All Posts by Camilla Cheung

The term “addict” is sometimes used casually in reference to people who spend a lot of time playing video games, but recent research indicates that video game addiction may be more serious than we think. A study published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry showed that about 8% of video gamers showed a problematic gaming compulsion that led to negative effects on social and family life, and work and studying.

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If you thought that obesity was mostly related to diet and exercise, you may want to think again. New research from Wake Forest University School of Medicine shows that for people under 40, not getting enough sleep at night can cause larger amounts of fat to accumulate around the organs, a dangerous form of fat accumulation.

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The Environmental Working Group recently compiled a list informing consumers about which fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of pesticide residue, as well as which fruits and vegetables contain the least. Learn how you can avoid the most contaminated foods, and limit your exposure to dangerous toxins.

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You may have noticed Goji Berries cropping up at your local health food store, or even at some grocery stores and supermarkets. These small dried fruits look a bit like raisins, only red and a little pointed at either end. These berries are now being touted as one of the most antioxidant-rich health trends, and dried goji berries, goji extracts, and goji juice are making the tour of the health world.

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You've heard of buckwheat pancakes, but have you tried buckwheat noodles? How about buckwheat groats, the seed of the buckwheat plant, tossed into a healthy and satisfying salad? This stellar seed is rich in fiber and minerals, and contains all the essential amino acids, making it an excellent source of vegetable protein. It's also gluten-free, a boon to those with celiac disease.

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If you needed another reason to quit smoking, here’s one for you. “Third-hand smoke,” the residue from nicotine that clings to surfaces, can also cause cancer. Previously an underappreciated health risk, a recent study by Berkeley Labs shows that residue from cigarettes can cling to many indoor surfaces after a cigarette has been extinguished, reacting with nitrous acids in the air to form potent carcinogens.

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If you want your children to eat more fruits and vegetables, try planting a garden. The research is simple: kids who grow up eating home-grown produce end up eating more fruits and vegetables, and some even tend to prefer the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables to other foods.

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Salmon is an important source of heart healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and many doctors recommend eating it often. But there are also many concerns about the levels of toxins found in salmon, particularly farmed salmon. When it comes to eating fish, which is better, farmed or wild?

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A shocking piece of investigative journalism by the New York Times on Dec 30, 2009, revealed that a relatively new method of processing ground beef, by treating meat trimmings with elevated levels of ammonia, is not only being used in meat bought by many fast-food chains and grocery stores, but may not even destroy the E. coli and salmonella bacteria it claims to treat. According to the article, recent E.

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Eda-Whaha? Edamame, the humble green soybean that is a staple appetizer at Japanese restaurants, packs a nutritional punch with loads of fiber, vegetable protein, vitamins and minerals, and healthy Omega-3 fats. This green legume may not yet be a fixture in the North American diet, but perhaps it ought to be.

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