Dr. Morton Tavel

   Almost daily, after a new mass shooting occurs, we encounter the usual outpouring of grief, characterized by the insipid and overused statements of “hopes and prayers.” Then, as usual, multiple “solutions” are offered that include arguments such as it’s the “bad actors” doing the killing, and the guns were only indirectly involved in these…

   With the ubiquitous presence of portable cellphone step monitors, it has become fashionable to monitor one’s daily walking progress, and as a result, walking 10,000 steps a day has long been a goal to reach for best overall health. But new research suggests that the health benefits of walking ramp up until one reaches…

    Use of a new blood test (Lumipulse} to detect this disease is poised to become the standard of care, accelerating diagnosis and the path to treatment. The ability to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease simply and cost-effectively took a major step forward in May 2025, when the FDA approved the first blood test for early detection…

    Wander down the snack aisle and you’ll see chips, cookies, crackers, and bars labeled with words like “natural,” “organic,” “made with real fruit,” “low-fat,” and “high protein.” These claims can give food what is known as a “health halo,” making it appear to be a good choice when it really is not. Given that…

    Take a walk down the supplement aisle of any local drugstore, and you will be confronted with a floor-to-ceiling wall of choices. Not just the usual suspects — vitamins and minerals — but also items as varied as turmeric, fish oil, probiotics and melatonin — as well as combinations that purport to burn fat…

Below I summarize the health effects of low-calorie sweetened beverages as viewed by governmental and leading health organizations. Future areas of research are needed. In the United States, 32% of beverages consumed by adults and 19% of beverages consumed by children in 2007 to 2010 contained low-calorie sweeteners (LCSs). The term LCS includes the 6…

   Many of us are familiar with the TV ad that shows two women engaged in a sword fight, one of whom is seized with elbow pain. Her adversary then throws her a tube of Volteran, stating that its local (topical) application will relieve the pain. But is there any evidence that this, or any…

   Safety concerns about vaccines are among the most common reasons for vaccine hesitancy. Since mortality rates are negligible following COVID-19 vaccinations, this leaves the only significant physical concerns are the non-deadly negative side effects of vaccines, as discussed below.     The “placebo effect”is defined as any improvement of illnesses or reduction of subjective symptoms…

   Many people with ongoing pain take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) for relief. It’s often considered safer than other pain relievers, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, Advil, etc.), when taken long-term. But recent studies have raised questions about acetaminophen’s safety. A new study suggests that the drug may be associated with serious complications in people…

Vitamins and supplements do not prevent disease. In any discussion regarding the use of dietary supplements, we need to begin with that salient point. There have been numerous studies using both individual supplements and multivitamins, and the evidence shows a resounding lack of benefit. Negative Data Abound Back in 1996, the Physicians’ Health Study randomly…