Cell Phones Carcinogenic. Who says? WHO says

Another negative study on cell phone use. This is getting serious.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/743673?sssdmh=dm1.691945&src=nl_newsalert

Cell Phone Use Can Cause Depression (insert sad emoticon)

I don't really like talking on the phone. Maybe that is a good thing... Check out this new study showing cell phone use is associated with depression, sleep disturbances, and stress!

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/738383?src=mp&spon=34

Remembering H1N1 - This little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home

Remember H1N1 aka the Swine Flu? That terrible virus that was going to sweep across the country like the Plague? What ever happened to it?

Well, H1N1 came and went like most viruses do. In fact, in August 2010, the World Health Organization declared the swine flu "pandemic" officially over. Whew! But I thought the swine flu was killing people left and right? It was spreading fast and the media was all over stories of deaths occurring as a result of H1N1. It turns out, the virus really wasn't that bad. Sure some people got sick, but even the experts agree(d) that H1N1 was/is a mild virus and mortality rates are very low. Most infections caused mild symptoms - runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, fever, coughing, and overall not feeling well -  and recovery was very fast. The majority of individuals who died as a result of swine flu infection had pre-existing conditions (congestive heart disease, suppressed immune systems, kidney disease). The death rate of H1N1 in the US is 0.02%. In other words, you have a greater chance of dying from a rare tropical disease or iron deficiency anemia than from the swine flu.

I also remember that there was an overwhelming urgency for a vaccine to stop the virus from spreading. Thankfully (insert sarcastic tone here), a vaccine was created. However, by the time the vaccines were available, the virus had fizzled out. Let em tell you how I feel about the swine flu vaccine. I hate it. It makes me very nervous. I do not like to be experimented on with new products. The vaccine is filled with several preservatives (mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum - to name a few) which I would not recommend injecting. In addition, there is a great deal of uncertainty as to whether or not the vaccine actually works. Just because you get the shot does not mean you will not get the swine flu. Also, some studies show that if you get the swine flu vaccine, you have an increased chance of getting the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu vaccine has not been shown to be any more effective than washing your hands. We have no idea how effective the H1N1 vaccine will be. I don't like it. I think this vaccine (and many others) are BIG business. Doctors have quotas that they are required to fill for most vaccines. However, 60% of doctors would not and do not get the flu shot. That should tell you something.

The best way to prevent infection: wash your hands, don't touch your face, get plenty of sleep, and don't overeat sugar. And watch out for that piggy that ate roast beef...he should have shared with the piggy that had none. Not nice piggy.

Gluten Free (not taste free) Pizza

Pizza is absolutely my favorite food. Growing up on the East Coast it was a staple in my diet. Friday night was pizza night. And during the Summer months, pizza was lunch...everyday! So when I found out I couldn't eat gluten (wheat) and cheese, my first thought was, "no pizza?" The year after I was diagnosed with food sensitivities, I continued to eat pizza. And I paid for it. Migraine headaches, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, vomiting...bad news bears.

For many years, I went without pizza (insert sad song here). Well, that's not entirely true. I ate "regular" pizza and umm, no need to go into further details about the outcome. I tried some gluten free pizza options, but to be honest, they tasted like cardboard. But that was years ago. The good news is that there are now several gluten free pizza options in the marketplace! For those of you with wheat intolerance, wheat allergies, or gluten sensitivity (celiac disease), one of the best resources out there is http://www.celiac.com/. Check out some gluten free pizza recipes by clicking here.

There are also several easy gluten free pizza crust products available to make your own pizza at home. Arrowhead Mills, Bob's Red Mill, and Namaste Foods are three great options.

So for all of you gluten intolerant pizza lovers out there, there's hope. Pizza does not need to be a distant memory. Nor does it have to taste like cardboard. Healthy, delicious options are available at the click of your mouse.

A Healthy Dose of Irony

Have you ever observed an event or a situation that just made you scratch your head, do a double take, or just laugh at the irony of it all? For example, I was on the treadmill at the gym the other morning working off the weekend (wait that is not the ironic part), when all of sudden this overwhelming smell of cigarette smoke fills my oxygen desiring lungs. I look to my left and on the treadmill next to me is an overweight, 60 something year-old man gasping for air and reeking of cigarette smoke. His trainer (a 20 something year old female - coincidence?) is making him walk for 10 minutes as a warm up. I guess the cigarette right before the workout was not enough of a warm up. I had to stop and move to a different treadmill, the smell literally was choking me. And I thought to myself, "what is the point of smoking right before a work out?" I just don't get it.

I remember there was a "anti-smoking" commercial on TV a few years ago that showed a woman smoking a cigarette through a hole in her neck. She had a tracheotomy as a result of throat cancer...and she still smoked.

Or how about the person who goes to the fast food restaurant and orders a double cheeseburger, large french fries, and a DIET soda? Like the extra sugar is the problem.

My father-in-law used to bring the dentist a bottle of Coca-Cola every time he went in for a checkup. That's funny.

Or how about the doctor whose family is sick...like mine is right now :( .

What are some ironic things you have seen/observed? I know you know of some. Post them in the comment section for our viewing pleasure. Make me laugh!

Breastfeeding Doesn't Suck

I read an article today in the LA Times stating that infants introduced to solid foods before 4 months of age had a six-fold increase in the odds of being obese at age 3. There are plenty of other obstacles in life that increase the risk of obesity. Introducing solid food too soon should not be one of them. So, I decided to write a short piece on why breastfeeding doesn't suck.

Numerous studies have shown the benefits of breastfeeding. Infants who are breast fed have a decreased risk of developing eczema, asthma, and allergies. Breastfeeding enhances immune function and infants who are breastfed have a decreased risk of illnesses and infections. But that's not all...Breastfed infants have been shown to have greater intelligence - higher IQ, greater cognitive development, and greater social development. They have better dental health, decreased risk of developing diabetes and a decreased risk of cancer. For all of you skeptics out there, click here to check out a website that has sources (from peer reviewed medical journals) for all of the above information.

Breastfeeding also has some benefits for mothers who breastfeed. Moms who breastfeed have a decreased risk of developing cancer (breast, ovarian, endometrial, uterine), better emotional health (less anxiety), and a decreased risk of developing osteoporosis.

So to all of you early food interventionists and anti-breastfeeding groupies out there, I have two words for you: SUCK IT !

Cholesterol is not Phat: Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) that is found in the membranes of all animal cells. Cholesterol is involved in the formation of cell membranes and also works as a building block for the synthesis of hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and cortisol. It is necessary for proper nerve function, assists in the digestion and absorption of dietary fats, and is an important component in the formation of fat soluble vitamins – Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin D, and Vitamin K.

Approximately 75% of our total body cholesterol is made by our liver and only about 25% is obtained from our diet (animal products such as eggs, dairy, meat, poultry, fish and shellfish). As our total body cholesterol level increases, our liver’s production of cholesterol decreases. The body compensates for dietary intake of cholesterol by lowering the amount that is synthesized. However, excessive dietary cholesterol and sugar intake (among other factors) causes this mechanism to fail and as a result, blood cholesterol rises to unhealthy levels.

The majority of individuals develop high cholesterol due to poor dietary and lifestyle habits. A high fat/high sugar/low fiber diet, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol and coffee consumption, and stress all contribute to increasing cholesterol levels. Diabetes and obesity also contribute to the development of elevated cholesterol and to the development of heart disease. High blood cholesterol levels are a significant risk factor not only for the development of heart disease, but also in the formation of gallstones, impotence, mental impairment, high blood pressure, and colon polyps.

The National Cholesterol Education Program considers total blood cholesterol levels below 200 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter) of blood to be normal. Individuals with cholesterol levels between 200-239 mg/dl are considered borderline high risk for heart disease, and those with levels greater than 240 mg/dl are at high risk for developing heart disease. Although levels of total cholesterol are important, today’s testing methods provide the opportunity to further breakdown cholesterol in assessing heart disease risk.

Cholesterol does not float freely in our blood stream. Rather, it is bound to specific proteins called lipoproteins. LDL, low-density lipoprotein, is often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, and carries cholesterol from the liver to the cells of the body. The desirable LDL level is considered to be less than 100mg/dl. Higher levels of LDL are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease because they promote plaque formation and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

HDL, high density lipoprotein, is often referred to as “good” cholesterol and carries cholesterol back from the cells to the liver for elimination via bile or to other tissues that use cholesterol to synthesize hormones. Increased levels of HDL correlate with decreased rates of atherosclerosis and plaque formation.

Cholesterol is problematic when increased levels of LDLs circulate in the blood to the point where HDLs are unable to sweep the excess back to the liver. Free radicals can oxidize the LDLs and cause damage to arterial walls. Plaque then accumulates in the arterial walls and later can become calcified (atherosclerosis), slowly obstructing the flow of blood. This can lead to rupturing of the arteries and/or clot formation. It is this process that leads to cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks and stroke.

There are several natural ways to optimize blood cholesterol levels. These include diet and lifestyle modifications as well as natural medicines. Many of these options not only lower LDL levels but can also increase HDL levels.

· Increase garlic and onion consumption.
· Remove empty and refined calories from the diet as much as possible. This includes simple sugars such as candy, cake, cookies, pasta, white bread, etc. Sugar is converted into fat if it is not used.
· Eat a good breakfast every day.
· Eliminate or drastically cut down on saturated and trans-fats. This includes fried foods, butter, margarine, and red meat.
· Fish oil – studies have shown the essential fatty acids in fish oil help to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
· Eliminate soft drinks (substitute 100% fruit juices)
· Incorporate flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, whole soybeans, and other vegetarian sources of omega-3 fatty acids into the diet
· Use brown rice instead of white rice and whole wheat bread instead of "enriched" white bread.
· Eliminate alcoholic beverages
· Drink plenty of water: 40-60 ounces a day.
· Get regular, moderate exercise. Brisk walking (35-40 minutes, 3-4 times/week) is a great low impact form of exercise
· Increase fiber. Goal = 35 grams of fiber per day. This includes foods such as whole oats (avoid instant oats), citrus fruits, beans, asparagus, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, green leafy vegetables, melons, peas, squash and sweet potatoes).
· Steam, bake, roast or boil vegetables instead of frying, sautéing, stir-frying.
· Season vegetables with herbs and spices, rather than with sauces, butter or margarine
· Use oil instead of shortening in baked products
· Choose the leanest cuts of meat (grass-fed and organic as opposed to grain-fed and conventionally raised).
· Trim all visible fat and skin from poultry and meat before cooking
· Limit eggs – especially egg yolk which is the area of the egg where the majority of cholesterol is contained
· Decrease stress. Managing stress effectively can improve overall health dramatically. Deep breathing exercises and journaling can help lower the impact of stress.
· Stop smoking
· Reduce coffee consumption (both regular and decaf). Avoid using half and half and other milk products in coffee as they contain saturated fat.
· Eliminate alcohol or drink only in moderation (1 drink/day for women, 2 drinks/day for men).
· Niacin has been shown to reduce levels of LDL and increase HDL levels thereby improving overall cholesterol levels
· Red Yeast Rice contains active ingredients that have been shown to lower cholesterol.