DrCarney.com Blog

Growing up in Georgia, Kathy Freston, a well-known health and wellness activist who promotes the benefits of eating a whole-food, plant-based diet, loved eating chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes smothered with bacon and butter. As a teen and young adult, her acne, low energy level, and 20-pound weight gain led her into trying several types...

"The single biggest disqualifier is obesity," says the general in charge of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Ten percent of eligible young people ages 17-24 applying to fight for our country are too obese or otherwise unfit to join the military. In an interview with CNN, Maj. General Allen Batschelet points out that while there...

As a doctor who specializes in nutritional medicine, I stay up-to-date on the most current scientific literature regarding how our food choices impact our health and wellbeing. For this reason, I'd like to share with you the findings of several medical studies regarding a group of chemical compounds called phthalates. Phthalates are ubiquitous in the...

Juicing fruits and vegetables was once considered the healthiest of the health trends. Many of us have invested in a juicer, and if we haven't, we probably know friends, family members, or coworkers who have. Those "into" juicing talk about all the fresh vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes swirling in a richly colored glass of freshly...

Evening snacking might affect much more than the numbers on the bathroom scale. A new study shows that waiting longer between supper and breakfast reduces our risk of both breast cancer and diabetes. Eating in accordance with our body's natural sleep-wake cycle appears to regulate our blood sugar levels, thereby reducing our risk for diseases...

If you are familiar with the work of Dr. Michael Greger, you know how passionate he is about digging through complicated scientific research linking diet and disease. My blogs and articles feature many videos from his website, NutritionFacts.org. Dr. Greger's most recent endeavor has been his book, entitled "How Not to Die." Inside, he demonstrates...

When the presentation was over and the question session started, I found myself staring at dozens of hands popping up like sweet summer corn bursting through warm, fertile ground. For 45 minutes, I answered question after question from the audience who had attended my talk entitled "What Women Want (to Know)." When I finally had...

I don’t much like doctors. In fact, I only made the appointment with Dr. Carney because I needed some medication before heading on a trip out of the country. I had no idea that this one appointment was going to change everything in my life. I’m 6’1” and at the time I weighed about 344...

Researchers looked at the effect of four healthy lifestyle characteristics on 13 cardiovascular biomarkers including blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and fasting insulin. They found that the more of the healthy lifestyle characteristics a person incorporated on a daily basis, the more favorable biomarkers levels they had. These results aren't surprising. What was surprising is that...

If you've been thinking about making the transition to a whole-food, plant-based diet, yet need a little encouragement on how to get started, you'll enjoy viewing the below 30-minute video featuring Mary McDougall. Some of the points that Mary covers in the video are: 1. You can spend as little or as much time as...

Hemorrhoids — although more than 75% of Americans are affected at some point in their lives, hemorrhoids aren't exactly a topic that everyone enjoys discussing. If you're looking for relief, you'll be glad to know that eating a diet rich in fiber can help prevent, treat, and stop the progression of this bothersome condition. A hemorrhoid...

Enlarged varicose veins are not only a cosmetic matter, they can cause aching pain, ulcers, burning, and cramping to varying degrees, and in some cases, more serious complications. The etiology of varicose veins can be multifactorial, says the scientific medical community — listing pregnancy, standing for long periods of time, a sedentary lifestyle, age, obesity, and family...