Susan Burke March

Our world is a crazy place.  For the first time in history more people are at significant nutritional risk from over nutrition instead of malnutrition. But, in most industrialized countries we actually eat fewer calories than we did at the beginning of the 20th Century. How can that be? It’s because we’re eating quite differently...

Cuenca’s 3 De Noviembre celebrations are just a blast! We’re excited to enjoy this third year in Cuenca, and love the art and music. Street food is often a part of the celebration, so let’s celebrate in style, con salud en mente. Remember, “diet” is not a four-letter word signifying deprivation.  No, your diet describes...

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer organizations, with a mission to increase awareness and to raise funds for breast cancer research into the cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, breast cancer is the most common...

Does it seem to you that the only colds you get are after taking a plane ride? Me too! It may not be our imagination. SmarterTravel.com cites one study that showed a 20% increased risk of catching a cold after flying, while another study found that colds may be more than 100 times more likely...

I apologize in advance for my rant redux today, but I’m just fed up…again! Here are my second bunch of worst of the worst manufactured foods that have no place in a healthy diet. For the previous four worst foods ever, click here, and weep. #4: Salad Dressings. Not all bottled salad dressings are bad,...

Heart disease is the number one killer of middle-and upper-income men and women in North America, Latin America, and throughout the world.  An epidemic of obesity and its resulting complications, most importantly type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, increase the risk significantly. Smoking and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to heart disease risk too. How...

Sunday October 1 2017 is World Vegetarian Day! Founded in 1977 by the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, October 1 is the kick-off of Vegetarian Awareness Month. How can you eat more healthfully? In a Nutritional Update for Physicians on plant-based diet, the authors conclude that,...

A reader wrote to ask where in Cuenca he could buy “ketosis strips” to test his urine for ketones since he had decided to “pursue a ketosis diet.” He noted that purchasing a ketone testing machine is much more expensive, so I assume he’s looking to save money. Well, I thought, you can try the...

A good friend wrote to tell me she was concerned because she’d read that older adults need to eat more protein to avoid losing muscle mass. “I think it’s very difficult to get 100 grams of protein a day! Especially for vegetarians.  What do you think?” Do Older Adults Need More Protein? As reported in...

Can they actually prove that chocolate is good for you? Well, it’s mighty hard to do! I just ‘Googled’ “chocolate health” and see a myriad of reports suggesting that chocoholics enjoy better heart health, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure. The headlines also link chocolate to less stress and even a stronger libido. But like...

In my previous column, I discussed the truth about how alcohol is metabolized (no, it doesn’t “turn into sugar”) and how to fix a hangover (prevention is a reliable strategy, “cures” not so much). Today’s column reviews some recent research about alcohol’s health benefits — or hazards. And for good measure, let’s discuss which alcoholic...