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2009-09-05T16:36:00.000+07:00

Cumin

Scientific Name: Cuminum cyminum

Biological Background: A seasoning that is the principal ingredient of curry powder, a blend of powdered Indian spices. Cumin is a member of the parsley family and cumin seeds resemble caraway seeds. The aromatic seed has a characteristic strong, slightly bitter taste. Traditionally cumin has been used to flavor cheese, unleavened bread, chili, and tomato sauce.

Nutritional Information: Due to its use as a spice, cumin provides insignificant amount of nutrients.

Pharmacological Activity: Studies have indicated that cumin has strong anticancer activity, which may be due to its phytochemical cuminaldehyde. Cuminaldehyde also has strong antiinflammatory properties. In addition, cumin contains two phytochemicals, cuminyl ester and limonene, which have been shown to stop aflatoxin from binding to DNA to start the cancer process.

Eating Tips: Use cumin to add an earthy flavor to Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines.

2009-09-05T16:35:00.000+07:00

Drink Water to Loose Weight?

Did you know that by drinking around 16 ounces (2 eight ounce glasses) of water before breakfast every day could enable you to loose over 6 pounds a year? Nothing else is required.

Drinking water before a meal helps to curb your appetite. In a study with overweight and obese participants at Virginia Tech they found that the subjects that drank 2 glasses of water before their meal ate 75 calories less than those who didn’t drink the water. Some didn’t even realize they had eaten less.

If you add up these calories, 75 calories a day becomes 27,375 calories a year. And, 27,375 calories (3500 calories per pound) comes to just under 8 pounds. This is without dieting…just drinking that extra water. (Think if you drank 2 glasses of water before lunch or dinner instead?)

Why is this considered important? Well, research shows that small behavioral changes that don’t seem to be a big deal can actually translate into different eating behaviors.

Another small change can be to eat on a smaller plate. And leaving the chicken bones on your plate instead of having the waitress remove them is another.
These little tips have all been shown to unconsciously influence how much you eat. And, all take just about zero effort or willpower!

What other little things can you think of to change your eating habits that would be pertinent to your own lifestyle to help you consume fewer calories?

2009-09-05T16:34:00.000+07:00

New Thoughts on How to Loose Weight

Hey, are you tired of the ”same old, same old” weight loss methods? I think most of us who are constantly trying to loose weight are now just about immune to the old conventional ways we’ve been instructed in for shedding those excess pounds.

Ready for a change? Well, here are some refreshing new angles on the age-old need to help us loose weight.

WebMD asked diet experts to come up with some lesser-known diet tips that could make the most jaded dieter drop that cookie and vow, “Oh wow! I’ll try that today.”

Here are nine diet tips you may not have heard yet. Some involve different ways to eat, or adding certain foods to your diet. Others involve learning new behaviors or strategies to help you stay on track.

Weight Loss Tip No. 1: Variety Is Overrated

Who hasn’t heard the advice to “just take a bite of everything” if you’re at a buffet?

But as it turns out, variety doesn’t deserve its good reputation, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a Chicago dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

“We know that variety makes you eat more,” she says, citing several published studies and her own experience in counseling weight loss patients.

For example, researchers in France found that study participants ate more french fries when they were offered catsup and mayonnaise along with them. And when they were given the option of having cream or whipped cream with their brownies, they ate more than when the brownies were offered plain.
Other researchers have found that people who have been able to maintain weight loss tend to eat diets with limited variety.

Weight Loss Tip No. 2: Have Barley for Breakfast

“Barley is the new oatmeal,” says Jackson Blatner.

Barley got its hunger-fighting reputation after Swedish researchers found that eating barley or rye kernels for breakfast kept blood sugar on an even keel. That’s because the carbs in barley and rye kernels are “low glycemic index,” meaning they raise blood sugar more slowly than some other carbohydrate foods. This helps you avoid a spike, and then a drop, in blood sugar, which can leave you feeling famished.

One caveat: “Buy hulled barely, not pearl barley,” Jackson Blatner says. The Swedish researchers used minimally processed hull barley, and they can’t vouch for the same effects for more processed forms, such as pearl barley.

Weight Loss Tip No. 3: Beef Up Your Lunch Salad

One of the most common mistakes dieters make is to eat a vegetable salad with little or no dressing for lunch, says Joan Salge Blake, RD, professor of nutrition at Boston University and a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “Then they are starving by mid-afternoon,” she says.

A salad is a great choice, she says, if you add some protein and a little fat to help keep you feeling full longer.

Top your greens with a 3 oz piece of chicken breast, and you’ve added about 26 grams of protein but just 140 calories. Add about two tablespoons of light salad dressing, and your salad may be filling enough to get you through the 3 p.m. hunger slump without hitting the vending machine.

Weight Loss Tip No. 4: Stock Up on Frozen Vegetables

Sure, fresh vegetables are delicious and nutritious. But faced with the need to scrape a carrot, wash and slice a zucchini, or cut broccoli into florets, many of us say, “Too much trouble!” and reach for chips instead.

To make things easier, stock your freezer with frozen vegetables, Blake tells dieters.

“They are already clean, chopped and ready to cook in the microwave,” she says. “It’s like having Rachael Ray in the freezer.”

An even better way to be sure you eat more vegetables: Cook the frozen veggies ahead of time. Microwave the whole bag of green beans, for instance. Then keep them in the refrigerator, ready to dump into canned soups, add to a salad, or just eat by the handful.

Weight Loss Tip No. 5: Make Yourself a Party Tray

The type of party tray Jackson Blatner is talking about is a big vegetable platter, maybe with some low-fat dip on the site — the kind you put on the buffet for weight-conscious guests.

But this one is just for you and any interested family members. Keep it in the fridge at eye level, encouraging you to snack healthy and avoid the higher-calorie contents of your refrigerator.

Several studies have found that we tend to eat more when food is within easy reach. Secretaries who placed candy on their desks ate about 48% more than when the candy was 6 feet away, according to research by Brian Wansink, PhD, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University.

Weight Loss Tip No. 6: Turn Down the Thermostat

Spending time in a chilly house — about 61 degrees Fahrenheit — may boost the fat-burning power of the “brown fat” in your body.

Brown fat is considered “good” fat, as opposed to regular or white fat, which stores calories and tends to accumulate. Researchers believe that lean people have more of the brown type of fat, and that the amount of brown fat a person has declines with age.

Scandinavian researchers found that exposure to these chilly temperatures boosted the metabolic rate of brown fat 15-fold, helping burn more calories.
But Jackson Blatner cautions not to expect too much: “It’s not going to be any kind of a miracle,” she says. And beware if you’re the type who eats more when you feel cold.

Weight Loss Tip No. 7: Downsize Your Dinnerware

Experts say they’ve seen it again and again: The larger your plate, the more you’re likely to put on it. So serving your meals on smaller plates can help you eat less.

But don’t throw out those dinner plates, Blake suggests. Use the smaller, lunch-size plates to serve dinner, and use the dinner plates for salads.

Weight Loss Tip No. 8: Go Out for Treats

If you’re the type who overdoes it on sweets and snacks, Jackson Blatner suggests, make yourself work a little for your favorite indulgences. Don’t keep them in the house, but give yourself permission to go out and get them when you really need to.

Want a brownie? You have to go to the bakery. Craving a frozen yogurt? You must find the nearest frozen yogurt shop.

“The more hassle tasty treats are, the less likely you are to eat them,” says Jackson Blatner, who does this herself and finds her sweets consumption has declined without making her feel deprived.

Weight Loss Tip No. 9: Try on Your Skinny Jeans Every Friday

Find a pair of pants that is tight, but not impossible to zip, Blake suggests to her weight loss patients. “Every Friday morning, try them on,” she says.

Why Friday? Weekends are typically a tougher time to stay on diets, she says. And the Friday morning try-on will motivate you to watch your eating during the weekend.

“If they are loose, you will say to yourself ‘I am making progress, I am staying on track during the weekend,”’ she says.

And if they’re snug? That will provide motivation to stick to your diet so they’ll fit better next week, she says.

2009-09-05T16:33:00.001+07:00

EAT Vegetables!

It is well known that the more vegetables you include in your diet, the less susceptible you are to practically every major disease.

Why? Because vegetables are rich in antioxidants and nutrients which are thought to prevent sickness and disease coming to our cells and they also promote healthy cell growth.

Vegetables need to be the centerpiece of our diets. Their amazing nutritional power gives us great health and helps our body cells rejuvenate themselves. It’s been suggested that we eat mostly vegetables, less meat, fish or poultry and some whole grains for better health.

Vegetables, by themselves are naturally low in fat and calories and we need to lay off the cream sauces, margarine, or dips to keep them that way,

Still a veggie skeptic? I hope to convert you with these strategies to help you harness their amazing nutritional power:

Here are some strategies from tennis pro, Martina Navratilova to help you get the most out of your vegetables.

1-Set a goal for the number of veggie servings you will eat daily. Start gradually at the lower range of two servings a day, or try to eat at least one fresh vegetable a day.

2-Go green. The greener the leaf, or the veggie, the more anti-aging compounds it contains. So aim to enjoy one mixed salad a day.

3-Color your plate. Colorful veggies are proven fighters of aging, cancer, and heart disease, because they contain a boatload of nutrients. Try to include several servings of yellow, red, orange, and purple vegetables in your meals each week.

4-Drink your veggies. Juicing is the easiest way to “eat your veggies.” As I do, try to have at least one tall glass of fresh juice daily. If you do not have a juicer, stock organic vegetable juices, and mix them up.

5-Do not fear starchy vegetables. Instead, charge-up your batteries with healthy carbs. Include the following in your weekly diet: corn, potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, and yams.

6-Season your foods with chopped garlic or onion. They may make your breath lousy for awhile, but these foods are packed with flavor and health-building, disease-fighting phytochemicals.

7-Try a new vegetable every week. Step out of your comfort zone, try a new veggie, and experiment with how to cook it. Did you know, for example, that you can substitute spaghetti squash or julienned zucchini for pasta and never know the difference?

8-Set a veggie goal. You might, for example, aim to include at least two vegetables with lunch and dinner. Then step it up: Double your portion of vegetables at lunch or dinner.

9-Eat vegetables raw whenever possible. Generally, raw produce is healthier. In one interesting study, blood levels of vitamins A and E rose significantly in people who ate raw fruits and vegetables for just one week. One exception to the “raw rule”: When cooked, carrots yield more nutrients.

10-Cook veggies for the shortest amount of time possible. Short-term microwaving, steaming, stir-frying, grilling, and other such quick-cooking methods preserve the greatest amount of nutrients. By contrast, prolonged exposure to heat, water, and air destroys vitamins in vegetables.

11-Veg-up your favorite foods. Sneak veggies into soups and stews. If you love pizza, order one topped with vegetables.

Veggies are probably the best fuel you can put in your body, when you get right down to it. Try a few of my suggestions, and your body will thank you for it.

2009-08-22T13:23:00.000+07:00

Schools fight families over autism service dogs

At issue is whether the dogs are true ‘service’ pets or simply companions

Robin Scholz / AP

Kaleb Drew, 6, grabs on to the tail of his autism service dog, Chewey, as they play in the backyard of their home after Kaleb's first day of school in Villa Grove, Ill., on Friday, Aug. 21.

CHICAGO - Like seeing-eye dogs for the blind, trained dogs are now being used to help autistic children deal with their disabilities. But some schools want to keep the animals out, and families are fighting back.

Two autistic elementary school students recently won court orders in Illinois allowing their dogs to accompany them to school. Their lawsuits follow others in California and Pennsylvania over schools' refusal to allow dogs that parents say calm their children, ease transitions and even keep the kids from running into traffic.

At issue is whether the dogs are true "service dogs" — essential to managing a disability — or simply companions that provide comfort.

School districts say they are not discriminating, just drawing the line to protect the safety and health of other students who may be allergic or scared of dogs.

"The school district has 650 students, not just one. So we have to balance," said Brandon Wright, attorney for the Villa Grove district in central Illinois, which objected to 6-year-old Kaleb Drew's plan to bring his yellow Labrador retriever, Chewey, to school.

Kaleb's family won a judge's order in July allowing the dog to come to class until a trial, set to start Nov. 10. That means when Kaleb starts his first full day of first grade Monday, Chewey will be by his side.

Service dogs have long been used by the blind, but training them to help those with autism is relatively new. While there's little research on how these animals affect autistic children, families like Kaleb's say they have seen marked improvement. And the support group Autism Speaks includes a list of dog-training groups among resources on its Web site.

Autism is a developmental disorder that involves behaviors such as poor eye contact, trouble communicating and repetitive movements such as rocking or hand-flapping. Those with the disorder are prone to outbursts and may have trouble with changes in their environment.

Calming canine influence
The dogs are trained to be a calming influence, providing a constant between home, school and other new places. Sometimes, as in Kaleb's case, the dogs are tethered to children to prevent them from running off in dangerous situations.

"It's done so much more than we thought it could," said Kaleb's mother, Nichelle Drew. "We want Kaleb to be able to experience more of life," and the dog has helped him do that, she said.

Chewey does not react when Kaleb "throws a fit" during times of transition from one activity to another, which calms him much more quickly, Drew said.

The tether fitted around Kaleb's waist helps the dog stop Kaleb from running into traffic at pickup time, as he is prone to do.

Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, "a person with autism would be considered a person with a disability in nearly all cases, and a service animal is any guide dog, signal dog or other animal individually trained to provide assistance to someone with a disability," said Alejandro Miyar, a spokesman for the Department of Justice.

Miyar declined comment on specific cases but said schools are required to make accommodations for disabled students to use a service animal. Illinois is among several states with similar laws.

Schools, though, can argue that the animals do not provide a functional service. Wright said Kaleb's school already provides him with adequate special services. Officials believe Chewey is more of a companion or comfort dog, not a true service dog.

Elizabeth Emken, vice president of government relations for Autism Speaks, said her 17-year-old autistic son has used a service dog for about two years.

Emken said the dog helps control her son's pacing and circling, but the family opted against allowing the boy to take the dog to school because she did not know if he would be able to manage the dog effectively.

Weighing the pros and cons
"Personally, I can see the pros and cons" of allowing the animals in schools, Emken said, though she believes schools should not ban the assistance.

Families of autistic kids elsewhere have fought similar battles, including recent cases in Manteca, Calif., about 70 miles northeast of San Francisco, and North Franklin Township, Pa., near Pittsburgh.

And cases involving other disabilities, including deafness and diabetes, have cropped up in other states.

On Thursday, a judge sided with a family in Columbia, near St. Louis, that sued over their school district's unwillingness to allow an autism service dog in a special education pre-kindergarten classroom.

Still, 5-year-old Carter Kalbfleisch will not have the dog with him when he starts classes Monday. A hearing is scheduled that day so the school can work out the logistics of accommodating the dog, which his family credits with helping stop the boy from running off and keeping him from eating things like rocks.

The case still could head to trial, though the family's attorney, Clay St. Clair, said Friday the initial ruling is based on the Illinois law allowing service animals in school. The district did not return calls.

"I don't know if it would have been a simpler issue if we were dealing with a guide dog or something the school board was a little more familiar with," St. Clair said.

2009-08-22T13:17:00.000+07:00

CDC: No ‘red flags’ in swine flu vaccine tests

No side effects seen 10 to 14 days after first studies in adults

	A nurse tests a woman for swine flu on Thursday at the Noumea flu treatment center in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. View related photos
Marc Le Chelard / AFP - Getty Images

Back-to-school swine flu checklist
Aug. 17: What can you do to keep your kids safe and healthy when they return to school? NBC’s chief medical editor, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, has tips to help keep children safe from the swine flu this back-to-school season.

Swine flu vaccine testing on humans

CDC: Screen schools for H1N1

Swine flu trials under way

Priorities set for swine flu vaccine

Interactive map

Flu activity around the country
A state-by-state look at the geographical spread of both seasonal flu and swine flu (H1N1) in the United States.

Q&A

Swine flu
Learn about the virus found in pigs and why it is causing concern among health officials.

msnbc.com

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Discuss: How concerned are you?

Tell us: Are you making changes to prevent infection?

Vote: Would you wear a face mask?

Poll: Have you changed your travel plans?

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Ask us your questions about swine fl

Clinical trials for the new swine flu vaccine have turned up no "red flags," U.S. health officials said on Friday.

The first results from studies of the new vaccines in adults and the elderly will be available in mid-September, but so far, the only complaints seem to be a bit of local soreness and redness in the arm at the injection site, they said.

"There are no red flags regarding safety," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health.

Fauci said no side effects were seen 10 to 14 days after the first studies in adults, giving health officials the confidence to start trials of the vaccines in children this week.

There is no sign yet of whether the new vaccines will produce enough of an immune response to protect people against the new pandemic H1N1 flu.

Two trials are underway in adults for the safety and effectiveness of two doses of the vaccine. The trials, which are also looking at whether one or two vaccinations will be needed, are nearly fully enrolled.

"We expect first dose data somewhere around mid-September if all goes well, and second dose data by mid-October," Fauci said in a telephone news briefing.

He said first dose data from the trial in children will be available in late September, and second dose data will be ready in late October.

Fauci said studies in pregnant women should begin in early September, as will studies using an immune system booster called an adjuvant. In all, the vaccines will be tested on nearly 4,600 people.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said swine flu is still spreading widely across the United States, with 75 percent of serious cases and 60 percent of deaths among people under the age of 49. Alaska and Maine had "widespread" activity.

CDC has officially confirmed 7,963 hospitalizations and 522 deaths from the pandemic H1N1 flu, said CDC's Dr. Jay Butler. He said there were likely more than a million actual cases, as most patients never get tested.

"It is important to remember that at this time of year we don't normally have influenza," Butler said.

‘Explosion’ in case numbers
On Friday, the World Health Organization warned that the global spread of swine flu will endanger more lives as it speeds up in coming months and governments must boost preparations for a swift response.

WHO's Western Pacific director Shin Young-soo predicted there will soon be a period of further global spread of the virus, and most countries may see swine flu cases double every three to four days for several months until peak transmission is reached, said

"At a certain point, there will seem to be an explosion in case numbers," Shin told a symposium of health officials and experts in Beijing. "It is certain there will be more cases and more deaths."

WHO has declared the swine flu strain a pandemic, and it has killed almost 1,800 people worldwide through last week. International attention has focused on how the pandemic is progressing in southern hemisphere countries such as Australia, which are experiencing winter and their flu season.

WHO earlier estimated that as many as 2 billion people could become infected over the next two years — nearly one-third of the world's population.

Separately, in new advice issued to health officials, the WHO said healthy people who catch swine flu don't need antiviral drugs like Tamiflu. Rather than using it to treat healthy people, the drug should be used to treat people in groups at risk for the virus. That includes children less than five years old and people over age 65, among others.

The new advice contradicts government policies such as those in Britain, which has been giving out Tamiflu to all people suspected of having swine flu.

In the U.S., Fauci said the government expected to have 45 million to 52 million swine flu vaccine doses by mid October, when vaccination is expected to begin, and 195 million by the end of the year.

Fauci said even after people are vaccinated they should be aware they are not immediately protected — the immune response from a vaccine takes about two weeks to develop.

Five companies are making both seasonal and H1N1 flu vaccines for the U.S. market —AstraZeneca's MedImmune unit, CSL, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Novartis AG and Sanofi-Aventis SA.

Fauci said he expects an upsurge of flu cases in the autumn, as weather cools and students return to school. U.S. government officials have urged schools and businesses to encourage people to stay home when they are sick, to wash their hands frequently and keep workspaces clean.

Butler said reports from Chile that turkeys have become infected with H1N1 virus are not a surprise. "Because of the swine characteristics of this virus, it can have the capacity to infect turkeys," he said.

Hospitals may be overwhelmed
WHO has stressed that most cases of swine flu are mild and require no treatment, but the fear is that a rash of new infections could overwhelm hospitals and health authorities, especially in poorer countries.

Shin said governments must act quickly to educate the public, prepare their health systems to care for severe cases and protect those deemed more vulnerable to prevent unnecessary deaths.

"We only have a short time period to reach the state of preparedness deemed necessary," Shin said. "Communities must be aware before a pandemic strikes as to what they can do to reduce the spread of the virus, and how to obtain early treatment of severe cases."

Pregnant women face a higher risk of complications, and the virus also has more severe effects on people with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune disorders and diabetes, WHO chief Margaret Chan said in a video address.

2009-08-13T20:41:00.001+07:00

Anorectal Abscess

The last phase of the digestive process is the collection of and passing from the body of solid wastes. These wastes (what's left of what we eat after the water and nutrients have been taken by our bodies) collect in the rectum and then are expelled through the anus.

The inside of the anus is lined with glands and four to six crypts or pockets. Sometimes one of these pockets gets filled with stool. This can cause the gland to become infected and develop an abscess.

Symptoms

Signs of an anorectal abscess include:

Fever
A vague feeling of being unwell or uncomfortable
Swelling and discomfort around or near the anus
Redness around the area
Drainage of pus or fluid from the area

Causes and Risk Factors

This type of abscess is usually happens when the glands in the area of the anus or rectum become infected. When an infection occurs in a gland, it can create a cavity that fills with pus. The cavity swells and causes constant pain and discomfort. The skin may look red and swollen and drain pus.

Diagnosis

A doctor will take the patient's medical history and do a physical examination. Diagnosis will be based on the symptoms and the presence of pain or tenderness, swelling, redness and possible drainage of pus from the area.

The presence of a fever or an elevated white blood cell count as measured by a blood test can confirm the presence of an infection in the body.

Treatment

Antibiotics alone are rarely enough to treat this type of infection. Usually surgical drainage is required.

In about half the cases where an abscess has drained, a fistula (an opening between the inside of an anal pocket or gland where the infection started and the outside of the body where it drained) can develop. A fistula will not heal without treatment that involves removing the pocket where the infection started.

Resources at Cedars-Sinai

2009-08-13T20:40:00.001+07:00

Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation occurs when electrical impulses in the upper chambers of the heart (atria) begin in multiple sites in a chaotic pattern and are sent rapidly to the heart's lower chambers, causing them to contract irregularly and quickly. The fibrillation or irregular heartbeat can occur for a few minutes, weeks or can continue for a lifetime. Episodes of atrial fibrillation that are brief or intermittent are termed "paroxysmal" while episodes that last longer requiring treatment are referred to as "persistent."

During atrial fibrillation, the atria do not pump blood as effectively as they normally should. In some cases, blood in the atria, which is not being pumped out effectively, can stagnate and clot. If these clots break up or break off, they may pass into the left ventricle, travel through the blood stream and block a smaller artery. If this happens in the brain, it can cause a stroke. Therefore, diagnosis, careful monitoring and treatment are all important aspects of managing atrial fibrillation.

Symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation depend on how rapidly the heart is beating. If it remains below 120 beats a minute, there may be no symptoms other than the irregular or increased pulse. If the rate is higher, there may be heart palpitations or discomfort felt in the chest.

Other symptoms may include:

A feeling of weakness
Dizziness or faintness
Shortness of breath
Chest pain, especially in adults who are older than 65
Rarely, blood pressure may fall and cause shock. This usually only occurs in individuals who also have severe heart disease.

Causes and Risk Factors of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation can be caused by heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or abnormalities of the heart valves. They can also be caused by another conditions, such as alcohol abuse, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism), or a birth defect affecting the heart. Rheumatic fever (which often leads to damage to heart valves) and high blood pressure cause the atria to enlarge, making atrial fibrillation more likely. The risk of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter also increase with age.

2009-08-13T20:39:00.001+07:00

Abdominal Pain - Unexplained

Pain and other abdominal symptoms can signal any number of problems. These range from indigestion to cancer.

Symptoms

Some of the more serious conditions associated with abdominal pain include:

Acute pancreatitis may cause general, constant and worsening pain in the upper abdomen. Sometimes the pain moves to the upper back. Other possible symptoms are weakness, shortness of breath and nausea.
Appendicitis starts as general abdominal pain that settles into the lower right side.
Biliary colic can cause a steady ache in the upper right abdomen. Sometimes the pain spreads to the upper back. Patients may also experience nausea and vomiting.
Crohn's disease can present symptoms similar to appendicitis. These include pain in the lower right side and bloody diarrhea.
Diverticulitis can cause moderate pain in the lower left side of the abdomen that grows worse over time.
Gallstones may produce severe, cramping pain in the lower right part of the abdomen. Pain may spread to the back.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes a burning sensation or discomfort after eating. This occurs especially when the patient is lying down or bending over. GERD may also produce pain in the chest that awakens the patient at night. Other symptoms can be very similar to those of a heart attack.
Hepatitis may cause pain in the upper right abdomen, nausea and vomiting.
Pancreatic cancer may produce the same symptoms as pancreatitis.

Treatment

New technologies, such as video cameras that can be swallowed, are now available. These cameras can help diagnose gastrointestinal problems, including unexplained abdominal pain, bleeding with an unknown cause or anemia.

The tiny video camera is swallowed and then eliminated in about 24 hours. The camera sends data to receivers placed on the patient's body. A recorder worn on the patient's belt collects the data. Using special software, the doctor can process the data and produce a video with information from the digestive tract. The camera itself is disposable. Patients can continue normal daily activities while the camera is working.

Resources at Cedars-Sinai

Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute
GI Motility Program
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center
Pancreatic and Biliary Diseases Program
Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center

2009-08-13T12:43:00.000+07:00

Why Haven't I Ever Heard of Biotoxins, Neurotoxins or Biotoxin Illness Before?

You probably have heard of it, only it was called something else like Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFIDS), Fibromyalgia, Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD), Mold Illness, or ADHD (see "Other Names for Biotoxin Illnesses" below). The discoveries and the science behind how biotoxins and neurotoxins are involved in these illnesses and disorders is fairly new. The goal of this site is to provide information to both patients and physicians, to increase awareness regarding causes of Biotoxin Illness and highlight new clinical treatment discoveries. In the few months our new site has been up, we have reached many people, mainly in the United States and Europe. Many MD's are adopting Dr. Shoemaker's protocols and we are working on providing formal training for those individuals. Biotoxin Illness is still controversial and we are working to publish new peer-reviewed papers that can start to change the way doctors currently think. In the meantime, patients must continue to advocate for their rights and pursue the treatments that they feel are best for them. Ritchie Shoemaker, MD presented some fairly recent Chronic Fatigue research and treatment findings at The International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome conference held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida in January of 2007. We have also just completed a soon to be published ground-breaking study on the health effects of mold exposure. Many progressive doctors around the country endorse the use of our on-line BIRS© test and the cholestyramine-based treatment protocol pioneered by Ritchie Shoemaker, MD. Remember though, that medical advances are ultimately driven through peer-reviewed publication in medical journals. These studies are expensive and time consuming and our recent peer-reviewed publications will help advance these discoveries into mainstream medicine. Many more doctors are becoming aware of biotoxins and the role they play in chronic illness.

That said, many leading experts in mold illness and exposure, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFIDS), fibromyalgia and Acute or Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) are familiar with, and use our screening test and cholestyramine protocol. For example, Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, Chief Medical Officer of the Fibro and Fatigue Center Clinics, has included a chapter on Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker's biotoxin discoveries and how they relate to CFIDS and Fibroymylgia in the updated revision of his book titled From Fatigued to Fantastic!, which was published in 2007. Additionally, Dr. Shoemaker testified about the human health effects of mold exposure for the US Congress in January of 2006.

Biotoxins play a large role in Chronic Lyme Disease (CLD) and our research in this area is recognized by many preeminent Lyme Literate MD's (LLMD's). A recent presentation summarizing the role of biotoxins in Lyme Disease was given by ILADS member Eric Gordon, MD and is available by clicking here . Another example is found in the monograph Diagnostic Hints and Treatment Guidelines for Lyme and Other Tick Borne Illnesses , published in 2005 by Joseph Burrascano, MD, (click here for the webcast of Dr. Burrascano speaking about Neurotoxins/Biotoxins in Lyme Disease. He acknowledges that:

"Two groups have reported evidence that Borrelia, like several other bacteria, produce neurotoxins. These compounds reportedly can cause many of the symptoms of encephalopathy, cause an ongoing inflammatory reaction manifested as some of the virus-like symptoms common in late Lyme, and also potentially interfere with hormone action by blocking hormone receptors. At this time, there is no assay available to detect whether this compound is present, nor can the amount of toxin be quantified. Indirect measures are currently employed, such as measures of cytokine activation and hormone resistance. A visual contrast sensitivity test (VCS test) reportedly is quite useful in documenting CNS effects of the neurotoxin, and to follow effects of treatment. This test is available at some centers and on the internet.

It has been said that the longer one is ill with Lyme, the more neurotoxin is present in the body. It probably is stored in fatty tissues, and once present, persists for a very long time. This may be because of enterohepatic circulation, where the toxin is excreted via the bile into the intestinal tract, but then is reabsorbed from the intestinal tract back into the blood stream. This forms the basis for treatment."

2009-07-24T21:25:00.002+07:00

Health women health natural health healthy food men's health alternative medicine familys health health diet and nutrition healthy child adoption healthy aging weight loss tips health conditions healthy shopping

2009-07-17T16:21:00.000+07:00

Dangers of Iron Supplements

© Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

Iron is unique among essential minerals, because there is no mechanism for its excretion once absorbed into the body. Whatever iron is absorbed must either be used or stored and excessive storage of iron in the body promotes the generation of free radicals. Excess dietary iron has been implicated by some scientists as a cause of cancer and heart disease. It also increases the risk of bacterial infection.

Except for the lactic acid bacteria like Lactobacilli, all microbes require iron for growth. Many of them produce special binding proteins to secure iron from their environments. Humans also produce iron-binding proteins which have as their role the capture of free iron so that microbes can't use it. An excess of iron overcomes this protective mechanism and in-creases susceptibility to bacterial infection. The amount of iron needed for optimal health reflects a delicate balance between deficiency and excess.

The best known effect of iron deficiency is anemia, which is the name given to a state in which the number of red blood cells is lower than normal. Anemia is not the same as iron deficiency, however. There are many different causes of anemia, which include folic acid deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, disorders of the bone marrow and conditions which increase the rate at which red blood cells are broken down in the spleen. Iron deficiency, when mild, may not produce anemia but may still cause fatigue, im-mune de-fects or fungal infections of skin. There are probably twenty million people in the U.S. who are iron deficient and half of them are not anemic. Wom-en with chronic fatigue and mild iron deficiency who are not anemic improve their energy after taking low doses of iron. Twenty milligrams per day is all that's needed, no more. Low-dose iron supplements can cure people with recurrent boils on the skin, but only if those people have mild iron deficiency. Presumably, correcting iron deficiency improves metabolism and immunity.

It is unfortunate that most commercial iron pills contain sixty to three hundred milligrams of iron, far more than are needed or than can even be absorbed from a single pill. High dose iron supplements, taken orally or by injection, increase susceptibility to bacterial infec-tion. Studies in southeast Asia and in Africa demonstrate that even low-dose iron can be harmful. When Indonesian school children who are not iron deficient take iron pills, they fail to grow normally. When iron supplements are given to Somali nomads or Masai tribes-man, their rate of infection increases, even though their iron deficiency is corrected. The high frequency of negative responses to iron supplements in Africa and Asia may reflect the interaction between iron and zinc.

Iron in food or pills interferes with zinc absorption and supplemental iron can aggravate zinc deficiency. The recommended daily allowance for zinc (RDA) is based on the assumption that forty per cent of the zinc that is swallowed is absorbed into the body. Actually, zinc absorption is only seventeen to thirty-five per cent and depends upon what is eaten along with zinc. Starch and fiber interfere with zinc absorption, as do calcium and iron. Lack of stomach acid, which may be caused by infection or acid-lowering drugs, also interferes with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency is common in Africa and Asia, where people consume large quantities of milk, which is high in calcium and low in zinc, and of starches and fibres which inter-fere with zinc absorption. Zinc deficiency profoundly depresses immunity and administering iron to a zinc-deficient person is extremely risky. Not only does iron stimulate bacterial growth, but, by aggravat-ing zinc deficiency, it weakens the immune system of the person being supplemented.

No one should ever take iron supplements unless iron deficiency is present, with the possible exception of pregnant women. The best test for iron deficiency is a blood test called the serum ferritin level. Ferritin is a protein that carries iron, and low ferritin levels are a common sign of iron deficiency. Like all laboratory tests, the interpretation of ferritin levels is subject to interpretation. Because the body has a limited capaci-ty for iron absorption, it does not make any sense to administer more than twenty milligrams of elemental iron at a time. Iron should not be taken as part of a multivitamin or multimineral preparation. Iron interferes with the absorption of the essen-tial minerals zinc, manganese and molybdenum; it destroys vitamin E; its own absorption is blocked by calcium and magnesium. Iron is best absorbed after a meal, with a small quantity of vitamin C (between one hundred and five hundred milligrams).

Archived columns by Leo Galland M.D., F.A.C.N.

2009-07-17T16:19:00.001+07:00

H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine Recently Announced

Two weeks ago, the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis announced that it had produced the first batch of a vaccine to fight the H1N1 (swine) flu virus. Vaccine production is underway, and clinical trials will begin in July. The expectation is that the vaccine will be available to the public in September.

Health Net will follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations on use of the vaccine when it is available.

We will keep work to keep our members updated as to any further developments. In the meantime, we urge you to take all appropriate steps to stay healthy.

Jonathan Scheff, M.D.
Chief Medical Officer
Health Net, Inc.

2009-07-10T14:37:00.000+07:00

What's Adoption?

How is a family created? Often, we think of families being made when a woman gives birth to a child. But adoption is another way families are created. Adoption means a legal process that allows someone to become the parent of a child, even though the parent and child are not related by blood.

In other words, a woman and man are not the kid's "birth parents." The child did not grow inside the woman's body. But in every other way, adoptive parents are the child's parents. By going through this legal process of adoption, they are promising to take care of the child and make him or her part of their family.

Being a parent is a lot of work, but having a family also makes grown-ups very happy. Kids make almost anything more fun, so it's no wonder people want to have them in their lives.

Some people choose to adopt because they have medical problems that make it impossible for them to have their own biological (say: bi-oh-law-jih-kal) children. Some single adults, although they don't have a partner or don't want to get married, really want to be parents.

Other kids might get adopted when one of their parents remarries. The new husband or wife might adopt the kids as a way to show that they are all one family now.

It often takes a lot of time and effort to adopt a child. Some people wait for years to adopt a baby. Adopting a child is not like shopping for a new coat. You don't just pick one off the rack and take it home.

How Does Adoption Work?

Adoptions are usually handled by a government agency or a private group. These groups work hard to investigate the people who say they want to adopt a child. Before letting them adopt a child, adoption workers need to find out a lot of stuff about the adoptive couple. They would want to know if either of them had ever done anything wrong, like committing a crime. They do not want kids to be adopted by people who might not take good care of them.

The adoptive couple also has to meet with social workers and others to explain why they want to adopt a child. They're also asked other questions to find out how they feel about kids and how they might solve problems, such as arguments, that happen in every family. The agency wants to be sure that children are adopted into homes where they will grow up happy and loved.

It's good that many people want to adopt kids, but why do kids need to be adopted? Most kids are not adopted. They grow up with their birth parents. But sometimes, a woman has a baby when she is young and before she's able to take good care of it. Other times, when babies are adopted from other countries, the baby's mom could be older and might even have other children already.

Why Do Kids Need to Be Adopted?

Babies are big responsibilities. You need to have enough money for the diapers, clothes, and other supplies the baby will need. A parent also must be willing to work very, very hard. Parents need to wake up in the middle of the night when the baby needs to eat. They also can't go out with their friends any time they want. Why? Because someone needs to watch the baby. And it can be hard for someone to have a baby and still be in school or college. Even if a woman is willing to care for the baby, raising a child might be very hard — or even impossible — if the woman is poor and lives in a poor country.

It's a very hard choice, but some women decide their babies would have better lives if they lived with adoptive parents. Often, adoptive parents are older and more able to handle the responsibilities that come with being someone's mom or dad. In some cases, an older child may be adopted because his or her birth parents tried to take care of him or her, but did a poor job. The child may have been abused or neglected and it was decided that a new home was needed. Sometimes a child lives with a foster family for a while before being adopted.

With some adoptions, the birth mother or father can stay involved in the kid's life. That doesn't mean the kid would live with the birth mom or dad, but the kid may see him or her once in a while or exchange letters or photographs. Other times, the kid doesn't get to see his or her birth parents.

No matter how this works out, it can be hard to understand. Kids may feel sad about it and have a lot of questions. Don't be afraid to talk about your feelings. Talk with your parents, or if you can't do that, try another relative or even a school counselor.

If You Were Adopted

Kids who were adopted are no different than other kids. But if you were adopted, you may have a little more on your mind than your friends. Sometimes, learning you were adopted may make it hard for you to pay attention in school.

Many kids who were adopted wonder about their birth parents and why they didn't keep them. They may wonder where they came from and what nationalities they are. They might wonder if they look like their birth parents and what their relatives are like. They might think about this stuff a lot, even if they really love their adoptive parents.

You might have questions if your family includes kids who were adopted and kids who weren't. Unfortunately, someone might say that you are not your parents' "real" kid, but that is not true. Adoption makes you a real son or daughter. Again, being able to talk about your feelings can help!

Reviewed by: Richard S. Kingsley, MD

2009-07-10T14:35:00.001+07:00

A Guide to The Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994
As Amended by the Interethnic Adoption Provisions of 1996

Chapter 3: Common Questions About MEPA-IEP

Since the Constitution and Title VI already prohibit discrimination, what difference will MEPA-IEP make?

Although the Constitution and Title VI bar discriminatory practices by states and publicly funded entities, many states and child welfare agencies nonetheless assumed that it was lawful to prefer racially and ethnically-matched foster care and adoptive placements for children. MEPA-IEP has made it clear that such preferences are illegal.

In enacting MEPA-IEP, Congress was concerned about widespread reports that children were being harmed by being removed from stable foster placements simply in order to be placed with someone else of the same race or national origin whom they had never met.

Reports also suggested that growing numbers of children were being denied a permanent adoptive placement because of efforts, often futile, to find a racially or ethnically matching adoptive home. For example, some agencies required specific waiting periods to search for a same race placement or required social workers to justify a transracial placement.

Minority children, particularly African-American children, were the most likely to experience lengthy delays in placement and to have fewer opportunities to be adopted as they grew older. Despite differences of opinion about whether these delays were caused primarily by unfair exclusion of minority individuals from being considered as foster or adoptive parents, or by unfair exclusion of whites who sought transracial placements, or by some combination of these and other factors, child welfare experts agreed that something had to be done to prevent the adverse effects on minority children of placement delays and "foster care drift."

MEPA-IEP can assist states and agencies to remove the vestiges of unlawful discriminatory practices by providing technical assistance through OCR and ACF staff. This assistance will continue to be available to help states review their statutes and administrative codes and to help agencies develop procedures that reflect good social work principles and promote the best interests of children in out-of-home care.

By requiring diligent recruitment of foster and adoptive parents who reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children in state care, MEPA-IEP also aims to expand the pool of qualified parents who can meet the needs of children awaiting homes, including those whose specific and well-documented needs may justify an effort to achieve a same-race placement.
What are the differences between MEPA, as originally enacted, and the 1996 Interethnic Adoption Provisions?

The Interethnic Adoption Provisions (IEP) make several important changes to MEPA which clarify the kinds of discriminatory placement activities that are prohibited and, as explained in Chapter 2(7)(a)(3), add sanctions under title IV-E for violations of MEPA-IEP.

To clarify that the routine consideration of a childs or prospective parentss race color, or national origin is impermissible, the IEP amends the basic MEPA prohibitions as follows:

...neither the State nor any other entity in the State that receives funds from the Federal Government and is involved in adoption or foster care placements may--
1. deny to any person the opportunity to become an adoptive or foster parent, on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the person, or of the child involved or
2. delay or deny the placement of a child for adoption or into foster care on the basis of the race, color, or national origin of the adoptive or foster parent, or the child involved. [language deleted from original MEPA is indicated with strikeouts]
In addition, the IEP repeals a section of MEPA that permitted agencies to determine a childs best interests by considering, as one of a number of factors, "the childs cultural, ethnic, and racial background and the capacity of the prospective foster or adoptive parents to meet the needs of a child from this background." The deletion of the words "categorically" and "solely" from the Acts prohibitions and the repeal of the permissible considerations make it clear that the standard for the use of race, color, national origin in foster care and adoptive placements is strict scrutiny. Even where a placement decision is not based on a prohibited categorical consideration, other actions that delay or deny placements on the basis of race, color, or national origin are prohibited. According to the 1997 and 1998 Guidance, agencies may not routinely assume that children have needs related to their race, color, or national origin. Nor may agencies routinely evaluate the ability of prospective foster and adoptive parents to meet such needs.

As amended by IEP, MEPA does not prohibit agencies from the nondiscriminatory consideration of a childs cultural background and experience in making an individualized placement decision. However, the 1998 Guidance warns against the use of "culture as a proxy for race, color, or national origin." Any routine use of "cultural assessments" of childrens needs or prospective parents capacities would be suspect if it had the effect of circumventing the laws prohibition against the routine consideration of race, color, national origin.
Can race ever be taken into consideration in making placements? When?

On rare occasions, the distinctive needs of an individual child may warrant consideration of the childs race, color, or national origin. Any consideration of these factors must pass the strict scrutiny test: Is it necessary to take into account the childs needs related to race, color, or national origin in order to make a placement that serves this particular childs best interest? If it appears that the child does have these distinctive needs, caseworkers should document their response to the following questions:
- What are the childs special or distinctive needs based on race, color, or national origin? Why is it in the childs best interests to take these needs into account?
- Can the childs needs related to race, color, or national origin be taken into account without delaying placement and placing the child at risk of other harms?
- Can these needs be met by a prospective foster or adoptive parent who does not share the childs racial or ethnic background?
- Can these needs be met only by a same race/ethnic placement? If so, is some delay justified in order to search for a parent of the same race or ethnicity, if an appropriate person is not available in the agencys current files?
- In a foster care placement, can the childs special needs be taken into account without denying the child an opportunity to be cared for in a readily available foster home?
- What are the childs other important needs?
Even when the facts of the particular case allow some consideration related to race, color, or national origin, this consideration should not predominate. Among other needs to be considered and typically to be given the most weight are: the childs age, ties to siblings and other relatives, health or physical condition, educational, cognitive, and psychological needs, and cultural needs, including religious, linguistic, dietary, musical, or athletic needs. In addition, the child may have personal preferences that he or she can articulate and discuss.

MEPA-IEP encourages child welfare workers to make decisions on the basis of the individualized needs of each child, and renders suspect any placement decision based on stereotypical thinking or untested generalizations about what children need. From now on, it should be clear that any use of race, color, or ethnicity is subject to the strict scrutiny standard of review, and that the use of racial or ethnic factors is permitted, only in exceptional circumstances where the special or distinctive needs of a child require it and where those needs can be documented or substantiated.

Consider the following example: A six year old girl in foster care has been attending a school where she is regularly teased because of her race. She is deeply distressed about this and cries inconsolably whenever the teasing occurs. This child needs a foster parent who can enroll her in another school where the teasing is less likely to occur or can work with staff and other parents at her current school to improve the situation there. The foster parent has to help the child understand that the teasing is inappropriate and not a reaction to anything she did that was objectionable.

While this child has a specific race-based need, the caseworker cannot assume that the only way to meet this need is through a same-race placement. It is an issue to discuss with the foster parent (or a prospective foster parent), regardless of their race. Simply being from the same racial background does not ensure that a particular individual will do any better in helping the child cope with the atmosphere in school than an individual from a different racial background.

Consider another example: A three year old boy born in Honduras and present in this country for less than six months is suddenly removed from his parents who have allegedly beaten him. His verbal skills are age appropriate but he only speaks and understands Spanish. He needs immediate foster care, preferably in a home where Spanish is spoken. He should not be further traumatized by placing him with caregivers who cannot speak Spanish. Although this child will eventually need to learn English, his immediate needs call for finding a foster parent who speaks Spanish. It would not be appropriate to limit the search to someone from Honduras or some other Latin American country. The placement should be made on the basis of the childs demonstrable cultural needs, and not on the basis of the childs national origin.
Can state law or policy include a preference for racial or ethnic matching so long as no child or prospective parent is precluded from being considered for placement on the basis of their race, color, or national origin?

MEPA-IEP does not allow state laws or policies to be based on blanket preferences for racial or ethnic matching. General or categorical policies that do not derive from the needs of a specific child are not consistent with the kinds of individualized decisions required by MEPA-IEP. Statutes or policies that establish orders of preference based on race, color, or ethnicity or that require caseworkers to justify departures from these preferences violate MEPA-IEP and Title VI.
Can agencies honor the preferences of a birth parent based on race, color, or national origin?

Because agencies subject to MEPA-IEP may not deny or delay placements on the basis of race, color, or national origin, they cannot honor a biological parent's preferences for placing the child in a family with a similar racial or ethnic background.
Does MEPA-IEP prevent States from having a preference for placing a child with a relative?

MEPA-IEP does not prohibit a preference for placing a child with relatives, if the placement is in the best interest of the child and not in conflict with the requirement that the childs health and safety be the paramount concern in child placement decisions.

In 1996, Congress added a section to the title IV-E State Plan requirements that States are to consider giving preference to an adult relative over a non-related foster or adoptive parent, provided that the relative meets all relevant state child protection standards. Many states include preferences for relatives in their foster care or adoptive placement statutes or administrative regulations. Nonetheless, caseworkers should not use general preferences for placing children with relatives as a device for evading MEPA-IEP. All placement decisions should be specific to the needs of the individual child.

Generalizations about the wisdom of placing with a relative, even when a relative has not yet been located or evaluated should not necessarily result in removing a child from the childs current placement. For example, caseworkers should exercise caution before removing a child from a stable, long-term, transracial fost-adopt home in order to make a racially-matched placement with a relative the child may have never met. To avoid this situation, caseworkers should attempt to locate all relatives who might serve as a childs caregiver as promptly as possible whenever a child is likely to require out-of-home care.
Does MEPA-IEP apply to white children?

MEPA-IEP applies to all children regardless of race or ethnicity. For example, if a worker determines an African American family can best meet the needs of a white child, denying the child that placement on account of race would be illegal.
How does MEPA-IEP apply to infants?

MEPA-IEP applies regardless of the age of the child. The 1995 and 1997 Guidances suggest that the age of the child may be a factor in determining the effect of race or ethnicity on the best interest of the child. For example, an older child may have a strong sense of identity with a particular racial or ethnic community; an infant may not have developed such needs. However, the Guidances emphasize that each decision must be individualized. Further, the 1998 Guidance notes that, regardless of age, racial or ethnic factors can seldom determine where a child will be placed.
How should biracial/bicultural and multiracial/multicultural children be treated?

MEPA-IEP requires that all children be treated equally, without regard to their racial or ethnic characteristics. If a child has a mixed racial ethnic heritage, that heritage does not have to be ignored when assessing the childs needs, but it cannot become the basis for a placement decision except in those exceptional or distinctive circumstances that would apply to making a placement decision for any other child based on race, color, or national origin.

Nevertheless, in order to comply with the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), children entering the child welfare system who may have some Native American heritage should have their existing or potential tribal affiliations ascertained immediately so that ICWA notice, jurisdictional, and placement requirements can be followed. Because ICWA is not based on a childs race as such, but on the childs cultural and political ties to a quasi-sovereign federally recognized Indian tribe, ICWA is not affected by MEPA-IEP. This means that a child with a certain quantum of "Indian blood" may or may not be subject to ICWA. Caseworkers generally have to rely on tribal determinations whether or not the child is a tribal member or eligible for membership.
Does MEPA-IEP apply to private agencies and independent adoptions?

MEPA-IEP applies to all agencies and entities receiving federal assistance directly or as a subrecipient from another entity. Agencies or entities that do not receive federal assistance are not covered by MEPA-IEP unless a federally assisted agency is also involved in their placement decisions. However, these entities may be covered by other statutes or policies prohibiting discrimination.
Can agencies conduct targeted recruitment?

MEPA-IEP requires diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of the children who need homes. Therefore, states must develop strategies that reach the communities of these families. At the same time, states and other entities must ensure that they do not deny anyone the opportunity to adopt or foster a child on the basis of race, color or national origin.

The 1995 federal Guidance discussed targeted recruitment efforts as part of a comprehensive strategy aimed at reaching all segments of the community. The 1995 Guidance provides that information should be disseminated to targeted communities through organizations such as churches and neighborhood centers. It further suggests agencies develop partnerships with community groups that can help spread the word about waiting children and identify and support prospective adoptive and foster parents.

In addition, the 1998 Guidance states that targeted recruiting cannot be the exclusive means for a state to identify families for particular categories of children. For example, while a state may contract with a private agency to make public announcements in Spanish to recruit Hispanic foster and adoptive parents, the state may not rely exclusively on that private agency to place Hispanic children. Rather, in identifying a potential pool of foster or adoptive parents for a child, the state must consider individuals listed with agencies that recruit parents from all ethnic groups.
Do prospective adoptive parents have the right to adopt a particular child?

Under MEPA-IEP, individuals cannot be denied an opportunity to be considered as a potential adoptive parent. They have a right to an assessment of their suitability as adoptive parents which is not based on discriminatory criteria. If accepted into the pool of qualified applicants for an agency, a state, or an interstate exchange, they have a right to be considered as a possible adoptive parent for children for whom they have expressed an interest, and whose needs they believe they can meet. However, neither they nor anyone else has an absolute right to adopt a particular child.

When foster parents seek to adopt a child who has been in their care for a significant period of time, the childs attachment to them and the childs need for permanence may suggest that they are the most appropriate parents for the child. Nonetheless, this decision must be based on the agencys and the courts assessment of the childs best interests and not on an alleged "right" of the foster parents to adopt this child.
What funds are available to implement MEPA-IEP?

Implementation of MEPA-IEP is an administrative cost of implementing federal foster care mandates. States are entitled to claim MEPA-IEP implementation expenses as part of their administrative costs under title IV-E. Discretionary funds for innovative projects, such as recruitment programs, are also available under the Adoption Opportunities Program authorized by the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act.

2009-07-10T14:33:00.000+07:00

NIHSeniorHealth Adds Information on Heart Failure

by Healthy News Service

NIHSeniorHealth (www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov) now offers information about the prevention, detection, and treatment of heart failure, a health condition that affects roughly 5 million older Americans. Designed especially for seniors, NIHSeniorHealth is a joint effort of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM), which are part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Heart failure tends to be more common in men than in women, but because women usually live longer, the condition affects more women in their 70s and 80s. Blacks are more likely than whites to have heart failure and to suffer more severely from it. It is the number one reason people over age 65 are hospitalized.

In heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough blood through the body. Over time as the pumping action of the heart gets weaker, blood and fluid back up into the lungs and fluid builds up in the feet, ankles, and legs. People with heat failure often experience fatigue and shortness of breath. Heart failure is caused by a number of diseases and conditions that damage the heart muscle, including coronary artery disease. People who have had a heart attack are at high risk of developing heart failure. Diabetes and high blood pressure also contribute to heart failure risk.

?There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of heart disease and heart failure,? says Elizabeth G. Nabel, M.D., director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), which developed the content for the heart failure topic on the NIHSeniorHealth Web site. ?For example, it is important to keep your cholesterol and blood pressure levels healthy, keep your diabetes in check, lose weight if you are overweight, eat right, don?t smoke, and get regular physical activity.?

One of the fastest growing age groups using the Internet, older Americans increasingly turn to the World Wide Web for health information. In fact, 66 percent of ?wired? seniors surf for health and medical information when they go online. NIHSeniorHealth, which is based on the latest research on cognition and aging, features short, easy-to-read segments of information that can be accessed in a variety of formats, including large-print type sizes, open-captioned videos, and even an audio version. Additional topics coming soon to the site include heart attack, clinical trials, and falls and fractures. The site links to MedlinePlus, NLM?s premier, more detailed site for consumer health information.

The NIA leads the Federal effort supporting and conducting research on aging and the health and well-being of older people. The NLM, the world's largest library of the health sciences, creates and sponsors Web-based health information resources for the public and professionals. The NHLBI supports research in diseases of the heart, blood vessels, lung, and blood, and sleep disorders. All three are components of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Provided by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on 3/3/2006

2009-07-10T14:30:00.000+07:00

Full Chest and Abdominal Breathing

This method is simply a deepening of the breath. Take slow, deep, rhythmic breaths through the nose. When the diaphragm drops down, the abdomen is expanded allowing the air to rush into the vacuum created in the lungs. Then the chest cavity is expanded, allowing the lungs to fill completely. This is followed by a slow, even exhalation which empties the lungs completely. This simple breath practice done slowly and fully, with intention, concentration and relaxation activates all of the primary benefits of therapeutic breath practice. In Qigong and Pranayama the breath is retained for additional benefit.

Application Suggestions:

Health maintenance: 6 to 10 repetitions, 2 to 3 sessions per day.
Health enhancement: 6 to 10 repetitions, 4 to 6 sessions per day.
Disease intervention: Start slowly and build up to 15 to 20 repetitions, in 10 to 15 sessions per day.
Getting started: 2 to 3 repetitions, once or twice per day. Remember to keep it easy and fun.

2009-07-07T12:38:00.002+07:00

Prescription drug abuse ravages a state's youth

Kentucky officials see an ‘epidemic’; officials say drugs coming from Florida

MOREHEAD, Ky. — Late in the morning last New Year's Day, Sam and Lynn Kissick received a devastating phone call that would tear their lives apart.

The caller informed them their 22-year-old daughter, Savannah, was being rushed by ambulance to the St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, Ky. She had long battled drug addiction, but it looked like this time, Savannah had overdosed on a combination of painkillers and sedatives while celebrating New Year's Eve.

After racing to the emergency room to be by Savannah's side, her parents were met by a physician with grim news. "I'm sorry, Mr. And Mrs. Kissick, but she didn't make it," he said.

Savannah had just become the latest fatality linked to prescription drug abuse, a fast-growing problem that killed more than 8,500 Americans in 2005, according to the latest available statistics from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says nearly 7 million Americans currently abuse prescription drugs, noting that is "more than the number who are abusing cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy and inhalants combined." The DEA also reports that "opioid painkillers now cause more overdose deaths than cocaine and heroin combined."

"Something needs to be done, because it's killing our kids every day." said Lynn Kissick. "People need to stand up and take notice. Our kids are dying. They're dying because of these drugs."

A regional ‘epidemic’
While the problem exists in every state in the country, Kentucky led the nation in the use of prescription drugs for non-medical purposes during the last year, according to the state's Office of Drug Control Policy. Officials said prescription drug abuse is particularly acute in the cities and rural areas of Eastern Kentucky.

Last year alone, at least 485 people died in Kentucky from prescription drug overdoses, according to the state's Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Medical Examiners' records indicate the drugs most commonly found in those death cases were methadone, the painkillers oxycodone and hydrocodone, alprazolam (Xanax), morphine, diazepam (Valium) and fentanyl.

"It's an epidemic and I'm afraid we're losing a whole generation," said Beth Lewis Maze, the Chief Circuit Judge for the 21st Judicial Circuit in Kentucky. "These pain medications are so highly addictive that these young people are digging themselves a very deep hole."

In the region's newly formed drug court, Maze sees the ravages of prescription drug abuse at all levels of society. "I see good kids from good families, doctors, lawyers, teachers," she said.

Greenup County Coroner Neil Wright calls prescription drug abuse "public enemy number one." Half of the 50 deaths he logged last year were drug related, and "85 to 90 percent" of those calls involved prescription pill overdoses. "It affects everybody. I don't care, rich, poor, educated or non-educated, it affects everybody."

Down the street, Greenup County Sheriff Keith Cooper dug through the many evidence bags his deputies have filled with prescription pill bottles and cash seized during drug arrests.

NBC News / Vince Genova

Lynn and Sam Kissick discuss the tragic death of their daughter as a result of a prescription drug overdose.

"We are drowning in a sea of prescription medication," said Cooper, who complained about the skyrocketing number of crimes committed by addicts searching for money to buy painkillers.

"It affects, quite literally, every kind, every type of crime that we have, the burglaries, the thefts, the accidents, the domestic disputes between families. It's breaking families up."

In neighboring Rowan County, where Savannah Kissick died, Chief Deputy Sheriff Roger Holbrook was arrested recently on federal charges that he had conspired to distribute oxycodone.

Crowded rehabilitation clinics
Pastor Wayne Ross runs the Shepherd’s Shelter adult drug and alcohol treatment center in Mount Sterling, Ky. His 50 available beds are filled with residents struggling to recover from drug addiction, almost all of them from prescription pill habits.

Savannah Kissick was one of his clients, and she had graduated from the recovery program. Her return to drug abuse and her death from an overdose shook Ross and the clinic staff members who had worked hard for her success.

"I cried, it breaks my heart," said Ross, who officiated at Savannah's funeral. "She's not the only one. We've been directly involved with five different people who have OD'd. Three of the funerals I did, myself, as a minister. It just breaks my heart."

2009-07-01T16:29:00.001+07:00

Stomach stapling may cut women's cancer risk

However, procedure didn't have the same effect in men, study finds

LONDON - Women who have their stomachs stapled not only lose weight, they also may reduce their cancer risk by up to 40 percent, new research says.

In a study of more than 2,000 fat people who had surgery to reduce the size of their stomachs, Swedish researchers found women who had the procedure were less likely to get cancer than those who did not.

But for some reason, the surgery didn't have the same effect in men; there was virtually no difference in the cancer rates in men who had the surgery and those who did not.

The research was published online Wednesday in the medical journal, Lancet Oncology.

A previous study has shown that stomach stapling surgery can prolong the lives of men and women by up to 10 years compared to those who don't have it. Two other studies have suggested women in particular benefit from a lower cancer risk after getting the weight loss operation.

Scientists have long thought fat people have a higher cancer risk, possibly because fat cells produce hormones that might lead to the disease. But doctors haven't been able to prove that losing weight in other ways, including dieting, reduces that risk.

"This is one more piece of evidence in a complex puzzle," said Dr. Len Lichtenfeld of the American Cancer Society, who was not linked to the Lancet Oncology study. "There seems to be a relationship between weight and cancer, but there is a missing link we don't understand."

Swedish researchers followed 2,010 obese patients from 1987 after they had their stomachs stapled, for about 10 years. Men and women were considered obese if they had a body mass index above 34 and 38 respectively. Experts say that a normal body mass index ranges from 19 to 25.

Researchers also tracked 2,037 fat people who did not have the surgery. For patients who got their stomachs stapled, most lost about 20 kilograms (44 pounds). In people who did not have the surgery, most gained a little over 1 kilogram (2 pounds, 3 ounces).

Obesity surgery may thin bones, causing breaks

Of the women who had the surgery, 79 got cancer. In the non-surgery group, 139 women got cancer. Various types were seen, including breast, skin and blood cancer.

Among the men, 38 of the men who had the surgery got cancer versus 39 men in the non-surgery group.

The study was paid for by the Swedish Research Council and others, including drug makers Hoffman La Roche, Astrazeneca and Sanofi-Aventis, whose products include diet drugs.

Experts were baffled why only women appeared to have a lower cancer risk after the weight loss surgery.

Lars Sjostrom of Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Sweden and the paper's lead author, said it was possible there weren't enough men in the study to see an effect — men only made up about a quarter of the participants.

Sjostrom and colleagues also found neither weight loss without surgery or reduced calorie intake appeared to affect cancer rates. He added that other possibilities to explain the smaller cancer risk, including genetics, were now being considered. "There is an unknown factor behind this effect, but we have no idea what it is," he said.

Lichtenfeld hypothesized that the stomach surgeries might have different effects on hormones or some other substance in the body that ultimately reduced the chances of developing cancer.

Others said the study underlined the importance of losing weight for cancer prevention. About half of all cancers are thought to be preventable via lifestyle changes, including weight loss.

"It's good news if these risks can be reversed," said Julie Sharp of Cancer Research United Kingdom. "People don't have to do something as dramatic as having surgery, but the message is that individuals can change their own risk factors."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31507954/ns/health-womens_health/

2009-07-01T16:27:00.000+07:00

For best anti-cancer boost, cook carrots whole

Cutting them up allows more nutritents to leach out, new study says

Lawrence Lawry / Getty Images stock

Carrots' cancer-fighting properties are increased by 25 percent if they're cooked whole instead of chopped, a study says.

LONDON - The anti-cancer properties of carrots are enhanced 25 percent if they are cooked whole rather than chopped up beforehand, a study has found.

They taste better too, according to scientists at Newcastle University, because more of their sugar is retained.

"Chopping up your carrots increases the surface area so more of the nutrients leach out into the water while they are cooked," said lead researcher Dr Kirsten Brandt.

2009-07-01T16:20:00.002+07:00

8 steps to de-stress your diet

Don't make food your social outlet or your emotional crutch

The economy doesn’t have to go straight to your hips. Here are some tips on how to control stress-driven eating:

Recognize that being stressed is normal, said Edward Abramson, a psychologist in Lafayette, Calif., and author of “Emotional Eating.” Talk about the stress with family and friends.
Know that the economy is out of your hands, said Martin Binks, director of behavioral health and research at the Duke Diet & Fitness Center. Focus on what you can control.
Find healthier ways to soothe yourself. Some people go for a walk. Others work on a hobby. Listen to your favorite music or read something not work related, said Linda Hlivka, co-author of “Stress Eater Diet.”
If you are at home because of a layoff, make sure you are not eating in front of the television or computer, said Leslie Seppinni, a psychotherapist in Beverly Hills, Calif. “Eat at the table at the times you are supposed to eat.”
Don’t make food your social outlet, Seppinni said. Meet friends at a park or go see a movie.
Substitute healthier food for the bad stuff, Hlivka said. If you need to eat something crunchy, try carrot sticks.
If you feel a craving coming on, practice deep breathing, Hlivka said. Once you slow down your breathing, your blood pressure will drop and you will decrease production of stress hormones.
Don’t deprive yourself. Sometimes the answer is a little bit of ice cream, Binks said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31392742/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

2009-06-25T09:36:00.000+07:00

Weight Loss Tips Modern

Dietary control and exercise. It’s true what they say - all you need to do is watch what you eat, and expend more energy than you consume. It’s really that simple. You can quit reading this list now, you now know everything you need to know and didn’t need to fork over $500 for the privilege of me telling you the secret of losing weight. You don’t need to read a 4,000 page book, you don’t have to buy a tape series, you don’t need to stay up late at night to watch infomercials to understand this basic premise. It’s 100% true.
Change your lifestyle. If you’re calling this a “diet,” then you’re going to gain all the weight back (and more) within a few months of losing it. Diets do not work. Diets are temporary. When you change your dietary lifestyle, however, you’re changing your habits - and you’re putting yourself on track for long-term / continued success and weight maintenance. Don’t ever tell anybody you’re on a diet - ever. I’m speaking from experience, here - a reformed low-carber. Worked out well for a while, but ultimately failed because my entire lifestyle didn’t change (permanently).
Join an online support group. In my case, I created my own - FatBlasters. It’s essential that you not feel alone, and reaching out to friends (new or old) is typically a smart move. I just heard about PeetTrainer, but didn’t know about it when I began down the road to weight loss. You have to know that others are out there for moral support - they know things that you couldn’t possibly know, and they’ve probably been “in your shoes” at some point in the past (or present). Share stories, laughter, tears, successes, and failures - share them. There are thousands of communities out there, so keep looking until you find the one that fits you.

2009-06-23T13:23:00.000+07:00

Ginger May Ease Post-Chemotherapy Nausea

About 70 percent of people undergoing chemotherapy experience severe stomach upset. But taking ginger supplements could help reduce post-chemotherapy nausea, according to a new study.

Researchers instructed 644 cancer patients to take either a placebo or a ginger supplement three days prior to chemotherapy and three days following their treatment. All patients also took standard anti-vomiting medication. After analyzing the patients' post-chemotherapy nausea levels, the study's authors determined that those taking ginger had at least a 40 percent reduction in nausea.

Ginger may help relieve other stomach troubles, including motion sickness and morning sickness. Shown to deliver considerable anti-inflammatory benefits, the herb might also help quell some forms of chronic pain, as well as menstrual cramps.

2009-06-23T13:22:00.000+07:00

Ginkgo Biloba May Ease Chronic Pain

Monday June 22, 2009

Ginkgo biloba extract —long used in traditional Chinese medicine to fight Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and age-related memory loss—may help ease neuropathic pain, a new study shows. In tests on rats with neuropathic pain, researchers found that pain responses were significantly lower among animals that had been treated with ginkgo. Results revealed that the higher the dose of ginkgo extract, the greater the pain-relieving benefits.

Common among people with diabetes, shingles, and limb injury, neuropathic pain is typically accompanied by tissue damage. Symptoms of this chronic condition include sharp, burning pain and tingling, especially in response to usually harmless stimuli (such as heat and cold). Past research suggests that capsaicin cream (formulated from a chili-pepper extract) may also help alleviate neuropathic pain.

2009-06-18T17:28:00.001+07:00

Eat Whole Grains to Feel Full, Stay Slim, and Get Healthy

By Shaun Chavis

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When I heard the words whole grains, the first image that popped into my head was a not-so-pleasant childhood memory of my mom trying to stealthily swap regular spaghetti for whole-wheat. My two sisters and I were not fooled! We shoved our plates away and complained enough that poor mom never thought about serving whole-wheat pasta again.

My connotation of whole grains quickly changed when I attended a conference called “Make (at Least!) Half Your Grains Whole!,” hosted by the Whole Grains Council and the Oldways Food Issues Think Tank. These are the same folks who created the Mediterranean Diet pyramid and who are responsible for the yellow Whole Grains stamp you see on foods at the grocery.

Whole-grain foods—and science—have come a long way since my mom tried that little switcheroo. First, the science: Whole grains are associated with a lower body mass index (BMI) and improved satiety. One Dutch study showed that women’s risk of obesity was four percent lower for every gram of whole grains in their diets. People who eat whole grains also have better blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and lower risks of diabetes and heart failure. The health benefits may come from the extra nutrition—whole grains have fiber, antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and other great-for-you components—or, people who eat whole grains may eat healthier and live healthier lifestyles.

Wholegrainscouncil.org

Now, how to get more grains: When you’re shopping, look for the words “whole grain” on the package, or look for the Whole Grains stamp. Don’t worry if the grains have been rolled, cracked, broken, ground, pre-cooked, or crushed. As long as you get all three parts of the grain—the bran, germ, and endosperm—you’re good to go.

Watch out for “degerminated” foods, which have had the germ removed. Also look out for “pearled”—those grains have had the bran removed to make them faster to cook. However, once the bran is removed, they’re not whole grains anymore. (Semi-pearled is okay.)

Nutritionists and the 2005 U.S. Dietary Guidelines also encourage making at least half the grain foods we eat whole-grain foods (that’s at least three servings a day, or about 48 grams). Right now, only 11% of Americans eat whole grains that often.

2009-06-18T17:24:00.000+07:00

Therapeutic Uses of Aromatherapy

© 1995 Kathi Keville, Mindy Green
(Excerpted from Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art
Published by Crossing Press)

In this chapter we explain how essential oils heal the body. We have divided the chapter into sections dealing with the major systems in the body-circulatory, digestive, respiratory, nervous, glandular, urinary, reproduction, dermal and musculoskeletal-as well as sections on ears and eyes, immunity and children. We suggest how to treat common ailments, things you would normally treat at home without the care of a doctor: the common cold; headache; a bout of indigestion; PMS; simple burns, bites and stings; muscular aches and pains. You may have formerly treated such disorders with over-the-counter drugs. The biochemical complexity of essential oils-most of which cannot be synthetically duplicated-allows them to act on many levels, and gives them multiple powers. You'll achieve not only health dividends, but also savings in your pocketbook.

As herbalists and aromatherapists, the authors of this book are eclectic in our approach to healing, using whatever remedy seems most appropriate. In some cases, we use aromatherapy exclusively; in others, we find that combining aromatherapy with herbs is more effective. To help you integrate the two modalities, we offer "herbal adjuncts," generally to be taken several times a day in teas, tinctures, capsules or tablets.

Because true holistic healing requires individual assessment and formation of a blend specific to each person, we do not give many recipes for specific ailments. We understand that some guidelines are needed, however, so to get you started we have given formula examples for general conditions in each section. Our goal is to give you the tools and confidence you need to develop your own blends as your understanding of working with essential oils increases. Refer to charts and the "Materia Medica" chapter.

Essential oils are extremely concentrated. Most of them are at least 50 times more potent than the herbs from which they are derived. In her book Aromatherapy: The Complete Guide to Plant and Flower Essences for Health and Beauty, Daniele Ryman states that one drop of essential oil often represents the potency of one ounce of plant material. This gives you an idea of their healing potential-and of the potential hazards of using essential oils improperly.

Only about 5 percent of the essential oils produced today are used in aromatherapy, but there are plenty from which to choose. In fact, if you become familiar with only 10 to 15 essential oils, you'll be able to treat many common problems. (It is better to know a few essential oils well than to know a little about many oils.)

Essential oils include muscle relaxants (marjoram and black pepper), digestive tonics (cardamom and mint), circulatory stimulants (rosemary and basil) and hormone precursors (clary sage and fennel). Many repair injured cells (lavender and helichrysum); others help carry away metabolic waste (grapefruit and juniper). In addition, a number of essential oils enhance immunity, working with the body to heal itself. They are capable of stimulating the production of phagocytes (white blood cells that attack invaders), and some (e.g., tea tree and lavender) are antitoxic for insect bites and stings.

http://www.healthy.net/scr/article.asp?Id=1933

2009-06-17T12:22:00.000+07:00

Travel With Confidence This Summer…
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR SHOTS?
Kyler S. Knight, M.D.
Certified, American Board of Internal Medicine

Centuries ago, when settlers came to our shores from “across the pond,” they brought with them germs and bacteria that were alien to the natives who inhabited this country. The results were predictable: outbreaks of infectious diseases, like measles and influenza, that were often fatal to the Indians who came into contact with them for the first time. Today, when a person can travel to virtually anyplace in the world within a day and a half, the problem of encountering or transmitting unfamiliar organisms and diseases remains a threat. We can travel faster than the incubation period for many diseases. Thanks in part to the fact that Hollywood has dramatized the specter of spreading a deadly virus or bacteria by chance encounter with a traveler, many people are worried about protecting their health when travelling outside the United States for the first time.

“It is true that travelers to undeveloped or tropical countries have been known to contract some relatively rare or exotic diseases,” explained Internist Kyler S. Knight, M.D. “The disease may not surface for months after they return to this country and, when it does, it may be difficult to diagnose because it is so uncommon. Now that we live in such a global community, it is increasingly important for people who travel to research the destinations they plan to visit and to be alert for any specific health warnings. Then, it is up to them to get the necessary vaccines or immunizations and to keep good records on where they have been -- and when – in the event they should become ill after they return. Fortunately, this is not terribly difficult to do.”

There are also preventive measures travelers can take to stay healthy and to minimize their risk of “catching” infectious diseases. Since many serious diseases have been eradicated around the world thanks to persistent immunization efforts, preparing for an international trip today is not nearly as complicated as it would have been in the mid-1900’s. The types of preventive measures and vaccinations depend on the destination, the time of year in which the travel will take place, and how long the visitor intends to stay.

Obviously, preparing for a backpacking excursion to South America would call for a totally different medical intervention than would a train trip through the United Kingdom. This is not to say that travelers do not become ill while visiting other “civilized” countries, but the likelihood of encountering the rare, and sometimes life-threatening kinds of diseases is generally much less, and special immunizations are therefore not indicated or required.

“Many people tend to forget, however, that some of our routine immunizations need to be updated periodically,” advised Dr. Knight. “including tetanus, influenza and those for what people consider childhood illnesses – mumps and measles. For some destinations, travelers should consider having the hepatitis A shot. People who plan to visit the Pacific, Africa, Southeast Asia or the Amazon Region of South America are likely to need more aggressive preventive measures that may include inoculation or prophylaxis against typhoid, yellow fever or malaria, hepatitis B, cholera, or other bacteria or viruses.”

Dr. Knight points out that any time we disrupt our normal patterns of eating and sleeping, we become more susceptible or vulnerable to disease or infection. International travel, requiring long flights and time changes, can be particularly exhausting for some people. In those cases, he says, it is important to get rested up as soon as possible. Common sense tells us that getting off an intercontinental flight and getting immediately behind the wheel of a car for a long drive in unfamiliar territory is literally an accident just waiting to happen. He suggests that there are many things travelers can do to stay healthy on the road.

“Planning for a trip or vacation should involve a lot more than just booking reservations for hotels and transportation,” Knight recommended, “especially if you have any known medical problems. See your dentist and get that aching tooth fixed. Arrange for refills of any prescription medications so that you’ll have enough even if your trip is unexpectedly extended. If you have any serious or chronic health problems, it’s not a bad idea to take along key information about your medical history, including medication dosages and allergies, as well as anything else that might be helpful to medical personnel in an emergency. If you wear glasses or contacts, be sure to take along an extra pair or two, and don’t pack them all in the same place. If you rely on over-the-counter medications – for headaches or diarrhea especially -- that might be difficult to obtain where you are going, take a supply of those, too.”

Be sensible about what you eat and drink on foreign soil. Contaminated food and water/ice are the major sources of stomach or intestinal illness while traveling, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Travelers’ Diarrhea” (TD) can turn an otherwise sensational vacation into one spent within racing distance to the bathroom. The ailment may not be life threatening, but after a day or two of abdominal cramps and discomfort, some tourists have certainly wished they were dead. Any uncooked food could be contaminated, especially in areas where sanitation is not a local priority. Be especially wary of salads, fruits and raw vegetables, dairy products, improperly prepared meats, and shellfish. It’s best to rely on bottled water for brushing your teeth, and that or canned beverages for drinking. Even if you don’t ‘drink the water’ that’s what the local ice is made from, and it can make you just as sick.

“Take the trip in your mind first,” suggests Dr. Knight. “Visualize where you’ll be and anticipate what emergencies you might encounter – and plan for them. If you’ll be spending a lot of time outside, be sure to take along plenty of sunscreen and insect repellant if you’re visiting the warmer regions. A compact first aid kit is another useful travelling companion, and be sure to include all the minor remedies you are used to at home.”

“If youngsters will be traveling with you, arrange for their immunizations to be updated as far in advance as possible, and pack a supply of their medications, too. If your trip will be to an undeveloped country or to a tropical location, schedule an appointment for a consultation about any immunizations or vaccinations that are required for entry into those places at least six weeks before your planned departure. This will allow the immunity to develop before you leave and will help you be alert to other health risks you might encounter at your destination. Whether you will be traveling on business or for pleasure,” the doctor said, “the last thing you’ll need in an unfamiliar environment is to be sick or in pain, and careful planning can make all the difference – wherever you are in the world.”

Dr. Knight is a designated provider of the Yellow Fever Vaccine.

2009-06-16T10:53:00.000+07:00

Aspirin and Heart Disease

You see the ads on television almost every day...you know the ones, where a young man and his dad are playing basketball and suddenly the man clutches his chest in obvious pain. A heart attack is the first thing that comes to your mind. The son runs to the gym bag nearby and gets help...a bottle of aspirin. Dad takes one and lives to see another day.

The commercial is advertising a popular brand of aspirin. You know it can help tame a headache, but do you believe aspirin can save your life? Well, according to the American Heart Association and researchers at Harvard Medical School there’s a reasonable chance it can. In October 1997, the AHA reported in its journal, Circulation, that up to 10,000 more people would survive heart attacks if they would chew one 325 milligram aspirin tablet when they first had chest pain or other sign of a heart attack. Other studies have come to similar conclusions. One found that heart attack patients who took aspirin when their symptoms began, and then daily for one month, significantly lowered their risk of dying and of having another heart attack or stroke over the people in the study who were given the placebo. Now, just about all researchers agree that patients should be given aspirin during the first hour -- during pre-hospital transport or in the Emergency Room -- if a heart attack is suspected.

In the late 1980’s, a report circulated in the medical community that astonished many who saw it for the first time. The study involved 22,000 male physicians, all in good health, who were divided into two groups: half of them took a buffered aspirin every other day, and the others were given a placebo. The findings made headline news around the country: for the doctors taking aspirin, the risk of a coronary was cut by almost half. Among those taking the aspirin, 104 heart attacks (with five deaths) occurred compared to 189 heart attacks -- 18 of them fatal -- among those taking the placebo. The statistics were too dramatic to ignore and -- to be fair -- the doctors monitoring the study recommended that the volunteers taking the placebo be advised of the results so that they, too, could take aspirin if they wished.

Since that study, there have been many research projects focusing on the effects of aspirin on heart disease and additional studies have confirmed that aspirin may also lower a woman’s risk for heart attack by 25 percent when taken one to six times a week. While it is true that heart disease is the number one killer of both men and women, people have traditionally thought heart attacks happen primarily to men. And, up until the past decade, women have been virtually excluded from cardiac research over the years. As one women’s rights activist put it, “The heartaches of women have gotten more attention in country-western songs than their heart attacks have received in clinical research.”

There are still some women who fail to recognize the symptoms of a cardiovascular “event” because they don’t believe it could happen to them. Fortunately, cardiovascular research today generally includes women. The National Institute of Health has conducted a study of 40,000 post-menopausal female nurses, for example, to evaluate the effects of aspirin as well as beta carotene and Vitamin E on their risk for cancer and cardiovascular disease.

How Aspirin Works...

Even before the potential effect of aspirin on heart disease was confirmed, aspirin had been the “anchor drug” in medicine cabinets across the country. Aspirin was officially introduced 100 years ago and has been marketed in its current form for more than 80 years. Aspirin is found in so many homes, however, that few people think of it as a drug. If it were introduced today, though, aspirin might have a difficult time being approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and might even be restricted to being dispensed by prescription only. It does have side effects and it is not for everyone.

The origin of the drug can be traced back to Hippocrates. he advised his followers to chew the leaves of the willow tree to alleviate pain. The Chinese have been using the bark of the same trees -- which contain salicin -- to control fever. In the early 1800’s different derivatives of this bark were tested and one -- acetylsalicylic acid, the chemical name for aspirin -- was found to be tolerated better than the others.

Aspirin can realistically be called a wonder drug because of the many remedial effects it can have on the human body. Basically, it interferes with the production of a series of chemicals in the body -- called prostaglandins -- that regulate many of the body’s vital functions. By blocking certain prostaglandins, aspirin lowers body temperature, relieves minor aches and pains, relieves inflammation and interferes with the role of blood platelets in forming clots. It is this last effect that appears to impact on risk for heart disease.

Blood clots are formed by platelets grouping together. Aspirin interferes with this process by making the platelets less “sticky” -- and therefore less successful in grouping together -- by inhibiting the manufacture of prostaglandins. This same blood “thinning” action that makes aspirin effective in reducing a person’s risk for heart disease is also the reason that some people are unable to take the drug.

Aspirin may well be one of the safest and most widely used drugs on the market today, but it also has some potentially serious side effects for those who cannot tolerate it. Aspirin can be hard on the stomach and cause nausea; it can aggravate gastric ulcers; and cause internal bleeding. It may increase the risk for stroke due to bleeding. Those who are allergic to aspirin can go into shock if they take it. And, aspirin is the trigger to a rare and sometimes fatal childhood disease, Reyes Syndrome, when taken following certain viral infections.

While it can certainly be an effective weapon against heart disease when used as part of a medically supervised program to modify the risks for heart disease, aspirin should not be considered a substitute for stopping smoking, for exercise, or for lowering cholesterol levels. The use of drugs -- even those sold over the counter -- should always be discussed with your physician. Ask your doctor to help you determine if the potential advantages of taking aspirin outweigh the risks in your individual case.

2009-06-14T11:41:00.000+07:00

Create Better Breathing Space for Asthmatics

Ventilation is crucial.

"The building of tightly-sealed houses over the last two decades has made it much easier for moisture and dust to collect in homes," Harvard professor Dr. Douglas Dockery notes. Many vapors trapped indoors, from perfumes and air fresheners to formaldehyde from particleboard, irritate asthmatics. When it’s fresh or even cold outside, keep windows open a crack to circulate air. On hot days, close windows and use air conditioners to ventilate and filter out smog.

Don’t harbor dust mites.

Microscopic dust mites and their droppings are a potent allergen and asthma trigger. One of the best ways to limit the amount of dust mites in your homes are to encase mattresses with impermeable covers. For more tips, see How to Reduce Dust Mites in Your Home.

Eradicate cockroaches and keep clutter to a minimum.

Piles of dirty clothes make a growth environment for mildews and mites; piles of paper attract cockroaches. Remember, you can eliminate household pests without using toxic pesticides.

Maintain humidity below 50 percent.

"Dehumidifying is enormously important, as many asthmatics are highly allergic to mildews and molds," says Harriet Burge, Ph.D., associate professor at Harvard School of Public Health.

Minimize pet dander.

"Cat dander is everywhere, even if you wash the cat," Centers for Disease Control Dr. Ruth Etzel says. "The only real solution is not to have the cat." Or, wash the animal every two to three weeks, Los Angeles pediatrician Harvey Karp advises.

No cigarette smoking in the home or car, or anywhere in asthmatics’ presence.

Furnace and heating duct filters should be replaced periodically as they collect dust and molds. Some businesses provide duct-cleaning services.

Keep asthmatics away from gas stoves.

"Open the oven door and you get a blast of NO2," says University of British Columbia professor emeritus Dr. David Bates. "The asthmatic child should not sit in the kitchen doing homework if the oven is being used." Make sure that stoves are well-ventilated, too.

Ask your pediatrician about allergenic foods.

If there is a family tendency to allergy, Dr. Ruth Etzel from the Centers for Disease Control says, parents might limit foods associated with allergies, such as cow’s milk, from the child’s diet in the first two years. She and other pediatricians recommend that mothers try to breastfeed their infants for at least the first year.

Check your local air quality index daily.

Asthmatic children should not exert themselves outside in hot, smoggy weather, or when a dusty wind blows; smog counts tend to be highest between 3pm and 6pm. Air Now, a site provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, allows you to check your local air quality, get ozone maps and more.
Try air cleaning and purifying machines.

Consumer Reports says a good air cleaner can help those allergic to dust and mold spores, citing the fan/filter models as most effective in removing airborne dust. The machine will help most in the asthmatic’s bedroom; but keep it at least six feet from the bed (it creates draft), and don’t place on carpet (it can kick up dust). But, "They can only help if you’ve gotten rid of the risk factors first, like dust mites, mold and danders," Harvard School of Public Health associate professor Dr. Harriet Burge warns. Warning: many asthmatics experience irritation from the ozone type of air purifier.

2009-06-14T11:36:00.000+07:00

If A Pregnant Woman Told You BPA Was Safe, Would You Believe Her?

Christopher Gavigan

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bisphenol-A (BPA), the endocrine disrupting chemical found in baby bottles and canned food, has been getting a lot of bad press over the past year. It's really no surprise given the growing list of studies linking it to health impacts ranging from cognitive problems and early puberty to increased fat cell production and miscarriage.

Industry thinks they're getting a bad rap. They think it's unfair that everyone keeps focusing on these studies and not the ones they funded that show no health impacts. Aww. Poor industry. Always getting picked on by the little guys.

They're not going to take it anymore though, and they formed a new club they're calling the BPA Joint Trade Association. In a meeting last week, they decided it would be awesome if they could get a pregnant woman to travel the country eating and drinking from packages and containers that had BPA in them and touting its safety with a big, nurturing smile. That'll show those doubters -- all those toxicologists, public health groups and parents poo-pooing BPA. If a pregnant woman paid by industry happily ingests this chemical, it must be safe. (But, they would make her sign a waiver releasing industry from any liability in case her fetus suffers any birth defects or other health impacts. Yep, best to not be liable for the experiment.)

Seriously. This is what they're stooping to.

Another brilliant idea to come out of that meeting is a scare tactic used last summer in California in order to stop a ban on BPA being reviewed by the legislature. The American Chemistry Council mailed flyers to people's homes claiming "Soon, many common, everyday products could disappear from grocery store shelves across California," and "Your favorite Products May Soon Disappear."

Yep. I guess all that will be left on the shelves at the grocery store will be the foods that are fresh or frozen or in boxes or jars or safer plastics -- oh, and cans that don't use BPA in their lining -- like Eden Foods. According to Eden, (who's still working on finding a replacement for lining cans of acidic foods like tomatoes) it costs the company 2 cents more per can to make them BPA-free.

Seriously? They're putting up this big of a fight over 2 cents a can?

The end is near, BPA industry, best put your money into R&D for a safer alternative instead of poorly thought out marketing plans. Major retailers have been pulling your products from their shelves. Consumers are refusing to buy them. New Jersey, Minnesota, and Chicago have passed BPA bans. Connecticut, California, and even Congress are considering BPA bans. It may be time to throw in the towel.

Those BPA proponents are pretty stubborn though. The California State Senate passed the Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act on June 2, which will ban BPA from food and drink containers for children under three. Now it moves to the Assembly and according to the San Francisco Chronicle, recently revealed e-mails from the BPA Joint Trade Association outlined its strategy to deploy lobbyists in Sacramento for "befriending people that are able to manipulate the legislative process."

In response to all of this questionable activity, the House of Representatives Committee of Energy and Commerce, which has been investigating the safety of BPA, issued a letter to the Chairman of the North American Metal Packaging Alliance (NAMPA -- a core member of the BPA Joint Trade Association). They would like to know exactly what's been said and what's being planned and have requested all of the documents, minutes, emails and communications relating to meetings of the BPA Joint Trade Association, a list of all attendees at meetings, and a list of all members of the BPA Joint Trade Association.

Simultaneously, they wrote FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg asking the agency to examine its relationship with industry groups. What relationship with industry you ask? The one that prompted the FDA to rely on two industry reports instead of 153 independent studies in order to assess the safety of BPA. They also want the FDA to reconsider its assessment that the chemical is safe. And, surprise, instead of dragging it's feet like so many times during the Bush years, the FDA quickly replied that they would re-assess BPA and that they would get it done ASAP. As in weeks, instead of months.

The times they are a-changing. But, the BPA battle is not over yet.

If you live in California, contact your state representatives and urge them to support the Toxics-Free Babies and Toddlers Act.

If your congressional representative is on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, contact him or her with your support in the effort to investigate the safety of BPA. Also, urge them to support the Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2009.

You can also give big business a piece of your mind. Visit the Environmental Working Group to find phone numbers and a sample script for when you call.

And, if you're a pregnant woman looking for a job, don't answer the BPA want-ad.

2009-06-13T13:49:00.001+07:00

Immunization-Related Problems

© Janet Zand L.Ac., O.M.D.
(Excerpted with permission from Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child
Published by Avery Publishing Group)

An immunization, or vaccination, is an injection of weakened or killed bacteria, viruses, or, in some cases, deactivated toxins that is given to protect against or reduce the effects of certain infectious diseases. When your child receives an injection of, for example, a small amount of tetanus toxoid, her immune system produces antibodies to fight this foreign substance. Should your child later be exposed to tetanus, her body's defense system will remember and rapidly form antibodies against the bacteria, thus preventing the disease from gaining a hold within the body.

The following vaccinations are among those most commonly recommended for children.

DPT, or diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus, is designed to protect against three different diseases: diphtheria, a rare but potentially fatal disease that affects the upper respiratory tract, the heart, and kidneys; pertussis, or whooping cough, a disease that is particularly dangerous for children under one year of age and can lead to pneumonia, seizures, and other complications; and tetanus, a potentially deadly infection of the central nervous system.
DT, or diphtheria/tetanus, is an alternative to DPT, without the pertussis vaccine. It is designed to protect against diphtheria and tetanus only.
Hemophilus influenzae (H. flu.) meningitis type B vaccine, or Hib vaccine, protects against a common bacterial infection that can lead to meningitis, a potentially fatal brain disease. Complications of H. flu. meningitis include pneumonia, hearing loss, and possible learning disabilities. There is now a combination DPT and Hib vaccine available that reduces the number of injections a child must receive to be immunized against all of these diseases.
The hepatitis B vaccine, the most recent addition to the list of routinely administered vaccines, protects against one of the more serious forms of hepatitis, hepatitis B. This is an infection of the liver that, while not highly contagious, can lead to chronic liver disease or even liver cancer. This vaccine is now being recommended for all children, starting a day or two after birth. Parents are also being encouraged to arrange for the vaccination of unimmunized older children and adolescents.
MMR-or measles/mumps/rubella also works to prevent three different diseases: measles, a highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever and rash, whose danger lies in the possibility of such serious complications as pneumonia, strep infections, and encephalitis; mumps, a contagious viral disease that causes fever and swollen glands around the neck and throat (and, rarely, the testicles); and rubella, or German measles, a viral disease involving fever and a mild rash that causes relatively little discomfort to the affected child, but that can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or birth defects if a woman is exposed to the virus during pregnancy. Because there have been outbreaks of measles among previously vaccinated college students in the past few years, it is now recommended that children receive a total of two MMR injections, the first at fifteen months and the second either before entering school or at the age of eleven or twelve years.
The polio vaccine is designed to protect against poliomyelitis, an acute viral infection that can lead to paralysis and death. Vaccination against polio involves a more complicated set of decisions than other vaccinations do. Immunization against polio may be accomplished either by an injection of inactivated, dead vaccine, or by live vaccine, which is taken by mouth. The live vaccine present in the oral form appears to give somewhat better immunity than the injectible form does, and has therefore been generally recommended in the United States. However, it also poses a higher risk of complications. An estimated six or seven children come down with polio every year as a result of receiving this vaccine. For this reason, this form of polio vaccine is specifically not recommended for a child with a compromised immune system. Also, it is possible for an unimmunized person to contract polio from a child who has been given the live vaccine, even if the child has no noticeable reaction to it. This poses a particular danger if a child has friends or family members who have not been vaccinated, or who have impaired immune function. In such cases, the injectible, inactivated form is recommended. A newer, more potent form of the injectible vaccine now appears to give better immunity than the original one did, while still avoiding the risk of a child (or others with whom she comes in contact) getting the disease as a result of the immunization. Some doctors who recommend the oral, live vaccine take other measures to reduce the chance of a child contracting the virus from it, such as giving the injectible version for the first dose, then switching to the oral form for the additional doses.
Immunization against rubella may be recommended if your child is a girl between thirteen and sixteen years old who has not received the MMR vaccine (see above) or had German measles.
The tetanus toxoid vaccine protects against tetanus, an infection of the central nervous system that can be fatal. It is usually given to children in the form of a DPT or DT immunization (see above), but it can be administered individually.

Other immunizations, or changes in the conventional immunization schedule may be recommended for special reasons, such as illness or travel.

2009-06-13T13:47:00.000+07:00

Latin light

Ingrid Hoffmann, host of the Food Network’s Simply Delicioso, says maintaining her weight is easy: She just eats what she cooks!

By LYNNE PALAZZI
Recipes by INGRID HOFFMANN

A funny thing happens to women who come to work for Food Network star Ingrid Hoffmann: They lose weight. A lot of weight. “They don’t go on a diet,” says Hoffmann, the Miami-based host of the Latin cooking show Simply Delicioso. “They eat what I cook—avocados, mangoes, organic chicken—and the weight comes off.”

Fresh food fix
When you work long hours in close quarters—as Hoffmann and her staff do, often getting up at 4 a.m. to prepare food for an 8 a.m. shoot—you get to know the eating habits of your co-workers pretty well. “When I see them making bad choices, or not eating at all, I say ‘Come on, you gotta eat something now.’ Then I feed them whatever I’m cooking—arroz con pollo, fish tacos, plantains,” says 43-year-old Hoffmann. (Click here for her delicious Arroz con Pollo recipe.) For Claudia Uribe Chang, who had trouble losing post-pregnancy pounds, that meant easing up on fatty, sugary foods. “Ingrid didn’t tell me what she was up to,” Chang recalls. “She just got me eating her whole, fresh foods and I dropped 35 pounds!”

Latin lessons
If you’re wondering how someone can eat tacos, rice, and plantains all day and lose weight, Hoffmann has the answer. “Latin food is good for you: It’s mostly grains, fruits, garlic, and tubers,” she says. In Colombia and Curaçao, where she grew up in the ’70s (she’s a self-proclaimed “mutt,” part Argentinean, Bolivian, Colombian, Peruvian, and German), the beans, greens, fruits, and spices the family ate were grown locally—sometimes in their own backyard. In addition, Hoffmann notes, in Latin America people eat portions half the size of those we eat in the U.S., and the biggest meal of the day is usually lunch—plus, they don't skip meals. So when Hoffmann noticed another assistant, Delia Leon, not eating for long stretches of time, she suggested Leon wear a timer set to go off every two or three hours. “When you forget to eat—or refuse to eat—for seven hours you get ravenous and lose your ability to eat smart,” Hoffmann claims. “Once Delia started eating every few hours, she lost 50 pounds.”

Easy does it
With her first cookbook, Simply Delicioso (Clarkson-Potter, 2008), Hoffmann is spreading the word about healthy Latin food—and how easy it is to cook. She reinforces that notion with her TV motto, “If I can do it, you can do it.” “I’m not a trained chef—I learned to cook from my mom, who was a caterer. I was always the kid wandering into the kitchen and poking my fingers into things. For me, it’s about inspiring people to take that half hour to make a great-tasting, healthy home-cooked meal.”

2009-06-12T11:10:00.002+07:00

Yoga for Menopause

Yoga stretches can benefit both the body and the mind, bringing energy and balance. This is particularly helpful to women who are currently in menopause or in menopause transition because their hormonal levels and body chemistry may be fluctuating rapidly. This can leave women feeling out of balance and truly victims of their changing bodies. Yoga exercises level out this physiological instability by relaxing and gently stretching every muscle in the body, promoting better blood circulation and oxygenation to all cells and tissues. This helps optimize the function of the endocrine glands and the organs of the female reproductive tract. Yoga exercises also improve the health and well-being of the digestive tract, nervous system, and all other organ systems.

The yoga exercises included in this chapter address many specific menopause related symptoms and issues, such as bone strength, cardiovascular and breast health, of concern to all women past midlife. You may want to begin by trying all the stretches, then practicing on a regular basis those exercises that bring you the most symptom relief and general health benefits. If you prefer, begin with the exercises that offer relief for the specific symptoms of greatest concern.

General Techniques for Yoga
When doing yoga exercises, it is important that you focus and concentrate on the positions. First, let your mind visualize how the exercise is to look, and then follow with the correct body placement in the pose. The exercises are done through slow, controlled stretching movements. This slowness allows you to have greater control over your body movements. You minimize the possibility of injury and maximize the benefit to the particular area of the body where your attention is being focused. Pay close attention to the initial instructions. Look at the placement of the body in the photographs. This is very important, for if the pose is practiced properly, you are much more likely to have relief from your symptoms. In summary, as you begin these exercises:

Visualize the pose in your mind, then follow with proper placement of the body.

Move slowly through the pose. This will help promote flexibility of the muscles and prevent injury.

Follow the breathing instructions provided in the exercise. Most important, do not hold your breath. Allow your breath to flow in and out easily and effortlessly.

Practicing yoga stretches regularly in a slow, unhurried fashion will gradually loosen your muscles, ligaments and joints. You may be surprised at how supple you can become over time. If you experience any pain or discomfort, you have probably overreached your current ability and should immediately reduce the amount of the stretching until you can proceed without discomfort. Be careful, as muscular injuries take time to heal. If you do strain a muscle, immediately apply ice to the injured area for ten minutes. Use the ice pack two to three times a day for several days. If the pain persists, see your doctor. If you wish more background and information on yoga, refer to the books listed in the bibliography at the end of this book.

Stretch 1: The Locust
This exercise energizes the entire female reproductive tract, thyroid, liver, intestines and kidneys. It is helpful for premenopausal women with dysfunctional bleeding, as well as women with menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, because it improves circulation and oxygenation to the pelvic region, thereby promoting healthier ovarian function. This exercise also strengthens the lower back, abdomen, buttocks, and legs, and prevents lower back pain and cramps.

Lie face down on the floor. Make fists with both your hands and place them under your hips. This prevents compression of the lumbar spine while doing the exercise.

Straighten your body and raise your right leg with an upward thrust as high as you can, keeping your hips on your fists. Hold for 5 to 20 seconds if possible.

Lower the leg and slowly return to your original position. Repeat on the left side. Remember to keep your hips resting on your fists. Repeat 10 times.

Repeat 10 times with both legs together.

Stretch 2: The Pump
This exercise improves blood circulation through the pelvis, thereby promoting healthier ovarian function. It helps relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and controls excessive bleeding in premenopausal women. The exercise helps calm anxiety and also strengthens the back and abdominal muscles.

Lie down and press the small of your back into the floor. This permits you to use your abdominal muscles without straining your lower back.

Raise your right leg slowly while breathing in. Keep your back flat on the floor and let the rest of your body remain relaxed. Move your leg very slowly; imagine your leg being pulled up smoothly by a spring. Do not move your leg in a jerky manner. Hold for a few breaths. Lower your leg and breathe out.

Repeat the same exercise on your left side. Then alternate legs, repeating the exercise 5 to 10 times.

Stretch 3: Wide Angle Pose
This exercise opens the entire pelvic region and energizes the female reproductive tract, improving ovarian function as well as normalizing excessive or irregular menstrual flow; diminution of menopausal symptoms may also occur. It is helpful for varicose veins and improves circulation in the legs.

Lie on your back with your legs against the wall and extended out in a V or an arc, and your arms extended to the side.

Hips should be as close to the wall as possible, buttocks on the floor. Legs should be spread apart as far as they can and still remain comfortable. Breathing easily, hold for 1 minute, allowing the inner thighs to relax.

Bring legs together and hold for 1 minute.

Stretch 4: Spinal Flex
This exercise energizes and rejuvenates the female reproductive tract and tones the abdominal organs (pancreas, liver and adrenals). It emphasizes freer pelvic movement with controlled breathing.

Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor close to your buttocks.

Exhale and press the lower back into the floor, raising the buttocks slightly.

Arch your back slightly.

Inhale and lift your lower back off the floor. This stretches the region from the sternum to the pelvis.

Repeat this exercise 10 times. Always lift your navel up on the in breath. Always elongate your spine and press the lower back down on the outbreath.

Stretch 5: Pelvic Arch
This is an excellent exercise for stretching the abdominal and pelvic muscles. Menopause related vaginal and bladder symptoms are reduced by promoting better circulation and relaxation in the pelvic region. It is also helpful in reducing pelvic congestion.

Lie on your back with your knees bent. Spread your feet apart, flat on the floor.

Place your hands around your ankles, holding them firmly.

As you inhale, arch your pelvis up and hold for a few seconds. As you exhale, relax and lower your pelvis several times.

Repeat this exercise several times.

Stretch 6: The Bow
This exercise helps relieve menopause-related fatigue and lack of vitality, elevating your mood and improving stamina. The exercise also stretches the entire spine and helps relieve lower back pain and cramps. It stretches the abdominal muscles and strengthens the back, hips and thighs. It also stimulates the digestive organs and endocrine glands.

Lie face down on the floor, arms at your sides.

Slowly bend your legs at the knees and bring your feet up toward your buttocks.

Reach back with your arms and carefully take hold of first one foot and then the other. Flex your feet to make grasping them easier.

Inhale and raise your trunk from the floor as far as possible and lift your head. Bring your knees as close together as possible.

Squeeze the buttocks while raising them off the floor. Imagine your body looking like a gently curved bow. Hold for 10 to 15 seconds.

Slowly release the posture. Allow your chin to touch the floor and finally release your feet and return them slowly to the floor. Return to your original position. Repeat 5 times.

Stretch 7: Child's Pose
Excellent for calming anxiety and stress due to emotional causes, this exercise will also relieve menopause related anxiety and irritability. The exercise gently stretches the lower back and is one of the most effective exercises for relieving menstrual cramps and low back pain.

Sit on your heels. Bring your forehead to the floor, stretching the spine as far over your head as possible.

Close your eyes.

Hold for as long as comfortable.

Stretch 8: The Sponge
This exercise relieves anxiety and stress due to emotional causes or menopause related anxiety and tension. It relieves menstrual cramps and low back pain as well as reducing eye tension and swelling in the face.

Lie on your back with a rolled towel placed under your knees. Your arms should be at your sides, palms up.

Close your eyes and relax your whole body. Inhale slowly, breathing from the diaphragm. As you inhale, visualize the energy in the air around you being dawn in through your entire body. Imagine your body is porous and open like a sponge, drawing in this energy and revitalizing every cell of your body.

Exhale slowly and deeply, allowing all tension to drain from your body.

Stretch 9: Dollar Pose
This pose reduces anxiety and nervous tension and will help eliminate tension headaches and insomnia. It improves flexibility of the spine, reducing stiffness and back pain.

Lie on your back with your legs bent and your feet together. Place your hands on the sides of both ankles to keep your legs together.

As you inhale, raise your legs up over your head. Make sure that the posture is comfortable by adjusting the angle of your legs. To do this, bend your knees to apply pressure between the shoulder blades.

Hold this posture for one minute, breathing slowly and deeply.

Return to the original position, lying flat on your back with your eyes closed. Relax in this position for several minutes.

Stretch 10: Tree

If your goal is to strengthen bone mass by increasing weight bearing on the legs, hips and spine, this exercise will help you accomplish increasing bone mass. It also improves balance and posture.

Standing erect, focus your eyes on a stationary point. Place one foot against the opposite thigh, so that one leg is bearing your weight.

Slowly raise your arms over your head. Hold for a count of 5.

Reverse sides.

Repeat 3 times.

Note: You may place one hand on the wall for support if needed.

Stretch 11: Chest Expander
This exercise increases circulation to the upper half of the body, energizing and stimulating the body. It also loosens and stretches tense muscles in the upper body, especially the shoulder and back, and expands the lungs.

Stand easily. Arms should be at your sides; feet are hip distance apart.

Extend your arms forward until your palms touch.

Bring your arms slowly and gracefully back until you can clasp them behind your back.

Exhale, then straighten your clasped hands and arms as far as you can without discomfort. Remember to stand upright; body should not bend forward. Breathe deeply into chest.

Inhale deeply and bend backward from the waist. Keep your hands clasped and your arms held high.

Drop your head backward a few inches and look upward as you relax your shoulders and the back of your neck.

Hold this position for a few seconds.

As you hold your breath, bend forward at the waist, bringing your clasped hands and arms up over your back.

Relax your neck muscles and keep your knees straight.

Hold for a few seconds.

Exhale as you return to the upright position. Unclasp your hands and allow your arms to rest easily at your sides.

Repeat entire sequence 3 times.

Choosing the Right Yoga Technique
From among the many specific yoga poses in this chapter, you can choose the best exercises to provide relief for your personal menopausal symptoms by using the accompanying chart. Try all the poses that pertain to your specific symptoms to see which ones bring you the most relief and practice those poses on a regular basis along with your exercise program. The combination of yoga stretches plus a good aerobic and strength-building program should help relieve and delay menopause-related symptoms and improve your general state of health.

Symptoms	Exercise
Entire female reproductive tract	Locust, Pump, Wide Angle Pose Spinal Flex, Pelvic Arcg, Bow
Excessive or irregular menstrual bleeding	Locust, Pump, Wide Angle Pose
Hot flashes	Locust, Pump, Wide Angle Pose Spinal Flex, Pelvic Arcg, Bow
Insomnia	Child's Pose, Sponge, Dollar Pose
Psychological symptoms- anxiety, depression, fatigue	Bow, Child's Pose, Sponge, Dollar Pose
Vaginal atrophy and bladder symptoms	Locust, Pump, Wide Angle Pose Spinal Flex, Pelvic Arcg, Bow
Osteoporosis	Tree
Cardiovascular health	Chest Expander
Breast health	Chest Expander

2009-06-12T11:10:00.001+07:00

Let's Talk about Vaginal Discharge

By Tracee Cornforth, About.com

Do you know the difference between normal vaginal discharge and abnormal vaginal discharge? Did you know that having a vaginal discharge is normal? Let’s take a look at various types of vaginal discharges so that you’ll know when you have an abnormal vaginal discharge.

The Natural Vagina

The basic function of you vagina is to provide a route from the outside of your vagina to your uterus and the rest of your internal reproductive system. The natural, acidic, pH of your vagina acts to prevent infections. The acidic nature of your vagina is caused by natural, good, bacteria produced by your body. When your vagina is healthy, the vagina keeps itself clean and in a healthy state by producing secretions of normal vaginal discharge. The natural balance of the vagina can be disrupted by anything that interferes with its’ normal environment.

What is Normal Vaginal Discharge?

First it’s important to understand that all women experience some amount of vaginal discharge. Glands in your vaginal and cervix produce small amounts of fluid that flows out of your vagina everyday taking with it old cells that line the vagina. Your normal vaginal discharge helps to clean the vagina, as well as keep it lubricated and free from infection and other germs. A normal vaginal discharge does not have a foul odor and usually has no odor at all. Normal vaginal discharge often appears clear or milky when it dries on your clothing; occasionally you may notice white spots or a normal vaginal discharge that is thin and stringy looking.

Other things that may cause changes in the appearance or consistency of your vaginal discharge include:

Your menstrual cycle
Emotional stress
Pregnancy
Any prescribed or OTC medications you take including hormones such as in the Pill
Sexual excitement
Breastfeeding
Ovulation
Your diet

Other things that can upset the natural pH balance of your vagina and lead to vaginal infections include vaginal douches, feminine hygiene products, perfumed or deodorant soaps, antibiotics, pregnancy, diabetes, or the presence of another infection.

2009-06-11T17:38:00.000+07:00

Healthy hair secrets

Nurture your scalp with our troubleshooting guide—and you’ll be rewarded with strong, luscious locks.

By CAROL STRALEY

Beautiful hair is possible. You may not believe that when your head itches too often, you regularly find flakes on your shoulders, or your hair is dull and thinning, but it’s true. The secret is to start with your scalp—if it’s healthy your hair will be, too.

Since the scalp is often overlooked, most of us don’t know how to care for it. To help, we created this guide for every type (dry, thinning, fl aky, and oily). Once you determine your problem, follow our tips and try our effective home remedies—and enjoy healthier, silkier hair.

dry scalp
Problem: Dry, moisture-sapped skin surrounding hair follicles.

Symptoms: Tight-feeling or itchy scalp when the humidity drops; small flakes of dry skin that land on the shoulders.

Massage Rx: Mix 10 drops of a moisturizing pure essential oil such as lavender or sandalwood with 1 ounce of sweet almond or jojoba oil. For sensitive scalps, use straight jojoba oil, says Marc Zollicoffer, Aveda global spa educator. Massage for 5 minutes before showering.

“To nourish a dry scalp, take an omega-3 fatty acid supplement
like fish oil.” —Holly Lucille, N.D., R.N., a naturopathic physician
at Healing From Within Health Care in Los Angeles, Calif.
DIY exfoliating recipe: Try one of these recipes from Mario Russo, owner of Salon Mario Russo in Boston, Mass., and Stowe, Vt.

FOR NORMAL TO COARSE HAIR:
1. After shampooing, massage 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the scalp, and onto your hair from roots to ends.
2. Wrap head with plastic wrap or a damp towel heated in the microwave to trap the oil and let it soak in. Wait at least 5 to 15 minutes, depending on the length of your hair.
3. Rinse out thoroughly and follow with conditioner.
4. Repeat once a week if hair is coarse; once a month is sufficient if hair is normal.

FOR FINE HAIR:
1. Heat ½ cup of apple cider vinegar.
2. Let it cool a bit, but while it’s still warm, gently massage it into your scalp. The acid in apple cider vinegar helps restore the scalp’s pH balance.
3. Cover your head with a towel or shower cap.
4. After 30 to 40 minutes, rinse with plain water.

Products to try: Before shampooing, use a pre-wash treatment such as AUROMÈRE PRE-SHAMPOO CONDITIONER ($9; herbspro.com), formulated according to Ayurveda, India’s ancient healing tradition. Then, try a soothing shampoo and conditioner combo like NATURE’S GATE TEA TREE & BLUE CYPRESS SOOTHING SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER FOR FLAKY, DRY SCALP ($8 each; natures-gate.com) or AVEENO NOURISH+ SOOTHE SHAMPOO with lavender and peppermint ($6.50; at drugstores). Once a week, hydrate hair and scalp with a treatment like AUBREY ORGANICS BLUE GREEN ALGAE HAIR RESCUE CONDITIONING MASK ($14; aubrey-organics.com).

2009-06-11T17:12:00.000+07:00

Choose Red or Black Colored Grapes

Grapes

Scientific Name: Vitus spp.

Biological Background: Grape is a pulpy, smooth-skinned berry, growing in clusters on vines. Grape was domesticated before 5,000 B.C. and is one of the oldest cultivated fruits.

Nutritional Information: Ten seedless grapes (50 g) provide 35 calories, 0.3 g protein, 8.9 g carbohydrate, 1.0 g fiber, 105 mg potassium, 5.4 mg vitamin C, 0.05 mg thiamin, 0.03 mg riboflavin, and 0.15 mg niacin.

Pharmacological Activity: Grape is a rich storehouse of antioxidant and anticancer compounds, including flavonoids (anthocyanin), quercetin, and resveratol (red grape skin). Grapes can inhibit blood-platelet clumping and consequently blood clot formation, and boost good type HDL cholesterol. Red grapes are antibacterial and antiviral. It has strong activity against cancers.

Eating Tips: Choose red or black colored grape instead of white or green one and eat with grape skin on to get the most health benefits.

2009-06-10T15:28:00.000+07:00

What is Menstruation?

Normal Menstruation and Menstrual Disorders

Menstruation is the cyclic occurrence of uterine bleeding that occurs near the end of puberty in girls. Typically, first periods occur around age 12 or 13. However, some girls begin having periods as young as 8 or 9 years old, while others may be as old as 15 or 16. If menarche does not occur by the time a girl reaches the age of 16, she should see her doctor for evaluation. Menstruation usually begins about 2 1/2 years after girls begin developing breasts, and growing pubic and underarm hair.

Once menstruation begins, it continues until menopause occurs around the age of 50 when monthly menstrual cycles end. Surgical menopause occurs following removal of the ovaries during hysterectomy. Menstruation also temporarily stops during pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives also stop normal menstruation and can safely be used to stop periods indefinitely or until pregnancy is desired. If menstruation fails to occur for any other reason, amenorrhea occurs. Amenorrhea is a menstrual cycle disorder.

For the most part, the menstrual cycle occurs predictably and without problems. However, when things don’t go right -– when you experience heavy or excessive bleeding, when your period doesn’t occur when expected, when you have physical or emotional symptoms during the weeks before you menstruation, or when you experience painful periods or other symptoms –- you may have a menstrual cycle disorder.

Abnormal uterine bleeding is a common menstrual cycle disorder that includes several types of abnormal bleeding patterns, including amenorrhea. Other menstrual cycle disorders include dysmenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome or PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD, and uterine fibroid tumors. Other factors that may affect normal menstruation include stress, illness, exercise, diet and nutrition, and work, family, and relationship issues.

2009-06-09T11:14:00.000+07:00

Green Living

Revitalize your home

Clear out clutter and bad energy! Usher in health, prosperity & joy with our easy Feng Shui decorating tips.

By ELIZABETH BARKER

If you are looking to re-energize your health, finances, or love life, start by redecorating your home. According to the Chinese art of feng shui, the qi, or life force, of your house feeds your energy and affects your wellness. And when it’s blocked—by clutter or poor placement of furniture, for example—you may be thwarted in your attempts to improve your relationships or professional pursuits, says Joey Yap, author of Joey Yap’s Pure Feng Shui (Cico, 2008). “People come to me wanting more prosperity, creativity, and romance,” says Jayme Barrett, author of Feng Shui Your Life (Sterling, 2003).

A rejuvenating, nurturing home environment is one in which the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are in balance. You can achieve this without major renovations; simply follow our guide to begin transforming your home today.

feng shui your LIVING ROOM
Clear clutter. Cull your bookshelves often. “Keep only the books that inspire you,” says Barrett. “Holding onto everything just depletes your energy.” Leaving space on your shelves can also open you up to new ideas. And make sure your floors are clear; if they’re cluttered, they’ll drag the room’s energy downward.
Decorate mindfully. “Surround yourself with objects that symbolize your passions—this acknowledges and energizes what makes you special,” says Barrett. Choose lively décor that’s important to you—like mementos from travel, says Barrett.
Experiment with color. Whether you paint a wall or add accents like throw pillows, blankets, and vases, use color to balance the room. Orange helps energize; blue can soothe; purple and gold help attract wealth; green can bring better health; and red stimulates passion and prosperity, says Ariel Joseph Towne, a feng shui consultant based in Los Angeles.
Rearrange the seats. Ideally, the sofa should be up against a solid wall, which gives a sense of stability, says Towne. “Another option is to set up a table with plants behind the sofa,” suggests Barrett. Or arrange your seating in a circle or square shape to encourage conversation and community. Make your living room even more inviting by positioning some furniture to face the entrance.
Avoid recessed lighting. An abundance of natural light helps brighten your spirits. Artificial lighting can also lift your energy, as long as it’s directed toward the ceiling. “Recessed or overhead lighting generates downward, oppressive energy,” says Barrett. “Try wall sconces instead.

►SHE TRIED IT! Deborah Shadovitz, a Macintosh consultant in Los Angeles, had a hard time confi ning her work to her home office. “My books and papers encroached on other spaces, but decluttering seemed so daunting,” she says. In the living room, Shadovitz decided to arrange her chairs in a circle, which encouraged guests to sit and socialize. Once her living room became a destination for entertainment, Shadovitz was inspired to organize her home. “Without the clutter, my house feels so fresh and welcoming.”

2009-06-08T21:24:00.000+07:00

Weight Loss:

Fat Burning Exercises

Ignite Your Fat-Burning Furnace

Muscle building videos and a world-class plan to supercharge your metabolism

Switching to a circuit-training routine burns fat by picking up the pace of your workouts. You'll elevate your heart rate and burn more calories by not resting between exercises. Want to speed up your metabolism even more? Try what trainer Vern Gambetta calls "circuit plus," in which you splice aerobic exercise into a circuit of resistance-training moves. Gambetta, who's the former director of athletic development for the New York Mets, says you'll burn calories even more rapidly this way because the tag team of aerobic and anaerobic exercise increases the challenge to your heart, lungs, and muscles.

The Workout

This routine conditions all your major muscle groups, with an emphasis on the lower body, which contains more than 50 percent of your body's muscle mass. Instead of resting between sets, do 30 to 45 seconds of cardio, such as jumping rope, running on a treadmill, or riding a stationary bike.

Don't be concerned if you can't use as much weight as you regularly lift. Without rest, your muscles will fatigue faster than usual, but that doesn't mean you're getting weaker. In fact, when you switch back to a plan that's more focused on building size and strength, you'll see faster gains than ever, because every muscle will be in peak physical condition.

Because this is a full-body plan, start by performing the workout twice a week and work up to three times a week, with at least a day for recovery between workouts.

Week 1

Create your routine by . . . Picking 1 move from each section (A, B, C, and D)

Sets of each exercise: 3

Your total workout should be . . . 12 sets

Repetitions per set: 12–15

Speed of each repetition: 1 second up, 3 seconds down

Rest between sets: None

Do this workout . . . Twice a week

Week 2

Create your routine by . . . Performing the 4 moves you didn't do in week 1

Sets of each exercise: 3

Your total workout should be . . . 12 sets

Repetitions per set: 12–15

Speed of each repetition: 1 second up, 3 seconds down

Rest between sets: None

Do this workout . . . Twice a week

Week 3

Create your routine by . . . Doing both moves in section A, then in B, C, and D

Sets of each exercise: 2

Your total workout should be . . . 16 sets

Repetitions per set: 12–15

Speed of each repetition: 1 second up, 3 seconds down

Rest between sets: None

Do this workout . . . 2 or 3 times a week

Week 4

Create your routine by . . . Doing both moves in section A, then in B, C, and D

Sets of each exercise: 2

Your total workout should be . . . 16 sets

Repetitions per set: 15–20

Speed of each repetition: 1 second up, 3 seconds down

Rest between sets: None

Do this workout . . . 2 or 3 times a week

2009-06-07T08:58:00.000+07:00

6 Sex Mistakes You're Making

1. Sex is a Race
Break it: Explore her. Focus on her thighs and lower belly. Make a mental circle 2 inches around the outside of her vagina, and don't cross the line while you kiss, lick, and caress, says Gloria Brame, Ph.D., author of Different Loving. You'll ignite her nerve endings and bring her close to her red zone. It makes sex about discovery, not some destination. "Goal-oriented sex isn't sexy," Brame says.

2. Same Time, Same Place
Break it: Relive the past. Take her to the garage and reclaim the space you long ago ceded: Seduce her in the backseat of the car. It feels a little public, it's steeped in testosterone, and there's a throwback, high-school quality to it. Make it a quickie, which has its place in the sexual diet; having lots of sex begets more sex, because you stay connected, says Laura Berman, Ph.D., director of the Berman Center in Chicago.

3. Predictable Foreplay
Break it: Work out together. Think of it as fat-burning foreplay. It will raise her dopamine levels, easing her anxieties. "She'll feel the sex is about her and not some random need she has to accommodate," says Pepper Schwartz, Ph.D., a professor of sociology at Washington University. Bonus: Your post-run sweat has androstadienone, a testosterone derivative that spikes her arousal when she smells it.

4. Lopsided First Moves
Break it: Tie her hands. It's now up to her to figure out how to remove your shirt, tie, cuff links, and pants. You'll share a few laughs and marvel at her ingenuity. Whether you tie her up or she binds you, the game will break your predictable, first-move habits. The bonus: "It acts as an automatic foreplay extender," says Berman.

5. TV, Then Sex
Break it: Read to her. It doesn't have to be erotica. It's an intimate activity that makes her focus on your voice. The deeper, the better. Low voices are a sign of high testosterone, which ups her attraction to you, according to a Scottish study. Read lying in bed with your head up, to dip an octave; it forces you to push air with your diaphragm instead of your lungs.

6. Habitual Hand Holding
Break it: Caress her neck. Sure, holding hands can work as an aphrodisiac: It shows her you're devoted and proud to tell the world. But after a while, its poignancy wanes. A stepped-up PDA will deepen her connection to you, so she'll be more willing to really give herself to you in the bedroom, says Schwartz.

http://www.menshealth.com/mhlists/have_better_sex/index.php#ixzz0HhrEuwFX&D

2009-06-06T12:39:00.001+07:00

Sun-smart advice

Protect your skin this summer with our expert-backed tips.

The basic rules of skin cancer prevention never change: apply with a broad-spectrum sunscreen (it blocks both UVA and UVB rays) daily, check for suspicious moles every three months (see skincancer.org for a list of warning signs), and go for annual screenings with a dermatologist. Newer research also suggests maintaining a healthy weight, staying fit, and eating a variety of antioxidant-rich foods, like colorful fruits and veggies. Here, three experts weigh in with tips for extra skincare protection:

Be alert for skin cancer if you’re at risk for breast or ovarian cancer.
Large genetic studies have found that people with the BRCA2 gene mutation, which ups your risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, are two and a half times more likely to develop melanoma.
TIP: If a close relative (parent, grandparent, or sibling) has had breast or ovarian cancer or melanoma, see a dermatologist every six months to a year and practice safe sun strategies.
—Lynn Schuchter, M.D., oncologist, Abramson Cancer Center, the University of Pennsylvania

Check your whole body, even under your toenails.
Basal and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common types of skin cancer, tend to form on the head, face, neck, hands, and arms, which get the greatest sun exposure. Melanoma most often occurs in places where you’ve been sunburned, but it can show up anywhere on the body, including under fingernails and toenails. (This is especially true for dark-skinned people, including African Americans.)
TIP: Don’t ignore any part of your body when looking for suspicious moles or spots, and do not hesitate to see a dermatologist or doctor if you have any concerns, even if you have a darker skin tone. Although dark-skinned people have lower rates of skin cancer, they’re also more likely to die from the condition since they tend to delay medical care and only discover a problem once the skin cancer has progressed.
—Vilma Cokkinides, Ph.D., program director, Risk Factor Surveillance, American Cancer Society

Wear sunscreen if you sit by a window or in a car for extended periods.
Standard windows block UVB rays, but UVA light wafts in freely. TIP: Avoid sitting by window glass for more than an hour a day whether it’s sunny or not. If you do, wear sunscreen and a long-sleeved top to protect your arms and shoulders. Consider replacing the clear glass windows of your car with reflective glass, which blocks more than 75 percent of UV rays.
—Henry W. Lim, M.D., F.A.A.D., vice president, the American Academy of Dermatology

2009-06-04T15:54:00.001+07:00

Gentlemen, 5 Easy Steps to Living Long and Well

Mike Mergen for The New York Times

FRISBEE, ANYONE? Exercise is linked to living longer.

Living past 90, and living well, may be more than a matter of good genes and good luck. Five behaviors in elderly men are associated not only with living into extreme old age, a new study has found, but also with good health and independent functioning.

The behaviors are abstaining from smoking, weight management, blood pressure control, regular exercise and avoiding diabetes. The study reports that all are significantly correlated with healthy survival after 90.

While it is hardly astonishing that choices like not smoking are associated with longer life, it is significant that these behaviors in the early elderly years — all of them modifiable — so strongly predict survival into extreme old age.

“The take-home message,” said Dr. Laurel B. Yates, a geriatric specialist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who was the lead author of the study, “is that an individual does have some control over his destiny in terms of what he can do to improve the probability that not only might he live a long time, but also have good health and good function in those older years.”

The study followed more than 2,300 healthy men for as long as a quarter-century. When it began, in 1981, the subjects’ average age was 72. The men responded to yearly questionnaires about changes in health and lifestyle, and researchers tested their mental and physical functioning. At the end of the study, which was published Feb. 11 in The Archives of Internal Medicine, 970 men had survived into their 90s.

There was no less chronic illness among survivors than among those who died before 90. But after controlling for other variables, smokers had double the risk of death before 90 compared with nonsmokers, those with diabetes increased their risk of death by 86 percent, obese men by 44 percent, and those with high blood pressure by 28 percent. Compared with men who never exercised, those who did reduced their risk of death by 20 percent to 30 percent, depending on how often and how vigorously they worked out.

Even though each of these five behaviors was independently significant after controlling for age and other variables, studies have shown that many other factors may affect longevity, including level of education and degree of social isolation. They were not measured in this study.

Although some previous studies have found that high cholesterol is associated with earlier death, and moderate alcohol consumption with longer survival, this study confirmed neither of those findings.

A second study in the same issue of the journal suggests that some of the oldest of the old survive not because they avoid illness, but because they live well despite disease.

The study of 523 women and 216 men ranging in age from 97 to 119 showed that a large proportion of people who lived that long and lived with minimal or no assistance did so despite long-term chronic illness. In other words, instead of delaying disease, they delay disability.

Dr. Dellara F. Terry, the lead author and an assistant professor of medicine at Boston University, said the study showed that old age and chronic illness were no reason to stop providing thorough treatment. “We should look at the individual in making treatment decisions,” Dr. Terry said, “and not base our decisions solely on chronological age.”

2009-06-03T18:38:00.002+07:00

Scientific Name: Ananas cosmosus

Biological Background: A tropical plant with stiff, spiny leaves that yields a single large fruit. Pineapple originated in Brazil.

Nutritional Information: One cup (155 g) of raw pineapple contains 76 calories, 0.6 g protein, 19.2 g carbohydrates, 2.95 g fiber, 175 g potassium, 124 mg vitamin C, 0.14 mg thiamin, 0.06 mg riboflavin, 0.65 mg niacin.

Pharmacological Activity: It suppresses inflammation due to Bromelain, an antibacterial enzyme. Pineapple aids digestion and helps to dissolve blood clots, and is food for preventing osteoporosis and bone fractures because of its very high manganese content. It is also antibacterial, antiviral and mildly estrogenic.

Eating Tips: Eat fresh. Canning destroys some pharmacological activities of pineapple.

Think these 8 foods are healthy? Wrong!

Skip the diet soda and potato chips and have seltzer and popcorn instead

	Skip the diet soda in favor of flavored seltzer water।
Darron Cummings / AP file

By Nicole Ferring, MS, RD

updated 9:55 a.m. ET Dec. 31, 2008

Even if you haven't bought full-fat mayo or sugary soda since blue eye shadow was in style (the first time), you may be getting duped into less-than-stellar food choices at the supermarket. The culprit? The "health halo." "From a distance, some foods seem like healthful choices because of the way they're packaged or labeled," says Janel Ovrut, MS, RD, a Boston-based dietitian. "But just because a product's marketing gives it an aura of health doesn't necessarily mean it's good for you." Here, eight notorious health food impostors, plus smarter swaps that up the nutritional ante and still give you the flavor you crave.

Baked potato chips
Yes, they're lower in fat. But they're still high in calories and low in nutrients, with little fiber to fill you up.

Smarter sub: Popcorn. You'll get the salt and crunch of chips plus fiber, and around 65 percent fewer calories per cup. Look for oil-free microwave popcorn or brands that are air-popped or popped in healthful oils such as olive or canola.

Health bonus: Heart-healthy whole grains. Adults who eat popcorn take in as much as 2 1/2 times more whole grains than people who do not, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Try: Good Health HalfNaked pre-popped popcorn, made with olive oil. One serving (4 cups) has 120 calories, 0 g sat fat, 4 g fiber.

Gummy fruit snacks
Although these products may contain some juice, they're usually nothing more than candy infused with vitamins. They also contain high fructose corn syrup, which is linked with obesity, and heart-unhealthy partially hydrogenated oils.

Smarter sub: Fresh or dried fruit. Both are packed with filling fiber, which you'll miss if you opt for gummy snacks.

Health bonus: Cancer-fighting antioxidants. Real fruit is loaded with immune-boosting nutrients that fruit-flavored snacks could never mimic. A recent Greek study found that women who ate the most fruits and veggies were the least likely to develop any type of cancer.

Try: Peeled Snacks Fruit Picks dried fruit (peeledsnacks.com). One serving (one bag) of Go-Mango-Man-Go has 120 calories, 0 g sat fat, 2 g fiber.

Light ice cream
Light ice cream can have fewer calories than regular, but there's no guarantee. Take Häagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche light ice cream: With 220 calories per 1/2 cup serving, it's still higher in calories than the average full-fat ice cream, which has around 140 calories per serving. What's more, some light ice creams can lack the rich taste you crave, so you're less satisfied and may be inclined to eat more than one serving.

Smarter sub: Dairy-free ice cream. Soy and coconut milk ice creams may save you a few calories, and they have a creamy, satisfying texture.

Health bonus: Digestion-friendly fiber. Some dairy-free ice creams are made with chicory root, a natural source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that can increase healthy bacteria in the gut and help the body absorb calcium and iron.

Try: Turtle Mountain Purely Decadent, made with coconut milk. One serving (1/2 cup) of vanilla has 150 calories, 7 g sat fat, and 6 g fiber. (Studies show that the saturated fat in coconut may not raise cholesterol like the saturated fat in butter and meat.)

Diet soda
In a 2008 study, researchers linked drinking just one diet soda a day with metabolic syndrome — the collection of symptoms including belly fat that puts you at high risk of heart disease. Researchers aren't sure if it's an ingredient in diet soda or the drinkers' eating habits that caused the association.

Heath Ledger died of accidental overdose

28-year-old actor had oxycodone, anti-anxiety, sleep aids in his system

NEW YORK - The actor Heath Ledger died from an accidental overdose of six different drugs — painkillers and sedatives — the medical examiner said Wednesday, leading doctors to warn of the dangers of mixing prescription drugs.

The 28-year-old film star died “of acute intoxication” from the combination of two strong painkillers, two anti-anxiety medicines and two sleeping aids, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Among the drugs found in his body were oxycodone, a painkiller sold as OxyContin and used in other pain relievers such as Percodan and Percocet। Others included drugs sold as anti-anxiety pills Valium and Xanax, which are sedatives.

The medical examiner and police wouldn’t identify the medications Ledger had in his apartment when his body was discovered on Jan. 22, nor would they discuss who had prescribed them. It also wasn’t known why he had the drugs; he said in a newspaper interview last year that he needed sleeping pills after two stressful acting jobs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating how Ledger got the medications. It’s common for investigators to review prescriptions when so many drugs are involved in an overdose death, said spokesman Rusty Payne.

Doctors not connected with the case said it would be unlikely for one doctor to order all the drugs. However, they said it’s not unusual for people to be prescribed both painkillers and sedatives, and overdoses are not uncommon.

“This is not rock star wretched excess,” said Cindy Kuhn, a pharmacology professor at Duke University. “This is a situation that could happen to plenty of people with prescriptions for these kind of drugs.”

Kuhn said some of the drugs are long-lasting and Ledger could have taken them over a period of several days। The medical examiner’s office wouldn’t say what concentrations of each drug were found in Ledger’s blood.

“What you’re looking at here is the cumulative effects of these medications together,” said the spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove.

‘This was an accident’
Police had said they found six bottles of anti-anxiety medicines, sleeping pills and other medicine in his Manhattan apartment after the Oscar-nominated actor was discovered dead in his bed last month.

“This was not a deliberate attempt to kill himself. This was an accident,” said Lawrence Kobilinsky, head of forensic science at John Jay College in New York. He had no role in the investigation. “He just took too many drugs having similar effects on the central nervous system.”

Experts said the combination of sedatives and the other medicines likely combined to suppress his brain function and his breathing. They said that Ledger probably had been prescribed the medicine by a number of different doctors, because several of them were from the same class of drugs and used to treat similar symptoms.

“It doesn’t make sense” that one doctor would prescribe all those, said Dr. William Lee, an internal medicine specialist at the University of Texas-Southwestern in Dallas. “It’s more likely that he got them from different prescribers.”

Jane Prosser, a medical toxicologist from New York University School of Medicine, said patients can often end up with similar medications prescribed by different doctors, who are unaware of what they’re already taking.

Three of the six prescription drugs found in Ledger’s apartment had been filled in Europe, where the actor was recently filming, police said.

“If you see one doctor for one thing and you see another doctor for another thing, neither the physician nor the patient may realize they’re getting two similar medications,” Prosser said.

“Patients should be aware that this happens on a regular basis and it doesn’t just happen to celebrities।”

Ledger’s publicist, Mara Buxbaum, didn’t immediately respond to questions about the drugs that had been prescribed to the actor before his death. She released a statement Wednesday from Ledger’s father, Kim.

“While no medications were taken in excess, we learned today the combination of doctor-prescribed drugs proved lethal for our boy. Heath’s accidental death serves as a caution to the hidden dangers of combining prescription medication, even at low dosage.”

No mention of illegal drugs
The medical examiner cited oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine as causing the actor’s death. There was no mention of alcohol or illegal drugs.

Oxycodone, marketed as OxyContin, is used in other painkillers such as Percodan and Percocet; hydrocodone is used in a number of painkillers, including Vicodin.

Diazepam and alprazolam are the generic names for the anti-anxiety drugs Valium and Xanax, temazepam is a sleep aid sold as Restoril, and doxylamine is an antihistamine used in over-the-counter sleep aids and cold medicines.

Ledger’s masseuse found him unresponsive after she arrived for an appointment at his rented apartment. She called 911 after first repeatedly calling actress Mary Kate Olsen. Ledger had moved into the apartment last fall after he broke up with actress Michelle Williams, the mother of his 2-year-old daughter Matilda.

Ledger, nominated for an Oscar for his role as cowboy Ennis del Mar in “Brokeback Mountain,” had returned to New York from London, where he had been making a Terry Gilliam film, days before his death. He told The New York Times in November that his most recent completed roles in the Batman movie “The Dark Knight” and Bob Dylan biopic “I’m Not There” had taken a toll and caused him to lose sleep.

“Last week I probably slept an average of two hours a night,” Ledger told the Times. “I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.” He said he had taken two Ambien pills, which only gave him an hour of sleep.

Ledger’s family returned to the actor’s hometown of Perth, Australia, on Tuesday to prepare for his funeral. Arrangements were private.

“To most of the world, Heath was an actor of immeasurable talent and promise,” Ledger’s father said on Wednesday। “We knew Heath as a loving father, as our devoted son, and as a loyal and generous brother and friend.”

2009-04-28T17:10:00.001+07:00

Deadly flu spreads to Asia, Middle East

Cases confirmed in New Zealand, Israel after officials raise alert level

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

updated 6:06 a.m. ET April 28, 2009

Governments around the world took steps Tuesday to curb the spread of a new strain of flu that has killed up to 149 people in Mexico as the virus was confirmed in Asia and the Middle East.

No one has died outside Mexico but 50 infected people have been found in the United States, six in Canada and three across the Atlantic in Spain and Scotland, prompting the World Health Organization to raise its alert level for the outbreak.

New Zealand's health minister and an Israeli hospital on Tuesday reported the first confirmed cases of swine flu to hit the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific regions।

New Zealand Health Minister Tony Ryall reported 11 cases. Those infected are members of group of students and teachers who returned recently from a trip to Mexico.

The other case is in Netanya, an Israeli city north of Tel Aviv. Laniado Hospital's medical director said laboratory tests confirm swine flu in a 26-year-old patient who recently returned from Mexico.

A 51-year-old South Korean woman also tested positive for swine flu Tuesday after traveling to Mexico but officials said final tests were still necessary. All 315 others on the same flight from Los Angeles were being tested but none have turned up positive, officials said.

In Asia, financial markets were on edge over the risk the flu could develop into a pandemic and kill off fragile signs of recovery in the global economy.

The number of U.S. cases doubled to 50 early Tuesday, the result of further testing at a New York City school, although none was fatal. Other U.S. cases have been reported in Ohio, Kansas, Texas and California. The U.S. also ordered stepped up border checks in neighboring states.

Travel alerts
Governments around the world have taken steps to tighten monitoring of their airports or advised against non-essential travel to Mexico.

Britain, France and Germany issued travel alerts for Mexico. Japan advised its citizens in Mexico to consider returning home soon, saying they might find themselves unable to leave and not be able to get adequate medical care.

The swine flu bug is curable if treated quickly with antiviral medicine but no one is naturally immune. The WHO has lifted its pandemic alert to phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country. It also indicates the risk of a deadly global outbreak.

"At this time, containment is not a feasible option," said Keiji Fukuda, assistant director-general of the World Health Organization.

The virus poses a potentially grave new threat to the U.S. economy, which was showing tentative early signs of a recovery. A widespread outbreak could batter tourism, food and transportation industries, deepening the recession in the U.S. and possibly worldwide.

Putting an alert at phases 4 or 5 signals that the virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading among humans. That move could lead governments to set trade, travel and other restrictions aimed at limiting its spread.

Phase 6 is for a full-blown pandemic, characterized by outbreaks in at least two regions of the world.

The last pandemic, a Hong Kong flu outbreak in 1968, killed about one million people around the world.

'Critical moment'
In Mexico, nearly 2,000 people believed to be infected. Mexican Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the epidemic was entering an extremely dangerous phase, with the number of people infected mushrooming even as authorities desperately ramped up defenses.

"We are in the most critical moment of the epidemic. The number of cases will keep rising, so we have to reinforce preventative measures," Cordova said at a news conference.

It could take four to six months before the first batch of vaccines are available to fight the virus, WHO officials said.

Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan said they would quarantine visitors showing symptoms of the virus amid global fears of a pandemic.

President Barack Obama said the outbreak was reason for concern, but not yet "a cause for alarm."

Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said that so far the virus in the United States seems less severe than in Mexico. Only one person has been hospitalized in the U.S.

"I wouldn't be overly reassured by that," Besser told reporters at CDC headquarters in Atlanta, raising the possibility of more severe cases in the United States.

"We are taking it seriously and acting aggressively," Besser added. "Until the outbreak has progressed, you really don't know what it's going to do."

U.S. customs officials began checking people entering U.S. territory. Millions of doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile were on their way to states, with priority given to the five already affected and to border states. Federal agencies were conferring with state and international governments.

"We want to make sure that we have equipment where it needs to be, people where they need to be and, most important, information shared at all levels," said Janet Napolitano, head of the Homeland Security Department.

"We are proceeding as if we are preparatory to a full pandemic," Napolitano said.

Schools shut
She said travel warnings for trips to Mexico would remain in place as long as swine flu is detected.

Mexico canceled school at all levels nationwide until May 6, and the Mexico City government said it was considering a complete shutdown, including all public transportation, if the death toll keeps rising. Labor Secretary Javier Lozano Alarcon said employers should isolate anyone showing up for work with fever, cough, sore throat or other signs of the flu.

Swine flu at a glance

Key developments on swine flu outbreaks:

— Deaths: 149 suspected, all in Mexico.

— Sickened: Nearly 2,000 in Mexico, suspected or confirmed; 48 confirmed in U.S. including, 28 at one school; 13 suspected in New Zealand; 6 confirmed in Canada; 7 suspected in Spain; 1 suspected in France; 1 suspected in Israel.

— Locations in Mexico: 17 states, including Mexico City, Mexico State, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Baja California and San Luis Potosi. Some, including Oaxaca, Mexico City and Baja California, have tourist areas, but authorities have not said where in these states the outbreaks occurred.

— Locations in U.S.: California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas.

— Safety measures in Mexico: In Mexico City, surgical masks being given away on the subway system, public events canceled, schools and public venues closed and church services postponed. President Felipe Calderon has assumed new powers to isolate infected people.

— Safety measures worldwide: Airports screening travelers from Mexico for flu symptoms. China, Russia and Taiwan plan to put anyone with symptoms under quarantine. Hong Kong and South Korea warn against travel to Mexico City and three provinces. Italy, Poland and Venezuela advised citizens to postpone travel to affected areas of Mexico and the United States.

— Safety measures in U.S: Roughly 12 million doses of Tamiflu being moved from federal stockpile for delivery to states. Travelers at border being asked about travel to flu-stricken areas. St. Francis Preparatory School in New York, where eight cases are confirmed, will be closed Monday and Tuesday.

Source: The Associated Press

Amid the warnings, the Mexican government grappled with increasing criticism of its response. At least two weeks after the first swine flu case, the government has yet to say where and how the outbreak began or give details on the victims.

The health department lacked the staff to visit the homes of all those suspected to have died from the disease, Cordova said.

Cordova said 1,995 people have been hospitalized with serious cases of pneumonia since the first case of swine flu was reported April 13. The government does not yet know how many were swine flu.

He said tests show a 4-year-old boy contracted the virus before April 2 in Veracruz state, where a community has been protesting pollution from a large pig farm.

The farm is run by Granjas Carroll de Mexico, a joint venture half owned by Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, Inc. Spokeswoman Keira Ullrich said the company has found no clinical signs or symptoms of the presence of swine flu in its herd or its employees working anywhere in Mexico.

Source: The Associated Press, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

•

The best way to keep the disease from spreading, Besser said, is by taking everyday precautions such as frequent handwashing, covering up coughs and sneezes, and staying away from work or school if not feeling well. He said authorities are not recommending that people wear masks at work because evidence that it is effective "is not that strong."

China, Russia and Ukraine were among countries banning imports of pork and pork products from Mexico and three U.S. states that have reported swine flu cases, while other countries, such as Indonesia, banned all pork imports.

The CDC says people cannot get the flu by eating pork or pork products.

2009-04-21T18:32:00.001+07:00

Dieters’ best intentions hijacked by their brains

Yummy snacks trigger vicious cycle of cravings, former FDA chief warns

	Chocolate cookies have something in common with crack. Neuroscientists increasingly report that fat-and-sugar combinations light up the brain's dopamine pathway — its pleasure-sensing spot — the same pathway that conditions people to alcohol or drugs.
Stephen Bonk / featurepics.com stock

Diet and fitness videos

Teach a man to farm fish...
April 20: With 28 percent of the world's fish stocks already depleted, the U.N. says fish farming will soon provide half the fish the world eats. NBC's Anne Thompson reports.

How she kept off 104 pounds

Not as healthy as you think

Report links childhood obesity to shorter life span

Lighten up your favorite foods

FDA-approved stevia is touted as natural — but is it better than artificial?

Coca-Cola has added the new FDA-approved sweetener stevia to its Odwalla beverages. But despite its billing as a natural sweetener, it's not a risk-free solution for dieters, nutritionists say.

By Bridget Murray Law

msnbc.com contributor

updated 9:07 a.m. ET April 17, 2009

Is stevia, an extract 300 times more potent than sugar, the no-fat, no-calorie "natural" sweetener that soda and juice lovers have been thirsting for?

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of rebaudioside A (Reb A) as a general purpose sweetener in December, major beverage marketers have been rushing new stevia-infused drinks into stores. Coca-Cola is using the stevia-derived sweetener Truvia in two of its Odwalla juice drinks and in the new Sprite Green. PepsiCo added its version of stevia to Sobe Lifewater drinks and has launched a new Tropicana orange juice, Trop50, containing 50 percent less sugar and calories.

The sweetener, which manufacturers claim is natural because it’s derived from the leaf of a South American shrub, has been used for years as a commercial sweetener in Japan and other Asian countries। It’s too soon to know whether American consumers will lap up its slightly licorice-y flavor, but nutritionists are already weighing in with their own verdict: Stevia is no risk-free holy grail for dieters.

Certainly, there's plenty to worry about when it comes to how many calories we guzzle each day. A recent study by researchers at Louisiana State University's School of Public Health found that liquid calories are a bigger problem than food when it comes to weight gain, and that sugar-sweetened beverages are the main culprit. What's worse, Americans consume an average of 20 teaspoons of added sugars a day, about twice as much as recommended, according to government reports.

But so far, there’s nothing to distinguish stevia from other sugar substitutes on the market, despite its boast about being natural, nutrition experts say. Stevia may have no calories, but you shouldn't make it a regular dietary staple, says New York City-based nutritionist Keri Gans, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

“Given our nation’s problem with obesity, stevia and other artificial sweeteners have a place for people who consume more calories than they should from sweets,” says Gans. “But artificial sweeteners should not take over your diet because that means you’re eating way too many processed foods.”

Back to nature?
Marketers counter that that stevia is as natural as sugar, despite a “purification” process that modifies the plant extract.

“Truvia is still all natural,” says Coca-Cola spokesman Ray Crockett. “It’s the same process cane sugar goes through.”

The new stevia extract is the only widely marketed sugar substitute derived from a shrub. Other commonly used sweeteners aspartame (Nutrasweet, Equal) and saccharin were developed artificially in labs. Sucralose (Splenda) is derived from sugar but is processed with chlorinated chemicals.

Just as cancer concerns have dogged the artificial sweeteners aspartame and saccharin, some researchers worry about stevia. In fact, the FDA rejected stevia petitions in the 1990s after research linked the plant with infertility in rats and cancer in the lab. The agency says the currently marketed reformulation, Reb A, is “generally recognized as safe.”

Chemistry researcher John Pezzuto isn’t convinced. He cites a study he conducted that suggests a certain strain of stevia can mutate DNA, a possible cancer risk.

“Given that there’s the potential for a mutagenic response, why take the risk with stevia?” asks Pezzuto, dean of the University of Hawaii at Hilo College of Pharmacy. “I will not be consuming any myself.”

owever, another researcher, genetic toxicologist David Brusick dismisses Pezzuto’s findings.

“That was an in vitro test, done out of the mainstream of tests,” says Brusick, an independent consultant formerly with biopharmaceutical drug development company Covance Laboratories in Vienna, Va. “Studies in animals and people have found no such mutagenic effects.”

Brusick reached his conclusions after reviewing studies for the FDA’s stevia approval. Stevia-associated companies had hired him to conduct the evaluation.

Sticky problem with sweeteners
While nothing's been proved as far as cancer risks, there's a more immediate catch when it comes to stevia. Critics wonder whether it may also stoke hunger, just like other artificial sweeteners.

Studies indicate that consuming something with a sweet taste primes the body for a calorie delivery that doesn’t happen. As a result eaters seek more sweets to satisfy the body's cravings. Recent research also found that sucralose may alter people’s gut bugs in ways that promote weight gain.

None of these metabolic questions have yet been explored with stevia, according to experts.

While rats only develop such problems after ingesting large quantities of these sweeteners, it's not unexpected that at least some people would overindulge with with stevia-sweetened products, notes Orlando-based nutritionist Tara Gidus, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Want to get buff, ladies? Switch contraceptives

2009-04-18T13:51:00.003+07:00

updated 1:15 p.m. ET April 17, 2009

CHICAGO - Young women seeking a sculpted, muscular silhouette may want to avoid taking oral contraceptives, U.S. researchers said on Friday.

They found women who were not taking birth control pills gained 60 percent more muscle mass after a 10-week weight training program than those who were.

The study, led by Chang-Woock Lee and Steven Riechman of Texas A&M University in College Station and Mark Newman of the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, will be presented at the American Physiological Society meeting in New Orleans this weekend।

The researchers studied 73 generally healthy women between 18 and 31 who completed a whole-body resistance exercise training program. About half took the pill and half did not.

The women were encouraged to eat at least half a gram of protein per pound of body weight each day — about a third more than recommended by U.S. nutritional guidelines — to ensure they got enough protein and calories to build muscle.

Both groups exercised three times a week under the supervision of exercise physiologists, performing the same number and intensity of exercises.

At the end of the 10 weeks, the women who were not taking oral contraceptives had built significantly more lean muscle.

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And blood samples before and after the training period showed the women on the pill had lower levels of muscle-building hormones such as testosterone and far higher levels of muscle-breaking hormones such as cortisol.

In a statement the team said that oral contraceptives appear to have a negative effect on women's ability to build lean muscle, but they added that future studies were needed to explain why.

2009-04-17T17:03:00.001+07:00

Health

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For other uses, see Health (disambiguation).

The generally accepted definition of health is "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity", used by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1948. ^[1]^[2]

In 1986, the WHO in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion said health is "a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities". Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC), which is composed of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) also define health.

Overall health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.

Aspects of health

Physical health

Physical fitness refers to good body health, and is the result of regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, and proper rest for physical recovery.

A strong indicator of the health of localized population is their height or weight, which generally increases with improved nutrition and health care. This is also influenced by the standard of living and quality of life. Genetics also plays a major role in people's height. The study of human growth, its regulators, and implications is known as Auxology.

Mental health

Mental health refers to an individual's emotional and psychological well-being. "A state of emotional and psychological well-being in which an individual is able to use his or her cognitive and emotional capabilities, function in society, and meet the ordinary demands of everyday life."

One way to think about mental health is by looking at how effectively and successfully a person functions. Feeling capable and competent; being able to handle normal levels of stress, maintain satisfying relationships, and lead an independent life; and being able to "bounce back," or recover from difficult situations, are all signs of mental health. The generally accepted definition of health is "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity", used by the World Health Organization (WHO) since 1948. [1][2]

Overall health is achieved through a combination of physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being

Determinants of health

Main article: Social determinants of health

The LaLonde report suggested that there are four general determinants of health including human biology, environment, lifestyle, and healthcare services.^[3] Thus, health is maintained and improved not only through the advancement and application of health science, but also through the efforts and intelligent lifestyle choices of the individual and society.

A major environmental factor is water quality, especially for the health of infants and children in developing countries.^[4]

Studies show that in developed countries, the lack of neighborhood recreational space that includes the natural environment leads to lower levels of neighborhood satisfaction and higher levels of obesity; therefore, lower overall well being.^[5] Therefore, the positive psychological benefits of natural space in urban neighborhoods should be taken into account in public policy and land use.

Health maintenance

Main article: Self care

Achieving health and remaining healthy is an active process. Effective strategies for staying healthy and improving one's health include the following elements:

Nutrition

Main article: Nutrition

Personal health depends partially on the social structure of one's life. The maintenance of strong social relationships is linked to good health conditions, longevity, productivity, and a positive attitude. This is due to the fact that positive social interaction as viewed by the participant increases many chemical levels in the brain which are linked to personality and intelligence traits.

Sports nutrition

Main article: Sports nutrition

Sports nutrition focuses the link between dietary supplements and athletic performance. One goal of sports nutrition is to maintain glycogen levels and prevent glycogen depletion. Another is to optimize energy levels and muscle tone. An athlete's strategy for winning an event may include a schedule for the entire season of what to eat, when to eat it, and in what precise quantities (before, during, after, and between workouts and events).

Hygiene

Main article: Hygiene

Hygiene is the practice of keeping the body clean to prevent infection and illness, and the avoidance of contact with infectious agents. Hygiene practices include bathing, brushing and flossing teeth, washing hands especially before eating, washing food before it is eaten, cleaning food preparation utensils and surfaces before and after preparing meals, and many others. This may help prevent infection and illness. By cleaning the body, dead skin cells are washed away with the germs, reducing their chance of entering the body.

Stress management

Main article: Stress management

Prolonged psychological stress may negatively impact health, such as by weakening the immune system and mind. Stress management is the application of methods to either reduce stress or increase tolerance to stress. Relaxation techniques are physical methods used to relieve stress. Psychological methods include cognitive therapy, meditation, and positive thinking which work by reducing response to stress. Improving relevant skills and abilities builds confidence, which also reduces the stress reaction to situations where those skills are applicable.

Reducing uncertainty, by increasing knowledge and experience related to stress-causing situations, has the same effect. Learning to cope with problems better, such as improving problem solving and time management skills, may also reduce stressful reaction to problems. Repeatedly facing an object of one's fears may also desensitize the fight-or-flight response with respect to that stimulus—e.g., facing bullies may reduce fear of bullies.

Prolonged hours of surfing on the Internet is a major concern that can affect the eyes significantly. White backgrounds on computer screens with a viewing distance of less than 14 inches is known to increase strain, mental fatigue and temporary di-chromatic visions in a normal healthy human being. Trying to opt for black or any non-white backgrounds can help in reducing eye strain in front of PCs. While Black will also eat up the energy consumption of your computer screen, Green is recommended as the best option to use as backgrounds in webpages. ( color code # 2F6533 is the right median with soothing wavelength of 540nm.)

Health care

Main article: Health care

See also: #Public health

Health care is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of mental and physical well being through the services offered by the medical, nursing, and allied health professions.

Workplace wellness programs

Main article: Workplace wellness

Workplace wellness programs are recognized by an increasingly large number of companies for their value in improving the health and well-being of their employees, and for increasing morale, loyalty, and productivity. Workplace wellness programs can include things like onsite fitness centers, health presentations, wellness newsletters, access to health coaching, tobacco cessation programs and training related to nutrition, weight and stress management. Other programs may include health risk assessments, health screenings and body mass index monitoring.

Public health

Main article: Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis. The population in question can be as small as a handful of people or as large as all the inhabitants of several continents (for instance, in the case of a pandemic). Public health has many sub-fields, but is typically divided into the categories of epidemiology, biostatistics and health services. Environmental, social and behavioral health, and occupational health, are also important fields in public health.

The focus of public health intervention is to prevent rather than treat a disease through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors. In addition to these activities, in many cases treating a disease can be vital to preventing it in others, such as during an outbreak of an infectious disease. Vaccination programs and distribution of condoms are examples of public health measures.

Role of science in health

Main article: Health science

Health science is the branch of science focused on health, and it includes many subdisciplines. There are two approaches to health science: the study and research of the human body and health-related issues to understand how humans (and animals) function, and the application of that knowledge to improve health and to prevent and cure diseases.

Where health knowledge comes from

Health research builds primarily on the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics as well as a variety of multidisciplinary fields (for example medical sociology). Some of the other primarily research-oriented fields that make exceptionally significant contributions to health science are biochemistry, epidemiology, and genetics.

Putting health knowledge to use

Applied health sciences also endeavor to better understand health, but in addition they try to directly improve it. Some of these are: biomedical engineering, biotechnology, nursing, nutrition, pharmacology, pharmacy, public health (see above), psychology, physical therapy, and medicine. The provision of services to maintain or improve people's health is referred to as health care (see above).