The Curious Professor

Natural Remedies Wanted

2011-11-26T11:22:00.000-08:00

I think I know why more and more consumers are rejecting pharmaceutical treatments in favor of natural remedies. I just was watching television and one of those prescription medicine commercials came on. The list of side effects and problems associated with the product took up more air time than the first part that dramatized its benefits. It reminds me of the old George C. Scott movie, The Hospital, where perfectly healthy people end up dying because of problems in the medical facility. No wonder we're looking back to the old home remedies that use apple cider vinegar, garlic, honey, and other natural herbs and ingredients from Mother Nature's medicine cabinet. We recently came across a website that publishes new information about natural remedies, and we've subscribed to its RSS feed so we can follow the news is gathers and then spreads the word about. Of course, not everything that is natural is good for you. Deadly nightshade, foxglove and other lovely flowers are poisonous and need to be treated with respect. But by doing a bit of research on herbal treatments and similar ways to avoid the harmful side effects of pills and potions that are cooked up from chemicals, we may be able to live healthier and happier. Here's to wellness!

Milk is Nature's Most Naturally Perfect Food?

2011-08-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

They say that cow's milk is nature's most naturally perfect food.

If indeed that is true, then why must they skim, homogenize, pasteurize and fortify it with extra vitamins before selling it to us?

I was very amused by Lewis Black's observations about milk in a video that is now available on YouTube. Caution: Mr. Black uses language some would describe as vulgar.

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXS5GBuk-GQ

Thanksgiving Weekend Sedona Tour for Singles Announced

2011-07-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

The Thanksgiving time is primarily a weekend for families to get together, but not everybody has a family they can or want to share the holiday with. That is why we are applauding an event for singles that has been planned for the 2011 Thanksgiving long weekend. It is a tour of Sedona, Arizona specifically designed for single men and women who are spiritually minded. The tour focuses on the energy vortexes that long have made Sedona popular with New Age, artistic, and people of a similar mindset.

For the sort of individual who enjoys meditation, walks in labyrinths, exploring earth energies and discovering more about Native American spirituality, this tour would be right up your alley. The tour host, Mr. Clint Frakes, lives in Sedona and has long been involved with both energy work and the native peoples of the Southwest. He is particularly well qualified to lead the tour group into Hopi territory to see Prophecy Rock and explain how it is believed to hold the answers to the ultimate fate of humanity on earth.

Body Mind Spirit Journeys is the tour company who has organized the event, scheduled for November 23 through 27, 2011. A complete itinerary of the Spiritual Sedona Tour for Singles is available at http://bodymindspiritjourneys.com. The BMSJ company is a division the the well-respected RMC Travel, leaders of the tour and travel industry for more than 60 years.

Asthma Caused by Thunderstorms?

2010-08-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Summer thunderstorms are great theater—sky-spanning fireworks followed by crackling, crashing booms. But thunderstorms are also linked to some negative effects on health, from breathing disturbances to heart problems, reports the August 2010 issue of the Harvard Health Letter.

Lightning. Getting hit by lightning isn't as deadly as you might think. In fact, many people survive this rare event, although their injuries can be serious. Direct strikes aren't the only danger. The current from lightning can travel through the ground to a person standing nearby. Lightning can also “splash” from one person to another or from a tree to a person. Lightning can even be dangerous to people inside a building who touch lightning-charged plumbing or telephone wiring. Survivors of lightning-related injuries may end up with neurological and eye problems.

Thunderstorm asthma. Some thunderstorms trigger an increase in the number of people seeking medical attention for asthma. These occasional episodes of “thunderstorm asthma” have been correlated with high pollen and spore counts. How might thunderstorms increase pollen and spores in the air? According to one theory, the gusts of wind that signal the approach of a thunderstorm storm whip pollen off of grass and trees.
Sleep apnea. Falling atmospheric pressure is a common feature of most thunderstorms. People with sleep apnea—periods during which they briefly stop breathing while they sleep—have more apnea “events” on nights when atmospheric pressure is lower.

Read the full-length article: “Storm’s a-comin (http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2010/August/storms-a-comin?utm_source=mental&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=health0810)’”

Bed Bugs in New York are Serious Problem

2010-07-29T06:25:00.000-07:00

Maybe you saw the episode of the TV show "30 Rock" that joked about bed bugs. Well, when the mayor of New York City gets involved, you can be sure that nobody will be laughing.

The New York Mayor’s Office and the NYC Bed Bug Advisory Board will be holding a press conference at 2:00 p.m. at City Hall to discuss New York’s new bed bug public education initiative. As media-coverage of this story develops, you will likely want access to entomologists that served members of the NYC Bed Bug Advisory Board.

Expert research entomologists Richard Cooper (http://www.bedbugcentral.com/about/profile.cfm/richard-cooper) and Jeffrey White of BedBug Central (http://www.bedbugcentral.com/) are available to you to provide expert opinions and analysis of the situation as it develops.

As a nationally regarded entomologist, Richard Cooper was appointed to the New York City Bed Bug Advisory Board by Mayor Michael Bloomberg. With more than 20 years of experience in entomology and the pest control industry, Richard has become nationally recognized as an expert on bed bugs and bed bug management. Richard will be available all day for comment and he will also be present at the press conference. Richard has already been featured as an expert in an MSNBC article this week in addition to “Newsweek,” “Early Show,” “Dateline,” NBC’s “Today Show.”

Our other lead entomologist, Jeffrey White is also nationally regarded and has already spoken with the NBC Nightly News last night.

Jeffrey has over 10 years of experience as an entomologist and his expertise is in bed bug biology, behavior and treatment protocol. Jeffrey has been featured on major news networks such as NBC and CBS. He is also the host of Bed Bug TV; a video blog that addresses a wide variety of topics associated with bed bug. The site been viewed by over 100,000 people around the world.

BedBug Central will available all day to provide you with assistance and access to either of our entomologists.

BedBug Central is a national company headquartered in New York and New Jersey which serves as a resource and website available to the public for information regarding bed bugs and bed bug related issues concerning health, prevention, and treatment methods.

Summer Lawn Care For Unpredictable Weather

2010-07-23T07:07:00.000-07:00

Summer showers seem to be making an appearance in every weekly forecast. And, although pop-up showers seem like a major improvement compared to droughts from previous years, they might not be enough to keep yards as healthy and green as desired. waterSmart, a water conservation education program, offers the following tips to help keep lawns healthy through rain or shine. These tips will help save water, time and money this summer—regardless of the forecast.

Mulch –When showers are light or irregular, use mulch to maintain moisture in the soil. Pine bark, nuggets and hardwood chips are best, but rocks, gravel and marble retain heat which can cause evaporation. Another helpful hint – saturate a newspaper and place it on the ground before using mulch.
Use Rain Barrels – Build or buy a rain barrel to capture water from pop-up showers. When scattered showers skip over lawns, rain barrels provide a conservation-friendly thirst quencher for plants. Materials can be purchased from local hardware stores. Screens can be used to keep out debris and insects. Visit www.watershed.cobbcountyga.gov for more tips on rain barrels.
Know When To Water – Take advantage of pop-up showers and only water yards when necessary. Established yards can remain healthy on one inch of water for up to seven to 10 days. By setting up sprinklers to run once a week, individuals will save water, time and money, and plants will be healthy too! Or, look for natural signs. When plants turn a gray-green color and their leaves wilt, they need to be watered.

“Use the water from pop-up showers to your advantage,” says Becky Mixon, project manager for waterSmart. “By implementing waterSmart lawn care techniques, you can keep beautiful landscaping while helping to conserve Georgia’s drinking water supply.”
For more tips on how to have a waterSmart landscape, as well as other water conservation techniques, visit www.waterSmart.net.
Statewide watering restrictions went into effect June 2, 2010. Outdoor watering hours are 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. Details regarding the Georgia Water Stewardship Act can be found by visiting www.georgiaepd.org.

How to Improve Your Health by Reducing Stress

2010-07-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Stress is one of today's greatest health problems. It contributes to much of our illness. Today we learned about a new tool for reducing your stress levels in the form of a weekly newsletter.

The Weekly 'Success with Stress News' draws its content from a wide range of sources keeping readers informed about the latest breakthroughs, research and good news about how to live through and overcome the multiple pressures of modern life.
The new site springs from its mother site, http://www.success-with-stress.com/stress-news.html (http://www.success-with-stress.com/stress-news.html), where readers will find previous stress articles in issues stored by date and topic.
As self-healing author Louis Proto says, "Healing oneself is an individual process.” So, watch the video at the Home Page of the mother site, http://www.success-with-stress.com (http://www.success-with-stress.com), to find details of a myriad of free active and passive exercises for each person to choose from according to their needs, including an non-exhaustive list of free: Relaxation Tools, Breathing Exercises, Meditation Processes, Financial Solutions, Stress Relief Exercises, Illustrated Psycho-Physical Exercises, a Free Exercise Program, etc.
It's very important, even crucial for a person to have practical strategies available to maintain their equilibrium and well-being in difficult times. According to the famous author Leslie Kenton: "Being in control really works when dealing with stress. People who feel in control of a situation experience a sense of empowerment. Helplessness leads to anxiety and then to depression."
So, the self-help methods Francoise Bonhoure offers are varied -- but by no means always conventional -- and are geared to meet our different, individual requirements, according to what we need at any particular time.
She calls these, ‘Unique Solutions to Transform Stress into Well-Being’. To have a taste, here are some of them:
- Shaking and Breathing Exercise Video (http://www.success-with-stress.com/stretching-exercises.html) - 7-Day Free Exercise Program (http://www.success-with-stress.com/free-exercise-program.htm) Video - Free Guided Self Massage (http://www.success-with-stress.com/chinese-self-massage.html) Video And there's much more, for you to start dealing with stress effectively.
These methods are there for your support -- a compendium of what others have found and are finding helps them to feel better and, in many cases, cures them.
So, in a nutshell:
- From Success with Stress News: Visitors Have Access to Weekly Updates on Stress Management, Cures, Tips, Etc. in Your Email Inbox. - From the Main Site, Success-with-Stress: You Can Read All Past News Updates, PLUS Choose from a Wide-Ranging Compendium of Solutions for Stress Management. Francoise Bonhoure 33 468 24 77 89 10, Rue du Château 11270 – La Force France http://www.successwithstressnews.com (http://www.successwithstressnews.com) Having suffered from Stress all her life in one form or another, Francoise Bonhoure, owner/manager of the sites, has encountered a lot of different approaches and has experimented with a large amount of methods in her endeavour to ‘get better’ and she did this for many years, discovering and integrating them into her understanding and way of life. She trained in and taught active and passive methods to reduce and cure stress, including becoming a certified Tai Chi and Chi Kung teacher with the French Federation of Tai Chi Chuan, having studied for 3 years at the Qimetao Institute, Paris, France. She is also a qualified Massage therapist and Dance Meditation teacher, teaching these methods in South-East France for ten years. She now offers these and any new discoveries and updates, online, via her 2 websites, enjoying sharing and finding what she describes as "Unique Solutions to Transform Stress into Well-Being".

Hot Flashes Reduced by Weight Loss for Overweight Women

2010-07-13T07:15:00.000-07:00

A new study shows that overweight and obese women who suffer from hot flashes can reduce the severity of their hot flashes if they lose weight through diet or exercise.
Hot flashes, which are associated with sleeping problems, anxiety and depression, are the most common complaints of women during menopause and persist for five or more years past menopause in up to one third of women, according to the researchers. In multiple observational studies, women with a higher body mass index (BMI) have reported more frequent or severe hot flashes compared to women with lower BMI, but the effect of weight loss on hot flashes has been unknown.
“We still don’t understand the underlying mechanism of hot flashes, or why some women experience flashes and others don’t,” said Alison J. Huang, MD, assistant professor of internal medicine in the UCSF Department of Medicine, who was the lead author on the paper. “The good news is that millions of women who are overweight and troubled by hot flashes may be able to reduce their discomfort through diet and exercise.”
Findings are available July 12 in the online edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 64.1 percent of adult women in the United States are overweight and 35.5 percent of women are obese. Those estimates are based on a BMI of 25-29.9 for the overweight category and 30 or more for the obese category. BMI, expressed as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, commonly is used to classify weight.
The study included 338 women aged 30 or older with a BMI of 25-50 who were randomly assigned to two groups. One group, of 226 women, attended weekly one-hour group sessions led by experts in nutrition, exercise and behavior change, and were asked to follow a reduced calorie diet. They also were encouraged to increase their physical activity to at least 200 minutes per week. The remaining 112 women, in the so-called “control” group, participated in one-hour group sessions that provided general information about weight loss, physical activity, healthy eating and health promotion.
Bothersome hot flashes and other baseline menopausal symptoms were assessed at baseline and at six months using self-administered questionnaires. Participants were asked to indicate intensity of hot flashes in the past month with responses ranging from ‘not at all’ to ‘extremely.’
Half of the participants reported being at least slightly bothered by hot flashes at the start of the study. Among these women, reductions in weight, abdominal circumference and BMI were associated with an improvement in hot flashes.
In fact, women in the active weight loss group were twice as likely to see an improvement in their hot flashes after six months compared to women in the control group, according to senior author Deborah Grady, MD, of the UCSF Department of Medicine and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco.
“This gives women who suffer from hot flashes an added option in controlling their symptoms, while also creating a healthier life for themselves,” Grady said.
The study was ancillary to the Program to Reduce Incontinence by Diet and Exercise (PRIDE), a randomized, controlled trial of an intense behavioral weight loss intervention versus a structured education program to promote weight loss in overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence, coordinated by UCSF. The researchers acknowledge that a possible limitation of the ancillary study is that participants also had urinary incontinence. However, they said that urinary incontinence, while more prevalent among older women, has not been shown to be associated with menopause, nor did they see a link between more severe incontinence and increased hot flashes.
“We don’t see any reason why our findings aren’t also applicable to women who are not incontinent,” Huang said.
Co-authors are Leslee L. Subak, MD, of the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF Department of Urology, UCSF Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco; Rena Wing, PhD, of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University; Delia Smith West, PhD, of the College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Alexandra L. Hernandez, MPH, of the UCSF Department of Medicine; and Judy Macer, of the UCSF Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.
UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. For further information, please visit www.ucsf.edu.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Improves with Healthy Diet and Phytonutrient-Based Medical Food

2010-06-28T06:22:00.001-07:00

New research presented at the American Diabetes Association (http://www.diabetes.org/)’s 70th Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida on June 27, 2010, suggests that a medical food developed by Metagenics, Inc. (http://www.metagenics.com/) called UltraMeal® PLUS 360° (http://www.metagenics.com/products/a-z-products-list/UltraMeal-Plus-360-deg-Medical-Food) enhances the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk-lowering benefits of a Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet.

A Mediterranean-style low-glycemic-load diet emphasizing “good” fats, whole grains, fresh produce, and fish, has been shown to be effective in addressing metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that affects nearly a third of adults in the U.S. and increases their risk to develop cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic diseases. Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of three or more of the following: elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, central obesity (“apple shape”), elevated blood triglycerides, and low HDL (“good cholesterol”).

The key ingredients in UltraMeal PLUS 360° are soy protein (shown to have cholesterol-lowering effects and which may be more beneficial than animal protein in reducing the risk of heart disease); plant sterols (shown to promote healthy cholesterol levels); and hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins (which function as selective kinase response modulators).

Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Jacksonville, FL (http://www.hscj.ufl.edu/medicine/research-affairs/search/details.asp?view=d&id=2008-X-0054) compared the effects of two dietary interventions on CVD risk factors in 47 women with metabolic syndrome. In the 12-week, two-arm, randomized, parallel group study, participants received a Mediterranean-style, low-glycemic-load diet alone or in conjunction with UltraMeal PLUS 360°.

Both groups experienced improvements in the following markers of CVD risk:

- Improvements in total cholesterol, LDL-C, apolipoprotein B (apoB) and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) compared to baseline.
- Reduction in total LDL particle number
The group that additionally received UltraMeal PLUS 360° experienced:

- Reductions in triglycerides, apoB/apoA-1, cholesterol/HDL, and small LDL particle number
- Greater reductions in total cholesterol, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, apoB, total LDL particle number, and small LDL particle number
According to lead researcher, Mark McIntosh, MD (http://www.hscj.ufl.edu/emergency-medicine/bio.asp?id=1141), “All of our subjects benefited from switching to this heart-healthy diet for 12 weeks. But those who received the medical food which contained the plant sterols, hops rho iso-alpha acids and acacia proanthocyanidins experienced additional benefits. We believe this combination of healthy eating and targeted nutrients offers an effective therapeutic option for clinicians whose patients suffer from metabolic syndrome.”

The study was conducted by Dr. McIntosh, Colleen J. Kalynych, Clare Vukich, Vivek Kumar, Michelle Lott (all of the University of Florida College of Medicine/Jacksonville) and Robert Lerman (of MetaProteomics, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Metagenics, Inc.) and sponsored by Metagenics, Inc.

Free Eye Care Available For Seniors

2010-06-24T06:41:00.001-07:00

Imagine not being able to read the newspaper, watch television, or drive your car. These are a few of the things many seniors have trouble doing due to various eye diseases. In fact, by the age of 65, one in three Americans has some form of vision impairing eye disease. However, with the U.S. economy experiencing a major downturn, senior communities on fixed incomes are struggling to pay for health care.

In light of this, EyeCare America (www.eyecareamerica.org) is reminding seniors, ''Don't Lose Sight of Your Independence.'' The national health campaign is intended to remind the senior community about the value of eyesight and encourage seniors 65 and older to visit EyeCare America’s online referral center at www.eyecareamerica.org to see if they qualify for an eye exam and care, often at no-out-of-pocket cost.

“I had excellent care and I now have 20/20 vision and it is so very good,'' said Melva Rayles, an EyeCare America patient from Warner, Oklahoma. ''Now I can do all of my crocheting and knitting. Thank you all so very much for giving me my eyesight back so that I can do the things I love most, seeing my husband, children, grand children and my great grand children. They are not a blur anymore.”

The program provides a comprehensive eye exam and care for any disease detected in the initial visit for up to one year, at no out-of-pocket cost, for seniors who are without an ophthalmologist (a medical eye doctor). To see immediately if you, a loved one or a friend, 65 and older, is eligible to receive a referral for an eye exam and care, visit www.eyecareamerica.org.

EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, operates one of the largest programs of its kind in American medicine. All eligible callers receive a referral to one of 7,000 volunteer ophthalmologists. Volunteer physicians agree to accept Medicare or other insurance as payment in full, resulting in no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Eligible individuals without insurance are seen at no charge.

EyeCare America is designed for people who:

- Are U.S. citizens or legal residents
- Are age 65 and older
- Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years
- Do not belong to an HMO or the VA

HIV Prevention Advice

2010-06-03T06:26:00.001-07:00

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today announced the launch of its newly redesigned HIV/AIDS prevention website at www.wemakethechange.com. The website was originally developed to complement the We Make the Change program, a statewide media campaign designed to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS and its impact on minority communities. The website serves as a portal for Florida’s Hispanic, African-American, Haitian and MSM (Men Who Have Sex with Men) populations to access resources regarding HIV/AIDS prevention.

The redesigned website provides a user-friendly experience and more enhanced features that can help Floridians learn about the various HIV/AIDS prevention opportunities available throughout the state. Some of the new features include a comprehensive press room, the latest news and articles regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, downloads for community outreach efforts and e-features like community stories and volunteer opportunities.

WeMaketheChange.com also provides extensive information regarding the numerous We Make the Change community initiatives such as Stop the Spread (http://www.stopthespread.com/), Sistas Organizing to Survive, Man up, Latinas Unidas Contra SIDA and the AME faith-based initiative. Various county-specific and noteworthy programs are also highlighted.

“The campaign has grown tremendously over the past 10 years and we are excited to relaunch a web component that reflects the campaign’s growth and success,” said April Hogan, Bureau of HIV/AIDS, HIV Prevention Program Supervisor. “It’s a great one-stop resource for HIV prevention information.”

We Make the Change is a multi-faceted, nationally recognized awareness program. The campaign includes event outreach, both traditional and nontraditional advertising, online components, text-messaging service to help identify local testing centers, and community based programs.

Keep Your Pets Safe When Traveling This Summer

2010-05-28T06:36:00.000-07:00

Summer is just around the corner, school is almost out, the weather is heating up and bags are being packed. Many Americans will soon head out on vacation and bring along their four-legged friend. According to the Travel Industry Association of America, an estimated 29.1 million Americans have traveled with a pet in the past three years. However, few consider the many safety and regulation issues associated with pet travel until it’s too late. PETCO (www.petco.com) and pet expert Tracie Hotchner, host of NPR’s Gracie-Award® winning show “Dog Talk”® and “Cat Chat”® on the Martha Stewart channel of SiriusXM satellite radio, have teamed up to educate vacationers on the many challenges associated with pet travel and how to better prepare yourself and your furry friend.

CHALLENGE #1: Ensuring Your Establishment is Pet-Friendly
SOLUTION: You may be surprised to learn that finding a pet-friendly hotel is easier than ever if you know where to look. The Internet is a great place to start for the most up-to-date and timely information. There are also many websites that have comprehensive lists of pet-friendly (www.petco.com) hotels and campgrounds. Stop by an AAA office to pick up their localized pet guide. Extra tip: when staying in your home-away-from-home, feed pets on the tile bathroom floor to help with hotel cleanup and always tip the maid for a job well done.

CHALLENGE #2: Knowing What to Pack for Your Pet
SOLUTION: Packing for a pet is much like packing for a child -- you must prepare for every occasion. Make sure your dog has a collar listing your mobile number not your home number. Microchips are another surefire way to ensure a pet’s safe return if lost. Prepare your pets’ normal food in plastic bags, as switching their diet can result in stomach upset. For those packing lightly, freeze dried meals are available and easy to pack such as Grandma Lucy’s raw dehydrated premium foods sold in the natural section of PETCO. Always pack towels to cover the back seat of your car or rental car, as well as plastic bags to pick up after your pet regardless of local laws. Water is also critical, so bring portable water bowls and plenty of water. You can find PETCO brand foldable bowls at your nearest location. Simplify things by creating a pet travel kit with food, treats, favorite toys, any medicines and health documents.

CHALLENGE #3: Inconsistent & Confusing Pet Travel Airline Regulations
SOLUTION: There are so many things to consider when traveling by air and information is often confusing and ever-changing. Tracie says, “beginning your journey with a pre-approved pet carrier always helps to ensure your airline travel runs smooth.” PETCO and Sherpa have partnered with American Airlines to create the ''Guaranteed on Board'' program, which includes universally approved pet carriers that come with all the necessary information for airline pet travel (www.petco.com). To avoid confusion at the airport, plan ahead by making a reservation for your pet. Most airlines only allow a small number of animals in the cargo area and an even smaller number of animals inside the cabin. If your pet is traveling in the cabin with you, they must fit comfortably under your seat in a pre-approved carrier and not be taken out for the duration of the flight. Additionally, make sure you have your pets’ health certificate, pet passport for international travel, and proof of age. Always check with your individual airline before taking off so you have the most up-to-date information.

CHALLENGE #4: Dealing with a Nervous Animal
SOLUTION: Just like humans, pets become anxious when put in new situations. “Before traveling, get your pet acquainted with their carrier or take them in the car to a place other than the vet,” Tracie suggests. The more familiar your animal is with their surroundings, the more at ease they will be. Most vets agree that you should not give your pet a tranquilizer before they fly. Your pet is more likely to deal better with their anxiety without tranquilizers. Additionally, less food in the animal’s system is less likely to upset his/her digestive track making the animal feel more at ease.

CHALLENGE #5: Ensuring Pet Safety
SOLUTION: A recent survey from petrelocation.com stated that 80 percent of those traveling with their pet say the safety of their pet is the most important thing when planning their travel arrangements. While driving in your car, Tracie suggests a dog seatbelt or a barrier. '''These products can be found in a major pet store like PETCO, and can help keep your animal contained and comfortable in the car.'' Try PETCO’s adjustable auto safety vest harness. Additionally, make sure not to leave your pet in the car for an extended time. Even leaving your pet in the car for a short amount of time on a hot day can be lethal. When traveling by air, Tracie suggests ''not letting your pet travel in the cargo area of a plane unless necessary.'' Although the cargo area is pressurized, its temperature often relates to the temperature outside the aircraft, which can be very hot or very cold.

Search Engine Optimization Tips

2010-05-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Here are some tips for Search Engine Optimization:

For a moment let us put ourselves into the shoes of search engines owners and creators. A few years ago, a directory submitting to thousands of other sites needed you to put in a lot of work, time and determination. After the software and online scripts, which automatically submit pages to directories, appeared, gaining hundreds or thousands of links in a short period of time is not a problem any more. At the same time, the number of websites is growing by leaps and bounds every day and it increases competition for particular keywords. The search engines have to find sites which best suit to the search phrase from millions of sites.

In light of all of these factors, the people who design and keep re-inventing the search engines have been forced to use special filters. In their opinion, on the one hand, the inflow of the large number of useless links from sites submitted to the thousands of directories is limited, and the focus is only on these which prove the real quality of the page. On the other hand, only these sites, which best suit the topic of the search, are fund. Therefore, nowadays it is better to have our one or two links on quality sites than one hundred in useless directories. At the same time, much attention should be paid to the search engine optimization of keywords, which still remains to be the primary factor for determining the theme of the site.

Many Young Women Ignorant About STDs

2010-05-21T07:03:00.000-07:00

Can stigmas about testing hinder the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and screening among young women?

“Based on my clinical experience and now by the results of this study, it’s clear many women have significant misconceptions about STDs and STD testing,” says Dr. Heather Royer, a University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing (http://son.wisc.edu/) researcher who recently completed a study of young women’s knowledge and beliefs about STDs. ''Those beliefs may influence continued disease transmission.''

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four young women is infected with at least one of the four most common STDS affecting women -- human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia, genital herpes, and trichomoniasis. About 19 million new sexually transmitted infections occur each year among all age groups in the United States while half of these infections occur in the 18-to-24 age group.

Royer surveyed 302 women, 18 to 24 years old, about their beliefs about STD testing. She found barriers to testing that include:

- The great majority of women (88 percent) were uncomfortable being tested by a male.
- Most women (79 percent) would prefer being tested by a specialist, not a family doctor.
- Most women (62 percent) were anxious about being tested.
- Nearly a third (31 percent) were concerned about STD results appearing in their medical records.
Royer found that many women had additional misconceptions about the STD testing process.

- STD-related symptoms were the most common reason (99 percent) why a woman would request STD testing; however, STDs are commonly asymptomatic.
- More than half (58 percent) believed that a health care provider would not conduct STD testing if they tell the provider that they use condoms, suggesting the lack of recognition that some STDs can be transmitted even with condom use.
- Nearly half (40 percent) inaccurately believed that routine STD testing includes screening for eight STDs including: Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Trichomoniasis, Syphilis, Human Papillomavirus, Herpes Simplex Virus, Hepatitis B and AIDS/HIV.
- About one-third of respondents mistakenly thought that infections such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea could be diagnosed solely by visual inspection, without a diagnostic test.
- One quarter mistakenly thought that a Pap smear could detect Chlamydia (26 percent) and gonorrhea (23 percent).
Health care providers, Royer says, should not assume that the patient understands the sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing process, or feels comfortable leading the discussion about their sexual health or requesting STD testing.

''It may also be helpful for providers to think about their own level of comfort in initiating and/or participating in a sexual health discussion with their patients,'' Royer says.

"Health care providers must be mindful of women's discomfort in discussing their sexual health and consider ways to help reframe this conversation from one of embarrassment to one of empowerment," Royer adds. "Normalizing the sexual-health conversation is the first step in reducing the stigma surrounding sexually transmitted diseases and helping improve women’s knowledge about STDs and STD testing.”

Help Raising Kids With Health Eating Attitude

2010-05-19T07:13:00.001-07:00

With the incidence of disordered eating continuing to rise among children, being a psychologically savvy parent can help significantly decrease chances that kids will develop an eating disorder or have a poor body image, says New York City-based psychologist and eating disorder specialist Dr. Stacey Rosenfeld (http://www.staceyrosenfeld.com/). Disordered eating --whether obesity, anorexia, or other forms -- can be prevented in many cases if parents look at their own bodies differently.

“While eating disorders have genetic components and are influenced by peer groups and media exposure, there are concrete ways that parents can help promote healthy eating and a positive body image for their children. Kids are very smart and they pick up on their parents’ relationship with their own bodies and with food.” Dr. Rosenfeld explains.

Parents may not even realize that when they themselves count calories or nonchalantly criticize their own body -- or someone else’s -- that they may be sending cues to their child which can have long-term and serious repercussions. “Children need to feel confident about themselves and their bodies -- no matter what shape or size they are -- in order to have a healthy lifelong relationship with food. This starts with modeling their parents and seeing a positive body image and security in one’s own skin,” Dr. Rosenfeld says.

Dr. Rosenfeld’s (http://www.staceyrosenfeld.com/) advice for parents:

•    Do not count calories or talk about dieting in front of your children.
•    Throw out your scale and stop weighing yourself. Your child sees everything you do and seeing you weigh yourself has a significant impact on their perception of weight and body.
•    Limit your child’s access to television, magazines, and other places where unrealistic images of how people should look, are often presented.
•    Talk about food with regard to how it can nourish your body, rather than its effects on weight. Focus on health, not on calories, fats, or carbohydrates.
•    Do not judge or criticize your body -- or anyone else’s body -- in front of your kids. Never use the word “fat” or “thin” about anyone. Never even glance in the mirror in a critical way at yourself.
•    Encourage physical activity for the sake of health, rather than weight control.
•    Focus on all of your child’s strengths outside of their body, and make it a point to tell them how beautiful he or she is.
•    Focus on the physical strengths of your children, yourself, and of other role models so that kids can learn how to put more emphasis on what their bodies can do, rather than how they look.
•    Children should not be deprived of food. Everything in moderation is better than deprivation and then a binge when their parents are not around.

When parents focus more on moving their bodies rather than on counting calories, they are less likely to raise children who are obese or have other eating disorders and body image issues. Parents should encourage children to participate in daily physical activities that they enjoy, and get moving as a family.

If parents recognize that they have an unhealthy relationship with food, they should seek professional help for themselves. This will ultimately help their children. For more about body acceptance, click here (http://www.eat-in-peace.com/how_to_eat_in_peace).

Teaching Kids How To Avoid Dog Bites

2010-05-11T06:34:00.000-07:00

During the third week in May, Doggone Safe Inc., Pet At Home Sitting Services, Inc., “Pet At Home,” and other organizations will be calling attention to one of the nation’s most commonly reported public health problems: dog bites. Half of all children will be bitten by a dog by age 12 and the majority of these bites are by the family dog or other dog known to the child.

Deedra Thompson of Pet At Home Sitting Services will be presenting the “Doggone Safe Be a Tree” children’s program on Tuesday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at
All Paws Animal Clinic, located at 1011 North State Rd 7, Royal Palm Beach in the Regal Cinema Plaza. Bring your child and learn to be a doggie detective. The class is catered to school age children and there is no charge for the class, but registration is required. Please call All Paws today at 561-790-9225 to reserve a space for your child. One parent is requested to accompany the child.

Doggone Safe, a non-profit organization dedicated to dog bite prevention through education offers free information at its website www.doggonesafe.com to help promote safety messages during dog bite prevention week. Doggone Safe also promotes the “Doggone Safe Be a Tree” children’s program. This program is a short presentation with large photos and lots of activities to teach children to understand the signs dogs send with their body language. The central message of this program is “Be a Tree”. That is, stand still if a strange dog approaches or any dog is threatening or overly frisky. Children learn to be doggie detectives, looking for the clues that dogs give with body language to show how they are feeling.

Doggone Safe and Pet At Home offer the following tips for parents and dog owners to help keep kids safe:

The 3 Most Important Things to Teach Your Kids
1.    Dogs Don’t Like Hugs and Kisses – Teach your kids not to hug or kiss a dog on the face. Hugging the family dog or face-to-face contact are common causes of bites to the face. Instead, teach kids to scratch the dog on the chest or the side of the neck.
2.    Be a Tree if a Strange Dog Approaches – Teach kids to stand still, like a tree. Trees are boring and the dog will eventually go away. This works for strange dogs and anytime the family dog gets too frisky or becomes aggressive.
3.    Never Tease a Dog – and never disturb a dog that’s sleeping, eating or protecting something.

The 2 Most Important Things Parents Can Do
1.    Supervise – Don’t assume your dog is good with kids. If a toddler must interact with your dog, you should have your hands on the dog too. Even if your dog is great with kids and has never bitten – why take a chance?
2.    Train the dog – Take your dog to obedience classes where positive-reinforcement is used. Never pin, shake, choke, hold the dog down or roll the dog over to teach it a lesson. Dogs treated this way are likely to turn their aggression on weaker family members. Involve older children in training the family dog while supervising. Don’t allow children to punish the dog. Condition the dog to enjoy the presence and actions of children using positive experiences.

The 3 Most Important Things Dog Owners can do
1.    Spay or Neuter Your Dog – Neutered pets are calmer, healthier and less likely to be aggressive. Neutering prevents unwanted dogs that may end up in shelters or in less than ideal conditions where they may grow up to be poorly socialized or aggressive.
2.    Condition Your Dog for the World – Give your puppy lots of new positive experiences. Train using positive methods i.e. clicker training.
3.    Supervise Your Dog – Supervise your dog at all times around children. Do not allow children to hug and kiss the dog. If visiting children are bothering your dog, put the dog away or send the children home.

How to Improve Your Children's Reading Skills

2010-05-05T06:19:00.001-07:00

While it is common knowledge that reading to children helps them learn to read, a recent study suggests that by pointing to the words being read and talking about print, children's literacy development can be greatly enhanced.

The study published in the journal Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools, of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (www.asha.org) (ASHA), was conducted to determine the effectiveness of teachers' use of a print-referencing style during story time.

The results showed that preschool teachers can make very small adjustments in the way they read books aloud that make very large differences in children's literacy development. In a study of 379 children, those who experienced a print-referencing style of reading had significantly higher print knowledge scores after only 30 weeks.

"This study was conducted in classrooms with preschool teachers but has direct implications for parents,” according to first author Laura Justice, PhD, CCC-SLP. "Parents can easily help their children become better readers by not only reading to them every night but by also pointing to the words as they read aloud to their child.” Justice further explains that "although reading aloud is important to children's language development, its influence mostly affects oral language skills unless adults explicitly reference the written code. Talking to children about words that, for example, begin with the letter R after reading the word radio can greatly enhance literacy development.”

The entire paper can be found at http://lshss.asha.org/cgi/content/abstract/0161-1461_2010_09-0056.

About the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional, scientific, and credentialing association for more than 140,000 audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists. Audiologists specialize in preventing and assessing hearing and balance disorders as well as providing audiologic treatment including hearing aids. Speech-language pathologists identify, assess, and treat speech and language problems including swallowing disorders.

End of Home Buyer Tax Credit Unlikely to Deter Most Real Estate Buyers

2010-04-29T06:20:00.001-07:00

The expiration of the 2010 Home Buyer Tax Credits on April 30 are unlikely to put off Americans looking to purchase homes who believe now is a good time to buy and are confident that home prices will rise according to a survey released today by Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc., a Prudential Financial, Inc. [NYSE: PRU company. The survey of 1,000 Americans between the ages of 25-64 with at least $35,000 household income was conducted during April 15-20, 2010.

More than 90 percent of consumers believe that the home buyer tax credits have helped both first-time home buyers and the U.S. housing market overall. Among consumers actually shopping for homes, 65 percent believe that the end of the tax credits will have little or no effect on their interest in purchasing a home.

While consumers remain unsure about the direction of the housing market, the survey reveals that they are optimistic about real estate values with 46 percent of consumers expecting real estate prices in their area to increase over the next year. Just 12 percent expect prices will decline. Over the next five years, 79 percent expect real estate prices to increase, with 20 percent expecting that prices will increase substantially.

“The survey underscores the key role the federal home buyer tax credits played in stimulating residential real estate market activity and the U.S. economy,” said James Mallozzi, chairman and chief executive officer of Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. “It also shows that most consumers believe the market has hit bottom and are more optimistic about the future.”

Survey respondents identified concerns about rising mortgage interest rates and unemployment as the most important factors affecting their decision to purchase a home, along with more stringent lending criteria and fewer mortgage-backed securities purchased by the Federal Reserve. The expiration of the tax credits placed lowest on their list of concerns. Among those who have recently purchased a home, 61 percent cited low mortgage interest rates as “very important” to their decisions – an amount greater than either the tax credit or even cheaper prices. The 66 percent expecting interest rates to rise underscores potential headwinds for the market.

“The tax credits clearly helped stimulate the market when consumer confidence was low and housing inventory was high,” said Earl Lee, president, Prudential Real Estate and Relocation Services, Inc. “While the tax credit expiration is a concern for many, the bigger issues now are the availability and cost of financing as well as if they will have a job.”

Despite the significant downturn in the real estate market, the survey underscores that the dream of home ownership and the perception that owning a home is a good investment remain intact. Among current renters, 75 percent still believe owning their home is a better long-term choice for their needs than renting. The majority of consumers also believe that homeownership is a better investment than individual stocks or bonds (75%), mutual funds (72%), or savings accounts (74%).

“The real estate market is precariously balanced. Consumers are clearly motivated to take advantage of the opportunities the current low interest rates and prices afford,” Lee notes. “While the market is picking up in terms of sales and confidence, and the majority still believe that owning a home is a good investment, the outlook for the market remains highly dependent upon the direction of the economy overall.”

The Prudential Real Estate Outlook Survey was conducted online. The margin of error is+/- 3 percent. A more detailed breakdown (http://news.prudential.com/images/20026/PruRealEstateDetail.pdf) of the data is available, as well as supporting charts and visuals (http://news.prudential.com/images/20026/PruRealEstateDetail.pdf), at www.news.prudential.com.

How to Deal With Your Pet's Medical Emergencies

2010-04-23T06:19:00.000-07:00

92 percent of animals will experience an emergency during their lifetime. Perhaps just as important is information from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), which reports that 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to getting emergency veterinary care.

Rob Nager, owner of Decadent Dog in Needham, MA and certified PetTech™ CPR and first aid instructor, believes that the most important thing for pet owners to be aware of is that pet CPR and first aid classes exist.

“In my experience, most pet owners just aren’t aware that they can spend four hours learning crucial techniques that may someday help them save the life of their beloved pet,” Nager said. “In any emergency, feeling helpless is excruciating and, because of pet CPR and first aid classes, unnecessary.”

According to Nager, Pet Sitters International’s 2008 Pet Sitter of the Year™, abrasions and choking are the two most frequent pet injuries he encounters.

''Dogs are usually eager to make the most of their outside time by running and playing with reckless abandon,'' he said. ''Unfortunately the world is filled with rocks, sticks, trees, broken glass, pieces of metal and other sharp objects that can quickly puncture or cut the pads of their feet. Additionally, dogs and cats are both prone to choking hazards by eating too quickly and from swallowing toys, balls, string, tinsel, bones and biscuits.''

Simple first-aid procedures can make the difference between life and death. Nager recommends that all pet owners and pet-care givers know how to perform rescue breathing and/or CPR, as well as be able to respond effectively to bleeding, poisoning and injuries such as heatstroke and frostbite.

The best piece of advice Nager gives pet owners is to stay calm when dealing with a pet emergency.

“By taking a deep breath when you first discover an injured pet, you are more able to assess the situation and react with safety as you put your knowledge and experience into action,” he said.

Nager says that becoming a certified CPR and first aid instructor has been enormously beneficial to his business.

''I’ve earned the respect of my clients, staff and other pet professionals like veterinarians, groomers, trainers and pet-store owners in the Boston area,'' he said. “By being PetTech™ certified, I have earned a level of credibility as a knowledgeable professional within my community. There is no doubt in my mind that this knowledge helped our company achieve solid growth last year in a down economy.”

The decision to become certified in CPR and pet first aid was an easy one for Nager.

“As a pet sitter, the health and well-being of my clients’ pets are in my hands,” he said. “My first priority and pledge to every one of my clients is that I will do everything I can to keep their pets safe.”

To find the best care for your best friends, please visit The Pet Sitter Locator (http://www.petsit.com/locate/). And to find a pet first aid class in your community, please visit PetTech (http://www.pettech.net/)

New Green Button Helps Single Lesbians Find Female Friends

2010-04-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

When a self-described "not stereotypical looking" lesbian wrote to sex columnist Dan Savage asking for advice, little did she know she was helping start a mini-industry.

She complained of the need for a way "single and looking" lesbians could identify themselves to one another, and Mr. Savage recommended wearing a small, tasteful green button on her lapel, purse strap or belt loop. The color green, he said, would stand for "go" as in "Go ahead and hit on me, ladies, I''m a lesbian."

Now, an enterprising internet-based company has made the green lesbian button a reality. Women who want to identify themselves as single and looking to other like-minded woman may go to http://GreenLesbianButton.com and purchase one. The price is described as "a three dollar bill."

The buttons measure one inch in width and are available in only one color, a tasteful shade of green.

A percentage of the profits from the sale each Green Lesbian Button is donated to a battered women''s support organization in Vancouver, Canada.

For more information visit: http://GreenLesbianButton.com

How to Green Your Pet

2010-04-16T06:36:00.001-07:00

From the 8 billion pounds of kitty litter heading to landfills each year to the effects of a pet's carnivorous diet, pet parents should be aware of the substantial carbon footprint (www.PETCO.com) left by pets. To address this important matter, PETCO has developed an exclusive partnership with Greenwala.com, the leading online resource empowering people to go "green". With the help of both Greenwala.com and Tracie Hotchner, author and host of NPR's Gracie-Award winning show, "Cat Chat" on Sirius Radio, PETCO has compiled a list of simple ways to reduce the environmental impact of pets.

"When you consider the carbon pawprint of your pet, it also makes you think about some of the ways our own actions are affecting the environment," said Hotchner. "I encourage pet parents to take this opportunity to make changes in their behaviors and purchases to help take all of us into a new era of environmental responsibility."

10 Steps to Reduce Your Pet’s Carbon Pawprint:

1) Go Bio-degradable and Sustainable to Clean up Poop -- Who wants to populate the landfill will plastic bags full of dog do-do? And are you aware that cat-litter made from clay is mined much like coal? Use bio-degradable poop bags when walking your dog and an eco-friendly (www.PETCO.com) cat-litter in the kitty box. Look for PETCO’s Natural line of litters made of corn, paper and pine pellets.

2) Think Adoption First -- The HSUS estimates that animal shelters care for 6-8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom approximately 3-4 million are euthanized. Find the perfect addition to your family at one of PETCO’s monthly in-store national adoption events where local shelters match pets in need with parents.

3) Spay or Neuter Your Pet -- Over 70K puppies and kittens are born every day. We are already at crisis mode in terms of homeless and abandoned animals. Thanks to the economy, this has only gotten worse. Help decrease the number of homeless animals in the United States by spaying or neutering your animals. Not only does it help control animal over-population and homelessness, but it also has been demonstrated to provide long-term health and behavioral benefits for pets.

4) Use Natural and Organic Pet Food -- Your pets should eat the same quality foods you do. Natural, organic and holistic pet foods use proteins that are raised in sustainable, humane ways and do not contain hormones. They are preserved with natural vitamins. In addition, these healthy foods create less waste for you to clean up at the dog park. Look for the labels and see that they are full of vitamins, and nutrients and free of pesticides, and any attempt to bio-engineer the product. Check out the following high-quality brands; Halo, Blue Buffalo, and Wellness -- all available at PETCO in their ‘Healthy Living Naturally’ sections.

5) Use Organic Grooming and Cleaning Products -- Make cleaning product choices that are as safe for the planet as they are for you and your pets and children. Many pet shampoos and cleaning supplies use plant-based cleansers and natural bio-cultures to remove pet stains and odors. These products are completely non-toxic for pets and people, including natural flea removers. Look for Simple Solution Natural Cleaners and Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Totally Natural Pet Shampoo both available at PETCO stores and www.PETCO.com.

6) Use Organic and Sustainable Pet Accessories (Bedding, Collars and Leashes) -- We humans spend a third of life sleeping. Well so do most dogs. We obviously want to be comfortable so look for organic cotton and sustainable bedding to help give your dog a sound sleep. While you are at it, you can also look to get collars, leashes and PET bottles made from recycled materials or sustainable fibers without herbicides or pesticide as well. Bison branded collars and leads are made from recycled plastic bottles from landfills that are melted and spun into fibers that are woven into strong material. PETCO Naturals line of cat feeding bowls have been produced from fully compostable corn and their dog and cat toys are made with safe, natural vegetable dyes and non-toxic organic materials.

7) Avoid Pet Toys with Harmful Toxins Such as Lead -- When looking for pet toys do the same thing that you would do for your kids and that's to read the label and avoid toys with lead in them. Lead in products are equally as harmful for pets as they are for humans. In fact, the best thing to do is to get creative and create toys from recycled items that you have laying around the house.

8) Be Active and Live a Healthy Lifestyle -- Get out and get active. Not only is this a great tip for humans, but it is absolutely the best thing to do for your dog. Don't have a dog, then let your cat run around outside but make sure there is a cat enclosure. In fact, if you want to get out with your dog, go to a dog park to play with other dogs because usually the vegetation around the park can handle your dog jumping around looking for the ball that you threw a little too hard. However, when in doubt always leash your dog, since accidents can happen.

9) Planet-Friendly Manufacturing -- Choosing natural and organic based products is important. However, it's just as important to support brands that incorporate sustainability into their everyday business practices such as packaging, ingredient sourcing and recycling. Most companies proudly share their eco-conscious efforts on their websites where you can easily find it.

10) Be Committed to Your Pet -- The worse thing a pet owner could do is not be committed to them once they own one. Owning a pet is a big responsibility and not just to have fun or because it is the latest trend/fad or it was in the latest pet movie. Yes pets are fun for all ages, but they need care like a child and if you are committed to your pet it will be easier for you to also implement the other tips above.

How to Be a Fish Friendly Boater

2010-03-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

Just in time for spring, anglers and recreational boaters (http://www.FocusOnFishHealth.org) in the nation’s midsection are hearing disturbing news about their recreational waterways.

With evidence that the voracious Asian carp has been detected in all of the Great Lakes and that the contagious fish disease VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is now in waters as far north and west as Lake Superior, fishing (http://www.FocusOnFishHealth.org) and boating enthusiasts might be concerned that their favorite spots may be ruined. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) notes that prime waters can still be protected by the people who use them, particularly small bodies of water, streams and rivers where diseases and destructive invaders have not been detected.

APHIS offers a list of surprisingly simple steps to be taken to preserve the health of wild fish (http://www.FocusOnFishHealth.org) species for generations to come:

1.    Thoroughly clean and dry all fishing and boating equipment including bait buckets, boots, boats, and trailers with HOT water.
2.    Empty all water from equipment including buckets and bilges.
3.    Remove all visible mud, plants and aquatic life from equipment before transporting.
4.    Do not move fish and plants from one body of water to another.
5.    Buy bait from certified bait dealers and dispose of unused bait in a secure trash area away from the water.

For more information, visit http://www.FocusOnFishHealth.org.

Chest X-Rays and H1N1 Flu News

2010-03-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

A new study published in the April issue of Radiology suggests that chest x-rays may play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of H1N1 influenza by predicting which patients are likely to become sicker.

“Working in the emergency room is very stressful and physicians need information fast,” said lead author Galit Aviram, M.D., head of cardiothoracic imaging in the Department of Radiology at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. “Our study provides significant findings that will help clinicians triage patients presenting with clinically suspected H1N1 influenza.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the H1N1 virus is the predominant influenza virus in circulation during the 2009-2010 flu season. The CDC estimates that between April 2009 and January 2010 there have been approximately 57 million cases of H1N1 in the U.S., resulting in 257,300 hospitalizations and 11,686 deaths.

As in past pandemics, the virus can occur in waves. It is possible that the U.S. could experience additional waves of the virus throughout 2010.

In the study, Dr. Aviram’s research team analyzed the chest x-rays of 97 consecutive patients with flu-like symptoms and laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of H1N1, admitted to the emergency department of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center between May and September 2009. The researchers then correlated the x-ray findings with adverse patient outcomes.

“To our knowledge, this is the largest series describing the presentation of chest x-ray findings in patients diagnosed with H1N1 influenza,” Dr. Aviram said.

The chest x-rays revealed abnormal findings for 39 of the patients, five (12.8 percent) of whom experienced adverse outcomes, including death or the need for mechanical ventilation. For the other 58 patients, chest x-ray findings were normal, although two (3.4 percent) of the patients experienced adverse outcomes. The mean age of patients in the study, which included 53 men and 44 women, was 40.4 years.

“Abnormal findings in the periphery of both lungs and in multiple zones of the lungs were associated with poor clinical outcomes,” Dr. Aviram said.

Although a normal chest x-ray did not exclude the possibility of an adverse outcome, Dr. Aviram said the study’s findings can help physicians better identify high-risk H1N1 patients who require close monitoring.

“In H1N1, as in various types of community-acquired pneumonia, initial chest x-rays may not show abnormalities that develop later in the course of the disease,'' Dr. Aviram explained. ''Further x-rays should be performed according to the patient’s clinical course.”

AT A GLANCE

- Chest x-rays may help radiologists identify high-risk H1N1 patients who require intense monitoring.
- Abnormal findings in the outer areas of both lungs and in multiple sections of the lungs were associated with more serious outcomes.
- Approximately 13 percent of patients with abnormal chest x-ray findings experienced adverse outcomes, compared to 3 percent of patients with normal chest x-rays.
''H1N1 Influenza: Initial Chest Radiographic Findings in Helping Predict Patient Outcome.'' Collaborating with Dr. Aviram were Amir Bar-Shai, M.D., Jacob Sosna, M.D., Ori Rogowski, M.D., Galia Rosen, M.D., Iuliana Weinstein, M.D., Arie Steinvil, M.D., and Ofer Zimmerman, M.D.

Radiology is edited by Herbert Y. Kressel, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (http://radiology.rsnajnls.org/)

RSNA is an association of more than 44,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical ph

Brain Quiz: How Brainy Are You?

2010-03-10T07:09:00.000-08:00

Do you know the extraordinary changing powers of the Brain? March is National Brain Awareness Month (and Brain Injury Month) and the local LearningRx (http://www.learningrx.com/) cognitive skills’ experts are offering free tips, activities, expert seminar, and reduced-priced assessments for kids and adults. Whether a child needs cognitive skills help, a student needs a boost before SATs, senior needs memory help, a war veteran needs brain injury recovery, or a business executive needs a higher IQ in a competitive economy…the brain-training experts aim to educate everyone on our body's most complex and fascinating organ.

The free quiz is designed to help raise awareness about the brain's remarkable ability to change, how most learning disabilities like dyslexia and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) do not have to be lifelong labels, and why tutoring, accommodations and/or medications are usually not the best option for children who struggle in school.

"Until the 1990s, scientists believed the brain was stagnant," explains Christina Sevilla of LearningRx, Denver. "We now know that the brain is capable of change at any age, and that intensive one-on-one cognitive skills training can treat the root cause of learning struggles like ADHD, dyslexia or memory issues. It's also good news for anyone who wants to strengthen their cognitive skills, increase their IQ, and become a better learner – whether they're six or 106 years old. Cognitive skills training does for the brain what physical exercise does for the body."

Examples of the amazing brain, and our knowledge of it, are everywhere today, whether with 2010 USA Olympic Team Snowboarder hopeful Kevin Pearce recovering from a fall and brain injury prior to the Games, to new research from Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on general intelligence that show that “the connections between very specific areas of the brain determine intelligence and how well someone does in life.” (Health Day News, Friday, Feb. 26.)

In addition to the quiz (below), the new Learning RX Denver is offering for the month of March:
• Free tips on games and other at-home play for “Brain-Training”
• A thorough “Cognitive Skills Evaluation” for $19.95 (usually $200), for anyone.
Brain Awareness Day activities, open house, and speaker David Delaney, MA, CAR, LPC (http://boulderneurofeedback.com/about/) on Sat., March 20th 10a– 1p, "THE EXTRAORDINARY BRAIN! DYNAMIC ON THE TURN OF A DIME, OR NEUROPLASTICITY EXPLAINED"

Here are three sample questions from the longer Brain Awareness Quiz:
TRUE OR FALSE:
1. Dyslexia is a permanent diagnosis and cannot be cured.
2. IQ is a stagnant number and cannot change.
3. Most people hit their mental peak at age 22.

For answers to these three questions and to try the complete quiz, visit the Brain Awareness page on www.LearningRx.com. The answers to the 10-question quiz provide research-rich explanations and proof about how brain-training programs are literally changing lives. Perhaps most impressive, considering the number of children diagnosed with ADHD: With the right program, most children who have been labeled as having ADDH can improve from three to five grade levels and about half no longer require medications.

To learn more about Brain Awareness Month, brain-training, cognitive skills, ADHD, dyslexia, autism or age-related cognitive decline, or to sign up for a Cognitive Skills Evaluation appointment, contact Christina Sevilla at LearningRx, Denver, at (303) 284-6105 or christina(at)learningrx(dot)net.

About LearningRx
LearningRx specializes in identifying and correcting the underlying cognitive skill deficiencies that keep people from achieving their full potential in school, business or life. The program was pioneered by Dr. Ken Gibson and refined over a decade of research and testing. Using a comprehensive skills assessment test and intensive one-on-one training, certified trainers quickly and effectively enhance weak cognitive skills such as attention, memory, processing speed, and problem solving. Students completing the program usually see three to four years of improvement in as little as 12 to 24 weeks and benefit from improved confidence, self-esteem and overall achievement. The company guarantees improvement for all people with deficiencies who complete the training. To learn more about LearningRx, visit www.learningrx.com.

April 2 is World Autism Day

2010-03-09T06:52:00.001-08:00

For the one in 94 New Jersey families whose children struggle with autism spectrum disorders (http://www.crossroadsforgrowth.org), finding financial help for ABA and other therapies is often a struggle. World Autism Awareness Day, taking place April 2, will draw attention to the growing worldwide problem of autism, says Linda Lajterman, founder of Crossroads for Growth, Inc. (http://www.crossroadsforgrowth.org), but few people realize that New Jersey has the highest rate of autism in the United States.

Of the millions of dollars that go to autism causes, most is used for research; very little goes to the families living with it now. Lajterman, a Registered Nurse and Certified Disability Management Specialist, founded Crossroads for Growth, Inc., a non-sectarian, non-profit organization to provide relief to New Jersey’s economically-challenged families and to help them receive therapeutic services for children with autism.

“Families struggle to obtain the necessary services for their autistic children and are constantly fighting with schools for proper placement and home programs,” Lajterman says. “Many generous individuals donate to autism causes, but most are likely unaware of how little of their money goes to help families. Though the funding need for autism research is vital, donors should be able to choose where their dollars will go: research for the future, or help for the families who need it now.”

Recent state legislation will soon make it possible for New Jersey parents to receive insurance coverage to help with the cost of therapy for their autistic children, but those treatments are expensive, and there is a cap on that coverage. Current standards of treatment recommend at least 25 hours of intensive one-to-one therapy – much more than schools can provide, and much more than insurance will cover. In addition, recent government spending cuts to the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities are putting a strain on other programs that parents have relied upon for even a small degree of financial help.

In addition to ABA therapy, Crossroads for Growth, Inc. provides professional care management, a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates the options and services required to meet the client’s health and human services needs. “We only provide services that are science-based — ABA therapy (http://www.crossroadsforgrowth.org/services.html) is our main service, although we offer a full spectrum of behavioral assessments and plan implementation,” Lajterman says. ABA is Applied Behavior Analysis, a technique which aims to improve socially important behaviors by using interventions based on principles of learning theory.

Despite operating on a limited budget, Crossroads for Growth, Inc. has helped several deserving families, like those of Araina Streeter-Colbert and Denise Diese, whose testimonials (http://www.crossroadsforgrowth.org/testimonials.html) are featured on the Crossroads for Growth Web site.

Though Lajterman says the group is often passed over for grants and donations, she remains undaunted. “The CDC estimates the lifetime care of an autistic individual will cost 3.2 million dollars,” she says. “We need to do everything we can to help families find the care their children need and deserve right now.”

For more information about Crossroads for Growth, Inc., or to donate online, visit http://www.crossroadsforgrowth.org.

Get Your Facts Straight About Your Food

2010-03-05T06:29:00.000-08:00

Hungry for answers about where your food, fiber and some renewable fuels come from? Do you feel unsure about modern, U.S. agriculture or have “agricultural angst?” The United Soybean Board would like to point you in the direction of a new resource that may help put some of your questions to bed.

BestFoodFacts.org (http://bestfoodfacts.org/prod/), developed by the Center for Food Integrity (http://www.foodintegrity.org/), hosts a venue for experts from universities across the country to weigh in on what’s true, plausible, unknown, misguided or just plain false.

Some topics being discussed now include:

- Technology’s role in feeding the expanding global population

- Animal welfare on modern farms

- The price of food around the world

- Truths about organic and non-organic food

Get the answers to these questions or submit your own right now by going here (http://bestfoodfacts.org/prod/). To stay up-to-date on topics such as biotechnology, food supply, sustainability and animal agriculture, follow the United Soybean Board on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

About the United Soybean Board

The United Soybean Board represents a group of volunteer farmer-leaders administering a U.S. soy research and promotion program known most commonly as the “soybean checkoff.” Through the soybean chcekoff, U.S. soybean farmers invest a portion of their sales in research and promotion to provide food, feed fuel and fiber to the world. By building demand for such things as biodiesel, soybean meal, soybean oil, soy exports and more, the soybean checkoff helps ensure a profitable future for all American soybean farmers. On the Web:

Changes Needed in Stem Cell Regulations

2010-02-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

A recommendation has been made that the National Institutes of Health ethics guidelines for embryonic stem cell research be modified to better protect the rights of individuals donating egg or sperm to patients undergoing in vitro fertilization.

The recommendation is reported in the February 19, 2010 issue of Science.

Third parties frequently donate sperm and egg, or “gametes,” for patients attempting to create embryos in the in vitro fertilization clinic.

Under current practice in the United States, gamete donors sign a form giving the IVF patient unrestricted legal authority to determine how to dispose of any embryos that may be leftover following fertility treatments. Donor banks and IVF clinics are not required to brief gamete donors about the various options for disposition, which include donating the embryos for stem cell research, thereby enabling scientists to derive new human embryonic stem cell lines; discarding the embryos, or donating them to other IVF patients.

While many state, national, and international scientific committees and agencies have recommended that third-party gamete donors give official “informed consent” for stem cell research with embryos remaining after infertility treatment, the NIH did not stipulate this requirement in its guidelines issued in March 2009. As these guidelines determine which human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines may be studied under NIH research grants -- which are expected to play a growing role in funding stem cell research -- the ethical implications are significant, says Lo, chair of the UCSF Gamete, Embryonic Stem Cell Research Committee, members of which published the Science paper.

“We urge the NIH to revise its guidelines to require that gamete donors be advised that embryos containing their sperm or egg could be used for embryonic stem cell research, before they grant dispositional authority over embryos to the IVF patient,” he says. “Because some gamete donors may not approve of embryonic stem cell research, we consider this the ethically appropriate position.”

In their paper, the team recommends a process that is less complex than the detailed “informed consent” process carried out when IVF patients donate embryos for research. They suggest the disclosure to gamete donors may be made through oral discussion or brochures before donors sign a form authorizing the IVF patient to determine the disposition of embryos.

Importantly, says Lo, the gamete donors’ instructions would not disrupt the IVF process. IVF patients would learn of a gamete donor’s restrictions in advance of selecting embryos for IVF treatment, and could select other gamete donors if not satisfied with the donors’ disposition restrictions.

The recommendation is consistent with that of the National Academy of Sciences and the International Society for Stem Cell Research says Lo, a member of the ethics committee of the ISSCR, and the co-chair of the Standards Working Group of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

“It would be highly desirable to have consistency among standards and regulations,'' he says. ''If such harmonization were achieved, many university Institutional Review Boards and other research oversight bodies would likely allow NIH-eligible human embryonic stem cell lines to be used for any otherwise acceptable hESC research.”

“It’s critical that we consider all parties involved in the creation of embryos and honor their wishes,” says co-author Arnold Kriegstein, MD, PhD, director of the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCSF.

“The field of human embryonic stem cell research offers enormous promise for patients suffering from devastating diseases. We want to build this field on an ethical foundation of which we can be proud.”

Exceptions to the guideline could be justified for hESC lines already in existence if there were strong scientific reasons to use the cell lines and the third-party gamete donor had granted rights to the IVF patient to determine disposition of the embryos.

At the moment, many Americans are traveling overseas for stem cell treatments because they are not available in the USA.

Researchers Develop Standard of Care for Breast Cancer Survivors with Lymphedema

2010-02-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Lymphedema, a chronic swelling condition that can appear after breast cancer surgery, is a risk for 1.3 million breast cancer survivors. Although lymphedema can cause lifelong swelling in the arms, back, neck and chest, there is no national standard of diagnosis or care. Now, University of Missouri researchers are leading the American Lymphedema Framework Project (ALFP), a national, multi-disciplinary collaboration to develop comprehensive guidelines for the assessment, treatment, and management of lymphedema.

“We can’t cure lymphedema today – we can only manage it,” said Jane Armer, MU nursing professor and director of the project at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. “Lymphedema is a complex, chronic condition. Currently, there are inconsistent approaches to care for lymphedema, and often the most common form of self-management is to not treat it at all.”

The ALFP, established in 2008, has two main goals: establish a best practices document with evidence-based lymphedema treatment guidelines for health practitioners, and create a minimum data set of all available lymphedema research and clinical data. The ALFP researchers plan to publish the best practices document in 2011.

“Part of why there isn’t a standard of care is the lack of reliance on current evidence by health practitioners and third party payers, which in turn causes problems with reimbursement from health insurance companies. Many people with lymphedema have to pay out-of-pocket for care,” Armer said. “There isn’t a clear, national consensus for how to diagnose lymphedema and when to start treating it. The ALFP collaborators aim to document a standard of care reflecting a consensus on best practices that will help solve these problems.”

Researchers, including those at MU, have found that the most effective method of care for lymphedema is complete decongestive physiotherapy, in which therapists use specialized lymphatic massage techniques to reduce protein-rich fluid buildup. Bandages and compression garments also help to reduce swelling.

One of Armer’s innovations at MU is measuring patients’ arms with a perometer, a machine that was first used to fit garments for swollen limbs. First implemented in a research setting at MU, the machine has a large optoelectric frame that glides over a patient’s arm, scans its image and records an estimated limb volume reading. Perometer measurement is as, or more, accurate than several previous methods to measure arm circumference and volume. The machine is now used in about 20 sites across the country.

Highlights of MU Sinclair School of Nursing research from the past 10 years reveal that there is a 40 percent higher risk of developing lymphedema in women with a body mass index (BMI) classified as overweight or obese compared to normal-weight women. The researchers also found that younger patients may have less occurrence of the condition but tend to report more symptoms, which could be a result of psychological and aging-related factors.

“In addition to our previous findings, we’re currently studying whether there are any genetic factors that increase the risk of lymphedema,” Armer said. “A pilot study now underway and a proposed multi-site research study will look at the possibility of genetic predisposition for secondary lymphedema. The results could be applied to cancer treatment in which surgery and radiation affect the lymphatic system.”

In recognition of the leadership in lymphedema research at MU, the ALFP is housed at the MU Ellis Fischel Cancer Center. Armer’s research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is published in several journals, including the Journal of Lymphoedema; Lymphology; Lymphatic Research and Biology; and the Journal of Cancer Survivorship, and presented at conferences throughout the world. The activities of the ALFP have been funded by industry partnerships and grants from the American Cancer Society through The Longaberger Company, a direct-selling company offering home products, and the Longaberger Horizon of Hope Campaign, which provided a grant for breast cancer research and education.

The West Must Plan For Climate Change

2010-02-03T06:42:00.000-08:00

Planners in the Intermountain West must focus on the economic savings of mitigating and adapting to climate change as they tailor federal and state efforts to suit local and regional needs, according to a new report published by the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy (www.lincolninst.edu).

Planning for Climate Change in the West, by Rebecca Carter and Susan Culp, acknowledges the critical role of local planners in confronting challenges posed by climate change. It also addresses the region’s many political, cultural, demographic, and geographic factors that can be barriers to innovation and effectiveness. The report can be downloaded at http://www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/1744_Planning-for-Climate-Change-in-the-West

“State and federal initiatives are important, but mitigation and adaptation will only happen if implemented on the ground, locally,” said Armando Carbonell, senior fellow and chairman of the Department of Planning and Urban Form at the Lincoln Institute.

“Western planners are emphasizing sustainability or economic efficiency, rather than climate change, in their decisions to manage water supplies, reduce energy consumption, increase transportation efficiency, and protect open space,” said Susan Culp, the report co-author and project manager of Western Lands and Communities, a joint venture of the Sonoran Institute and the Lincoln Institute. She cited a survey of nearly 50 government staff and elected officials in the Intermountain West indicating local skepticism that climate change was a problem in many communities. According to the research, a significant number of residents in these communities are unconvinced that climate change is human-caused and they perceive the issue as global and remote.

Planning for Climate Change in the West (http://www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/1744_Planning-for-Climate-Change-in-the-West) is the latest Policy Focus Report from the Lincoln Institute. It was released today at the New Partners for Smart Growth conference in Seattle, an annual symposium on sustainability and land use that runs Feb. 4-6 and includes presentations by Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The report is available at the exhibition booth of the Lincoln Institute and Sonoran Institute and can be downloaded free online at www.lincolninst.edu.

The Intermountain West, primarily arid landscapes that include all or a portion of 11 states west of the Rocky Mountains, is in a unique position when it comes to climate change. Climate change impacts are expected to wreak particular havoc on the region, yet it remains difficult to pursue many mitigation or adaptation strategies for political and cultural reasons.

The West has been shaped by dramatic fluctuations in its water and energy resources, land use patterns, economy, and a climate known for its extremes. In the decades ahead, the hydrology of the region will become even drier, leading to drought, heat waves, diminished mountain snowpack, earlier snowmelt, catastrophic wildfires, and disruptions to natural processes and wildlife habitat.

Faced with the challenge of both adapting to these impacts, and contributing to mitigation through the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, planners in western communities should adopt the policy language of cost-effectiveness, the report says. An array of smart growth strategies, with an emphasis on land use and transportation policies, double as climate solutions leading to more resilient communities: building codes and standards, compact mixed-use development, transportation alternatives, distributed and renewable energy, water resource consumption and planning, preservation of open space and agriculture, and mitigation of wildfire impacts. To integrate climate-oriented policies into land use and development agendas, the report encourages planners to:

• Mobilize the political will. Focus on sustainability, economic and energy efficiency, and the co-benefits of local actions, rather than politically controversial policies and goals.

• Recognize local action and citizen participation. Coordinate state and local activities to address climate change, and use public education about climate change impacts to foster citizen participation and buy-in for local programs.

• Establish peer community networks on a regional scale. Develop peer learning networks with guidance from state climate action plans and regional initiatives to help smaller communities learn from each other.

• Identify resources and a variety of options. Refer to state climate action plans region-wide for a variety of strategies and ideas that communities can select and apply to their own needs and circumstances.

• Adapt climate science to local planning needs. Seek out current information and tools in reports, Web sites, and other resources that can help planners translate available climate science for local use, and develop a baseline level of GHGs as a first step in measuring climate strategies and results.

Local planners in the Intermountain West face both the challenge and the opportunity to ensure a sustainable future for the region, where the need to respond to potential climate change impacts is particularly urgent. This report presents a regional context and reliable data, case studies, and planner-recommended guidelines for western communities to spur local actions that can minimize those threats.

Wild Blueberries Are "Healthiest Superfood"

2010-01-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

In recent good news for health-conscious consumers, Health magazine has named Wild Blueberries high on its list of “America’s Healthiest Superfoods for Women.” The feature, running in the magazine’s January/February 2010 issue, singles out Wild Blueberries’ impressive variety of potential health benefits, including preventing memory loss, improving motor skills, lowering blood pressure, and fighting wrinkles (see http://tinyurl.com/yzrsndg).

“If berries are nutritional treasures, Wild Blueberries are the crown jewels…truly one of nature’s ultimate antiaging foods,” according to the feature, which gave Wild Blueberries the #2 slot on its Superfoods list. Health editors recommend that readers mix in Wild Blueberries with their daily berries servings “as much as possible” for their many health benefits, and point readers to the frozen fruit aisle of supermarkets for the healthy frozen version available every season of the year.

A native North American berry, Wild Blueberries (www.wildblueberries.com) grow naturally in Downeast Maine and Canada. The state of Maine is by far the #1 producer in the world, growing over 90 million pounds in recent years. Sweet and tangy Wild Blueberries – as opposed to their cultivated counterpart – have been found to have a higher level of antioxidants than most other fruits by USDA research findings and by such respected publications as the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, having long been prized for their nutritional properties. The delicious, pearl-sized berries may help boost immune systems and help guard against cell damage associated with cancer, heart disease, damage from stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and the effects of aging for both men and women.

The recent Health article on America’s Healthiest Superfoods further builds on Wild Blueberries’ stellar reputation in the health and flavor arena. The magazine reports that when Cornell University scientists recently devised a new method of testing the antioxidant activity in foods, Wild Blueberries scored the highest marks.

“This is impressive. Wild Blueberries have become a bona fide icon for healthy foods, plain and simple,” noted Dr. Steven Pratt, M.D., senior staff ophthalmologist at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California, world-renowned nutrition authority, and author of the best-selling SuperFoods Rx series of books. “Of particular interest has been watching the rise of frozen Wild Blueberries (http://www.wildblueberries.com/frozen_landingpage/index.php), where the frozen version of the fruit is every bit as nutritious as the fresh off the field.”

Dr. Pratt’s observation helps explain why nutrient-rich, frozen Wild Blueberries are changing how many shoppers are beginning to view the frozen food aisle in their local supermarkets.

Nutrition Advisor Susan Davis, MS, RD agrees: “Wild Blueberries really are leading the charge in the frozen fruit aisle,” she said. “For starters, you’ve got all of the antioxidant-rich nutritional properties remaining intact when fresh Wild Blueberries are flash-frozen. But add to that the unique fact that Wild Blueberries perfectly retain their structural integrity and sweet flavor when frozen, and health-conscious shoppers who want Wild Blueberries year round are presented with a ‘home run’ fruit.

“This is an especially valuable dynamic when you consider that the majority of Americans still aren’t eating the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables,” Davis added. “Frozen Wild Blueberries can really help people reach the next healthy-eating level, and that’s a promising development.”

A growing number of headlines over the past few years have drawn attention to the many benefits of Wild Blueberries’ high antioxidant value. One such national example is AARP The Magazine’s “Healing Foods” feature, which reported that when Tufts University researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging reviewed disease-fighting antioxidant activity of 40 fruits and vegetables, Wild Blueberries beat the pack by a wide margin. Study results indicated that the benefits of eating just one serving of Wild Blueberries equaled those of eating two to three servings of other fruits and vegetables, such as spinach, apples, and broccoli. A wide range of news outlets ranging from CBS News and Yahoo! Health to The New York Times Magazine similarly have promoted the natural fruit’s benefits and growing appeal.

“Wild Blueberries are viewed as a superfood for a reason, and more and more Americans are coming to realize that,” added Dr. Pratt. “It’s interesting that this very different sort of fruit can provide so many real benefits to such a wide range of people interested in healthy options – whether aging Americans, younger couples, or their kids – but can go about doing so in such a simple, delicious and convenient way.”

The Wild Blueberry Association of North America sees the inherent nutrition and convenience value of frozen Wild Blueberries, as well, and is aligned with the Produce for Better Health Foundation in support of its “Fruits and Veggies More Matters” campaign. The campaign seeks to educate Americans that all forms of fruits and veggies – frozen, fresh, canned and dried – count toward meeting daily fruit and vegetable consumption goals.

Is America Dealing With Its Homeless People?

2010-01-27T11:27:00.000-08:00

This week, communities across the country will rally elected officials, service providers, and volunteers to conduct local homeless counts – a measure of the number of people experiencing homelessness. This year’s count marks the first opportunity to assess the impact of the federal stimulus program aimed at preventing and ending homelessness in the face of the recession.

As a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), President Obama created the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). This program is intended to help the most financially vulnerable avoid or escape homelessness. The $1.5 billion program provides help paying for housing and negotiating with landlords,, as well as case management and other services to help families get back on their feet. . The National Alliance to End Homelessness (Alliance) projected that, without federal intervention, another 1.5 million people would experience homelessness over the course of two years as a result of the recession; HPRP is expected to help 600,000 people.

“Prior to the recession, we had turned the corner on homelessness, finally beginning to reduce the number. That has now changed,” said Nan Roman, president of the Alliance. “High unemployment and increasing deep poverty are driving the number of homeless people up in many places. These counts will help us understand the national picture, and what the impact of HPRP has been. Certainly the counts are a reminder that this is a problem far from solved – and there has never been a more urgent time to address this great American tragedy. As all Americans struggle through this recession, we must not forget those most vulnerable to the instability of the economy. “

Homeless counts are required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) every other year, though many communities count annually. From 2005 – when the first count was federally mandated – to 2007, homelessness declined by an average of ten percent. From 2007 to 2008, homelessness stayed flat. An evaluation of the 2009 counts is expected from HUD by this summer, which could serve as the first insight into the effect of the recession on the state of American homelessness.

The Alliance has produced an interactive map which includes all community counts officially submitted to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The map tracks increases and decreases in homeless numbers, as well as changes to the community’s size. The map is available on the Alliance website: http://www.endhomelessness.org/section/data/interactivemaps/mycountsmap.

Brain Abnormalities in Parkinson's Patients Develop Before Symptoms Occu

2010-01-23T07:02:00.001-08:00

Scientists who have identified brain networks damaged in Parkinson's disease have new evidence that these systems become abnormal a few years before symptoms appear. And what's more, parts of the network appear to respond in a last ditch attempt to rescue the brain.

"We were surprised," said Chris Tang, MD, PhD, a Parkinson's investigator at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (www.feinsteininstitute.org) in Manhasset, NY, and an author of the study, published this month in the Journal of Neuroscience. The Feinstein scientists have been following people with Parkinson's disease for decades. They have had a unique opportunity to take snapshots of the brain over the course of four years in 15 patients and an equal number of normal volunteers. The group initially identified two discrete abnormal networks, one that was involved in mediating the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease, and the other that regulates the cognitive dysfunction that develops in many patients with this illness.

Symptoms of Parkinson's disease initially occur on one side of the body, which provided scientists with a unique opportunity to study the brain scans at multiple times and compare the symptoms to changes in the brain networks over time. The idea for the latest study was to watch the activity of the network on the side of the brain that controls the side of the body that's free of symptoms. As the disease progresses, both sides of the body ultimately become involved.

The motor network that governed the side of the body with initial symptoms was the first to become abnormal. Scientists under the direction of David Eidelberg, MD, head of the Feinstein's Center for Neurosciences, found that the motor network on the other side of the brain was also abnormal, even though symptoms appeared only two years later. The brain network that governs cognition began showing abnormalities after two more years had passed, which was four years after their diagnosis. The average age of the patients in the study is 58 and no one has yet to develop cognition problems.

The brain scans measure glucose and dopamine, the chemical that is depleted during the disease process. By using these scans to understand what the brain is doing before symptoms emerge, investigators are characterizing new therapeutic targets to slow or actually prevent the onset of clinical disability in Parkinson's disease and related neurological illnesses.

About The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

Headquartered in Manhasset, NY, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (www.feinsteininstitute.org) is home to international scientific leaders in cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, psychiatric disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, sepsis, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, human genetics, neuroimmunology, and medicinal chemistry. Feinstein researchers are developing new drugs and drug targets, and producing results where science meets the patient, annually enrolling some 10,000 subjects into clinical research programs.

Sexy Tips For Losing Weight

2010-01-19T14:01:00.000-08:00

Surveys of women across America reveal that 43% of women suffer from some form of sexual inadequacy due to low desire or performance issues. Most women today identify stress, fatigue and poor body image due to weight gain as their silent sex lives saboteur. Many complain that they are too stressed for sex because their to-do lists are often longer than the number of hours in a day.

Genie James, M.M.Sc. author of the newly released book "In the Mood Again," says if you feel this way it is no wonder when he reaches for you at night and you are dead tired, or in the morning when you are in a deep sleep, that you are simply not in the mood. Her suggestion (that has worked for thousands of women) is to add sex back into your to-do list and simultaneously check off those things you have been trying to put on your daily schedule to help you stress-less, lose weight and increase feelings of intimacy with your partner.

Here are a few tips:

1. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed and just plain blue, forgo the anti-depressant and hop in the sack: Medical studies show that a big health benefit of having regular sex (3 or more times per week) is lower blood pressure and overall stress reduction. Sex also causes the body to release more of the hormone oxytocin which stimulates feelings of relaxation and well being.

Try this idea for de-stressing while you get in the mood:

-After dinner and the kids are in bed, ask your partner to give you ten minutes alone in the bathroom, then to come on in. Draw a warm bath, add scented oils if you like, dim the lights and light some candles. Go ahead and get in the tub to start to unwind. The ten minutes alone will give you a chance to clear your head and, also, allow you to focus on preparing a space and time for feeling sensual and connected. The time apart will tease and excite him. When he joins you, perhaps take turns sitting with your backs in the curve of the other's chest and massage arms, necks...let your time together unfold from there and the splashes begin.

2. We all know that exercise reduces stress but somehow busy women too often find that the half hour they allotted for exercise gets squeezed out of their day. Guess what? Sex is great exercise and it can promote weight loss. It is good for your heart and you can burn 200 calories in 30 minutes of sex. James says to think of how you can incorporate exercises like the plank that strengthens your core, pelvic tilts that tighten your tush and your favorite yoga pose into a menu of exciting sexual positions.

Want to get in the mood and trim your tummy and tone your tush at the same time, try these ideas:

-Don't be bashful but don't fully disclose your intention. This means setting aside time for sex (just like you would going to the gym). As your warm up, talk about trying new sexual positions and give ideas (he will love you for this slightly naughty dialogue). Two things: let him think this is a new-found passion burst for you, rather than an alternative to your aerobics class. Also, James encourages you to use anatomical descriptions such as "what would it feel like if I put my leg on your shoulder" vs. intimidating Cosmo-like descriptions: "Let's try the upside-down portable pulley." Your sexual partner will most likely become your most avid and available personal trainer.

3. Take "what's for dinner" off your list for a night. Send the kids to grandma's or a sleep over and plan a finger-food dinner full of sexy treats.

Get in the mood by preparing a tray of raw oysters, smoked salmon, vegetable crudités, a little cheese and a few bits of chocolate (all contain sexy-healthy vitamins and minerals). Put on some flowing lingerie, tight-fitting yoga pants or jeans with a flattering top (whatever makes you feel relaxed and pretty), pop in a CD and put a blanket and some pillows on the floor. Open a bottle of red wine (also has health benefits) but be sure and pour only one glass for you and two at most for him or it could be lights out before the fireworks have a chance to start. Feed him. Let him feed you. Make it a game of intimacy: Take your time, talk and really listen. Let your fingertips linger as you pass and touch. Punctuate a laugh with an impromptu kiss. See where it goes from there...The dishes can wait till morning.

Rembember to Get Your Flu Shot

2010-01-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

With flu experts predicting another wave of H1N1 flu, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) reminds its members that the H1N1 vaccination is now readily available and covered by your BCBSMA health plan. BCBSMA members are able to receive the H1N1 vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has declared January 10 through January 16 National Influenza Vaccination Week (www.cdc.gov/flu/Nivw/) to highlight the importance of ongoing influenza vaccination and to encourage greater use of flu vaccine. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts joins the CDC by urging its members to get vaccinated. Anyone six months of age and older is eligible for the vaccine.

Dr. John Fallon, Chief Physician Executive of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts said, "Though this has been an unprecedented year in terms of the number of people who have received seasonal flu shots, many have not yet received the H1N1 vaccine. Now that the vaccine is readily available and with the risk of another H1N1 wave this winter or spring, we encourage everyone to get the H1N1 vaccine as the best way to prevent infection.”

More information regarding the flu, vaccines and covered benefits is available for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members on line at www.bluecrossma.com/membercentral.

Most weight loss programs are marketing scams, author says

2010-01-06T06:42:00.000-08:00

People looking to lose weight and get in shape this new year now have a new, scientifically based method to do so with the release of the new book “Bermuda Triangle Diet” from fitness and nutrition expert Derek Alessi, Ph.D. In "Bermuda Triangle Diet," Alessi reveals the inside intentions of the marketing companies behind various weight loss plans, while teaching readers how to take control of their own fitness through exercise and nutritious eating.

“The health and fitness market in the United States is a $40-billion-plus industry, and for the most part, it’s a Ponzi scheme. A successful infomercial product can generate more than $40 million in sales in just three months,” Alessi says. “Eager exercisers and dieters never achieve the results they are looking for because of one common reason: They are being deceived and lied to by the best marketing companies in the game.”

Many have gone through the motions of joining a gym, purchasing home exercise equipment or going on a diet, only to feel frustrated and depressed when they fail to attain the shape, lose the weight or meet the results the product claimed. Alessi takes the guesswork out of becoming fit, providing readers useful, scientifically-based exercise techniques and vital information for nutritious eating.

The marketing companies for food manufacturers, diet drugs and fitness infomercials are two steps ahead of the gullible public. People so desperately want to believe what they’re being told: that losing weight and getting in shape is quick and easy, and that a company’s products work like magic. “Bermuda Triangle Diet” reveals all the tricks of the fitness industry and warns the public using fitness comedy with a new literary style. Through the use of comical pop-culture stories, this book teaches how the deceptive health and fitness industry employs psychology to prey on the emotions of the general public. Armed with this knowledge, readers can avoid buying into the hype and can focus on actual proven weight loss methods.

Through the “Bermuda Triangle Diet,” readers will learn how to exercise in minimum time for maximum efficiency and how to incorporate supportive nutrition into a healthy lifestyle. Ultimately, the book teaches readers how to take control of their metabolism and increase it naturally.

Concerned with the shape of today’s youth, Alessi is now conducting seminars for parents who would like to know more about the complexities of helping their children lead a healthy life in today’s challenging environment. For more information, or to purchase “Bermuda Triangle Diet,” visit http://bermudatrianglediet.com/.

How to get your kids to spend more time outdoors

2009-12-29T07:26:00.000-08:00

Many will once again resolve to get organized or lose ten pounds in the new year, but National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is recommending a resolution with profound impacts because it recaptures an essential part of childhood, outdoor play. By making the 2010 Be Out There Resolution to spend more time outside in 2010, Americans will be making a resolution that’s both good for their families and fun to keep. Everyone who makes the 2010 Be Out There Resolution will receive the Know, Go and Grow Be Out There Toolkit with important facts, fun tips and interactive tools to help them keep the resolution.

Outdoor time significantly enhances children’s physical and mental well-being, but, sadly, today’s kids don’t get much. In the last two decades, childhood has moved indoors. While previous generations ran around in nature until called in for dinner, modern children spend only four to seven minutes outdoors per day. Research in the fields of public health, psychology, and medicine documents the toll an “indoor childhood” takes on kids. NWF launched the Be Out There movement (www.BeOutThere.org) to return to the nation’s children something they don’t even know they’ve lost, their connection to the natural world.

“To address childhood’s fundamental shift indoors, we are asking parents to make the 2010 Be Out There Resolution to Know, Go and Grow,” says National Wildlife Federation’s Vice President of Education, Kevin Coyle. “We want them to know and understand the importance of outdoor time; to go outside more with their kids and grow the Be Out There movement by spreading the word and inviting friends along.”

Children reap wide-ranging and numerous benefits when encouraged to interact with nature in an outdoor setting including better eyesight, enhanced physical fitness and less obesity, increased classroom preparedness and lower levels of stress and depression.

There’s a reason they call it the great outdoors™. NWF hopes parents will show their children what that reason is by making the 2010 Be Out There resolution at www.beoutthere.org/resolution. This is one Time Out kids will actually enjoy.

Government Wrong About Ease Of Arctic Oil Spill Cleanup, Report says

2009-12-23T06:51:00.000-08:00

A World Wildlife Fund report released today reinforces widespread doubts about the oil industry’s ability to clean-up an offshore oil spill in arctic conditions. The authors counter conclusions in a recent report from the Interior Department’s Minerals Management Service (MMS) that the technology and expertise exist to clean up a major offshore oil spill.

“The MMS touted its findings as ‘look, we can do it,’ but after taking a closer look at their research, they probably should’ve said ‘we’re making progress, but we’re still a long way from being able to clean up oil from an icy ocean,’” said World Wildlife Fund Vice President Bill Eichbaum.

The WWF report highlights a series of instances where the government ignored real-world variables that affect the ability to detect, access, and effectively respond to an offshore oil spill in Alaska’s arctic waters.

WWF’s report brings to light challenges that commonly occur in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas including extreme weather and variable ice conditions, along with vast distances between drilling and response infrastructure. These circumstances severely limit the industry’s ability to detect oil before it spreads, get necessary equipment and personnel to the spill, and operate the spill response equipment effectively without putting responders at great risk.

The report also highlights the lack of ice class vessels in Alaska’s arctic and the fact that much of the new technology touted by the industry is not commercially available or adequately tested in the arctic.

According to the report, “Current arctic mechanical response technology will leave most oil in the sea…Oil skimmers are not effective in ice conditions if they cannot reach the spilled oil…Oil trapped under ice is nearly impossible to recover.”

“The weakest link in the response chain will limit response capability,” the authors add. “The inability to track and logistically access the oil under typically severe arctic weather conditions are major weak links in the spill response chain.”

Recent large oil spills in Australia’s Timor Sea and on Alaska’s north slope demonstrate the difficulty of containing and cleaning up oil even under favorable conditions. Oil flowed into the ocean from the blown well in the temperate Timor Sea for 74 days before it could be contained. The Alaska BP spill occurred on land only 1.5 miles from the Prudhoe Bay infrastructure and it took responders several days to build ice roads and ice pads necessary to access the spill.

“If a company that’s been operating in the arctic for decades can’t reach a spill on land only a few miles from its base of operations, what makes MMS think industry can effectively get to a spill that’s hundreds of miles across ice-filled waters from the nearest infrastructure?” Eichbaum said, referring to the BP spill. “Citizens deserve information that’s accurate, not cherry-picked.”

See the report at http://www.worldwildlife.org/oilspillreport/

Are Toy Hamsters Unsafe?

2009-12-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, parents and grandparents were scurrying all over town trying to find Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters their children were crying for. Now, those popular techno-pets may have lost some of their charm.

Good Guide, a consumer watchdog group based in California has made the claim that Zhu Zhu Pets are made with toxic substances and should be recalled because they are not safe for children to play with. The group says the plush, mechanical hamsters contain antimony, which has been shown to cause dangerous health issues, should be returned to the stores where they were purchased, or contact the manufacturer.

We were not surprised to learn that Zhu Zhu Pets are made in China. Once again, it seems American consumers are being faced with the problem of made in China toys being accused of having been manufactured to safety standards that are lower than products made in the USA need to be.

You can see more information about the Zhu Zhu Pets Recall at http://zhuzhupetsrecall.com/

Cleanse Your Heart to Heal Your Body

2009-12-01T06:54:00.000-08:00

Experiencing and refusing to let go of negative emotions, whether caused by us or inflicted by others, can weigh heavy on our shoulders. Oftentimes, this disease of the human spirit causes disease in the human body.

Peter J. Rappa, MD, explores the intricate connection between the soul and the body in his new book "Healing Heart to Soul: One Doctor’s Journey of Health, Healing, and Life" (Brown Books 2009). In this unique collection of medical narratives, Dr. Rappa reaches beyond antibiotics and physical therapy, recognizing the need for medicine to dig deeper for answers. By watching and learning from his rehabilitation patients, Dr. Rappa discovered the power gained from cleansing the heart in order to heal the body. He calls the process healing from the inside out.

“I spend most of my day assisting people from the outside in—this is comfortable in the traditional doctor/patient relationship. But to really heal requires a change in context; to change context requires expansion of awareness, which is not easy but essential to embark on a journey of change,” says Dr. Rappa.

"Healing Heart to Soul" gives readers insight into the very personal stories of individuals struggling to overcome disease and injury. Their journeys are heroic, uplifting, and true testaments to the role spiritual growth and self-reliance can play in healing. Dr. Rappa introduces power principles as practical steps to jump-starting the process of becoming emotionally aware and ultimately transforming physical health.

As a rehabilitation physician with a special interest in brain injury, Dr. Rappa began to see the connections and implications of mind, body, spirit, and health in 1998. "Healing Heart to Soul" recounts experiences he has had with these entities as a health care professional. Dr. Rappa lives in Dallas with his family. "Healing Heart to Soul" is his first book.

"Healing Heart to Soul" is available online and at bookstores everywhere. For more information visit www.healinghearttosoul.com.

Rare Photo of World's Most Endangered Cat

2009-11-26T06:50:00.000-08:00

Three Amur leopards photographed during an anti-poaching operation in the Russian Far East offer a little Thanksgiving hope for the worlds rarest big cat, World Wildlife Fund said today. Only about 40 critically endangered Amur leopards exist in the wild, so the photograph of three healthy individuals around a kill is good news for the future of the sub-species.

As soon as the cats -- a female and two cubs -- were identified, an anti-poaching interagency group tightened security by blocking roads around the location. This quick response was even more critical because of the fresh snowfall on the ground, which makes it easier for poachers to track these rare cats. While at least one Amur leopard cub in a litter usually dies, both of these cubs survived their first six months.

During this holiday season, the presence of these three leopards is something we can all be thankful for," said Dr. Darron Collins (http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/experts/darron-collins.html), Director of WWF-USs Amur-Heilong Program (http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/amur/index.html). If we can protect them from poachers and loss of their habitat and recover their prey populations, Amur leopards may yet survive for future generations."

The anti-poaching interagency group was formed in January of this year to better protect the regions Amur leopards and prevent their extinction. It includes WWF, Russian government agencies and other conservation organizations. To date, the group has conducted 67 operations; instituted four criminal cases; confiscated 12 guns and rifles, filed 18 protocols for administrative infringements; and inspected 33 vehicles.

About World Wildlife Fund

WWF is the worlds leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

Save Money With These Home Heating Tips

2009-11-19T07:29:00.000-08:00

It’s starting to feel a lot like winter. With cooler days and nights approaching, now is the best time to prepare your home for colder months. By taking a few steps to winterize your home ahead of time, you’ll be able to keep your energy bills lower and your house cozy and warm all season long. Green Mountain Energy Company offers these seven tips for more efficient energy use that anyone can do for very little cost.

“We are offering these tips to let consumers know that energy conservation does make a difference for the environment,” said Paul Markovich, senior vice president, Residential Services, Green Mountain Energy Company. ”Because the generation of electricity is the nation’s leading source of industrial air pollution, by reducing their electricity usage, consumers are also reducing emissions.”

Tips for an Energy-Efficient Winter:

1. Schedule a tune up -- A yearly tune up for your heating system is recommended to prevent unforeseen, costly repairs and to ensure maximum efficiency. Winter and summer are the busiest seasons for contractors, so have a professional perform a thorough inspection in the fall before harsh weather hits.

2. Caulk & Weather-Strip -- Homeowners who properly seal and insulate their homes can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs. Seal any gaps in windows, doorways, and air ducts with caulk and weather strips. This will help keep the warm air in your home and the cold air out. Installing proper insulation in attics is something that can be done as a do-it-yourself project.

3. Replace Air Filters. When HVAC systems are in heavy use, air filters should be changed monthly. Clean air filters keep your system running at optimal levels, decreasing energy costs and helping to prevent earlier-than-expected repairs.

4. Prepare your Water Heater -- By turning your electric water heater down to 120°F you can reduce your hot water costs by as much as 50 percent. To reduce unnecessary heat loss from the heater, wrap it with a blanket or insulation jacket. This can save up to $45 per year in operating costs.

5. Reverse your Ceiling Fans -- For the winter months, switch the direction of your ceiling fans so they are on the reverse setting (blades will appear to move clockwise as you are looking up). This will push warmer air downward and force it to circulate throughout the room, making better use of the heated air.

6. Install a Programmable Thermostat -- By installing a thermostat that automatically maintains the proper settings, you could save about $180 a year on heating and cooling costs. Try to keep your house between 68 and 70 degrees while at home, and lower to 65 degrees when you are away. Doing so will save you as much as 10 percent on your heating bill. On average, a homeowner spends nearly $1000 per year just to heat and cool their home.

7. Don’t Heat an Empty Room. One of the easiest ways to heat your home more efficiently is to close the vents in rooms which are not used regularly. This will help keep the most frequently used rooms at the optimum temperature and help you decrease your energy use.

Thanks to: www.greenmountain.com

Free Dental Care in St. Louis, MO

2009-11-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

As unemployment climbs and families and individuals are left without health care coverage, receiving free dental hygiene care will come as a welcome relief to many in the St. Louis area. On November 23, Missouri College (http://www.missouricollege.com/) is opening a new dental hygiene clinic that offers its services at no charge. Dental hygiene students, supervised by dentists on staff, will provide patients with a range of dental services including X-rays, gum treatments, teeth cleaning and fluoride treatments for adults and children.

“Our dental hygiene students have been preparing for this work since they began their studies last March,” said Hubert Benitez, DDS, director of the dental hygiene program at Missouri College. “They have followed a rigorous program and have been building their skills preparing themselves to begin serving the public. We are encouraging people to make appointments now for themselves and their children.”

Benitez said the students will be closely supervised by instructors who are dentists and dental hygienists. Just as with a regular dental appointment, the dental hygiene student will perform an examination, and prepare and implement a treatment plan, while instructors examine, review and oversee the dental hygiene student’s work.

The clinic will offer the following free services:

• Intraoral and extraoral radiographs (X-rays)

• Risk assessments

• Vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, temperature)

• Periodontal treatments: calculus detection, periodontal scaling, root (planing) debridement, ultrasonic scaling

• Fluoride therapy

• Pit and fissure sealants

• Coronal polishing and dental prosthesis maintenance

• Health education and preventive services

• Nutrition advising

• Oral cancer screening

Patients whom the hygienist and dentist identify as needing additional dental services such as fillings or crowns will be referred to area dentists.

While the new clinic is open to the community-at-large, Benitez is making efforts to recruit low-income and uninsured patients. He has spearheaded the development of partnerships with the Little Bit Foundation, a non-profit agency that serves underprivileged children in St. Louis City schools, and with Santa Cecilia Catholic Church, a mostly-Hispanic parish in South St. Louis. Both groups plan to arrange appointments for patients and organize trips to the clinic.

“We see a strong need in our community for both dental care and dental education among our low income populations,” Benitez said. “Part of our mission at Missouri College is to reach out to these groups and improve access to oral health care, so we welcome the help from our partners to bring us patients in need.”

Benitez has also formed alliances with other community partners, including the St. Louis chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to develop educational coursework that instructs students on treating patients with special needs. Missouri College has also teamed up with Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences to offer a Medical Spanish course to help health profession students better communicate with Hispanic patients.

The Dental Hygiene Education program at Missouri College was launched in March, 2009. The new program is separate from a Dental Assistant degree program which the College has operated for more than 30 years.

To schedule an appointment at the Missouri College Dental Hygiene Clinic, patients can call 314-768-7898.

Details of iLasik Refractive Eye Surgery

2009-11-17T06:26:00.000-08:00

Millions of people have experienced freedom from glasses and contact lenses by using the iLASIK method. Millions of other potential patients are still worried about how reliable and secure LASIK eye surgery is, and are waiting for better technology in the future. iLASIK ends all of this worry because it is a method you can rely on for better vision.

iLASIK is the only refractive surgery approved by NASA for use on astronauts.

The iLASIK method provides the best results even on people who have rely strongly on their vision for their profession. Astronauts and pilots are often exposed to extraordinary conditions where clear vision is crucial.

Treatment with iLASIK makes a difference:
Clinical studies have shown that after the iLASIK treatment patients have better results than patients of the standard LASIK procedure, and the night vision of iLASIK patients is drastically improved.

What are the advantages of the iLASIK method compared to others?

There has never been more a safe and more successful treatment than iLASIK. iLASIK combines the newest developments of laser applications. This widely accepted method is now offered to you by the Worldeye assurance. iLASIK’s success is certain with its specially designed treatment for your unique eye structure. iLASIK is the combination of today’s most technologically advanced laser Technologies: Intralase and Advanced CustomVue. iLASIK is totally individualized for you, providing you with the best vision possible.

Health tourism in Turkey started either by organizations individual efforts or by the result of foreign patients' research. World Eye is the first hospital which started medical health tourism in the country. Besides the geographical advantage of Turkey with its natural, culture and hospitality beauties, In Turkey, there are many hospitals with their technology and service quality competent with world standards.

Health / Medical Tourism services and innovations of the Hospital

The international marketing and operation department cares about international patients and prepares special medical tourism packages for them. These packages include flight, hotel accommodation, guide service, Bosporus trip or Grand bazaar trip, examinations, surgery and post operative controls. Moreover they offer healthy golf concept packages as well.( VIP Package: 1899 Euro)

The hospital overhangs golf players from Netherlands and other European countries with special packages. Through this package they can have their surgeries with unforgettable vacations. At the new Antalya Hospital, a special jet transfer from Russia to Antalya will be offered. World Eye pushes the limits of VIP service.

The most important reason why foreign patients choose World Eye is the advanced technology, VIP service and special health treatment packages. And another reason to choose Turkey is the global economic crisis. Patients, who will undergo their surgeries for very high prices abroad, could get their treatments at more affordable prices and see the marvelous sights of Istanbul at the same time.

Health Tourism Services Included in Packages

The health tourism project was started in order to treat foreign patients and to show the beauties of Turkey. World Eye boasts hospitals offering five star hotel comfort, and is able to provide health services at world standards to foreign patients coming from all over the world. There is no limit to the leve of service, as a complete package is presented. From coming to Turkey, to returning home, transport, transfer, accommodation, city tours, guidance, treatment and medications are all covered. Foreign patients experience both life in Istanbul and have their eye operation at the world's largest private eye hospital group. For religious ceremonies a mosque, a chapel and a synagogue are present. Finally, health insurance options are also available for some treatments such as cataract surgery.

Health benefits of cranberries and blueberries revealed

2009-11-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

Cranberries, meet your long lost cousins: blueberries. Who knew? Native Americans, thats who. Long before the Mayflower dropped anchor on these shores, American Indian tribes were combining blueberries and cranberries. They understood that teaming this dynamic duo of fruits doubles, not only the flavor, but also the astonishing health benefits both berries provide.

Inventing history's first nutrition-packed power bar, Native American Indians pounded blueberries and cranberries together into dried meat to make pemmican, a portable meal. They also blended blueberries with cranberries to make a medicinal poultice to heal wounds and prevent infection.

Today, scientific data provides strong evidence confirming anti-inflammatory properties for both blueberries and cranberries. They are the same genus and have similar chemistry," explains Dr. Amy B. Howell, an associate research scientist at the Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research at Rutgers University (http://pemaruccicenter.rutgers.edu/). Were learning that its not just about antioxidants but also the anti-inflammatory compounds in blueberries and cranberries. They get cells talking to each other in a way that can help improve memory, motor coordination and vision. Its very exciting research. There is potential for reducing some of the risk factors for high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression, arthritis, Alzheimers -- they are all related to the inflammatory response."

Adding to the research findings, Linda Murray Berzok, noted historian and food writer in the book, American Indian Food, reports that Native Americans prepared a sauce mixing blueberries and cranberries with corn stalk juice as a sweetener. They served it with roasted meats like venison, bear and turkey. Early settlers watched the Native Americans and learned to use the berries in a sauce to accompany meat. And, the Native Americans learned from the colonists to make their berry sauces with sugar.

So this holiday season, go native, and reunite blueberries with cranberries. You will be boosting an old favorite with rich added taste and nutrients and taking a tradition back to its roots. The holidays are a time to be grateful for abundance, and thanks to an abundant supply of fresh blueberries from Chile, Americans now can enjoy this luscious antioxidant-rich super berry all winter long.

Fresh Blueberry and Cranberry Relish

1 cup fresh blueberries

1 cup fresh orange juice

8 oz. fresh cranberries

1 tablespoon orange zest

3/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar dissolves and the berries soften, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and chill. Best made in advance to let flavors blend.

Makes 12 1/4-cup servings

Nutrients per serving: Calories 76, fat 0, sat fat 0, cholesterol 0, sodium 0, dietary fiber 0, protein 0

Other Ways to Enjoy Blueberry and Cranberry Relish

- Make sure to make enough of this delectable tangy relish to transform your leftover turkey and ham sandwiches from mundane to marvelous

- Ladle some relish into pretty glass jelly jars, tie a ribbon around the lids and take them around to the neighbors as healthy homemade holiday gifts.

- Spoon some of that jewel-toned tasty relish over your morning pancakes, waffles and blintzes or mix into your oatmeal for a sweet healthy way to start your day.

www.chileanfreshfruit.com

Get the Hormones Out of Our Water

2009-11-12T06:52:00.000-08:00

Potomac Conservancy today released its third annual State of the Nation’s River report, calling attention to a variety of pollutants found in the Potomac River that disrupt the endocrine system, which regulates the normal growth and sexual development of vertebrate species, including humans and fish.

The report describes the emergence of these new contaminants in the Potomac River system; features the latest research, exploring the potential relationship of these chemicals to the phenomenon of intersex fish; and reviews shortcomings in current federal and local regulations that are leaving this widespread problem essentially unregulated.

A companion document, the 2009 Potomac Agenda, calls on Congress to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act, and seeks better stormwater regulations at the local level. The report suggests other avenues of future action to address these new pollutants, including updated assessment models for chemicals that may disrupt the regulation and development of the endocrine system, advocates for technology to remove these chemicals from our waste water and drinking water supplies, and calls for regulatory action for state and federal government agencies.

Scientists speaking with reporters on a conference call today said the prevalence of the intersex condition in over 80% of Potomac River fish studied is the “canary in the coal mine,” warning of health problems that can because of endocrine disrupting compounds. Since approximately 90% of D.C.-area drinking water comes from the Potomac River and many other nearby municipalities get their water from surface sources, they said it is critical that steps be taken to limit the amount of these chemicals entering the rivers of the greater Potomac basin.

“Endocrine disrupting compounds are major pollutants in the Potomac watershed, and we need to exercise the utmost caution when introducing these compounds into our rivers, streams and, ultimately, our drinking water,” said Dr. John Peterson “Pete” Myers, chief scientist for Environmental Health Sciences of Charlottesville, Va.

“Water treatment facilities are not yet required to screen for endocrine disrupting contaminants, so they end up in our tap water,” Myers said. “We aren’t sure exactly what level of exposure causes harmful effects to human health, but if the intersex fish phenomenon is any indication, there’s a critical need for regulatory agencies and decision makers to start addressing this issue.”

Endocrine disrupting compounds are chemicals that affect growth, metabolism and reproduction in organisms such as humans and fish. They are found in pesticides, veterinary products, pharmaceuticals, personal care products and biosolids. These contaminants have become so widespread in the environment that they have even been detected in the urine of infants.

The State of the Nation’s River report explains that land uses are providing a critical pathway for such chemicals to enter our water supply. Endocrine disrupting compounds are most prevalent in rivers and streams in industrialized, agricultural, and/or urbanized areas, with particularly high concentrations near sewage treatment plants or other sources of wastewater. Virtually every place where water and chemicals combine becomes a potential source of endocrine disrupting compounds entering sources of drinking water.

At present, there are no water quality standards for endocrine disrupting contaminants. “The federal government has already taken steps to limit so-called legacy pollutants from damaging the natural environment and human health,” said Potomac Conservancy President Hedrick Belin. “It now needs to employ 21st-century scientific testing and update the regulatory framework to deal with the emerging threat of endocrine disrupting compounds found in the Potomac River and its tributaries.”

Potomac Conservancy views the following actions as opportunities to break the cycle of allowing endocrine disruptors to enter our environment unchecked:

• Enforce and strengthen water quality regulations

• Call on EPA to incorporate health and exposure data from drug and chemical manufacturers into the agency’s chemical testing profiles

• Provide funding to develop treatment technology, retrofit our wastewater treatment plants, and upgrade drinking water treatment facilities

• Resolve the problem of agricultural biosolids, which are implicated in the problem as well

• Introduce legislation to establish and implement programs to recover unused prescription drugs rather than having them enter drinking water sources

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please visit www.potomac.org

Mental Health For Veterans Must Be Addressed

2009-11-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

The tragic violence that took place at Fort Hood today is being met with immediate and widespread response. It is imperative that the media responsibly report the shooting and provide adequate resources and information to the public. As members of the military, veterans and family members follow the events of today’s tragedy, they will need resources for support.

Media outlets need to provide contact information for hotlines and emergency services. This could be critical in preventing another tragedy. This population often suffers from Post Traumatic Stress, depression, substance abuse or suicidal tendencies which could be triggered from today’s shooting.

Important Resources:

• Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) 866-966-1020

• Military One Source 1-800-342-9647

• The VA Veterans’ Crisis Intervention Hotline 1-888-899-9377

• Veteran Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) *Press 1 to be connected immediately to VA suicide prevention and mental health service professionals

Local Vet Centers

San Francisco Vet Center

505 Polk Street

San Francisco, CA 94102

Phone: 415-441-5051

Oakland Vet Center

1504 Franklin St. Suite 200

Oakland, CA 94612

Phone: 510-763-3904

Or search for a Vet Center in your local: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/vetcenter.asp

About Swords to Plowshares

War causes wounds and suffering that last beyond the battlefield. Our mission is to heal the wounds, to restore dignity, hope, and self-sufficiency to all veterans in need, and to reduce homelessness and poverty among veterans. Learn more about the work of Swords to Plowshares, and ways in which you can help, by visiting our website at www.stp-sf.org.

How You Can Help Feed The Hungry

2009-11-05T06:50:00.000-08:00

The Land O'Lakes Foundation recently announced the launch of a strategic initiative – Feeding Our Communities – focused on helping alleviate hunger locally, nationally (in rural America) and globally.

“Recent global economic uncertainty has resulted in an increased demand on hunger-focused programs here at home and around the globe,” Land O'Lakes Foundation Executive Director Lydia Botham said today. “As a farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative, Land O'Lakes and the Land O'Lakes Foundation are committed to helping address this issue. Feeding Our Communities is intended to apply our resources and expertise in a very focused and strategic way – locally, nationally and globally.”

Local

Twin Cities-based Land O'Lakes, Inc. (www.landolakesinc.com) and the Land O'Lakes Foundation are taking a proactive role in supporting local hunger relief programs. Those efforts include partnering with KARE 11 Television and the United Way.

“We are working through KARE 11's 'Take KARE of Your Community' program,” Botham explained. “Visit the station's Web site (www.KARE11.com), click on the 'Take KARE' and 'of your community' links. Then you'll see the 'Operation Co-operation' link, with its green 'YOU CLICK. WE DONATE.' hot button. For every click, the Land O'Lakes Foundation will donate one dollar, up to $100,000, to local hunger relief programs. We urge area residents to take a few moments to visit the site. The more clicks, the more we donate.”

“Our goal is to generate new funding for local hunger relief efforts,” Botham said. “We believe enhancing our traditional support of community hunger initiatives through Operation Co-operation will not only generate additional funding, but also bring increased visibility and community recognition of the hunger issue.”

Botham added that Land O'Lakes is partnering with General Mills and Cargill to sponsor the Twin Cities Hunger Forum on Nov. 10.

National

On a national level, as part of the Feeding Our Communities initiative, the Land O'Lakes Foundation Board of Directors has approved funding for a program with the potential to generate up to an additional $1 million for hunger-related programs in rural communities – delivered through a combination of direct grants and the Foundation's Member Co-op Match Program.

“There is a tendency to underestimate the impact of hunger in rural communities,” Botham said. “But the fact is, the percentage of rural households that are food insecure matches, or even exceeds, the percentage of urban households. As a farmer-owned cooperative, Land O'Lakes is committed to addressing the quality of life in rural communities.”

“The Feeding Our Communities grant program represents a direct response to the increased need we are seeing in today's challenging economy,” Land O'Lakes Foundation Board Chairman Jim Hager said. “It channels financial resources into the communities where our members live, work, farm and do business. It represents a very focused approach to a very significant, and growing, need. Just as important, it involves member- cooperatives in identifying and addressing needs within their local communities.”

In another national initiative, Land O'Lakes is launching a new “First-Run” program, with a commitment to delivering an additional truckload (approximately 20 tons) of fresh product a month to hunger relief programs over the coming year.

“This program basically makes use of time when our production facilities might otherwise be idle to manufacture product for donation,” Botham said. “A key element in this effort is the involvement of our employees, as well as suppliers, packagers or transportation providers we work with.”

Global

On a global level, Feeding Our Communities includes an ongoing commitment to leadership in the delivery of food aid and economic and agricultural development assistance to nutrition deficit regions and emerging economies,” Botham said. “We do this through our International Development Division, working in collaboration with a host of public and private partners.”

Botham indicated that, in 2009, the Land O'Lakes International Development Division will reach more than 200,000 youngsters through the Global School Nutrition Program and is implementing economic development assistance projects in 28 nations.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. (www.landolakesinc.com) is a national, farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of $12 billion. Land O'Lakes is a Fortune 300 company which does business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the United States; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers and ranchers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, and crop protection products) and services. Land O'Lakes also provides agricultural assistance and technical training in more than 25 developing nations.

The Land O'Lakes Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life in communities where Land O'Lakes Inc. has members, employees, plants and facilities. Land O'Lakes Foundation proactively helps rural communities prosper and prepare for tomorrow by donating resources that develop and strengthen organizations dedicated to human service, education and youth, civic and art endeavors.

Warning Signs For Alzheimer's

2009-11-04T06:56:00.000-08:00

November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, and the recently released World Alzheimer Report declares that more than 35 million people worldwide will have dementia by 2010. CRL Senior Living Communities, an industry innovator with 16 independent living and assisted living and Alzheimer’s/memory care communities in Wisconsin and Illinois, offers the following tips to help people recognize some of the common Alzheimer’s disease warning signs.

1. Difficulty completing usual tasks

2. Memory loss that impairs daily life

3. Difficulty in planning or problem solving

4. Confusion about time or place

5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships

6. New problems with words in speaking or writing

7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps

8. Decreased or poor judgment

9. Withdrawal from work or social activities

10. Significant changes in mood and personality

More information is available at www.crlcares.com

Tips for eating well on a budget

2009-11-03T06:51:00.000-08:00

In a tough economic environment, eating well on a budget can be challenging. Tempting low-cost, high-calorie comfort foods are readily available, but often lack important nutrients that are sacrificed in exchange for convenience. With a few key skills and strategies from TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight-loss support organization, it can be relatively easy to create flavorful, well-balanced meals without busting the budget.

Eat In More and Out Less

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service found that spending on food away from home accounted for nearly half of every American food dollar, or $565 billion, in 2008. While they require more planning, home-cooked meals are an excellent way to minimize your grocery bill and they are typically healthier than the options you may find when dining out.

According to Katie Clark, M.P.H., R.D., C.D.E., Assistant Clinical Professor of Nutrition at the University of California - San Francisco and nutrition expert for TOPS, “Eating at home is a great way to save money and create nutritious meals; because you control exactly what goes into your food, you are more likely to avoid excess calories as well.”

To save money while cooking at home, try some of these tips:

* Make at least one meal meatless. Choose recipes that utilize eggs or dried beans – like pinto or northern beans – as the main protein.

* Double your recipes and freeze leftovers or extra amounts of meat, bread, and cooked vegetables. Bring to work for lunch or use the excess ingredients as inspiration for future meals.

* Eat dinner as a family, or consider having a weekly potluck with neighbors to reduce the cost per person of your meals.

* Clip coupons, avoiding “new food” coupon gimmicks that often are low in nutritional value.

* Subscribe to a healthy cooking magazine, or peruse recipe books for healthy ideas.

Plan Meals for the Week in Advance

A meal planning chart or simple shopping list for the week are great tools for the budget-minded, health-conscious consumer. Knowing what you already have in the pantry and what you intend to make ahead of time reduces impulse spending, saves time, and improves the nutritional value of your meal.

* Take part of one day a week to plan the upcoming week’s menu. Search “meal planning charts” on the Internet for a variety of templates and convenient shopping tools.

* Read the supermarket circulars in your local newspaper, or look online for weekly specials that can help guide your meal planning.

* Post meal plans on the refrigerator door where the entire family can see it and refer back to it throughout the week. This also helps avoid the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?”

Only Shop Once a Week

In addition to shopping at grocery stores, Clark recommends trying local markets and even dollar stores.

“Deals often abound on seasonal items, and you can find a wide variety of quality produce, meat, and fish,” she notes. “Butchers offer occasional fresh or specialty items on sale. When you can select the exact quantity you want, you end up saving more money than you would with larger ‘value’ packs that you may not use or that contribute unnecessarily to your daily caloric budget.”

Some other suggestions include:

* Only shop once a week. This makes it easier to avoid unnecessary purchases and encourages you to stick to your weekly menu.

* Have a snack before you visit the grocery store. Shopping on an empty stomach can lead to impulse buying.

* “Shop the perimeter,” remembering that the least healthy and most overpriced packaged foods are concentrated in the middle aisles.

* If fresh fruits and vegetables are cost-prohibitive, try the frozen or canned versions. Frozen produce is often flash frozen at the source, locking in nutrients. Rinse canned vegetables before cooking to reduce the sodium content.

* Buy generics, which are often less expensive than name-brand items.

* Choose prepared foods with short ingredient lists and minimal additives or artificial ingredients.

Use Unit Pricing to Get the Best Value

Savvy shoppers know that using unit pricing can maximize their purchasing power. Commonly listed in small print below or to the side of the total price and as dollars or cents per unit of weight – such as pounds, ounces, or grams – unit pricing can be a valuable tool that helps you make an informed choice about your purchases.

Grocery stores don’t always post the costs on sale items; bring a calculator with you to the supermarket, or use the calculator on your cell phone.

Buying “economy” or “family size” containers is sometimes, but not always, a better buy. Larger packages that have a lower cost per unit than their smaller counterparts are only going to save you money if you will truly eat all of the food in the package. If it spoils and has to be thrown away, it could just be a waste of your money.

Packaging Gets Downsized

Be cautious of stores’ shrinking food packages and their content while prices stay the same. Common changes include packaging redesign that holds fewer ounces by way of indented container bottoms, cartons that hold 1/4 less of a quart, and boxes that remain the same size but actually have smaller bags of product inside.

“I recommend taking a few extra moments to examine the containers of your potential purchases before you buy,” says Clark. “If you’re not careful, you could be paying the same amount for what used to be one or two more servings, ounces, or pounds per container. Ensure that you are getting the same products that you have purchased in the past.”

Diabetes and Vision Loss

2009-10-31T12:20:00.000-07:00

An estimated 17.9 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and another 57 million people are at risk of getting the disease?

What many of these individuals may not know is that all people with diabetes - both type 1 and type 2 - are at risk for getting diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of vision loss among adults in the United States. In fact, people with diabetes are 25 times more likely to lose their vision than those without the disease.

November is Diabetes Eye Health Month and during this month-long health observance EyeCare America is asking Americans with diabetes to know the ABCs of diabetes and eye health.

A - Alert your Eye M.D. if you have been diagnosed with diabetes;

B - Be sure to have your eyes examined regularly; and

C - Call 1-800-272-EYES (3937), if you are 65 or older and without an ophthalmologist, to see if you qualify for a no-cost dilated eye exam through EyeCare America's Diabetes EyeCare Program.

By following these simple steps EyeCare America hopes to help protect seniors from preventable vision loss caused by diabetes.

"Diabetes causes up to 24,000 new cases of vision loss each year," said C. Pat Wilkinson, MD, ophthalmologist and chairman of EyeCare America's Diabetes EyeCare Program. "What people don't know is that early detection, timely treatment and appropriate follow-up care can reduce their risk of blindness by 95 percent even for people with established and significant diabetic retinopathy."

Diabetic retinopathy is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina. In some people with diabetic retinopathy, blood vessels may swell and leak fluid. In other people, abnormal new blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina. In its early stages, diabetic retinopathy usually has no warning signs. Over time, however, the vision blurs and everyday tasks become more difficult. Vision loss cannot usually be regained.

EyeCare America's Diabetes EyeCare Program is designed for people who:

- Are age 65 and older

- Are U.S. citizens or legal residents

- Have not seen an ophthalmologist in three or more years

- Do not have insurance through an HMO or the VA

People eligible for a referral through the program receive a comprehensive, medical eye exam and up to one year of care at no out-of-pocket cost for any disease diagnosed during the initial exam. Volunteer ophthalmologists accept Medicare and/or other insurance reimbursement as payment in full. Individuals without insurance are seen at no charge.

For a Diabetes EyeCare Program referral, those interested may call 1.800.272.EYES (3937) toll-free, 24 hours a day, every day, year round.

To learn more about diabetic retinopathy, its risk factors and treatment options; view informative videos; and to learn how your vision would be affected by diabetic retinopathy, visit www.eyecareamerica.org.

New Home Allergy Tests for Children

2009-10-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

Far too many allergy parents know first hand the health and quality of life limitations that their allergies or allergic asthma cause them, and will do whatever is necessary to protect their children from the same allergy future. Regrettably, when allergy parents bring their allergy child in for physician treatment, because cold, flu and allergy symptoms are often similar, a child's physician will typically focus only on cold and flu, leaving allergy as a very distant treatment consideration.

Glenn Toth M.D., FAAFP and Medical Director for DropYourAllergies.com, said: "For far too long, allergies have been considered a nuisance, rather than the lifetime Engine of multiple 'allergy driven' diseases that it is. The truth is, 80% of child asthma is caused by allergies with 90 % of pediatric asthmatics demonstrating allergic asthma symptoms before age 5. GA2LEN, an European Allergy Asthma Consortium has even posed the question: 'Today's Allergy…Tomorrow's (Allergic) Asthma?' Greatly, lending credence that early testing and neutralization of allergy is a cornerstone toward abating allergy progression to allergic asthma and beyond."

Toward this goal, DropYourAllergies.com is committed to assisting allergy parents and their physicians, confront and defuse their child's Allergy March head on. Beginning with a simple, FDA Approved, at-home allergy test, parents can order and test their child to determine if their child sufferers from any of the top ten allergy disease producing allergens that signal the emergence of Allergy March.

As with physician office-based allergy blood testing, the AllergyMarchTopTen.com kit measures specific allergen IgE antibody levels that reflect allergy sensitivity. A few drops of blood are gathered via finger prick or heel stick for infants (9 months or older), then popped into an envelope and mailed to the lab.

"Following test completion, allergy parents will know if their child is at Allergy March risk or not. Such that they and their child's physician can make the informed decision as to whether expanded allergy testing and eventually immunotherapy is the best course of action," said Stephen Hauer, Principal of DropYourAllergies.com. "The last thing a loving mother and father want to learn, is that their child's suffering and eventual irreversible disease status could have been prevented by diagnostic testing and neutralization of allergy disease early on."

Unfortunately, the only traditional, clinically proven treatment that neutralizes allergy disease, termed immunotherapy, involves frequent and inconvenient office visits and involves shots -- something no one likes, especially kids, who need immunotherapy the most. So regardless of clinical efficacy, unfortunately ouch non-compliance prevails and child Allergy March continues and exacerbates unabated.

To overcome this un-friendly "ouch" method of immunotherapy, while still on task to neutralize child allergy, DropYourAllergies.com offers drug-free, custom formulated, self administered allergy oral drops that can be prescribed by your primary physician. As with shots, allergy drops neutralize the child's test identified offending allergens providing similar relief without the frequent, painful shots or troubling side effects.

Hauer said: "As a parent of two, I can't imagine getting Mom's taxi and my kids to a specialist every week …especially for shots! Now get them to take our doctor's prescribed drops at home, after brushing morning and night -- that would not be an issue at all."

New Program for Learning Hindi Announced

2009-10-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'll bet you did not know that Hindi is the fourth most spoken language in the world (after Mandarin, Spanish and English). Although many languages are spoken in India, Hindi is it's official tongue. Despite its enormous popularity, until very recently there has been a remarkable shortage of online programs for people who want to learn to speak and understand Hindi.

But why would you want to take Hindi lessons? Well, for movie fans, the Indian film industry, known as Bollywood, is the second largest on earth, and what better way to fully appreciate those amazing movies than to not have to read subtitles? For business people, India is fast becoming a world leader in science, commerce, information systems and digital media. Businesses that want to expand their operations and sales to South Asia will be recruiting people who not only speak Hindi but also have an appreciation of the Indian culture to market their products to a Hindi-speaking population.

What put this notion into our heads was when we were made aware of a fascinating new website about an English-speaking Canadian man who was searching for a way to learn Hindi almost to no avail until he discovered a new Hindi language course that was so new the ink on its packaging was practically still wet. Anyway, you can learn more about what Hindi language course he eventually chose if you go to the Hindi Course Review website.

People Still Confusing Plastic Wrap With Condoms

2009-10-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

A new series of videos has been announced that present to the public the facts about sexually transmitted diseases. With a balance of accurate STD information and an engaging approach to sharing it, new videos expose Top STD Myths that exist in U.S. culture which may discourage sexually-active adults from critical health screening.

"With 19 million new reported STD cases each year, there's clearly a disconnect between facts and behavior around sexual health," says Michelle Sobel, co-founder of Analyte Media, the publisher of STDTestExpress.com. "An estimated 65 million US citizens are living with an STD - about 1 in 4 will contract an STD in their lifetime. There's so much misinformation out there. We want to open up the dialogue by trading fact for myths while helping people access a private and affordable way to get tested for STDs."

Site Uses Personal Videos to Engage and Educate Consumers

Sobel, who also co-founded of Emmi Solutions, one of the most awarded health communications products in the industry, understands the impact of personalizing information to help people make positive actions that improve their health.

"The fact is, people have many ways to hear and see healthcare information, but against all the media messages in a day, does it sink in?" asks Sobel. "STD Text Express showcases very human, personal stories that help people realize they aren't the only ones who've ever believed an absolute myth when it comes to how you can contract or infect someone with a sexually transmitted disease. Using video and distributing via the Web is a great way to expose myths and say, 'Here are the facts. Be smart, get tested.' "

VIDEO

The Top 10 Myths about Sexually Transmitted Diseases:

1. You can't get an STD from oral sex.

2. You can only get herpes when your partner is having an outbreak that you can see.

3. If you have an STD, you'll see it, feel it and know it.

4. Only promiscuous people and "players" get STDs.

5. If you have sex in a pool or hot tub, the chlorine will kill anything and everything.

6. If you don't have a condom, use plastic wrap.

7. Only young people get STDs.

8. Skin to skin contact isn't enough. You can only get an STD from semen.

9. The Pill prevents STDs.

10. Chlamydia and gonorrhea are no big deal and aren't harmful.

STD Test Express provides online access to STD testing and follow-up healthcare counseling. Service is fast, private and affordable with a full range of individual tests, test panels and even a test plan with pricing to encourage testing now - and in 90 days as a follow up.

The service, recognized by the American Social Health Association (ASHA) for its positive messaging around sexual health, encourages people to stop wondering and start actively managing their sexual health. Earlier this year STD Test Express won a WebAward for Standard of Excellence in the category of Healthcare. Other 2009 WebAward Healthcare winners included McKesson Corporation, Walgreens, Livestrong, and Mayo Clinic Health Solutions.

In addition to STD Myths Exposed, other high impact areas of www.stdtestexpress.com include:

- STD Test Recommender - A free personalized test recommendation based on the CDC and other national health guidelines, lifestyle and other risk factors. http://www.stdtestexpress.com/test-recommender

- UNZIPPED - A sexual health blog responding to user questions and comments. http://blog.stdtestexpress.com

- Real Stories - a series of videos featuring consumers with a wide array of STD stories and how testing has impacted their lives. http://www.stdtestexpress.com/std-stories

About STD Test Express (www.STDTestExpress.com)

STDTestExpress.com is a leading provider of physician-authorized STD testing and results counseling, with most current accurate information about sexually transmitted disease and STD testing. The American Social Health Association (ASHA) has endorsed STD Test Express for its positive messaging about sexual health. STD Test Express is managed by Analyte Media.

Convenience Store Goes Green

2009-10-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

If Whole Foods and 7-11 had a love child, Locali Conscious Convenience might just be theirs. A mom and pop shop meant for the new millennium, Locali offers value and sustainable food service with its full service deli. Catering to vegans and omnivores alike, as well as those with gluten and soy allergies, Locali's unique and delicious soups, salads and sandwiches draw a loyal following.

The small format eco and health friendly market packs a carefully selected inventory of natural and organic food, beverages, coffee, wine, beer, health, beauty and household items into under 500 square feet of retail space. Besides soups, salads and sandwiches, Locali features updated versions of several convenience store favorites. There's agave-sweetened slushies, organic hot pretzels and even vegan nachos to enjoy.

However, it's Locali's pre-packaged meals and baked goods from local food artisans along with their deli menu (http://www.localiyours.com/menu.pdf) that have lead sales since the opening in January 2009. "In fact, the majority of Locali's customer base are regulars who visit multiple times daily to enjoy our organic made-to-order menu and grab n' go selections," states owner, Greg Horos.

Inspired by in-person satisfaction and positive online dialogues from customers about Locali's fresh sandwiches, Horos along with his wife and business partner, Melissa Rosen, worked with Locali's chef and deli manager, Heather Joy Morrison, to expand their menu. The result is a delectable mix of panini and cold sandwiches that feature Applegate Farms® meats, rBGH-free cheeses and organic produce on locally baked breads.

There is also an additional array of unforgettable vegan sandwiches. Tempeh meatball subs, vegan BLTs and faux rosemary chicken salad sandwiches are some satisfying options for those who don't consume animal products or are looking to reduce their meat intake. In fact, any sandwich at Locali can be made with a non-GMO vegan meat substitute or cheese alternative upon request. All sandwiches can be made with gluten-free bread to accommodate those with celiac concerns. Since there's something for everyone, it's not a surprise that Locali's catering services are increasingly in high demand.

The new menu is rounded out by savory soups, organic salads full of local greens from Kenter Canyon Farms®, gluten-free wraps, loaded baked potatoes, satiating smoothies and a variety of breakfast options. "We're not giving lip service to quality," states Horos, "Melissa, and I source the best ingredients for our patrons and you truly can taste the difference." Those looking for a bargain on Locali's mouthwatering sandwiches will find the deli now offers hearty half sandwiches for under $5.00. "We're committed to a sustainable business model that puts community involvement and customer value first," adds Rosen.

In many ways, Locali is one of the pioneers in the small footprint restaurant and retail movements. "All of our service ware and deli packaging is biodegradable. We commercially compost our waste. Our recycling program benefits Recycled Movie, a film production company that teaches vocational skills to children as they make movies about the environment," notes Rosen, "We also encourage our customers to bring their reusable containers to fill up with free reverse osmosis filtered water, rather than sell petroleum-based plastic bottled water."

Locali strives to do it's part to conserve while at the same time hoping to provide its community with convenient access to healthy and sustainably produced food. Completely gutting their commercial space to be as eco-friendly as possible, Locali's shelving and counters are made from reclaimed Douglas Fir wood, their appliances are energy efficient, their walls are painted with non-VOC paints, their ceiling tiles are made of recycled materials and their lighting, including outside signage, is LED.

Locali's inspired design, eclectic product merchandising and unique menu have attracted the attention of both local and international publications. Locali and their mobile frozen dessert bike, The Icycle has been featured in the LA Times, Vogue Nippon and Madame Figaro.

Greg Horos and Melissa Rosen have a passion for healthy eating and a mission to make a difference through their innovative business model. Facing a litany of franchise requests already, the couple has begun to investigate this avenue of expansion. "We're also looking for the perfect second location in Los Angeles where we can fill a need," states Horos, "While at the same time, constantly searching for ways to get more involved in our current Franklin Village neighborhood." Locali donates to various local charitable causes on an ongoing basis. From volunteering their time to lead green business workshops to working on urban farming projects to sponsoring an elementary school field trip to a Community Supported Agriculture farm, Melissa, Greg and their staff are committed to improving the lives of others in multiple small ways...one sandwich at a time.

Fighting Childhood Obesity

2009-10-19T06:18:00.000-07:00

Obesity is the top health risk in America as well as a leading cause of heart disease, diabetes and stroke, according to a June report from The U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Jim May, founder of the Gilbert, Ariz.-based company that produces SweetLeaf Sweetener® (http://www.sweetleaf.com/), is taking a stand against childhood obesity, a condition that defines nearly one-fifth of American children. The Department of Health and Human Services says that 1 in 3 youngsters is overweight.

May is teaming up with the Worthy Institute (http://worthyinstitute.com/), WellCare Foundation (http://www.wellcarefoundation.org/) and the American Heart Association (http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000) to present the 2009 Arizona Children's Obesity Conference: A Community Taking Action (http://worthyinstitute.com/page/1lyiu/2009_Childrens_Obesity_Conference.html).

May's co-sponsorship of the event represents both a personal and a professional concern over the rapidly increasing rates of childhood obesity. May is confident that there are solutions to this epidemic of childhood obesity. In its latest Scientific Statement, the American Heart Association boldly said that added dietary sugars lead to cardiovascular disease. Reducing the amount of sugary foods and beverages is an important step toward a healthier heart and greater quality of life for children and their families.

Administrators from the Arizona Department of Health Services will join with health care professionals from both the private and public sectors to share information and exchange ideas as to how the State, schools and communities can develop and implement strategies to successfully combat childhood obesity. One of the changes that the Arizona Department of Health Services has already made is to change the regulations in the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) (http://www.azwic.gov/) nutrition program to promote healthier eating.

Jim May applauds this change. As the first person to bring stevia to the United States in 1982, May is known as the "Father of Stevia," and has spent his life researching and promoting the uses and health benefits of the Paraguayan plant.

"Arizona has taken a first step with the kind of common-sense action that will make our state healthier," he said. "We need more movement across Arizona and the nation to confront the obesity epidemic. I have worked 27 years to make people healthier and I have no plans to stop now."

Jim's passion for health and purity extends into his business philosophy. SweetLeaf Sweetener® is the only zero-calorie, zero-carbohydrate, zero-glycemic index sweetener that uses no chemicals or solvents in processing, making it 100%-natural and ideal for diabetics. SweetLeaf™ is made from the stevia plant, a naturally sweet plant native to Paraguay whose leaves are 30 times sweeter than sugar in its unprocessed form, which can be 300-350 times sweeter than sugar when purified. SweetLeaf™ recently achieved GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status, the FDA's designation of quality. The U.S. stevia and natural-sweetener industry is projected to expand from $100 million this year to $2 billion by 2011.

How to keep your auto glass windshield intact

2009-10-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

While some instances of glass damage are unavoidable, there are often instances resulting in repair and/or replacement that could have been easily avoided. As an expert on windshield problems, Auto Glass Guru offers 3 driving tips that will enable drivers to avoid as many instances of glass damage as possible.

3 Driving Tips that Will Aid Drivers in Avoiding Glass Damage:

1. Never tail gate a large vehicle (i.e. dump truck, garbage truck, tractor trailer, etc.) It's really a good idea never to tailgate any vehicle, but large vehicles have a higher likelihood to have been mobile in areas of loose gravel, etc. and they also tend to cause more damage due to the difference in height. (A rock that is kicked up by a car is not going to have the same negative effect as a rock that has fallen from a significant distance (say the top of a 10 wheel dump truck) to hit the windshield of a small to mid-sized car.

2. Be aware of construction zones. Loose gravel and other loose construction material and refuse leads to a large majority of auto glass damage. Stay out of construction areas or drive slowly and cautiously.

3. Take advantage of covered parking areas. If using the covered parking at your place of business results in a longer walk to your vehicle…do it anyway.

Jace Green of Auto Glass Guru suggests, "If drivers just take advantage of a few driving tips they can avoid the hassle and the cost of repairing or replacing their windshield in most cases. Doing so would cut back on unnecessary time spent scheduling the repair or replacement, the cost of the repair/replacement and it will also cut down on the waste created when a windshield is replaced." Even with insurance the cost of replacing a windshield can be inhibitive for many on a fixed income. And while repairing a windshield is far less costly, some areas have high rates of glass damage and repetitive repair costs can add up.

Eat Potatoes For Better Health?

2009-10-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

Syngenta announced today the company will make a donation for every view its new video receives between Wednesday, October 7 and Friday, November 20, 2009, to Feeding America formerly America’s Second Harvest.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Syngenta to educate people on the health benefits of the potato while also working with an organization that, like Syngenta, does its part to feed the world,” said Mary DeMers, horticulture communication manager at Syngenta.

The 30-second commercial posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/) highlights some of the lesser known nutritional facts about potatoes. The potato is fat free, rich in Vitamin C and potassium, and contains only 100 calories. The video was a collaborative effort among Syngenta, the National Potato Council (http://www.nationalpotatocouncil.org/) and the United States Potato Board (http://www.uspotatoes.com/).

“We believe reaching the consumer about the health benefits of potatoes is very important,” said DeMers. “Our donation to Feeding America is also important given the economic situation as the holiday season approaches. We’re looking forward to touching the lives of many Americans through this effort, especially since potatoes are such a large part of the Thanksgiving holiday tradition.”

The donation to Feeding America coincides with the holiday season, a time when many families receive donations of food and gifts from companies and individuals across the nation. The donation from Syngenta will be given to Feeding America to purchase fresh and non-perishable potatoes for its food banks to distribute to families in need.

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 24,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life.

Recipe for coping with Halloween temptation

2009-10-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

Are you worried about unwanted weight gain due to all of those Halloween goodies that will soon be filling up your home? When Halloween treats start to cast a spell, TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) can help ward off unwanted pounds with timely coping suggestions.

To manage temptation, try the following “out of sight, out of mind” tips:

* Buy treats that aren’t so enticing. If chocolate is a food trigger, buy only gummy treats or small boxes of raisins to distribute to trick-or-treaters.

* Remove excess candy corn and other sweets immediately after trick-or-treat hours end. Give treats to a food pantry, homeless shelter, or, if needed, toss surplus candy in the garbage.

* Turn the refrigerator or pantry door into a roadblock rather than an entry point. Decorate it with a frightful image of a monster ready to terrorize a food plan, or a cute orange curtain that literally blocks the way into the vault of food.

Remember that Halloween treats can include non-food items. Halloween fun lasts longer when kids receive:

* Stickers, colorful shoelaces, or small containers of bubbles from a party store or dollar store.

* New pencils – orange or black – to use at school, along with shaped erasers.

* Pennies, perhaps wrapped in appropriately “slime green” cellophane wrap.

Join In the Festivities, Sensibly

There’s no need to avoid Halloween parties. During trick-or-treat hours or at costume events, get in the spirit of the season by wearing toy plastic “fangs.” Others will love the fun, theatrical look, and the mouthpiece will keep you from overindulging in treats.

A tip to limit sugar, suggested by TOPS member Viola Jarvis, outlines how to eat just one cookie. This method, which can make a cookie last 15 to 20 minutes, satisfies a craving for sugar while adding minimal calories. Follow these four steps:

* Buy the kind of sandwich cookie that has frosting in the middle.

* Twist the cookie apart and lick each side slowly until the cream is gone. This will take several minutes and provide a mindful sugary sensation.

* Nibble the two cookie halves in tiny bites, enjoying the texture of crumbs being chewed and swallowed.

Halloween Baking

Costume the top of the following recipe with dollops of fat-free whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles. Another festive look is to put jack-o’-lantern faces on each serving. Just before serving, tint fat-free whipped cream with orange food coloring, and frost the cake with it. Dot each serving with raisins for eyes and add pineapple tidbits for a crooked grin.

Pumpkin Cake *

4 eggs, beaten

Three-fourths cup sugar

One-fourth cup canola oil

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 30-ounce can pumpkin pie filling

3 cups whole-wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 tablespoon cinnamon, or to taste

Three-fourths cup raisins

One-fourth cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix eggs, sugar, oil, applesauce, and pumpkin. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Combine wet and dry ingredients just until moistened. Add raisins and nuts. Spoon batter into two loaf pans or one Bundt pan. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Makes 16 servings.

*This recipe can also be converted into cupcakes for handy individual servings. Lessen cooking time as needed.

Living a healthy lifestyle is all in your head

2009-09-30T06:13:00.000-07:00

A new book has been published that shows people how to successfully gain self-motivation to stick with healthy eating and regular exercise as a way of living that feels too good to stop.

"People know it takes a healthy lifestyle to be in control of their weight, health and fitness, but they just can't seem to do what they know they should," says author and America's Healthy Lifestyle Coach Alice Greene. "The answer isn't greater willpower, incentives or penalties as most assume, but instead changing the way people think and feel about food and exercise so they easily and naturally want to make healthy and fit choices because it feels good physically, mentally and emotionally."

As a woman who has maintained a healthy lifestyle for nine years after overcoming chronic health issues while losing six dress sizes in two years (from size 16 to size 4), Greene knows firsthand what works to successfully and continually stay motivated to stick with healthy eating and regular exercise as a way of life. She has also coached hundreds of others to do the same, including the sixty clients whose stories are in this book.

Specifically, her book Inspired to Feel Good identifies and explains why only twenty-six percent of U.S. adults engage in regular exercise (Centers for Disease Control) or why ninety-five percent of dieters will fail and regain their weight loss (National Eating Disorders Association), despite the wide availability of fitness, nutritional and medical information, experts and programs.

"There is a reason the majority of the population hasn't benefited from this vast array of resources ," says Greene. "These programs don't target the real problem and, in many cases, worsen the situation. Most people strive to succeed and struggle to understand when they don't stick with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and they aren't getting the help they need to identify what is sabotaging their behaviors and goals."

What has been missed by physicians, nutritionists, personal trainers and other experts is the hidden subconscious emotional and mental mindset that drives a person's behavior, which can result in overeating, emotional eating, cravings, binge eating, exercise resistance, self-criticism, ambivalence or denial, as well as yo-yo dieting, yo-yo exercising and yo-yo weight loss.

Inspired to Feel Good (www.feelyourpersonalbest.com/inspired-to-feel-good.asp) teaches people how to create a positive relationship with food and exercise, overcome sabotaging behaviors, and be inspired and motivated to easily make healthier choices. The book provides a step-by-step behavior modification coaching program that is individualized. Anyone, even those who have given up, can finally succeed at maintaining weight loss, healthy eating and regular exercise that is realistic, enjoyable and easily incorporated into real life. The healthy lifestyle coaching techniques used in the program build self-awareness, self-motivation, self-insight, self-confidence and self-esteem. Instead of feeling out of control, readers will finally feel in charge of their choices, delight in their successes and naturally gravitate to more healthy choices because they love how it makes them feel.

In addition to benefiting individual consumers, the book is ideal for healthcare providers, companies or organizations promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors to the public or employees.

Reducing Teen Pregnancy and STDs Through Education

2009-09-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

With 24 health centers throughout Colorado, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is working to raise awareness about the need for Congress to fully fund medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education for all teens during a week of action (Sept. 28 - Oct. 2) called Sex Education: Protecting Our Future.

Amid the news that the United States has the highest rate of teen pregnancy of the most developed countries in the world and that at least one in four teenage girls has a sexually transmitted disease, Planned Parenthood affiliates and PPRM's Advocates for Choice (A4C) campus chapters are sponsoring grassroots events and contacting elected officials to urge them to fully fund sex education to address these public health issues.

"An estimated 729,000 teenagers are expected to become pregnant this year, and nearly four million will contract a STD," said PPRM President and CEO Vicki Cowart. "To reduce these alarmingly high numbers, teens in Colorado should have access to comprehensive, age-appropriate information and education, giving them resources to make responsible decisions about their health and their lives."

PPRM is a recognized regional leader in advancing and providing comprehensive, medically accurate and age-appropriate sex education. PPRM offers short and long-term programs, which target individuals of all ages. In 2008, PPRM educators reached 17,869 people in Colorado alone through 1,960 education sessions, working with 200 diverse collaborators including school districts and religious organizations. PPRM is also a member of the Healthy Colorado Youth Alliance, a statewide coalition recently formed to increase access to comprehensive sex education.

In the last decade, more than $1.5 billion federal and state dollars were wasted on what was proven to be dangerous abstinence-only programs that deny teenagers lifesaving information. The Obama administration has ended funding for ineffective abstinence-only programs.

Recently, a study by the Guttmacher Institute found that most federally funded abstinence-only programs do not help delay teens' sexually activity. In contrast, the study reports comprehensive sex education programs had a positive impact and should be more widely used.

A nationwide study conducted by the University of Washington found that teens who had comprehensive sex education were less likely to become teen parents than teens who had no sex education or who were in abstinence-only programs.

At the federal level, President Obama and a majority in the U.S. Congress are supporting medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education, which helps reduce teen pregnancy, by including it in their budget appropriations bills.

As a health care provider, Planned Parenthood knows firsthand the power of education to help teens make responsible decisions about their health. Every year, PPRM provides more than 127,000 women, men, and teens with the health care and information they need to prevent unintended pregnancy and protect their health. For more information visit http://www.pprm.org

Stress Can Be Deadly

2009-09-28T07:23:00.000-07:00

Up to 90 percent of ALL health problems are related to stress, according to a report released recently by the American Holistic Medical Association.

How can stress be controlled?

Stress is the "wear and tear" on the mind and body in response to everyday tensions and hassles. When left unchecked, it can be quite detrimental to health and well-being. Stress affects people physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. According to the American Institute of Stress, up to 90 percent of all health problems are related to stress. It is, however, not the stressful events themselves that do the harm; it's how people perceive and respond to them. Chronic health conditions often evolve from persistent stress or, in other cases, are exacerbated by stress, which can impede recovery.

Research is continuing to show the important, bidirectional pathways by which stress, negative emotions, social and psycho-spiritual factors affect physiological events and processes, thus serving as important co-determinants of health and performance.

Increasingly, emotional self-regulation is being recognized as a key factor to balance health, recover from illness and improve performance. More than ever before, health professionals are aware of this reality - that the nature of almost all illness is best addressed both in mind and in body. The public is also increasingly aware of this and are seeking out health care options that are more congruent with this value. Educators also recognize the critical role of emotions to the learning process.

Emotions and feelings have a powerful impact on the human body. Negative emotional reactions mediate undesirable physiologic changes that can create or exacerbate a variety of health problems including heart disease, hypertension, headaches, stroke, depression and sleep disorders. Positive emotions on the other hand, such as appreciation, care, love and compassion, not only feel good, they are good for one's health.

A growing body of research is beginning to provide objective evidence that positive emotions may indeed be the key to optimal functioning, enhancing nearly all spheres of human experience. Positive emotions have been demonstrated to improve health, increase longevity, increase cognitive flexibility and creativity, facilitate broad-minded coping, innovative problem-solving, and promote helpfulness, generosity and effective cooperation.

This means the average person can control his or her own stress, as long as they have the proper tools and guidance.

Protecting Elders From Financial Abuse

2009-09-23T06:40:00.001-07:00

With experts calling elder financial abuse (www.firstbanks.com) the ''crime of the 21st century,'' seniors need to protect themselves from financial exploitation and abuse. To help seniors protect themselves, First Bank offers these tips:

- Don't be threatened or intimidated. Never let yourself get rushed into a deal

- Plan ahead to protect your assets and to ensure that your wishes are followed

- Check references and credentials of anyone who wants to work in your home

- Do not allow people working for you to have access to or information about your finances

- Never give personal information to anyone who phones you

- Consult with a financial advisor or attorney before signing any document you do not understand

- Never pay a fee or taxes to collect "winnings"

- Feel free to say "no." After all, it is your money

Can Music Alter Time and Space?

2009-09-16T06:26:00.000-07:00

Richard Rudis is launching two new CDs that he says may "alter space, mind and time."

Tibetan healing sound instruments are mysterious and singular. Rudis, a student of Buddhism for over a quarter century, has been teaching sacred sound workshops for more than a decade. He invites listeners "to sip at the elixir of Dharmakaya (unwavering truth) and bathe your self in its soothing harmonies." He said that listening effectively stops the mind's internal dialogue, and awakens and stimulates cellular memory into a "natural blissful state" of dynamic trance meditation and a vibrational dance of harmonics.

Pilgrim's Prayer; A Sojourn into Sacred Sound Healing by Richard Rudis is articulated using the uniquely expressive voices of a 38" Paiste planetary earth gong, an ancient Tibetan singing bowl, tingsha's, overtone voices and field recordings from the Tibetan plateau.

Track 1 of Pilgrim's Prayer explores the reconstructive healing waves of harmonic sound. Its "choir" of energy will awaken, dismantle and recreate within its metamorphic overtones. Track 2, entitled "Coherence," is a tantric journey into the ancient sacred geometry of the "Sri Yantra." Its complex structures of overtones and harmonics induce natural healing to balance the mind, body and spirit. The final track, "Three Jewels," offers refuge in the natural collaborative energies of spiritual potential, the Dharma and the Bodhisattvas. It promises fundamental shifts in phenomenon space, clarity, vigor, joy and the sense of peace.

Terma-Yana: A Glorious Sound Mandala, another CD offering by Rudis, also features the multi-tonal voice and soothing harmonies of a large earth gong. The Tibetan word "Terma" means hidden treasure, and the word "Yana" means a path, way, or vehicle. This CD may prove to be your pathway to hidden treasure.

Gong Baths

For more than a decade, Richard Rudis has offered group sound experiences known as "Gong Baths" and has taught sacred sound workshops with the Himalayan sacred sound instruments in select locations across the US. While he is considered most knowledgeable in this esoteric field and has thousands of followers, much of the population has absolutely no idea what a Gong Bath is or what it can offer them.

Upon entering a large, nearly empty room, gong bathers' eyes are drawn to the 38-inch gong hanging suspended from a frame in the center. This is the planetary earth gong, tuned to the vibrational signature of the Earth as it transits around the sun. For thousands of years, in the Vedic tradition, this has widely been known as the sound of the "Void," "Still Point," or "Aum."

Participants lay out their cushions and blankets in circular patterns on the floor, with head pointed toward the gong. Soon the gentle sounds of sacred singing bowls begin the sound journey, followed by the first, unmistakable sounds of the Earth Gong, as Rudis shepherds participants through an hour-long sound journey like none other. Few can believe an hour has passed as they are bathed in the ancient and sacred sounds.

Afterwards gong bathers share their range of individual experiences, from simply feeling refreshed, experiencing relief of a physical ailment, or even reports of altered consciousness, mind travel and out-of-body experiences.

"We have experienced many of Richard's Gong Baths, and recommend the experience without equivocation," remarked Susan Stuth, co-founder of Satiama, LLC. "It is a marvelous event that simply defies description." In fact, gong bath enthusiasts will often attend a series of gong baths spanning weeks, as allowed by Rudis' workshop schedule.

Non-Traditional 'Marriage'

Rudis is now experimenting with a whole new sort of non-traditional marriage -- of sacred sound healing and sacred geometry. "Sacred geometry? Like inThe DaVinci Code?" Well, yes!

Consider Rudis' background. An American practitioner of Vajrayana Buddhism, Rudis has studied Eastern philosophy and Buddhism for more than a quarter of a century. He is a long-time pilgrim and guide to sacred sites in Asia. While in Tibet in 1996, Rudis was granted refuge in the Buddha from His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa. At that time he was given the Tibetan name Sonam Dorje (Meritorious Thunderbolt).

Rudis holds degrees in Fine Arts and English from U.S. universities, and has also studied engineering and architecture. He is a recognized photographic artist, having studied with such notables as Paul Capreonegro, William Parker and Ansel Adams. He has taught "Zen of Photography" at the university level, and has been a guest lecturer at various schools across New England.

In between Gong Bath appearances, Rudis spoke about the marriage of sound healing and sacred geometry. "Everything is energy and has a sound or vibrational signature," Rudis said. "Within the energetic aspects of our universe, we find light, ultrasound, infrared, etc., separated between degrees of frequency."

Rudis is experimenting with creating a "circular, fully coherent experience" that will touch on the coherent qualities of our own, human vibrational nature. He expects to do this by creating sound of a coherent nature and light of a coherent nature coupled within a sacred space.

For those who cannot attend a gong bath in person, Rudis, under his Buddhist name of Sonam Dorje, has produced several CDs, including Terma Yana and Pilgrim's Prayer, and a Gong Bath DVD of the Gong Bath experience at the third International Sound Healing Conference in Santa Fe, available through www.satiama.com. Rudis' gong bath schedule, as well as ancient Buddhist singing bowls and artifacts, can be found at www.buddhistartifacts.com

A Million American Kids May Have Undiagnosed Hearing Problems

2009-09-09T06:51:00.000-07:00

As schools across America open their doors for the start of the new academic year, the Better Hearing Institute (BHI) is urging teachers and educators to stay alert to the needs of children with unaddressed hearing loss. This call to action comes in response to the findings of a national study--Are 1 Million Dependents with Hearing Loss in America Being Left Behind?--in which BHI found that America's children are paying a high price for the pitfalls in how parents, educators, the healthcare community, and policymakers are addressing hearing loss in our youth.

"Too many children with hearing loss aren't getting adequate help and are being put at risk for learning, social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties," warns Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of BHI, and co-author of the study. "Children need to be able to hear, not just in the classroom, but also because hearing affects language competence, cognitive development, social and emotional well-being, and academic achievement. Children who cannot hear well--that is, children whose hearing loss is untreated or under-treated--could face a life of underperformance and broken dreams."

"Based on our findings, I am concerned that a sizeable population of young people in America is being left behind because they do not fit existing paradigms of hearing disability," said otolaryngologist Dr. William Luxford of the House Ear Clinic, a BHI Board member and co-author of the study. "We need a fundamental re-examination of the current hearing health protocols influencing America's children with hearing loss."

The scientific literature is clear that untreated hearing loss affects nearly all dimensions of the human experience. And the pediatric literature demonstrates that even children with "minimal" hearing loss are at risk academically compared to their normal hearing peers.

According to Kochkin, the findings indicate that too many educators, parents, pediatricians, and other healthcare providers underestimate the impact of mild or unilateral (affecting one ear) hearing loss. As a result, hundreds of thousands of children are left vulnerable to a wide range of social, emotional, behavioral, and academic problems.

Hearing loss of any type or degree in a child can present a barrier to incidental learning--and it's believed that 90% of a young child's knowledge is attributed to incidental reception of conversations around him or her. Research confirms that, on any given day, one third of all children, kindergarten through third grade, have impaired hearing and listening. Hearing loss poses a barrier to the child's ability to overhear and to learn from the environment. It causes the child to miss a significant portion of classroom instruction. And it frequently causes a child to miss social cues. Not surprisingly, many of the symptoms of unaddressed hearing loss in children overlap those of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD).

A large part of the problem is that many parents today either don't recognize their child's hearing problem, minimize it, or have been given misinformation regarding the ability to treat the child's hearing loss. In fact, at least 50 percent of parents don't go back for detailed testing when their infant fails an initial hearing screening.

But according to Eileen Rall, Au.D., CCC-A, an audiologist from the The Center for Childhood Communication of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , there are things that teachers can do in the classroom to help children with undiagnosed hearing loss: "First and foremost, teachers can pay attention to the listening environment of the classroom and how the students are functioning in it. There are many low cost, creative ways to improve the acoustics of a classroom including something as simple as teaching children to create good listening environments - make eye contact, reduce distance, taking turns speaking and reducing the noise the students are making themselves. Some schools install sound field systems in their classrooms. Sound field systems amplify the teacher's voice and deliver his/her voice through speakers placed strategically in the classroom. Most importantly, teachers who suspect that a child is having difficulty hearing should bring it to the attention of the child's parents and school administrators so the child can undergo a thorough hearing assessment by an audiologist."

Some basic steps that most teachers can take on their own to help a child with a confirmed or suspected hearing loss include the following:

• Arrange the child's seating away from the heating and cooling system, hallways, playground, and other sources of noise. If the child's hearing loss affects only one ear, or if it's greater in one ear, seat the child in front of the room with his better ear toward the teacher.

• Allow the child to move around in the classroom in order to clearly see the speaker.

• Assign a helper, or notetaker, for the child.

• Try to speak clearly and not too fast.

• While you are speaking, don't turn away to write on the board or cover your mouth.

• Write key words or visual aids for the lesson on the board.

• Write assignments on the board so the child can copy them down into a specific notebook used for this purpose.

• If the child does not understand something, rephrase what you have said rather than repeat the same words again and again.

According to Kochkin, some of the most alarming findings from the study include the following:

• Only 12 percent of children under the age of 18 with hearing loss use hearing aids; yet an estimated 1.5 million youth (including adult dependents) under the age of 21 have hearing loss that may be improved with amplification.

• The study found no evidence of the use of any form of hearing assistance in the classroom (e.g. FM systems, hearing aids, speakers), other than front-row seating.

• Hearing loss leaves children vulnerable to other problems, according to three out of four parents of children with hearing loss. Common problem areas include:

o Social skills (52%)

o Speech and language development (51%)

o Grades in school (50%)

o Emotional health (42%)

o Relationships with peers (38%)

o Self-esteem (37%)

o Relationships with family (36%)

• Three in ten parents (32%) cite embarrassment or other social stigma issues as a reason their child does not use a hearing aid.

• One out of five (22%) parents says they are unable to afford hearing devices.

• Four in ten parents were told that their child did not need amplification because they had hearing loss in only one ear.

• Two in ten parents were mistakenly told that their child could not be helped because they had high frequency hearing loss. Another 20 percent were told they could not be helped because they had a low frequency hearing loss.

Key educational and public policy questions raised by the study include the following:

• Do educators, medical doctors, and hearing healthcare professionals underestimate the impact of mild and unilateral hearing loss on children?

• Are pediatricians sufficiently trained to measure hearing loss and advise parents of treatment options?

• Is the prevalence of treatable hearing loss among children under-represented in the United States when subjective methodology (e.g., parental awareness) is used to assess hearing loss?

• Do parents have viable options for paying for hearing aids for their children if they can't personally afford them?

• Why are only a minority of children in America with hearing loss recipients of amplification, and what can be done in the medical and hearing health profession to make sure that all children receive adequate help for their hearing loss?

• Are too many young people in America being left behind because they don't fit existing models of hearing disability?

Are 1 Million Dependents with Hearing Loss in America Being Left Behind was conducted by BHI among a national sample of parents of 225 youth from infancy to age 21-all of whom were reported by their parents to have hearing loss and not use hearing aids. The authors of this study also included Dr. Jerry Northern (Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado School of Medicine), Pam Mason (Director of Audiology professional practices at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) and Dr. Anne Marie Tharpe (Professor of Audiology at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine).

Founded in 1973, The Better Hearing Institute (BHI) conducts research and engages in hearing health education with the goal of helping people with hearing loss to benefit from proper treatment.

To download a copy of the study, "Are 1 Million Dependents in America with Hearing Loss Being Left Behind?" or to download a copy of "A Guide to Your Child's Hearing" visit the BHI website at www.betterhearing.org.

Teen Sexting And How To Prevent It

2009-09-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

With children getting ready to go back to school the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) says a troubling teen trend is on the rise. It is called sexting and it means the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones and other mobile devices.

NCPC says parents need to pay attention to the "electronic fingerprints" their kids are making. NCPC has developed new reproducible brochures for both parents and teens that provide informative tips on what to do about it and how to prevent sexting.

Roughly, 20 percent of teens admit to sexting, according to a nationwide survey by the National Campaign to Support Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. NCPC's director of Children and Youth, Joselle Shea, says that "online relationships should be based on respect and not just sharing sexual images of each other."

NCPC believes it is important to teach young people to protect themselves proactively when they are online or using mobile communication devices. NCPC's new reproducible brochures on sexting can be found at the organization's website at www.ncpc.org.

The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is a private, nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to be the nation's leader in helping people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. NCPC manages public service advertising under the National Citizens' Crime Prevention Campaign -- symbolized by McGruff the Crime Dog® and his "Take A Bite Out Of Crime®" slogan -- and acts as secretariat for the Crime Prevention Coalition of America, more than 400 national, federal, state, and local organizations representing thousands of constituents who are committed to preventing crime. NCPC is funded through a variety of government agencies, corporate and private foundations, and donations from private individuals. For more information on crime prevention issues, visit www.ncpc.org.

New "Green" Insect Control Developed

2009-08-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Today, the open access journal BMC Biotechnology published a collaborative study between EVOLUGATE, LLC (www.evolugate.com) and scientists at the University of Florida that discloses the first use of a new technology to experimentally evolve industrially important filamentous fungi, which are among the most widely used microorganisms for industrial applications. In this case, the goal was to evolve improved "green" bio-pesticides.

The publication of this report coincides with the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, who discovered the process of evolution by natural selection. The Evolugate technology exploits the power of Darwinian evolution to select for strains that reproduce faster than their competitors in continuous culture.

While the concept behind the technology is not new, its innovative solutions to intractable problems associated with continuous culture make it a breakthrough in experimental evolution. Previously developed methods of continuous culture are either manually intensive, carry with them a high risk of contamination or invariably select for traits that allow microbes to evade selective pressures rather than adapt to them. This new technology is fully automated and allows experimental evolution to be run indefinitely with little risk of contamination and no risk of incidental selection for undesirable traits.

EVOLUGATE will promote and market the use of its technology for the production of novel bioinsecticides under the name ENTOVIA, a newly created division exclusively dedicated to that purpose.

However, microorganisms are essential players in a variety of other industries. Evolugate technology can be used to rapidly produce the best adapted and most efficient strains for virtually any application, including for the conversion of biomass to biofuels, bioremediation, biosynthesis of fermentation products to compounds like antibiotics. EVOLUGATE aims to become a major player in these exciting fields as well.

"From environmental protection to human medicine, the power of evolution is needed to create solutions to the problems facing us," says Steven Benner, who directs the Gainesville-based research Foundation for Applied Molecular Evolution. "The Evolugate methodology harnesses this power in ways previously unavailable, and their work published today proves this for a problem of considerable importance."

A Technology Based On Natural Selection

In the BMC Biotechnology article, researchers started with a naturally occurring fungus, whose ability to kill insects is currently exploited by industry as a bio-pesticide (www.evolugate.com). Unfortunately, this fungus is neither efficient at killing insects nor capable of targeting specific insects. One of the main problems is that insects have acquired special tricks to avoid being killed by pathogenic fungi. Some insects participate in what is called behavioral fever in which they take sun baths to elevate their body temperatures above that which the fungi can grow. Other insects can even elevate their own body temperature in much the same way humans do. Using the Evolugate technology, researchers selected for variants of this fungus that can grow at high temperatures in the hopes that an evolved 'thermo-tolerant' strain could circumvent insect thermoregulation.

"In the same way farmers have developed new crops for millennia by screening large numbers of seeds, we are attempting to accelerate evolution by selecting for fungi that can withstand the insect immune response" says Dr. Thomas Lyons, Principal Scientist at Entovia, LLC. "Thus far, we have selected for strains that can grow at elevated temperatures and preliminary tests performed by the USDA suggest that one of the strains we have developed may be able to kill control insects significantly faster than the original fungal strain.

An Environmentally Safe Technology

"This technology pioneers new avenues for working with natural evolutionary processes to allow for the development of bioinsecticides that target specific insect pests rather than acting as generalized insect toxins. In this manner we can minimize the impact on humans, animals, fish, birds, plants and, more importantly, beneficial insects” says Dr. Lyons.

A Technology with Breathtaking Commercial Potential

The widespread commercial use of bioinsecticides has so far been limited by their lack of efficacy. Basically, the commercially available biocontrol fungi do not kill the insects fast enough to be particularly economical and most of pesticides currently in use are not insect-specific—meaning that they have the potential to kill beneficial insects (and other animals) in addition to the target. The Evolugate technology can dramatically expand the application of bioinsecticides into new commercial arenas.

Problems with sports mouthguards

2009-08-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

Although commonly used to protect an athlete's teeth during contact sports, mouthguards are now being questioned for their potential to injure a player's mouth. A new study published in the September/October issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach found that mouthguards may increase the number and intensity of mouth cuts and abrasions, exposing an athlete to an increased chance of infection due to the bacteria, yeast, and fungi that mouthguards routinely collect.

Sixty-two collegiate football players' mouths were examined pre-season and post-season. The players selected their own mouthguards, either a "boil and bite" device or a custom-made device. At pre-season testing, 75 percent of the players had oral lesions located in three different areas of the mouth (gums, cheek, and roof of mouth). By the end of the season, 96 percent of the participants had oral lesions not only in the same three areas of the mouth, but also on the tongue.

"We saw not only an overall increase in the number of lesions, but also a wider distribution," explains author Richard T. Glass, DDS, PhD and professor at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. "While there might be other contributing factors to the oral lesions, the percentage increase and the specific locations of the oral lesions, compared with other studies done of the general population, indicated that mouthguards have a significant negative impact on the mouth."

Researchers stress that even with the increase in oral lesions, mouthguards are still an important piece of safety equipment for contact sports. "By no means should the value of a mouth guard be discounted," Glass emphasizes. "The protection they do offer teeth during contact sports is important. However, the length of time that a mouthguard is used and how often it is cleaned needs to be revised."

Glass and his co-authors suggest in the study that as soon as a mouthguard becomes distorted or develops sharp jagged edges or after 14 days of regular use, it should be discarded, whichever comes first. The study also pointed out that mouthguards have a natural ability to become a breeding ground for micro-organisms and should be sanitized on a daily basis using an antimicrobial denture-cleaning solution.

"This study stresses the importance of informing athletes of the danger of not properly taking care of a mouthguard. A mouthguard will do your mouth good only if you keep it in good shape," adds Glass.

Houston Family Renovates Church with Asbestos Settlement Funds

2009-08-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

On a beautiful Sunday morning, the family and friends of Salvador Juarez gathered at El Monte Calvario church in northeast Houston for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on the church's newly renovated fellowship hall.

Mr. Juarez was the pastor at El Monte Calvario and a Williams Kherkher client who was stricken with mesothelioma, a deadly cancer of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure.

Mr. Juarez, who passed away earlier this year, had two wishes: one, that his family be taken care of, and two, that his beloved church be taken care of. In honor of his wishes, the Juarez family used the settlement funds from their asbestos case to redo the church's fellowship hall.

Their settlement, from the companies that exposed Mr. Juarez to asbestos, was negotiated by Williams Kherkher attorneys Troy Chandler and Samantha Flores. Ms. Flores attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new fellowship hall and was both honored and taken aback when she was asked to partake in the festivities, including actually cutting the ceremonial ribbon.

"This is one of the most grateful families I've ever met," Ms. Flores said. "I am honored to represent them and to call them my friends. I love that they are following up on their father's wishes to give back to the church. Mr. Juarez and this church are very important in this community, and for the family to continue his legacy this way is a testament to him."

The Juarez family reciprocated Ms. Flores' sentiments. "Samantha, Troy and all the attorneys and staff of Williams Kherkher have been a blessing to us," said Rosalie Lopez, Salvador's daughter. "Without their dedication and commitment to our family and our father we don't know what we would have done. We are so happy Samantha is here to share this day with us. My father would be so happy."

Help for children with ADHD

2009-08-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest challenges for the parent of a child with ADHD is that at least one of the parents typically has similar problems. The non-profit association's current newsletter dives right into this issue, with feedback from parents who explain how they feel when they have consumed food additives that are known ADHD triggers.

"My first clue that I am reacting is often when I raise my voice at the kids or I roll my eyes at my husband (or his back)," writes one mom. "As far as feelings go, I feel disorganized, unable to decide what to do next. I sort of wander around my house seeing all the work that needs to be started, but I can't get my mind around a plan that will get anything done. Sometimes I jump from task to task. Often I go back and forth from a chore to the computer to a magazine."

Another mom compares a reaction to a food additive with "a video where they show only the shortest bits of images and keep cutting from one thing to another. All the concepts from the images are fighting in my head for attention but I don't have time to process them because I am being hit with another image immediately that also demands attention."

Another writer notes, "Having a reaction is awful, especially when you have children who behave better than you!" Some parents report physical reactions of all types, from migraine headaches, to asthmatic attacks to hives and eczema when they eat certain artificial food additives. But most people find that it's a lot simpler to select the brand name products that have been researched by the Feingold® Association and have been found to be free of the offending chemicals.

The Feingold Association is a non-profit support group that shows families how to find the foods they enjoy, but minus chemical additives like artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Volunteers first started the support group in 1976 after they found out that their children's problems were being triggered by some of the chemicals added to foods. Now, those children are grown and are choosing healthy food for their own families.

Earlier this summer the Feingold Association announced a new recipe book titled "Feingold Family Favorites", which promptly sold out it was so popular as consumers are increasingly aware that what they eat affects how they think and feel. The new "Feingold Family Favorites" recipe book is available from the Feingold Association through the website (www.Feingold.org) .

To request a free copy of the current issue of Pure Facts, the Feingold Association's newsletter, call (800) 321-3287 or visit www.feingold.org. Although most of the people using the Feingold diet focus primarily on eliminating things like food dyes, some need to go further and remove common allergens like wheat, eggs, soy, nuts and dairy. For the specialized help that is needed, the Feingold Association suggests a book by Lisa Lundy titled "The Super Allergy Girl™ Allergy & Celiac Cookbook."

Named in honor of Dr. Ben F. Feingold, the Chief of Allergy at Kaiser-Permanente Medical Center, the Feingold Association website provides medical references on the research that shows how foods and food additives affect health, learning and behavior. Dr. Feingold's success in using diet to help aspirin-sensitive patients led to his discovery that the same foods or additives that can bring on hives and asthma can also trigger what is now being called ADHD. His medical research was presented to the American Medical Association in 1973 and has been published in medical journals.

New Cookbook For Healthier Children

2009-08-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports 16 percent of children (over 9 million) ages 6 to 19 years are overweight or obese - a number that has tripled since 1980. Another 15 percent of child are considered at risk of becoming overweight indicates the "Prevalance of Overweight and Obesity Among Children and Adolescents".

Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults. According to a national household survey published in Pediatrics in 2004, fast food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970 resulting in an estimated extra six pounds per year, per child. Obesity is a serious health, which is associated with risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes. Parents looking for ways to make fast and healthy meals can find help in the form of a new video and tip sheet with recipes from motivational speaker and cookbook author, Lisa A. Lundy, which you can download free from her website at www.TheSuperAllergyCookbook.com.

Lundy's three children have a variety of food allergies, which eliminate foods containing gluten, dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts and a few other allergens. What that means for Lundy is there is literally no "fast food" for them unless it comes out of the freezer, slow cooker, or is simply a quick cooking meal. As a working mother, time is of the essence for this busy woman. She has learned how to save time and money in the kitchen and still have healthy foods for her family. "You can have delicious tasting and nutritious foods and not spend hours and hours in the kitchen every day," Lundy said. "What is takes is good recipes, planning and preparation. And if you are cooking for children, by all means get them involved."

She practices what she preaches. Her two sons, ages 12 and 10, can make baked goods - from scratch - with no supervision. Her youngest, Anne who is 7 years old, can make a trail mix from scratch and is quickly becoming an expert salad chef. "Getting children involved in the meal planning, shopping and preparation can boost their self-esteem and pride. Plus, it often helps to increase the kinds and numbers of foods a child will eat" said Lundy.

Lundy is the author of The Super Allergy Girl™ Allergy & Celiac Cookbook - From A Mother Who Knows™, a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut free, tree nut free and other allergen free resource for both beginners and advanced cooks. Her daughter has had severe health issues due to an inability to absorb vitamins and nutrients from her diet - an issue that has set the family back over $100,000 in uncovered medical bills. The prognosis for Lundy's daughter Anne was poor at best given the level of severe malnutrition her blood testing results showed. With the help of several good physicians and multiple therapies, Anne has improved substantially and has a bright future. In the process the whole family has had to learn the importance of nutrition.

To help other parents and consumers, Lundy shares what she has learned by uploading free white papers, tip sheets, recipes, videos and other documents to her website -www.TheSuperAllergyCookbook.com - there for the taking. She loves helping people so this journey lines up with her passion of contributing to others.

Author Debunks Gluten Free Diet Myths

2009-08-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

The gluten-free market is exploding with an annual growth rate of over 25% over the last eight plus years with no end in sight. Recent mainstream articles have questioned the benefits of a gluten-free diet stating that there is absolutely no proven benefit to avoiding gluten except for cases of diagnosed celiac disease and have gone as far as labeling the gluten-free diet as a fad.

Based on the scientific literature it seems likely that there are individuals who can benefit from a gluten-free diet beyond the clinical cases that meet a celiac diagnosis.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease often confused with food allergies. In celiac disease eating foods containing wheat, barley, rye and other common grains sets off an immune response that can cause damage to the small intestine. The treatment for celiac disease is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. An estimated 3 million Americans or roughly 1% of the population have celiac disease although 97% of the people who have celiac disease do not know that they have it according to the University of Chicago, Celiac Disease Program. A recent study by Alberto Rubio-Tapia et al (Gasteroenterology 2009) indicates that during 45 years of follow-up, undiagnosed celiac disease was associated with a nearly 4-fold increased risk of death and the prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease seems to have increased dramatically in the U.S in the same time frame.

A. Vojdani, et al, states in a paper published in 2008: "Gluten sensitivity, celiac disease (CD) and gluten-sensitive enteropathy are terms that have been used synonymously to refer to a disease process affecting the small bowel and characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms and malabsorption. However since 1966 scientific evidence has been accumulated demonstrating that gluten sensitivity can exist even in the absence of enteropathy." Vojdani's paper indicates that other organs well beyond the gastrointestinal system can be affected by gluten sensitivity including joints, the heart, thyroid, bone, brain cerebellum and the neuronal synapsins, which are involved in the regulation of the neurotransmitter release. Additionally he points out that gluten sensitivity has been associated with the following neurological disorders: cerebellar ataxia, epilepsy, myoclonic ataxia, chronic neuropathies and dementia. Ataxia is defective muscular coordination especially that are manifested when voluntary muscular movements are attempted. He also suggests that the variability of neurologic disorders that occur in gluten sensitivity is broader than previously reported and includes "softer" and more common neurologic disorders such as chronic headache, developmental delay (autism), hypotonia, and learning disorders or ADHD.

Lundy first learned of the comprehensive medical research on gluten and the impact of gluten on human health seven years ago from a retired Registered Nurse, who also happens to be a cloistered nun. Lundy became friends with Sister Mary Theresa, who also coincidently has celiac disease, when she learned of the nun's need for gluten-free shopping. Cloistered nuns, as a rule, do not leave the convent except on special dispensation and grocery shopping does not fit the standard exceptions for leaving the convent. Unfortunately, Lundy did not save the research studies given to her by Sister Mary Theresa, so she had to create a new list of studies - something that she did with the help of Laurette Janak, a researcher who has presented at Autism One Conferences. "It is important that consumers understand that there are published medical studies about the benefits of a gluten-free diet outside of a clinical celiac diagnosis" said Lundy who believes educated consumers are more likely to get the best medical care. "Consumers should get tested for celiac disease before starting a gluten-free diet," she added.

As the author of The Super Allergy Girl™ Allergy & Celiac Cookbook, a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, peanut free, tree nut free and other allergen free resource filled with helpful information and over 225 recipes, Lundy knows that gluten-free foods can taste just as good as gluten foods. Her website is rich in content all designed to help consumers with free white papers, tip sheets, recipes, videos and a Blog. Her book is available at www.TheSuperAllergyCookbook.com.

Actor Baldwin to endorse antioxidant supplement

2009-08-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

The makers of the world's first chewable super fruit, sea vegetable, antioxidant dietary supplement, recently announced actor Stephen Baldwin is endorsing the product across the nation.

Baldwin is currently airing personal endorsements for Chews-4-Health, supplements he takes and enjoys. Baldwin and Kevin McCullough co-host the "Xtreme Radio Show" on the Sun Radio Network, which broadcasts to more than 370 cities nationwide.

"I take Chews-4-Health and I have to tell you, I can feel the difference," says Baldwin. "With antioxidants and Vitamin B-12, it gives you that extra boost, so you don't need all those mid-day energy drinks and snacks."

Baldwin is also promoting the supplements through emails to his listeners. Chews-4-Health's formulator, Dr. David Friedman gladly welcomed Baldwin's endorsement. Friedman is a renowned chiropractic physician and doctor of naturopathy, who is also the Health Expert on Lifetime Television's morning show, "The Balancing Act."

"With many celebrities and sports figures taking and loving the product, we are excited to have Stephen's endorsement," said Friedman. "I am glad he -- like so many others across the country -- has experienced the wonderful health benefits of Chews-4-Health. I thank Stephen for helping to spread the word about these supplements, as many Americans out there are not getting the nutrition they need for optimal health."

Friedman spent three years formulating the chewable supplement, going through 14 different manufacturers before finding one that was able to make the product to his satisfaction. Chews-4-Health contains 16 nutrient-rich ingredients from around the world and from land and sea.

Help for foot problems from Harvard Medical

2009-08-07T07:09:00.000-07:00

Our feet provide a steady base when we stand, serve as shock absorbers when we move, and help propel us forward -- and sometimes backward -- when we walk or run. It's no wonder so many people develop foot-related problems.

A special four-page section in the August 2009 Harvard Health Letter focuses on the feet and their common ailments. Dr. James Ioli, chief of podiatry at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, served as guest editor.

In the special section, Dr. Ioli and the editors of the Harvard Health Letter cover these topics and questions:

- Three steps to healthier feet

- Causes and treatments of four common foot problems: bunions, metatarsalgia, plantar fasciitis, and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction.

- Products for the agonies of the feet: Do toe exercisers restore foot health, as they claim? How should you choose an orthotic? Do detoxifying foot pads do anything? And more.

- How bad are flip-flops? (Short answer: very bad when worn often.)

- Should I get a second bunion operation?

- Why would switching from heels to flats cause pain?

Read a section from this special issue: How Your Feet Work -- and Three Steps for Keeping Them Healthy (https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Health_Letter/2009/August/Special-section-Feet-How-your-feet-work---and-three-steps-for-keeping-them-healthy?utm_source=health&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=health0809)

New treatment for skin cancer identified

2009-08-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

An international team of researchers has identified a new method for selectively killing metastatic melanoma cells, which may lead to new areas for drug development in melanoma - a cancer that is highly resistant to current treatment strategies.

Researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University (http://www.vcu.edu/), in collaboration with a team of researchers led by Maria S. Soengas, Ph.D., with the Spanish National Cancer Research Center in Madrid, Spain, found that activation of a specific molecular pathway triggers melanoma cells to begin a process of self-destruction - through self-digestion and programmed cell death. The study is published in the August 4 print issue of the journal Cancer Cell.

"The present research provides a path that could lead with further studies and a phase I clinical trial for safety to the development of a strategy that reenergizes the immune system to destroy this highly aggressive cancer," said lead investigator at VCU, Paul B. Fisher, M.Ph., Ph.D. the first incumbent of the Thelma Newmeyer Corman Endowed Chair in Cancer Research with the VCU Massey Cancer Center.

According to Fisher, the pathway that is activated involves the melanoma differentiation associated gene-5, or mda-5, a gene initially cloned in Fisher's laboratory, that activates a protein called NOXA that is involved with programmed cell death. This series of chemical reactions results in induction of a cell-killing process involving self-digestion that leads to programmed cell death specifically in melanoma cells. Fisher said that mda-5 is a key regulator of innate immunity that induces interferon beta production limiting replication of specific pathogenic viruses.

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the Spanish Association Against Cancer and the Spanish National Cancer Research Center.

The project team in Spain was led by Soengas, with the Melanoma Laboratory, Molecular Pathology Program, Spanish National Cancer Research Center, Madrid, Spain. Fisher, who also is professor and chair of the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics (http://www.gen.vcu.edu/), and director of the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine in the VCU School of Medicine, lead the investigative team at VCU which included Paola M. Barral, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics; and Rupesh Dash, Ph.D., postdoctoral research scientist, in the Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, and the VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine

We Should Be Growing Vegetables In The Ocean

2009-07-22T06:07:00.000-07:00

Many of the fruits and vegetables we eat today contain only a fraction of the nutrients they contained nearly 100 years ago, making it harder than ever to fully benefit from the nine servings recommended per day. Dr. David Friedman, health expert on Lifetime Television's popular morning show, "The Balancing Act, recently described this problem and offered a simple solution from an unexpected source.

"The fruits and vegetables of today are really different than the ones our grandparents ate," explained Friedman on the July 20 episode of the show. "For instance, you would have to eat 26 apples today to equal the nutritional content of one apple from the year 1914, and eat 10 tomatoes to equal the nutritional content of one tomato from 1940."

To find food that has not lost its nutritional content over time, Friedman recommends looking to the ocean.

"Sea vegetables contain over 70 whole food vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, and have the same nutritional value as they did 100 years ago. Plus, sea vegetables do not contain the pesticides and chemicals often used in the cultivation of land-based fruits and vegetables," he said.

Sea vegetables also contain the only natural vegetable source of Vitamin D on the planet, and are an excellent source of calcium. But how can we add these nutrient-rich sea vegetables to our daily diets?

"If you live in Asia these vegetables can be found in grocery stores, markets and restaurants nearly everywhere," Friedman explained. "But for Americans, you primarily have to find them in supplements. This is why the supplement I formulated, Chews-4-Health (www.chews4health.com), contains four mineral-rich sea vegetables--dulse, kelp, bladderwrack and nori. My research indicates they help nourish, strengthen and revitalize the body."

Friedman is a renowned chiropractic physician and doctor of naturopathy, author of three books and creator of the best-selling CD, "America's Unbalanced Diet." The product he formulated is a delicious, natural, chewable dietary supplement derived from 16 of the world's most nutrient-rich sources from land and sea.

Daily Sex May Boost Sperm Count

2009-07-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a story we first saw discussed on the local television channel, amidst much smirking and winking, but for any man who has been trying to father a child without success, having a too low sperm count is no laughing matter. Here are more details...

New research reported at this week's meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction found that men with a history of fertility problems can improve their sperm count by having sex every day. The problem is that recent surveys show that a startling number of Americans are NOT having sex: 40 million live in no-sex, low-sex relationships and 43 percent of men report some form of sexual inadequacy. Think that statistics refer to men past their prime? Think again. This downhill trend in sexual desire, performance and pleasure is increasingly occurring in younger 20-something and 30-something men. According to Genie James, M.M.Sc., Executive Director of The Natural Hormone Institute, "Environmental hormones are a very real culprit sabotaging both a man's sex life and his sperm count."

"Environmental estrogens, or xenoestrogens, are prolific in our everyday lives," says James. "They can be found in certain pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, plastics, fuels, car exhausts, dry cleaning chemicals, industrial waste, meat from livestock fed estrogenic drugs to fatten them up, lawn care solutions and hair products. Even that "healthy" bottle of water you carry around can leach xenoestrogens from the plastic into the water depositing them into your system upon drinking. Multiple research studies in this country and Europe show a link between xenoestrogens, particularly estrogenic steroids used to fatten livestock, as the culprit contributing to increased incidence of testicular cancer, decreased sperm counts, volume of sperm ejaculated, unhealthy sperm and reproductive abnormalities.

So what's a guy to do who is concerned about his sperm count or wants a baby but for some reason doesn't want to have sex? First and foremost, James advises having your hormone levels tested by a knowledgeable physician who is expert in diagnosing hormone level deficiencies. Low testosterone levels (the hormone of desire and pleasure) can be safely treated with bioidentical testosterone replacement. "In addition to boosting a lagging libido, recent medical research released by Harvard Medical School indicate that keeping testosterone levels at a healthy-high level can reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer," says James. "Simultaneously, clean up your diet. Choose organic meats and poultry when at all possible and do all that you can to eliminate lurking xenohormones from your environment."

For more information on how men can get natural help for erectile dysfunction or impotence as well as increasing penis size, check out Real Good For Men.

Cute Japanese Erasers are Hot

2009-07-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

I only just found out about Japanese Erasers today. I guess I must have been living under a rock or something, because this hot trend had totally escaped my attention until now. In case you also are unaware of Japanese Erasers, let me give you the facts.

They are like Cabbage Patch Kids, or Beanie Babies, or Webkinz, in that they are the latest fad that children cannot live without and will be ostracized by their friends unless their parents, or doting grandparents, buy them dozens and dozens of them.

Or did you want to know what they are? Basically, they are cute as all get out, and as useless as... Well, this is a kids-oriented column, so I am not going to use any inappropriate language, but you follow my drift. They are not useful erasers, but who writes with pencils anymore anyway. We only send text messages now, and therefore, having a real eraser is unnecessary.

They come in shapes and colors that look like penguins, adorable babies, cheeseburgers, pineapples, pumpkins, ears of corn, but my favorites are hamsters, pandas and fugu blow fish.

Cuddly, cute as a wheelbarrow full of baby bunnies, and surprisingly inexpensive. Here is an online shop where you can get Japanese Erasers.

Main Trigger for Lupus Identified

2009-06-30T11:38:00.000-07:00

The more than 1.5 million Americans with systemic lupus erythematosus (or lupus) suffer from a variety of symptoms that flare and subside, often including painful or swollen joints, extreme fatigue, skin rashes, fever, and kidney problems. Researchers at The Scripps Research Institute have now identified the main trigger for the development of this disease.

Lupus is one of several autoimmune diseases in which the immune system turns against parts of the body, destroying the very cells and tissues it is meant to protect. In a study published in the Early Edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) the week of June 29, 2009, Scripps Research Professor of Immunology and Microbial Science Dwight Kono and colleagues demonstrate that three proteins, called Toll-like receptors (TLRs), are necessary for this autodestruction to occur. TLRs may thus provide effective targets for the development of new treatments for lupus, as well as other autoimmune diseases.

The Double-Edged Sword of Immunity

In response to infection, a healthy immune system produces antibodies—proteins that fight and destroy invading pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and other foreign substances. But in lupus something goes awry with the chain of events leading to antibody production. As a result, the immune system produces "autoantibodies" against some of the body's own molecules, cells and tissues.

TLRs are proteins found in immune cells that normally help stimulate the initial response of the immune system to foreign pathogens. Humans have 10 different types of TLRs. Some of them sit on the surface of immune cells and seek out molecules that appear on the coating of bacteria and viruses. Other TLRs—TLR 3, TLR7, (TLR 8 in humans, but not mice), and TLR 9—reside inside immune cells, in a compartment known as the endolysosome, where bits of foreign substances usually end up.

When bacteria or viruses enter the body, some are engulfed by immune cells and degraded in the endolysosome. Inside this compartment, resident TLRs come across the bacterial and viral debris. These TLRs specifically detect the genetic material of pathogens—viral DNA, viral RNA, and bacterial DNA—and stimulate immune cells to produce antibodies against these molecules.

But the production of antibodies against foreign DNA and RNA seems to be particularly prone to error. The most common types of autoantibodies found in lupus patients are ones to the body's own genetic material—the DNA and RNA that resides inside the cell's command center, or nucleus. As a result, doctors often test for the presence of "antinuclear" antibodies to diagnose lupus.

"That's the Achilles heel," says Kono. "These endolysosomal TLRs are needed for viral and bacterial immunity, but they open the possibility of self reactivity."

Toll-Like Receptors and Lupus

Scientists don't quite know how antinuclear antibodies develop, but have suspected for some time that TLRs might be involved. By engineering mice that lack either TLR 7 or TLR9, scientists have gathered evidence that these TLRs may play a role in the disease.

"Earlier studies had strongly suggested that endolysosomal TLRs were important, but if you eliminate one or the other you do not get a huge effect," says Kono. "So we asked, 'What happens if you get rid of all the endolysosomal nucleic acid-sensing TLRs at once?'"

To answer this question, Kono and colleagues took advantage of strains of laboratory mice prone to lupus. These mice spontaneously develop many of the same signs and symptoms as humans with the disease. The next step was to eliminate TLR 3, TLR 7, and TLR 9 in these lupus-prone mice.

But how do you get rid of three proteins at once? Kono and colleagues knew that these TLRs need to be transported to the endolysosome to function. They also knew that one particular protein, called UNC-93B, produced by a gene called Unc93b1, serves as an essential "taxi" service. The UNC-93B protein attaches itself to TLR 3, TLR 7, and TLR 9 and facilitates their transport from the compartment in the cell where they are made to the endolysosome.

Using geneticists' tools of the trade, Kono and colleagues, engineered lupus-prone mice with an inactive Unc93b1 gene. Compared to lupus-prone mice with a functioning Unc93b1 gene, the mice with the Unc93b1 mutation produced fewer antinuclear antibodies and had fewer and less severe symptoms of lupus.

As a further test, Kono and colleagues treated the mutant mice with a substance that stimulates TLR 4—as TLR 4 stimulation is known to promote the production of autoantibodies. But even with TLR 4 stimulation, the mice lacking functioning TLR 3, TLR 7, and TLR 9 did not develop lupus.

"It seems like these three TLRs are absolutely required for optimal autoantibody production," says Kono. "This is an important finding that builds on results obtained by other groups."

The results "suggest that the three endosomal TLRs, or UNC-93B itself, might be good targets for therapy," says Kono, adding that more tests will be needed before these findings are translated into treatments for patients. "We are definitely getting closer to understanding the etiology of this autoimmune disease."

Naturally Better Sex on YouTube

2009-06-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

If you remember that yesterday we briefly mentioned about finding a new video on YouTube that gave tips on how men can enjoy better sexual performance by simply making a few changes to their lifestyle in the form of adding some nutrient-rich foods to their diet. In this way, they can avoid the side effects that sometimes go along with taking prescription medications for erectile dysfunction such as Viagra. Well, the person who posted that first "7 Hot Ways to Spice Up Your Sex Life" video has now added a companion.

This new video tells how a man can boost his sperm count by simply eating more shrimp and green leafy vegetables. It seems that the two foods in combination are necessary to achieve the desired result. This video also hints, quite cleverly we might add, that a man can also find ways to make his "shrimp" more "jumbo" by going to the Real Good For Men website.

Here is the link for the sexy YouTube video.

Prebiotics Increase Lifespan 33%!

2009-06-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

In a revolutionary healthcare finding, a peer-reviewed clinical study published in the British Journal of Nutrition (a Cambridge University Journal), clearly shows that Prebiotics (http://www.prebiotin.com) reduce cholesterol and triglycerides, control body weight, and increase lifespan by 33%.

The controlled clinical study was conducted on rats and showed that the rats fed prebiotics had an 80% survival rate to 24 months versus a 50% survival rate for the control group rats that were not fed prebiotics. Additionally, the "prebiotic" rats showed material reductions in cholesterol (http://www.prebiotin.com) and body weight versus the control group.

Significantly, the prebiotic used in the study was oligofructose enriched inulin, a blend of two prebiotics which has repeatedly shown synergistic health benefits versus the more common single-prebiotic fibers such as plain inulin.

"This study, clearly demonstrating life-lengthening impact of prebiotics, has truly profound implications," says Jackson GI Medical (http://www.prebiotin.com) CEO Kristian Chronister. "It certainly reinforces our commitment to powering our Prebiotin prebiotic supplements with oligofructose enriched inulin despite the dramatically lower cost of plain inulin," he says.

Oligofructose enriched inulin is a 100% natural, plant-derived 'compound' prebiotic fiber which has extensive clinical research demonstrating strong health benefits. Plain inulin is a far cheaper prebiotic which is used in most prebiotic supplements and enhanced foods.

"The implications of this study are somewhat staggering," says Jackson GI Chairman and Founder Frank W. Jackson, M.D. "While the research doesn't quite yet justify a claim that Prebiotin (http://www.prebiotin.com/) lengthens human life, the study is nevertheless dramatic in that it clearly demonstrates the colon is a health- and life-giving organ we must nourish and cherish, not just a waste disposal system."

Prebiotics are a special class of fibers which deliver health benefits by nourishing beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract while not providing sustenance to undesirable bacteria.

"We have long known from clinical research that oligofructose enriched inulin, the prebiotic in our Prebiotin family of products, enhances immunity, increases calcium absorption, decreases heart-unfriendly triglycerides and promotes digestive health," says Chronister. "This latest study strongly suggests that a very potent overall health benefit is the net result of adding prebiotics to the diet."

A precis of the research is presented at http://www.prebiotin.com, as well as a link to the full clinical study.

Strides Made Toward Cystic Fibrosis Cure

2009-06-24T07:05:00.000-07:00

We were very happy to see, this morning, that efforts are being made to find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, as the following report tells.

The Keystone Peer Review Organization, Inc. (KePRO (www.kepro.org)), a leading quality improvement and care management organization, is pleased to announce the donation of $12,260 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

KePRO employees from offices located in six different states recently took part in the CF Great Strides walk in an effort to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The combined efforts of the employees, both those who made the walk and those who collected funds from their family, friends and neighbors, proudly raised $7260.25 for the cause. In addition to its employees' efforts, KePRO generously donated another $5,000 to advance the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, bringing the total KePRO donation to $12,260.

"I am very proud of KePRO employees, their families and friends who all contributed so generously to help fight this disease," said Joe Dougher, Chief Executive Officer of KePRO. "Everyone put a considerable amount of time and effort into making this fund-raising event a success and they more than surpassed my expectations. The KePRO family is truly a caring team."

The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization that strives to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis (www.kepro.org) and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease. The Foundation is the leading organization in the United States devoted to cystic fibrosis. It funds and accredits more than 115 CF care centers, 95 adult care programs and 50 affiliate programs, and has 80 chapters and branch offices nationwide.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive system of about 30,000 children and adults in the United States (70,000 worldwide). In the 1950s, few children with cystic fibrosis lived to attend elementary school. Today, advances in research and medical treatments have further enhanced and extended life for children and adults with CF. Many people with the disease can now expect to live into their 30s, 40s and beyond.

And on a totally separate note, we have recently learned about a food item that works rather like a natural aphrodesiac. It seems that pomegranate juice has been shown to help prevent erectile dysfunction. We heard about this from, of all places an amusing YouTube video with the provocative title: "7 Hot Ways to Spice Up Your Sex Life". We look forward to the arrival of the other six.

Your Vitamins May Not Be As Vital As You Think

2009-06-22T06:57:00.000-07:00

We have recently learned that many of the vitamins in our medicine cabinets and on store shelves may not be what they say they are--both on their bottle labels and in advertisements.

As consumers, many of us take for granted that our daily vitamin actually contains the ingredients it claims to--and in the correct amounts. But as recent actions by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and news reports have illustrated, this is not necessarily the case. This is problematic for a number of reasons. Consider the following:

* Vitamins/Supplements May Not Contain What the Manufacturers Claim: Just a few months ago, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study (http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=6960312) showing that, across many different brands, many prenatal vitamins did not contain the amount of iodine claimed on their labels. Pregnant women frequently take a vitamin with a certain amount of iodine to help prevent neurocognitive delays in their babies, making this a serious issue. And this is not just an issue for pregnant women. It is important that a vitamin or supplement include the correct dose of an ingredient--let alone contain the ingredient at all--whether you are, for example, a senior citizen taking a calcium supplement for bone health (http://tips.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/10/strong-bones-as-you-age/), if you're one of the three quarters of Americans who are vitamin D deficient (http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE52M6M120090323?feedType=RSS&feedName=healthNews) and have decided to take a supplement, or if you are simply using a supplement to generally enhance your health.

* Vitamins/Supplements May Contain Ingredients that are Not Claimed on Their Labels: While it is important for vitamins and supplements to contain the ingredients they claim, it is also critical that they don't contain certain undeclared ingredients. This is key to avoiding a possible adverse interaction with a prescription medication or allergic reaction, among other reasons.

* Vitamins/Supplements May Contain Harmful Levels of Certain Contaminants: Studies have shown that some vitamins and supplements contain potentially harmful level of certain contaminants such as lead, mercury, pesticides, etc. This, too, can have health consequences, particularly for more vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, or pregnant women.

For all of these reasons, it is important to consider the quality of a vitamin or supplement when purchasing a product for yourself and for your family. One of the best ways to do this is to check if a product has been certified by an independent, third party. This is a voluntary measure that supplement manufacturers can take to demonstrate the quality of their products to their customers. Look for a mark indicating this type of certification right on the bottle of your vitamin or supplement.

And while all supplements are not created equal, neither are all organizations behind these certification programs. Equally important is to consider the organization behind a mark of quality. The U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) is a nearly 200 year old nonprofit scientific organization that sets standards in the United States for the quality, purity, and strength of medicines, which FDA enforces. USP also operates a "USP Verified" program to help consumers identify quality vitamins and dietary supplements. It is the only such organization that offers dietary supplement verification. USP Verified vitamins are recommended by many leading health experts. Learn more about the program -- and see which vitamins and supplements are "USP Verified" -- at www.uspverified.org.

And remember, when beginning a supplement program, always check with your doctor and research your supplement and its brand from objective and neutral sources such as Consumer Reports, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, or Pogo Health.

We have found that we can trust the supplements and natural herbal remedies from a reliable online source, Native Remedies. For example, VitaliTonic promotes energy and zest in adults over 50

New Treatment For Inoperable Colon Cancer

2009-06-17T07:34:00.001-07:00

With an extensive, inoperable colon cancer and few options available, a Tennessee patient is seeing his cancer steadily regressing on a new outpatient treatment. Individuals from 26 U.S. states and four other countries have been among the first to use NeoPlas Innovation's new protocol. The Tennessee patient's early results mirror their successes in battling colon cancer and other very aggressive malignancies.

The most recent colon cancer patient is a man in his late fifties who had an extensive cancer of the lower colon diagnosed in early 2008. Initially his doctors recommended surgical resection in an operation that would have removed all the organs of his lower abdomen and pelvis; however, it was determined that he would be unlikely to survive the procedure. Chemotherapy was tried, but was ineffective. He visited NeoPlas Innovation's Nashville clinic in the spring of 2009 and began the new outpatient treatment.

Two months later, CT scans have shown that the cancer has regressed dramatically. The patient's symptoms are resolving in step with the response, with improvements in appetite and digestion and the regaining of lost weight. NeoPlas Innovation Director of Research Dr. Stephen B. Cantrell commented, "These are results from one patient, so no conclusions can be drawn. But this is consistent with the favorable responses we're seeing in the great majority of our patients, including those with colon cancer." The protocol is offered for qualifying patients with colon cancer, renal (kidney) cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma, mesothelioma and certain sarcomas. It can be considered for other patients on a case-by-case basis.

The new treatment is an off-label combination of two existing medicines: lovastatin, typically used as a cholesterol lowering agent, and interferon. According to Dr. Cantrell, "The key to moving from the lab to success in humans has been taking a fresh look and finding the right medicines to combine. When we have administered a precisely timed regimen of low-dose interferon with lovastatin, the results have been surprising." NeoPlas Innovation patients often have seen the arrest of their cancers' growth and spread in as few as eight weeks of treatment. In many cases, such as this one, patients have experienced active regression of tumors.

The medicines used have the advantage of being safe and well tolerated. Fatigue is the most notable side effect of NeoPlas Innovation's cancer treatment (www.neoplas.org). Most patients never experience effects commonly affiliated with chemotherapy or radiation (nausea, vomiting, hair loss, bone marrow suppression or immune system suppression). An experienced physician prescribes and monitors the outpatient treatment.

Vacation House Rental Crescent Beach BC

2009-06-16T15:35:00.000-07:00

We were impressed to find out about a charming vacation house for rent in the Vancouver, British Columbia suburb of Crescent Beach. A lot of Vancouverites are salivating and rubbing their hands in greedy glee of the prospect of renting their homes out during the 2010 winter Olympics next February. Some pretty dumpy looking properties are going for thousands of dollars per week.

That's why we were positively impressed to see that this 2-bedroom, 1-1/2 bath, 1200 square foot vacation rental is going for $3,000 per month. Although it is not technically an ocean front home, it is only a quarter of a block away, and you can see the water and boats going by from the upstairs master bedroom.

One interesting thing about the Crescent Beach and White Rock area of BC is that they get quite a lot more sunshine than Vancouver. Here is a link to the Crescent Beach Vacation House for Rent.

Former President to Skydive on 85th Birthday

2009-06-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

President George H.W. Bush (41st president) will soar with the U.S. Army's Golden Knights parachute team this Friday, June 12 during a tandem skydive to celebrate his 85th birthday.

This momentous occasion is sure to spark some interest in the increasingly popular sport of skydiving. Each year hundreds of thousands of Americans skydive (http://www.uspa.org/BecomeaSkydiver/tabid/54/Default.aspx); there was a total of 2.6 million skydives in 2008 (100,000 more than in 2007!).

Fortunately, everyday Americans don't need to be of the presidential persuasion to take to the skies and experience the life-affirming, life-changing thrills of skydiving. Nor do they need the Army. Skydiving is not as extreme or intimidating as it may seem. Just about anyone 18 years of age or older can make a jump after some comprehensive safety instruction.

If you're ready to join the ranks of former presidents taking the plunge, the U.S. Parachute Association (http://www.uspa.org/) (USPA) - America's skydiving authority - is here to make the first jump an awesome and unforgettable experience.

"If you've ever dreamed of skydiving, summer is the perfect time as the weather warms up and blue skies make for ideal jump days," said Ed Scott, Executive Director of USPA. "All it takes is a half hour of ground instruction to prepare for a tandem jump - the easiest and most popular way to experience skydiving for the first time." Tandem allows students to experience the thrill of freefall from 13,000 feet while securely harnessed to an experienced instructor.

Other first-jump methods, such as Accelerated Freefall (AFF), allow students to jump solo right away, experiencing the thrill of freefall with two instructors at their side -- not attached to them. AFF requires four to five hours of intense ground instruction. Just about anyone can earn a license in as few as 25 jumps. Some locations still offer the original first-jump method of static-line.

Selecting a skydiving school and drop zone is a cinch. As USPA is the nation's premier organization dedicated to the safe enjoyment of skydiving, first-time jumpers are encouraged to schedule a jump with one of 200+ USPA Group Member skydiving schools/centers located throughout the United States; conveniently located near most major cities and towns. Check out USPA's national Drop Zone Directory at

www.uspa.org/FindaDZ/GroupMemberListbyState.aspx.

Nobel Scientist Suggests Climate Change Action

2009-06-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr Rolph Payet explained the human failures which have led to climate change and outlined his blueprint to overcome them at a special lecture in London.

At the event on 28 May he also launched and praised the new postgraduate distance learning module Climate Change and Development, which is run by the School of Oriental and African Studies (www.soas.ac.uk) (SOAS).

Payet, from the Seychelles, was the lead author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and he shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize jointly awarded to the IPCC and Al Gore. He is also a University of London External System (www.londonexternal.ac.uk) alumnus.

During the lecture organised by the University of London External System, the London International Development Centre (www.lidc.org.uk) (LIDC) and the Centre for Development, Environment and Policy (CeDEP) at SOAS, Payet set out his ambitious hopes for the UN climate change conference in December. He wants the Copenhagen package to include:

- Agreeing on mechanisms that would lead to a reduction in greenhouse gases to 350-400 parts per million.

- Applying the polluter pays principle.

- Valuing the ecosystem in investment projects.

- Promoting sustainable green jobs.

The Special Advisor to the President of the Republic of the Seychelles emphasised the benefits of adopting multidisciplinary and integrated approaches towards climate change and development. He explained how climate change mitigation and adaptation are not mutually exclusive and how strategies such as coastal tree planting can benefit both mitigation and adaption efforts. Payet said he saw the current economic crisis as an "opportunity" to reassess the existing global economy and he has "hope" for the future.

His lecture, delivered at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, charted the "mistakes" which have led to climate change and are posing threats to small island states like the Seychelles. He spoke of the root causes of carbon emissions, including:

- Not paying the real environmental costs of human actions.

- Over-consumption.

- Failure to drive technological innovation.

- Lack of political solutions.

Payet illustrated the gross distortions in global consumption patterns: how the richest 20 per cent of the world's population consume 86 per cent of goods and services and 58 per cent of all energy supplies. His lecture also referred to the Icarus effect - how people do not react until they fly too close to the sun. Another warning referred to the prediction that sea level rise could cause the mass migration of 602 million people as land disappears and becomes uninhabitable. Payet added: "The issue of climate change is a wake-up call. Climate change has shown that actions in your homes have an impact upon me. We need to move away from thinking in silos and have to admit to our weaknesses before we move forward."

The new Climate Change and Development distance learning module, run by CeDEP, was also launched at the event entitled Countdown to Copenhagen: What Next for Climate Change and International Development? Payet said the module would help students and professionals to approach the complex issue of climate change and development in a multidisciplinary way and encourage them to ask the right questions. The module provides a foundational understanding of core natural and social science processes and of technical and policy issues, and will be available worldwide from February 2010.

Fast Action Needed to Save California Redwoods

2009-06-02T06:22:00.001-07:00

"With only 5 percent of the world's ancient redwood forest left standing, California State Parks create irreplaceable opportunities for people of all ages to experience the awe and majesty of the world's tallest trees," said Ruskin Hartley, executive director of Save the Redwoods League. "These parks are a vital source of enjoyment, education and inspiration for current and future generations."

"The Governor's proposal to eliminate public funding for California State Parks - and effectively close 80 percent of parks - would have devastating consequences on Californians' access to redwood forests," said Hartley. "The proposal would require the closure of 60 of 61 parks that are home to redwoods - including towering stands of ancient redwood forest."

California State Parks also contribute to local economies. In Sonoma alone, redwoods drive nearly 1 million visitors to the county each year. The closure of Armstrong Redwoods State Park would result in an economic loss to Sonoma County between $51 and $78 million annually, according to a 2008 assessment by the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. At the state level, studies have shown that every $1 that funds the state park system returns $2.35 to the General Fund, largely through economic activity in communities surrounding state parks.

"We are all lucky to benefit from the work of Save the Redwoods League's founding leaders and park partners that created the state park legacy we know today," said Hartley. "This legacy is one that is now sustained by volunteers, philanthropists, park visitors, voters and all Californians who support their parks. It is not a legacy that the Governor or the Legislature should undo. It is now more important than ever that Californians and our State Legislature work together to save our state parks."

Save the Redwoods League encourages park visitors and supporters to act now by:

* Sending a message to your elected officials and the Governor by visiting: http://www.savetheredwoods.org/voice. Ask friends, family members and colleagues to do the same.

* Uploading a one-minute video to Save the Redwoods League's YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/savetheredwoods to let people know what you think.

* Visiting redwood parks (http://www.grove.savetheredwoods.org) with friends and family this summer.

Discount Chocolate for Dads, Grads & You

2009-06-01T06:32:00.000-07:00

I have to admit that I am lousy at giving gifts. Occasions like Father's Day and Graduation are times when I am supposed to be giving a nice gift, but too often I give something stupid like a flashlight, or a tie, or a zip drive and end up looking like a nerd. That is why I was so happy to find out that there is a special sale that starts today and runs through until the end of summer that gives you a nice discount on some of the best chocolate available.

The promotion is from Ghirardelli Chocolates, one of the favorite brands in the country. All you have to do is click on this coupon...

...and enter the code "SUMMER15" and you can have a discount of 15% off your purchase of $15 or more of delicious Ghirardelli chocolate.

I can't think of anything more appropriate to give as a Father's Day gift or a graduation present than a huge box of Ghirardelli chocolates. Well, maybe if I were a gift giving genius, I could, but I have to admit that this is taking the easy way out. But, heck, if you can get a nice discount as well as saving yourself any more effort, why not go for it. And while you're shopping for chocolates, might as well get a box for yourself too. Why not, it's time to celebrate summer!

How to Save Money on Veteinary Bills

2009-05-27T05:54:00.000-07:00

Avoiding common diseases in pets is not only possible but by being proactive, you can save a great deal of money in medical expenses, says leading veterinarian Dr. Arnold Goldman, president of the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Foundation and director of the Connecticut State Animal Response Team.

Dr. Goldman explains, "There are very serious pet health issues that can be completely avoided or minimized with a little common sense and proactive attention by owners. You can save thousands of dollars, and keep your companion healthy and safe."

The top reasons for costly veterinary visits, according to The CVMF, and how to avoid them include:

Motor vehicle trauma:

• Use a six foot leash -- not a flexilead, when outside, especially near roads.

• Do not rely on an electric fence. They may be inoperative when you least expect it.

• Do not rely on your belief that your pet will never leave your yard. It takes just one squirrel to lead to serious injury and needless pain. Trauma care costs may exceed $5000.00

Arthritis:

• Keep your dog and cat lean (obesity can cause arthritis, as well as diabetes and other ailments).

• Avoid running with your pet on pavement

• Do not force dogs with "specialized" conformation to perform like a wolf (for example: toy breeds dogs cannot run alongside their owners).

Gastroenteritis:

• Use a leash at ALL times.

• Do not allow eating things off the ground,

• Do not vary diet or feed people food.

• Do not allow your dog to make contact with other dogs' stools or where parasites may be present. (This is common at dog parks, many doggy day cares and wherever dogs congregate).

Skin Disease:

• Practice strict tick and flea control.

• When the dog has a history of skin disease, see your veterinarian early for preventative measures such as antihistamines to avoid more costly interventions later.

• Most often ear disease is linked to allergic disease, so see your veterinarian early for ear discomfort.

Periodontal Disease:

• Train puppies that brushing is normal -- start early.

• Brush the teeth and gums. You must train them to accept it. Teach them this is not optional.

• Allow regular professional dental cleanings from age two on.

• 85 percent of dogs and cats have moderate to severe periodontal disease due to not brushing or cleaning. It leads to many other ailments, all of which cost more to treat than prevent.

Bloat:

• Feed two equal meals daily of a measured amount.

• Avoid exercise after eating.

• Be aware of signs of bloat (non-productive vomiting, abdominal distention).

In addition to those common issues, Dr. Goldman says "The ideal way to avoid health problems is by early detection and prevention -- just like with people -- with twice-yearly physical exams after age seven. And always examine your pet regularly at home for lumps and other abnormalities to try to catch things early. Weigh your pet regularly. Any changes should be reported to your veterinarian."

For more information you can go to www.petsafetyct.org

New Vitamin D Supplement For Heart Patients

2009-05-15T06:46:00.000-07:00

Asantae, (www.asantae.com) a neutracuetical manufacturer and distribution company, announced the release of the Vitamin D enhanced HeartShot™ dietary supplement which is a best seller for the company.

HeartShot™ was developed to be the highest quality anti-inflammatory nutritional product on the market today. The latest research shows:

• most people are deficient in Vitamin D which is a vitally important vitamin

• Vitamin D is a significant component for reducing inflammation and improving immunity

Due to these two new developments, Dr. Lundell, MD and Chief Medical Officer for Asantae felt it was very important to add Vitamin D to the HeartShot™ formula in order to further increase its anti-inflammatory capabilities.

Another improvement for HeartShot™ is a higher quality microencapsulation. This will make for better bioavailability.

Dr. Dwight Lundell, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Asantae and author of the best selling book, The Cure for Heart Disease (www.thecureforheartdisease.net) stated, "We are all committed at Asantae to develop and bring to market the finest nutritional supplements available today. Anyone who has read my best selling book knows heart disease can be prevented once a person has the understanding of what really causes heart disease and takes the proper action. HeartShot™ is the first step."

Dr. Lundell's no-nonsense approach to science and medicine, and his caring attitude toward patients, has helped guide his career transformation from surgeon to formulator, author, lecturer, and founder of the Healthy Humans Foundation (http://healthyhumansfoundation.org/).

Asantae also makes and distributes other all-natural neutracuetical products for maintaining a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Asantae (www.asantae.com) is a distributor based company for individuals interested in building a business for long term residual income in the health and wellness industry, a multi-billion dollar industry and growing. The company supports its distributor base with numerous marketing and sales materials, making it easy and inexpensive for a person to start their own home based business.

Persons wanting more information on HeartShot™ or the business should go to the company's website at www.asantae.com.

Here's a guide for how to be a gifted kid

2009-05-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

Being a young gifted student in today's world is different in many ways from 20-plus years ago when THE GIFTED KIDS' SURVIVAL GUIDE: FOR AGES 10 & UNDER (http://www.freespirit.com/catalog/item_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=194) was first published. Programs to support gifted students are more established, more comprehensive, and more accepted in many schools. The super-smart founders of companies like Microsoft, Google, and The Geek Squad have helped make it cool to be smart. And recent survey results show that fewer elementary-age gifted kids report being teased than in years prior.

While being GT (gifted and talented) may be easier in some respects now than in the past, that doesn't mean gifted children have it easy. That's why Judy Galbraith, M.A., first wrote and has now fully updated THE GIFTED KIDS' SURVIVAL GUIDE: FOR AGES 10 & UNDER (Revised & Updated 3rd Edition, $12.99, Free Spirit Publishing (http://www.freespirit.com)).

"Where do you turn when no one knows the answers to your most secret and baffling questions about being gifted? The Gifted Kids' Survival Guide: For Ages 10 & Under by Judy Galbraith has the answers in words that make sense."--Barbara Clark, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, California State University, Los Angeles, and author of Growing Up Gifted

The National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) estimates there are approximately 3 million gifted kids in kindergarten through twelfth grade in the United States. What does gifted or high potential mean to them? Do they have questions about giftedness? What kinds of problems do they have with friends and family? Do they have the opportunity to work ahead in school? Galbraith recently surveyed 1,000 GT kids to find out the answers to these and other questions, and put her findings into her new book. Here's what a few of these boys and girls had to say about what being gifted means:

"Being able to see things in a way others can't."--Lexi, age 9

"People expect more of me."--Duncan, age 9

"It means I never stop asking questions."--Devorah, age 9

"It means not just knowing the answer, but thinking about why it's that way."

--Max, age 10

"It is my hope that THE GIFTED KIDS' SURVIVAL GUIDE will help kids make sense of some of

the puzzling, amazing, and stressful challenges they face as a GT," says Galbraith. "When they know more about who they are, which includes their giftedness, they feel better about themselves and report more confidence."

THE GIFTED KIDS' SURVIVAL GUIDE covers the social and emotional challenges GT kids face and offers solid advice, encouragement, suggestions for self-directed learning opportunities, quotes from gifted kids, and self-advocacy techniques to try both at home and at school. For example, sections include:

5 Things GTs Need to Succeed

8 Great Gripes of GT Kids

8 Big Benefits of Being GT

8 Ways to Make Regular School More Cool

Whiz Quiz: Are You a Perfectionist?

With THE GIFTED KIDS' SURVIVAL GUIDE, Galbraith has provided a much needed, up-to-date resource for children, parents, teachers, and other advocates for gifted kids everywhere.

This practical guide offers young gifted children the support and encouragement they're looking for.

Ethics Important During Tough Times Says Dalai Lama

2009-05-08T06:17:00.000-07:00

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama spoke at Albany's Palace Theatre yesterday of the need to foster ethics and embrace basic human values, especially during these times of economic and socio-political turmoil. About 2,600 people heard his public talk titled ''Compassionate Ethics in Difficult Times.''

The event, sponsored by the World Ethical Foundations Consortium (WEFC), was His Holiness' first visit to the state capital of New York.

Legs folded in an oversized chair at center stage, His Holiness (http://www.worldethicalfoundations.org) spoke with a comfortable candor, often pausing to laugh and look into the audience. He talked passionately about the importance of ethics in today's world, highlighting it as the missing ingredient in politics, business and religion.

"We need some lessons of moral ethics," he said.

During a news conference preceding the public talk, His Holiness advised that people should be self-reflective and focus on their internal well-being. Instead of placing value on material possessions, people should strive for happy families and compassionate communities.

"We should pay more attention to inner value. Money alone is not sufficient," he said.

At the beginning of the public speech, His Holiness presented his hosts and local leaders with white silk scarves called "kataks," which according to Tibetan culture symbolize purity. Bishop Howard Hubbard of the Albany Diocese, Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings and WEFC cofounders Sara and Clare Bronfman all were presented scarves and remained seated with him on the stage during his speech. At the end of his talk, he addressed several questions submitted earlier by audience members.

When asked why he decided to come to Albany, His Holiness said he met with representatives from WEFC and determined their genuine focus was to promote ethics and it was his moral responsibility, given his commitment to promoting basic human values and secular ethics, to support others doing the same. The afternoon's events were concluded by His Holiness showing his support for Keith Raniere, conceptual founder of WEFC, by calling him on stage and placing a katak around his neck.

About 200 people watched a simulcast of the talk at The Egg at Empire State Plaza in Albany.

His Holiness' visit to Albany was his last stop on a U.S. tour, which also included events in Boston and New York City.

Grossed-Out Divorce Lawyer Vomits Onto Judge

2009-05-03T16:23:00.000-07:00

At first we thought this news item might be one of those stories that supermarket tabloids such as the National Enquirer sometimes fabricate and publish alongside sensational articles about space aliens, Bigfoot and Elvis sightings. But then we did a bit of digging and we found out more than we wanted to know. It seems there is a website that has pictures on it that are so gross, they truly are enough to make a lawyer barf in court.

Here is the story as we first read it...

Grossed-Out Divorce Lawyer Vomits Onto Judge

FRESNO, CA - A family courtroom erupted into tumult when a lawyer lost not only his case but also his lunch upon an astonished judge, who hastily dismissed the proceedings. Attorney Richard Wysnewski, 52, was arguing over a custody settlement with Judge Sandra S. Ogilvy when he suddenly became violently ill and spewed the contents of his stomach all over the face and chest of the presiding justice. Mr. Wysnewski was seen to receive a message on his mobile phone immediately prior to the incident. It is believed he viewed an online greeting card image so disgusting that he was unable to control the regurgitation reflex.

And now, as the late Paul Harvey used to say, here is the rest of the story...

We have learned that the lawyer in question was sent an insulting electronic greeting card that he received on his Blackberry, and the poor schmuck was dumb enough to view it in court. The card came from a site called Secret Revenge Cards at http://www.secretrevengecards.com and we warn you not to go there unless you have a very strong stomach.

Not only do they run a service where people can send electronic insult cards -- they call them "e-sults" -- but they do it all anonymously. You can send a card to somebody you want to take revenge on and the recipient never knows the identity of the sender.

As if this wasn't bad enough, the pictures available on the cards are repulsive, depraved, disgusting, sickening and shameful. Do these people have no decency or morality? The popular term "Not Safe For Work" or NSFW is only putting it mildly!

To be fair, the website does state that they are opposed to bullying, hate mongering or racism, but we predict there could be disaster if school children start tormenting one another with these cruel communications.

The internet has been described as being as wide open as the old West. Maybe it's time more regulation was written to control such filth as Secret Revenge Cards.

Is ABC Anti-Christian? And if so, is that bad?

2009-04-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

According to author Jason T. Berggren, the Bible is boring, praying doesn't work, and Christians are self-righteous. Those are a few of the emotionally charged subjects Berggren answers for in the first of two interviews which debuted online this week on ABC's video news blog The Quick Fix (http://blogs.abcnews.com/quickfix/2009/04/quick-fix-10-th.html). Berggren discusses openly the challenges he has faced over the 20 years of his faith journey as chronicled in his bold new book ''10 Things I Hate About Christianity: Working Through the Frustrations of Faith (http://www.10thingsihate.com/).''

News correspondent Harris describes the book as "a fascinating and rather risky critique of Christianity." The assessment seems accurate based on recent comments gathering on ABC's site and around the web. Berggren openly admits hate is a very strong word and reveals that he wrestled deeply with using the term. In the end, he decided it was the best way to describe his angst-ridden frustration, which is how he justifies the use of the term. Berggren emphasizes that this is not a closed and bitter anger. It's the type of deep dissatisfaction that can be a motivator towards personal growth and forward momentum.

Berggren highlights the sub-title when clarifying this, "It's working through the frustrations of faith." Berggren explains that he doesn't just point out problems in the 10 foundational areas of his faith that he has constantly had to work through over the last 20 years, but backs them with his own personal resolutions. He acknowledges that many may not come to the same conclusions, but the author feels that others will be helped in their own spiritual experience as they read about his.

To learn more about Jason T. Berggren, his blog, and his controversial new book visit www.10thingsihate.com. ABC will be featuring Berggren in a primetime interview for the debut of a new show called "Beliefs" airing in a few weeks. Specific showtime to be announced on www.abcnews.com.

How to reduce your risk of getting Swine Flu

2009-04-29T06:17:00.000-07:00

In the news this morning is the first reported death from Swine Flu in the USA, a 23-month-old infant in Texas.

The worst case scenario for a Swine Flu epidemic looks grim, according to government sources. Two million dead. Hospitals overwhelmed. Schools closed.

The government estimates that a pandemic like the 1918 Spanish flu would sicken 90 million Americans, or about 30 percent of the population. Of those, nearly 10 million would have to be admitted to a hospital, and nearly 1.5 million would need intensive care. About 750,000 would need the help of mechanical ventilators to keep breathing.

One doctor believes that there are simple and easy ways we can all reduce our susceptibility to infection.

“Most flus enter our body through our noses, and the organ in our nose that is critical to fighting infection is the nasal cilia,” said sinus infection expert Dr. Murray Grossan, author of Free Yourself from Sinus and Allergy Problems – Permanently from Hydro Med, Inc. (www.drgrossan.com). “If you take care of your cilia, and take steps to enhance their ability to ward off infection, you can increase your immune response and reduce your susceptibility to Swine Flu.”

With Swine Flu overtaking foreign countries and also making its presence known in the United States, people feel helpless because there is no vaccine and limited preventative measures they can take to prevent against infection.

But Dr. Grossan, an expert in the causes and prevention of sinus infections, believes that the same methods he advises his patients to prevent sinus infection and the cold can also be useful in helping to prevent Swine Flu.

“The key to preventing sinus infections, and repeated sinus infections, is healthy nasal cilia,” Dr. Grossan said. “They are our first line of defense, and too many OTC products may be harmful. My method is to enhance cilia health so that the organ can do the job it was intended to do – keep us healthy.”

Tea is one main weapon in the arsenal to fight infection, he said.

“Tea can boost the body’s defense fivefold,” Dr. Grossan said. “Dr. Jack Bukowski of Harvard reported that five cups of tea per day increased the body’s defenses against disease. The chemical in tea, L-theanine, transforms into ethylamine in the liver. Ethylamine is a molecule that primes the response of an immune blood cell, one of the T cells. These T cells, called gamma delta T cells, prompt the secretion of interferon, a key defense against infection. Tea is also high in antioxidants and actually stimulates cilia action.”

Chicken soup is also not a cliché in this case, he said. It contains properties that are critical to cilia health, and can actually help keep them strong.

There are also a number of over the counter products that can be used to protect the cilia topically, and these remedies are usually employed by travelers on airplanes.

“These gels coat the cilia, and prevent bacteria from penetrating to the nasal tissue, thereby helping to prevent infection,” he added.

Relaxation is also important, as is a good night’s sleep, according to Dr. Grossan.

“When you’re stressed out and exhausted, your immune response is significantly hampered, and you are more susceptible to infection,” he said. “Learning to relax and relieve your stress is an important tool in the fight against disease, and a general aid to good health.”

Anyone who is looking to get a Swine Flu Vaccine should be aware that the only drugs currently available that can save your life if you should be infected by the H5N1, H1N1, H3N2, and H1N2 virus are Tamiflu and Relenza, which are sold online -- at least until the supplies run out, which they could do during a pandemic.

Want to start your own business? Grab a bucket!

2009-04-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

A company in California is making it easy for anyone looking to make money with the launch of Business-In-A-Bucket. The product enables individuals to build a personal stimulus package, as it contains all of the information necessary to begin an auto detailing business. Entrepreneur and owner Kevin Jones launched Business-In-A-Bucket to help those suffering from unemployment and to help young people find the money for college and be empowered to become CEOs of their own companies.

"As we embark upon the worst economy ever, it is imperative that we think fast and think outside the box. Let's face it -- we are drowning. There is a giant leak in America's economic boat. Do we wait for someone to patch the hole, or do we jump off and swim to shore?" Jones says. "If you stay in the boat and do nothing, it's a sure thing that you will drown. If you get out of the sinking boat and try to save yourself, your chances of surviving are greater. Business-In-A-Bucket is designed to help teenagers -- anyone - earn income and learn entrepreneurial skills necessary for business success."

After a home, a car is the most expensive investment that many people make. In addition to learning how to create jobs, users of Business-In-A-Bucket will learn how to preserve their own cars and save money.

Business-In-A-Bucket is just as it sounds -- a bucket loaded with everything necessary to start a business; more specifically, it contains everything needed to professionally detail a car. Included in the bucket is Jones' instructional guide book "The Owner's Guide to Auto Detailing," featuring all of the intricacies of auto detailing, including one little-known fact in bold print: "DO NOT USE DISH SOAP TO WASH YOUR CAR." The book offers 58 car maintenance tips in all, covering topics such as polishing compounds and the proper way to clean tinted windows, all of which are pertinent in the business of auto detailing.

Business-In-A-Bucket is a simple, cost-effective way to make money without the hassle and stress. For less than $50, users are provided various tips and tools that they can utilize to create any number of new businesses, such as an auto preservation consultancy, a mobile auto detailing business (http://www.businessinabucket.net/)or selling do-it-yourself auto detailing kits.

"Business-In-A-Bucket allows you to start your own business right away. It's a great way to encourage youth in business. We must find ways to create our own stimulus packages, and doing so for yourself is a great start. With Business-In-A-Bucket, something so simple can lead to something so great," Jones says.

Is Eating Meat Bad for America?

2009-04-16T05:50:00.000-07:00

With World Health Day and Earth Day both in April, health and environmental advocates are calling on President Obama to take a page from history and proclaim national "meatless" days, as three of his predecessors in office have done.

Presidents Wilson, Truman and Roosevelt all instituted national meatless days in order to divert food to troops overseas and alleviate worldwide food shortages. Today, a growing body of experts say that moderate reductions in meat consumption will mitigate climate change, lessen fossil fuel dependence, conserve fresh water and help reduce the chronic preventable conditions that today kill 70 percent of all Americans -- cancer, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Robert Lawrence, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future at the Bloomberg School of Public Health says, "With the President's notable embrace of healthy food and strong support for environmentally sound policies, reintroducing 'Meatless Mondays' at the White House will demonstrate a great way for Americans to improve their health, while lightening our nation's carbon foot-print."

Meatless Monday envisions meatless menus and recipes issuing from the White House every Monday, inspiring Americans to cook healthier meals, and the administration providing international leadership by directing the White House Chef to plan and prepare meat-free banquets and state dinners.

At December's international summit on global warming in Poznan, Poland, United Nations emissaries cited meat production as a primary source of greenhouse gas. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has called eating less meat "one of the most important personal choices we can make to address climate change."

"When we think about the climate crisis, we tend to think about Big Oil or dirty coal-fired power plants," says Anna Lappé, author of Taking a Bite out of Climate Change (http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/climatechange). "Meanwhile, the global food system is responsible for as much as one-third of our total greenhouse gas emissions. Livestock alone contributes more to the global warming effect than emissions from the world's transportation."

Eating less meat also makes economic sense. More and more people are finding that forgoing meat for just a few meals each week can yield significant savings.

Sustainable Table's (http://www.sustainabletable.org/home.php) Regina Weiss says, "Asking Americans to forgo meat just one day a week will attract strong support from pediatricians and parents, economists and environmentalists, farmers and foodies alike."

Marion Nestle, nutritionist, advocate and author of the prizewinning Food Politics and What to Eat, says, "This is a great opportunity to expand our vegetable repertoire and do good things for health and for the planet."

Peggy Neu, President of Meatless Monday, says, "Looking back to a period when millions of Americans made simple sacrifices for the greater good, President Obama can urge Americans to cut out meat, just one day a week. It's easy to do and can have huge benefits for our health and the health of our planet."

To get the facts on meat, read below.

Meat: The Consequences

* The meat industry generates nearly 1/5 of the man-made greenhouse gases that are accelerating climate change worldwide, far more than transportation.(1)

* About 40 calories of fossil fuel energy go into every calorie of feed lot beef in the U.S.(2) Compare this to the 2.2 calories of fossil fuel energy needed to produce one calorie of plant-based protein.(3)

* The estimated 634 gallons of fresh water required to produce one 5.2 ounce hamburger would be enough for a four-hour shower.(4) Compare this to the 143 gallons of water required to produce the same quantity of tofu.(5)

* 2/3 of Americans are overweight or suffer from obesity. 6 Studies show that individuals on vegetarian or low-meat diets have significantly lower body weights and body mass indices.(7)

* Chronic preventable conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer kill 1.7 million Americans each year, 70% of all deaths in the U.S.(8) Diets abundant in red and processed meats have been linked to increased cancer risk, especially of the digestive tract;(9) while diets high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.(10)

Endnotes

(1) Steinfeld, H., et al., Livestock's long shadow: Environmental issues and options. 2006, Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Rome, Italy

(2) Pimentel, D. and M. Pimentel, Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003. 78: p. 66S-3S.

(3) Pimentel, D. and M. Pimentel, Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets and the environment. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2003. 78: p. 1.

(4) Hoekstra, A.Y. and A.K. Chapagain, Water footprints of nations: Water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resource Management, 2007. 21(1): p. 35-48.

(5) Kreith, M., Water Inputs in California Food Production. 1991, Water Education Foundation: Sacramento, CA.

(6) National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 2008, With Special Feature on the Health of Young Adults. 2008, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Hyattsville, MD. p. pp. 50, 327, 336.

(7) Berkow, S.E. and N. Barnard, Vegetarian Diets and Weight Status. Nutrition Reviews, 2006. 64(4): p. 175-188.

(8) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Chronic Disease Overview," Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, March 20, 2008, Accessed February 5, 2009 (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm#2).

(9) Cross, A.J., et al. "A Prospective Study of Red and Processed Meat Intake in Relation to Cancer Risk." PLoS Medicine, 2007. 4(12): p. e325.

(10) Susanna C. Larsson, A.W. "Meat consumption and risk of colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis of prospective studies." International Journal of Cancer, 2006. 119(11): p. 2657-2664.

Help in Breaking Voodoo Spells

2009-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but among the things I worry about, like filing my income tax return, and the rising cost of living, really close to the top of the list is that someone has cast a voodoo spell on me. And that is why I am so grateful to have seen the following news flash this morning...

Break Voodoo Spells and Generational Curses

Generational curses are destructive patterns of behavior that are passed down through families for generations. Millions of people are miserable living a life that has been passed down to them by well-intentioned, but ill-informed family members. Freelance writer and media host, Toyi Ward tackles this topic in her debut novel, Par for the Curse (Naphtali Books, 2009). Ward says, "Get rid of that stuff and don't recycle it."

Beginning May 16, Toyi Ward will begin a national tour to help readers rid their lives of destructive patterns of behavior. Currently planned stops include: Boston, New York, Baltimore, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dallas, Lexington, KY, Chicago, and Los Angeles. "First, I want people to enjoy the story, that's why I write fiction," Ward says with a double wink.

"Then I want the reader to identify their own baggage and toss it out…not to be recycled."

Toyi Ward is a freelance writer and the host of "Toyi Talk-Authenticity with Attitude" which airs on the Blog Talk Radio Network each week. Her keen insight into life's success strategies have appeared in the The Glass Hammer, MSN Lifestyle, Your Business Channel, Recognize Magazine, Working Mother Magazine, The Cincinnati Enquirer and many more.

Read more on Toyi Ward's Newsroom (http://toyiwardnewsroom.blogspot.com/)

Low Income Families Can Get More Affordable Phone Service

2009-04-02T07:32:00.000-07:00

While more than 90 percent of American households have telephone service, there are millions who simply cannot afford a telephone in their home. Consumers may be eligible for these reduced rate telephone services if they receive qualified benefits from their state. Phone service is an essential component of public safety. TDS Telecommunications Corp. is committed to helping low-income families get telephones in their homes at an affordable rate using funds from the Universal Service Fund program.

"Lifeline and Link-Up are designed to ensure that everyone in the country has access to basic telephone service," said Kevin Hess, senior vice president of Government and Regulatory Affairs for TDS Telecommunications Corp. "Phone service is not only a convenience, but a necessity. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Lifeline program provides discounts on monthly service for qualified telephone subscribers. The Link-Up program offers reduced charges for telephone installation and additional discounts off the monthly service.

People can also call 1-888-CALL-FCC or log on to www.fcc.gov/cgb. There are different requirements in nearly every state to qualify for the Lifeline and Link-Up programs. The nationwide switch to digital television will be complete June 12, 2009, but your local television stations may switch sooner. TDS Telecommunications Corp. markets communication services to business and residential customers in 30 states through its brands TDS Telecom® and TDS Metrocom®. With nearly 1.2 million access line equivalents in service, TDS Telecommunications Corp. connects customers to phone, broadband, and digital television service in hundreds of rural, suburban, and metropolitan communities. TDS Telecommunications Corp. is the eighth-largest wire line company in the nation; employing approximately 2,730 people. The company is headquartered in Madison, Wis. Visit www.tdstelecom.com and www.tdsbusiness.com for more information.

How the recession is changing the way we eat and drink

2009-03-25T06:44:00.001-07:00

I saw a story on the news last week about how people's eating and drinking habits are changing because of the recession. We're going out to restaurants less, but buying more wine. Presumably, the wine helps expand our home dining experience, and there is no doubt it's less costly to drink wine at home than to buy it in a restaurant. Especially when you have found a way to shop for good wine online for less than $10 a bottle.

Anyway, a group of restaurants in Florida is trying to win back customers by offering these ten suggestions for "Successful Dining in Lean Times."

"It's a great time be a diner," says Naples Originals founding member, restaurateur Tony Ridgway. "We want diners to be in our restaurants as much as they want to be there." Naples Originals Founder and President, restaurateur Lisa Boet advises diners to "engage owners in conversation. Ask for advice on best values. Inquire about upcoming promotions and events, new dishes, just-arrived wine selections."

Strategies for successful dining are more than cost-cutting tips for dining on-the-cheap. Great dining is not necessarily expensive dining, reserved for special occasions. If diners employ some or all the following strategies, they can stay within budget and still indulge in the pleasures - and the people - at favorite local restaurants.

"10 Strategies for Successful Dining in Lean Times"

1. Small plates are making a comeback. Dining out is about taste, not waste of entrees one may not be able to finish (though Naples Originals endorses "people bags" -- see below). If one's restaurants of choice don't have a "small plates" section on their menus, cruise the appetizer and sides sections and put together interesting meals. This strategy delivers flavor as well as savings.

2. "People bags." If an entrée is too generous for a smaller appetite, turn it into two meals. A dish often reaches its full flavor potential the next day, ideal for a nice lunch.

3. Dine early. Many Naples Originals chefs have created thoughtful early dining menus that feature their signature dishes at significant savings, usually 20% to 30%. Diners save money and beat the prime time crowd.

4. Upgrade your wine choice. Use a Naples Originals gift certificate and put the 30% savings toward an upgraded wine selection. The savings, $7.50 on a $25 gift certificate and $15 on a $50 gift certificate, can be put toward a wine one might normally shy from. Many member restaurants have extraordinary by-the-glass programs and this is a great opportunity to upgrade a wine choice and still keep the tab reasonable.

5. Turn breakfast and lunch into a dining event. Breakfast or lunch on-the-fly? Why not turn the morning and afternoon meal into a dining experience? It's a good opportunity to enjoy a restaurant's cuisine at savings of up to 50% over dinner.

6. Eat cake! Visit a favorite restaurant later in the evening for dessert, at about 8:00, after the dinner rush winds down. It's important to sweeten one's mood in these sour economic times. Even the most expensive dessert is rarely more than $12. Pair a decadent chocolate dessert with port, or strawberries with champagne, and voila, the result is a dining event for about $20.

7. Share entrees. For a wider range of flavor, order appetizers and share entrées. Many restaurants offer this option for a small sharing charge, but the total tab is still considerably less than two, three-course meals.

8. Buy a bottle of wine and take it home. Case in point: Recently a couple dined in a Naples Original restaurant. She had white wine by the glass, and the wine he wanted was available only by the bottle. No problem. He ordered the bottle and took it home still half-full. The law allows diners to take home unconsumed wine as long as it is securely recorked and placed in a sealed bag.

9. Dine at the bar. The bar is the equivalent of a communal table, great for singles and couples and a wonderfully social event if one is feeling friendly. The benefits of bar-dining are myriad: no reservation needed, bartender entertainment (or free therapy!), amusing people (or TV)-watching, and a light meal of small plates and appetizers, selections from the bar menu.

10. Clip coupons. Old-fashioned, yes, but restaurants continue to publish coupons in local guides and publications, print and online. Coupons offer percentage discounts as well as complimentary dishes or wine based on a minimum check amount.

Those may be pretty good suggestions, but I still recommend you check out online wine shopping for less than $10 a bottle.