocolate is generally lower in [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/06/chocolate-found-to-protect-skin-from-light-damage/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Higher protein diets found to have benefits for bone</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/05/higher-protein-diets-found-to-have-benefits-for-bone/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/05/higher-protein-diets-found-to-have-benefits-for-bone/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:43:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Eating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Specific conditions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=784</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I make no secret of my leaning towards high-protein, relatively low-carb diets. I am well aware of the relatively unhealthy reputation that such diets have. However, when one looks at the research one generally finds that the criticisms of such diet are based on theoretical and ideological concerns. They are not, generally speaking, based on [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/05/higher-protein-diets-found-to-have-benefits-for-bone/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Can drinking tea help mitigate against the effects of stress?</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/03/can-drinking-tea-help-mitigate-against-the-effects-of-stress/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/03/can-drinking-tea-help-mitigate-against-the-effects-of-stress/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:51:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Brain and Behaviour]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Eating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Stress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=783</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Probably all of us know that life events and ‘stress’ can change our mood, but there’s less acknowledgement, I think, that what we can have impact here too. One example relates to blood sugar imbalance: if blood sugar levels plummet it can switch on the body’s stress response, which in turn can induce feelings of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/11/03/can-drinking-tea-help-mitigate-against-the-effects-of-stress/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Adverse effects of drugs are “neglected, restricted, distorted and silenced”</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/30/adverse-effects-of-drugs-are-neglected-restricted-distorted-and-silenced/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/30/adverse-effects-of-drugs-are-neglected-restricted-distorted-and-silenced/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:50:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Food and Medical Politics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=782</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When someone takes a medicine, it is generally in the hope that it will do some good. However, whether it does or doesn’t is only half of the story: even the seemingly most innocuous of drugs can have adverse effects on health. In an editorial in the Archives of Internal Medicine, Dr John Ioannidis of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/30/adverse-effects-of-drugs-are-neglected-restricted-distorted-and-silenced/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Vitamin D associated with signficantly reduced risk of death from stroke</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/29/vitamin-d-associated-with-signficantly-reduced-risk-of-death-from-stroke/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/29/vitamin-d-associated-with-signficantly-reduced-risk-of-death-from-stroke/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:22:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrients and Supplements]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Specific conditions]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=781</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Regular readers will know that I have a particular interest in the role of sunlight in health, in large part due to its ability to stimulate vitamin D production in the body. Vitamin D, in turn, has been found to be association with a very wide variety of disease processes including cancer, diabetes, and multiple [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/29/vitamin-d-associated-with-signficantly-reduced-risk-of-death-from-stroke/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>World Health Organization study links mobile phone use with enhanced risk of brain and other tumours</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/27/world-health-organization-study-links-mobie-phone-use-with-enhanced-risk-of-brain-and-other-tumours/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/27/world-health-organization-study-links-mobie-phone-use-with-enhanced-risk-of-brain-and-other-tumours/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=780</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Mobile phones are undeniably convenient, but that fat that they emit electromagnetic radiation means that they have at least some potential to affect individuals who use them. For a long time, the party line was that mobile phones are safe. This is a message the industry has been particularly keen to cultivate. However, at least [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/27/world-health-organization-study-links-mobie-phone-use-with-enhanced-risk-of-brain-and-other-tumours/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Could our ancient ancestors have given today’s champion athletes a run for their money?</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/23/could-our-ancient-ancestors-have-given-todays-champion-athletes-a-run-for-their-money/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/23/could-our-ancient-ancestors-have-given-todays-champion-athletes-a-run-for-their-money/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:31:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=779</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Anyone familiar with my health ‘philosophy’ will know that I am a big believer in using our ancient past to inform our modern-day dietary and lifestyle habits. Logic dictates that, say, the foods we’ve eaten for longest in terms of our time on this planet are the foods that we’re generally going to be the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/23/could-our-ancient-ancestors-have-given-todays-champion-athletes-a-run-for-their-money/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Are we really becoming steadily more sedentary?</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/21/are-we-really-becoming-steadily-more-sedentary/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/21/are-we-really-becoming-steadily-more-sedentary/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2009 07:15:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise and Activity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Unhealthy Eating!]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=778</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Body weight, and specifically fatness, is determined by a complex interplay of factors including diet, exercise and sleep habits. In some posts, I have highlighted the effect that one hormone – insulin – has in this piece. In short, insulin stimulates the manufacture of fat in the body, while impairing it’s breakdown. It also facilitates [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/21/are-we-really-becoming-steadily-more-sedentary/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Is there such as thing as a ‘metabolic advantage’?</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/19/is-there-such-as-thing-as-a-metabolic-advantage/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/19/is-there-such-as-thing-as-a-metabolic-advantage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:38:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Eating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Low-Carbohydrate/Carbohydrate Restriction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=777</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Friday my blog focused on a study which found that fat intake (total fat, as well as levels of, saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fat) appeared to have no impact on change in body weight over a period of several years. Partly in an attempt to explain how this can be so, I outlined the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/19/is-there-such-as-thing-as-a-metabolic-advantage/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>More evidence comes to light that fat is not fattening</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/16/more-evidence-comes-to-light-that-fat-is-not-fattening/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/16/more-evidence-comes-to-light-that-fat-is-not-fattening/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:56:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Eating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Low-Carbohydrate/Carbohydrate Restriction]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=776</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all know that fat is fattening right? (It is called fat, after all.) But not so fast, because as I detail here, for fat to get ‘fixed’ in the fat cells, a substance known as glycerol is required. Glycerol itself is supplied from a substance known as alpha glycerol phosphate (also known as glycerol-3-phosphate), [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/16/more-evidence-comes-to-light-that-fat-is-not-fattening/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>‘Blue’ light found to be most effective in combating seasonal affective disorder</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/14/blue-light-found-to-be-most-effective-in-combating-seasonal-affective-disorder/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/14/blue-light-found-to-be-most-effective-in-combating-seasonal-affective-disorder/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 14 Oct 2009 16:01:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Brain and Behaviour]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sunlight]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=775</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I was out last night with a friend, and he mentioned his mother’s depression. Seeing as we’re now deep into the autumn here in the UK, I asked if there was any seasonal component to this. There is. Like a lot of people, his mother’s mood takes a distinct turn for the worse in the [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/14/blue-light-found-to-be-most-effective-in-combating-seasonal-affective-disorder/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Vitamin D supplementation found to improve insulin sensitivity</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/12/vitamin-d-supplementation-found-to-improve-insulin-sensitivity/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/12/vitamin-d-supplementation-found-to-improve-insulin-sensitivity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 19:44:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Diabetes/Metabolic Syndrome]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Nutrients and Supplements]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sunlight]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=774</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a recent post I highlighted a study which has found that higher vitamin D levels are associated with a reduced risk of death. This evidence actually comes on the back of other studies showing the same thing, and while therefore strengthens the association between vitamin D and death risk, cannot be used to claim [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/12/vitamin-d-supplementation-found-to-improve-insulin-sensitivity/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Vitamin D shown to reduce risk of falls in the elderly</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/09/vitamin-d-shown-to-reduce-risk-of-falling-in-the-elderly/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/09/vitamin-d-shown-to-reduce-risk-of-falling-in-the-elderly/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:02:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Nutrients and Supplements]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sunlight]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=773</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A month ago I wrote a blog describing some research which found that supplementing elderly individuals with vitamin D led to improvements in their muscular strength without any physical training. I made the point that this sort of effect is important because it means vitamin D may be able to prevent disability. I also mentioned [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/09/vitamin-d-shown-to-reduce-risk-of-falling-in-the-elderly/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Exercise associated with reduced levels of fat in the liver and abdomen</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/07/exercise-associated-with-reduced-levels-of-fat-in-the-liver-and-abdomen/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/07/exercise-associated-with-reduced-levels-of-fat-in-the-liver-and-abdomen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:32:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise and Activity]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Weight Loss]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=772</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A couple of months ago I wrote a blog which reviewed the evidence which suggests that exercise is not particularly effective for weight loss, and why this might be. That is not to say, however, that exercise is a fruitless endeavour. It is linked, for instance, with improved measures of health as well as reduced [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/07/exercise-associated-with-reduced-levels-of-fat-in-the-liver-and-abdomen/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What is food combining good for?</title>
		<link>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/06/what-is-food-combining-good-for/</link>
		<comments>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/06/what-is-food-combining-good-for/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:10:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Dr John Briffa</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Healthy Eating]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.drbriffa.com/?p=771</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I recently had a query via email recently regarding the benefits, or otherwise, of ‘food combining’, and thought I’d blog about it today. Food combining is a term used to describe the nutritional practice of separating concentrated sources of protein (e.g. meat, fish, egg) and carbohydrate (e.g. bread, potato, rice, pasta) at mealtime. Proponents of [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.drbriffa.com/blog/2009/10/06/what-is-food-combining-good-for/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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