Source: http://yourbodyyourtemple.net/health/how-congestion-can-be-cured-naturally-2/
Saturday 30 April 2011
How Congestion Can be Cured Naturally: 2
It is a good time for chest congestion. That is, a lot of people are suffering from it. If you are not interested in over the counter medications, there are plenty of natural remedies for this problem. For starters, herbal tea can be extremely helpful, especially if you inhale the steam. By adding apple cider [...]
Health Care Reform Developments
Some quick tidbits and news items concerning health care reform you hopefully find useful ? or at least interesting: Judge Upholds PPACA: This time the plaintiffs claimed the individual mandate provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act violated their religious freedom. They also argued the financial penalties were too severe. U.S. District Judge [...]
Source: http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2011/02/23/health-care-reform-developments/
Gluten-Free Recipe: Quinoa and Smoked Gouda stuffed Poblano Peppers
Here is another recipe for our free Gluten-Free Recipes collection ? this time it is a vegetarian adaptation of a recent recipe that was inspired by a very tasty dish I first discovered at a local Mexican restaurant here in Texas. I first posted the non-vegetarian gluten-free original Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Chicken and Smoked Gouda recipe (link) a couple weeks ago, and now I have added this vegetarian and gluten-free version: GF and vegetarian Recipe: Quinoa and Smoked-Gouda stuffed Poblano Peppers (link)
This vegetarian version retains its healthier (than the restaurant version) approach to the recipe with much less sodium and considerably less fat, while retaining a delicious combination of flavors and textures. The quinoa grain is not only a great gluten-free diet addition, but also a much tastier and fulfilling "stuffing" than plain rice would be. Combine this seasoned quinoa with the large mild green chiles (Poblanos) used for this recipe ? which are most excellent for stuffing thanks to their relatively thick walls ? and you have a feast for the senses.
These poblanos are not particularly "hot" peppers (when green like this), though you may find they have a subtle slightly-detectable warmth that can vary with each individual pepper. The flavor is a bit different than a sweet green pepper, though the poblano will not be too much of a taste surprise if you enjoy peppers in general. To infuse a bit of extra Mexican inspired flavor into our dish, we have used some ground chipotle powder (chipotle peppers are simply a smoke-dried jalape�o); the subtle smokiness from the smoked Gouda furthers that theme a bit.
As with the chicken-containing version from before, I have not added ANY salt to this dish aside from what is in the cheese, all in an effort to keep this dish low-sodium and generally "healthy" and safe not just for wheat-free and gluten-free diets but also for low-sodium and lower-calorie diet considerations also. Vegetarians and meat-eaters alike can enjoy this dish, as it is delivers a great and satisfying combination of taste and texture. Add a bit of diced avocado (as shown) for a nice complementary flavor too. And, if you do like a bit more heat, you may enjoy adding some minced jalepenos or habaneros to the mix.
Source: http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com/2011/04/gluten-free-recipe-quinoa-and-smoked.html
A Farewell Toast to Red-Wine Teeth
A couple days ago, I tried to think of a few things worse than being in a social setting, having a few glasses of wine, and ending up with wine-stained teeth. Let?s see, what did I come up with? Running face first into a bee hive, for one. Dashing out of a restaurant only to see your car being towed. Global warming? Ok, maybe not that bad.
It?s not merely the fact that your teeth have lost their pearly white hue that?s embarrassing. It?s more what having red-stained teeth symbolizes ? that you get a little too excited by the thought of wine. So much so, that you?d rather be in a foreign country stomping up and down in a vat of grapes than where you are right now. Or that you?re just a lush.
Up until now, our only solutions were to either stop after one glass (let?s be serious, now) or jet off to the bathroom with toothbrush and toothpaste in hand for a quick touch up. Since both of those options aren?t always convenient, it?s a good thing I stumbled upon a product called ?Wine Wipes,? from the makers Borracha LLC.
Wine Wipes uses a combination of salt, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, calcium, glycerine, and orange blossom to bleach the teeth, neutralize acids, and provide a coating to protect against future gulps. I was ready to test these babies out!
I pulled them out of my bag one night, thinking that these wipes would come in very handy on a date. Picture it: the conversation is going well ? you both share a love of cats and long walks in the rain ? and he just can?t wait to meet your parents. Then you smile sweetly and watch as his eyes move from your face to your red teeth. And then watch as his face contorts, like he just caught a whiff of something foul.
Thankfully, I wasn?t on a date. I was just at dinner with my friends (read: I don?t care what they think of me. They?re kind of obligated to like me at this point). We all had a couple of glasses of red wine and I pulled out a wipe ? a small, circular, moist pad with one textured side for scrubbing, I assume. What immediately put me off was the taste ? a combination of sour and salty. A friend had tried one as well and mentioned, ecstatically, that they tasted like boiled peanuts.
Strange taste aside, they did seem to clean my teeth. When I looked at the wipe after I had rubbed it over my teeth, it was noticeably redder. And my teeth did look brighter. The wipes also come in a small, discreet case ? easy to take to the bathroom if you?re out in a public setting.
I?ll definitely be keeping Wine Wipes on hand for those occasions I find myself indulging in a few glasses of vino. That or just move to Europe and stomp grapes for a living.
Wine Wipes retail for $6.95 and can be purchased at stores nationwide and online.
Maya Kashyap, Everyday Health Production Editor
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/health-beauty-reviews/a-farewell-toast-to-redwine-teeth
Fish oil good against diabetes
Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have discovered why eating fish may be a great idea to ward off chronic inflammation and insulin resistance.
Jerrold Olefsky and colleagues identified a key receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say omega-3 fatty acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity.
Obese fat tissue contains lots of these macrophages producing lots of cytokines, which cause inflammation and rising insulin resistance.Olefsky and colleagues eventually narrowed their focus to a G-protein receptor called GPR120, which is found only on pro-inflammatory macrophages in mature fat cells. When the receptor is exposed to omega-3 fatty acids, it is activated and generates a strong anti-inflammatory effect.
"The omega-3 fatty acids switch on the receptor, killing the inflammatory response," said Olefsky
"Our work shows how fish oils safely do this, and suggests a possible way to treating the serious problems of inflammation in obesity and in conditions like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease through simple dietary supplementation.
However, it's not clear how much fish oil constitutes a safe, effective dose. If too high, it could up the risk of to increased risk of bleeding and stroke in some people.
tag : diabetes symptoms,type 2 diabetes,gestational diabetes,diabetes diet
Jerrold Olefsky and colleagues identified a key receptor on macrophages abundantly found in obese body fat. Obesity and diabetes are closely correlated. The scientists say omega-3 fatty acids activate this macrophage receptor, resulting in broad anti-inflammatory effects and improved systemic insulin sensitivity.
Obese fat tissue contains lots of these macrophages producing lots of cytokines, which cause inflammation and rising insulin resistance.Olefsky and colleagues eventually narrowed their focus to a G-protein receptor called GPR120, which is found only on pro-inflammatory macrophages in mature fat cells. When the receptor is exposed to omega-3 fatty acids, it is activated and generates a strong anti-inflammatory effect.
"The omega-3 fatty acids switch on the receptor, killing the inflammatory response," said Olefsky"Our work shows how fish oils safely do this, and suggests a possible way to treating the serious problems of inflammation in obesity and in conditions like diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease through simple dietary supplementation.
However, it's not clear how much fish oil constitutes a safe, effective dose. If too high, it could up the risk of to increased risk of bleeding and stroke in some people.
tag : diabetes symptoms,type 2 diabetes,gestational diabetes,diabetes diet
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/09/fish-oil-good-against-diabetes.html
Friday 29 April 2011
Upcoming Talks
I'll be giving at least two talks at conferences this year:Ancestral Health Symposium; "The Human Ecological Niche and Modern Health"; August 5-6 in Los Angeles. This is going to be a great conference. Many of my favorite health/nutrition writers will be presenting. Organizer Brent Pottenger and I collaborated on designing the symposium's name so I hope you like it.
My talk will be titled "Obesity; Old Solutions to a New Problem." I'll be presenting some of my emerging thoughts on obesity. I expect to ruffle some feathers!
Tickets are going fast so reserve one today! I doubt there will be any left two weeks from now.
TEDx Harvard Law; "Food Policy and Public Health"; Oct 21 at Harvard. My talk is tentatively titled "The American Diet: a Historical Perspective." This topic interests me because it helps us frame the discussion on why chronic disease is so prevalent today, and what are the appropriate public health measures to combat it. This should also be a great conference.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/04/upcoming-talks.html
PPACA a victory for conservatives?
In his latest Pulling it Together column, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) CEO Drew Altman argues that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was a victory for Republican goals –even if that’s not apparent. KFF commissioned three actuarial consulting firms to estimate what patient deductible and co-insurance costs would be in health insurance policies [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/nd7MFROkF-0/
How PPACA fixes some of the problems of Part D
One of the most infuriating and hypocritical elements of the GOP’s attack on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) is the complaint about its cost. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says PPACA will reduce the deficit, not increase it. Even if the projection turns out to be too rosy, there’s no chance PPACA [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/zfqngGw0mLs/
Safflower Oil Study
A few people have sent me a new study claiming to demonstrate that half a tablespoon of safflower oil a day improves insulin sensitivity, increases HDL and decreases inflammation in diabetics (1). Let me explain why this study does not show what it claims.
It all comes down to a little thing called a control group, which is the basis for comparison that you use to determine if your intervention had an effect. This study didn't have one for the safflower group. What it had was two intervention groups, one given 6.4g conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 50% c9t11 and 50% t10c12-CLA) per day, and one given 8g safflower oil. I have to guess that this study was originally designed to test the effects of the CLA, with the safflower oil group as the control group, and that the interpretation of the data changed after the results came in. Otherwise, I don't understand why they would conduct a study like this without a control group.
Anyway, they found that the safflower oil group did better than the CLA group over 16 weeks, showing a higher insulin sensitivity, higher HDL, lower HbA1c (a marker of average blood glucose levels) and lower CRP (a marker of inflammation). But they also found that the safflower group improved slightly compared to baseline, therefore they decided to attribute the difference to a beneficial effect of safflower oil. The problem is that without a control (placebo) group for comparison, there's no way to know if the improvement would have occurred regardless of treatment, due to the season changing, more regular check-ups at the doctor's office due to participating in a study, or countless other unforeseen factors. A control group is essential for the accurate interpretation of results, which is why drug studies always have placebo groups.
What we can say is that the safflower oil group fared better than the CLA group, because there was a difference between the two. However, what I think really happened is that the CLA supplement was harmful and the small dose of safflower oil had no effect. Why? Because the t10c12 isomer of CLA, which was half their pill, has already been shown by previous well-controlled studies to reduce insulin sensitivity, decrease HDL and increase inflammatory markers at a similar dose and for a similar duration (2, 3). The safflower oil group only looked good by comparison. We can add this study to the "research bloopers" file.
It's worth noting that naturally occurring CLA mixtures, similar to those found in pastured dairy and ruminant fat, have not been shown to cause metabolic problems such as those caused by isolated t10c12 CLA.
It all comes down to a little thing called a control group, which is the basis for comparison that you use to determine if your intervention had an effect. This study didn't have one for the safflower group. What it had was two intervention groups, one given 6.4g conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 50% c9t11 and 50% t10c12-CLA) per day, and one given 8g safflower oil. I have to guess that this study was originally designed to test the effects of the CLA, with the safflower oil group as the control group, and that the interpretation of the data changed after the results came in. Otherwise, I don't understand why they would conduct a study like this without a control group.
Anyway, they found that the safflower oil group did better than the CLA group over 16 weeks, showing a higher insulin sensitivity, higher HDL, lower HbA1c (a marker of average blood glucose levels) and lower CRP (a marker of inflammation). But they also found that the safflower group improved slightly compared to baseline, therefore they decided to attribute the difference to a beneficial effect of safflower oil. The problem is that without a control (placebo) group for comparison, there's no way to know if the improvement would have occurred regardless of treatment, due to the season changing, more regular check-ups at the doctor's office due to participating in a study, or countless other unforeseen factors. A control group is essential for the accurate interpretation of results, which is why drug studies always have placebo groups.
What we can say is that the safflower oil group fared better than the CLA group, because there was a difference between the two. However, what I think really happened is that the CLA supplement was harmful and the small dose of safflower oil had no effect. Why? Because the t10c12 isomer of CLA, which was half their pill, has already been shown by previous well-controlled studies to reduce insulin sensitivity, decrease HDL and increase inflammatory markers at a similar dose and for a similar duration (2, 3). The safflower oil group only looked good by comparison. We can add this study to the "research bloopers" file.
It's worth noting that naturally occurring CLA mixtures, similar to those found in pastured dairy and ruminant fat, have not been shown to cause metabolic problems such as those caused by isolated t10c12 CLA.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/03/safflower-oil-study.html
Continua?s Chuck Parker on connected health
Continua Health Alliance is focused on creating an ecosystem where personal connected health devices can communicate using common standards. In this podcast interview, Continua’s Executive Director, Chuck Parker and I discuss the meaning of “connected health” and the “connected home,” progress in demonstrating return on investment, and the link between Continua’s activities and emerging delivery [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/OJNuHqu2iV8/
Thursday 28 April 2011
myDrugCosts provides transparency on a mobile platform
Dan Pollard, founder and CEO of myDrugCosts, Inc. is working on a solution that fits perfectly into the transparency and mobile health trends I discussed in my 2011 predictions post. myDrugCosts.com (now in public beta) allows patients to engage about drug costs, either at the point of care or before or after a doctor’s visit. [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/dUY9eq1wMj0/
Treadmill Equipment ? Things to Consider
Treadmill equipment is possibly the most popular kind of gym equipment with most commercial gyms as well as home gyms incorporating this most basic of fitness machines. If many manufacturers report increases in the sale of treadmill equipment this is because treadmills facilitate the most basic of exercises – walking, jogging and running, for which [...]
Source: http://www.fitnesshealthzone.com/fitness-exercise-equipment/treadmill-equipment-things-to-consider/
Brain Game: Oh, My Achin??
It’s�Wednesday Wordplay at the mentalfloss.com Brain Game.�Enjoy! By changing one letter in each step to form English words, and leaving all other letters in their original positions, change�BACK into PAIN in the fewest possible steps. B A C K _ _�_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ [...]
Wednesday 27 April 2011
Patent settlements: Ban or maybe tax instead?
The White House wants to ban settlements in patent litigation between brand name and generic pharmaceutical companies. These settlements occur when a generic company sues a company whose drug is on patent, challenging its validity. Sometimes the companies agree to settle, which typically results in some combination of a cash settlement and early introduction of [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/_E8l6Egv54Y/
US biogenerics policy makes me sad
I can only shake my head on days like today when I read about the state of biogenerics policy in the United States. The Wall Street Journal reports (Firms Push for Biotech Generics) that biotech companies are lined up against health plans and PBMs over the interpretation of the waiting period for biogenerics embedded in [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/naxJ7vHQeSw/
How Congestion Can be Cured Naturally: 1
The weather is changing.� That has a lot of people getting sick. They might just get little colds, but those are still awfully unpleasant, especially as the weather starts to get warmer. So let’s take a look at some natural ways you can get rid of your chest congestion!
Source: http://yourbodyyourtemple.net/health/how-congestion-can-be-cured-naturally-1/
Smoking and ectopic pregnancy
Women who smoke regularly are four times more likely to have ectopic pregnancy than those who don't smoke, say scientists. Researchers of the Edinburgh University have found a chemical in cigarette smoke that causes a reaction, which may lead to ectopic pregnancies.The researchers said Cotinine triggered a reaction, which increased a protein in the Fallopian tubes. The protein, called PROKR1, raised the risk of an egg implanting outside the womb.
PROKR1 allows pregnancies to implant correctly inside the womb, but its presence in the Fallopian tubes is believed to increase the risks of this happening outside the womb.
The study found that women who smoked and developed an ectopic pregnancy had twice as much PROKR1 in their Fallopian tubes as women who did not smoke and had previously had a healthy pregnancy.
Researchers believe that too much of the protein prevents the muscles in the walls of the Fallopian tubes from contracting, which in turn hinders the transfer of the egg to the womb.
Tags : ectopic pregnancy symptoms,signs of ectopic pregnancy,ectopic pregnancy hcg levels,causes of ectopic pregnancy,ectopic pregnancy test
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/09/smoking-and-ectopic-pregnancy.html
Moderate Senate Democrats Seek Alternatives to Individual Mandate
In a thread to an earlier post on this blog, reader Curt Cella wrote “�I think if I heard just one Democrat admit that there might ? MIGHT! ? be some issues worth fixing with PPACA I?d feel a burst of optimism.” And he’s not alone. The sausage-making process that led to the Patient Protection [...]
Tuesday 26 April 2011
Castlight Health: WSJ tells Health Business Blog readers what they already know
Castlight Health deservedly tops the Wall Street Journal’s list of the hottest venture backed companies. That will earn it some name recognition and leads in the health care transparency market. Health Business Blog readers have known about Castlight for a while now: My predictions for 2011 post led off with a quote from Castlight CEO [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/QctksyAGkaY/
Cavalcade of Risk is up
The latest edition of the Cavalacade of Risk blog carnival appears at Free Money Finance. Share
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/YXTCsWM5qu0/
Using Turmeric & The Benefits: 1
Something that you traditionally see in the kitchen is an herb called Turmeric.� It is a fantastic flavoring agent and it is certainly an herb that you should be using in your dishes, but did you know that this particular herb is also good for other things?� Believe it or not, most people do not. [...]
Source: http://yourbodyyourtemple.net/health/using-turmeric-the-benefits-1/
Commissions, Medical Loss Ratio Targets, Brokers and Politics
Legislation to exempt broker commissions from the medical loss ratio provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is gaining bipartisan steam. Original sponsor Republican Representative Mike Rogers has been joined by Democratic Representative John Barrow. Other House Members from both sides of the aisle are expected to sign on before the legislation is [...]
Pheochromocytoma
Pheochromocytoma The adrenal glands are triangularly shaped endocrine glands positioned on top of the kidneys. These glands consist of a medulla that is surrounded by a cortex. The medulla (inner) is the one responsible for the production of the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. The cortex (outer), on the other hand, produces the glucocorticoids hormones such as cortisol, androgens (testosterone) and mineralocorticoid hormones such as aldosterone (for fluid and electrolyte balance). These suprarenal glands are considered to be the anti-stress glands of the system. The hormones they produce allow the body to deal with stress. These tiny glands would determine the energy of a person?s response to the changes in the [...]
Source: http://www.allhealthsite.com/pheochromocytoma-symptoms-treatment.html
Monday 25 April 2011
Guest Post: Some EHR vendors losing out as market evolves
By Don Fornes, founder and CEO of Software Advice Electronic health record (EHR) software vendors aren?t churning out profits like you might expect. You?d think that the Federal subsidies for EHR implementation would create a rising tide that lifted all boats in the EHR software industry. In reality, some vendors are about to capsize. Based [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/YRd8xYKJ168/
Bill to Exempt Broker Commissions from MLR Formula Coming Soon
Supporters consider the medical loss ratio provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to be critical to the ?affordable? part of the new health care reform law?s title. They also believe that requiring carriers to spend a specified percentage of premiums on medical claims and health quality improvement programs is necessary to prevent [...]
Obesity and drink cause liver disease
Binge drinking and obesity are contributing to a steep rise in deaths from liver disease. The number of deaths from damaged, diseased and worn-out livers has gone up by 60 per cent in just a decade in Britain.
Liver disease, including cancer, claimed 9,719 lives in Britain in 2008 alone, up from 6,058 10 years earlier, a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group said, according to the Daily Mail.
Alcohol is 75 per cent cheaper now than in 1980. Heavy drinking can inflame the liver, causing jaundice and leading to comas and even death. Long-term, excessive drinking can also cause cirrhosis, which destroys normal liver tissue and is replaced by scar tissue. The number of cases has increased 10-fold in recent decades.
Doctors have warned that the alcohol-induced problem, usually found in older adults, is now being diagnosed in teenagers. Liver cancer is also on the rise. Although it is relatively common for cancers to spread to the liver, few cancers started there until recently.
Don Shenker of the charity Alcohol Concern, which is calling for high-strength beers and ciders to be taxed more heavily, said the combination of cheap alcohol and round-the-clock drinking, had fueled a surge in drink-related deaths.
Many young people take advantage of cheap supermarket alcohol, then go out later and stay out later. So their overall alcohol consumption has gone up, he said.
Hepatitis C is also contributing to the surge in liver deaths. Many of today's deaths are from infections caught in the 1970s and 80s, before blood transfusions were screened for the virus.
Tags : liver disease symptoms,fatty liver disease,alcoholic liver disease,liver disease in dogs,end stage liver disease,symptoms of liver disease,signs of liver disease,chronic liver disease,liver disease in cats,canine liver disease
Liver disease, including cancer, claimed 9,719 lives in Britain in 2008 alone, up from 6,058 10 years earlier, a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Hepatology Group said, according to the Daily Mail.
Alcohol is 75 per cent cheaper now than in 1980. Heavy drinking can inflame the liver, causing jaundice and leading to comas and even death. Long-term, excessive drinking can also cause cirrhosis, which destroys normal liver tissue and is replaced by scar tissue. The number of cases has increased 10-fold in recent decades.
Doctors have warned that the alcohol-induced problem, usually found in older adults, is now being diagnosed in teenagers. Liver cancer is also on the rise. Although it is relatively common for cancers to spread to the liver, few cancers started there until recently.Don Shenker of the charity Alcohol Concern, which is calling for high-strength beers and ciders to be taxed more heavily, said the combination of cheap alcohol and round-the-clock drinking, had fueled a surge in drink-related deaths.
Many young people take advantage of cheap supermarket alcohol, then go out later and stay out later. So their overall alcohol consumption has gone up, he said.
Hepatitis C is also contributing to the surge in liver deaths. Many of today's deaths are from infections caught in the 1970s and 80s, before blood transfusions were screened for the virus.
Tags : liver disease symptoms,fatty liver disease,alcoholic liver disease,liver disease in dogs,end stage liver disease,symptoms of liver disease,signs of liver disease,chronic liver disease,liver disease in cats,canine liver disease
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/10/obesity-and-drink-cause-liver-disease.html
I?m a Student and My Budget Is Tight
Hello, I am 24 years old. I have always had really thin hair, even when I was a kid. In my freshman year of high school kids were already teasing me and saying I was going bald. In the past year, I have seen a significant increase in the speed at which my hair is [...]
Source: http://www.baldingblog.com/2011/04/20/im-a-student-and-my-budget-is-tight/
Sunday 24 April 2011
Ecology, not Chemicals
We are awash with information. The fountainheads of Western science such as Francis Bacon would be thrilled. Much has changed since Bacon and his fellow advocates for science established the Royal Society in the 17th Century, but the belief that information will set us free is very much with us. Bacon, of course, expressed that [...]
Source: http://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org/blogs/2011/04/12/biology-not-chemicals/
PPACA: ?It?s in there!?
If you’re my age you may recall the Prego spaghetti sauce ads from the 1980s. “It’s in there,” replied the convenience-seeking housewife whenever the husband questioned whether the sauce had a particular ingredient. The same thing is true of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. It contains everything you might expect, like the individual [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/fBlieEEbelI/
My Transplanted Hair Keeps Falling Out
Doctor, I’m having the worst time of my life and I’m hoping you’d take the time to answer my question.
I’ve had 5 HTs over the past decade all in the frontal area totalling around 4000 grafts including one at NHI back in 2000. The problem is I keep losing more hair in the area and [...]
I’ve had 5 HTs over the past decade all in the frontal area totalling around 4000 grafts including one at NHI back in 2000. The problem is I keep losing more hair in the area and [...]
Source: http://www.baldingblog.com/2011/04/21/my-transplanted-hair-keeps-falling-out/
Saturday 23 April 2011
Gluten-Free January Survey Data, Part I: Demographics and Limitations
Thanks to Matt Lentzner for organizing Gluten-Free January, and everyone who participated and completed the survey, we have a nice data set illustrating what happens when a group of people stop eating gluten for a month. Janine Jagger, Matt and I have been busy analyzing the data, and I'm ready to begin sharing our findings.
GFJ had over 500 participants, 527 of which received the survey and 279 of which completed the survey at the end of the month. Of those who received the survey, 53 percent completed it. I think these are respectable numbers for a survey of this nature, and it reflects the conscientious nature of the people who participated in GFJ.
Demographics
Although respondents were primarily from the United States, I'm happy to say that the data represent 18 different nationalities:
Respondents represented a diversity of ages, the largest group being 30-39 years old, with similar numbers in the 20-29 and 40-49 year groups.
Respondents were just under 2/3 women.
Respondents represented a variety of weights, but the sample was biased toward lean people, in comparison with the general population. There were not many obese participants.
Overall, I was pleased to see that the demographics were quite diverse, particularly in the age and gender categories.
Limitations
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when interpreting the survey results:
GFJ had over 500 participants, 527 of which received the survey and 279 of which completed the survey at the end of the month. Of those who received the survey, 53 percent completed it. I think these are respectable numbers for a survey of this nature, and it reflects the conscientious nature of the people who participated in GFJ.
Demographics
Although respondents were primarily from the United States, I'm happy to say that the data represent 18 different nationalities:
Respondents represented a diversity of ages, the largest group being 30-39 years old, with similar numbers in the 20-29 and 40-49 year groups.
Respondents were just under 2/3 women.
Respondents represented a variety of weights, but the sample was biased toward lean people, in comparison with the general population. There were not many obese participants.
Overall, I was pleased to see that the demographics were quite diverse, particularly in the age and gender categories.Limitations
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when interpreting the survey results:
- GFJ participants do not represent a random cross-section of the population at large. They represent primarily health-conscious individuals who were motivated enough to make a substantial dietary change. In addition, many of the people who participated probably did so because they already suspected they had a problem with gluten.
- The survey response rate was 53%. Although I think that's a reasonable number considering the circumstances, it leaves open the possibility that survey responders differ from non-responders. It's conceivable that participants with better adherence and better outcomes were more likely to complete the survey than those who did not adhere to the diet or had neutral or unfavorable outcomes, despite our efforts to encourage everyone to complete the survey regardless of adherence or outcome. So the results could be biased toward positive outcomes, meaning that we will need to see a strong effect for it to be believable.
- This was a non-blinded diet trial without a control group. There's no way to know how much of the effect was due to avoiding gluten per se, how much was due to overall changes in diet patterns, and how much was a placebo effect.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/03/gluten-free-january-survey-data-part-i.html
Eating Wheat Gluten Causes Symptoms in Some People Who Don't Have Celiac Disease
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition characterized by the frequent occurrence of abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, bloating and/or gas. If that sounds like an extremely broad description, that's because it is. The word "syndrome" is medicalese for "we don't know what causes it." IBS seems to be a catch-all for various persistent digestive problems that aren't defined as separate disorders, and it has a very high prevalence: as high as 14 percent of people in the US, although the estimates depend on what diagnostic criteria are used (1). It can be brought on or exacerbated by several different types of stressors, including emotional stress and infection.
Mael�n Fontes Villalba at Lund University recently forwarded me an interesting new paper in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2). Dr. Jessica R. Biesiekierski and colleagues recruited 34 IBS patients who did not have celiac disease, but who felt they had benefited from going gluten-free in their daily lives*. All patients continued on their pre-study gluten-free diet, however, all participants were provided with two slices of gluten-free bread and one gluten-free muffin per day. The investigators added isolated wheat gluten to the bread and muffins of half the study group.
During the six weeks of the intervention, patients receiving the gluten-free food fared considerably better on nearly every symptom of IBS measured. The most striking difference was in tiredness-- the gluten-free group was much less tired on average than the gluten group. Interestingly, they found that a negative reaction to gluten was not necessarily accompanied by the presence of anti-gluten antibodies in the blood, which is a test often used to diagnose gluten sensitivity.
Here's what I take away from this study:
I don't expect everyone to benefit from avoiding gluten. But for those who are really sensitive, it can make a huge difference. Digestive, autoimmune and neurological disorders associate most strongly with gluten sensitivity. Avoiding gluten can be a fruitful thing to try in cases of mysterious chronic illness. We're two-thirds of the way through Gluten-Free January. I've been fastidiously avoiding gluten, as annoying as it's been at times***. Has anyone noticed a change in their health?
* 56% of volunteers carried HLA-DQ2 or DQ8 alleles, which is slightly higher than the general population. Nearly all people with celiac disease carry one of these two alleles. 28% of volunteers were positive for anti-gliadin IgA, which is higher than the general population.
** Some people feel they are reacting to the fructans in wheat, rather than the gluten. If a modest amount of onion causes the same symptoms as eating wheat, then that may be true. If not, then it's probably the gluten.
*** I'm usually about 95% gluten-free anyway. But when I want a real beer, I want one brewed with barley. And when I want Thai food or sushi, I don't worry about a little bit of wheat in the soy sauce. If a friend makes me food with gluten in it, I'll eat it and enjoy it. This month I'm 100% gluten-free though, because I can't in good conscience encourage my blog readership to try it if I'm not doing it myself. At the end of the month, I'm going to do a blinded gluten challenge (with a gluten-free control challenge) to see once and for all if I react to it. Stay tuned for more on that.
Mael�n Fontes Villalba at Lund University recently forwarded me an interesting new paper in the American Journal of Gastroenterology (2). Dr. Jessica R. Biesiekierski and colleagues recruited 34 IBS patients who did not have celiac disease, but who felt they had benefited from going gluten-free in their daily lives*. All patients continued on their pre-study gluten-free diet, however, all participants were provided with two slices of gluten-free bread and one gluten-free muffin per day. The investigators added isolated wheat gluten to the bread and muffins of half the study group.
During the six weeks of the intervention, patients receiving the gluten-free food fared considerably better on nearly every symptom of IBS measured. The most striking difference was in tiredness-- the gluten-free group was much less tired on average than the gluten group. Interestingly, they found that a negative reaction to gluten was not necessarily accompanied by the presence of anti-gluten antibodies in the blood, which is a test often used to diagnose gluten sensitivity.
Here's what I take away from this study:
- Wheat gluten can cause symptoms in susceptible people who do not have celiac disease.
- A lack of circulating antibodies against gluten does not necessarily indicate a lack of gluten sensitivity.
- People with mysterious digestive problems may want to try avoiding gluten for a while to see if it improves their symptoms**.
- People with mysterious fatigue may want to try avoiding gluten.
I don't expect everyone to benefit from avoiding gluten. But for those who are really sensitive, it can make a huge difference. Digestive, autoimmune and neurological disorders associate most strongly with gluten sensitivity. Avoiding gluten can be a fruitful thing to try in cases of mysterious chronic illness. We're two-thirds of the way through Gluten-Free January. I've been fastidiously avoiding gluten, as annoying as it's been at times***. Has anyone noticed a change in their health?
* 56% of volunteers carried HLA-DQ2 or DQ8 alleles, which is slightly higher than the general population. Nearly all people with celiac disease carry one of these two alleles. 28% of volunteers were positive for anti-gliadin IgA, which is higher than the general population.
** Some people feel they are reacting to the fructans in wheat, rather than the gluten. If a modest amount of onion causes the same symptoms as eating wheat, then that may be true. If not, then it's probably the gluten.
*** I'm usually about 95% gluten-free anyway. But when I want a real beer, I want one brewed with barley. And when I want Thai food or sushi, I don't worry about a little bit of wheat in the soy sauce. If a friend makes me food with gluten in it, I'll eat it and enjoy it. This month I'm 100% gluten-free though, because I can't in good conscience encourage my blog readership to try it if I'm not doing it myself. At the end of the month, I'm going to do a blinded gluten challenge (with a gluten-free control challenge) to see once and for all if I react to it. Stay tuned for more on that.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/01/eating-wheat-causes-symptoms-in-some.html
Ronald Hansen on the NIH?s planned drug development center
The NIH is poised to establish a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to bolster the early stages of drug development. In this podcast interview, Ronald W. Hansen, Senior Associate Dean for Program Development and William H. Meckling Professor of Business Administration at the University of Rochester’s Simon School of Business discusses the implications [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/oPtER9k7kMs/
Disease Management Care Blog hosts Cavalcade of Risk
The latest Cavalcade of Risk blog carnival is hosted at the Disease Management Care Blog. Share
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/N1rE3gHPvVY/
The value of denial may be underrated
Maybe denying one’s illness isn’t as bad as it’s cracked up to be. I saw an article over the past couple days –but can’t for the life of me remember where– about a woman sent to a physician by her relatives with very advanced cancer. The tumor had broken through her skin causing a highly [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/uONK1arMRo8/
Friday 22 April 2011
Don?t Frighten the Children
In 2005, the National Academy of Sciences announced what many already knew: there?s no safe dose of ionizing radiation. The late John Goffman had been saying this for years, but the National Academy brought that knowledge right into the mainstream. Why is it then that both ordinary and extraordinary exposures are discussed in terms of [...]
Source: http://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org/blogs/2011/03/15/don%e2%80%99t-frighten-the-children/
Dr. Fat
A blog reader recently made me a Wordle from Whole Health Source. A Wordle is a graphical representation of a text, where the size of each word represents how often it appears. Click on the image for a larger version.
Apparently, the two most common words on this blog are "Dr" and "fat." It occurred to me that Dr. Fat would be a great nom de plume.
Apparently, the two most common words on this blog are "Dr" and "fat." It occurred to me that Dr. Fat would be a great nom de plume.Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/01/dr-fat.html
Gluten-Free January Survey Data, Part I: Demographics and Limitations
Thanks to Matt Lentzner for organizing Gluten-Free January, and everyone who participated and completed the survey, we have a nice data set illustrating what happens when a group of people stop eating gluten for a month. Janine Jagger, Matt and I have been busy analyzing the data, and I'm ready to begin sharing our findings.
GFJ had over 500 participants, 527 of which received the survey and 279 of which completed the survey at the end of the month. Of those who received the survey, 53 percent completed it. I think these are respectable numbers for a survey of this nature, and it reflects the conscientious nature of the people who participated in GFJ.
Demographics
Although respondents were primarily from the United States, I'm happy to say that the data represent 18 different nationalities:
Respondents represented a diversity of ages, the largest group being 30-39 years old, with similar numbers in the 20-29 and 40-49 year groups.
Respondents were just under 2/3 women.
Respondents represented a variety of weights, but the sample was biased toward lean people, in comparison with the general population. There were not many obese participants.
Overall, I was pleased to see that the demographics were quite diverse, particularly in the age and gender categories.
Limitations
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when interpreting the survey results:
GFJ had over 500 participants, 527 of which received the survey and 279 of which completed the survey at the end of the month. Of those who received the survey, 53 percent completed it. I think these are respectable numbers for a survey of this nature, and it reflects the conscientious nature of the people who participated in GFJ.
Demographics
Although respondents were primarily from the United States, I'm happy to say that the data represent 18 different nationalities:
Respondents represented a diversity of ages, the largest group being 30-39 years old, with similar numbers in the 20-29 and 40-49 year groups.Respondents were just under 2/3 women.Respondents represented a variety of weights, but the sample was biased toward lean people, in comparison with the general population. There were not many obese participants.Overall, I was pleased to see that the demographics were quite diverse, particularly in the age and gender categories.Limitations
There are a few caveats to keep in mind when interpreting the survey results:
- GFJ participants do not represent a random cross-section of the population at large. They represent primarily health-conscious individuals who were motivated enough to make a substantial dietary change. In addition, many of the people who participated probably did so because they already suspected they had a problem with gluten.
- The survey response rate was 53%. Although I think that's a reasonable number considering the circumstances, it leaves open the possibility that survey responders differ from non-responders. It's conceivable that participants with better adherence and better outcomes were more likely to complete the survey than those who did not adhere to the diet or had neutral or unfavorable outcomes, despite our efforts to encourage everyone to complete the survey regardless of adherence or outcome. So the results could be biased toward positive outcomes, meaning that we will need to see a strong effect for it to be believable.
- This was a non-blinded diet trial without a control group. There's no way to know how much of the effect was due to avoiding gluten per se, how much was due to overall changes in diet patterns, and how much was a placebo effect.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/03/gluten-free-january-survey-data-part-i.html
Probiotics to Cure Celiac?
Could probiotics and prebiotics lead to a cure for Celiac Disease? It turns out that scientists from the National Spanish Research Council in Valencia, Spain are researching whether dietary changes that include probiotics and/or prebiotics may help alleviate the severity of celiac disease for some patients.
This conclusion was arrived at after observations noted that bifidobacteria up-regulated the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines (which is a good thing -- reducing inflammation). It was also noted that this evidence could be the first step toward changing how celiac disease is treated and possibly prevented, but that (as always, and as we would expect of any real treatment possibilities), human clinical trials are necessary.
I have wondered for quite some time whether consuming yogurts with active cultures (like bifidus, acidophilus, bulgaricus, thermophilus, lactobacillus, etc.) would be helpful. Many persons with Celiac Disease, gluten-intolerance, or wheat-allergies, may also have some intolerance to dairy products - including yogurt. But, perhaps the dairy intolerance is due to an intestinal tract lacking sufficient levels of probiotic bacteria? If so, restoring that symbiotic relationship with these beneficial "bugs" in our intestines may help bring some positive outcomes with regard to minimizing the impact and damage of Celiac Disease.
I was just reading a summary news article about this Celiac research, and found it quite interesting how the researchers were essentially simulating, outside of the body, the human intestinal environment / mucosa - and the effects of gluten exposure on that environment with and without the presence of probiotic bifidobacteria (for a source of such probiotic bacterium, consider any yogurts with active cultures -- and, probiotic bacteria are naturally present in your intestinal tract and aid with digestion).
The summary findings of the study were as follows:
"According to a new research study appearing in the May 2010 print issue of the Journal of Leukocyte Biology, differing intestinal bacteria in celiac patients could influence inflammation to varying degrees. This suggests that manipulating the intestinal microbiota with dietary strategies such as probiotics and prebiotics, could improve the quality of life for celiac patients, as well as patients with associated diseases such as type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune disorders."
I have wondered for quite some time whether consuming yogurts with active cultures (like bifidus, acidophilus, bulgaricus, thermophilus, lactobacillus, etc.) would be helpful. Many persons with Celiac Disease, gluten-intolerance, or wheat-allergies, may also have some intolerance to dairy products - including yogurt. But, perhaps the dairy intolerance is due to an intestinal tract lacking sufficient levels of probiotic bacteria? If so, restoring that symbiotic relationship with these beneficial "bugs" in our intestines may help bring some positive outcomes with regard to minimizing the impact and damage of Celiac Disease.
Time will tell, and personal experiences will certainly vary... but, I found this research quite interesting. It is rather widely accepted that probiotics and prebiotics (like inulin e.g., - which we use in our high-fiber gluten-free bread recipes) already are helpful in many ways and with regards to many conditions (even diabetes), and if Celiac Disease can benefit from pro-biotics, count me in on the yogurt eating!
Source: http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com/2010/05/probiotics-to-cure-celiac.html
Thursday 21 April 2011
Link between asthma and prostate cancer
Men who take steroid tablets or injections for treating severe asthma could face 70 per cent higher risk of prostate cancer. Those who regularly use an inhaler or a bronchodilator to relieve wheezing are 36 per cent more at risk, says a new study.Even having asthma appears to increase prostate cancer risk by around 25 per cent. But the chances of a tumour are significantly higher if people start medication, says a Daily Mail report.The study was undertaken by a team of scientists in Melbourne, Australia.
They decided to look at the link between asthma and prostate cancer because both arise from inflammation in the body, according to the journal Cancer Epidemiology , Biomarkers and Prevention.
Tag : asthma treatment,asthma symptoms,asthma attack,asthma inhaler,asthma cure
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/08/link-between-asthma-and-prostate-cancer.html
Some interesting hospitalist news briefs
The latest issue of Today?s Hospitalist contains a number of interesting news briefs, mainly summarizing and commenting on recent medical journal articles. Among them: A NEJM article by a sleep specialist calls for mandatory disclosure when sleep-deprived surgeons are scheduled to perform elective surgeries, and suggest hospitals take steps to prevent them from working. The [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/TbMqPXwKPLU/
Gluten-Free Lemon-Bar Pie Recipe
When I get a craving for a truly lemony dessert, I want to feed that craving with enough lemon to do the trick: this calls for an abundance of tangy citrus goodness from fresh-squeezed lemon juice and the zest of those lemons. So often, lemon-flavored products just do not feature enough lemon to do the trick; that is certainly not the case with this recipe... we embrace lemons and their awesome flavor.
The Pie Crust
The gluten-free pie-crust recipe for this creation was something my wife just tossed together as an experiment quickly, and if the notes I jotted down accurately reflect everything that went into the final product, it was:
- � Stick Butter (i.e., 4 Tablespoons) - soft/partially-melted
- � Cup Sugar
- � Cup Ground Flaxseed
- 1 Cup Almond Meal
- 1/3 Cup Unsweetened medium-shredded Coconut
This was mixed together in a bowl by hand until ingredients were equally dispersed for the most part. Then, this was pressed into a pie pan (or, technically in this case it was a Pyrex pie plate). The crust was baked for approximately 25 minutes at 325F before adding the custard filling and baking it another 25 minutes or so (until the lemon filling sets up).
The Lemon Custard Filling
The gluten-free lemon bars custard-filling recipe (from our cookbook) is rather simple and very much lemon-centric, using just the following ingredients: a few lemons (their juice and zest), a few eggs, some sugar, and a bit of cornstarch. There is no watering down that lemon power... lemons provide all the liquid here. That's it... a potent lemon filling for our pie. Exact custard recipe can be found in either of these:
- Gluten-Free Desserts Recipes Printed Book (page 152)
- Gluten-Free Desserts Kindle Cook Book (use search-feature: "lemon bars")
The Result: Gluten-Free Lemon Lover's Dessert
I certainly enjoyed the outcome of this combination of wheat-free / gluten-free crust and filling. The coconut and almond in the crust provided wonderful synergistic flavors that blended beautifully with the tangy-sweet lemon custard. In addition, the ground flax, almond meal, and coconut provide a more hearty texture to the pie crust.
The pie version maintains its dedication to the all important lemon flavor while slightly de-emphasizing the lemon ? as compared to the original lemon-bars which have a very neutral base/crust where the only added flavor is perhaps a bit of vanilla ? this crust contributes more flavors of coconut, flax, and almond that combine with the lemon wonderfully.
If you are a lemon-lover like me, I am sure you will enjoy both the original gluten-free lemon-bars and this lemon-bar-pie variation! Yum!
Source: http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com/2011/03/gluten-free-lemon-bar-pie-recipe.html
Diaphoresis
Diaphoresis The body performs best if its temperature is around 37� Celsius (98.6� Fahrenheit). The body?s internal temperature is closely monitored by the hypothalamus. Once the temperature reaches a point where homeostasis is compromised, the hypothalamus will try to lower it by the triggering the sweat mechanism. Sweating is the body?s inherent method of regulating temperature that is why people would sweat more if the temperature outside is high, when doing exercises or when responding to circumstances that would make them afraid, embarrassed or angry. The amount of sweat produced would depend on the number of sweat glands a person has. Normally, a person has around 2 ? 4 million [...]
Wednesday 20 April 2011
Meat food and cancer of the bladder and bowels
Additives in processed meat such as sausages and bacon could increase risk of bladder cancer by 30 per cent, says a new study.Salts like sodium nitrite and nitrate in these foods can react with stomach acid to form cancerous products during digestion.
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, United States assessed the relationship between the intake of the meat additives and the risk of developing bladder cancer.
According to the Telegraph , Dr Amanda Cross, who led the study, said that not enough data was available to draw conclusive findings, and called for further studies.A few other studies have already proven a link between meat and cancer of the bladder and bowels.
Tags : bladder cancer diet,gall bladder cancer diet,bladder cancer diets
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, United States assessed the relationship between the intake of the meat additives and the risk of developing bladder cancer.
According to the Telegraph , Dr Amanda Cross, who led the study, said that not enough data was available to draw conclusive findings, and called for further studies.A few other studies have already proven a link between meat and cancer of the bladder and bowels.
Tags : bladder cancer diet,gall bladder cancer diet,bladder cancer diets
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/09/meat-food-and-cancer-of-bladder-and.html
Flu Season is Here
I've noticed everyone around me getting sick lately (I seem to have become mostly immune to colds and the flu in the last couple of years), so I took a look at Google Flu Trends. Lo and behold, the United States is currently near peak flu incidence for the 2010-2011 season. Here's a graph from Flu Trends. This year's trend is in dark blue:
Flu Trends also has data for individual US states and a number of other countries.
It's time to tighten up your diet and lifestyle if you want to avoid the flu this year. Personally, I feel that eating well, managing stress effectively, and taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day in winter have helped me avoid colds and the flu.
Flu Trends also has data for individual US states and a number of other countries.
It's time to tighten up your diet and lifestyle if you want to avoid the flu this year. Personally, I feel that eating well, managing stress effectively, and taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day in winter have helped me avoid colds and the flu.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/03/flu-season-is-here.html
Gluten-Free Desserts Books - Temporarily Out of Stock
If you are one of those persons trying to purchase our Gluten-Free and Wheat-Free Gourmet Desserts books, we must apologize for being out of stock temporarily. This is a situation that will be rectified soon, and once we are able to start fulfilling orders again, we will run a nice sale to show our appreciation for patient buyers.
In other news...
Busy Building the New Gluten-Free Kitchen
Next, I personally apologize for not being very active here on the Gluten-Free Blog in the past month or so, as I have been busy with home-remodeling activities during our first Winter at our new house -- I have tried to create what is the near-term vision of our "perfect kitchen" for baking all those wonderful wheat-free and gluten-free delights. (this may remain the long-term vision too, as I don't think I can do this again)
I believe that after this round of work, the new gluten-free kitchen is complete after a few months of hard work -- removing/lowering a large wall, building a new counter-top in its place, refinishing what turned out to be beautiful cabinets once I finished stripping the paint from them and sanding, staining, and re-varnishing all of the doors (ughgh!). But, in the end, it is hopefully worth all the effort.
Here is one view:
We wanted a very OPEN kitchen, with plenty of counter-space and preparation area, with baking and cooking pans and utensils close at hand (there is a pot-hanger above the stove; though it does not show in the picture. In addition, we wanted to be able to entertain and immerse ourselves in the action and conversation even as we prepared meals, snacks, and desserts for our guests. We also like to demonstrate our gluten-free cooking techniques to those that wish to observe, and this new kitchen makes all of that possible in a way no other kitchen could.
From the kitchen, we can now see people entering the house (over the stove -- it is a clear view to the entry way) and then continue to interact with guests as they work their way throughout the living room and dining room areas too. There is a large fireplace in the middle of it all (though, we have yet to use it) that we have considered converting into a "brick oven" instead. Aside from the fireplace in the middle of the room, it is all wide open.
Finally, we also wanted to enjoy the view of the outdoors from our kitchen. We spend a lot of time in the kitchen working on recipes (gluten-free desserts and many other GF items), and the existing kitchen blocked the view considerably : no longer the case! Now we can bake as we take in the scenery of the surrounding valley here in Eastern Ohio. Even in the Winter time, the new design is marvelous at getting ample natural light into the kitchen.
GF Recipes Emerging from the New Kitchen
The kitchen is getting quite a bit of use, and it has yielded some new recipes and variations that we plan to post on our Free Gluten-Free Recipes Library when we get time. My wife has recently come up with a very nice crispy thin-crust gluten-free pizza crust recipe that I am quite a fan of : that is the first recipe I need to get online when I have time. It is not dairy-free though (it uses whey-protein in it), but if you can consume a bit of dairy, you will enjoy the crispy crunchy crust that holds up when loaded down with cheese and sauces -- it does not just fall apart or crack when you pick it up, but stays quite nice and crispy.
I will *try* to get that recipe up here in a few more weeks. I still have another project that is being wrapped up, including taking care of book supplies. But, I will get the recipe posted. Thanks for patience.
Source: http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com/2010/03/gluten-free-desserts-books-temporarily.html
Social Justice and Environmental Health
Each week the CDC publishes health statistics under the title ?Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.? As you can imagine, it?s always a cheery read. Last week was especially interesting because it was the first annual ?Health Disparities and Inequalities Report.? I hope you?re not surprised to learn that poor people are more likely to have [...]
Source: http://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org/blogs/2011/01/18/social-justice-and-environmental-health/
New test for oral cancer detection
Researchers are on the verge of developing a new test for oral cancer that could be done by using a brush to collect cells from a patient's mouth. Scientists from the University of Sheffield would develop the new method that could provide an accurate diagnosis in less than 20 minutes for lesions where there is a suspicion of oral cancer.
The new test would involve removing cells with a brush, placing them on a chip, and inserting the chip into the analyzer, leading to a result in 8-10 minutes. This will have a number of benefits including cutting waiting times and the number of visits, and also cost savings for the NHS.
The team led by Professor Martin Thornhill has begun carrying out clinical trials on patients at Charles Clifford Dental Hospital for two years to perfect the technology and make it as sensitive as possible.
If oral cancer is detected early, the prognosis for patients is excellent, with a five-year survival rate of more than 90 percent.
The nano-bio-chips are disposable and slotted like a credit card into a battery-powered analyzer. A brush-biopsy sample is placed on the card and micro fluidic circuits wash cells from the sample into the reaction chamber.
Tags : oral cancer testing,oral cancer test kits,oral cancer test dentist,new oral cancer test,oral cancer testimonials,oral cancer test vizilite,dental oral cancer test
The new test would involve removing cells with a brush, placing them on a chip, and inserting the chip into the analyzer, leading to a result in 8-10 minutes. This will have a number of benefits including cutting waiting times and the number of visits, and also cost savings for the NHS.
The team led by Professor Martin Thornhill has begun carrying out clinical trials on patients at Charles Clifford Dental Hospital for two years to perfect the technology and make it as sensitive as possible.
If oral cancer is detected early, the prognosis for patients is excellent, with a five-year survival rate of more than 90 percent.
The nano-bio-chips are disposable and slotted like a credit card into a battery-powered analyzer. A brush-biopsy sample is placed on the card and micro fluidic circuits wash cells from the sample into the reaction chamber.
Tags : oral cancer testing,oral cancer test kits,oral cancer test dentist,new oral cancer test,oral cancer testimonials,oral cancer test vizilite,dental oral cancer test
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/10/new-test-for-oral-cancer-detection.html
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