Leo Galland, M.D.

A surge in ticks that carry the Lyme disease infection is expected this spring and summer, as I describe in my blog post "Lyme Disease: The Perfect Storm Is Headed Our Way."

Today I look at fighting back against Lyme disease, a persistent and challenging foe that...

Blood-sucking ticks coming to a field and forest near you.

That may sound like the latest horror film, but unfortunately it is a reality due to a surge in ticks that spread Lyme disease this spring.

Fortunately, the media interest in Lyme disease appears to be growing with the threat....

You know trans fats are bad for you. High consumption of trans-fatty acids raises cholesterol levels and increases the risk of heart attacks, especially among women.[1]

"A 2 percent absolute increase in energy intake from trans fat has been associated with a 23 percent increase in cardiovascular risk," note researchers...

Has winter blindsided you with a cold or flu?

Did holiday shopping and spending leave you stressed out?

Have chilly days and nights kept you stuck indoors?

If it feels like the perfect storm has hit your immune system this time of year, you're right.

So now is a...

Do you eat the typical American diet, high in soft drinks (including diet soda), white flour, French fries and processed meats like cold cuts and hot dogs?

Eating that way can increase your risk of developing diabetes by 300 percent.

Are you carrying around extra weight? That raises...

Pomegranates are making a big splash in nutrition research, with scientists in the U.S., Portugal, Israel, India and other nations searching for the latest health benefits of this antioxidant-rich fruit.

Once an exotic item rarely seen in the supermarket, the popularity of ruby red pomegranate juice has made it...

When talking about aromatic onions and garlic, we might as well get right to the question:

Would you be willing to smell a little worse to feel a little better?

Of course, for fans of these vegetables, the answer is a resounding "yes."

Since ancient times, onions, garlic and scallions...

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the sweet and tangy flavor of tomatoes. Whether you buy them at the farmstand, the supermarket or grow your own, there are a few things you should know about tomatoes.

What's in a tomato?

Tomatoes are excellent sources of potassium and several vitamins:

Summer is peak season for transmission of Lyme disease.

The only known transporter of Lyme bacteria -- the deer tick -- goes through the most infectious stage of its life cycle in the summer.

But you don't need to be in contact with a deer to get a deer...

You know that blueberries are good for you. But did you know that blueberries could help fight aging, combat disease, lower blood pressure, protect the heart and brain and even boost your memory?

Intensive research by scientists working in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia continues to reveal the amazing...

Why is nutrition important?

The answer goes far beyond "You are what you eat."

Nutrition is important because it fuels your body and gives you chemical building blocks like amino acids for making protein and calcium and magnesium for building bones and teeth. It provides fatty...

Are you hungry all the time and frustrated with your weight?

Given the most common food sources, your hunger is really no surprise.

Can't Get No Satisfaction

Fast food, restaurant food and even many of the foods in the supermarket can leave you feeling unsatisfied and overweight at the...

Red, ripe and delicious, strawberries are a little fruit that work overtime for your health.

Peak strawberry season is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to add strawberries to your menu for summer weight loss. From farm stands to your local supermarket, these...

Spring is the perfect time of year to enjoy the wonderful freshness of parsley and cilantro.

Not only do these traditional fresh herbs add flavor and color, but they also have special health benefits. While there are endless ways to enjoy these beautiful herbs, I have included...

Although the body readily makes most of the fat that it needs from dietary starch or sugar, humans lack the ability to make essential fatty acids (EFAs) and must get them from food or dietary supplements.

Some indications that an EFA deficiency or imbalance are...

Could a traditional food have pain- and inflammation-reducing effects similar to over the counter pain medicine like ibuprofen?

Scientists from Italy, Spain, the U.S. and Australia have discovered that extra virgin olive oil can provide significant health benefits, including the ability to help reduce pain...

Fragrant herbs and spices such as ginger are some of the most powerful weapons we have to help combat inflammation from a nutritional perspective.

Inflammation causes or contributes to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and many types of cancer, as I wrote in a...

Sometimes the latest research on nutrition involves a substance or supplement with an obscure name that only a scientist could get excited about. But other times, there is something absolutely delicious that, it turns out, is also great for you.

Which brings us to cherries.

With cherry blossom season in...

Chances are you are exposed to indoor air pollution in the house where you live or the building where you work.

When was the last time you were exposed to fresh paint, new carpets, a copier or laser printer?

What about cleaning products, nail polish remover or other solvents?

The spread of radiation from the nuclear reactor in Japan after the huge earthquake and tsunami highlights the dangers of an accident involving a radiation leak.

But what about the hidden risks of radiation exposure from common medical imaging tests such as X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans?

X-rays...