Every week Americans head to the grocery store knowing what should fill their carts–fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods packed with whole grains.
Yet many end up walking out with bags full of sugary cookies, a couple of frozen meat lovers’ pizzas and liters of soda.
This happens most in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area, where shoppers spend 11.47% of their yearly grocery bill on unhealthy items (the national average is 8.5%). In second-place Richmond, Va., that number drops slightly, to 11.45%, and in Indianapolis and Carmel, Ind., No. 3 on our list, unhealthy items eat up 11.33% of a typical grocery shopper’s bill.
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet and the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord region in North and South Carolina round out the top five.
There’s never been a better time to be a half-assed vegetarian. Five years ago, the American Dialect Society honored the word flexitarian for its utility in describing a growing demographic—the “vegetarian who occasionally eats meat.” Now there’s evidence that going flexi is good for the environment and good for your health. A study released last October found that a plant-based diet, augmented with a small amount of dairy and meat, maximizes land-use efficiency. In January, Michael Pollan distilled the entire field of nutritional science into three rules for a healthy diet: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” According to a poll released last week, Americans seem to be listening: Thirteen percent of U.S. adults are “semivegetarian,” meaning they eat meat with fewer than half of all their meals. In comparison, true vegetarians—those who never, ever consume animal flesh—compose just 1 percent. Read more…
According to Daniel Engber
June 13, 2008 — Two agents used to treat athlete’s foot may also help battle harmful algal blooms, which can be toxic to fish and shellfish, and potentially lethal to humans.
In laboratory experiments, Takuji Nakashima of the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation in Kisarazu, Japan and colleagues found that two antifungal agents were both effective at killing two types of algae that cause harmful algal blooms, commonly called red tides.
These blooms come in many varieties caused by different algae. The two that Nakashima tested are known to kill fish and shellfish.
“Our results suggested that antifungal agents are effective against the growth of red tides by interfering with the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway in the plankton cells,” Nakashima said.
Ergosterol is part of the cell membrane in fungi, and Nakashima’s new findings suggest it also is critical to the algae studied. Read more…
According to Jessica Marshall
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwire - May 13, 2008) - Mental health issues are on the rise in Canada, according to psychiatrist Dr. Jean Boodhoo, Chairman of the upcoming ICAM conference in Toronto, May 23 - 25, 2008. Dr. Boodhoo attributes raising financial and marital pressures, increasing drug and alcohol abuse, and steady suicide rates, as factors for why one in four Canadians suffer from a mental illness. Further contributing is the steady increase in cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s, among an ageing population. Despite the prevalence of mental illness with healthcare burden of $8 billion a year, there remains a large disconnect between these illnesses and current alternative interventions.
This disconnect was a big impetus behind the creation of Canada’s premier international conference on Integrative, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) and Mental Health. The conference assembles over 20 of the some of the world’s top medical professionals in allopathic, integrative, complementary and alternative medicine with a special focus on mental health.
“Most traditional treatments for mental health disorders involve prescribing psychotropic drugs,” explains Dr. Boodhoo. “While these drugs can be very effective in treating many psychiatric disorders, they unfortunately don’t work for everyone, and they are also prone to side effects. As medical practitioners, we’re looking at allopathic and alternative treatments to enable wellness for the whole person. ICAM gives conference-goers a wider scope of the interventions available for overcoming mental health problems.”
The conference is targeted towards family physicians, health care practitioners and individuals with a keen interest in alternative medicine or mental health solutions. The objective is that they will be made aware of current alternative interventions for mental health patients, future trends in the field and to raise awareness of concerns of legal and ethical issues in this field of practice.
“Medical professionals, as well as the general public, are more readily acknowledging that a focus on nutrition and mind/body medicine significantly improve mental health and overall well-being,” says Dr. Boodhoo. “And specific alternative therapies can do the same. For example, aromatherapy can assist with sleep and behavioural disorders in seniors with cognitive behaviour problems, electromagnetic waves can positively influence mood disorders and the use of herbs in Traditional Chinese Medicine can complement the treatment of schizophrenia.”
Conference: First International Conference on Integrative, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) and Mental Health
Date: May 23 to 25, 2008
Location: Sheraton Centre Toronto, 123 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON
Register: www.camspecialistsconnect.com/registration
Contact: (403) 580-2822; jeannieb@camspecialistsconnect.com
(PRWEB) April 10, 2008 — Oasis nasal spray and wash is available for children and adults, providing a natural alternative to over-the-counter congestion medicine, prescription allergy medication, and allergy shots. Oasis products are made from Dead Sea salts, rather than the usual saline. Most commonly used, hypertonic saline is known to cause cilia damage in the nasal passages, which lowers your ability to fight off infection. Oasis helps in the maintenance and prevention of symptoms such as post-nasal drip, runny and stuffy nose, and sinus discomfort. Oasis has recently entered the consumer allergy fighting product line, providing consumers the benefit of relief without annoying side-affects. And unlike many over-the-counter and prescription nasal products, Oasis doesn’t cause dependency, so it’s safe for all ages.
Recently the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Wisconsin did a study with 52 patients having a history of sinus related problems and compared them to 24 matched control subjects. They found that, “The group using nasal irrigation exhibited improved quality of life, less frequent symptoms, and used antibiotics and nasal sprays less often. They were compliant with nasal irrigation, liked using it, and suffered few side effects.” This nasal washing has become a trend among all age groups, and Oasis is filling the need with their all natural nasal products.
Oasis nasal products are currently available in ten states across America; soon expanding even more. Oasis’ unique formula consisting of all-natural Dead Sea salts has become a household name in many homes across the country; its healing properties proving to reduce inflammation, causing healthier nasal passages and cavities. With an abundance of over-the-counter and prescription nasal sprays on the market, Oasis values the opportunity as the industry’s exclusive provider of natural nasal products, to help consumers find a safer, more reliable way to treating their allergy and sinus problems.
Get in on the trend by using the newest and most popular nasal products. Help restore your health with Oasis nasal spray and wash.
About Oasis
Oasis Nasal Spray & Nasal Wash - A New Approach to Healthy Nasal Care
Oasis Nasal Spray is formulated with purified Dead Sea salt. The Dead Sea is the world’s lowest and most saline lake. Its 30% salt composition has proportionately more calcium, magnesium, bromine, and potassium and less sodium, sulfate, and carbonate than any ocean.
The Dead Sea salt solution is safer and better than saline spray in the treatment for allergies and sinus disorders because of its anti-inflammatory effect.
For more information, go to: http://www.oasisnasalspray.com.
WARSAW, Ind., May 1 /PRNewswire/ — While the prevalence of osteoarthritis-related disability is greater among women than among men, studies suggest women receive treatment such as knee replacement surgery later in the course of their disease. In fact, women wait until they have significantly worse knee function before having needed knee replacement surgery.
This Mother’s Day, DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., is focusing attention on the health of America’s moms by elevating awareness of knee replacement surgery and dispelling myths about the surgery. To help Americans encourage their mothers to turn the tables and care for themselves, DePuy is making Mother’s Day e-Cards available that urge mothers to find out more about knee replacement surgery. To view the e-Cards, please visit http://www.kneereplacement.com.
Women Delay Taking Action
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, women suffer from osteoarthritis (OA) at a rate more than double that of men, yet they are three times less likely to undergo a total knee replacement.
“Most of the disability from osteoarthritis of the knee can be reduced with knee replacement and we can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life,” said Dr. John Wright, an orthopaedic surgeon at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. “It’s unfortunate that so many women who could benefit from knee replacement are not undergoing this procedure.”
In a study published by Arthritis & Rheumatism, researchers found that delaying surgery can lower a patient’s quality of life even more than OA does on its own, both before and for up to two years after surgery.There is no cure for OA and it is degenerative, which means that the pain and limited mobility can get worse over time.
Diane Hughes, a 57-year-old mother of two who works as a visiting care nurse, was encouraged by her family to move forward with knee replacement surgery. “I considered postponing my surgery, even though I knew I needed it, because my father was ill.”
Fortunately, Diane’s family encouraged her not to delay: “My family said I limped when I walked and it was painful for them to watch me. It was especially difficult to work as a visiting home nurse since I needed to walk around a large city. Now, whenever I climb up or down stairs, I feel great. I don’t even think about my knee anymore.”
Knee replacement is not for everyone. There are potential risks. Recovery takes time, and success depends on factors like age, weight and activity level. Only an orthopaedic surgeon can tell if knee replacement is right for a patient.
Mother’s Day e-Cards
The Mother’s Day e-Cards are available at http://www.kneereplacement.com/. Kneereplacement.com also offers a vast array of tools to help moms to explore their treatment options. The site includes patient stories, screening tools, a knee replacement technology center, a surgeon locator and information about free educational seminars sponsored by DePuy across the country.
OREGON CITY, OR — (MARKET WIRE) — April 30, 2007 — The Hepatitis C Caring Ambassadors Program (HCCAP) applauds Governors Kulongoski and Gregoire for recognizing viral hepatitis as a serious threat to public health by issuing proclamations recognizing Hepatitis Awareness month in their respective states. Hepatitis C is the most common chronic, blood-borne viral infection in the United States, and is the leading cause of chronic liver disease. An estimated 5 million Americans have been infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) including at least 171,000 citizens in Oregon and Washington.HCCAP Program Director, Lorren Sandt, said of the proclamations, “Raising awareness among the general public about hepatitis C is especially important since the majority of people living with hepatitis C remain undiagnosed. People cannot change the course of their disease or protect their loved ones if they are unaware of their own health status.”
HCCAP’s efforts during Hepatitis Awareness Month are focused on educating the general public and policy-makers about both the health threat posed by hepatitis C and the opportunity to turn the tide on this public health crisis. The death rate from hepatitis C is expected to triple from 2010 to 2019. Increased testing and treatment can help curb this dire prediction. “Hepatitis C is a rarity among viral illnesses in that we have medications that cure the disease in approximately half of those who undergo treatment,” said Dr. Tina St. John, Medical Director of HCCAP. She added, “In the near future, we hope to improve therapies so that cure is possible in nearly all people treated. There are several products currently in clinical trials showing very promising preliminary results.”
Lorren Sandt noted, “The number of people in Oregon and Washington living with hepatitis C would fill the Rose Garden more than 8 times. We have an opportunity to help every one of those individuals, but we must act now. Thank you, Governors Kulongoski and Gregoire, for taking action!”
/24-7PressRelease/ - NEW DELHI, INDIA, April 27, 2007 - The results of the stem cell therapy given to teenagers and young adults suffering from Type-1 diabetes were described to be “very encouraging” by the two researchers - Richard Burt of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, and University of Sao Paulo’s Julio Voltarelli. The patients, on whom the test was done, could discontinue taking insulin following the successful knock out of their malfunctioning immune systems. The treatment also reconstructed them from their own stem cells.
Just after giving an injection of stem cells, a large number of patients did not feel the need to take another insulin injection, as the effect of the first injection lasted from one to 35 months.
Often, this type of diabetes (Type-1) is diagnosed in young adults or children. It’s a gene linked disorder which affects approximately1.4 million Americans, as per the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Even if controlled by taking insulin injections daily, Type-1 diabetes may result in complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, limbs’ amputation, and circulation problems.
A treatment of Type-1 diabetes, which doesn’t require multiple injections of insulin to be pricked everyday, is sure to offer a hope of a nearly needle free life for people suffering from this fatal and incapacitating disease.
The multi billion-dollar market of insulin can also be severely impacted by the successful stem cell treatment - a market wherein a barrage of various treatment revolutions either have or may continue to remain lackluster. For example, Exubera - the world’s 1st and perhaps only inhaled insulin product developed by Pfizer - was once seen as a potential breakthrough drug. Sales of Exubera however have been particularly disappointing for pharmaceutical giant.
RNCOS report “New Developments in Insulin Delivery System (2006)” notifies, “Current ambiance in insulin market comprises of strong marketing plus clinical support in favor of the newly launched products. Drug delivery products’ sales will likely increase by 100% in the coming five years, since technologies being researched & developed currently will attain fruition and get commercialized by that time. Presently, special drug delivery technology’s market value is US$ 50 Billion per year, i.e. 12.5% of global pharmaceutical sales.”
This research report “New Developments in Insulin Delivery System (2006)” helps clients in analyzing the opportunities critical to the growth of Insulin Delivery Systems in the World. The report addresses some interesting issues for today’s Global business environment, such as evaluation of current market trends, discussion about the leading edge technologies, scope of the major insulin delivery systems all over the world, analysis of various challenges and opportunities before the industry, etc.
About RNCOS E-Services Pvt Ltd.:
RNCOS, incorporated in the year 2002, is an industry research firm. It has a team of industry experts who analyze data collected from credible sources. They provide industry insights and analysis that helps corporations to take timely and accurate business decision in today’s globally competitive environment.
For more information visit: http://www.rncos.com/Report/IM040.htm
NEW YORK, April 26 /PRNewswire/ — National Stroke Association and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (BIPI) have come together to announce the launch of Second Chances, a new research study designed to shed light on the devastating burden of stroke survivorship. There are more than five million stroke survivors in the United States(1), a number that is expected to increase dramatically as our population ages. The Second Chances Study has been undertaken to better understand the challenges that these patients must overcome to reclaim their lives after suffering a stroke.
“More than 160,000 Americans are killed by stroke each year, but an additional 500,000 suffer a stroke and survive(2) and recovering from a stroke is a lifelong journey,” said Diane Mulligan-Fairfield, Vice President, Communications, National Stroke Association. “Surviving a stroke is the number one risk factor for a second stroke. One of the goals for the Second Chances Study is to promote more effective prevention, especially for individuals most at risk, as well as their families and caregivers.”
The Second Chances Study seeks to quantify and characterize the burden associated with life after stroke across a broad range of traditional risk factors and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) criteria. The study will be conducted by the Center on Outcomes, Research, and Education (CORE) at Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, a national leader in the application of clinical research to improve patient care and influence policy, in partnership with researchers at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), ranked since 1991 as the “#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by U.S. News and World Report.
Researchers from these institutions will analyze HRQOL data from an extensive database. Since December 1993, researchers at RIC have maintained a registry of approximately 2,000 patients who have suffered a previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). As part of the Second Chances initiative, former patients from this registry will be invited to participate in an interview and to complete a series of questionnaires that assess patients’ medical care, functional status, and aspects of their health-related quality of life. The resulting image of stroke survivorship will add context and nuance to our understanding of life after stroke. “There are more stroke survivors in the U.S. today than ever before,” said Dr. David Cella, Director, CORE, lead researcher, the Second Chances Study. “We believe more effective rehabilitation and treatment options for stroke survivors will emerge from better understanding the quality of life impact after stroke.”
To spread the word about this exciting new research initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim and National Stroke Association will conduct a panel discussion about the Second Chances Study and about the larger issue of life after stroke this afternoon at 1:30 p.m. in the Rendezvous Room of the Hilton New York Hotel. The panel discussion will be moderated by Mark McEwen, former co-host of the CBS Early Show who suffered a near-fatal stroke in November 2005.
“I am excited to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim, RIC, CORE and National Stroke Association on the Second Chances Study,” said McEwen. “As a stroke survivor myself, I know full well how devastating stroke can be. I hope that by sharing my story I can inspire others to know their stroke risks and take necessary steps to reduce them.”
McEwen will moderate a multidisciplinary panel discussion featuring a range of attitudes and perceptions associated with stroke survivorship: professionals, patients, caregivers, third-party organizations and industry. The discussion will include a review of issues related to stroke survivorship and a presentation of the Second Chances Study protocol, as well as an audience Q&A.
For more information about the Second Chances Study and panel discussion, log on to www.SecondChancesStudy.com. Second Chances is sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
NORTHVILLE, Mich., April 25 /PRNewswire/ — At 85, Carson Lapp has no need for prescription drugs. At age 59, he carried a bottle of Nitro because his doctor was concerned about his heart. Then he began to educate himself to natural approaches to heart problems and health in general. Natural Health- Healing Resources.com is Lapp’s resource website for better health and longevity. Mr. Lapp established the growing website to pull together many health resources in one place. Lapp is the President of C&D Natural Health Healing Resources.
“With healthcare costs skyrocketing and companies looking to Wellness Programs to reduce costs, isn’t it time that individuals took charge of their own health and well-being?” says Lapp. Discover for yourself why millions of people who want good health, wellness and longevity visit the healthcare professionals featured on this resource site.
At the urging of friends, Carson Lapp now shares his resources on a unique website: http://www.nh-hr.com. The site features recommended sources, a specific needs index and recommended reading, and offers a way to receive mailings, comments and questions. The reader can sign up to receive specific news and information for targeted illnesses and physical problems.
At age 60, Mr. Lapp developed Type II diabetes with a 293 blood sugar reading. “Natural products, changing my eating habits and losing 25 pounds brought my sugar reading down to 90,” says Lapp. “I didn’t need medication and I have maintained my new weight and low sugar now for 25 years.” Lapp’s goal is to introduce more people to health experts with a wealth of experience and scientific research.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, one of many resource doctors featured on the site, says, “When you shine a bright light in a dark corner you remove the darkness. You simply can’t have light and darkness simultaneously. Similarly when you focus on health, disease dramatically disappears. Disease and health can’t co- exist.”
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