I was asked in an email last week about Aspartame, the artificial sweetener and whether I thought such sweeteners were toxins?  The short answer is "No".There has indeed been controversy about some aspects of artificial sweeteners, but in my view there is no consistent scientific evidence to suggest that they are toxic or represent a health hazard ...

Valentine’s Day, like Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, World Smile Day (yes there is one) and British Doughnut Day (OK, I’m exaggerating – I think) is often used as an excuse to blow the diet and indulge in a calorie-fest.  The shops are groaning once more with boxes of chocolates, Valentine butter biscuits, lemon heart shortbreads and pink cup cakes. W...

The recently announced decision of Birmingham City Council (BCC) to ban takeaways in close proximity to schools is an all-too-familiar example of how good intentions based on scientific illiteracy can lead to hopelessly flawed policy. The flaw lies in the underlying, though unstated assumption, that frequent consumption of takeaways (and other “jun...

Here’s a simple test you can try at home.  Sit in an armchair and then stand up without using your arms to help you.  Can you do it?  If the answer’s yes, it’s good news.  Leg strength not only determines your quality of life, it may also determine how long you live.Evidence suggests that from middle-age onwards there is a rapid decline in muscle s...

I grew up in a poor part of South Wales in the 1950s.  Somewhere I have a black and white picture of my class at school aged around 10/11 years.  Leaving aside the very poor clothes and shoes, what strikes one immediately is how skinny all the children are.  In fact, I can only remember one obese lad in my year who was, as a consequence, the victim...