The Portfolio diet is designed to lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels. Unlike most other diets, it does not impose strict rules or restrictions on which foods to eat or avoid. Instead, it concentrates on a few key ingredients that research has shown to support healthy cholesterol levels. Other Names Dietary PortfolioPortfolio Dietary Pattern What is The Portfolio diet Dr. David J.A. Jenkins, a British physician credited with developing the glycemic index (GI), created the Portfolio Diet in the 2000s. It functions as a “portfolio” of four cholesterol-lowering foods, each with an approved health claim for cholesterol reduction. The plan aims…

The glycemic index assesses foods on a scale of 0 to 100, determining their ability to raise blood sugar levels rapidly. Foods with a higher number cause a more rapid increase in blood sugar, while foods with a lower number have a less pronounced effect on blood sugar levels.

Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that involves periods of food restriction, called fasting, followed by a period of regular eating. Some experts even claim that its beneficial effects on metabolism make it a healthier way to lose weight than standard calorie restriction.

Lipase, an enzyme from the pancreas, aids in digesting fats. Increased blood lipase levels may indicate pancreatitis, characterized by pancreas inflammation. Elevated lipase can also result from pancreas issues, specific medications, or conditions like kidney disease, cancer, and gallbladder or esophagus problems.

The liver, heart, pancreas, muscles, and other tissues in your body contain the enzyme aspartate transferase (AST). Healthcare providers frequently include an AST blood test in a liver panel and a comprehensive metabolic panel to assess liver health.

Cognitive strain happens when our brain has to handle various mental calculations, read instructions in a difficult-to-read or faint font, decipher a complex language, or when we’re in a negative mood (like when frowning). Effects of Cognitive Strain Cognitive strain triggers the logical part of our brain. Cognitive Ease vs. Cognitive Strain When an experience lessens cognitive strain, the opposite happens. Cognitive ease makes the content seem more familiar, decreases uncertainty, and makes people feel more at ease in their surroundings. It lets users rely on their quick, intuitive thinking. This tends to make people more impulsive and trusting. Embodied…

Quick Look The liver primarily contains the enzyme alanine transaminase (ALT). Healthcare providers include an ALT blood test in liver panels and comprehensive metabolic panels to assess liver health. Elevated ALT levels in the blood may suggest liver damage and/or a liver condition. Other Names Alanine aminotransferase SGPT Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase What is Alanine Transaminase (ALT) test? Healthcare providers use this test to assess liver health because ALT levels can rise when the liver is damaged. Healthcare providers do not rely solely on the ALT blood test for diagnosis since various liver problems can elevate ALT levels. Instead, they often…

When people make decisions, they often lean heavily on the first piece of information they get about a particular issue. In psychology, this is called the anchoring bias or anchoring effect. Discovery of Cognitive Bias Many old-school ideas in economics, philosophy, social science, and psychology assume that people are logical beings who make decisions based on reason. This perspective has been influential in shaping various theories since the mid-20th century. However, experiments suggested that people consistently make judgments that don’t follow the rules of logic and probability theory.  Tversky and Kahneman (1974) discovered that when people estimate probabilities, they don’t…

The Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood to see if your kidneys are working properly. Your age and sex can affect BUN levels. Unusual levels might signal a health issue, such as kidney damage.

The A1C test diagnoses type 1 and type 2 diabetes and monitors blood sugar management for those with diabetes. Higher A1C levels indicate poorer blood sugar control and an increased risk of diabetes complications.