Source: http://alankatz.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/health-care-reform-on-judicial-fast-track/
Tuesday 31 May 2011
Health Care Reform on Judicial Fast Track
The wheels of justice, as the clich� goes, grinds slowly. Given the complexity of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act this poses a bit of a problem. Federal District Court judges are reaching contrarian conclusions concerning the constitutionality of the PPACA. Everyone knows the validity of the health care reform law will be decided [...]
Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part III
Low-Fat Diets
In 2000, the International Journal of Obesity published a nice review article of low-fat diet trials.� It included data from 16 controlled trials lasting from 2-12 months and enrolling 1,910 participants (1).� What sets this review apart is it only covered studies that did not include instructions to restrict calorie intake (ad libitum diets).� On average, low-fat dieters reduced their fat intake from 37.7 to 27.5 percent of calories.� Here's what they found:
Read more �
In 2000, the International Journal of Obesity published a nice review article of low-fat diet trials.� It included data from 16 controlled trials lasting from 2-12 months and enrolling 1,910 participants (1).� What sets this review apart is it only covered studies that did not include instructions to restrict calorie intake (ad libitum diets).� On average, low-fat dieters reduced their fat intake from 37.7 to 27.5 percent of calories.� Here's what they found:
Read more �
This post was written by Stephan Guyenet for Whole Health Source. If it appears on another website without clear attribution, or if it is used for commercial purposes, it has been plagiarized.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/05/food-reward-dominant-factor-in-obesity_18.html
Music to Our Ears: iFrogz Earbuds
EarPollution Metal Drumz
To me, shopping for headphones is like shopping for a pair of jeans. You may try on an array of different sizes, colors, and brands, but you get a really good feel for them after you?ve already bought them.
This is why I have a couple pairs of jeans that have only been worn a handful of times plus a drawer full of barely used headphones.
So when I came across the iFrogz EarPollution headphones I was eager yet apprehensive to try them. Most of the EarPollution headphones have earbuds surrounded by earpieces made of a squishy silicone material, as opposed to the Apple earbud, which is straight plastic. I?ve never been a fan of earbuds that go inside because I?m not too comfortable shoving things in my ears. However, I have friends who swear by these kinds of headphones for both sound quality and comfort.
So, putting all preconceptions aside, I opened my package of Metal Drumz headphones and plugged them into my iPod. Each set of headphones comes with three sizes of earpieces. The first one was too big, the next too small, and then the third was just right. Well, not perfect, but a good enough fit. It took some time to get comfortable with really pushing them inside my ears to keep them secure. Now that I?ve gotten the hang of it, I can run, walk, sit, stand, even do a cartwheel (in theory, mostly because I can?t do a cartwheel) without them coming loose. They are also great for noise cancellation. You literally can?t hear a thing. If you like to run in a noisy neighborhood or would rather your treadmill neighbor at the gym not know that you're jamming to Hall and Oates, these are the perfect choice.
The Metal Drumz (if you couldn?t tell by the name) are more geared towards the rock aficionado. The treble sound is great, but there is little to no bass. Regardless, the sound is clear and crisp. They are priced reasonably at $24.99 and can be found in a whole rainbow of colors at www.ifrogz.com.
Tess Salalac, What to Expect Production Editor
EarPollution Timbre with Mic
I have a love-hate relationship with my Apple products. For example, I love my iPhone but hate the earbuds it came with. Despite the cool built-in microphone that doubles as an instant song-skipping and phone-answering button, their poor fit always leaves my ears sore after a while, and the level of bass it produces is paltry compared to much cheaper sets I've bought in the past. To make matters worse, I can still hear outside noise through them, leaving me scratching my head over their sticker price while I crank up the volume to inadvisable levels.
So it came as a pleasant surprise when iFrogz' EarPollution Timbre earbuds landed on my desk a few weeks ago. Not only do these things have that fancy mic/button I enjoy so much, they fit comfortably and produce rich, deep bass. If I'm on a run or just sitting in the subway minding my own business, the only things I can hear are the carefully selected tunes flowing crisply into my ears. And since they're so effective at isolating noise, that means I can enjoy my at a much lower and safer volume. Eardrums saved.
While I was impressed by the sound output, I still needed to test out the mic, which is touted on the package as "high definition" -- really just a loosely defined buzzword more than a representation of the technology. But I'll bite. The mic worked perfectly well, and I came through loud and clear on a co-worker's phone as I talked into my Timbres.
If you're wondering about the name, Timbre is a clever double entendre for these 'buds. It doesn't just denote the superiority of the sound using nerdy music terminology -- the actual buds are wooden, a nice little throwback to the days when most music came pouring out through wooden cabinets in dens and basements instead of mobile devices with slick screens. In other words, these things are an essential hipster fashion piece.
Retailing at $49.99, they're worth the investment for better comfort and sound, especially compared to Apple's offering. They're still going strong after weeks of abuse.
Tyler Stewart, Everyday Health Production Editor
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/health-beauty-reviews/music-to-our-ears
New Ancestral Diet Review Paper
Pedro Carrera-Bastos and his colleagues Maelan Fontes-Villalba, James H. O'Keefe, Staffan Lindeberg and Loren Cordain have published an excellent new review article titled "The Western Diet and Lifestyle and Diseases of Civilization" (1). The paper reviews the health consequences of transitioning from a traditional to a modern Western diet and lifestyle. Pedro is a knowledgeable and tireless advocate of ancestral, primarily paleolithic-style nutrition, and it has been my privilege to correspond with him regularly. His new paper is the best review of the underlying causes of the "diseases of civilization" that I've encountered. Here's the abstract:
I gave Pedro my comments on the manuscript as he was editing it, and he was kind enough to include me in the acknowledgments.
It is increasingly recognized that certain fundamental changes in diet and lifestyle that occurred after the Neolithic Revolution, and especially after the Industrial Revolution and the Modern Age, are too recent, on an evolutionary time scale, for the human genome to have completely adapted. This mismatch between our ancient physiology and the western diet and lifestyle underlies many so-called diseases of civilization, including coronary heart disease, obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, epithelial cell cancers, autoimmune disease, and osteoporosis, which are rare or virtually absent in hunter?gatherers and other non-westernized populations. It is therefore proposed that the adoption of diet and lifestyle that mimic the beneficial characteristics of the preagricultural environment is an effective strategy to reduce the risk of chronic degenerative diseases.At 343 references, the paper is an excellent resource for anyone with an academic interest in ancestral health, and in that sense it reminds me of Staffan Lindeberg's book Food and Western Disease. One of the things I like most about the paper is that it acknowledges the significant genetic adaptation to agriculture and pastoralism that has occurred in populations that have been practicing it for thousands of years. It hypothesizes that the main detrimental change was not the adoption of agriculture, but the more recent industrialization of the food system. I agree.
I gave Pedro my comments on the manuscript as he was editing it, and he was kind enough to include me in the acknowledgments.
This post was written by Stephan Guyenet for Whole Health Source. If it appears on another website without clear attribution, or if it is used for commercial purposes, it has been plagiarized.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-ancestral-diet-review-paper.html
Grand Rounds is up at e-Patient Dave
Dave deBronkart, aka e-Patient Dave hosts the newest edition of Grand Rounds. This week’s version features a variety of videos from the TEDx Maastricht conference. Share
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/M2iw7KsIbO0/
Monday 30 May 2011
The Quick 10: The Chrysler Building
Apparently it?s Buildings of New York Appreciation Week here in the Quick 10. Joining the New York Public Library in having a birthday this week is the Chrysler Building, which will be celebrating its 81st year dominating the Manhattan skyline. It may not be the tallest building in town these days, but it?s still one [...]
NAPH CEO Dr. Bruce Siegel on safety net providers (transcript)
This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with Dr. Bruce Siegel, CEO of the National Association of Public Hospital and Health Systems. David E. Williams:����������� This is David Williams, co-founder of MedPharma Partners and author of the Health Business Blog.� I?m speaking today with Dr. Bruce Siegel.� He is CEO of the National [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/o1ytPpguX8g/
Actuarial Firm: Employers Will Save by Dropping Employee Coverage
Across all industry segments in Lockton?s group of clients, companies will have a significant financial incentive to terminate their group coverage once the Insurance Exchanges present employees with another subsidized health insurance option. The vast majority of our clients currently spend far more on health insurance per employee than the nondeductible penalty under the ?Play [...]
Source: http://healthblog.ncpa.org/actuarial-firm-employers-will-save-by-dropping-employee-coverage/
Sunday 29 May 2011
MedNetworks CEO Larry Miller on network analytics in health care
MedNetworks offers technology to map, analyze and influence online and offline social networks in health care. The company grew out of groundbreaking research by Harvard Professor Nicholas Christakis. I spoke with MedNetworks CEO Larry Miller the day after attending a MedNetworks conference in Cambridge, MA. In this podcast interview Miller shares his impressions of the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/hUN4LUA-nvk/
Spreading the health care cost pain to the elderly
Medicare is the ever-growing elephant dragging the country under, so I’m pleased to see that its beneficiaries are starting to feel a bit of a squeeze. In Medicare rise could mean no Social Security COLA, the AP explains how Medicare premium increases are sucking up the full Social Security cost of living increase for many [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/-Cor_kZLIRI/
Trichomoniasis (Trich) ? Symptoms, Pictures and Treatment
What is Trichomoniasis? Trichomoniasis (commonly referred as ?Trich?) is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis. The parasite settles at the urogenital tract and infects sexually active individuals with multiple partners or who fail to use any form of protection. This is the most frequent but curable STD in sexually active young women. Most patients who were diagnosed with gonorrhea and non-gonococcal urethritis were also found to be infected with this disease. The trich culprit survives in the dark moist regions of the body making the female anatomy a suitable host. Moreover, trichomonas can manage to survive outside the host for many hours increasing risk of [...]
Source: http://www.allhealthsite.com/trichomoniasis-trich-symptoms-pictures-treatment.html
US Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fat Consumption over the Last Century
Omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fats (PUFA) are essential nutrients that play many important roles in the body. They are highly bioactive, and so any deviation from ancestral intake norms should probably be viewed with suspicion. I've expressed my opinion many times on this blog that omega-6 consumption is currently too high due to our high intake of refined seed oils (corn, soybean, sunflower, etc.) in industrial nations. Although it's clear that the quantity of omega-6 and omega-3 polyunsaturated fat have changed over the last century, no one had ever published a paper that attempted to systematically quantify it until last month (1).
Drs. Chris Ramsden and Joseph Hibbeln worked on this paper (the first author was Dr. Tanya Blasbalg and the senior author was Dr. Robert Rawlings)-- they were the first and second authors of a different review article I reviewed recently (2). Their new paper is a great reference that I'm sure I'll cite many times. I'm going to briefly review it and highlight a few key points.
1. The intake of omega-6 linoleic acid has increased quite a bit since 1909. It would have been roughly 2.3% of calories in 1909, while in 1999 it was 7.2%. That represents an increase of 213%. Linoleic acid is the form of omega-6 that predominates in seed oils.
2. The intake of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid has also increased, for reasons that I'll explain below. It changed from 0.35% of calories to 0.72%, an increase of 109%.
3. The intake of long-chain omega-6 and omega-3 fats have decreased. These are the highly bioactive fats for which linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are precursors. Arachidonic acid, DHA, DPA and EPA intakes have declined. This mostly has to do with changing husbandry practices and the replacement of animal fats with seed oils in the diet.
4. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats has increased. There is still quite a bit of debate over whether the ratios matter, or simply the absolute amount of each. I maintain that there is enough evidence from highly controlled animal studies and the basic biochemistry of PUFAs to tentatively conclude that the ratio is important. At a minimum, we know that excess linoleic acid inhibits omega-3 metabolism (3, 4, 5, 6). The omega-6:3 ratio increased from 5.4:1 to 9.6:1 between 1909 and 2009, a 78% increase.
5. The biggest factor in both linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid intake changes was the astonishing rise in soybean oil consumption. Soybean oil consumption increased from virtually nothing to 7.4% of total calories, eclipsing all sources of calories besides sugar, dairy and grains! That's because processed food is stuffed with it. It's essentially a byproduct of defatted soybean meal-- the second most important animal feed after corn. Check out this graph from the paper:
I think this paper is an important piece of the puzzle as we try to figure out what happened to nutrition and health in the US over the last century.
Drs. Chris Ramsden and Joseph Hibbeln worked on this paper (the first author was Dr. Tanya Blasbalg and the senior author was Dr. Robert Rawlings)-- they were the first and second authors of a different review article I reviewed recently (2). Their new paper is a great reference that I'm sure I'll cite many times. I'm going to briefly review it and highlight a few key points.
1. The intake of omega-6 linoleic acid has increased quite a bit since 1909. It would have been roughly 2.3% of calories in 1909, while in 1999 it was 7.2%. That represents an increase of 213%. Linoleic acid is the form of omega-6 that predominates in seed oils.
2. The intake of omega-3 alpha-linolenic acid has also increased, for reasons that I'll explain below. It changed from 0.35% of calories to 0.72%, an increase of 109%.
3. The intake of long-chain omega-6 and omega-3 fats have decreased. These are the highly bioactive fats for which linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid are precursors. Arachidonic acid, DHA, DPA and EPA intakes have declined. This mostly has to do with changing husbandry practices and the replacement of animal fats with seed oils in the diet.
4. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fats has increased. There is still quite a bit of debate over whether the ratios matter, or simply the absolute amount of each. I maintain that there is enough evidence from highly controlled animal studies and the basic biochemistry of PUFAs to tentatively conclude that the ratio is important. At a minimum, we know that excess linoleic acid inhibits omega-3 metabolism (3, 4, 5, 6). The omega-6:3 ratio increased from 5.4:1 to 9.6:1 between 1909 and 2009, a 78% increase.
5. The biggest factor in both linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid intake changes was the astonishing rise in soybean oil consumption. Soybean oil consumption increased from virtually nothing to 7.4% of total calories, eclipsing all sources of calories besides sugar, dairy and grains! That's because processed food is stuffed with it. It's essentially a byproduct of defatted soybean meal-- the second most important animal feed after corn. Check out this graph from the paper:
I think this paper is an important piece of the puzzle as we try to figure out what happened to nutrition and health in the US over the last century.This post was written by Stephan Guyenet for Whole Health Source. If it appears on another website without clear attribution, or if it is used for commercial purposes, it has been plagiarized.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/04/us-omega-6-and-omega-3-fat-consumption.html
Take me out to the Health Wonk Review
Glenn Laffel hosts a very informative Spring Training edition of the Health Wonk Review blog carnival at Pizaazz. I hope his beloved Yankees play as poorly this year as his blog is good. Share
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/9qQwjnbFlX8/
Saturday 28 May 2011
Waiting for the robot wheelchair
I’ve taken a lot of grief in the past for my prediction that robots will play a key role in nursing over the long term. There will still be jobs for nurses but we have little to fear from the ominous predictions of giant workforce shortages. Robots will be useful in many areas. Among those [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/9-LshjJamHM/
High fat diet, tobacco cause cancer
About 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year worldwide, with one-third the cases related to tobacco use, one-third to diet, another large percentage to infection and the remaining to pollution, stress and other factors.
According to Lalit Kumar, professor of medical oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), three million cases of cancer globally are due to tobacco use alone, with lung cancer claiming half the victims.
A high fat content diet can lead to breast cancer. Women who do yoga or moderate exercise everyday have lower incidence of cancer as compared to women with sedentary lifestyles and high fat intake, Kumar said at a talk at the India International Centre Wednesday evening.
"A high fat diet also acts as a trigger for prostate cancer. Fried food and spicy food is linked to cancer of the esophagus. Preservatives in food and smoked food, which is eaten in some parts of northeast India, also act as triggers for cancer," he said, adding that high fat intake and low fibre intake can cause colon cancer.
Some fungal infections can lead to liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus has been proven to be the cause of cancer of the cervix. "But the good news is, a vaccine is available and in the next 20 years the incidence of cervical cancer will come down," he said.
According to Lalit Kumar, professor of medical oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), three million cases of cancer globally are due to tobacco use alone, with lung cancer claiming half the victims.
A high fat content diet can lead to breast cancer. Women who do yoga or moderate exercise everyday have lower incidence of cancer as compared to women with sedentary lifestyles and high fat intake, Kumar said at a talk at the India International Centre Wednesday evening.
"A high fat diet also acts as a trigger for prostate cancer. Fried food and spicy food is linked to cancer of the esophagus. Preservatives in food and smoked food, which is eaten in some parts of northeast India, also act as triggers for cancer," he said, adding that high fat intake and low fibre intake can cause colon cancer.Some fungal infections can lead to liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus has been proven to be the cause of cancer of the cervix. "But the good news is, a vaccine is available and in the next 20 years the incidence of cervical cancer will come down," he said.
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/08/high-fat-diet-tobacco-cause-cancer.html
Marathon Training Program for Beginners
Before you make a commitment to run a marathon, you need to develop a carefully planned marathon training program. Running 26.2 miles is no easy task and the ability to cross the finish line doesn’t happen overnight. Marathons have become a popular sport in America. The Chicago marathon recently had over 45,000 registered runners. While [...]
Source: http://www.fitnesshealthzone.com/fitness/marathon-training-program-for-beginners/
In praise of those annoying Flexible Spending Account restrictions on OTCs
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) has a number of annoying little aspects to it. Some, especially the rule requiring businesses to prepare 1099s for any vendor they spent more than $600 with, are just ways to offset the cost of the overall package and don’t add anything to the objective of health [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/pvAZH8ipuHA/
Friday 27 May 2011
Gluten-Free Crab Cake Review: Handy GF Crab Cakes
After thinking about it, I realized I had not enjoyed a crab cake since I first went gluten-free quite a few years ago. In previous times, I enjoyed good crab cakes at restaurants (never made them myself), and once I had to give up gluten in my diet, I gave up crabcakes too since I figured I would not find a satisfactory gluten-free option ever again. Thankfully, times have changed, and I am pleased to have found an excellent option: Handy (brand) Gluten-Free Crab Cakes.
You have probably seen the Handy brand before (they are well known and in many stores), but the certified gluten-free variety of their crab cakes is a new addition to their product line, and a very delicious one at that! These new gluten-free crabcakes were brought to market by Handy International in December 2010 as what they claim to be the first gluten-free and certified-GF (GFCO; i.e., less than 10ppm gluten) crabcake on the market. I welcome the gluten-free product, and its certified status is certainly a nice product feature that I wish more companies would get on board with for Celiac-friendly options.
You have probably seen the Handy brand before (they are well known and in many stores), but the certified gluten-free variety of their crab cakes is a new addition to their product line, and a very delicious one at that! These new gluten-free crabcakes were brought to market by Handy International in December 2010 as what they claim to be the first gluten-free and certified-GF (GFCO; i.e., less than 10ppm gluten) crabcake on the market. I welcome the gluten-free product, and its certified status is certainly a nice product feature that I wish more companies would get on board with for Celiac-friendly options.
The Product: Packaging and Ingredients
These lovely gluten-free crabcakes come in a 6-pack format with each individual crab cake being a 3-ounce cake (for 18 ounces total). So, you get over a pound of high-quality crabcakes per package. And, upon further examination, those 6 crabcakes are packaged within the box as 3 sleeves of 2 crab cakes, which I thought was a wonderful detail -- you can take out a package of 2 frozen crabcakes without breaking the seal to the remaining ones. This is very "handy" indeed! :)
I pasted the following nutritional information here from Handy's website:
The formula for their gluten-free crab cakes recipe looks pretty much like what you'd expect if you were making your own crabcakes. The formula is quite simple and what appears to be quality ingredients. And, just by looking at the cakes, you can immediately discern nice chunks of crab meat - which is the most important part of course (and, crab meat shows as the first ingredient; a good sign!) I have heard that, since posting this ingredient-list on their website, that the product has been made dairy-free too... but, you may want to check into that on the actual package you purchase.
Preparation & Cooking (Frying or Baking)
The first thing I must say is that baking these things could not be much simpler: just thaw the gluten-free crabcakes you plan to bake, then follow the instructions on the box for frying, baking, or whatever. We placed ours into a cast-iron pan and baked them in the oven (the whole process takes less than 1/2 hour). Here is a picture of them shortly after we got underway with the baking process...
The end result was quite nice, though we made ours on a cloudy day and with artificial lighting I was unable to get a picture that I really liked, so.... here is a picture that Handy had on their website, and I do think it accurately represents the results you can achieve baking or frying your own. This IS what they look like, and they have a lovely texture with lots of crab meat throughout:
Taste, Texture, and Satisfaction Evaluation
WOW! These really are quite wonderful!
Those chunks of sweet white crab are delicious, and the remaining ingredients in the crabcake are just enough to beautifully complement the crab meat. If I had these crab cakes at a restaurant, I would be quite pleased - they are top notch and reminded me of some crab cakes I had years ago. I have tried both baking and frying these crab cakes. Each method works just fine and delivers a pleasing result. I was able to get a delightfully crispy surface by frying them, but that of course introduces extra calories from the oil used in the pay.
I enjoyed the subtle seasonings they used, and my *only* complaint is that I find them slightly salty by the time I have finished an entire crab cake (we rarely add salt to anything, so commercial / restaurant foods are generally salty to me).
My wife and I found the 3-ounce portion to be ideal. I think these would make a great appetizer item for both home and restaurant settings. I can see them coming in quite handy (nice brand name it turns out) for parties and gatherings where you want to serve something rather impressive without the fuss of making it from scratch. These crab cakes are almost certain to be a hit with anyone that enjoys crab - I have to believe that caterers with Celiac or gluten-free clients in mind will find these to be a great service option.
Where to Purchase + Price / Cost Discussion
Please, read this section entirely if you are interested in these. The Handy gluten-free crab cake price varies CONSIDERABLY based on where you obtain them - they range from moderately priced to extremely and ridiculously expensive depending where you get them.
The EXPENSIVE way to get these...
Handy Gluten-Free Crab Cakes are available online at the company's dedicated GF crab cake website, but I suggest you check your local store first. The reason I say to check your local grocery store(s) first is quite simply that the price the are asking at Handy's online-orders website (glutenfreecrabcake.com) is just simply ridiculous and exorbitant and out of range of the average consumer. To be fair, their online prices *include* FedEx 2-day shipping (and dry-ice packing no doubt), but still, OH MY! Handy seems aware of how prohibitive this pricing is, and they too encourage you to shop locally for the product if possible (they have a web page listing stores where available - click the "buy locally" tab at the top of their site for list).
If you have no other option, perhaps... and, here are the online options Handy offers:
- $69.99 for a package of 6 crabcakes : far too high of a price on a per-crab-cake basis (i.e., a cost of $11.66 each) for most people to ever consider them;
- $99.99 for a package of 12 crab cakes : at a price of $8.33/each, this is still high;
- $119.99 for an 18-pack (i.e., $6.60/each);
- and, finally...$139.99 for a 24-pack which starts to enter the upper realm of reasonably-priced on a per-crabcake basis (at $5.83 each).
The more reasonably AFFORDABLE way to get these...
See if your local grocery store has them! In the Houston, TX area, I quickly checked at the local H.E.B. store and found these Handy Gluten-Free crab cakes, but only in a *2-pack*. HEB offered the box of 2 gluten-free crab cakes for $7.99 - or, essentially $4.00/crabcake, which to me sounded reasonable compared to the cost of a crab cake at a restaurant or such. And, because they are high quality cakes full of tasty crab meat, this did not sound too out of line with the price of just purchasing crab meat on its own.
But, here is my problem with the Gluten-Free (version) pricing: why are these crab cakes so much more than Handy's own "normal" (non-gluten-free) version of the same crabcakes? Each contains the same crab meat (the most expensive part), coupled with a bit of other binder-ingredients and seasonings. So, why can CostCo offer the 6-pack of *regular* (i.e., with-gluten) Handy Crabcakes for only $13.89 (i.e., $2.48 per crab cake?) Volume?
If I could buy the Handy gluten-free crabcakes at CostCo for the same price of the "regular" (gluten-containing version), it'd be a "no-brainer" for me, and I'd have them much more often. But, the cheapest option I have seen for the gluten-free version is a full 60% more. That seems like a substantial premium for just swapping out some breadcrumbs with a gluten-free variety. Though, I guess there is the cost of certification (GF) and the lesser volume production, right? Handy's web site shows Costco carrying the gluten-free varieties, but ONLY in Hawaii and some California locations (hopefully that changes to include more locations). I will purchase these, for now, at our local HEB store on occasion, as the $4/crab-cake price is not TOO bad, and they are quite tasty.
Conclusion
If you are lucky enough to live near a local store that carries the Handy Gluten-Free crabcakes, they are most definitely worth trying if you enjoy crab meat. This product has given me back a once-favored restaurant menu item, now in the form of a crab cake that is safe for my gluten-free diet, and in a form I can prepare quickly and enjoy whenever I want.
I wish the product was made in the USA, but I am not going to over-analyze the offshore production of this product (they are made in Thailand). The fact is, I regularly use super-fine Asian flours (tapioca, white rice and sweet rice especially) sourced from Thailand in my Gluten-Free Desserts baking - I get those at local Asian markets. Seafood is a different thing altogether perhaps (since water quality issues come into play), but if that is where the fresh Blue Crab meat (used in these crabcakes) is available in sufficient quantities for producing these items, so be it. When I queried Handy International's contact about the overseas-sourcing and any concerns with the quality, this is what they respond with:
"We subject ourselves to independent testing by Silliker, a top inspection firm used by Whole foods and Costco. Handy?s plants have received Silliker?s gold certificate ? an achievement only the top 10% of inspected companies achieve. Handy is also a founding member of the National Fisheries Institute?s Crab Council, a groundbreaking group focused on creating a more sustainable seafood offering, and works diligently to provide the most consistent high quality products the crab community has to offer.?
I am personally OK with this representation of quality testing, and I will continue to consume their product.
Bottom line: a great new option for my gluten-free diet! Delicious crab cakes anytime I want them :)
Source: http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com/2011/01/gluten-free-crab-cake-review-handy-gf.html
neatorama presents: HDYK? ? {day 4}
Please note that Day 5 will appear on Tuesday next week, not Monday It’s an all-new 5-day trivia hunt! Co-puzzle Master Josh Halbur and I are happy to bring you the next How Did You Know? sponsored by our friends over at neatorama.com. Here’s how it works: Every day the rest of this week, we’ll [...]
Are we entering an era of political cooperation on Medicare?
There’s a chance that we’re starting to see a convergence of opinion on Medicare among Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. I know the recent bickering makes this seem like an odd contention, but consider the following: In recent decades Republicans have done a great job of tarring Democrats with the “tax and spend” label [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/TMeXgB1ull8/
Calling All Curly Girls
Anyone who says they?ve ?learned to love? their naturally curly hair is a liar. Learning to love implies some sort of epiphany from above. False. When you learn to control your curls, love follows.
Adoration for cranky, crazy curls comes from years of product-testing and the occasional pity party. Example: For a solid decade, I never left a hair salon without tears rolling down my face. Stupid, maybe, but middle school nicknames like Frizzy Lizzy didn?t make it easy to embrace the bouffant styles hairdressers just loved to try on me.
I?ve been through the typical phases every curly-haired girl experiences ? from straight-up frizz ball to pony tail every day of the week to a serious flat-iron fetish. These curl battles came from a lack of control: I never knew how my hair would twist or bend, how big it?d be, how short it?d be, etc.
The only way to gain control? Products.
Peter Lamas Avocado Olive Ultra Smoothing products are specifically made for women with ?frizzy, unruly, coarse hair.? First thought? Poor, pitiful Peter. Don?t you know you?ve targeted the toughest hair audience in the world? Good luck.
We?ll start with smell. The shampoo and conditioner do not smell like avocados and olive oil ? they smell like a cotton shirt would smell if you let it air dry in the sun next to a garden. Very natural with floral hints. The best part is that it doesn?t go away. The smell lingers till your next shower. Unheard of, I know, but true ? I shoved my curls in coworkers? faces so they could attest.
Okay, Pete ? what did your vegan and paraben-free creations do to my curls? I shampooed like I normally do then left the conditioner in for a few minutes while I scrubbed down the rest of my body. Then I rinsed, hopped out of the shower, and dried with a diffuser.
My hair was calmer. It was smoother. It hung a little differently ? but not in a heavy, weighed-down way. It seemed to be coated with some kind of extra goodness that let my ringlets curl in unison. Turns out ? this extra goodness is a mix of avocado, which calms curls, and olive oil, which coats them with shine.
An hour later, I smelled a familiar fresh scent coming from the bathroom. Never before has a shampoo evoked raging jealousy in my very core, but this one did. How dare my roommate sample my treasure! Not that I?m bitter or anything, but that girl has straight hair, so she was wasting the curl-benefits!
Verdict from a non-curly girl: She loved it. Not even reading the bottle, she told me that night how her hair was less frizzy, and that it dried so easily that she didn?t have to do her normal flat-iron hair routine. (Then I told her she had to buy her own.)
I?ve used the Avocado Olive Ultra Smoothing duo every day for the past few weeks, and I have only two complaints:
1. When I'm all sudsy in the shower, I accidentally grab and squirt out the Ultra Smoothing Conditioner first every time because "smoothing" looks like "shampoo." Refusing to waste it, I then battle to get it back in the bottle for 5 minutes. That's annoying.
2. My real issue though: It?s $18 a bottle. Therefore, even if it is available at the Duane Reade conveniently located below my apartment, I may not be able to afford it in the long run.
But if you have curls and the funds, try it out. Peter Lamas so generously gave me a little more control over my curls, and I feel it's my Frizzy Lizzy duty to share the love.
Elizabeth Regalia, Everyday Health Production Editor
Adoration for cranky, crazy curls comes from years of product-testing and the occasional pity party. Example: For a solid decade, I never left a hair salon without tears rolling down my face. Stupid, maybe, but middle school nicknames like Frizzy Lizzy didn?t make it easy to embrace the bouffant styles hairdressers just loved to try on me.
I?ve been through the typical phases every curly-haired girl experiences ? from straight-up frizz ball to pony tail every day of the week to a serious flat-iron fetish. These curl battles came from a lack of control: I never knew how my hair would twist or bend, how big it?d be, how short it?d be, etc.
The only way to gain control? Products.
Peter Lamas Avocado Olive Ultra Smoothing products are specifically made for women with ?frizzy, unruly, coarse hair.? First thought? Poor, pitiful Peter. Don?t you know you?ve targeted the toughest hair audience in the world? Good luck.
We?ll start with smell. The shampoo and conditioner do not smell like avocados and olive oil ? they smell like a cotton shirt would smell if you let it air dry in the sun next to a garden. Very natural with floral hints. The best part is that it doesn?t go away. The smell lingers till your next shower. Unheard of, I know, but true ? I shoved my curls in coworkers? faces so they could attest.
Okay, Pete ? what did your vegan and paraben-free creations do to my curls? I shampooed like I normally do then left the conditioner in for a few minutes while I scrubbed down the rest of my body. Then I rinsed, hopped out of the shower, and dried with a diffuser.
My hair was calmer. It was smoother. It hung a little differently ? but not in a heavy, weighed-down way. It seemed to be coated with some kind of extra goodness that let my ringlets curl in unison. Turns out ? this extra goodness is a mix of avocado, which calms curls, and olive oil, which coats them with shine.
An hour later, I smelled a familiar fresh scent coming from the bathroom. Never before has a shampoo evoked raging jealousy in my very core, but this one did. How dare my roommate sample my treasure! Not that I?m bitter or anything, but that girl has straight hair, so she was wasting the curl-benefits!
Verdict from a non-curly girl: She loved it. Not even reading the bottle, she told me that night how her hair was less frizzy, and that it dried so easily that she didn?t have to do her normal flat-iron hair routine. (Then I told her she had to buy her own.)
I?ve used the Avocado Olive Ultra Smoothing duo every day for the past few weeks, and I have only two complaints:
1. When I'm all sudsy in the shower, I accidentally grab and squirt out the Ultra Smoothing Conditioner first every time because "smoothing" looks like "shampoo." Refusing to waste it, I then battle to get it back in the bottle for 5 minutes. That's annoying.
2. My real issue though: It?s $18 a bottle. Therefore, even if it is available at the Duane Reade conveniently located below my apartment, I may not be able to afford it in the long run.
But if you have curls and the funds, try it out. Peter Lamas so generously gave me a little more control over my curls, and I feel it's my Frizzy Lizzy duty to share the love.
Elizabeth Regalia, Everyday Health Production Editor
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/health-beauty-reviews/calling-all-curlyhaired-girls
Thursday 26 May 2011
10 Ways to Lose Weight Now
What do you need to do to lose weight? The answer to this question can be found in a carefully planned program. Losing weight involves proper nutrition, training, supplementation, and a variety of resources that can be specifically designed to meet that goal. There are many popular programs that promise to help you lose weight; [...]
Source: http://www.fitnesshealthzone.com/healthy-living/10-ways-to-lose-weight-now/
?Best Hospitals? Are Not Necessarily the Best
The study, published in the Archives of Surgery, looked at Internet-based HealthGrades and U.S. News & World Report, both of whose ratings it said are used by millions.�It showed that for three types of cancer surgery,” America’s 50 Best Hospitals” as ranked by HealthGrades are no better than other hospitals once the number of patients [...]
Source: http://healthblog.ncpa.org/best-hospitals-are-not-necessarily-the-best/
?Best Hospitals? Are Not Necessarily the Best
The study, published in the Archives of Surgery, looked at Internet-based HealthGrades and U.S. News & World Report, both of whose ratings it said are used by millions.�It showed that for three types of cancer surgery,” America’s 50 Best Hospitals” as ranked by HealthGrades are no better than other hospitals once the number of patients [...]
Source: http://healthblog.ncpa.org/best-hospitals-are-not-necessarily-the-best/
red onion diet - remove bad cholesterol
Scientists have claimed that the humble red onion could help prevent heart disease. They have discovered that the vegetable - commonly used in Mediterranean and Indian cuisine - helps remove bad cholesterol from the body, which can cause heart attacks and strokes.
At the same time red onions retain the body's good cholesterol, which help protect against heart disease. Scientists in Hong Kong fed crushed-up red onions to hamsters who had all been put on a high-cholesterol diet.
They found that after eight weeks levels of bad cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein (LDL), had dropped by an average of 20 per cent.
"This results support the claim that the regular consumption of onion reduces the risk of coronary heart disease," the Daily Mail quoted Zhen Yu Chen, who was in charge of the research carried out at the Chinese University of Hong Kong as saying.
Tags : low cholesterol diet plan,high cholesterol diet plan,cholesterol diet food,low cholesterol diet guidelines,low cholesterol diet tips 2008,cholesterol diet plans,cholesterol diet sheet
At the same time red onions retain the body's good cholesterol, which help protect against heart disease. Scientists in Hong Kong fed crushed-up red onions to hamsters who had all been put on a high-cholesterol diet.
They found that after eight weeks levels of bad cholesterol, or low density lipoprotein (LDL), had dropped by an average of 20 per cent.
"This results support the claim that the regular consumption of onion reduces the risk of coronary heart disease," the Daily Mail quoted Zhen Yu Chen, who was in charge of the research carried out at the Chinese University of Hong Kong as saying.
Tags : low cholesterol diet plan,high cholesterol diet plan,cholesterol diet food,low cholesterol diet guidelines,low cholesterol diet tips 2008,cholesterol diet plans,cholesterol diet sheet
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/10/red-onion-diet-remove-bad-cholesterol.html
Primary care workforce situation: Not hopeless
I sometimes observe that the only sector of the economy as messed up as health care is higher education, where the US has some great institutions but where costs are incredibly high and have been rising relentlessly for long periods of time. These two dysfunctional systems intersect in multiple places, one of which is the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/x9KSJfs0FxQ/
Wednesday 25 May 2011
Continua?s Chuck Parker on connected health (transcript)
This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with Continua Health Alliance Executive Director Chuck Parker. David Williams:����������� This is David Williams, co-founder of MedPharma Partners and author of the Health Business Blog.� I?m speaking today with Chuck Parker,� Executive Director of the Continua Health Alliance.� Chuck, thanks for being with me today. Chuck [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/T72GqDTPfW0/
Children born using IVF are likely taller
Children born using in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) are likely to be taller than their naturally conceived counterparts, New Zealand researchers have found.
The study by Auckland University's Liggins Institute found IVF children conceived from fresh, rather than frozen, embryos were about 2.6 centimetres (1.02 inches) taller than non-IVF children by the age of six.
The research, which examined about 200 children, found the height difference was statistically significant, even after adjusting for variables such as the parents' height.Liggins Institiute director Wayne Cutfield said the phenomenon was most striking in girls.
Cutfield said appeared IVF children from fresh embryos had a different hormone profile to regular children, which could promote growth.
This could be caused by the drugs mothers took to induce ovulation during the conception process or by the culture medium the embryos were developed in for 36 hours before being transferred to the womb, he said.
Tags : cost of in vitro fertilization,in vitro fertilisation ivf,ethical issues of in vitro fertilisation,advantages of in vitro fertilization,process of in vitro fertilisation,in vitro fertilisation procedure,in vitro fertilisation eggs
The study by Auckland University's Liggins Institute found IVF children conceived from fresh, rather than frozen, embryos were about 2.6 centimetres (1.02 inches) taller than non-IVF children by the age of six.
The research, which examined about 200 children, found the height difference was statistically significant, even after adjusting for variables such as the parents' height.Liggins Institiute director Wayne Cutfield said the phenomenon was most striking in girls.
Cutfield said appeared IVF children from fresh embryos had a different hormone profile to regular children, which could promote growth.
This could be caused by the drugs mothers took to induce ovulation during the conception process or by the culture medium the embryos were developed in for 36 hours before being transferred to the womb, he said.
Tags : cost of in vitro fertilization,in vitro fertilisation ivf,ethical issues of in vitro fertilisation,advantages of in vitro fertilization,process of in vitro fertilisation,in vitro fertilisation procedure,in vitro fertilisation eggs
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/10/children-born-using-ivf-are-likely.html
Can You 'Buzz' Away the Signs of Aging?
I've been told I have nice skin, and while I'm happy to accept the compliment, the fact is I haven't done anything much to keep it that way. My usual routine is a mild cleanser plus some drugstore moisturizer ? and I'm good to go. But as I move through my 40s, I'm noticing a few faint lines on my forehead that I could swear weren't there just a few short years ago. So I was excited to test out the new "Naturally Ageless" anti-aging skin care line from Burt's Bees.
What's in this stuff? Burt's Bees is known for their natural products, and this new line is no different. Chief among the touted ingredients is pomegranate extract, which the manufacturer claims is an antioxidant that protects the skin. The package insert states that pomegranate is used to help prevent the signs of aging (like my pesky lines), but the other components can help "address" those signs. These include para cress, a type of herb, and Mexican wild yam, which is purported to have qualities similar to that of natural estrogen. Borage and evening primrose oil, which contains a natural form of an essential fatty acid called GLA, is supposed to increase firmness and is included in the Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum.
In addition to the serum, I tried a range of these products, including the Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion, Skin Firming Night Cr�me, and Line Smoothing Eye Cr�me. The day lotion had a thin, sticky quality when I applied it after my morning shower. While the night cr�me had a bit of that same tacky feel, it absorbed well after a few minutes, and my skin was soft and moisturized when I woke up in the morning. The eye cr�me and serum went on smoothly, but also sat on top of the skin after being rubbed in. One thing they all had in common ? the smell. I've liked other pomegranate-scented products, but I found the fruity fragrance in these to be very strong and slightly offputting ? reminiscent of a bowl of Froot Loops or a glass of punch.
So here's the million-dollar question: Did they work? After a month of trying out different combinations of these products, I haven't noticed any diminishing of my lines. While the moisturizing properties were good, it's hard to say over the long term whether they will stop any future wrinkles from developing. If you're used to having a sunscreen in your daily moisturizer, be advised that there's none in the day lotion, so you'll need to apply that separately (a real time-suck on a busy morning). But the real deal breaker for me is the fruity odor ? it's enough to keep me from using any of the Naturally Aging products on a regular basis.
Amy Solomon, Everyday Health Senior Editor
What's in this stuff? Burt's Bees is known for their natural products, and this new line is no different. Chief among the touted ingredients is pomegranate extract, which the manufacturer claims is an antioxidant that protects the skin. The package insert states that pomegranate is used to help prevent the signs of aging (like my pesky lines), but the other components can help "address" those signs. These include para cress, a type of herb, and Mexican wild yam, which is purported to have qualities similar to that of natural estrogen. Borage and evening primrose oil, which contains a natural form of an essential fatty acid called GLA, is supposed to increase firmness and is included in the Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum.
In addition to the serum, I tried a range of these products, including the Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion, Skin Firming Night Cr�me, and Line Smoothing Eye Cr�me. The day lotion had a thin, sticky quality when I applied it after my morning shower. While the night cr�me had a bit of that same tacky feel, it absorbed well after a few minutes, and my skin was soft and moisturized when I woke up in the morning. The eye cr�me and serum went on smoothly, but also sat on top of the skin after being rubbed in. One thing they all had in common ? the smell. I've liked other pomegranate-scented products, but I found the fruity fragrance in these to be very strong and slightly offputting ? reminiscent of a bowl of Froot Loops or a glass of punch.
So here's the million-dollar question: Did they work? After a month of trying out different combinations of these products, I haven't noticed any diminishing of my lines. While the moisturizing properties were good, it's hard to say over the long term whether they will stop any future wrinkles from developing. If you're used to having a sunscreen in your daily moisturizer, be advised that there's none in the day lotion, so you'll need to apply that separately (a real time-suck on a busy morning). But the real deal breaker for me is the fruity odor ? it's enough to keep me from using any of the Naturally Aging products on a regular basis.
Amy Solomon, Everyday Health Senior Editor
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/health-beauty-reviews/can-you-buzz-away-the-signs-of-aging
Tuesday 24 May 2011
High fat diet, tobacco cause cancer
About 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year worldwide, with one-third the cases related to tobacco use, one-third to diet, another large percentage to infection and the remaining to pollution, stress and other factors.
According to Lalit Kumar, professor of medical oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), three million cases of cancer globally are due to tobacco use alone, with lung cancer claiming half the victims.
A high fat content diet can lead to breast cancer. Women who do yoga or moderate exercise everyday have lower incidence of cancer as compared to women with sedentary lifestyles and high fat intake, Kumar said at a talk at the India International Centre Wednesday evening.
"A high fat diet also acts as a trigger for prostate cancer. Fried food and spicy food is linked to cancer of the esophagus. Preservatives in food and smoked food, which is eaten in some parts of northeast India, also act as triggers for cancer," he said, adding that high fat intake and low fibre intake can cause colon cancer.
Some fungal infections can lead to liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus has been proven to be the cause of cancer of the cervix. "But the good news is, a vaccine is available and in the next 20 years the incidence of cervical cancer will come down," he said.
According to Lalit Kumar, professor of medical oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), three million cases of cancer globally are due to tobacco use alone, with lung cancer claiming half the victims.
A high fat content diet can lead to breast cancer. Women who do yoga or moderate exercise everyday have lower incidence of cancer as compared to women with sedentary lifestyles and high fat intake, Kumar said at a talk at the India International Centre Wednesday evening.
"A high fat diet also acts as a trigger for prostate cancer. Fried food and spicy food is linked to cancer of the esophagus. Preservatives in food and smoked food, which is eaten in some parts of northeast India, also act as triggers for cancer," he said, adding that high fat intake and low fibre intake can cause colon cancer.Some fungal infections can lead to liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus has been proven to be the cause of cancer of the cervix. "But the good news is, a vaccine is available and in the next 20 years the incidence of cervical cancer will come down," he said.
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/08/high-fat-diet-tobacco-cause-cancer.html
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/
Can You 'Buzz' Away the Signs of Aging?
I've been told I have nice skin, and while I'm happy to accept the compliment, the fact is I haven't done anything much to keep it that way. My usual routine is a mild cleanser plus some drugstore moisturizer ? and I'm good to go. But as I move through my 40s, I'm noticing a few faint lines on my forehead that I could swear weren't there just a few short years ago. So I was excited to test out the new "Naturally Ageless" anti-aging skin care line from Burt's Bees.
What's in this stuff? Burt's Bees is known for their natural products, and this new line is no different. Chief among the touted ingredients is pomegranate extract, which the manufacturer claims is an antioxidant that protects the skin. The package insert states that pomegranate is used to help prevent the signs of aging (like my pesky lines), but the other components can help "address" those signs. These include para cress, a type of herb, and Mexican wild yam, which is purported to have qualities similar to that of natural estrogen. Borage and evening primrose oil, which contains a natural form of an essential fatty acid called GLA, is supposed to increase firmness and is included in the Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum.
In addition to the serum, I tried a range of these products, including the Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion, Skin Firming Night Cr�me, and Line Smoothing Eye Cr�me. The day lotion had a thin, sticky quality when I applied it after my morning shower. While the night cr�me had a bit of that same tacky feel, it absorbed well after a few minutes, and my skin was soft and moisturized when I woke up in the morning. The eye cr�me and serum went on smoothly, but also sat on top of the skin after being rubbed in. One thing they all had in common ? the smell. I've liked other pomegranate-scented products, but I found the fruity fragrance in these to be very strong and slightly offputting ? reminiscent of a bowl of Froot Loops or a glass of punch.
So here's the million-dollar question: Did they work? After a month of trying out different combinations of these products, I haven't noticed any diminishing of my lines. While the moisturizing properties were good, it's hard to say over the long term whether they will stop any future wrinkles from developing. If you're used to having a sunscreen in your daily moisturizer, be advised that there's none in the day lotion, so you'll need to apply that separately (a real time-suck on a busy morning). But the real deal breaker for me is the fruity odor ? it's enough to keep me from using any of the Naturally Aging products on a regular basis.
Amy Solomon, Everyday Health Senior Editor
What's in this stuff? Burt's Bees is known for their natural products, and this new line is no different. Chief among the touted ingredients is pomegranate extract, which the manufacturer claims is an antioxidant that protects the skin. The package insert states that pomegranate is used to help prevent the signs of aging (like my pesky lines), but the other components can help "address" those signs. These include para cress, a type of herb, and Mexican wild yam, which is purported to have qualities similar to that of natural estrogen. Borage and evening primrose oil, which contains a natural form of an essential fatty acid called GLA, is supposed to increase firmness and is included in the Naturally Ageless Intensive Repairing Serum.
In addition to the serum, I tried a range of these products, including the Naturally Ageless Line Diminishing Day Lotion, Skin Firming Night Cr�me, and Line Smoothing Eye Cr�me. The day lotion had a thin, sticky quality when I applied it after my morning shower. While the night cr�me had a bit of that same tacky feel, it absorbed well after a few minutes, and my skin was soft and moisturized when I woke up in the morning. The eye cr�me and serum went on smoothly, but also sat on top of the skin after being rubbed in. One thing they all had in common ? the smell. I've liked other pomegranate-scented products, but I found the fruity fragrance in these to be very strong and slightly offputting ? reminiscent of a bowl of Froot Loops or a glass of punch.
So here's the million-dollar question: Did they work? After a month of trying out different combinations of these products, I haven't noticed any diminishing of my lines. While the moisturizing properties were good, it's hard to say over the long term whether they will stop any future wrinkles from developing. If you're used to having a sunscreen in your daily moisturizer, be advised that there's none in the day lotion, so you'll need to apply that separately (a real time-suck on a busy morning). But the real deal breaker for me is the fruity odor ? it's enough to keep me from using any of the Naturally Aging products on a regular basis.
Amy Solomon, Everyday Health Senior Editor
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/health-beauty-reviews/can-you-buzz-away-the-signs-of-aging
NAPH CEO Dr. Bruce Siegel on safety net providers (transcript)
This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with Dr. Bruce Siegel, CEO of the National Association of Public Hospital and Health Systems. David E. Williams:����������� This is David Williams, co-founder of MedPharma Partners and author of the Health Business Blog.� I?m speaking today with Dr. Bruce Siegel.� He is CEO of the National [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/o1ytPpguX8g/
Hamilton?s Dueling History, a Haunted Bar and the Bank That Owns the Pistols: Your Guide to the Hamilton-Burr Duel
The Mental Floss Guide to the Hamilton-Burr Duel Want to impress your friends with your extensive knowledge of the duel? Leah Welborn will supply the knowledge, from Hamilton's dueling history to the bank that currently owns the dueling pistols. You just figure out a way to bring Hamilton and/or Burr into the conversation.
Monday 23 May 2011
The Quick 10: The New York Public Library Turns 100!
Happy Birthday to one of the best places in the world to curl up with a good book: the New York Public Library. Here are a few fascinating facts about the library to celebrate her big centennial. 1. We have former Governor of New York Samuel J. Tilden to thank for the NYPL. When he [...]
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/
Conflicts of interest in guideline development: a dirty little secret gets aired again
An Archives of Internal Medicine article (Conflicts of Interest in Cardiovascular Clinical Practice Guidelines) is getting a lot of notice today. In essence, many of the physicians who develop guideline that influence practice patterns and payment decisions have conflicts. The authors recommend only allowing those without conflicts to write the guidelines. This isn’t a new [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/4IS3YOdjp2Q/
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 [...]
Sunday 22 May 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.
This post was written by Stephan Guyenet for Whole Health Source. If it appears on another website without clear attribution, or if it is used for commercial purposes, it has been plagiarized.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/03/gluten-free-january-survey-data-part-i.html
SMP for a Severely Thinning Crown
Can people crop their hair, get this procedure and grow out their hair again? How would a severely thinning crown with hair grown out look if SMP has been performed on it?
There is a line where the SMP (Scalp MicroPigmentation) process can not substitute for a hair transplant. We have tried it on one [...]
There is a line where the SMP (Scalp MicroPigmentation) process can not substitute for a hair transplant. We have tried it on one [...]
Source: http://www.baldingblog.com/2011/05/19/smp-for-a-severely-thinning-crown/
10 Ways to Lose Weight Now
What do you need to do to lose weight? The answer to this question can be found in a carefully planned program. Losing weight involves proper nutrition, training, supplementation, and a variety of resources that can be specifically designed to meet that goal. There are many popular programs that promise to help you lose weight; [...]
Source: http://www.fitnesshealthzone.com/healthy-living/10-ways-to-lose-weight-now/
Why do people in high deductible plans seek less preventive care?
A notable finding from a RAND study How Do Consumer-Directed Health Plans Affect Vulnerable Populations? is that members in high deductible plans receive fewer preventive services, such as mammography, after switching from traditional plans. That seems odd at first blush since preventive services aren’t subject to the deductible. The authors suggest a couple of plausible [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/Wsm8JQTxRVk/
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.
This post was written by Stephan Guyenet for Whole Health Source. If it appears on another website without clear attribution, or if it is used for commercial purposes, it has been plagiarized.
Source: http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2011/04/upcoming-talks.html
Saturday 21 May 2011
Benefits Of Dark Chocolate: 1
By far, one of the most consumed foods in the world is chocolate.� It is sweet, smooth and can certainly help make you feel better whenever you are on PMS or just had a bad day and to be honest, I love chocolate.� Did you know that there are actually health benefits that you can [...]
Source: http://yourbodyyourtemple.net/health/benefits-of-dark-chocolate-1/
MedNetworks CEO Larry Miller on network analytics in health care
MedNetworks offers technology to map, analyze and influence online and offline social networks in health care. The company grew out of groundbreaking research by Harvard Professor Nicholas Christakis. I spoke with MedNetworks CEO Larry Miller the day after attending a MedNetworks conference in Cambridge, MA. In this podcast interview Miller shares his impressions of the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/hUN4LUA-nvk/
Bye, bye brokers?
In general I oppose the minimum Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) provision of the Affordable Care Act. If an insurer can help keep me healthy and out of the hospital and doctor’s office I’m happy to pay them to do so. But I have to admit I’m pleased that the new MLR rules are putting the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/dLu0Pfe5Xe4/
Any Additional Data on Men That Experience Propecia Sexual Side Effects?
Dear Doctor,
Love the site, find myself popping in and out all the time for the latest buzz in “hair loss warfare”
So anyways, I have been on Finasteride for about 7 weeks now, no noticeable change yet,nor did i expect any results this early in the game. No weird and wild side effects either - my [...]
Love the site, find myself popping in and out all the time for the latest buzz in “hair loss warfare”
So anyways, I have been on Finasteride for about 7 weeks now, no noticeable change yet,nor did i expect any results this early in the game. No weird and wild side effects either - my [...]
Friday 20 May 2011
Death panels everyone can live with
Chief among Sarah Palin’s assaults on truth and reason is her contention that providing reimbursement for end-of-life planning sessions with a health care provider is tantamount to a “death panel” where a “bureaucrat can decide based on a subjective judgment of [a person's] ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care.” [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/weEZnceiOYU/
Continua?s Chuck Parker on connected health (transcript)
This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with Continua Health Alliance Executive Director Chuck Parker. David Williams:����������� This is David Williams, co-founder of MedPharma Partners and author of the Health Business Blog.� I?m speaking today with Chuck Parker,� Executive Director of the Continua Health Alliance.� Chuck, thanks for being with me today. Chuck [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/T72GqDTPfW0/
Taking Finasteride and Multivitamin Together
Dr Rassman,
I take a 1 quarter proscar pill in the mornings at around 7:30am, then later on in the day either in mid morning or afternoon i will take a multivitamin tablet and vitamin E capsule, is that ok? And would there be any DDI if i take proscar and the multivitamins at the same [...]
I take a 1 quarter proscar pill in the mornings at around 7:30am, then later on in the day either in mid morning or afternoon i will take a multivitamin tablet and vitamin E capsule, is that ok? And would there be any DDI if i take proscar and the multivitamins at the same [...]
Source: http://www.baldingblog.com/2011/05/19/taking-finasteride-and-multivitamin-together/
Music to Our Ears: iFrogz Earbuds
EarPollution Metal Drumz
To me, shopping for headphones is like shopping for a pair of jeans. You may try on an array of different sizes, colors, and brands, but you get a really good feel for them after you?ve already bought them.
This is why I have a couple pairs of jeans that have only been worn a handful of times plus a drawer full of barely used headphones.
So when I came across the iFrogz EarPollution headphones I was eager yet apprehensive to try them. Most of the EarPollution headphones have earbuds surrounded by earpieces made of a squishy silicone material, as opposed to the Apple earbud, which is straight plastic. I?ve never been a fan of earbuds that go inside because I?m not too comfortable shoving things in my ears. However, I have friends who swear by these kinds of headphones for both sound quality and comfort.
So, putting all preconceptions aside, I opened my package of Metal Drumz headphones and plugged them into my iPod. Each set of headphones comes with three sizes of earpieces. The first one was too big, the next too small, and then the third was just right. Well, not perfect, but a good enough fit. It took some time to get comfortable with really pushing them inside my ears to keep them secure. Now that I?ve gotten the hang of it, I can run, walk, sit, stand, even do a cartwheel (in theory, mostly because I can?t do a cartwheel) without them coming loose. They are also great for noise cancellation. You literally can?t hear a thing. If you like to run in a noisy neighborhood or would rather your treadmill neighbor at the gym not know that you're jamming to Hall and Oates, these are the perfect choice.
The Metal Drumz (if you couldn?t tell by the name) are more geared towards the rock aficionado. The treble sound is great, but there is little to no bass. Regardless, the sound is clear and crisp. They are priced reasonably at $24.99 and can be found in a whole rainbow of colors at www.ifrogz.com.
Tess Salalac, What to Expect Production Editor
EarPollution Timbre with Mic
I have a love-hate relationship with my Apple products. For example, I love my iPhone but hate the earbuds it came with. Despite the cool built-in microphone that doubles as an instant song-skipping and phone-answering button, their poor fit always leaves my ears sore after a while, and the level of bass it produces is paltry compared to much cheaper sets I've bought in the past. To make matters worse, I can still hear outside noise through them, leaving me scratching my head over their sticker price while I crank up the volume to inadvisable levels.
So it came as a pleasant surprise when iFrogz' EarPollution Timbre earbuds landed on my desk a few weeks ago. Not only do these things have that fancy mic/button I enjoy so much, they fit comfortably and produce rich, deep bass. If I'm on a run or just sitting in the subway minding my own business, the only things I can hear are the carefully selected tunes flowing crisply into my ears. And since they're so effective at isolating noise, that means I can enjoy my at a much lower and safer volume. Eardrums saved.
While I was impressed by the sound output, I still needed to test out the mic, which is touted on the package as "high definition" -- really just a loosely defined buzzword more than a representation of the technology. But I'll bite. The mic worked perfectly well, and I came through loud and clear on a co-worker's phone as I talked into my Timbres.
If you're wondering about the name, Timbre is a clever double entendre for these 'buds. It doesn't just denote the superiority of the sound using nerdy music terminology -- the actual buds are wooden, a nice little throwback to the days when most music came pouring out through wooden cabinets in dens and basements instead of mobile devices with slick screens. In other words, these things are an essential hipster fashion piece.
Retailing at $49.99, they're worth the investment for better comfort and sound, especially compared to Apple's offering. They're still going strong after weeks of abuse.
Tyler Stewart, Everyday Health Production Editor
Source: http://www.everydayhealth.com/blogs/health-beauty-reviews/music-to-our-ears
High fat diet, tobacco cause cancer
About 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year worldwide, with one-third the cases related to tobacco use, one-third to diet, another large percentage to infection and the remaining to pollution, stress and other factors.
According to Lalit Kumar, professor of medical oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), three million cases of cancer globally are due to tobacco use alone, with lung cancer claiming half the victims.
A high fat content diet can lead to breast cancer. Women who do yoga or moderate exercise everyday have lower incidence of cancer as compared to women with sedentary lifestyles and high fat intake, Kumar said at a talk at the India International Centre Wednesday evening.
"A high fat diet also acts as a trigger for prostate cancer. Fried food and spicy food is linked to cancer of the esophagus. Preservatives in food and smoked food, which is eaten in some parts of northeast India, also act as triggers for cancer," he said, adding that high fat intake and low fibre intake can cause colon cancer.
Some fungal infections can lead to liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus has been proven to be the cause of cancer of the cervix. "But the good news is, a vaccine is available and in the next 20 years the incidence of cervical cancer will come down," he said.
According to Lalit Kumar, professor of medical oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), three million cases of cancer globally are due to tobacco use alone, with lung cancer claiming half the victims.
A high fat content diet can lead to breast cancer. Women who do yoga or moderate exercise everyday have lower incidence of cancer as compared to women with sedentary lifestyles and high fat intake, Kumar said at a talk at the India International Centre Wednesday evening.
"A high fat diet also acts as a trigger for prostate cancer. Fried food and spicy food is linked to cancer of the esophagus. Preservatives in food and smoked food, which is eaten in some parts of northeast India, also act as triggers for cancer," he said, adding that high fat intake and low fibre intake can cause colon cancer.Some fungal infections can lead to liver cancer, while the human papillomavirus has been proven to be the cause of cancer of the cervix. "But the good news is, a vaccine is available and in the next 20 years the incidence of cervical cancer will come down," he said.
Source: http://www.aboutthehealth.com/2010/08/high-fat-diet-tobacco-cause-cancer.html
Thursday 19 May 2011
HealthEdge COO Desrochers on ICD-10 (podcast)
ICD-10 is a health care coding scheme that increases the number of diagnosis and procedure codes by an order of magnitude, permitting much more granularity for payers and providers. In this podcast interview, HealthEdge COO Ray Desrochers describes ICD-10 and why it’s taking plans so long to implement, and explains why ICD-10 implementation is the [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HealthBusinessBlog/~3/_t2qqIe2eQE/
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
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