Woffling On

Prophetic Post?

2007-10-31T20:56:00.000+11:00

Well the title of my last post, way back in August, turned out to be not merely descriptive but downright prophetic!

It's not that I've forgotten you, dear little blog, it's just that I have become way too busy for any waffling. Sad, yes, but true.

Not to worry though, I shall return...

Poor Neglected Blog

2007-08-14T21:33:00.000+10:00

My goodness... and I thought some of my other websites were neglected! It appears that this little Blogger blog is something of a waif.

I guess it is just a measure of how busy life can become. Of course I wouldn't have it any other way. The best way to enjoy a good holiday is to spend the rest of your time really busy. I always really appreciate breaks away from the busy and sometimes hectic pace of my life. All pretty obvious really, isn't it?

During my long quiet time away from Woffling On I have managed to publish my latest book. It is called Safe Colon Cleansing Your Good Health Guide Volume 1. It comes as part of a two volume set. Volume 2 was written by my wife.

Don't be put off by the title. If you practice colon cleansing then you should definitely read these books. You may discover why your results are disappointing or fail to last. Most people who do colon cleansing, users and therapists alike, don't really understand what it's actually all about. Many people are ripped off due to their desperation and ignorance.

If you don't practice colon cleansing then the books are definitely for you! No, it's not what you think -- it's not just a shameless plug. The fact is, despite the limitations of the title, the books are actually about how to ensure complete inner cleansing and to establish a holistic healthy lifestyle.

Anyway, just go and check it out. You can find it at our Health Products Site or for a really good deal go to SafeColonCleansing.com and also collect the bonuses.

Naturally writing the book isn't the only distraction I have had, there have been many. One little project was to set up a new blog called Healthy Living on the Health Products Site. So to get some great free information for healthy living pull in the RSS feed you'll find there and read some of Dr Jenny Tylee's tips.

Ooo.. good. I just saw a notice flash on my screen saying that an email I have been looking out for is arriving. It's from an old and dear friend I haven't actually been in touch with for many years. Must go, I'm keen to read it. Hopefully I can get back to Woffling On soon.

Take care

Brilliant Online Help to QUIT Smoking

2007-05-14T21:38:00.000+10:00

OK, it's no secret, I hate smoking. It is a modern-day plague when it comes to health devastation. I recommend various approaches to people to help them quit and I treat people one-on one and in small groups to help free them from the disgusting vice. But the problem is far bigger than I can manage of course.

"Fine" you say "there are Quit programs in abundance, so what's new?"

Good question. Yes, there are plenty of Quit programs around. There are free programs and ones that cost from a few dollars to quite a lot of money. I believe that any sum of money is justified if it works and in the long run can save not just a fortune from literally going up in smoke, but also your health and maybe your life.

So to answer your question, what's new is a program offered by Growerz.com, an innovator in the self-help and personal development arena. Their Quit Smoking program is brilliant. It combines proven, effective principles from psychology with innovative use of computer and telecommunications technology.

The program provides motivating information and instruction along with daily support and reminders via email and SMS messages to reinforce your decision to Quit and to stay a non-smoker. I would recommend that you visit my Health Products Site (link in sidebar) to locate some general internal cleansing and specific lung cleansing products and then go and complete the Growerz.com Quit Smoking program.

The bottom line is that you stand to save a fortune, your health and maybe your life. You decide if that's worthwhile. But decide now, because time is of the essence.

Desperate abuse of the depressed...

2007-04-23T19:37:00.000+10:00

Can you believe the headlines: "New hope for people with therapy-resistant depression" they declare. Given the epidemic proportions of depression globally one can understand that the condition is topical and therefore newsworthy. Such a headline however, seems quite absurd.

The sub-headline in one news release by news-medical.net went on to claim: "A study at the University Clinics of Bonn and Cologne gives people with therapy-resistant depression reason for hope." Well I'm all for giving hope to the depressed and to those affected by the depressed but I cannot approve of such sensationalist reporting. The last thing depressed people need is to be given false hope that, on even gentle probing, turns out to be a let-down.

In that same article following the grand claims the very first sentence admits that "The doctors treated two men and a woman with what is known as deep brain stimulation." Can you believe that? Now I've seen plenty of claims to support the use of drugs and various procedures based on scant data but this reaches new lows.

Three people, just two men and a woman. Give me a break. That's not worth the neighbourhood newsletter, much less a prestigious medical journal. "Nevertheless, the results of the preliminary study are so sensational that they have now been published in the renowned journal Neuropsychopharmacology (doi: 10.1038/ sj.npp.1301408)" the article goes on to claim.

This damns the news media and possibly the professional journal, though it is unlikely the editor would agree that the findings were published because of their sensationalism. It is more likely because of the novelty of the procedure and the strength of the reported results.

The treatment itself is rather radical. It involves inserting electrode probes deep into the brain and wiring these to an electrical pulse generator implanted within the chest. This is called deep brain stimulation (DBS). Such major attention itself would likeley have some impact on the subjects and might well result in observations and reports of improved mood.

Interestingly. a little more reading reveals that in "the first few days of the DBS the symptoms of depression improved significantly in two of the three patients." What? Yes, only two of the three. One could have expected instant and complete cure in all three given the headlines.

The lead researcher is reported to have said: "Our follow-up experiments are showing even now that by no means every patient will respond to this therapy." Yes, this is reported in the same article.

It would appear that the media's need to secure attention in an increasingly competitive information landscape has resulted in a desperate bid to be noticed. In doing so the result amounts to little more than abuse of the depressed.

At this stage I consider DBS to be nothing more than experimentation. It may yield valuable data but I do not believe it represents the future in depression treatment. It resembles rather too much some of the abuses previously and currently metered out to the mentally ill.

Totally Missed March

2007-04-01T21:38:00.000+10:00

Wow, I seem to have totally missed March 2007. Oh wait... yep, it is still 2007. Just thought I'd make sure.

This will be one really lame post because I don't actually have anything to say. No, I'm not intentionally being either obtuse or boring. It's just a fact that I've been so busy I've barely been near the web and that is really busy.

I barely managed to get anything posted in February and I had expected to be a little more forthcoming in March but it slipped past unnoticed. Too bad, so sad, as they say. It's gone. It cannot be rerun or repeated other than, perhaps, on some puerile TV show that pretends to be creative by "going back in time" (oh... please... spare us!).

So this is it, we're now a part of April 2007. Well I hope it's a good month for me and for you.

Go and read The Health Gazette to become inspired to achieve real health and wellbeing. When you know how to do so healthfully, then go ahead and really enjoy life. Remember, your life is very largely just what you make it - so make the most of it!

Oh, I've Upgraded!

2007-02-27T10:06:00.000+11:00

Wow, how time flies when one is incredibly busy... Yes, I know, nothing new in that.

Something new however, is the engine behind this blog. No really... evidently it's all shiny and brand spankin' new. I breezed by my blog today and decided to log on and say "Hi!" (to me of course, I didn't realize You'd be here reading this LOL) and when I clicked on a link to take me inside I somehow was on my way to switching -- or 'upgrading' -- to the new Google version of Blogger.

So this is it. I haven't had any time to explore but there are plenty of links to encourage me to check out all the fancy new facilities. Maybe later.

Anyway, must fly, lots to do. Perhaps I can fill you in some time...

Be well

A Shy but Prickly Australian

2006-12-06T21:54:00.000+11:00

This shy Australian was encountered in Ben Boyd National Park on November 8th, 2006. The echidna, also known as a spiny anteater, is a burrowing monotreme mammal covered with spines and having a long snout and claws for hunting ants and termites. Echidnas are native to Australia.

Watch the video very carefully and try to notice the long curled claws on the hind legs. Not many photos show those.

For more short videos taken on my recent holiday on the far south coast of NSW, Australia see the collection I'm putting together at http://www.TheVideoSense.com/user/Peter/

Maybe it's time you took a holiday to Australia. Holidays are great for your health!

Many Doctors Agree: This is The Biggest Threat to Your Health

2006-12-06T11:56:00.000+11:00

Here is a useful video for everyone wanting to be informed about the background and operation of the CODEX threat to health and wellbeing. Don't dismiss this lightly. It should provoke thought and action.

So many changes...

2006-11-14T12:18:00.000+11:00

I know that paradox is part of life. After all, change is a constant. Or is that just an oxymoron?

Anyway, what I'm waffling on (I'm not sure it really qualifies as "woffling on") about is change. I have just returned from a two-week vacation at Merimbula, my favourite beachside getaway on the far south coast of New South Wales. What a great place. So hard to leave.

On return to the cyberworld at home however, I am surprised at the number of changes that "happened" during my absence. It seems everyone has upgraded software at once!

I'm no Luddite. I know all about change and generally cope with it very well. As well as the best anyway, whether that's particularly well in the grand scheme of things or not.

But somehow this past couple of weeks seems to have been chosen by quite a lot of developers as the bets time to implement their respective upgrades. Consequently, I have spent a solid day (that's one of my long days!) just upgrading software. What fun. Actually that's not sarcasm, it really wasn't too bad and I found some of the developments pretty interesting.

To be fair, some of the upgrades were from before my vacation. I had just been ignoring them. For instance Yahoo! mail could have been upgraded earlier. And I still have more to do, such as Blogger.

I will be browsing with added interest to evaluate new features in both Firefox (now up to version 2) and IE (now up to 7). So far I must say these look very good.

I also had to upgrade my AVG antivirus and other protection. Thank goodness for AVG. I am so glad to be rid of Norton AV and its suite of assorted resource-hogging bloatware. I've been happily free from Norton's dominance for well over a year now and it feels good.

It wasn't about change -- quite the reverse! -- but I also had to deal with hundreds of emails on return. In just two weeks I discovered a great way to deal with 90% of my mail. Step 1 is to ignore it completely. Going to Merimbula and avoiding internet cafes helps here. Step 2 is to scan for evidently critical, important or family and friends email and to deal with those. Step 3 is to simply delete the rest. That's the best part. Umm... you didn't send me mail did you?

Still, it's good to be home. It's so much easier to plan my next getaway from here right on the Net! Take care now.

Bottled Water with "Added Oxygen" - Drink for the Extra Gullible

2006-10-18T09:13:00.000+10:00

Some marketers are amazing. I've heard about selling ice to Eskimos and with increaing global warming perhaps there will be a lot more of that. But some processors are flogging bottled water with "added oxygen" and claiming that it can enhance performance! That's hysterical. I guess there really is one born every minute.

Richard Pechey, sales manager for the OGO oxygenated water brand claimed OGO's extra oxygen content was 35 times the level found in regular water. Pechey markets OGO claiming the “high infusion of oxygen means an extra boost of energy-giving O2”. I wonder where Pechey went to school. They must have had pretty special water there.

The OGO drink is made from natural spring water. It's a pity they then process the stuff. I don't know about adding value but they certainly add to the price. It has been selling in Australia, the UK and France and is soon to be available in America. It should sell especially well in the US -- after all, the Bush Administration proves every day that Americans will believe anything.

Pechey is reported to have said the oxygen content of OGO was “remarkably high” and that there was a lot of anecdotal and documentary evidence suggesting the water improved consumers' general sense of well-being. Of course if you tell people it is magic water a certain number will feel better anyway. After paying a high price people are inclined to feel something so they can justify the expense and not just feel foolish.

However, they really should feel foolish! The idea that drinking water containing extra oxygen could improve performance during exercise cannot be taken seriously, according to a review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine by professor Claude Piantadosi of Duke University.

There is more oxygen in a breath of fresh air than in a litre of most ‘hyperoxygenated' bottled waters, according to the review. Indeed, Piantadosi said evidence from several studies suggested only miniscule amounts of oxygen can be dissolved in drinking water compared with that required for exercise, and that no significant amount of oxygen was absorbed via the intestine. One reviewed study of 12 people found oxygenated water did not change blood oxygen levels any more than ordinary bottled water.

I can't wait for this to reach the people marketing high-oxygen releasing colon cleansing products! They have always greatly amused me with their ridiculous claims.

Smokers May Experience Greater HIV Infection Risk

2006-10-09T00:31:00.000+10:00

Smokers may be at greater risk of HIV infection than non-smokers, according to an article published research issued ahead of print in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections. Cigarette smoking has already been linked to a higher chance of contracting other infections generally, including those sexually transmitted.

Six studies assessed the association between cigarette smoking and becoming HIV positive. Five of them concluded that smokers ran a greater risk, varying from around 60% to more than tripling the risk. Ten further papers looked at the association between smoking and progression to AIDS and nine concluded that smokers were not at increased risk.

"The consistency of the findings is striking and represents a major strength of this review," comment the authors, adding: "while the studies vary in quality, they include reports of high quality investigations using large sample sizes."

Tobacco smoke may enhance vulnerability to infection by modifying the structure of the lungs and changing an array of immune system responses, including curbs on the production of antibodies and the activity of infection fighting white cells, the authors suggest. In my view, the immunosuppressive effects of smoking are not given sufficient attention in the anti-smoking world. Since smoking degrades protective linings of tissues it unavoidably increases infection risk.

There are almost 40 million people in the world living with HIV/AIDS, and the global death toll related to tobacco is expected to reach 8.4 million in 2020. The authors suggest that encouraging people to give up smoking is an essential public health measure and it may also contribute to the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS prevention programmes.

Quit Smoking Tips .. Go on, give 'em up ... and live

2006-09-14T10:55:00.000+10:00

Below is a list of tips and useful bits of information to help you stay focused as you decide to quit smoking and as you progress towards being nicotine-free.

1. Within two hours of your last cigarette there is no more nicotine in your blood.

2. 40% of 'slip ups', in trying to quit smoking, happen in the first three days.

3. Within six hours of quitting, your heartbeat slows down and your blood pressure drops a little.

4. It's important to want to quit and to be confidant that you can.

5. Set a quit date (choose a day when you won't be under too much pressure) and start preparing.

6. Think about when and why you smoke and plan ahead for difficult situations.

7. Deal with your cravings with the four Ds - Delay, Deep breathe, Drink water and Do something else.

8. Without nicotine your body absorbs more caffeine - so try to also cut back on tea and coffee if you drink these.

9. Ring a supportive friend if you are experiencing troubles associated with quitting and need encouragement - plan the possibility of these phone calls with your friend ahead of time.

10. Each craving lasts only a few minutes. Don't let this be the day that you blow it.

11. You'll be less short of breath and your staying power will improve.

12. You will be feeling and smelling fresher, your tastebuds will come alive and you'll enjoy your sense of smell as it returns.

13. Reward yourself with the money you've saved.

14. If you've slipped up and had a cigarette, that's ok - most people take three or four goes to finally quit. Start the process over again.

15. Quitting reduces the risk of heart disease, bronchitis, emphysema, stroke and asthma attacks, as well as many other health problems.

16. Change your routine so that you don't automatically reach for a cigarette out of habit.

17. At first, try to spend more time with your non-smoking friends.

18. Put your cigarette money in a jar and save it as a reward.

19. If you are feeling tense, take a walk, jog, visit the gym or listen to a relaxation tape.

20. Practice saying "No thanks, I don't smoke."

21. For snacks stick to healthy foods such as fresh fruit and bite-sized vegetable pieces.

22. Ask your family and friends to support you while you quit.

23. Find new activities and ways to use your increased energy.

24. Avoid stressful occasions where cigarettes will be available, particularly around alcohol.

25. When drinking, especially if you smoke when drinking alcohol, try to hold your drink in the other hand, to remind you that things are different and your cigarette hand is occupied.

26. If you are beginning to think that "just one wouldn't hurt", try a diversion like a walk or call a friend.

27. The most dangerous thought is "I'll just have one."

28. You may feel as though you have lost a friend, but really you have lost an enemy.

29. It is important to be clear about your reasons for quitting, as these will motivate you to persevere.

30. Remember that the sooner you quit, the sooner you'll feel the health and financial benefits.

It would be a good idea to read through that list a few times. Perhaps you could print it off and read it a couple of times a day when you need to boost your quitting-power. I didn't go 'over the top' or use gruesome shock tactics, like acquainting smokers with what's really going on in their body and why quitting is so vital to health. Plenty of places can provide that if you need it. If you smoke, then you need to quit. It's that plain and simple. Don't complicate the issue. Make it a Nike moment - Just Do it!

Assisting the body's natural cleansing as it begins to recover from smoking is an excellent idea and failing to do this probably accounts for a large number of relapses in smokers who try to quit a number of times before being successful. Some herbal protection from Echinacea or Garlic and extra vitamin C would be wise. Specific cleansing support is also an excellent idea.

Article Source: http://www.HealthArticleBank.com

Dr Jenny Tylee is an experienced health professional and educator. She owns Herb Health Guide and Health Products Site. Jenny is also a regular contributor to The Health Gazette ezine.

US Organic Milk Deception Under Fire

2006-08-11T11:00:00.000+10:00

One of the nation’s most aggressive organic watchdogs filed a formal legal complaint (linked at bottom) on August 10, 2006 against the country’s leading organic brand, Horizon, alleging a well-financed campaign to greenwash milk produced at factory farms that fail to meet USDA regulatory standards. The complaint and call for a thorough investigation was filed with the USDA’s Office of Compliance.

The crux of the controversy, which has smoldered within the organic industry for over six years, stems from a small handful of industrial-scale dairies, managing 2000-10,000 cows, that are allegedly producing milk in feedlot conditions without adequately grazing their cattle as required by law.

“These large factory farms, mostly operated in desert-like conditions in the arid West, have allegedly been doing more talking about pasturing their cows than the hard work required to truly produce organic milk,” said Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for The Cornucopia Institute, which filed a complaint. “What is even more repugnant to ethical farmers and consumers alike is that large corporations like Dean Foods, the world’s largest dairy concern with almost $11 billion in annual sales, are apparently trying to use their power to deceive loyal organic supporters,” Kastel added.

The current legal complaint alleges that Dean’s Idaho farm, now managing approximately 8000 head of cattle, has carefully created the “illusion” of pasturing, by putting their cows out on green fields “temporarily” for VIP visitors, but do not routinely offer pasture that has any feed value.

“I had the opportunity to visit, at the invitation of Dean Foods officers, their Idaho drylot dairy earlier this year,” said Kastel. “The majority of their cattle were in what they called their ‘winter housing,’ which amounted to a confinement feedlot. They did constantly rotate cattle, during my visit, out to what they referred to as ‘pasture’ but in actuality, it was just for show.”

The Wisconsin-based Cornucopia contends that the unusual pasture crop that they were offering their cows–mature oats, which had gone to seed and was about 2 1/2 feet tall–was not palatable or digestible by cattle and did not legally constitute pasture as defined by the federal regulations governing organic livestock production. “All the animals were doing was trampling down this tall crop and not consuming any nutrition. Instead, what they were really eating was highly refined feed from troughs in their feedlot, forcing them into a very high production and stressful existence,” Kastel lamented. Photographs of the Idaho farm can be viewed at Cornucopia’s web site.

The complaint also cited, as evidence, the fact that they were putting cattle out on to what they call pasture in conditions of extreme heat, well into the 90s, without affording livestock any access to water. “If this is what Horizon is doing, their management doesn’t cut it under any valid definition of managed grazing,” says Joel McNair, publisher of Graze, a magazine that reports on dairy grazing. “Humane farming standards and common sense dictate that cattle have access to shade and water if they are going to be spending more than a few minutes in very hot and sunny conditions. At best cattle will graze very little under such conditions. At worst they will die.”

In prior interviews with employees at Dean’s Idaho facility, their technique was referred to as a, “dog and pony show” to impress visitors. Through these interviews, Cornucopia staff learned that Whole Foods CEO, John Mackey, and upper management from the nation’s leading natural foods grocer, were exposed, on May 15, to the same kind of “illusionary” farming practices that Kastel experienced during his visit in late June. In addition, a number of journalists were given the same make believe pasture show earlier in June.

The Cornucopia Institute’s legal complaint also included allegations that proper pasturing was not occurring on the corporation’s other large farm on the eastern shore of Maryland. “We have received expert testimony from a number of current and former employees, and outside contractors, who have told us that pasture had been eliminated this year as a primary feed source,” stated Will Fantle, the Research Director for the Institute. “In addition to first-hand testimony, we received photographic evidence of all cattle in confinement when pasture conditions and weather were ideally suited for grazing.”

Along with requiring access to pasture, the federal organic regulations very specifically outline when cattle can be temporarily kept in confinement due to concerns about the animals’ health or environmental factors.

“Our customers expressed skepticism that they were not getting what they thought they were when they bought a Horizon product,” said Goldie Coughlan, a former member of the USDA’s National Organic Standards Board and Nutrition Education Manager at the country’s largest natural foods cooperative, PCC Natural Markets in Seattle. “They said they felt misled by the Company’s corporate spin because organic milk by definition should be from cows grazed on pastures.” She stated the co-op agreed with their 40,000 members and recently dropped all Horizon products in their eight stores.

With the pasture controversy growing too hot to handle, Horizon announced last December a number of modifications to their factory farms that would make them more acceptable in the eyes of the organic consumers. Officers of Dean Foods and Horizon officials have since been hopscotching the country by corporate jet in an attempt to stem the exodus of consumers and retailers from the brand. In addition to actions by retailers, the largest organic consumers group in the country, the Organic Consumers Association, called for a boycott of Horizon products earlier this year.

If that’s not enough bad news for the country’s largest marketer of organic dairy products, Dean was forced to face off with concerned investors at their annual shareholder meeting, and spent at least a third of the meeting time attempting to refute the concerns articulated by the consumer and farm advocacy groups.

“It is important for Dean Foods to recognize that the concerns of investors focusing on corporate responsibility are aligned with their customers in the organic marketplace,” stated Margaret Weber, Coordinator of Corporate Responsibility for the Adrian Dominican Sisters.

“We have a saying out in the country, ‘You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’,” said Kastel. “We had been in discussions with Dean Foods for months trying to help them understand that no matter how much they spend on attempting to greenwash their factory farms, that scale of production will never be ethically acceptable to organic consumers.” While the company does buy organic milk from three hundred small farmers, some estimates place the firm’s reliance on factory farm milk at nearly 50% of its total supply

The Cornucopia Institute stated that they still hold out hope that Dean Foods will shift their strategic direction, selling their holdings in corporate-owned factory-dairies, and shifting production, like the majority of their competitors, exclusively to family-scale dairy farms. We stand ready to assist them if they decide to make that change to their business model,” Kastel said in closing.

The Health Gazette reported on poor performance practices in this industry before. See this post.

A copy of the legal complaint filed with the USDA can be viewed at www.cornucopia.org/HorizonComplaint8-06.pdf.

Scientists Call for Improved Fat Contents Food Labeling

2006-08-08T10:56:00.000+10:00

Not all fats are bad. Let's be clear about this; we actually need to consume fats or oils to be healthy. Indeed, the essential vitamins D and K are fat soluble and while vitamin D can be manufactured within your skin given sufficient direct sunshine exposure and vitamin K can be manfactured within your bowel given the right number and types of intestinal microflora, we do generally rely on dietary sources and they should be consumed with fats and oils to facilitate their absorption.

However, not all fats are created equal, to say the least. When fats and oils break down in the digestive process and are absorbed into the bloodstream they circulate as what we call lipids. You have no doubt been exposed to the avalanche of health information explaining that there are "good fats" (low density lipoproteins - LDL) and "bad fats" (high desnsity lipoproteins - HDL) followed by the later avalanche explaining that actually both are needed but the correct or "optimum" ratio of LDL to HDL should be achieved.

You can be excused for finding this all rather confusing and for wondering: what next? That's a good question given all the information, misinformation, disagreements, debates and extraorinary marketing claims. Don't expect too much headway while pharmaceutical companies are making many billions from the confusion and "wooley" science that support them in pedalling their poisons called statins.

However, there is quite sound-looking evidence to suggest that we do need to ensure ample Omega-3 fatty acids and that we should maintain a good ratio between Omega-3 and Omega-6. We also know beyond any serious doubt that trans fats are pretty lethal and best avoided completely.

Given that some things about fats and oils are indeed well known and thoroughly documented, some scientists from Britain's prestigious Oxford University have proposed the use of food labels that should list all fats to help cut heart disease. This may be a good idea, but only if the right knowledge can also be provided.

It is imperative that people understand that not all fats and ois are bad. Recent research has demonstrated that essential fatty acids are essential for brain health and play a role in preventing diabetes.

Writing in this week's British Medical Journal (BMJ Vol. 333 p214), the Oxford experts argue that labeling products with their individual fats contents is vital in the fight to combat the UK's number one killer, cardiovascular disease. Being excessively heart focussed could send the wrong signals, just like dermatologists' obsession with avoiding sunshine has backfired badly, reducing people's levels of vitamin D and thereby increasing risk of cancer, and of death from cancer.

Actions to reduce consumption of trans fats will contribute to health improvements. Let's just hope that we get this message right. Of course, one other thing to consider is whether food labels work. Would more details about fat contents work or would actual warning labels be required? This could grow into an interesting debate in time.

Latest Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines

2006-08-04T10:20:00.000+10:00

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) MMWR Recommendations and Reports August 4, 2006 /55(RR11);1-94 provides comprehensive sexually transmitted diseases treatment guidelines for 2006. While the intended audience is the treatment community, there is plenty of straightforward (even quite basic) information of value for prevention (which in my view is always better than treatment).

Such information shoud be given as wide circulation as possible. Whatever information can contribute to prevention should be put to maximum use. I also consider it valuable and important for consumers to have access to the best-practice guidelines that should be followed by any health professional who may be providing services and recommending treatments.

The report is substantial. It is well laid out and can be skimmed to find relevant material. It can be easily accessed in full here: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5511a1.htm.

FDA Moves to Ensure Easier Access to Plan B

2006-08-03T16:30:00.000+10:00

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today it is proceeding to work with Duramed, a subsidiary of Barr Pharmaceuticals, to resolve the remaining policy issues associated with the marketing of Plan B as an over-the-counter option. The Agency and the Sponsor will discuss the Sponsor's proposed restricted distribution and risk management plan as part of the framework for potential approvability as a non-prescription product for women ages 18 and older.

FDA and the Sponsor have agreed to meet immediately to discuss the approvability of the Sponsor's amended application and the framework by which this medicine can be made available over-the-counter. The Agency hopes that as both sides are committed to working diligently through these issues, the process can be wrapped up in a matter of weeks.

Plan B is often referred to as emergency contraception or the "morning after pill." It contains an ingredient used in prescription birth control pills-only in the case of Plan B - each pill contains a higher dose and the product has a different dosing regimen. Like other birth control pills, Plan B is currently available to all women as a prescription drug.

In the letter to Duramed, the Agency communicated its plan to proceed working with the Sponsor in order to move Plan B from prescription only to over-the-counter status for woman ages 18 and older. The steps FDA has taken with respect to this application and the letter it issued to the Sponsor of Plan B today underscores FDA's commitment to public health and safety.

This decision is the result of a thoughtful and comprehensive scientific and public policy process undertaken by the Agency to resolve the novel and significant issues presented by the Sponsor's amended application. Foremost in the Agency's concerns is to establish a framework that strikes a balance between providing access to medicines considered safe and effective and ensuring the right policies are in place to promote their safe use. The Acting Commissioner, Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach, believes resolving this public health issue is an important step in moving the Agency's broad and critical agenda forward.

Essentially, it appears the FDA is seeking to fast track changing the accessibility to the so-called "moring after pill" from prescription only to over the counter. This will undoubtedly make the drug easier to obtain and is likely to substantially increase its use.

Report Recommends Beter Approach to Achieving Healthy Air

2006-08-02T14:41:00.000+10:00

Finally, some consideration has been given to setting and achieving (dare one hope, even implementing?) air quality standards. Ffesh air, free from pollutants, is a fundamental requirement for good health and wellbeing.

A new report from the National Academies' National Research Council illustrates a broader, more comprehensive approach the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency should use to evaluate changes to New Source Review, a part of the Clean Air Act that governs large, stationary sources of air pollution such as factories and power plants. Although the report's analysis focuses on the likely effects of EPA's 2002 and 2003 revisions to the rules – changes that have since, in large part, been struck down by federal courts – it can serve as a case study for how future revisions could be assessed, said the committee that wrote the report.

Under New Source Review, before a new facility can be built or an existing one modified, an applicant must obtain a permit by showing that the new plant or equipment will not disrupt progress toward attaining air quality standards in an area, or significantly worsen air pollution in a locale that already meets them. The applicant also must show that advanced emission-control devices will be added to the plant. In 2002 and 2003 EPA made changes to New Source Review that, among other things, expanded the range of modifications a facility can make without getting a permit.

The agency and other supporters predicted that the revisions would not result in significant changes in emissions and would give industry more flexibility to modernize plants and improve energy efficiency. Opponents maintained that the revisions would slow progress in cleaning the nation's air and thus damage human health. Because of the controversy, Congress asked the Research Council to estimate the revisions' effects.

It is impossible to quantify with certainty the changes' impact on emission levels, human health, or energy efficiency, because existing models have limitations and data so far are scarce, the Research Council's report says. A portion of the 2002 revisions was struck down by a court last year, and the remainder has gone into effect in only a few states. The 2003 revision, known as the Equipment Replacement Provision (ERP), has not been implemented because it was stayed by a court in 2004 and struck down earlier this year.

Modeling can provide some insights into the changes' likely effects, the report says. Its analysis estimates future national emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from coal-fired power plants under ERP and compares them with emissions levels that could be expected if pre-revision rules continued. The committee used the same model as EPA, but also added different assumptions to account for other possible scenarios of how aggressively New Source Review might be enforced, other relevant regulations, and varying economic and technological conditions.

For example, EPA's analysis had assumed that if pre-revision rules continued, plants would avoid making modifications that would trigger New Source Review requirements – resulting in older, higher-emitting equipment operating longer without repair. The new analysis, on the other hand, compares emissions under ERP with another scenario, one in which pre-revision rules are enforced more aggressively and lead to more replacements of deteriorating equipment.

For sulfur dioxide, ERP would be expected to result in a moderate decrease in emissions for the first six years or so, followed by a six-year period of little change. But after 12 years ERP would likely result in higher emissions, perhaps substantially so, compared with what would result if pre-revision rules continued – assuming aggressive implementation of the pre-revision rules would have required all power plants to add emission controls by that point. ERP also would be expected to cause an increase in emissions of nitrogen oxides – again, possibly substantial – under certain circumstances after the first few years.

But the difference in emissions between pre-revision and revised rules would be lessened, the committee said, if EPA implements its 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), a "cap-and-trade" program aimed at lowering emissions from power plants in Eastern and Midwestern states; such programs set limits on overall emissions in an area but allow individual plants to buy and sell pollution "allowances." With CAIR in place, differences in total sulfur dioxide emissions between pre-revision rules and ERP would be minor, the model suggests. CAIR would also probably moderate an expected increase in nitrogen oxide emissions caused by ERP and delay it for a dozen years, for the scenario in which all facilities would otherwise have added emission controls under the pre-revision rules.

Because current models shed little light on the expected effects of EPA's rule changes on particular plants and geographic locations and local populations with varying characteristics, no conclusions can be drawn about how the revisions would affect human health, the report says.

At a national level, the model analysis suggests that a cap-and-trade program with caps below those specified by CAIR would be a more cost-effective approach to lowering emissions than aggressive regulation under New Source Review; however, the committee's analysis was limited because it could not assess specific, local emission changes and their impact on public health.

Models must be improved to better account for how New Source Review and revisions to the rules affect individual plants' decisions about whether to install new equipment, the report says. And to assess health effects, future models will need to incorporate detailed meteorological information on the appropriate scale, such as regional or local.

Better data collection also is needed to aid future analyses of the revisions' effects after they are implemented, the committee added. EPA and state agencies should create and maintain a central database of permits issued under New Source Review, as well as minor permits issued by states, so that emissions from plants in states governed by the revised rules can be compared with those from plants operating under pre-revision rules. Data should also be collected on plants' investments in pollution-control equipment and programs, to allow investigators to study whether the rule changes lead plants to invest more or less in these improvements.

The report was sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The National Research Council is the principal operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering. It is a private, nonprofit institution that provides science advice under a congressional charter.

US Medication Errors Injure 1.5M People Annually and Cost Billions

2006-08-01T22:56:00.000+10:00

Sometimes it feels like I'm a lone voice crying in the wilderness, trying to persuade people to take responsibility for their health and to not fall for the seductive lies of the pharmaceutical-medical system. I regularly warn people of the many dangers within the so-called health care system (which I assert is quite misnamed). Of course, I realize I'm not really alone; several voices join mine in a chorus of warnings.

However, sometimes it is very affirming to have the heavy hitters provide supporting evidence in a very powerful way. Even though those same heavy hitters may remain totally deluded about the real natures of the pharmaceutical industry and medical system, they do at least recognize some of the serious threats that they pose. Consider the following for example, which comes from a highly prestigious and entirely credible source.

Medication errors are among the most common medical errors, harming at least 1.5 million people every year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies. The extra medical costs of treating drug-related injuries occurring in hospitals alone conservatively amount to $3.5 billion a year, and this estimate does not take into account lost wages and productivity or additional health care costs, the report says.

The committee that wrote the report recommended a series of actions for patients, health care organizations, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies. The recommendations include steps to increase communication and improve interactions between health care professionals and patients, as well as steps patients should take to protect themselves. The report also recommends the creation of new, consumer-friendly information resources through which patients can obtain objective, easy-to-understand drug information. In addition, it calls for all prescriptions to be written electronically by 2010 and suggests ways to improve the naming, labeling, and packaging of drugs to reduce confusion and prevent errors.

"The frequency of medication errors and preventable adverse drug events is cause for serious concern," said committee co-chair Linda R. Cronenwett, dean and professor, School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. "We need a comprehensive approach to reducing these errors that involves not just health care organizations and federal agencies, but the industry and consumers as well," she said. Co-chair J. Lyle Bootman, dean and professor, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, added, "Our recommendations boil down to ensuring that consumers are fully informed about how to take medications safely and achieve the desired results, and that health care providers have the tools and data necessary to prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs as safely as possible and to monitor for problems. The ultimate goal is to achieve the best care and outcomes for patients each time they take a medication."

Estimates of Rates and Costs

Medication errors encompass all mistakes involving prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements. Errors are common at every stage, from prescription and administration of a drug to monitoring of the patient's response, the committee found. It estimated that on average, there is at least one medication error per hospital patient per day, although error rates vary widely across facilities. Not all errors lead to injury or death, but the number of preventable injuries that do occur -- the committee estimated at least 1.5 million each year -- is sobering, the report says.

Studies indicate that 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries occur each year in hospitals. Another 800,000 occur in long-term care settings, and roughly 530,000 occur just among Medicare recipients in outpatient clinics. The committee noted that these are likely underestimates.

There is insufficient data to determine accurately all the costs associated with medication errors. The conservative estimate of 400,000 preventable drug-related injuries in hospitals will result in at least $3.5 billion in extra medical costs this year, the committee calculated. A study of outpatient clinics found that medication-related injuries there resulted in roughly $887 million in extra medical costs in 2000 -- and the study looked only at injuries experienced by Medicare recipients, a subset of clinic visitors. None of these figures take into account lost wages and productivity or other costs.

Improving the Patient-Provider Partnership

Establishing and maintaining strong partnerships between health care providers and patients is crucial to reducing medication errors, the report says. The committee called on consumers to be active partners in their medication care and on physicians, nurses, and pharmacists to know and act on patients' medical care rights.

The report recommends specific steps that physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other health professionals should take to ensure that their patients are fully informed about their drug regimens and to minimize opportunities for mistakes to occur. Health care organizations also should make it a standard procedure to inform patients about clinically significant medication errors made in their care, whether the mistakes lead to harm or not. Currently, health care providers typically do not inform the patient or the patient's guardians about errors unless injury or death results.

The report also provides consumers with a list of specific questions to ask health care providers, such as how to take their medications properly and what to do if side effects occur. Also included are actions consumers should take, such as requesting that their providers give them a printed record of the drugs they have been prescribed. Patients should maintain an up-to-date list of all medications they use -- including over-the-counter products and dietary supplements -- and share it with all their health care providers. This list should also note the reasons they are taking each product and any drug and food allergies they have.

New and Improved Drug Information Resources

Although consumers can find helpful drug information online or in the printed materials provided by pharmacies, this information often is too difficult for many people to understand, too scattered, or otherwise not consumer-friendly. The quality of the drug information leaflets that accompany prescriptions varies widely, and these printouts are typically written at a college reading level. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should work with other appropriate groups to standardize the text and design of medication leaflets to ensure that they are comprehensible and useful to all consumers.

The committee called on the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to be the chief agency responsible for online health resources for consumers; it should create a Web site to serve as a centralized source of comprehensive, objective, and easy-to-understand information about drugs for consumers. In addition, NLM should work with other groups to evaluate online health information and designate Web sites that provide reliable information. The committee also recommended that NLM, FDA, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services evaluate ways to build and fund a national network of telephone helplines to assist people who may not be able to access or understand printed medication information because of illiteracy, language barriers, or other obstacles. This telephone network should also enable consumers to report medication-related mistakes or problems.

Electronic Prescribing and Other IT Solutions

New computerized systems for prescribing drugs and other applications of information technology show promise for reducing the number of drug-related mistakes, the report says. Studies indicate that paper-based prescribing is associated with high error rates. Electronic prescribing is safer because it eliminates problems with handwriting legibility and, when combined with decision-support tools, automatically alerts prescribers to possible interactions, allergies, and other potential problems, the committee found. While it acknowledged that significant regulatory issues and problems with automated alerts still need to be worked out, the committee said that by 2008 all health care providers should have plans in place to write prescriptions electronically. By 2010 all providers should be using e-prescribing systems and all pharmacies should be able to receive prescriptions electronically. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) should take the lead in fostering improvements in IT systems used in ordering, administering, and monitoring drugs.

All health care provider groups should be actively monitoring their progress in improving medication safety, the committee recommended. Monitoring efforts might include computer systems that detect medication-related problems and periodic audits of prescriptions filled in community pharmacies.

Drug Naming, Labeling, and Packaging

Confusion caused by similar drug names accounts for up to 25 percent of all errors reported to the Medication Error Reporting Program operated cooperatively by U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP). In addition, labeling and packaging issues were cited as the cause of 33 percent of errors, including 30 percent of fatalities, reported to the program. Drug naming terms should be standardized as much as possible, and all companies should be required to use the standardized terms, the report urges. FDA, AHRQ, and the pharmaceutical industry should collaborate with USP, ISMP, and other appropriate organizations to develop a plan to address the problems associated with drug naming, labeling, and packaging by the end of 2007.

The report also recommends studies to evaluate the impact of free drug samples on overall medication safety. In general, there has been growing unease among health care providers and others about the way free samples are distributed and the resulting lack of documentation of medication use, as well as the bypassing of drug-interaction checks and counseling that are integral parts of the standard prescription process.

The study was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public.

In Conclusion

Of course, the safest route to take by far is to avoid the need for pharmaceuticals in the first place. No administration errors occur for people who do not consume medications. The vast majority of prescribed drugs are simply not necessary anyway.

Start your journey towards health, or ensure you maintain it, by establishing a healthy lifestyle. An approach based on internal cleansing is provided in my soon to be released boook available at SafeColonCleansing.com. It covers proper colon cleansing -- far more than typical colon cleansing approaches.

Don't Rely on High-Tech Medicine for Your Health

2006-07-08T11:19:00.000+10:00

Do you put your trust in modern medicine? Do you rely on their high-tech equipment -- part of the so-called "modern marvel"? If so, then you may be just too trusting for your own good. Did you know that official records reveal that every year tens of thoudands of people in the US alone are killed by mistakes in the medical system? That's just the official data, I can assure you the real figure is far higher. If that many people were killed by any other means there would be a massive public outcry. So, where is your voice when it matters?

Here are the two most recent failures in medical technical equipment. If these products had been used on you or on someone you love, too bad, it would just be a case of "oops, sorry... next please" as the system moved on.

Class 1 Medical Device Recalls - Welch Allyn PIC 50™ Automated External Defibrillators

Date Recall Initiated: June 30, 2006

Product: Welch Allyn PIC 50™ Automated External Defibrillators, catalog #97108X manufactured from March 2002 through October 2004.

Use: This device is an automated external defibrillator (AED) that is intended for use by emergency or medical personnel to monitor and treat patients with symptoms of cardiac dysfunction. The device monitors patient vital signs and delivers an electrical shock (defibrillation) to the heart if needed to restore normal heart rhythm.

Recalling Firm: MRL, Inc., A Welch Allyn Company

Reason for Recall: An electrical contact problem may result in the device’s failure to provide a defibrillation shock, which could result in delay or failure to resuscitate the patient. This failure may be accompanied by various error messages on the display panel, including the “Defib Comm” error message.

Public Contact: Consumers with questions may contact the company at (800) 462-0777 or (847) 520-0300 for more information.

FDA Comments: MRL, Inc sent Urgent Medical Device Recall letters dated 7/05/06 to its customers who purchased PIC 50™ AEDs, which contained a list of the affected units' parts/serial numbers and requested that customers inspect their PIC 50 units for the affected serial numbers and return the identified units for servicing.

The recall letters instructed customers to respond by fax or mail to the notification within 5 working days if the unit has displayed the “Defib Comm” error, and within 30 days if it has not displayed the “Defib Comm” error.

Within 10 days of receiving a response to the recall notice, MRL, Inc. will provide PIC 50 owners with a loaner PIC 50 while their unit is being serviced, with instructions on how to return their unit for correction.

Class I recalls are the most serious type of recall and involve situations in which there is a reasonable probability that use of the product will cause serious injury or death.

Updated July 7, 2006

And on just the day before...

Baxter Healthcare Corp. Signs Consent Decree with FDA; Agrees to Correct Manufacturing Deficiencies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced that Baxter Healthcare Corp. (Baxter) and two of its top corporate executives have signed a consent decree of condemnation and permanent injunction for certain infusion pumps made by the firm. They agreed to stop manufacturing and distributing within the United States all models of the Colleague Volumetric Infusion Pump (Colleague) and the Syndeo Patient Controlled Analgesic Syringe Pump (Syndeo) until they correct manufacturing deficiencies and until the devices are made in compliance with FDA's current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements and the Quality System (QS) regulation for devices.

Infusion pumps are electronic devices intended to control delivery of solutions and medications to patients. They are used in situations where medication must be administered intravenously or through other routes, in a continuous or intermittent manner, for a prolonged period of time.

"Infusion pumps deliver life-saving drugs and nutrition to thousands of critically ill patients. But if they don't work properly, patients are put at risk," said Daniel Schultz, M.D., director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. "Baxter has clearly had significant problems with some its infusion pumps. With this action today, Baxter has agreed to correct those problems. FDA's goal is to see that the necessary corrections are made, that the public health is protected and that users have access to safe and effective pumps."

Under the terms of the consent decree, signed by Baxter's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Robert L. Parkinson, Jr., and its Corporate Vice President and President of Medication Delivery Services, Peter J. Arduini, the company has agreed to take necessary measures to ensure compliance with the CGMP and QS requirements by all of its facilities that manufacture, process, pack, label, hold or distribute the Colleague and Syndeo Pumps. The decree also requires Baxter to retain an independent expert consultant to conduct inspections of its infusion pump facilities and certify to FDA that corrections have been made. FDA will continue to monitor these activities through its inspections.

Under the consent decree, FDA will allow the firm to continue to provide routine service maintenance, or to replace components, parts, or accessories for the Colleague and Syndeo Infusion Pumps that were already in the hands of customers before October 12, 2005. Baxter is also required to submit to FDA an acceptable detailed corrective action plan to bring the Colleague and Syndeo Infusion Pumps currently in use in the United States into compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act). The agency recently issued a Preliminary Public Health Notification dated April 28, 2006 with recommendations for users, titled "Important Safety Recommendations for Baxter's COLLEAGUE Infusion Pumps" (see http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/042806-baxter.html).

If corrective action under the decree is completed and Baxter has been allowed to resume manufacturing and distribution, the firm will hire an independent auditor to conduct audit inspections of its domestic infusion pump facilities at least once a year for at least four years. Results of these audit inspections will be reported directly to FDA. If Baxter fails to comply with any provision of the decree, or violates the Act or FDA regulations, FDA may order the firm to again stop manufacturing and distributing, recall the products or take other action.

The most recent FDA inspection of Baxter's Round Lake Facility, conducted on June 20-30, 2005, revealed deficiencies with the CGMP and QS requirements for devices, including the firm's failure to implement adequate management controls over its quality system operations and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA) procedures. During this inspection, design defects relating to the reliability of both the Colleague and the Syndeo Infusion Pumps were also revealed.

During the course of FDA's June inspection, Baxter initiated a voluntary world-wide hold on all Syndeo Infusion Pumps due to design defects that can cause the device to stop functioning. Also during the June inspection, Baxter initiated a voluntary world-wide hold on all Colleague Infusion Pumps due to a product design defect relating to a temperature sensitive component of the device's timing circuit, known as the Y2A crystal, which causes the timing circuit to fail.

Before the June 2005 inspection, FDA conducted two previous inspections of Baxter's medication delivery systems facility in Round Lake, Illinois, in September 2000 and June 2002, all of which revealed lack of management controls over the firm’s quality system operations and inadequacy of its CAPA and complaint handling systems. These deficiencies undermined Baxter's ability to assure the quality of the devices manufactured at its Singapore plant. In September 1999, FDA issued a Warning Letter to the firm addressing its lack of CAPA procedures. In August 2001, another Warning Letter was issued to Baxter addressing deficiencies in its CAPA procedures.

The consent decree also resolves the disposition of Colleague and Syndeo Infusion Pumps that were seized by the Department of Justice on behalf of FDA in October 2005. The consent decree was entered today by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Now if you find these alerts reassuring, as the FDA intends, then I have this to say to you: Wake Up!

Don't be lulled into complacency. Start thinking for yourself. Consider the fact that it takes time, reporting, investigation, multiple failure incidents, suffering and loss before the FDA decides to act on your behalf. From my observation, there is a tendency for the FDA to put some drug and equipment manufacturers ahead of your protection anyway. You are unwise to rely on the medical system. Start taking action to ensure your own health.

Americans Obsessed with Killing & Death

2006-07-08T10:20:00.000+10:00

As I said recently in The Health Gazette...

While every nation must face the tragic realities of homicides and suicides there is no doubt that the US has some serious issues to face in these areas. These data strongly suggest some significant problems in and affecting the American population. It may be helpful for bureaucrats to count the events and to nicely tabulate the data and to talk of dealing with it as part of the "public health agenda" but who are they kidding? This is a very serious problem and it is time, surely, for some serious self-examination, diagnoses and effective treatments. The following report is from the CDC.

I was referring to a recent report on homicide and suicide rates in the US released by the CDC. It begins like this.

Violent deaths claimed 49,639 lives in the United States during 2003, and the prevention of violent deaths is an integral part of the public health agenda (1). In 2003, CDC launched the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) to provide detailed information on the circumstances of violent deaths. The system can be used to develop and evaluate prevention policies, programs, and strategies at the national, state, and local levels (2). This report describes the analysis of violent deaths from seven states that participated in NVDRS in 2003, plus six additional states that participated in 2004.

Homicide circumstance information revealed that most victims knew the suspects involved and that intimate partner conflicts continued to be among the most important contributing factors. Suicide circumstance information indicated that mental health disorders and intimate partner problems had important roles. These findings underscore the value of NVDRS data for effective planning and targeting of violence-prevention programs.

The report goes on with the following remarks. Frankly, they just as worrying as the death rates. Why? Because they are so cold, dispassionate, bureaucratic, scientific. These people are talkin about homicides and suicides of staggering incidences yet they hide withing their emotionless world making it appear that something is being done. In truth, there is scant evidence that any initiative or program yet instituted has done any good at all in dealing with this dark side of the American psyche.

NVDRS is an active, state-based surveillance system that collects information on homicides, suicides, deaths of undetermined intent (i.e., those for which available information is insufficient to enable a medical or legal authority to make a distinction among unintentional injury, self-harm, or assault*), deaths from legal intervention (e.g., involving a person killed by an on-duty police officer), and unintentional firearm deaths. Seven states provided data in 2003 (Alaska, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia), and six additional states contributed in 2004 (Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin). NVDRS uses a multisource approach (i.e., death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement records, and crime laboratory data) for analysis of violent deaths.

Using information from all of these sources, data abstractors in each state assign a manner of death (i.e., suicide, homicide, unintentional firearm deaths, legal interventions, and undetermined deaths) to each case. NVDRS also collects the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code for underlying cause of death (UCOD), circumstances contributing to the death, and characteristics of the death, including victim-suspect relationship and victim toxicology results. The UCOD is categorized as suicide or homicide using standard definitions from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) (3--5).

You can read the report on the Health Gazette via the link above if you wish. Can someone please explain what this American obsession with killing and death is all about?

Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke

2006-07-03T09:58:00.000+10:00

The US Surgeon General's report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (1), was released on June 27, 2006. The report is an evaluation and synthesis of evidence regarding the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. An update of the 1986 report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Smoking, the report also adds information regarding secondhand smoke to the smoking and health database developed for the 2004 report, The Health Consequences of Smoking; the database is available at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco.

The six major conclusions of the latest report are as follows:

Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.
Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.

Copies of the full report (stock no. 017-024-01685-3) can be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15250-7954; via telephone, 866-512-1800; or at http://bookstore.gpo.gov. The full report, the executive summary, and the consumer-oriented publication, The Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke --- What It Means To You, also can be downloaded at http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco. Single, free copies of these three publications can be ordered at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/osh_pub_catalog.

FDA Agenda Bigger than Terrorist Threat

2006-07-01T10:35:00.000+10:00

June 30, 2006 is a day that will be long remembered as a dark milestone in the history of FDA and its campaign against health consumers. On June 30, an FDA "Final Rule" goes into effect, establishing a regulatory power grab of such scale and scope that it attempts to bypass all laws, the will of Congress and fundamental protections for consumers. This "Final Rule," which may as well be called a "Final Solution" for drug consumers, claims that consumers can no longer sue drug companies for the harm caused by any FDA-approved drug, even if the drug's manufacturer intentionally misled the FDA by hiding or fabricating clinical trial data.

In one blatantly illegal act, the FDA is attempting to pull off the greatest Big Pharma coup of all: The outright elimination of any responsibility whatsoever for the suffering and death caused by deadly pharmaceuticals.

In the preamble of the FDA's new "Final Rule" to take effect on June 30, the agency asserts that FDA approval of prescription drugs -- and their implied safety -- may no longer be second-guessed by consumers or organizations of any kind. The FDA's stamp of approval, the agency claims, is an absolute declaration of safety of all such drugs, for any use whatsoever, including off-label use (the use of drugs on health conditions that were never tested in clinical trials).

But such a position has no basis in law. During a June 6, 2006 hearing, a New Jersey state court judge Carol E. Higbee characterized the FDA's preamble as, "a political statement by the FDA" and explained that the ploy has, "...nothing to do with science. ...It is contrary to the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions. It is contrary to all the law on preemption. ... In addition to being contrary to the law of the land, it is also contrary to the Constitution of the United States."

The FDA is dangerous to America

That this outrageous assertion by the FDA would take place at a time when so many Americans are routinely killed by the harmful side effects of prescription drugs only contributes to the arrogance and absurdity of this rogue agency that has now become the No. 1 threat to the health and safety of the American people. Even a terrorist nuclear attack on a major U.S. city would not equal the number of Americans who have already been killed by the negligent actions of the FDA. Related article

FDA-approved prescription drugs injure 2.2 million and kill approximately 100,000 Americans each year, according to peer-reviewed published studies, and more realistic estimates put the number of deaths at over 200,000 people annually in the United States alone (see Death By Medicine for detailed statistics). Vioxx, according to senior FDA drug safety researcher Dr. David Graham, appears responsible for the deaths of over 60,000 Americans, and further deaths due to beta blockers, antidepressant drugs, statins and other medications continue to mount by the hour.

The resulting FDA body count of American casualties makes the casualties of war look small in comparison. The Vietnam War claimed the lives of approximately 50,000 Americans (plus many more Vietnamese), and a memorial in Washington D.C. honors those who died. But FDA-approved prescription drugs have killed well over a million Americans, yet no memorial will be built, no honors bestowed, and now the FDA would deny the families of those victims their legal right to fight for any sort of compensation.

It's not like these consumers were killed by enemy gunfire in a foreign land; they were killed by American companies, on American soil, with the full permission and approval of an American regulatory agency! The enemy from within is, indeed, far more dangerous than any foreign threat to the lives of American citizens. Not since World War II have so many Americans died from a single, common, preventable cause, and it almost seems that the FDA has declared war on the American people and is using chemical weapons to win that war.

The scourge of dangerous prescription drugs, combined with willful collusion at the FDA, has now created a chemical holocaust on U.S. soil that will continue to claim the lives of mothers, fathers, daughters and sons until the American people demand that justice be served and that the FDA / pharmaceutical industrial complex be dismantled and condemned through some modern-day equivalent of the Nuremberg Trials. How many millions more have to die from this chemical holocaust before this reign of medical terror is brought to an end?

The ramifications of the FDA's Final Rule

The FDA's new "Final Rule" would allow drug companies to operate with impunity, shouldering absolutely no responsibility for the harmful (even fatal) side effects of their prescription drugs, many of which we are now learning were only approved under highly suspicious circumstances that smack of fraud, corruption and outright criminal intent. Consumers harmed or killed by toxic prescription drugs -- even drugs that their manufacturers knew were extremely dangerous -- would have no recourse whatsoever.

If such a rule were to go unchallenged, the degree of profiteering by Big Pharma would be unprecedented. Free to charge monopoly prices thanks to the FDA-enforced domestic drug racket that outlaws international competition, and unburdened by the financial risk of lawsuits from consumers harmed by their drugs, Big Pharma would be emboldened to unleash a dystopian era of unprecedented disease mongering, bribery of doctors, false advertising and the mass drugging of children, adults and seniors alike... with absolutely nothing to hold them in check.

This result may, in fact, have been the intention all along. This "Final Rule" appears to be little more than a thinly-veiled attempt to establish wide-ranging authority where none exists by burying it in the language of a drug labeling rule. A more detailed legal criticism is offered by Karen Barth Menzies, an attorney at Baum Hedlund in Los Angeles:

On Wednesday, Jan.18, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration issued new regulations regarding the labeling of prescription drugs, including regulations aimed at providing doctors and patients with clearer information about the risks associated with prescription drugs. However, in the preamble to these new regulations, the FDA inserted conclusory and legally unsupported statements that tort lawsuits alleging a failure to warn of known or reasonably knowable safety risks are preempted by federal law. This attempted power-grab by the FDA wholly ignores the prerogative of Congress, contradicts both statutory and case law precedent, disregards the parallel but distinct roles played by FDA and tort liability law, fails to provide an avenue through which consumers may be compensated for drug-induced injury, neglects any federal replacement of applicable state policing and enforcement procedures, and shirks constitutionally established principles of federalism which protect the jurisdiction granted to states in matters involving public safety and health. By inserting preemption language into the Final Rule without an official consultation with state and local government groups concerning the preemption language, the FDA also violated Executive Order (E.O.)13132. (When an Executive department or agency proposes to act through adjudication or rule-making to preempt State law, the department or agency shall provide all affected States notice and an opportunity for appropriate participation in the proceedings. Exec. Order No. 13132, [[4(e), 64 Fed.Reg. 43255, 43257 (1999). According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the preemption language inserted into the preamble of the Final Rule is a thinly veiled attempt on the part of FDA to confer upon itself authority it does not have by statute and does not have by way of judicial ruling. The NCSL called FDA s action an abuse of agency process and a complete disregard for our dual system of government.

The fallout of the FDA's "Final Solution"

The ramifications of this "Final Rule" action by the FDA cannot be overstated. If this rule is allowed to stand, it represents the end of health justice, the end of the power of Congress, and the surrender of absolute power to an agency of such arrogance and evil that it has conducted armed raids on vitamin clinics, organized the raid of a church, and even ordered the destruction of recipe books it didn't want to see published. (Supporting documents are available for all of these statements).

The FDA, through its willful negligence, is indirectly responsible for the deaths of more Americans than all terrorists, murderers and drunk drivers combined. As the deaths continue to mount, and drug companies become even more aggressive with outlandish disease mongering and advertising efforts, the FDA rears up to unleash a new wave of corporate terrorism upon the American people by emboldening drug companies to care even less about the safety of their synthetic chemical products, most of which cause harm by their very nature of being foreign to the human body.

As Menzies explains:

Pharmaceutical industry lobbying efforts and zealot tort reformers have sired a new wave of brazen attempts to shield drug manufacturers from tort liability. The preemption language in the preamble to the Final Rule is but the latest attempt. Preemption has become the argument du jour and politically appointed regulatory officials the mouthpieces. The crafty messages sound of consumer protection, but are just the opposite. Limiting the liability of drug companies will not improve public safety. The FDA's purported position on preemption assumes that the FDA is infallible and that negligent misconduct by pharmaceutical companies should be the sole purview of FDA. Recent regulatory failures demonstrate that FDA is neither infallible nor does it have the capability of policing drug manufacturers negligent misconduct.

Want to see the real FDA at work? Read the story of Rezulin, and you'll be shocked to learn the truth about the real agenda that drives this rogue agency.

The end is near for the Big Pharma / FDA racket

Why would the FDA engage in such an obviously unlawful power grab? Because Big Pharma co-conspirators have realized that lawsuits threaten to bankrupt the drug companies. The products of these companies are so universally harmful, and their ability to hide this truth is slipping away so rapidly, that the financial burden of settling lawsuits (or defending them in court) threatens to crush the entire pharmaceutical empire.

Merck alone is defending itself against literally thousands of lawsuits from just one drug: Vioxx. As the truth emerges about the dangerous side effects from the long-term use of other widely-prescribed drugs, class action lawsuits will reach a momentum that will make the Big Tobacco settlements seem like a friendly game of Friday-night poker.

Truth be told, there is not enough money in the world to pay for all the pain, suffering and death that has already been caused by prescription drugs, and if drug companies are held responsible for even a small fraction of the patients their products have harmed and killed, they will rapidly fall from the most wealthy corporations in the world to the most bankrupt, both financially and morally.

And so the FDA is jumping in with one last, desperate attempt to cast a spell of immunity over all drug companies in order to preempt the coming flood of class action lawsuits. But even this effort will fail, as the truth about the dangers of prescription drugs can no longer be censored. Through a tidal wave of new books, documentaries and health websites, consumers are learning the shocking truth about Big Pharma and the FDA, and the beginning of the end of the age of chemical medicine is already under way.

Reading suggestions: The Truth About the Drug Companies by Marcia Angell, M.D., Psyched Out by Kelly Patricia O'Meara, or Death by Prescription by Ray Strand.

You see, the arrogance and greed of drug companies will ultimately be their downfall. They have pushed too hard, too far, and they have landed themselves in a realm of such obvious scientific fraud and criminal negligence that the backlash is inevitable. The rampant disease mongering, the mass drugging of schoolchildren with amphetamines, the false claims of drug ads, the bribery of doctors, the collusion at the FDA... it's all coming to the surface now, and by the time this house of cards comes tumbling down, the resulting criminal trials against drug company executives and FDA officials will make the Enron trials sound like a high school debate.

It is not only inevitable that drug company executives and FDA senior officials will do prison time for their crimes against humanity, it is important that they be loudly condemned via such punishments for knowingly defrauding, harming and ultimately killing countless Americans in exchange for one thing: Corporate profits.

American medicine is now the shame of the world, and the conduct of senior officials at the FDA is nothing less than criminal. There is now no greater threat to the health and safety of the American people than the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"As currently configured, the FDA is not able to adequately protect the American public. It's more interested in protecting the interests of industry. It views industry as its client, and the client is someone whose interest you represent."

- Dr. David Graham, senior drug safety researcher at the Food and Drug Administration, and Vioxx whistleblower

Source: http://www.NewsTarget.com/019497.html

Many Hospital Dangers Go Unnoticed

2006-06-30T10:21:00.001+10:00

An FDA Alert received a couple of days ago referred to a problem with a product supplied to hospitals for direct patient contact. I didn't mention it. Like so many alerts, I let it slip under the radar, so to speak. That may not really serve your best interests however, so I am raising the issue here.

The fact is, since the product's manufacturer doesn't supply to retail outlets and the product is far from glamorous, this Alert will probably pass beneath the radar of all media outlets. This is good news for the manufacturer but it does consumers a disservice. The product in question is a perineal care washcloth. The problem is quite serious -- it is contaminated with dangerous microorganisms.

The argument that it mainly poses a risk to people already weakened by sickness, especially if immunosuppressed (having lowered immune function and therefore less able to deal with infections) is far from reassuring. Why is that? It's because that is exactly the type of people found in hospitals!

So I ask you to read the press release below. You may be one of very few who do!

To be honest though, my point is not directly related to this particular product's problems. My point is that things such as this do happen quite frequently yet very few people actually find out. Even though the company covers itself with a press release, there is every liklihood that the problem will go unreported -- effectively unnoticed.

What is the problem with that? I suggest he problem is that people then live with a totally false sense of security, assuming that hospitals are safe places. The truth is, they are not. Modern hospitals are almost as dangerous today as were the hospitals of the pre-Crimeans war period. That's pretty bad.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Cary, IL -- June 23, 2006 -- Sage Products Inc., of Cary, Illinois, is initiating a voluntary recall of specific lots of Comfort Shield Perineal Care Washcloth product codes due to contamination with Burkholderia cepacia. See identified lots, below.

Code #	Lot #	Dates shipped
7403	1301	02/10/06 - 02/13/06
7403	1312	02/13/06 - 03/02/06
7403	1312	02/13/06 - 03/02/06
7403	1457	02/24/06 - 03/01/06
7403	1677	05/02/06 - 05/03/06
7408	1848	04/18/06
7503	1999	05/03/06 - 05/16/06
7524	2070	05/01/06 - 05/15/06
7524	2086	05/11/06 - 05/15/06
7905	1766	03/22/06 - 06/12/06
7503-M	1702	04/13/06
7503-M	1995	04/13/06 - 05/19/06

Burkholderia cepacia can cause serious infections including pneumonia and bacterial sepsis in immunocompromised persons, persons with cystic fibrosis (CF), in hospitalized patients in general as well as certain other patient groups. No other lots of Comfort Shield Perineal Care Washcloths from Sage Products are known to be affected by this recall.

The product was distributed to hospitals, medical centers and long-term care facilities in the U.S. and Canada. There was no known distribution through retail sales. Sage Products initiated this recall after receiving and investigating a Canadian complaint on lot 1457 of off odor. At the present time, Sage Products Inc has received no reports of patient injury. This voluntary recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration.

Customers who have the affected lots of these products should stop usage, sale and distribution, and should contact Sage Products to coordinate product return and replacement. Product is available for immediate replacement and no stock outage is anticipated. To arrange for product replacement, contact Customer Service at 1-800-323-2220. Return affected product only, to Sage Products Inc, 3909 Three Oaks Road, Cary, IL 60013, attention: Customer Service.

Many Hospital Dangers Go Unnoticed

2006-06-30T10:21:00.000+10:00

So I ask you to read the press release below. You may be one of very few who do!

Code #	Lot #	Dates shipped
7403	1301	02/10/06 - 02/13/06
7403	1312	02/13/06 - 03/02/06
7403	1312	02/13/06 - 03/02/06
7403	1457	02/24/06 - 03/01/06
7403	1677	05/02/06 - 05/03/06
7408	1848	04/18/06
7503	1999	05/03/06 - 05/16/06
7524	2070	05/01/06 - 05/15/06
7524	2086	05/11/06 - 05/15/06
7905	1766	03/22/06 - 06/12/06
7503-M	1702	04/13/06
7503-M	1995	04/13/06 - 05/19/06

Starbucks Acts Dishonorably - Commitment to Hormone Free Milk Trashed

2006-06-27T09:48:00.000+10:00

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is deeply disappointed that Starbucks continues to drag its heels on a five-year-old commitment to offer consumers an alternative to milk and dairy products derived from cows injected with Monsanto’s controversial recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH).

The genetically engineered hormone rBGH harms the health of dairy cows by increasing rates of udder infection in the name of increased milk production, threatens human health by increasing the levels of antibiotic residues in milk, thereby making it harder to treat human illness, and is linked to increased cancer rates.

Despite these alarmingly harmful effects on human and animal health, Starbucks has broken its promise as outlined in a letter sent to OCA in 2001 to offer hormone free milk upon request in all company owned stores by 2002. Not much has happened since the 2001 public relations ploy to portray the $6 billion dollar coffee giant as a champion of “…business practices that produce social, environmental and economic benefits for Starbucks communities globally.” Starbucks now supposedly offers rBGH-free organic milk and soymilk upon request (at 50 cents a cup extra), but does not publicize this fact to its customers, nor apparently even to many of its employees.

“Saturday’s leafleting outside my neighborhood Starbucks revealed shockingly how out of touch Starbucks employees are with social and environmental responsibility as it concerns their own customers when they attempted to give thoughtful feedback,” says Adam Eidinger, OCA’s Washington Representative who witnessed numerous customers storm out of the 16th and U Street, NW Starbucks angered that letters they signed outside where immediately thrown in the trash by Starbucks staff when they attempted to give them to the manager. The leafleting happened all last week against rBGH and was part of an action in two dozen cities nationwide organized by the non-profit Food and Water Watch.

OCA is reactivating its members to campaign against Starbucks as there has been progress in recent years by other brands which are now 100% rBGH free. Starbucks is seen as a potential force for change as a huge buyer of milk products. The company, which reported profits of nearly $500 million last year, could greatly expand the market for rBGH- free milk by shifting their demand away from hormones.

Ronnie Cummins, Executive Director of OCA says, “Starbucks could be a huge part of the solution by demanding rBGH- free milk from its suppliers. Yet, if you search Starbucks.com for ‘hormones’ or ‘rBGH’ they claim to be ‘unable to locate the information.’ Apparently no one at Starbucks has been reading the same information on rBGH that all 25 countries of the European Union, as well as Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have been reading, since these countries have all banned rBGH. It’s a bad joke that Starbucks claims to be committed to the environment when they sell this crap.”

Trans Fats Even Worse than Thought - Weight Gain Unrelated to Calories

2006-06-25T10:34:00.000+10:00

Abdominal obesity, also known as the 'apple' body shape, has been reported to be a major risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. New research, presented by Professor Lawrence Rudel from the Lipid Sciences Research Program at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, presented at last week's annual sessions of the American Diabetes Association in Washington DC, indicates that trans fatty acid intake may increase weight gain around the abdomin.

Furthermore, and quite significantly, a diet rich in these trans fatty acids leads to abdominal weight gain compared to a diet rich in monounsaturated fats, even when the calorie intake is equal. This finding means that trans fats, already widely acknowledged as very negative for health, are evn worse than previously thought.

In the research lasting over six years, male monkeys were fed a western-style diet formulated to provide eight percent of the calories from either trans fatty acids or monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) from olive oil. People who eat a lot of fried food probably have trans fatty acid intakes of about eight percent.

The amount of calories fed to the monkeys on both diets was equal and should have been adequate only to maintain weight and not increase it. However, the trans fatty acid-rich diet led to a 7.2 percent increase in body weight, while the MUFA diet led to an average weight gain of 1.8 percent.

The researchers used a computed tomography (CT) scan to investigate where in the body the extra weight was being gained. They found the trans fat diet was leading to weight gain around the abdomin. This finding is quite biologically significant. For example, in diabetes we know that just 5 percent weight loss makes an enormous difference.

Trace amounts of trans fats are found naturally, in dairy and meats, however the vast majority is formed during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil that converts the oil into semi-solids for a variety of food applications.

Trans-fatty acids are used by the food industry to extended shelf life and flavor stability. They have tended to displace natural solid fats and liquid oils in many areas of food processing. Disturbingly, this is in spite of established knowledge that trans fatty acids raise serum levels of LDL-cholesterol, reduce levels of HDL-cholesterol, can promote inflammation, can cause endothelial dysfunction, and influence other risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Since the introduction of new labeling laws in 2006, the FDA has stated that the amount of trans fat is required to be listed in the nutrition facts panel on all foods in the US, though this does not apply to foods consumed in restaurants, so if you eat out a lot you will be kept in the dark about much of the foods you consume.

There are effective ways to get off tobacco -- Use Them!

2006-06-22T09:01:00.000+10:00

It's good to see attention being paid to ways tobacco users can rid themselves of this scourge of their health. Make the most of evey avenue. If you are a smoker, QUIT!

Of the 44.5 million adult smokers in the United States, 70 percent want to quit and 40 percent make a serious quit attempt each year, but fewer than 5 percent succeed in any given year. Effective tobacco cessation interventions are available and could double or triple quit rates, but not enough smokers request or are being offered these interventions. Tobacco use is a major public health concern, and a national, coordinated strategy for tobacco control that casts a wide net is needed to address this critical gap.

This was a key finding of an NIH state-of-the-science panel convened this week to assess the available scientific evidence on tobacco use prevention, cessation, and control. Full text of the panel’s draft state-of-the-science statement is available at http://consensus.nih.gov, including the panel’s identification of promising directions for future research.

The panel found that smoking cessation interventions/treatments such as nicotine replacement therapy, telephone quitlines, and counseling were individually effective, and even more effective in combination. The panel also concluded that there is strong evidence to support the effectiveness of economic strategies such as increasing the cost of tobacco products through taxes and reducing out-of-pocket costs for effective cessation therapies.

“It’s important to recognize tobacco use as a serious, chronic health issue that requires sustained attention,” said David F. Ransohoff, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and chair of the conference panel. “Quitting is a struggle, but researchers have learned a lot about what works to help people quit smoking. We need to make sure that effective interventions reach the people who need them most.”

The panel found that one way to increase the use of effective treatments would be to better target interventions to address health disparities, recognizing that generic treatments are not appropriate for everyone. “To increase demand for treatments we must motivate smokers to want them, expect them, and use them,” added Ransohoff.

The panel emphasized that preventing initiation to tobacco use is essential to reducing tobacco-related illness and death. Initiation to tobacco use occurs primarily during adolescence, with almost all adult daily smokers trying cigarettes before age 18. In fact, over 20 percent of 12th graders have smoked in the prior 30 days. The panel found that programs aimed at preventing tobacco use in youth are most effective when they utilize multiple approaches such as mass media campaigns and price increases through taxes on tobacco products.

The panel concluded that smokeless tobacco products were of great concern for three reasons: 1) smokeless tobacco use is associated with numerous health risks, 2) there are limited data about the effect of smokeless tobacco on public health, and 3) new products and aggressive marketing may increase use of smokeless tobacco in the United States. The panel stressed that more research is needed to determine the overall effect of marketing and use of these products.

The 14-member panel included experts in the fields of medicine, general and pediatric psychiatry, addiction medicine, nursing, social work, population science, cancer prevention, minority health and health disparities, clinical study methodology, clinical epidemiology, and a public representative.

In addition to the material presented at the conference by speakers and the comments and concerns of conference participants presented during discussion periods, the panel considered pertinent research from the published literature and the results of a systematic review of the literature commissioned by the NIH Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR). The systematic review was prepared through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) program, by the RTI International-University of North Carolina Evidence-based Practice Center. The EPCs develop evidence reports and technology assessments based on rigorous, comprehensive syntheses and analyses of the scientific literature, emphasizing explicit and detailed documentation of methods, rationale, and assumptions. The evidence report on Tobacco Use: Prevention, Cessation, and Control is available at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/tobusetp.htm.

The panel’s statement is an independent report and is not a policy statement of the NIH or the federal government. The NIH Consensus Development Program, of which this conference is a part, was established in 1977 as a mechanism to judge controversial topics in medicine and public health in an unbiased, impartial manner. NIH has conducted 118 consensus development conferences, and 28 state-of-the-science (formerly “technology assessment”) conferences, addressing a wide range of issues.

Overweight Youth Face Bone & Muscle Risks

2006-06-07T11:38:00.000+10:00

Children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely than their normal weight counterparts to suffer bone fractures and have joint and muscle pains, according to a study conducted at the National Institutes of Health. The researchers also found that the overweight youth in the study were more likely than non-overweight youth to develop changes in the knee joint that make movement more difficult. The study appears in the June 2006 Pediatrics journal.

“Bone, muscle, and joint problems are particularly troubling in this age group,” said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., NIH Director. “If overweight youth fail to attain normal weight, they will likely experience an even greater incidence of these problems when they reach later life.”

A total of 355 black and white Washington, D.C. area children and adolescents took part in the study, explained the study’s senior author, Jack A. Yanovski, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Unit on Growth and Obesity at NIH’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Of these, 227 were classified as overweight and 128 as non-overweight. Upon entering the study, the children underwent a detailed physical examination and were questioned about whether they had experienced any joint, bone or muscle-related problems. Study participants were classified as overweight if they had a body mass index above the 95th percentile for their height and weight. Youth were classified as non-overweight if they had a body mass index above the 5th percentile and below the 95th percentile.

The study volunteers also provided answers to a questionnaire designed to gauge the impact their weight had on their quality of life, ranking on a 5-point scale whether statements about impaired mobility applied to them. Such statements included: “I have trouble using stairs,” “I feel clumsy or awkward,” and “I have trouble getting up from chairs.”

The study authors also used a technique known as Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DXA) to detect any effects of overweight on the feet, ankles and knees.

The researchers found that the overweight youth were more likely to experience bone fractures and muscle and joint pain than were the non-overweight group. The most common self-reported joint complaint was knee pain, with 21.4 percent of overweight youth reporting knee pain and 16.7 percent of non-overweight youth reporting knee pain. The overweight youth were also more likely to report impaired mobility than the non-overweight youth. DXA scans showed that overweight youth were more likely to experience changes in how the bones of the thigh and leg meet at their knees, than were non-overweight youth.

In the article, Dr. Yanovski and his coworkers noted that while overweight children and adults have a greater bone density than their non-overweight counterparts, this greater density did not protect the youth in the study from bone fractures. The researchers cited other studies which concluded that being overweight means that an overweight boy is likely to fall with greater force than a non-overweight boy, and so is more likely to suffer a fracture. Moreover, they wrote, other studies have suggested that overweight boys have poorer balance than non-overweight boys, and so are more likely to fall.

“Efforts should be made to encourage health care providers’ recognition of the orthopedic complications of excess weight so that interventions can be initiated,” the study authors wrote. “Finally, significantly overweight children and adolescents should be encouraged to engage in alternative modes of physical activity, such as bicycle riding or swimming, that could alleviate the severity of lower extremity joint loading and discomfort.”

In addition to researchers at the NICHD, researchers from the NIH Clinical Center also took part in the study.

The NIH has developed a variety of on-line materials to help young people make healthy choices regarding diet and exercise. A new NIH curriculum, Media Smart Youth, seeks to prevent youth overweight by helping youth evaluate the messages they see in the media and by making informed choices regarding diet and exercise. The Media Smart Youth materials are available at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/msy.

The NIH We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) Program provides parents, caregivers and community organizations with practical tools to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight. Tips, fun activities, and curricula for parents and youth, including Media Smart Youth, focus on three critical behaviors: improved food choices, increased physical activity and reduced screen time. The We Can! Materials are available at http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov or by calling toll-free 1-866-35-WECAN.

Free Booklets on Alzheimers Disease & Memory Loss

2006-06-02T17:53:00.000+10:00

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, now offers two free booklets designed to help people with limited literacy skills learn about Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and memory loss. In these easy-to-read booklets, the medical and technical language has been replaced by plain language, stories, photographs, and other features to help readers understand the content.

“Our goal was to produce strong, clear materials to make information about AD and memory loss accessible to everyone, including those with limited literacy skills,” says Richard J. Hodes, M.D., director of the NIA. “These booklets also are excellent starting points for anyone who needs basic information about AD and memory problems, regardless of reading capability.” They are valuable additions to the comprehensive collection of health education materials available from NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center, adds Hodes.

In addition to local field testing, education experts at NIA-funded Alzheimer’s Disease Centers arranged a series of interviews with caregivers and people with AD to gather feedback about the booklets. “We carefully tested each booklet for overall appeal, format, graphic elements, comprehension, cultural appropriateness, and “self-efficacy” (a measure of understanding the importance of taking action if signs of AD or serious memory loss are seen), says Patricia D. Lynch, M.S., project officer of the ADEAR Center. “The testing yielded excellent feedback that we used to refine the booklets,” explains Wendy Mettger, M.A., the plain language expert who developed the booklets.

Understanding Memory Loss covers topics such as:

differences between mild forgetfulness and serious memory problems
causes of memory problems and how they can be treated
what a person should do when worried about memory
how family members can help

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease includes:

signs of AD
the importance of seeing a doctor early
treatment for AD
help for caregivers

To order copies or for more information about these booklets, visit the ADEAR Center Web site at www.alzheimers.nia.nih.gov, or call 1-800-438-4380. Bulk orders are welcome.

The ADEAR Center provides information to the public and health professionals about AD and age-related cognitive change and offers a variety of publications, as well as information about clinical trials. The NIA is the lead federal agency conducting and supporting basic, biomedical, and behavioral and social research on aging and the special needs and problems of older people.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

Cambridge Scientists Link Some Food Advertising to Obesity

2006-06-01T21:17:00.000+10:00

A new study by Cambridge scientists, published in the Journal of Neuroscience (Vol. 26, pp. 5160-5166), found the reward centres of some peoples' brains are more sensitive to appetising food cues. This may help explain compulsive eating disorders and raises questions about claims that food advertising does not affect consumption, merely brand choice..

"The fact that our study used pictures of food has additional pertinence to understanding the current high prevalence of these [compulsive-eating] disorders, because such images are widely used in modern society to promote food selection and intake (eg., advertising, product packaging, vending machines," wrote lead author John Beaver at the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit.

The scientists used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity in regions of the brain previously linked to responding to food cues ventral striatum, amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, ventral pallidum and the midbrain regions. They showed all the volunteers a series of pictures of foods classified as highly appetising like chocolate cake and ice cream sundaes, bland like uncooked rice and potatoes, disgusting like rotten meat and mouldy brean, and non-food objects like a videocassette or an iron.

The volunteers were asked to rate the degree of stimulation to each food stimulus on a scale of one to seven, which indicated the extent the image was disgusting, pleasant, or arousing.

"As predicted, we found that individual differences in trait reward drive [the tendency to pursue the reward] were strongly correlated with activation to pictures of appetising foods in a neural network," wrote Beaver.

The average disgusting rating for appetising food was 1.26, compared to disgusting food, which had a disgusting rating of 4.38. Conversely, the pleasant rating for appetising food was 4.75, while disgusting food had a pleasant rating of 1.46.

"Our study is the first to bridge the gap between these important areas of research, providing insight into the neural mechanisms underlying appetite and the aetiology of eating disorders characterised by excessive intake of food," concluded the researchers.

Given that according to latest statistics from the WHO and the International Obesity Task Force over 300 million adults worldwide are obese, the greater our understanding, the better are our chances of combatting the problem. Perhaps those people who sued a popular fast food corporation were more justified than some realized.

Part of the problem of obesity may be related to the ready availability and advertising of certain foods. However, I believe that the other side of the coin, so to speak, is worth mentioning. There is a significant lack of equally readily available healthy food and very little information promoting it. People who follow my recommended healthy lifestyle, based on a cleansing diet which is nutritious and delicious, never need worry about being overweight or obese. Details will be available in my soon to be released book on internal cleansing.

Choose Respect National Initiative

2006-05-24T17:19:00.000+10:00

During May 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is launching Choose Respect, a US national initiative designed to prevent dating violence and encourage persons aged 11--14 years to have healthy, respectful relationships. Findings from the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that approximately one in 11 high school students reported being victims of physical dating violence during the 12 months preceding the survey, equating to nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide (1). Those victimized by a dating partner were more likely to engage in episodic heavy drinking, suicide attempts, physical fighting, and current sexual activity (1).

Dating violence in adolescents also has been linked to lifelong patterns of violence that carry over into other relationships (2). Healthy relationship skills can have a beneficial effect on the ability of adolescents to prevent dating violence (2).

Choose Respect encourages the early development of healthy attitudes, behaviors, and skills (e.g., negotiation or compromise) to help youth interact positively and treat others with respect. The initiative tools are designed to complement other community prevention strategies to change social norms and encourage healthy relationships. Additional information is available at http://www.chooserespect.org/.

Throughout summer 2006, CDC will work with community agencies in 10 cities to create awareness of the initiative's themes and resources among youths aged 11--14 years. In each city, activities and materials, including online games, videos, posters, and public service announcements, will be used to increase awareness of the importance of respecting friends and peers and to teach skills that help form healthy relationships.

References

CDC. Physical dating violence among high school students---United States, 2003. MMWR 2006;55:532--5.
Wekerle C, Wolfe DA. Dating violence in mid-adolescence: theory, significance, and emerging prevention initiatives. Clin Psychol Rev 1999;19:435--56.

Celiacs: Beware of FDA's Latest Errors on Barley

2006-05-22T11:58:00.000+10:00

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has again fallen far short of public expectations. It has released the final and full report regarding "Qualified Health Claims Associating Barley Products with Reduction of Risk of Coronary Heart Disease." As far as it goes it is the usual fare of bureaucratic discourse that effectively serves the marketing needs of the manufacturers who requested the approvals for health claims relating to barley products.

The barley manufacturers will doubtless be thoroughly delighted. The FDA delivered exactly what they sought. Good for them, not so good for consumers though. Why? Well, let's just see what the FDA has said first and the consider that question.

The Food and Drug Administration announced that it has finalized a rule that allows foods containing whole grain barley to claim that they reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. Specifically, whole barley and dry milled barley products such as flakes, grits, flour, meal and barley meal, which provide at least 0.75 grams of soluble fiber per serving, may bear the following claim:

"Soluble fiber from foods such as [name of food], as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease. A serving of [name of food] supplies [x] grams of the soluble fiber necessary per day to have this effect."

Coronary heart disease claims nearly half a million lives a year. High total cholesterol levels and high levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are known to increase one's risk for heart disease, so consumers are encouraged to keep these levels as low as possible. Scientific evidence indicates that including barley in a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering LDL and total cholesterol levels.

"FDA is pursuing new initiatives to help consumers improve the choices they have for healthy and nutritious diets," said FDA Deputy Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. "We firmly believe that one of the best ways to encourage healthier eating habits is to help consumers get truthful, up-to-date, science-based information about food products so that they can make choices that are based on a better understanding of the health consequences of their diets."

FDA began allowing the claim in December 2005 under an interim final rule, while at the same time accepting public comments on the rule for 75 days. During this time no comments were received that warranted changes to the interim final rule.

Yes, that's a great shame. Comments should certainly have been submitted. I completely missed the opportunity as I somehow was completely unaware of the request for comments? How about you, did you know about this issue? Well, anyway, let's answer my question from above. Why is this bad news for consumers?

There are a few reasons actually. Let's just keep them brief. They are:

Dr Gottlieb is using standard rhetorric when he uses phrases such as "truthful, up-to-date, science-based information about food products" because the statements the FDA makes are always colored by multiple forces endemic to FDA and even wider Americam culture that render such comments mere make-believe. These include commercial and economic interests and political realities which operate at multiple levels.
The claims perpetuate an approach to food that is fundamentally flawed. It encourages the continuing consumption of highly refined and manufactured foods whch undermines health. Whole foods are much better for health and wellbeing. Highly refined flours, from whatever grain, didturb the digestion, toxify the body and tend to have a higher glycemic index, contributing to development of diabetes.
The claims, however qualified, make consumption of barley containing products appear to be healthy to the average consumer. This enhanced health credibility is precisely what the manufacturers want and the FDA has delivered but narrow and selective reviews of questionable "science" relating barley to heart disease makes no reference to the other diseases that the products will worsen, such as bowel cancer, diabetes, and importantly, food sensitivities and worse (see next point).
Very importantly, this favorable review and endorsement by an FDA with tunnel vision completely ignores the substantial number of peoplle with celiac disease. All celiacs must avoid wheat, rye, oats and barley as these grains contain the gluten that damages their small intestines. Every single product containing barley, now endorsed as healthy by the FDA, is dangerous to people with celiac disease.

In my view the FDA's endorsement of barley is little more than a commercially contrived marketing device. More people will become more diseased thanks to their efforts.

If you would like to read the full transcript of the FDA's Interim final rule online, it is available at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/fr051223.html

Help With Detecting Caffeine

2006-05-18T23:17:00.000+10:00

Chemists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis are developing a quick, "dipstick" test they say could represent the first home testing kit to detect caffeine. Interest in detecting this common stimulant is high and growing as consumers increasingly try to avoid caffeine due to its unwanted health effects.

Caffeine is a common cause of insomnia, irritability and anxiety disorders and contributes to several known diseases. Several studies have linked caffeine consumption with a higher risk of miscarriage among pregnant women prompting the US Food and Drug Administration to specifically advise that pregnant women avoid or limit their intake of caffeine.

The test may lead to a reduction in demand for products containing caffeine and that can only benefit health. I have previously criticized people who promote increased caffeine consumption or support those who do. A search on The Health Gazette site will reveal several articles on the theme because caffeine is a widely abused drug that too many people know very little about.

To develop the new immunoassay test, lead developer Ladenson, a chemist at the university, and his associates, obtained an antibody derived from the blood of llamas. The researchers obtained the antibodies by repeatedly injecting the animals with caffeine to illicit an immune response to the drug. They then cloned the caffeine-specific antibody and combined it with other chemicals to enable caffeine detection. The study will appear in the 1 June edition of the American Chemical Societys Analytical Chemistry.

Caffeine is placed in many products that people don't normally assume contain the substance. The amount found in coffee labeled as decaffeinated can actually be quite high. Having a reliable, quick indicator could prove very important for many people, especially those who are very sensitive to caffeine and those with problems such as anxiety, where caffiene avoidance is particularly beneficial.

Existing methods of caffeine detection are slow, unsuited to consumer use and expensive. The new test solves all these problems. It indicates qualitatively whether or not caffeine is present, but does not quantify the amount. For those who wish to avoid caffeine, that's certainly what is needed.

Obesity and Smoking a Double Whammy

2006-05-18T11:30:00.000+10:00

According to new research from the American Legacy Foundation as many as nine million adults in the United States are affected by both obesity and smoking, two of the nation's top public health epidemics. Indeed, these problems face all Western nations.

The research also suggests that though this figure might appear low compared to the millions of Americans affected by smoking and obesity independently, smoking and obesity in combination greatly impact America's most disadvantaged populations i.e. those who are the least educated and those in the lowest income bracket.

The research shows that more than 2.3 million Americans with income levels of less than $20,000 both smoke and are obese. It is widely acknowledged that smoking and obesity are two of the major causes of death and illness in the Unites States, but until now the overlap between the two conditions has never been measured.

The American Legacy Foundation examined data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey.The foundation which focuses on helping smokers who want to quit and preventing youth from starting to smoke wanted to estimate the number of adults in the U.S. who both smoke and are obese.

According to the report 81 million Americans were smokers, obese, or both in 2000, and an estimated nine million Americans were obese and smoked.

The two conditions, independently, are particularly high among people from lower socio-economic levels and it is of concern that those who are affected by both smoking and obesity, also come from disadvantaged populations, those with lower income (2.3 million) as well as African Americans (1.6 million).

According to recent figures over 400,000 Americans die each year from tobacco- related illness, including cancers, heart disease and stroke; overweight and obese individuals are at increased risk for many of those same diseases and health conditions.

The American Legacy Foundation says these factors pose a public health problem and demonstrate the dire need for resources, from quit smoking clinics, to consumer call lines, to effective education campaigns, to be made available for anyone who wants to quit smoking.

The report is available online at http://bmj.bmjjournals.com and will be published in the British Medical Journal in it's June edition.

Smoking and obesity are both killers. They each cause considerable morbidity and mortality. But before we make these labels out to be monsters let's remember this: they are both self-inflicted harms. They represent repeated choices and behavioral patterns.

Yes, there is a need for better health education, particularly amongst the less educated. However, I regularly observe plenty of quite sufficiently educated people who smoke and who are obese or at least overweight. The risks to their health are extremely high but the reality is they must accept responsibility for the state they are in and the consequences that will inexorably follow.

The truth is such people often are quite comfortable with the suggestion that they have some sort of disease. Increasingly people are justifying obesity by calling it a disease, as if it is something one passively catches rather than a condition one must actively work at developing. Smokers too, like to be let off or excuse themselves for their behavior by claims they are "addicted," as if this means they can't help smoking.

But this is nonsense. Such significant self-inflicted harm should perhaps be called what it is. If it is any type of disease, it is mental illness.

If you are a smoker I have one word for you: stop. If you are obese or overweight then take action to reduce your weight and improve your health. The method for losing weight is astonishingly easy and very inexpensive and does not require enriching the largely fraudulant multi-billion dollar "weight loss" industry. What you do need however, is motivation. If you don't have that then perhaps you do genuinely need to seek psychological help.

Weightloss is addressed almost as an aside in my soon-to-be-released book. Losing weight simply isn't the near impossibility that people have been mislead into believing it to be. The so-called weightloss industry has a vested interest in people continuing or repeatedly needing their services and products and that is clearly how things seem to work out. But if you are genuinely motivated to lose weight and significantly improve your health and wellbeing, I can certainly show you how. If you lack the motivation and willingness to accept responsibility I can still show you, but it would be a waste of time wouldn't it. It's your call.

Eat Less -- Age Less

2006-05-17T11:10:00.000+10:00

When nutrition is discussed as a means of slowing, stopping or reversing the aging processes the talk is usually about the foods and supplements to consume and the anti-nutrients to avoid. These things are certainly important. However, a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) identified not eating as significant in reducing the indicators of aging.

The study (JAMA 2006;295:1539–48) on calorie restriction in humans was not large and confined itself to already overweight adults. Forty-eight individuals were randomly divided into four groups, each assigned to a diet for six months: a normal weight-maintenance diet; a diet with 25% fewer calories than needed to maintain weight; a diet with 12.5% fewer calories than needed to maintain weight, plus a 12.5% increase in energy output through exercise; and a very-low-calorie diet providing 890 calories per day (generally, on average, adult eats about 2,000 calories per day). Essentially as a safety measure, the study was designed so that if dieters lost 15% of their body weight they would be switched to a diet that maintained that weight.

The people in all of the groups eating calorie-restricted diets lost weight, as one would expect. A number of other metabolic changes were also observed in the dieters, but not in the people who ate normally. These included a drop in fasting insulin levels in all of the dieters, and a decrease in core body temperature in the low-calorie and low-calorie-plus-exercise groups, but not in the very-low-calorie group.

Previous research evidence suggests these changes are signs that the aging process has slowed down. Resting energy output also decreased in the dieters, as did measures of cellular damage, adding to the evidence that during the study period the dieters aged less than the nondieters.

Of course the study was very small and the effects on people who are not already overweight were not studied. Nor are any possible long or longer term outcomes known. However, we can hope that the findings may find their way into some encouragement for people who are currently overweight (and there are certainly plenty of those). What a motivator - on top of feeling better, looking better and moving towards health restoration and reduced risk of disease, they also get measurably younger!

Excellent Rebuff to Prof Gilcrest on Sun Exposure

2006-05-08T21:48:00.000+10:00

The Health Gazette recently published a press release from the American Academy of Dermatology. In it Professor Gilcrest, a dermatologist and academic at Boston University, expressed the view that people should essentially avoid sunshine exposure. This is a position with which I do not agree, for many reasons, though I do encourage people to carefully avoid overexposure, especially any severe enough to cause sunburn.

I have expressed my views about the appropriate source of vitamin D being reduced to diet and supplements elsewhere already. It is important to obtain plenty of vitamin D in dietary forms, to supplement effectively when necessary and to obtain regular direct sunshine exposure to the skin, where an important amount of vitamin D should be made by the body.

Dr Gilcrest's position (and that of the Academy for which she speaks) was thoroughly addressed by John Cannell, MD, of The Vitamin D Council. His detailed discussion can be found along with Gilcrest's statement on the Gazette. It makes good reading and given both the importance of Vitamin D for good health and the significantly erroneous information being promoted by many dermatologists, I recommed you take a few minutes from your busy schedule to read it.

High Folate Levels on IVF Increases Twins Rate

2006-05-06T00:49:00.000+10:00

Women undergoing IVF fertility treatment have a higher chance of having twins if their folate intake is above the recommended dose according to a new prospective cohort study, published in the latest issue of The Lancet (vol.367, pp. 1513-1519). Given the issue of folic acid fortification this finding is quite topical. The USA is reported to have seen a 12 per cent increase in twin births for fertility treated mothers since the introduction of mandatory folic acid fortification in 1998.

In the UK pregnant women are currently prescribed and recommended to take folate supplements to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. However, studies suggest that a lack of compliance is undermining these recommendations, and calls are growing for the introduction of fortification of flour with folic acid. In 1998 the US introduced fortification measures; a move that has seen the number of birth defects fall by 25 per cent. Similar strategies in Canada have seen the instance of birth defects cut in half.

The importance of increasing the intake of folic acid to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects is not something I have a problem with. However, I do not agree with fortification as currently practiced and planned for two important reasons. The first is that it is far too indiscriminant and uncontrolled, resulting in totally unknown dosage levels. The second is that it currently uses refined flours as a delivery vehicle, making them appear to be a health food when in fact refined flours are highly destructive to health and should be avoided.

The issue of unknown dosage is highlighted by this current research, at least in so far as it relates to women who become pregnant using IVF. Multiple births are themselves a significant health risk factor. In addition, it should be noted that the US fortification program has not been regarded as a total success story, with a commentary published in the journal Pediatrics (Sept. 2005, Vol. 116, pp.753-755) claiming fortification levels need to be increased. This further highlights the unknown and uncontrollable dosage levels achieved when relying on fortification. Increasing the level is not the answer.

Scandalous Promotion of VitaCig - Cigarettes with Vitamin C

2006-05-01T17:24:00.000+10:00

Evidently cigarettes injected with Vitamin C that "don't stain smokers' teeth" have been developed by a Canadian researcher. The new cigarettes, named VitaCig, have been developed by non-smoker Roger Ouellette, according to the online edition of Daily Mail. Canadian company Vita-C Tobacco is distributing the cigarettes.

The misnamed "healthy" cigarettes will be available in about 2,000 outlets in Quebec and, if they prove successful, could be sold across the world, the company claimed. VitaCig is less likely to stain the teeth and creates less odor too, its creator claimed. It was more "beneficial" to health than regular brands because of the vitamin dose, he said.

Vitamin C contributes to reducing the harmful effects of smoking. "We give you all the vitamins you lose, plus some to help you," Ouellette claimed. It could also help keep your teeth white, he said.

Some anti-smoking campaigners have expressed disapproval. "I find it hard to believe anyone would take the claims seriously, but some people might be fooled," said Amanda Sandford of Action on Smoking and Health, an anti-smoking charity. "It is quite a disgraceful form of marketing because it could lure innocent or naive people into thinking they can smoke to get the vitamins they need" she added.

Smoking cigarettes leads to several health problems, especially lung cancer, emphysema, cardiovascular disease and other disorders. The single sensible health related behavior a smoker perform do is to quit smoking.

I have a zero tolerance for smoking. Anyone who consults me for health related advice, recommendations, treatment or personal instruction who smokes is told that the single most substantial improvement they can make in their health is to stop smoking immediately. This advice is free. If a smoker won't act on that advice (or give a credible assurance that they will) then the consultation or lesson is terminated and I explain that I am not available for smokers unless they are specifically seeking help with quitting.

I know that some smokers need substantial assistance to kick the disgusting habbit but I gave up all techniques that involve any tolerance for the smoking behaviors long ago. Frankly, too many people are too soft on smokers and more punitive sanctions should be employed, especially when smokers cause harm to others by their smoking.

As for this gimmick by Vita-C Tobacco, it is nothing more than an astonishingly shameless attempt to cash in on current health-awareness trends. I would gladly see them put out of business, with their assets seized to pay health reparations. Them, that is, along with all the other tobacco companies. Like I said: zero tolerance.

Yet Another Sweetener To Promote Junk Foods & Drinks

2006-04-27T17:39:00.000+10:00

A German food product manufacturing company believes it has improved on sugar as a sweetener. Palatinose™ was first self-affirmed as a substance Generally Recognised as Safe (FRAS) but full FDA GRAS registration was granted in March 2006 following an evaluation of a file submitted by the company, Südzucker/Palatinit.

The company's press release said:

Palatinose™ (generic name: isomaltulose) is a disaccharide derived from sucrose, and a natural constituent of e.g. honey and sugar cane. It has a smooth sweetness profile similar to that of sugar, but has more scope for flavour development. Interestingly, it provides the body with long-lasting energy in the form of glucose and is therefore highly suitable for use in energy-, sports- and wellness drinks as well as in cereal- and nutritional bars; it has the same calorie content as sugar, is tooth-friendly and has a low glycemic effect.

The FDA’s ‘letter of no objection’ paves the way for Palatinose™ from Palatinit to be used in a wide range of food and beverage products, including ready-to-drink and instant beverages, snack bars, dairy products as well as energy-reduced, wellness and sports foods and meal replacements.

As part of its consideration of Palatinose™ for GRAS status, the FDA reviewed in vivo and in vitro studies which demonstrated, that isomaltulose is completely hydrolysed and absorbed in the small intestine as glucose and fructose. Biological data, toxicological and metabolic studies as well as research into gastrointestinal tolerance concluded, that the use of Palatinose™ presents no health concerns.

In July 2005, Palatinose™ was authorised as a novel food or food ingredient in the EU and it has been used as a food ingredient in Japan since 1985.

The company's claims that their sugar replacer not only maintains sweetness but also has a low glycemic effect and can be used to enhance the nutritional value of foods since it is digested much more slowly than sucrose, is part of their market positioning to cash in on the low-glycemic trend which is part of the current fashionability of "healthy food".

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the words, healthy food. What the marketers' and food manufacturers' concept of healthy food is though, is worth some critical review. Caution is certainly advised.

The currently fashionable "low-glycemic" trend is widely held to have taken over from the long-time "low-carb" trend as a popular approach to dietary weight loss. Originally developed as a means to help manage diabetes, the low-glycemic diet favors slow release carbohydrates such as whole grains, most fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes over other carbohydrates that release energy quickly, like white bread, refined breakfast cereals, and concentrated sugars, which cause blood sugar levels to spike.

So we could all be seeing a lot more of this sweetener. Is this a good thing? Well, no, not really because for good health people should consume whole foods, not highly processed or manufactured foods, such as those likely to contain Palatinose.

Very little solid evidence of safety actually exists, notwithstanding the FDA's and other authorities', GRAS status. Problems are, in any event, likely to take a long time to become evident and then to be connected to the product, and then ... well, you get the idea. The safe and smart thing to do is to not consume the sort of foods and beverages that this product will be added to. For real health reasons, they are the types of foods that should be avoided anyway.

UN Promoting Camel's Milk to the Western World

2006-04-24T10:43:00.000+10:00

Well this is new to me, I must admit I know next to nothing about camel's milk. But if the United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has its way that may have to change. An unnamed spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Camel's milk could be a useful addition to the diet as it contains calcium and B vitamins and is lower in saturated fat than cow's milk."

So health food shops in the UK could soon be stocking camel’s milk on their shelves following the call by the UN to supply the so-called 'super food'. Camel’s milk is drunk widely in the Arab world and praised for its health benefits including increased levels of vitamins B and C and almost ten times the level of iron than cow’s milk.

Of course, the main troubles with cow's milk are its high levels of allergens, mucogenic quality, indigestable sugar content for many people (lactogen) and generally poor digestibility, as well as the bad fat content in whole milk. Add to this its close and probably causal relationship with osteoporosis, the complete opposite of what most people who learned physiology from the milk marketers will tell you, and one has to wonder why the UN is promoting more animal milk for human consumption.

Well, wonder no more. It isn't really about nutrition. In keeping with unfortunate trends the UN is becoming little more than a marketing organization. The FAO has called on producers to begin looking at the potentially lucrative markets in Europe and the Americas and has called on producers and investors to help develop the market. FAO spokesperson Anthony Bennett acknowledged improvements in the supply chain would be needed to bring the supply to the Western world, but said the return will be beneficial for Arab countries.

The market is estimated to be worth about £5.6 billion with millions more potential customers in the Western world. "The potential is massive. Milk is money," Mr Bennett said. Camel's milk certainly has great potential in the UK market, with both Harrods and Fortnum and Mason already expressing interest in supplying the product.

Now I understand why that spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation didn't want to be named. This may be in Britain now but with the UN's FAO involved with the marketing it could spread quite rapidly, though where massive camel milk an be supplied from I have no idea. Just remember that this is about money, not nutrition, and be prepared for the inevitable onslaught of scientific studies extolling the health virtues of camel's milk.

Remember, human milk for babies and infants, solid whole foods for everyone else. There literally is absolutely no need for dairy products to maintain good health, no matter what the gospel according to food pyramids says.

So, how do you take your milk ... one hump ot two?

Pro Aspartame Study Exposed as Marketing Tool

2006-04-13T13:49:00.000+10:00

The following is published here with permission from The Health Gazette.

Efforts to protect consumers from the serious health risks posed by aspartame are continuing. This is no easy task given the wealth and power of the aspartame promoters and is made even more difficult given the combination of incompetence and corruption in politicians and bureacrats. The following is an updated glimpse into the fray, submitted by Dr Betty Martini.

Desperate to reverse growing public awareness and scientific proof that the artificial sweetener aspartame is a deadly neurotoxin, the Calorie Control Council (CCC) issued a press release stating that a federal food survey proves that aspartame is safe. The move is seen by many to be a face-saving gesture by the CCC, a self-described weight-loss advocacy group that has been advising a calorie-conscious public to use this non-caloric, excitoneurotoxic, carcinogenic drug since the 80s. They are a Public Relations organization, well known as an aspartame front group.

According to the April 4, 2006 CCC press release, "A new epidemiology study from the National Cancer Institute confirms previous study conclusions that there is no link between aspartame consumption and leukemias, lymphomas and brain tumors."

The release also quotes unnamed "researchers" as stating, "Our findings from this epidemiologic study suggest that consumption of aspartame-containing beverages does not raise the risk of hematopoietic or brain malignancies".

The release fails to mention that the quote was taken from a presentation entitled, "Prospective study of aspartame-containing beverages and risk of hematopoietic and brain cancers," by Unhee Lim, et. al.

Lim's team analyzed data from a "self-administered baseline food frequency questionnaire" administered during 1995/96 to over 500,000 men and women between the ages of 50 and 69.

Among the 16-page survey's 56 questions ranging from oatmeal and brownies to strawberries in season and hysterectomies, aspartame is only mentioned once to determine "frequency and diet type preference of three potentially aspartame-containing beverages (soda, fruit drinks, and iced tea) as well as aspartame added to coffee and hot tea."

The "prospective study" was delivered at the annual American Association of Cancer Research meeting in Washington, D.C. April 4, 2006. The abstract explains how Lim and his team of researchers developed mathematical equations to demonstrate that the results of a non-scientific food survey and its five-year follow-up period indicate no scientific association between aspartame consumption and specific cancers. Regardless of the theoretical "suggestions" of Lim's "prospective study," other aspartame front groups, such as the American Beverage Association, have revealed themselves by endorsing the study as proof that aspartame is safe.

Even the researchers who designed the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) used on this study acknowledged that results obtained may be scientifically invalid. "...Furthermore, a single FFQ-based measurement in adulthood may not represent long-term intake without error and may not assess the diet accurately for times when exposure is most critical in determining disease outcome...".

"Once again the Calorie Control Council circulates utter nonsense. They have never met an artificial sweetener they didn't like. They are not believable on any point in any debate that concerns the financial well being of any of the artificial sweetener manufacturers that pay their bills. In this case, their report of this alleged "aspartame study" is a bigger fraud than the product itself. "Save yourself and save your health quit NutraSweet now," Washington D.C. Attorney, James Turner said.

Turner worked with Dr. John Olney to keep NutraSweet off the market from 1974 to 1981 and is intimately familiar with the scandalous nature of the aspartame approval process and the human misery that has been scientifically-linked to its consumption. He is currently the Chairman of Citizens for Health and earlier this month petitioned the FDA to ban Splenda. Slated to replace the increasingly unpopular aspartame, Splenda (sucralose) is a chlorocarbon in the same family of chemicals as DDT and Lindane and is known to cause seizures and migraines. "Because Splenda liberates chlorine we call it DDT-Lite," commented Mission Possible founder, Dr. Betty Martini, who wants to know, "When is government going to stop approving industry's attempts to poison the people with toxic artificial sweeteners?"

Though the Lim "study" is merely a mathematical hypothesis taken from data accumulated over a decade ago, a blizzard of media articles are now claiming a "new federal study" on 567,000 Americans by the NIH, NCI and AARP shows aspartame/NutraSweet/Equal doesn't cause cancer. This scientifically specious claim attempts to contradict the aspartame-specific, 36-month, peer-reviewed Ramazzini Study (2005) which demonstrated conclusively that aspartame causes lymphomas, leukemias, peripheral nerve tumors, kidney cancer, malignant brain tumors in rats and is a multipotential carcinogen.

This study, one of the most comprehensive and scientifically sound food additive studies ever conducted, was meant to simulate a lifetime of aspartame ingestion, the equivalent of 50 to 90+ years of aspartame ingestion in humans. The results indicated that even moderately low levels of aspartame caused these cancers. The scientists attributed this finding to the significant formaldehyde exposure from aspartame ingestion.

The NCI/NIH/AARP survey asked participants to recall from memory their consumption of certain foods going back 12 months and did not inquire of past ingestion or whether the subjects were using any of the some 6,000 commonly-consumed aspartame-containing products available today.

We are now taking aspartame brain tumor case histories in New York and New Jersey, three year statute of limitations. For the rest of the story and to read the comments of the experts and see the form that mentions aspartame only once go to: http://www.wnho.net/aspartame_safety_poison_front_groups.htm

Finally Some Sense on "Bird Flu Pandemic" Nonsense

2006-04-11T16:10:00.000+10:00

It has been a long time coming but finally the media is reporting authorities of the sane, intelligent and knowledgeable variety. We've had our fill of the lunatic, self-aggrandizing, poor thinking, panicky, badly trained, self-serving, plainly stupid and downright dangerous politicians, bureaucrats, academics, government scientists, and entrepreneurs who have hyped the fictional "human bird flu pandemic" for all it was worth. They, along with the self-interested shysters at the WHO, are not about to let their latest windfall pass away without trying on some more nonsense, but we are beigining to see more sense.

Consider the following news report from News Medical Net for example. It seems the Brits are finally being told some simple facts.

Britain's first reported case of the lethal H5N1 strain was found in a swan found dead in Cellardyke harbour in eastern Scotland last week.

While at present the disease mainly affects animals, some scientists dread the disease will mutate into a form that could pass between humans, causing a pandemic. Although government advisers say the chances of that happening are very slim, they are preparing for that possibility.

According to the World Health Organisation, the virus has to date killed 109 people since 2003, almost all of them in Asia and all involving people who had close contact with infected birds.

Scientists believe the swan probably came from the Bay of Montrose about 30 miles north of where it was found dead, and though tests are being carried out on other birds found near Cellardyke harbour, so far all have proved negative.

Sir David King the governments chief scientific adviser has said there is a "very low" chance of the virus mutating to a form that spreads between humans.

The H5N1 virus cannot pass easily from one person to another and therefore currently does not pose a large-scale threat to humans.

Sir David King has said suggestions of an inevitable global human pandemic were "totally misleading" and says the virus has been in the bird population since 1996, and in Asia in particular there has been a lot of contact between human beings and the birds that have the virus.

King says despite that, a human virus has not developed.

The infected swan found in Fife apparently had a "very similar" strain to one which infected more than 100 birds in Germany.

A six-mile surveillance zone and 1.8 mile protection zone in place around Cellardyke will remain for at least 30 days from the day the swan was found.

A wild bird risk area of 965 square miles has also been established which includes 175 registered poultry premises, containing 3.1 million birds, 260,000 of which are free-range.

Bird flu viruses have 16 H subtypes and nine N subtypes and four types of the virus are known to affect humans though most cause only minor symptoms.

The World Health Organisation says not all H5 or H7 strains are severe, but their ability to mutate means their presence is "always a cause for concern".

As a health spokesman has said the disease remains one of birds, not humans and many experts agree and believe the focus of attention in future would be more likely to be southeast Asia, rather than Fife.

I am pleased to see people are finally saying what I have said all along!

Don't Forget U.S. Autism Awareness Month - April 2006

2006-04-09T15:15:00.000+10:00

This is certainly a busy month in terms of the number of particular health challenges facing society that we are asked to focus awareness on. I have already mentioned that April 2006 is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and also Sexual Assault Awareness Month. These are very serious issues and certainly worthy of attention.

At the risk of diverting attention rightly due elsewhere, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have notified that April 2006 is also Autism Awareness Month. Autism too, is something that could benefit from far wider community awareness so I commend the CDC's following notice to you.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are lifelong developmental disabilities characterized by unusual social and communication development and the presence of unusual or repetitive behaviors and interests (1). These conditions affect an estimated 2--6 per 1,000 children (2), making autism a serious public health concern. Early identification and intervention can help children progress in their development and show improvements in their language, cognitive, social, motor, and other developmental skills (3).

April is Autism Awareness Month. In collaboration with partners, CDC is conducting a public awareness campaign to educate health-care and child-care providers regarding potential early warning signs of autism and other developmental disabilities. Additional information about autism and the CDC campaign are available at http://www.cdc.gov/autism and http://www.cdc.gov/actearly.

References

American Psychiatric Association. Criteria for the pervasive developmental disorders. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text revision. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.
CDC. How common are Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)? Atlanta, GA: CDC, National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities; 2005. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/asd_common.htm.
National Research Council's Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism. Educating children with autism. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2001.

Given the belief by many that autism is linked to constituents in vaccines it certainly seems appropriate that the CDC shows interest in autism. The CDC is a consistent and vigorous proponent of vaccination.

April 2006 is Sexual Assault Awareness Month in US

2006-04-09T15:11:00.000+10:00

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM). Throughout the month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages communities to promote healthy relationships and to increase awareness about the devastating impact of sexual violence.

Sexual violence affects persons at all stages of life. In 2003, approximately two out of 1,000 children in the United States were confirmed by child protective services as having been sexually assaulted (1). Many sexually abused children, however, are not identified by child protective services. In 2003, approximately 9% of high school students reported having been forced to have sexual intercourse (2). At least one in six women and one in 33 men in the United States have been victims of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime (3).

The consequences of sexual violence can be severe. Survivors can suffer short-term physical injuries, including genital tearing, bruises, and broken bones (4). Long-term health consequences can include sexually transmitted diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic neck, back, and facial pain (5). In addition, survivors often face serious mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (4). Many survivors do not tell friends and family about the assault and consequently suffer the physical and psychological consequences alone (4). Those who do disclose their abuse might be stigmatized by their family, friends, and communities.

Communities are encouraged to plan activities in recognition of SAAM. A calendar of national, state, and local events is available at http://www.nsvrc.org. Information about sexual violence is available at http://www.cdc.gov/injury. SAAM materials are available from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 123 North Enola Drive, Enola, PA 17025; telephone 877-739-3895 and at http://www.nsvrc.org.

References cited in this article are available at the CDC site.

The figures reported by the CDC in paragraph two above are a complete disgrace. This problem of sexual assault is clearly out of control in America and is an abiding source of national -- indeed international -- shame. Take some time -- make some time -- this month to make a contribution of your effort to deal with this issue. If people don't face this and deal with it effectively it will only grow steadily worse. You or your loved ones may be among the next victims.

April is U.S. National Child Abuse Prevention Month

2006-04-08T11:37:00.000+10:00

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM). This year's theme is Safe Children and Healthy Families are a Shared Responsibility. Communities throughout the United States will be holding blue ribbon campaigns to promote healthy families, organizing educational fairs, and honoring parenting heroes.

Many cases of child maltreatment go unreported to authorities. However, approximately 906,000 children in the United States were confirmed by child protective services as being abused or neglected in 2003, a rate of 12.4 per 1,000 children (1). Of the reported cases, 5% involved emotional or psychological abuse, 10% involved sexual abuse, 9% involved physical abuse, and 61% involved neglect (1).

Persistent stress resulting from child maltreatment can disrupt early brain development and impair development of the nervous and immune response systems (2). Children who experience maltreatment are at increased risk for adverse health effects throughout their lives (e.g., suicide, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, eating disorders, sexual promiscuity, and certain chronic diseases) (3,4). In addition, persons who are abused as children are twice as likely to be assaulted as adults (5).

NCAPM is an opportunity to raise awareness about child maltreatment and its devastating effects. Information about child maltreatment is available online from CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/injury. NCAPM materials are available online from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, at http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov.

References

(1) US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Child maltreatment 2003. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office; 2005. Available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm03/index.htm.

(2) National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. Excessive stress disrupts the architecture of the developing brain. Working paper no. 3. Waltham, MA: National Scientific Council on the Developing Child; 2005. Available at http://www.developingchild.net/reports.shtml.

(3) Felitti V, Anda R, Nordenberg D, et al. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. Am J Prev Med 1998;14:245--58.

(4) Runyan D, Wattam C, Ikeda R, Hassan F, Ramiro L. Child abuse and neglect by parents and caregivers. In: Krug E, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R, eds. World report on violence and health. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2002:59--86.

(5) Tjaden P, Thoennes N. Full report of the prevalence, incidence, and consequences of violence against women: findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice; 2000. Report no. NCJ 183781.

Child abuse is a serious problem that deserves everyone's attention. Whether perpetrators need treatment or punishment can be debated later. What is vital right now - today and every day - is to engage in prevention and the provision of proper care for victims.

Do You Have Couch Potato Syndrome?

2006-04-06T23:48:00.000+10:00

What will they think of next? The International Classification of Disease has grown to a voluminous tome over the years but can they make room for "Couch Potato Disease"? Let's hope not.

A report from News Medical Net states that according to Australian scientists, being a couch potato may actually be an illness. They say extreme laziness may have a medical basis, and have given it the impressive title of 'motivational deficiency disorder'. Can you believe this? I suppose MDD has a nice ring to it.

The common condition apparently affects up to one in five Australians and is characterised by overwhelming and debilitating apathy. I must say I have seen this, but not only in Australia. Evidently neuroscientists at the University of Newcastle in Australia believe that in severe cases motivational deficiency disorder can be fatal, because the condition reduces the motivation to breathe. That I find just a little far fetched actually.

This new disorder was identified by Professor Leth Argos, a neuroscientist at the University of Newcastle. Argos and his team identified the disorder, which can be diagnosed using a combination of positron emission tomography (PET scans) and low scores on a motivation rating scale, previously validated in elite athletes.

Professor Argos says the disorder is poorly understood, underdiagnosed and undertreated. I can't say I'm surprised.

Professor Argos is an adviser to a small Australian biotechnology company, Healthtec, which is currently concluding phase II trials of indolebant, a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist designed to cure the disease. How wonderfully convenient that he should discover an illness, develop a marketable name for it and be the only person with a treatment ready for market. Good one Professor A.

Healthtec has apparently hired a large global PR company to develop a secret marketing campaign to convince everyone that laziness is a disease which is problematic. In preparation, of course, for marketing the solution to them.

However many experts are uncomfortable with the fact that laziness is being promoted to a disease status. Claiming to be concerned, they are calling for discussion over the trend towards corporate definitions of diseases with a primary interest in making profits rather than a concern for public health. I hope they are sincere and not just miffed that they didn't think of the idea themselves. Who can tell?

One such expert Professor David Henry of the School of Medical Practice and Public Health at the University of Newcastle, NSW has called for discussion on what has been termed "disease mongering." Well that's very noble of David, but that's exactly what the medical profession has always done. Some would just call it marketing of professional services or in higher brow terms, promoting the interests of the profession.

The University of Newcastle will host a conference to 'hopefully bring together academics, researchers, health professionals, health managers, journalists, writers and consumers who share an interest and concern over the trend to corporate definitions of diseases with a primary interest in making profits rather than a concern for the public health'. Oh please, stop this, if I laugh any more I'll be sore all day tomorrow!

Bean Eaters Weigh Less

2006-04-05T15:24:00.000+10:00

A study unveiled April 3, 2006 gives new meaning to the word beanpole: The findings show that people who eat beans weigh less than those who don't. Go figure...

Presented at the Experimental Biology conference, April 1-5 in San Francisco, the study found that adults who eat beans weigh 6.6 pounds less -- yet eat 199 more daily calories -- than adults who don't eat beans. Similar results were found for teenage bean eaters who consume 335 more daily calories but weigh 7.3 pounds less than non-bean-eating teens.

Data for the study came from the National Nutrition and Health Examination Survey (1999-2002). The results also show that:

Adult bean eaters consume less total and saturated fat than non-bean eaters and have a 22 per cent lower risk of obesity.
Adult and teen bean eaters have smaller waist sizes - three-quarter inch and one inch, respectively.
The fiber intake of adult and teen bean eaters is more than one-third higher than non-bean eaters.

"Beans are an excellent source of fiber and previous studies have shown that high-fiber diets may help reduce body weight, so this makes sense," says Victor Fulgoni, PhD and author of the study. "As well, they are naturally low in fat and cholesterol-free. It's no wonder that beans have been called a 'superfood.'"

The US federal government has recognized the many health benefits of beans:

MyPyramid, the USDA's recommended eating plan for Americans, lists beans in two food groups. Beans are listed in the Vegetable Group because they are a plant-based food that provides vitamins and minerals. Beans also are listed in the Meat and Beans Group because they are a good source of protein.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 recommends that Americans triple their current intake of beans from one to three cups per week.
In addition, other research has shown that diets including beans may reduce the risk of heart disease and certain cancers.

The National Nutrition and Health Examination Survey (NHANES) is a continuous survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics with survey data released every two years. NHANES 1999-2000 and 2001-2002 contained data on the food and nutrient intake of 9,965 and 11,039 Americans respectively.

The study was featured in two Experimental Biology poster sessions ("Bean Consumption by Adults is Associated with a More Nutrient Dense Diet and a Reduced Risk of Obesity" and "Bean Consumption is Associated with Better Nutrient Intake and Lower Body Weights and Waist Circumferences in Children") and, in the interest of full disclosure, was sponsored by Bush Brothers & Company.

Source: National Nutrition and Health Examination Survey

Survey Shows Cardiologists Aware of Life-Saving Diet Yet Fail to Recommend It

2006-04-03T18:32:00.000+10:00

Wider Use of Vegetarian Diet Would Result in Fewer Surgeries and Deaths from Heart Disease; Studies Show Patients Transition Easily to New Diet

A pilot survey of cardiologists reveals that most know about the life-saving potential of a truly low-fat vegetarian diet for heart patients, but fail to recommend the diet in the mistaken belief that patients will not comply. Published studies actually show that patients transition fairly easily to a low-fat diet that contains no animal products, and most rate this diet as "good" or "extremely good." If cardiologists’ knowledge of the acceptability of the vegetarian diet were equal to their familiarity with its efficacy, the result would be improved patient care and fewer deaths.

Instead, most cardiologists responding to the survey recommend the standard omnivorous low-fat (up to 30 percent of calories from fat) diet, which recently made headlines for its role in the Women’s Health Initiative study. Omnivorous low-fat diets have not proven effective for treating or preventing heart disease. To experience dramatic improvement, heart patients must consume a diet that contains less than 15 percent of calories from fat and excludes saturated fat from animal products.

"Patients hospitalized with life-threatening cardiac conditions should be advised by their doctor that they could head off another heart attack by switching to a low-fat vegetarian diet," says report coauthor Amy Joy Lanou, Ph.D., a senior nutrition scientist with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and an assistant professor of health and wellness at the University of North Carolina. "Dietary changes reinforced by a doctor’s recommendation will make it even easier for patients to make simple changes that could add years to their lives."

Ninety-one percent of responding cardiologists were either "very familiar" or "somewhat familiar" with the research supporting very low-fat cardiac diets, the survey found. In 1990, cardiologist Dean Ornish, M.D., changed cardiac care forever with a study published in The Lancet showing arrest and even reversal of heart disease with a very low-fat vegetarian diet. Other researchers have published similar findings.

The simplicity of a vegetarian diet that excludes animal products appeals to people busy with work and family, and many familiar recipes are easy to adapt. At least four studies published in peer-reviewed journals show that patients give the low-fat vegetarian diet a high rating in terms of acceptability.

Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit health organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition. PCRM also conducts clinical research studies, opposes unethical human experimentation, and promotes alternatives to animal research.

It seems to me that cardiologists would better serve their patients by recommending a low-fat vegetarian diet along with suitable nutritional supplements and a graded exercise program than filling them with toxic pharmaceuticals and failing to give this life saving advice. Otherwise, one could gain the impression that cardiologists are not in favor of actions that could do themselves out of work. Hmmmm... now there's a thought.

The Health Gazette Ezine Edition will be published on schedule, on April 1st

2006-04-01T11:58:00.000+11:00

In keeping with our recent practice, in this month's edition we again have two feature articles from Dr Jenny Tylee. The first article continues our series on children's health. This month we cover the problem many people don't like to talk about - constipation in children. This is a quite common problem that is sometimes not detected, is frequently ignored and is often poorly managed. Jenny explains what it is, how it's caused and what you can do about it.

What can you do about your risk of heart disease? Last month our subscribers received some useful information on this important topic. This month we offer Part 2 of What You Can Do About Your Risk of Heart Disease. This will grow into a very important series and already has provided some great insights and tools.

We as yet don't have an archive established but have made progress on this. In the coming weeks we hope to have an archive available, but it will be accessible only to our Ezine Edition to subscribers.

Remember, only subscribers to the ezine version of The Health Gazette receive these articles. Subscription management is available via the Healthy-Vitamin-Choice, Herb-Health-Guide and HealthProductsSite links to the right. Subscription is free and you may easily unsubscribe at any time.

Registration at The Health Gazette does not subscribe you to the Ezine. They are separate and contain different content.

NIH Offers New Comprehensive Guide to Healthy Sleep - Free Download

2006-03-29T00:13:00.000+11:00

The following is provided by National Institutes of Health. I have not had time to read the guide as yet but I thought I should get the word about it out to you. Maybe you have more time to catch up on reading than I do these days!

In today's "24/7" society, many people cut back on sleep to squeeze in more time for work, family obligations, and other activities. But skimping on sleep can be harmful. A comprehensive new handbook from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) explains that sleep is not merely “down time” when the brain shuts off and the body rests.

“Our brains are very active during sleep, and research has shown that adequate sleep is important to our overall health, safety, and performance," notes Michael Twery, PhD, acting director of NHLBI's National Center on Sleep Disorders Research. "Scientists also have a better understanding of how a chronic lack of sleep or an untreated sleep disorder can impair health. Like good nutrition and physical activity, adequate sleep is critical for continued good health.”

“Your Guide to Healthy Sleep” provides the latest science-based information about sleep in an easy-to-understand format. The 60-page handbook describes how and why we sleep, and offers tips for getting adequate sleep, such as sticking to a sleep schedule, relaxing before going to bed, and using daylight or bright light to help you adjust to jet lag and shift work schedules.

Sleep disorders such as insomnia (trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or unrefreshing sleep), sleep apnea (brief periods of pauses in breathing or shallow breathing while you are sleeping), restless legs syndrome (an almost irresistible urge to move the legs that can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep), and narcolepsy (excessive and overwhelming daytime sleepiness despite adequate nighttime sleep) are also described with information on diagnosis and treatment. In addition, a sample sleep diary helps readers track their sleep-related habits.

Sleep needs vary from person to person, and they change throughout the lifecycle. Newborns sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day, and children in preschool sleep between 10 and 12 hours a day. School-aged children and teens need at least 9 hours of sleep a day. Research suggests that adults – including seniors -- need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day to be well rested and to perform at their best.

Studies have linked sleep to our ability to learn, create memories, and solve problems. Sleep has also been tied to mood. Without enough sleep, a person has trouble focusing, and responding quickly – a potentially dangerous combination, such as when driving. In addition, mounting evidence links a chronic lack of sleep with an increased risk for developing obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and infections.

The quality of sleep is also important. How well rested you are and how well you function the next day depend on your total sleep time and how much of the various stages of sleep you get each night. Yet, each year an estimated 70 million adult Americans have some type of sleep problem.

"Although there are times during the day when we are naturally likely to feel drowsy, in many cases, sleepiness is a sign that something is amiss," adds Twery. "The handbook offers several ideas to help you improve your sleep, but if you feel that you regularly have problems breathing during sleep, wake up unrefreshed after a full night's sleep, or frequently feel very sleepy during the day, you should see your doctor to find out if you could have a sleep disorder."

“Your Guide to Healthy Sleep” can be downloaded free at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/sleep/healthy_sleep.htm. Printed copies are available for $3.50 through the NHLBI website or from the NHLBI Information Center at P.O. Box 30105, Bethesda, MD 20824-0105, or at 301-592-8573 or 240-629-3255 (TTY).

To learn more about healthy sleep and sleep disorders:

National Center on Sleep Disorders Research www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep.

Sleep, Sleep Disorders, and Biological Rhythms supplemental curriculum for use in high school biology classes http://osedev.od.nih.gov/supplements/nih3/sleep/default.htm.

Star Sleeper educational materials for children and their caregivers http://starsleep.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Note: National Sleep Awareness Week® is a registered trademark of the National Sleep Foundation.

The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research was established in 1993 through U.S. congressional legislation authorizing support for sleep-related research and educational programs, and the coordination of related activities among the NIH, other federal agencies, and nongovernmental organizations. NIH annually funds more than $189 million in sleep-related research conducted by researchers in universities and hospitals in the U.S. and abroad. For more information, visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sleep.

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

Remenber, sleep is an essential determinant of your health.

Popularity of Article Banks

2006-03-23T19:31:00.000+11:00

Wow, it seems quite amazing that the two article directories I submitted an article to have grown, and so differently. Perhaps you saw my waffle (actually, it's woffle arond here...) when I posted my article to two sites. There's nothing special about that of course, except that the sites just happened to be brand new when I posted so I saw their "birth".

Well, backing up a little, one was brand new and the other was being re-launched after languishing in a state of abandonment in my care (or lack of care I guess). Yes, I refer to the site I have followed here for many months, HealthArticleBank.com. I never did get around to sorting out the server and software mess there so I ended up passing it on. So HealthArticleBank is now under new management and is fully operational.

It is actually being nurtured back to life by Arthur Banks, who calls himself Art Banks, so I'd say with a name like that he feels honor bound to make the sites work. Just to make my point, there are two sites, each calling themselves a bank, of sorts, "article banks" in fact, hence the irony of Art's name.

The other site is MarketingArticleBank.com and it started at the same time my old site was resurrected by Art. I'm pleased to see them both working, but admit to just a little sadness that my old health related site is far, far slower out of the blocks.

Knowing of the birth and resurrection (respectively) of course, I managed to submit the very first article into both sites. That was as recently as late February or early March. Today, March 23 rd, the HealthArticleBank site has 14 articles while the MarketingArticleBank site has 912. Yes, that's almost a full 900 difference!

I am in awe of the development rate Art has achieved at the latter site and impressed to see that my old health site remains fully functioning. I know Art has plenty of ideas for site development and I certainly wish him well with the ventures.

There seems little doubt that publishing articles is a valid and useful way to get a message out, across cyberspace. Now, if I could just find some more time...

Oh Hell...Now it's the Canadians

2006-03-23T12:40:00.000+11:00

We have seen what is probably an historic change of mind by the UK bureaucrats, oh sorry, um... "authorities," when the Australian Minister for Tourism managed to persuade them to reverse an earlier decision to ban the Aussie Tourism commercial which included the evidently offensive word "bloody".

It seems it is no longer offensive. Strange how quickly sensibilities toughen isn't it. Anyway, good sense prevailed in the end and the add can now get some air time on British TV and give the poor interent servers a rest!

However, now it's the Canadians' turn. Evidently they have no problem with "bloody" but can't handle the word "hell." Simply amazing.

I have always thought very highly of the Canadians. They do seem a sensible, civilized and thoroughly decent bunch. I was mightily impressed by their portrayal in Michael, what's his name's, (is it Green?) documentary on guns (was it Bowling for Columbine? ...bit hazy on the details here).

However, I didn't realize that their society required such astonishing censorship to maintain their self-image. Can they not speak of hell? Must it never pass their lips or be heard by Canadian children or "families"?

What exactly are they in denial about here anyway? Is it the place, the concept, the sound of the word, the association with evil - what renders it a forbidden four-letter word? I just don't get it.

So on this isssue my dear Canadians, where the bloody hell are you? Don't let's get caught up in academic diatribes about cross cultural misunderstandings and subtleties. That would be serious overkill. Like the Brits, I think the Canadians have grossly overreacted, making themselves look rather silly in the process.

I hope the Canadians can deal with their repressions and suppressions and see a way to air the commercial in full, unaltered. And then, come see us in Australia ... you'll find we're an open, friendly and welcoming bunch, broad minded and tolerant. You may even find we're a lot like you :)

Health "Expert" Displays Bias and Ignorance on ABC News

2006-03-22T16:23:00.000+11:00

The headline read "Katz Recommends a Balanced Diet" and the lead paragraph in the March 21, 2006 story stated what is rapidly becoming well known - vitamins are big business. They are indeed, since Americans spend $7 billion a year on them. It may be true for many that they do this "in hopes of warding off colds, cancer and other diseases" but this fails to do justice to the far broader and deeper reasoning behind many people's consumption of supplements, even just vitamins.

Many people do actually use vitamin supplements quite intelligently, sometimes following professional advice, sometimes as the result of their own nutrition or health research. Of course, it is too much to claim or even hope that everyone uses them so well, the truth is that most people are less well informed and tend to take vitamins in ways that not only fail to provide much help but may actually do some harm.

Let's not get carried away on this point however, it is wise to keep it in perspective. Before any medical prescriber, naturopathic or orthodox, dares to criticize vitamin supplement consumers and proclaims vitamins dangerous, let them take a close look at the damage to health (even significant loss of life) attributable every day to pharmaceutical drugs. Before they attack the use and users of vitamins let them deal with the abuse perpetrated by drug companies and those who market their wares - yes, the very prescribers themselves.

In that same ABC News item mentioned above Dr David Katz, "Good Morning America's" medical contributor and associate professor adjunct in public health practice at Yale University, said "The most consistent finding we are seeing in the research is a lack of any medical benefits." Well, Dr Katz is a klutz. Evidently one can occupy such as post at Yale without understanding the difference between health and medicine. People don't take vitamin supplements for "medical benefits", but for health benefits. Then again, perhaps it was a slip and Katz was really saying he can't see how doctors can benefit from people consuming vitamin supplements.

Katz went on to make another medical faux pas in stating that: "Many people take high doses of vitamins to fight off colds, cancer, heart disease. And over and over again, we've looked for the active ingredient in these vitamins to find out what is working and have been unable to find anything." Fortunately most people can be credited with a better grasp on logic and sound thinking that Katz: failing to find is not the same as not existing. Further, the blindness imposed by the medical paradigm means many medical researchers are fixated on finding "the active ingredient". This illustrates how hopeless is their plight - they are looking for the wrong thing in the wrong place. Vitamins, Dr Katz, are active ingredients and they do their work in vivo by enabling a vast array of essential enzyme chains, the complexity of which is plainly beyond your ken.

Katz was reported as saying there is a potential danger to megadoses of popular vitamins and in this he is correct. However he illustrated the point with general references to some very poor studies. He referred to the following and my comments follow each statement quoted.

"Vitamin E, which many people believe protects against heart disease and cancer, has been found to increase risk of heart failure and cancer when people take anything more than 400 IUs a day." Actually vitamin E is probably the most controversial of the well-known vitamins and the evidence that it causes harm is at best very mixed. It probably was overhyped at one time and more care is warranted, so keeping intake below 400 IUs daily is a good idea for most people.

"Vitamin A can cause birth defects in high doses so it's potentially hazardous for women who may become pregnant. A 2002 Harvard study of more than 72,000 nurses showed that high doses of vitamin A led to a higher risk of hip fractures." The famous Harvard nurses study is not one of the better studies from that institution and the connection between vitamin A dosage and hip fracture rates is unconvincing and somewhat imaginative. Vitamin A should certainly not be taken in excess, as important as it is, and this fact is very widely known and promoted by vitamin suppliers and even marketers. Katz is really dredging for data in his scare mongering if he has to resort to this.

"Vitamin C is popular, especially during cold season, but there's no evidence that it prevents colds. It may shorten the duration by a very small amount, but not enough to notice. New studies have found vitamin C, if taken at the same time a patient is getting certain medical treatments, such as chemo for cancer, can interfere with that treatment." Actually the reasonably recent studies on the efficacy of vitamin C in relation to colds has supported its use. Those studies that failed to do so were seriously flawed and of no value. One would expect Katz to be an informed, critical consumer of that research but he appears unable to overcome his bias or agenda. As for the problem with taking vitamin C during chemotherapy, yes, there is certainly an issue here worth careful exploration. Vitamin C does seem to counteract some chemotherapy. Given that chemotherapy is simply the introduction of cell killing toxic chemicals, the vitamin C may be characterized as "trying to help" (if a little personification may be permitted) you by reducing its damage. This raises the whole question of the wisdom of using cytotoxic chemotherapy in the first place, so we'll leave this for another time. What is clear is that, as I have repeatedly said, doctors must ask and people must inform about all supplements and alternative medicines being consumed.

Finally, Dr Katz shows that he is either hopelessly confused and unable to think clearly on the topic or he simply wants to have an each way bet. He says that rather than rely on vitamins one should eat a well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Amazingly, he then recommends, in addition, taking a multivitamin!

To learn about nutritional supplements, find multiple published scientific studies, and discover guaranteed ways to improve your health I recommend you spend some time exploring a real health site. I wouldn't waste any more time with ABC News, Good Morning America or Dr David Katz.

US Administration Shows it isn't Trustworthy on GM Foods

2006-03-20T16:43:00.000+11:00

There is no doubt that GM foods pose a potentially enormous risk to world food supplies. This is an area where the debate has been hijacked and those who seek to profit from the development have little or no intention of heeding warnings or proceding as slowly or carefully as would be prudent.

Contrary to reports from the U.S., a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling does not prevent countries from restricting or banning genetically modified (GM) foods. Friends of the Earth International on 28 February 2006 made available online a confidential WTO ruling on the trade dispute on biotech, or GM foods. The 1000-page report, which was distributed earlier in February only to the countries involved in the dispute, was leaked to Friends of the Earth, which published a preliminary analysis in the briefing 'Looking behind the US spin'.

The leaked report reveals that:

despite claims of victory by the US Administration and the biotechnology industry - widely reported in the media in February 2006- the three countries that started the trade dispute against the European Union (US, Canada and Argentina) failed to win most of their arguments;
the WTO did not rule on two of the most important questions, namely whether GM foods are effectively the same as non-GM foods and if they are safe.

"The WTO ruling is not a victory for the US administration and the biotech giants. Countries around the world should continue to enforce tough legislation protecting their citizens and the environment from the risks of genetically modified crops," said Juan Lopez, GM Campaign Coordinator of Friends of the Earth International.

According to Friends of the Earth International the WTO is not and should not be the appropriate body to deal with conflicts between trade rules and environmental protection since it ignores the internationally recognised 'Precautionary Principle' and considers only trade principles.

The leaked WTO report argues that:

Europe's 4-year moratorium on GM Organisms (GMOs) only broke trade rules because it caused "undue delay" in the approval of new GM foods. The WTO dismissed eight other complaints in relation to the moratorium, and did not recommend any further action, since the moratorium ended in 2004.
There was also an "undue delay" in the EU's approval procedures for over 20 specified biotech products. However, eleven other claims of the complainants related to the product-specific EU measures were dismissed by the WTO Panel.
National bans by EU member states broke trade rules because the risk assessments used by the countries in question did not comply with the WTO requirements;

"This is the report that the WTO didn't want the public to see. It reveals that the big corporations that stand behind the WTO failed to get the big win they were hoping for. Free trade proponents needed a clear victory in this dispute to be able to push governments in the EU and the developing world to accept genetically modified food. They failed and now is the time to build a consensus that the WTO, with its business-only agenda, is the wrong place to decide on what people eat and how we protect our environment." said Adrian Bebb, GMO campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe in Brussels.

Friends of the Earth Europe launched a cyber action (http://www.bite-back.org/objection/our_food.php ) urging the public to call on their Governments to reject the WTO as a forum to decide on environmental trade disputes and to support the right of countries to ban GMOs.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Juan Lopez, Friends of the Earth International GM coordinator, Tel: +34-6-25980582 (Spanish mobile number) Adrian Bebb, Friends of the Earth Europe GMO expert, Tel: +49 1609 490 1163 (German mobile number) David Waskow, Friends of the Earth US Tel: + 1 202 492 4660
SOURCE: http://www.gmwatch.org

GM foods represent effectively brand new substances introduced either directly to human consumption or to some point lower in the food chain, such as in livestock feeds. What effects these substances will ultimately have is unknown but other departures from natural foods are known to have negative consequences so this is an area worth considerable unbiased study, thought and widespread, informed agreement, not political lies and big-money manoeuvering.

National Health, Wellness and Prevention Congress

2006-03-19T14:08:00.000+11:00

So who is actually drawing the wellness and disease prevention map for consumer driven health care? This question is addressed at one of the parallel tracks at the planned National Health, Wellness and Prevention Congress. These talk fests are frequently little more than thinly disguised marketing events but on occasion an individual track or two can prove quite interesting. Perhaps the "Health, Wellness & Prevention Workshop" will be one such track, though I'd feel better about it if they included "Disease" before "Prevention".

"Wellness, prevention, disease management, and fitness professionals must understand the evolving marketplace and help shape how consumers access healthcare information and services" according to the promoters.

Opportunities and risks abound as the healthcare landscape redesigns itself. The traditional provider-centric system is under fire from empowered consumers. New technologies afford consumers direct access to healthcare information. New services and products offer the consumer more choice, convenience and control. Where and what is the "new primary" care? From the workplace, to the hospital, to the fitness center and spa to the retail marketplace, where do consumers go to meet their health, disease state management and wellness needs? Well, these are valid observations and reasonable questions.

The National Health, Wellness and Prevention Congress will be co-located with the Consumer Direct Heatlh Care Congress in San Francisco, CA May 8-10. It may just be quite interesting, or even useful, depending on your situation. If you happen to be in, or can easily enough go to Frisco in early May, you may like to learn more.

For more information see: http://www.NHWPC.com or http://www.cdhcc.com or call (804) 266-7422

Concerns Allayed About Vitamin C For Cancer Treatment

2006-03-14T22:26:00.000+11:00

Scientists from the RECNAC II project announced on March 13 that they have published findings that verify the safety of high dose intravenous vitamin C. In this study, published in the Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal, vol. 24 (4): 269-276, a phase one clinical trial with 24 terminal cancer patients receiving between ten and sixty grams of sodium ascorbate daily for eight weeks, adverse effects were reportedly minor. "The results presented in this manuscript should allay fears about the safety of 'mega-dose' vitamin C," said Dr. Joseph Casciari, co-author of the manuscript.

This research comes on the heels of independent studies demonstrating efficacy of high dose vitamin C against tumor cells in experimental tumor models. Moreover, recently published case studies suggest that high dose intravenous vitamin C can be an effective clinical modality against cancer (RECNAC II, March 2000, and National Institutes of Health (NIH), September 2005).

Intravenous vitamin C therapy has been a cornerstone of research at The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning International (CIHFI), http://www.brightspot.org . Dr. Michael J. Gonzalez, RECNAC II Director, stated, "This is our second publication involving human subjects showing the safety and utility of intravenous vitamin C. We are very happy with the results. We envision the use of vitamin C as part of the conventional treatment of cancer in the near future. This historic study brings Dr. Hugh Riordan's ideas and research to a full circle; it validates his work for the past thirty years."

The study was funded by the Lincoln Family Foundation and conducted collaboratively by the University of Nebraska, The University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, and The Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning International in Wichita, KS (CIHFI). CIHFI, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, was founded by Hugh Riordan, M.D., in 1975 and has four divisions: clinical, research, education, and laboratory.

Every year at least 1.4 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed. Many current cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation, can cause undesirable side effects and complications. "The Hippocratic Oath that expresses the idea to 'first, do no harm' is not only a part of our treatment plan for patients, but also drives our research projects," stated Ron Hunninghake, M.D., Chief Medical Officer.

SOURCE Bio-Communications Research Institute

Good to see some sense from a study for a change. This is quite good news for many people, especially anyone considering cancer treatment options.

What the bloody hell is wrong with the Brits?

2006-03-13T16:22:00.000+11:00

Goodness me, what a provocative headline!

Do you know what all the fuss is about? It turns out that a very good video advertisement made for Tourism Australia to be shown in the UK to promote tourism has offended the British. Or, offended their regulators, to be more precise.

What a hoot hey? How fantastic! We've offended the poor Brits by sending them one of their own favourite phrases. And it's said we're a weird mob!

I honestly don't think the add is in any way offensive. It manages to showcase Australia effectively as a great holiday destination. If you're in need of a great destination, then come on down.

I recommend you take a look at the offending video online and judge for yourself. You can find it at Australia.com. Be warned though, the shock that's caused this grave international incident is the very last phrase uttered.

It certainly has caused a stirr. It's all a bit of a giggle really, at the British regulator's expense. However, their intransigence on the issue has prompted the Australian Minister for Tourism to fly to the U.K. to see if they might be persuaded to reconsider. Otherwise, it will be very much at the expense of the Aussie tourism industry.

The added publicity caused by the ban has resulted in a huge increase in the number of hits on the website mentioned above, so you may find it loads a bit slowly. Do persist though, it's well worth it.

Well, I hope blogger.com doesn't follow the Brits and ban this post !!

Advances in Asthma Research

2006-03-07T11:11:00.000+11:00

Several advances in understanding asthma were presented on March 4th at the 2006 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in Miami Beach. Here are some highlights.

Role of vitamin D during pregnancy

Pregnant women who have a higher intake of vitamin D may decrease the risk for asthma in their offspring during early childhood, according to new research presented by Carlos Camargo Jr., MD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, and colleagues

The study noted vitamin D deficiency and asthma are common in the northeastern part of the United States and although vitamin D is important for the immune system, its affect on asthma was unknown.

Information was gathered from Project Viva participants and tracked how much vitamin D mothers had during pregnancy, and found that an increase in vitamin D was associated with a lower childhood risk of wheezing or doctor- diagnosed asthma. The study noted follow-up would be needed to see if the lower risk continued as the children grew older.

Maternal asthma is a risk factor for prematurity and low birth weight

Maternal asthma is a risk factor for prematurity and low birth weight, according to new research presented by Joel J. Liem, MD, and colleagues from the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, who used information from the Manitoba Health Services Insurance Plan, a health care and prescription database which has records of every child born in the province of Manitoba, and that of their mothers, to conduct the research. Mothers diagnosed with asthma between 1990-1995 or at least one prescription of asthma medication in 1995 were studied.

There were 13,980 children born in 1995, with 10.4% of the mothers suffering from maternal asthma. The research showed that mothers who suffered from asthma were more likely (2.77 times on average) to have a baby born at less than 28 weeks gestation, and 3.04 times more likely to have a baby born at less than 32 weeks gestation than a non asthmatic mother.

Early life exposure to maternal stress associated with asthma

Exposure to maternal stress early in life can lead to the development of asthma, according to research presented by Anita L. Kozyrskyj, PhD, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, and colleagues, who used Manitoba's health care database records to determine which children had developed asthma by 7 years old on the basis of health care visits for asthma or prescriptions for asthma prescription drugs. Maternal stress was defined as physician visits for depression and anxiety, or antidepressant prescriptions.

Analyses of the children took place at 1, 4, and 7 years of age. Of the 13,980 children born in Manitoba in 1995, 19% were exposed to maternal stress during the first year of life. This exposure to stress increased the likelihood of asthma, according to the study. Eleven percent of the children were re-exposed to maternal stress by age 7 and 8% were re-exposed at age 4 and 7 years. Re-exposure to maternal stress by age 7 increased the likelihood of asthma, and the risk increased with repeated exposure to maternal stress, concluded the study.

Measuring children's asthma medication adherence continues to be difficult

Accurately recording if children take their asthma medication is an ongoing challenge, according to a new study presented by Bruce Bender, MD, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, and colleagues who used 3 different methods to observe adherence over 4 months in 131 asthmatic children requiring daily medication. One in 4 children used less than 25% of their medication, and 58% used less than half. Each of the 3 ways to measure if the children were taking their medications produced different challenges and errors, according to the study.

The study concluded that poor medication adherence in this study group establishes once again that non-adherence remains a major barrier to successful treatment, and also added there isn't a definitive way to measure adherence.

Intermittent asthma accounts for a substantial portion of asthma-related emergency department visits

Patients with intermittent asthma account for a substantial portion of asthma-related emergency department visits, according to findings presented by Robert T. Hsu, MD, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, and colleagues who analyzed pharmacy and diagnostic coding records from 202 adults ages 19 to 85 that were treated for asthma in the emergency department from April-July 2002.

Subjects were classified by asthma severity based on 2001- 2002 pharmacy records and emergency department visits for asthma. The study concluded that of 180 total visits for asthma, 48% occurred in patients with intermittent asthma (less than 4 asthma prescriptions in the past year). In addition, when the sub-group was analyzed, 40% of the patients needed no medications and 36% of the patients had required neither controller nor reliever medications in the year before the emergency department visit.

The AAAAI is the largest professional medical specialty organization in the United States representing allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease.

Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,300 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. The AAAAI serves as an advocate for the public by providing educational information through its Web site http://www.aaaai.org/ , and its Physician Referral and Information Line at (800) 822-2762.

Kids Use Alternative Medicine - Regular Doctors Still Don't Communicate Well

2006-03-06T20:20:00.000+11:00

Two studies published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood highlight two significant observations. The first is that quite large numbers of children are consumers of complementary or alternative medicine (CAM). The second highlights the perennial issue of communication between doctors and their patients.

Indeed both studies found that parents and their children were unlikely to discuss CAM use with their doctors. It is true that communication is the responsibility of all parties concerned but it seems reasonable that prime responsibility rests with the professional whose performance competency is contingent on truely successful communication.

One study explored the use of CAM by children seen at pediatric hospitals in Cardiff , Wales, U.K. and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Dr. Colin V. E. Powell, from University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and his associates interviewed approximately 500 children and their parents attending a major specialist hospital in Cardiff and also in Melbourne. They found CAM was used by 41 per cent of patients in Cardiff and 51 per cent in Melbourne.

Powell and his team found that Cardiff patients were less likely to use specific medicinal CAM, such as vitamins and minerals, herbs, or naturopathy, as well as non-medicinal CAM, such as chiropractic and therapeutic massage. Significantly, only about one third of patients or their parents reported CAM use to their doctors.

A different study by Dr. L. J. McCann from University College London and Dr. S. J. Newell from St. James's University Hospital in Leeds found that children with chronic diseases were three times more likely to use CAM than healthy children. The researchers interviewed parents of 25 children with cerebral palsy, 25 with inflammatory bowel disease, 25 with cancer, and 25 healthy "controls" regarding CAM use.

They found that children with chronic illnesses were significantly more likely to use CAM than their healthy counterparts -- 40 per cent versus 12 per cent. The sick children were also more likely to use complementary medications (21 per cent versus 4 per cent) -- primarily Echinacea, and herbal and Chinese remedies. They also observed that 55 per cent of parents whose children were using CAM had not discussed the issue with their doctor.

Alexa Ranking Update for 6 March 2006

2006-03-06T11:54:00.000+11:00

Well I finally have something to add to this ongoing tracking report. It turns out that the Blogger people have begun to tackle the spam problem in a more aggressive way. Aggressive, I hasten to point out, in the best possible way.

They have developed a blogger scanning algorithm that detects patterns in blog posts that tend to be associated with blog spam. That's a jolly good idea in my opinion. It is very good news that they are taking the battle right up to the spammers.

Actually, I recall being critical of them on this very point quite some time ago when I suggested that Google had mixed motives when it comes to spammers who promote Adsense. I expect they have been trying to come up with suitable spammer blocking approaches all along. After all, not all spammers promote Adsense.

Anyhow, Woffling On was flagged by the new anti-spam algorithm as a blog that portrayed spam attributes. I was shocked until I read the Blogger explanation. Then I understood what had happened. It is these regular tracking updates that had caused the problem.

Evidently the scanning algorithm found these updates as boring as I do! To the algorithm they are just repetitive posts of the same links to sites. In truth, they could easily be seen as just that. I felt quite uncomfortable, as though I had been doing something naughty.

However, there is a reason for these regular posts, as anyone silly enough (sorry ;-0) to read them knows. I am tracking the rise and fall of my little empire of health sites. It is rather repetitive and they do indeed always point to the same sites, naturally. So, what am I to do?

As it turns out, I requested a review by Blogger - by a human reviewer that is - and waited to see what would happen. Would I be labelled a spammer? It was entirely possible I thought, and though I would have felt it was totally untrue, I would have at least known that it was these updates that had been my undoing.

Fortunately, the review happened quite quickly and I was deemed acceptable. The poor reviewer who had to read my posts! So I have been "whitelisted" and am not required to enter a special text code to make every post (not that this would have bothered me since I do already log in manually to make every post anyway). It is indeed reassuring to know that I'm doing nothing wrong in posting the Alexa ranking saga.

However, this does seem like a good point to at least pause. After this update today I will cut the posts back to, say, monthly, or something like that. I can always post an immediate update if there are any major ranking changes.

So here we go, an update for today and probably the last one for March.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 84,307 to: 81,071 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved up from: 135,008 to: 132,428 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved up from: 143,626 to: 141,589 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 156,504 to: 151,269 (150,120)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 149,290 to: 146,656 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 212,731 to: 170,208*

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Well, at least I am pausing with a positive update. Stay well...

Planning For Food Safety - FDA Being Constructive

2006-03-03T01:04:00.000+11:00

Well this makes twice in quick succession that the FDA has come out with something I can support for a change. It may seem a tad bureaucratic, but it is actually quite practical, especially given the nature of the modern world. Now they have joined forces with a virtual alphabet salad to help produce a "Model Food Emergency Response Plan". Yes, really...

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in cooperation with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the availability of a model Food Emergency Response Plan Template. The goal of the response plan is to enhance the protection of the nation's agricultural industry and food security through prevention, detection, response, and recovery.

The template provides states with a guide to develop either a stand-alone emergency response plan for responding to a food-related emergency or an addendum to an existing all-hazard state emergency response plan. Useful planning tools include documents previously developed in cooperation with the DHS - national planning scenarios, target capabilities, and uniform task lists.

"FDA remains vigilant in its mission to protect our country's food supply and continues to maintain collaborative partnerships with our federal and state partners by planning for, monitoring and reacting to any potential threats," said Dr. Robert E. Brackett, Director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "By collaborating more closely with our partners involved in food safety and security, we will better leverage all of the available resources to be better prepared for any food emergency
incident."

Because a food emergency could occur at any point from farm to fork, including pre-harvest production, processing, and distribution, states can use the template to develop useful plans to manage a food emergency. In addition, states can establish a uniform structure and content that will result in response plans that are similar in structure, scope, and response operations among all states.

A food-related emergency involves the unintentional or deliberate contamination, threatened or actual, of food that impacts or may impact human health. A food emergency response plan does not apply to food incidents routinely handled by local or state health departments.

The response plan includes the following:

Concept of Operations - establishes the framework for actions (i.e., specific functions of a response) that will take place during an incident response.

Activation Levels - establish activation levels that provide decision makers with definitions of various degrees of an emergency.

Principal Parties - identification of all agencies, organizations and individuals (principal parties) needed to carry out the response.

Roles and Responsibilities for State, Federal, Tribal, and local agencies and the private sector.

The response plan was developed through a federal-state cooperative agreement and in consultation with a consortium of stakeholders. Federal representatives included USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). State representatives included the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

The Food Emergency Response Plan Template is available on the NASDA web site as a PDF document.

Something Useful from the FDA on Fruits and Vegetables

2006-03-02T20:40:00.000+11:00

To minimize microbial food safety hazards common to the processing of most fresh-cut fruits and vegetables sold to consumers in a ready-to-eat form, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today published a draft guidance document for producers of fresh-cut produce entitled "Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables."

"Fresh cut produce is the fastest growing sector of the fresh produce industry. This document should help to improve safety by providing clearer guidance on how to reduce health hazards that are potentially introduced during the production process," said Acting FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach.

Processing produce into fresh-cut produce increases the risk of bacterial contamination and growth by breaking the natural exterior barrier of the produce by peeling, slicing, coring, trimming, or mashing with or without washing or other treatment before being packaged for consumption. Examples of fresh-cut products are shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, salad mixes (raw vegetable salads), peeled baby carrots, broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, cut celery stalks, shredded cabbage, cut melons, sliced pineapple, and sectioned grapefruit.

This draft guidance discusses the production and harvesting of fresh produce and provides recommendations for fresh-cut processing in several areas-- (1) personnel health and hygiene, (2) training, (3) building and equipment, (4) sanitation operations, and (5) fresh-cut produce production and processing controls from product specification to packaging, storage and transport. The final chapters provide recommendations on recordkeeping and on recalls and tracebacks. The guide complements FDA's Current Good Manufacturing Practices regulations by providing specific guidance on the processing of fresh-cut produce.

In the draft guidance, FDA recommends that processors encourage the adoption of safe practices by their partners throughout the supply chain, including produce growers, packers, distributors, transporters, importers, exporters, retailers, food service operators, and consumers, to ensure that the processor's efforts will be enhanced. These practices include:

*Establishing a company policy that employees report any active case of illness to supervisors before beginning work and training;
*Training supervisors to recognize typical signs/symptoms of infectious disease; maintain the proper first aid to protect and cover any wound; and not allow an employee to work with any aspect of fresh or fresh-cut produce, processing equipment or tools until the wound has healed and/or the infectious disease has been treated.

The guidance also recommends that fresh-cut processors consider a preventive control program such as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system to build safety into the processing operations for fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. HACCP is a prevention-based food safety system designed to prevent, eliminate, or reduce to acceptable levels the microbial, chemical, and physical hazards associated with food production.

FDA believes awareness of the common risk factors discussed in this guidance and implementation of preventive controls determined by a firm to be appropriate to its individual operations will enhance the safety of fresh-cut fruits and vegetables.

Consumers can reduce their risk of illness from fresh-cut produce by following safe handling practices such as refrigerating the product after purchase; using only clean hands, utensils or dishes in preparing the product; and discarding the product when the "use by" date has expired. More information on safe handling practices of produce can be found at
http://portal.fightbac.org/pfse/toolsyoucanuse/phec/.

Written comments on the draft guidance may be submitted up to 60 days from the date it is published. Comments should be sent to FDA's Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, Md. 20852.

The draft guidance is accessible on the FDA Website at:
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/guidance.html.

It's good to see something positive and useful from the FDA for a change.

Alexa Ranking Update for 27 February 2006

2006-02-27T11:33:00.000+11:00

OK, I know this is getting boring, but I've explained the situation before, so I'm just getting on with the report.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 85,026 to: 84,307 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 130,743 to: 135,008 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 142,207 to: 143,626 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 150,120 to: 156,504 (150,120)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 147,166 to: 149,290 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 225,615 to: 212,731*

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Well, not a very positive update, except for the new high on the one site. All others seem to have stumbled.

Pain Management Article on New Article Site

2006-02-26T14:53:00.000+11:00

I want to announce a new article site. It turns out I was the first person to have an article accepted and published there. Woohoo!

The site is MarketingArticleBank.com and it's a brand new article directory or database of documents written by authors seeking to spread the word about something, usually their business or website. I was in the know, but I don't think anyone else has found it yet.

I published an article on a novel pain management technique. If you have an interest in controlling or treating pain just go and take a quick look. If you find it useful you can post it on the web, so long as you follow the simple rules of not changing it and keeping it all intact, including my active links.

Anyway, I just wanted to mention it here so go take a look if you're interested. Click the link above and you'll soon find my article.

Alexa Ranking Update for 23 February 2006

2006-02-23T16:51:00.000+11:00

Looks to have been a quick update again. Already!

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 85,238 to: 85,026 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved up from: 132,168 to: 130,743 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved up from: 143,410 to: 142,207 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 152,454 to: 150,120*

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 146,421 to: 147,166 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 230,553 to: 225,615 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Not a lot happening really, just some minor changes. At least there are no precipitous falls.

Alexa Ranking Update for 20 February 2006

2006-02-20T10:39:00.000+11:00

Back to the old schedule of updates it would seem.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 85,625 to: 85,238 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 131,856 to: 132,168 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 143,070 to: 143,410 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 156,392 to: 152,454*

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 144,017 to: 146,421 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 241,974 to: 230,553 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Not a lot happening really, just some minor changes. At least there are no precipitous falls.

Have a great week ans stay well.

Aussies Develop Successful Human Bird Flu Vaccine

2006-02-17T22:19:00.000+11:00

Australia's Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) announced today that it has successfully developed and tested a vaccine against the much hyped and feared H5N1 avian influenza (so-called "bird flu") virus strain in humans. A CSL spokesperson claimed to have already validated effectiveness of the vaccine but no details have been provided on precisely how they did this.

Protection involves a course of two vaccine injections and one immune system booster of an unspecified type. Testing is now proceding on children and the elderly to ensure a suitable protocol will be available for all age ranges.

The CSL spokesperson said the company could develop large scale vaccination batches within 6 weeks if needed.

My position against vaccination is well documented. I am also against the hype that has been deliberately orchestrated by those profiting from the concern, fear and terror engendered by the "bird flu" hysteria. Perhaps now that a reputable and trustworthy supplier has actually developed an effective vaccine and is finalising a set of protocols we can hope for some reduction in many people's anxiety.

Alexa Ranking Update for 16 February 2006

2006-02-16T12:25:00.000+11:00

Ok, just quickly now, it appears that another quick update has been performed already.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 87,687 to: 85,625 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 128,803 to: 131,856 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 140,686 to: 143,070 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 156,670 to: 156,392 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 142,628 to: 144,017 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 248,840 to: 241,974 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Once again, not much change really. Some of the falls from best rankings do seem disappointing.

Have a good weekend readers...

Alexa Ranking Update for 13 February 2006

2006-02-13T10:49:00.000+11:00

Ok, just quickly now...

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 88,112 to: 87,687 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 126,884 to: 128,803 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 139,348 to: 140,686 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 159,146 to: 156,670 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 142,740 to: 142,628 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 249,542 to: 248,840 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Again, not much change really.

Have a good week readers...

Women's Health Initiative A Farcical Waste

2006-02-10T20:06:00.000+11:00

The following article reprinted from The Health Gazette certainly won't get the exposure all of the reports giving space to the researchers involved will get, but if you are reading it now, at least that's one more person who may stop and think a little about the abuse of women that the Women's Health Initiative actually represents. Any way, here it is.

How disappointing. The grandiose Women's Health Initiative appears to be a complete misnomer. Well, to be fair, it is about women so complete may be a tad strong. It sure isn't about health though and it definitely lacked initiative, among other things.

The $628-million federally funded project involves more than 161,000 women -- 18% of them minorities, ages 50 to 79. It is widely billed as the largest, most comprehensive research study of women's health at midlife in the United States, which only goes to show that women's health is sadly neglected. The research program started in 1992. It aims to provide information about whether hormone, calcium and vitamin D supplements or a low-fat diet reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and osteoporosis in U.S. women after menopause.

Unfortunately it was poorly informed, designed and managed and though at times it appears to have amounted to little more than a farce, it did usefully conclude what many have always said, that hormone replacement therapy did more harm than good and that estrogen alone did not provide enough health benefits. Both segments of the hormone therapy trial had to be stopped early, in 2002 and 2004, because of increased risk of stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.

The fuss in the press today is about the findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reporting the outcome of the diet component of the "Initiative". This portion of the ongoing study included 48,835 women. The conclusions are that there is:

No significant differences in heart disease and stroke between women following a low-fat diet compared to those who did not.
A modest reduction in risk of breast cancer, but not high enough to be statistically significant.
No significant difference in colon cancer. Those with the healthier diet did have fewer polyps and benign tumors, but there's no telling if that will mean less colon cancer over time.

So, in short, the conclusion is that a low-fat diet isn't enough to protect women aged 50 to 79 from heart disease, colon cancer or breast cancer. Unfortunately, whether any of these findings are correct or not is impossible to tell from this ill-conceived study.

As the article in JAMA rightly points out, there are weaknesses in the study. I would call them fatal flaws. For example, consider the following.

It's possible that not enough women were able to achieve the required 20 percent dietary fat goal. At year six, the low-fat group got 29 percent of calories from fat, indicating that a fundamental difference that was intended to exist between the experimental and control groups according to the design, simply didn't exist.

The study did not offer sufficient guidelines about so-called bad fats, such as saturated or trans fats found in processed foods. Targeting saturated and trans fats may have been expected to pay off more in fewer heart attacks.

Astonishingly, exercise was not part of the study yet it may make a difference when combined with a low-fat diet. I believe this raises doubts about the ethical standing of the study.

Perhaps the study simply started too late in life and the changes need to be implemented well prior to the menopausal years.

Perhaps it takes longer for a diet-alone change to make a difference. The women were followed for an average of eight years.

Many women preferred fruits to vegetables. Vegetables might provide better protection but such details were not considered.

The diet study is one of the three clinical trials that make up the Women's Health Initiative. Results of the third trial, studying the effects of calcium and vitamin D supplements on osteoporosis-related bone fractures and on colorectal cancer, will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine next week.

Interestingly, according to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, in 1977, women consumed 45.5 percent of their calories from fat. This consumption of dietary fat fell to 35.9 percent in 1987 and to 33 percent in 2000. These figures are not exclusively for women aged 50 to 79 but they do represent a substantial reduction. However, deaths in women from heart disease, colon cancer and breast cancer have not declined.

To address these risks in both men and women a healthy lifestyle is required and that requires rather more than a half-hearted reduction in some fats in an otherwise uncontrolled, conventional diet. That researchers wasted so much funding and knowingly exposed so many women to uncontrolled risks when quality health education could instead have been provided is tragic. The Women's Health Initiative seems to have been an exercise in political grandstanding and academic career-building and in both cases the kudos is undeserved.

Alexa Ranking Update for 9 February 2006

2006-02-09T15:50:00.000+11:00

This Alexa ranking update caught me by surprise. There was an update quite recently and after the previous long period between updates I thought this one would be some time off. But here it is, ready or not!

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 88,388 to: 88,112 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 125,012 to: 126,884 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 136,991 to: 139,348 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 161,094 to: 159,146 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 142,688 to: 142,740 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 261,762 to: 249,542 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Well, not much change really. After my last post pointing out how far the rankings had dropped I had to laugh when I browsed to this site today and saw a Google add that said "Still biting your nails?". Fortunately I have a healthy sense of humor!

Have a good week readers...

Interesting Way To Uncover A Medical Breakthrough

2006-02-07T17:28:00.000+11:00

This is something I swiped from the Health Gazette. I think it's pretty interesting, see what you think.

Here is a story about a breakthrough in medical science. It is actually part of a sales page for a specialized investment adviser's service. I will place a link to the full copy below but please note that I am not affiliated with this service in any way and I am not endorsing it by sharing this with you. The copy is so well written and inherently interesting however, I thought you might find it worth your time. If you are an investor it may well be well worth your time to read the full pitch.

Gloria Richards never expected to go blind.

But like 20% of all men and women over 65, she had macular degeneration, which often leads to age-related blindness.

No more reading. No more golf. No more weekly bridge parties with the girls.

Life as Gloria knew it, would be over.

Then her doctor told her about a brand-new treatment -- a breakthrough technology so important to the medical community that it was recently featured over 1,625 times in scholarly scientific journals, like Scientific American, Science magazine, and in the academic reports of The National Academy of the Sciences.

Gloria’s doctor asked if she wanted to be one of the first to try this new treatment. Without hesitation, Gloria jumped at the chance.

The result?

Put simply, Gloria experienced a miracle.

She can see... with no drugs, no lasers, no surgery, and no side effects.

Dr. Philip A. Sharp, MIT professor and Nobel Prize-winner in medicine says of this technology, called RNA interference, "It’s the most important and exciting breakthrough of the decade, perhaps multiple decades."

In fact, RNA interference is so powerful that Technology Review magazine listed it as one of the "10 emerging technologies that will change your world." That’s because RNA interference doesn’t treat just macular degeneration -- it can be used to shut off nearly any disease in the human body -- just like shutting off a light switch.

Sounds unbelievable, right? I’d agree, but I’ve seen the proof for myself. This technology is as real as they come -- because it’s being put to practical use right now.

I’ll tell you all about how it works in just a moment.

You see, I’ve spent the past 3 years investigating this new technology first hand. I’ve met with over a half-dozen infectious disease experts, attended dozens of industry conferences, and visited top-level executives and CEOs. In short, this new technology is so powerful -- its applications are practically unlimited...

"There’s no doubt about it!!! ...RNA interference is a cure for Huntington’s disease and other expanded repeat diseases!!!"

-- Hereditary Disease Foundation, Official Website

"Many RNA interference companies are planning to tackle viral diseases, including hepatitis C, RSV, and HIV."

-- Financial Times, September 2005

"...Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center have developed a way to use RNA interference so that it permanently hampers breast cancer development."

-- Biotechnology Magazine, April 2005

It all began in a tiny greenhouse just outside San Francisco...

In 1986 a scientist named Richard Jorgenson was attempting to make the world’s most dazzling flower -- the deepest purple of petunias.

To do this, he added an extra purple-making gene to an already purple petunia.

Sounds logical, right?

But, unexpectedly, after adding the extra gene for purple, the flower turned bright white.

This tiny white petunia caused one of the biggest scientific mysteries in recent history. The world’s best and brightest scientists scurried to solve the puzzle...

Why does a purple flower turn white when an extra gene for purple is added?

This riddle went unsolved for more than a decade.

Then in 1998, 2 scientists, Dr. Craig Mello of The University Massachusetts and Dr. Andrew Fire of the Carnegie Institute in Washington, finally figured it out -- putting an end the decade long puzzle.

The riddle is solved!

When Richard Jorgenson added that extra purple gene to the petunia, he unknowingly activated an ancient defense mechanism that exists in every living cell.

Two scientists -- doctors Craig Mello and Andrew Fire -- discovered this process in 1998 -- solving the "great petunia riddle" -- and coined the term RNA interference.

How does RNA interference work?

When Jorgenson inserted that extra purple-producing gene into the tiny petunia, he activated a secret security device -- an enzyme, scientists call "the dicer." It’s called "the dicer" because it can literally "chop up" any disease, virus, bacteria, or fungus.

And that was the secret to discovering RNA interference. The dicer (or RNA interference) has to be activated to work -- or spurred into action. That’s why it took so long to discover this medical technology.

Back in Jorgenson’s white petunia, the dicer was activated when the unfamiliar invader (the extra purple gene) invaded the cell. Thinking it was a virus, "the dicer" kicked in -- and literally shut down all color producing genes to protect the flower from the foreign substance. Likewise, Jorgenson got a white flower -- one with no color.

In 2002, Thomas Tuschl, working out of the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Gottingen, Germany, discovered that RNA interference works in human cells.

Remember how Richard Jorgenson destroyed ALL color producing genes in a flower by inserting an extra color-producing gene? Well, Tuschl discovered that this same process works to destroy real human diseases.

According to The London Times, "The diseases that stand to benefit from RNA interference include Alzheimer’s, breast cancer, leukemia, schizophrenia, and many, many more."

The prestigious journal, Science magazine, hailed this discovery the #1 scientific breakthrough of the year.

It boils down to this: "An ancient immune system hiding in our genes has the power to switch off genes at will. We could soon be harnessing this awesome force to stop cancer and viruses dead," reports New Science magazine.

Tuschl found that if doctors want to destroy a particular disease, all they have to do is insert an "evil twin" of that disease to activate the dicer -- just like Jorgenson did in the petunia.

Think of RNA interference as "a virus for the virus."

Now, let’s say you want to treat macular degeneration.

Doctors simply insert an "evil twin" of the disease that reads, "make more blood vessels" underneath the retina -- that’s what causes the vision impairment. The dicer will "come alive," see that something is not quite right, and destroy genes that are making extra blood vessels.

And that’s exactly how Gloria Richard’s blinding eyes were healed.

Source: Sales copy for an investment advisory service run by Dave Lashmet available here:

http://www.stansberryonline.com/dil/20060202-DIL-JOR.asp?pcode=EDILG201&alias= 20060204&alias=launch&o=334443&u=12459167&l=784093

It is very high-tech and interventionist treatment and Big Pharma will be all over it, I'm sure. However, it pays to maintain balance and an open mind so for now I think this is something well worth keeping an eye on. Some otherwise untreatable diseases may be dealt a blow by such therapies and if the unwanted side effects can be genuinely kept to a minimum then this may be very welcome indeed.

I do find it fascinating that an apparently natural intracellular defence system has been uncovered in this quite recent research. I wonder how many other natural systems there are that natural therapists have been activating with their treatments for thousands of years, not knowing exactly how their treatments worked, but knowing that they work. How many more are to be discovered and hopefully better appreciated and understood?

I must say too, that discovering a treatment that involves inserting an "evil twin" sounds very much like the homeopathic principle of "like cures like". Who knows, perhaps homeopathic medicines have been activating this previously unknown intracellular "immune system," or yet another one like it, at an energy level for years.

Alexa Ranking Update 6 February 2006

2006-02-06T16:57:00.000+11:00

The frequent Alexa updates came to a halt and it has been quite some time since the last one. The passage of time didn't help much though, as you can see below.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 87,665 to: 88,388 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 110,780 to: 125,012 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 117,337 to: 136,991 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 165,499 to: 161,094 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 125,959 to: 142,688 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 250,239 to: 261,762 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Yes, the declines have largely continued, even accelerated. Did someone say these rankings are purely for entertainment value?

People As Lab Rats For The FDA

2006-02-04T13:29:00.000+11:00

The drugs approved as safe for marketing and prescription to consumers in the U.S. are constantly monitored by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The monitoring system is seriously flawed, being little more than the next stage of drug testing "in the wild". This effectively reduces consumers to the level of "lab rat" as their experiences, or some of them anyway, are recognized and reported to the FDA.

If consumers grin-and-bear-it through some unwanted reaction and hence it is not reported or if for any other reason it is not conveyed to the FDA, it will not contribute to knowledge of the drug's performance. Equally, if the reaction is already well documented it will frequently go unreported.

Nevertheless, every month the FDA releases one more month's worth of changes to the Contraindications, Boxed Warnings, Warnings, Precautions and Adverse Reactions information associated with the drugs and medical equipment it has previously approved. This data is released in a quite timely fashion actually, but monthly summaries are provided in arrears. For example, the November 2005 summary has just been released.

In this November data some 55 products are included. Eight Contraindcation updates were made, three Boxed Warning updates, 14 Warnings updates, 41 Precautions updates and 17 Adverse Reactions updates. That's a lot of updates and they represent a lot of problems associated with these approved products. I think this is actually just the tip of the iceberg.

While much of the material is best suited to medical or health professional consumption, there is some value for anyone in perusing the data. In any event, take a look at the scope and the types of problems that the FDA is comfortable continuing to expose consumers to. Their Summary is presented below.

More details about the updated drugs may be found in the remainder of this article.

Natural Antibiotics

2006-02-03T21:00:00.000+11:00

I posted the following article at The Health Gazette and on reading through it quickly felt it was a woffle, so Im posting it here too!!

I regularly make references to using natural antibiotics for bacterial infections in preference to the synthetic drugs from the pharmaceutical companies. There are some very good reasons for this.

Every single prescription antibiotic from the drug companies carries significant risks. To exemplify, just some of the direct risks to the consumer include:

Allergic reactions ranging from a mild rash to severe anaphylaxis resulting in death.
Mild to severe and debilitating gastrointestinal upset, most of which patients are encouraged to put up with unless very severe.
Serious damage such as permanent deafness resulting from damage to the acoustic nerve, in the case of intravenous gentamycin, for example.

Another type of risk to the consumer is being prescribed an antibiotic that increases risk but conveys no benefit whatsoever (not including rare cases where prophylaxis can be justified). This includes:

When a viral illness or allergy is seen but no bacterial infection is present (a very common occurrence, with doctors who over prescribe and mis-prescribe for various reasons).
When an incorrect antibiotic is prescribed which is not specific for the particular infecting organism.

Other risks apply to the patient and everyone else. These are the risks that the medical profession has to accept ultimate responsibility for. These relate to the massive problem caused by over reliance and indiscriminate prescription of antibiotics resulting in development of so-called super bugs, bacteria that are resistant to one or more antibiotic groups.

This population-wide risk is quite serious. It means that very dangerous bacteria have been developed, antibiotics that may have been helpful have been rendered useless and in response to the evolving strains of bacteria, the drug makers have responded with ever more powerful -- and more dangerous -- antibiotics. The results to date have had devestating consequences and many lives have been lost as a result.

Interestingly, the above problems are virtually unheard of when natural antibiotics are used instead of pharmaceuticals. The worst I have encountered in decades is some very mild irritation with my favorite topical antibiotic and some very minor gastric upset with my favorite oral antibiotics. These risks are entirely justified given the efficacy of the treatment and absence of the major risks cited above.

So what are these natural antibiotics? Well, there are plenty, but here are just a few.

My favorite topical antibiotic is tea tree oil. It is a remarkable substance derived from the leaves of the native Australian Melaleuca alternifolia tree. Unlike conventional antibiotics tea tree oil is effective against yeasts and fungi in addition to bacterial infections and I have even used it very successfully on viral erruptions.

For example, it has proven effective in bacterial conditions as diverse as acne, throat infections, halitosis (from infections in the oral cavity) and wound infections. It is also effective in treating conditions such as athlete's foot, jock itch, ringworm, fungal infections of the toenails or fingernails and yeast infections. Applied to cold sores, a manifestation of herpes viral infection, either during the warning tingling stage or early after erruption, it is extremely effective (just keep it out of your eyes).

If using tea tree oil, be sure that you have 100% pure tea tree oil. For most applications use 5-15% solutions daily, whether applied to the exterior or used as a gargle or mouthwash (don't swallow) or douche. In the case of herpes I disregard some people's advice and use a neat strength applied very specifically to the affected area with a cotton bud. Everyone should have a bottle of tea tree oil at home. Just remember to store it securely away from children because it is a concentrated product, though every bottle I've ever seen has had a secure tamper-proof cap.

Notice that while oral pharmaceutical antibiotics can be very hit and miss antibacterials, they have no effect against viral, fungal or yeast infections. Indeed, they often are the cause of overgrowths of yeasts. This is because, whether or not they kill the infecting organism, they always kill good bacteria which keep these in check, thereby allowing yeasts and undesirable bacteria to flourish.

The natural antibiotics don't have this problem. Not only do they tend not to kill the desirable bacteria, avoiding the overgrowth problem, several also are actually effective against the other types of organisms. So instead of having undesirable side effects they have bonus beneficial effects. Let's consider some examples.

The first is grape seed extract (GSE). I will allow the following quote to explain the usefulness of GSE because it presents the use of a natural antibiotic to deal with antibiotic-resistant infections. This illustrates the effectiveness and serves to introduce the care with which natural antibiotics should be used. Note the recommended treatment regimen in the second paragraph.

There are many herbs and essential oils that kill enterococcus, staphylococcus and other bacteria as well as viruses, which antibiotics are unable to treat. One of the most popular is grapefruit seed extract, or GSE, made from the seeds and connecting tissue of citrus fruit. In the October 1996 edition of his Alternatives newsletter (Mountain Home Publishing, 1201 Seven Locks Road, Rockville, MD 20854), David G. Williams, D.C., described an elderly woman with VRE who was successfully treated for five days with a product that contains 100 mg grapefruit seed extract, 200 mg Artemisia annua (annual wormwood or sweet Annie) and 200 mg Echinacea angustifolia, 1 capsule 3 times daily. After repeated cultures showed her to be free of the VRE infection, two other VRE patients received the same treatment. Because conventional medicine has nothing to offer VRE patients, this is exciting news -- but, as Williams explained, it isn't news you're likely to read outside of his publication, for the physicians using this unapproved, unconventional therapy have no interest in creating a medical controversy by reporting their results. "If you have any upcoming surgery or hospital stays, or if you work in a hospital setting," he wrote, "I would suggest keeping some of this [type of]product around. I would also consider pre-dosing 3 or 4 days prior to any surgery, as well as taking the product for a week or so following the procedure."

Although pathogens have a more difficult time adapting to natural products, which have a more complex molecular structure than pharmaceutical chemicals, daily exposure might eventually allow some microbes to survive, mutate and become resistant to grapefruit seed extract, just as they are resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics. Although GSE is believed to be free of adverse side effects, large doses over time may disrupt the body's balance of beneficial bacteria. Two healthcare professionals of my acquaintance have mentioned seeing this disruption in people who have taken large doses of grapefruit seed extract for a month or more. Any herb that is used on a daily basis may become less effective when needed. Alternating grapefruit seed extract with other antiseptic herbs is an effective strategy. So is taking these herbs in "courses," in which a product is taken for several days and then stopped for a day or two before being resumed (five days on and two days off is a popular regimen), for no more than a month or six weeks before being replaced by another herb.

Puotinen, C.J. Natural solutions to drug-resistant infections, Well Being Journal, 9,1, January/February 2000.

The next natural antibiotic is at least equally effective as an antiviral agent and also eliminates fungal and yeast infections. It is olive leaf extract (OLE). When early investigation by the pharmaceutical industry encountered problems they lost interest. Those problems have been solved and OLE is now used for a wide variety of health benefits besides those mentioned here. The following quote demonstrates the broad spectrum of anti-viral and anti-bacterial effectiveness.

... the researchers at Upjohn found calcium elenolate effective in test tube experiments against the following viruses: herpes, vaccinia, pseudorabies, Newcastle, Coxsacloe A 21, encepthlomyocarditis, polio 1, 2, and 3, vesicular stomititus, sindbis, reovirus, Moloney Murine leukemia, Rauscher Murine leukemia, Moloney sarcoma, and many influenza and parainfluenza types.

They found it effective against these bacteria and parasitic protozoans: lactobacillus plantarum W50, brevis 50, pediococcus cerevisiae 39, leuconostoc mesenteroides 42, staphylococcus aureus, bacillus subtilis, enterobacteraerogenes NRRL B-199, E. cloacae NRRL B-414, E. coli, salamonella tyhimurium, pseudomonas fluorescens, P. solanacearum, P. lachrymans, erwinia carotovora, E. tracheiphila, xanthomonas vesicatoria, corynesbacterium Michiganese, plasmodium falciparum, virax and malariae.

The researchers credit a number of unique properties possessed by the olive leaf compound for the broad killing power:

An ability to interfere with critical amino acid production essential for viruses.
An ability to contain viral infection and/or spread by inactivating viruses or by preventing virus shedding, budding or assembly at the cell membrane.
The ability to directly penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication.
In the case of retroviruses, it is able to neutralize the production of reverse transcriptase and protease. These enzymes are essential for a retrovirus, such as HIV, to alter the RNA of a healthy cell.
It can stimulate phagocytosis, an immune system response in which cells ingest harmful microorganisms and foreign matter.

The research suggests that this may be a "true anti-viral" compound because it appears to selectively block an entire virus-specific system in the infected host. It thus appears to offer healing effects not addressed by pharmaceutical antibiotics.

James R. Privitera, M.D., Olive Leaf Extract A New/Old Healing Bonanza for Mankind

Other popular natural antibiotics include garlic, echinacea and golden seal. Also, you should not overlook the role of vitamin C (usually by high-dose intravenous therapy in serious infections) in either directly providing antibiosis or, like the herbs mentioned already, assisting by boosting immune function to help the body help itself in combatting infections.

Natural antibiotics are powerful and effective and should be treated with great respect. Given the serious damage caused by pharmaceutical antibiotics, both at the individual and community levels, we are very fortunate to have natural antibiotics. I recommend that you take action to ensure your good health and avoid infections but if you do ever need an antibiotic I suggest you locate an enlightened doctor who will use natural antibiotics. If your infection is minor you may even be able to successfully treat yourself.

FDA Reduces Drug Safety and Consumer Rights

2006-01-26T08:32:00.000+11:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), though it has improved a drug labeling regulation through revisions announced January 18, continues to ignore the fact that its rule will not guarantee patients the most accurate, up-to-date information about their medications, Public Citizen said today.

Further, in an end-run around Congress, the FDA has added to the rule a preamble designed to preempt lawsuits filed by patients under state law, potentially leaving victims of FDA-approved drugs with no remedy for any harm caused by the approved drug.

Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group, said revisions in the final version of the rule released today will simplify and prioritize the labeling information that doctors receive. But the vast majority of patients will not get that information unless they specifically request it. Instead, they commonly receive patient information leaflets (PILs) that are commercially produced but whose content is not scrutinized by the FDA.

"The FDA’s own study has shown that the content of unregulated leaflets gets a failing grade (average 50 out of 100) in conveying the most important information to patients," Wolfe said. The agency has the authority to require agency-approved 'medication guides' for each new prescription and refill but has done so for only about 75 drugs.

"It is time to end the double standard where doctors and other health professionals are informed by FDA-approved labeling, but patients are treated like second-class citizens, receiving whatever the out-of-control purveyors of patient information leaflets choose to dispense," Wolfe said. "This is a dangerous situation, made worse by the FDA’s poor record of approving harmful drugs based on limited, and even fraudulent, clinical trials performed by the drug companies."

In a further blow to consumers, the final rule now contains a preamble aimed at preempting the rights of patients to sue drug manufacturers if a drug is approved by the FDA. The Bush administration has previously failed to persuade Congress and, with a few exceptions, the courts (where it has filed amicus briefs) to shield drug makers from liability.

"The new tactic of writing preemption language into federal regulation notices is an attempt to bypass Congress and override consumer protection liability laws," said Public Citizen President Joan Claybrook. The administration has also used such language in recently proposed automobile safety rules.

"This is a sneak attack on consumer rights," Claybrook said. "President Bush is once again abusing his executive powers, this time in his attempt to protect the big pharmaceutical companies from the consequences of their actions. Thousands of people in this country have died or been seriously injured by drugs approved by the FDA, and this administration is saying it doesn’t think people should have any recourse."

It remains unclear what impact the language will have on liability cases.

"Ultimately, we are confident that the courts will not defer to the FDA’s opinion on preemption, which is not based on any authority given to the FDA by Congress," said Brian Wolfman, director of the Public Citizen Litigation Group and an expert on preemption law. "In the meantime, however, the drug companies will be emboldened by this preemption statement, and use it to complicate injury cases and deter victims from seeking justice in the courts."

Drug labeling has been a problem for decades.

In 1981, the Reagan administration cancelled a proposed regulation requiring FDA-approved leaflets to be dispensed with prescriptions just before the rule was to go into effect. The abrupt reversal came at the behest of drug companies, pharmacy organizations and some physician groups. Private sector-designed leaflets, not approved by the FDA, thereby continued to be the norm.

Several years ago, shortly after Dr. Mark B. McClellan became FDA commissioner, he listed as one of his top five priorities helping consumers obtain truthful information about products they use so they can make informed decisions. The FDA could go a long way toward achieving this priority by immediately moving forward with a long-overdue initiative to require the mandatory distribution of FDA-approved written drug information with each new and refill prescription, Wolfe said.

In a study conducted several years ago by the University of Wisconsin for the FDA, although 89 percent of consumers were receiving some sort of information (unregulated PILs) when a prescription was filled, none of the approximately 1,300 leaflets studied for four common drugs achieved minimum goals for useful, scientifically accurate drug information. As measured by eight objective criteria, the overall usefulness of information was about 50 percent. According to the authors, "a majority of leaflets did not include adequate information about contraindications, precautions, and how to avoid harm."

"The notion that consumer drug information can be 50 percent useful is unfathomable," Wolfe said. "Drug information that communicates only half of what it should is misleading, and misleading drug information is potentially dangerous."

It seems as though the FDA can't take a trick. For every pace forwards it takes two paces back. There is no doubt whatsoever that the FDA basically protects Big Pharma, not consumers.

FDA Requires Food Manufacturers to List Food Allergens on Labels

2006-01-24T13:32:00.000+11:00

The following is a press release from the FDA announcing new food labeling laws in the USA. These labeling requirements are very welcome and good news indeed for the large number of people who suffer, not only from true allergies such as those mentioned below, but also for the much larger number of people who suffer from food sensitivities.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring food labels to clearly state if food products contain any ingredients that contain protein derived from the eight major allergenic foods. As a result of the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004 (FALCPA), manufacturers are required to identify in plain English the presence of ingredients that contain protein derived from milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, or soybeans in the list of ingredients or to say "contains" followed by name of the source of the food allergen after or adjacent to the list of ingredients.

"I applaud Congress for the passage of FALCPA," said Andrew C. von Eschenbach, M.D., Acting FDA Commissioner. "Chairman Joe Barton and Ranking Member John D. Dingell in the House, Energy and Commerce Committee were instrumental in moving this bipartisan legislation forward. Representative Nita Lowey was the original sponsor of the legislation. FDA also applauds the dedication and leadership of the legislation's sponsors in the Senate, which include Senators Judd Gregg and Edward Kennedy."

This labeling will be especially helpful to children who must learn to recognize the presence of substances they must avoid. For example, if a product contains the milk-derived protein, casein, the product's label will have to use the term "milk" in addition to the term "casein" so that those with milk allergies can clearly understand the presence of the allergen they need to avoid.

It is estimated that 2 percent of adults and about 5 percent of infants and young children in the United States suffer from food allergies. Approximately 30,000 consumers require emergency room treatment and 150 Americans die each year because of allergic reactions to food.

"The eight major food allergens account for 90 percent of all documented food allergic reactions, and some reactions may be severe or life-threatening," said Robert E. Brackett, PhD, Director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "Consumers will benefit from improved food labels for products that contain food allergens."

FALCPA does not require food manufacturers or retailers to relabel or remove from grocery or supermarket shelves products that do not reflect the additional allergen labeling as long as the products were labeled before the effective date. As a result, FDA cautions consumers that there will be a transition period of undetermined length during which it is likely that consumers will see packaged food on store shelves and in consumers' homes without the revised allergen labeling.

For more information about FALCPA, visit FDA's food allergy page at http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wh-alrgy.html.

For more details about food allergies and sensitivities see this Health Gazette article.

Google Like A Sore Thumb

2006-01-18T22:43:00.000+11:00

Here is an interesting article snippit that highlights Google's financially precarious position. This is definitely not a stock to own at this time, unless you use put options.

For a quick and dirty comparison, here is a list of large American corporations. The market value of each of these companies is around $140 billion. Beside each company you’ll find annual sales for 2005, in billions.

JPMorgan --------------- $50
IBM -------------------- $94
Berkshire Hathaway ----- $76
ChevronTexaco ---------- $174
Proctor & Gamble ------- $58
Google ----------------- $4

Can you spot the over-valuation?

Even though Google earned only $1 billion last quarter, its costs are out of control. Google is paying $1 billion for 5% of AOL. It’s building 1 million square feet of office space within the NASA research park at Moffett Field in California.

They want to provide free wireless internet to everyone in San Francisco. They recently bought a new Boeing 767-200 wide body airliner with two staterooms and a shower. This kind of spending smacks of the internet craze of the late 90s.

We can’t use Google’s entry to the Hunny Club as a sell signal. There’s still too much upward momentum and we’d likely end up on the trash heap like all those other analysts.

But one thing is for sure: Sooner or later, just like those other market darlings, Google will be kicked out of the Hunny Club. When that happens, it may be an excellent chance to make some money.

Health Tip -- Strictly Avoid Aspartame

2006-01-17T15:25:00.000+11:00

Legislative efforts to ban the neurotoxic artificial sweetener aspartame are about to be actioned in New Mexico; Bills to ban Thimerosal, the Mercury filler in vaccines and to create strong Nutrition Council are already on Governor Richardson's Agenda for 30 day session, convening Jan. 17.

A bill to ban the neurotoxic artificial sweetener aspartame will be introduced in the New Mexico legislature on January 17. This will be the first legislative ban in the USA on aspartame. The bill is introduced by New Mexico State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino.

New Mexico Governor Richardson believes that states must take back some of the FDA's regulatory power, because "the FDA isn't doing anything," (quote: Dec.23, 2005) and "isn't doing enough to warn people about the dangers of aspartame" (quote to medical writer for Albuquerque Journal, October 5, 2005).

Richardson has already placed on the "call" (his agenda for the coming 30 day session) a bill to ban Thimerosal, the mercury filler used in vaccines, and a bill to create a New Mexico Nutrition Council, with specific powers to question and challenge FDA approved products. These important bills are sponsored by the President Pro Tem of the NM Senate, Ben Altamirano.

Stephen Fox, author of the bill to create the Nutrition Council and the bill to ban aspartame is happy to answer questions on these 3 vital bills which could result in a new era of consumer protection. Stephen Fox may be found at 217 W. Water, Santa Fe, NM, or reached by telephone on 87501 505 983-2002.

US Senator Bingaman is considering the issue of aspartame's neurotoxicity. He may ask the Senate to ask the FDA Commissioner to rescind the approval for aspartame.

The artificial sweetener, Aspartame, is a carcinogenic neurotoxin. One of its metabolites is formaldehyde. A recent study by the Ramazzini Oncology Foundation links it to 6 kinds of cancer, as reported on the National Institute of Health website in November 2005.

The FDA has refused to rescind its approval of aspartame, allowing it to be used in coffee sweeteners, "diet" beverages, "low-fat" yogurt and "sugarless" gum, to name just some of the 6000 products consumed by 70% of Americans and 40% of our children that contain the product. It is also in over 500 children's medications.

Interestingly, UK Member of Parliament from Wales, Roger Williams, on December 14, 2005, asked Parliament for a total United Kingdom ban on aspartame citing recent proof of its neurotoxicity.

So take heed of the free health tip to strictly avoid any and all products containing the artificial sweetener aspartame.

Alexa Ranking Update for 12 January 2006

2006-01-12T16:14:00.000+11:00

Well Alexa seem to be updating really frequently again so here we go again.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 84,735 to: 87,665 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 104,681 to: 110,780 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 109,269 to: 117,337 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 163,008 to: 165,499 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 120,817 to: 125,959 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 250,239 to: 250,239 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Yes, the declines have largely continued. It is certainly a bit disappointing.

Well, dems da breaks, as they say.

How New Mexico Can Influence Your Health

2006-01-12T11:09:00.000+11:00

Do you know what is happening in New Mexico? Do you care? You should! And you would if you knew how important it could be to you, wherever you live and travel.

This update is provided by the dedicated health campaigner Stephen Fox. He is certainly in a position to let everyone know what's happening because Stephen is the petitioner in this matter. Even if you are already conversant with what is happening, please read the important message at the foot of this article. Now it's over to Stephen.

DISCUSSION DRAFT and COMMENTARY ON BILL FOR BANNING ASPARTAME IN NEW MEXICO

STATUTORY AUTHORITY, CONTEXT, AND LOCATION FOR ADDED LANGUAGE:

NMSA 25-2-10 is clear on this matter: "a food shall be deemed to be adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health," and the responsibility of the Attorney General or the District Attorneys, to institute prosecution is made clear also, in NM 25-2-7.

This is made further clear in NMSA 25-2-13: "Any poisonous or deleterious substance added to any food, except where such substance is required in the production thereof....shall be deemed to be unsafe."

ADDED LANGUAGE: It is the sense of the Legislature that it is imperative for human health in New Mexico to declare forthwith that the artificial sweetener, aspartame and all of its trade names, because of the proven effects of its neurotoxic and carcinogenic metabolites, is a poisonous and deleterious food additive and adulterant, and as such will be prohibited from sale in New Mexico.

The Legislature also finds that federal authorities have not intended to or expressed an intention to occupy and preempt the areas of concern herein, regarding prohibiting toxic, neurotoxic, carcinogenic, poisonous, and deleterious food additives, and that therefore, the legislature may take such an action regarding a prohibition of the sale of aspartame-containing products, and all of their trade names, in order to protect and ensure public health and safety for all New Mexicans.

News on the Legislature: Governor could ban Aspartame/Formaldehyde in 2006; Bill by Senator Ortiz y Pino

The artificial sweetener, Aspartame, is a carcinogenic neurotoxin since one of its metabolites is formaldehyde. The recent Ramazzini Foundation of Oncology's study proves it to cause 6 kinds of cancer: this report was posted on the National Institute of Health website in November 2005. Physicians and plaintiff's lawyers have been excoriating aspartame's carcinogenicity since the 70's. The FDA refuses to rescind its approval, so aspartame is found in coffee sweeteners, "diet" beverages, "low-fat" yogurt, "sugarless" gum -- a total of 6000 products consumed by 70% of Americans and 40% of our children.

On January 3, the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board postponed the 5 day hearing, originally scheduled for July 06, till January 07, because they were still waiting for the Attorney General's Opinion they had requested November 7, as is also the NM Pharmacy Board, which requested it November 14 [Aspartame is in over 500 children's medications; I have asked the Pharmacy Board for a ban in order to protect New Mexico's children].

Other Attorneys General, particularly Bill Lockyer of California, Eliot Spitzer of New York, and Mike Hatch of Minnesota, comprehend the level of consumer protection necessary to protect health. Lockyer is suing 9 mega fast food corporations to require labeling every bag of French fries stating: "This product contains a chemical which is known to the state of California to cause cancer." Heating potato starch to 400 degrees turns it to carcinogenic acrylamide.

I told New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer on June 1 about our aspartame/FDA efforts; he immediately replied: "the FDA is a joke!"

In March 2005, Minnesota AG Mike Hatch entered an amicus curie brief in the case against Pfizer by a widow of a man who committed suicide because the Zoloft was making him suicidal, in support of the widow. The brief stated that no company can hide behind the FDA approval of their product when the product does harm under Minnesota's tort and product liability laws. Judge Rosenbaum later agreed, rejecting Pfizer's request for a Summary Dismissal on the basis of its FDA approval for Zoloft.

Richardson stated in December that he is in favor of states taking back some of the power given to the FDA, because "the FDA doesn't do anything," and applied the same strong consumer protection principles by putting a bill to ban Thimerosal/Mercury from vaccines on the Agenda for this coming session. Seven other states have done this already. No New Mexican of any age should be injected with these large amounts of mercury: it is one of the most deadly neurotoxins of all and many flu shots have it.

I have asked the Governor to also place a bill on his 2006 Agenda banning aspartame from sale in New Mexico. This is long overdue; it would be a precedent for New Mexico to pass such a bill in 2006 and not have to wait for the 2007 long session. When it comes to toxicology and the need to remove this deadly neurotoxin from foods and medicines, six months or nine months or 18 months is an eternity.

After EIB temporarily caved in to the demands of the world's largest Aspartame and MSG manufacturer, the Ajinomoto Corporation of Japan. I called US Senator Bingaman, asking him to read out sections of the Italian study on the floor of the Senate, asking the FDA Commissioner to immediately rescind the approval for aspartame. This happened in 1969 when President Nixon asked the FDA commissioner to rescind cyclamates approval, after it became clear that it was causing cancer. Aspartame violates and cyclamates violated the 1958 Delaney Amendment, which prohibits any chemical causing cancer to be knowingly added to food products. The Italian study proves the cancer causality beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt.

UK Parliament member from Wales, Roger Williams, has asked for a total United Kingdom ban on aspartame. When Governor Richardson puts this bill on the agenda, the FDA will immediately move toward rescinding aspartame's approval. Industries should switch to Stevia or Xylitol, both non-toxic natural sweeteners, and they wouldn't have to lose a dime of their sacred profits!

President Bush won't do anything about aspartame; the FDA ignores letters and citizen's petitions; the state EIB has basically failed in a regulatory sense by postponing hearings till 2007, so the Legislature and the Governor's agenda are truly the last hope for protecting New Mexican's health, and such a bill could go into effect in July 2007. We have a NM Senate sponsor: the Honorable Gerald Ortiz y Pino. Please write to Governor Richardson and encourage him to put a bill to ban aspartame on his Agenda for 2006.

Governor Richardson's fax # is 505 476-2226. Thank you!

Respectfully,

Stephen Fox
217 W. Water, Santa Fe, NM 87501 505 983-2002
stephen @ santafefineart.com

Today is January 12, 2006. Right NOW we need LOTS of letters to be emailed to Govenor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Express thanks for his efforts to date in ridding New Mexico of Aspartame and strongly urge him to move forward on this matter as soon as possible. Remember, a victory against the use of aspartame in New Mexico will certainly spread to other jurisdictions. The banning of aspartame will benefit the health and wellbeing of millions of people, including you and your loved ones.

Emails can be sent directly using the form here: http://www.governor.state.nm.us/emailchoice.php?mm=6

Alexa Ranking Update for 9 January 2006

2006-01-09T15:40:00.000+11:00

As I said last time, Alexa is well and truely back on the job and another update is already upon us. I seem to be so busy still that the onlly post I am managing to get onto this site are these increasingly tiresome Alexa updates.

Anyway,here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 83,766 to: 84,735 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 101,864 to: 104,681 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 106,591 to: 109,269 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 162,412 to: 163,008 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 119,478 to: 120,817 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 238,132 to: 250,239 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

Yes, the declines have largely continued. For now that's just too bad.

I do feel a bit stuck here. The updates are indeed getting to be a drag, but I refuse to quit doing them while I'm in decline in the ranking. That just wouldn't seem right. So I'm stuck with them for now. Perhaps I will find incentive to promote traffic for the sites to raise their rankings just so I can stop this series on a high!

Alexa Ranking Update for 6 Jan 06

2006-01-06T20:18:00.000+11:00

Alexa is well and truely back on the job and another update is already upon us.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 81,951 to: 83,766 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 99,365 to: 101,864 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 105,124 to: 106,591 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 162,824 to: 162,412 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 116,032 to: 119,478 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 233,248 to: 238,132 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

The across-the-board declines have almost universally continued. It is disappointing to have fallen out of the top 100,000 in two sites but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Alexa Update Report 3 January 2006

2006-01-03T16:08:00.000+11:00

It has been quite a while since my last rankings update. However, I haven't actually missed any, they simply haven't been updated during the festive season, although the tireless systems that record the data have clearly been at work.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 72,108 to: 81,951 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 86,281 to: 99,365 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 89,223 to: 105,124 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 155,522 to: 162,824 (155,522)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved down from: 105,672 to: 116,032 (105,672)

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 219,230 to: 233,248 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

The picture is quite clear this time. There has been an across-the-board decline in all rankings.

I suppose at this time of year most surfers are looking at places other than health-related sites. Perhaps soon after the festivities and holidays end and the damage done becomes obvious there will be a return to health. We shall see.

Have a great 2006!

URGENT Health Issue in New Mexico that Effects YOU TOO

2006-01-03T11:44:00.000+11:00

Welcome to 2006. There is high drama unfolding in New Mexico that will either resolve to ensure a substantial improvement in the health and wellbeing of the good people of that state, and support a flow-on effect of great importance to the health of many millions more people OR their will be a capitulation to the insideous powers of corporate giants and the influence they can buy, resulting in untold health damage now and for years to come.

The stakes are indeed high and you may be able to help tip the balance in a positive way. Will you help? Read the following article that I am reprinting here in the public interest, with assumed permission (I have not asked, but I believe the author would approve). Then, if at all possible, please take action as indicated at the end of the article. The article follows below.

Editorial from Gershon Siegel, Publisher, Monthly Sun, formerly Eldorado Sun permpress @ aol.com

Real consumer protection is not about the easiest path. Corporate interests need to be held in check and admonished and rebuked when it is necessary - not after the fact in huge lawsuits for damages like we just saw resolved in the Vioxx case in Texas.

Over the years the Sun has examined the medical and legal implications of the artificial sweetener aspartame. For New Mexico, a critical crossroads is approaching in the very near future, not concerning aspartame as a potential neurotoxin, but rather questioning whether or not the state of New Mexico, through its Board of Pharmacy, Environmental Improvement Board and Board of Education, has the right even to investigate such a potential.

This legal-authority question has been asked of the attorney general, Patricia Madrid, whose office is presently preparing a formal opinion as to whether our state's boards can legitimately challenge a Food and Drug Administration-approved product like aspartame. The FDA's approval was flawed, if not corrupt, to begin with, as was made clear in the September 2005 Sun article "Rumsfeld's Disease." Therefore it seems incomprehensible that such a faulty FDA approval could not be questioned by a state board having heard a significant amount of evidence thus far.

But this is just what corporate lawyers representing the Japanese firm Ajinomoto, the world's largest aspartame manufacturer, would like the boards and the attorney general to believe. Ajinomoto is joined in this legal effort by an industry front group, the Calorie Control Council. They have both hired high-powered lawyers to silence the boards on the grounds that aspartame is "safe" and that, besides, no one but the FDA, Congress and the federal courts can challenge any of the FDA's approval processes, at least until someone dies from an FDA-approved product.

In spite of the industry front group's innocent-sounding name, and given previous and most recent scientific studies indicating the harmful affects of aspartame, we take exception to Ajinomoto's assertion of aspartame safety. Coincidently, Ajinomoto also happens to be the world's largest manufacturer of another dubious food additive, monosodium glutamate. We encourage the attorney general to issue a strong opinion supporting the boards looking into aspartame in children's medicines and in thousands of food products.

Neurodegenerative diseases are on the upsurge, especially in children and in the elderly, and no corporate interest can silence or thwart the ongoing quest for medical truth. Protecting our children lies at the very core of our existence, and most certainly the attorney general knows this.We'd like Madrid to recognize the obvious: that in 1981 the FDA's approval was politically motivated and that these corporate interests have stymied the real truth about aspartame for the last 24 years through the evolution of "diet" beverages, "sugarless" gum, "low fat" yogurt and other pleasant delusions whose net effect has been shown to cause neurodegenerative mayhem in the human physiology. It is time to put an end to this destructive mythology and corporate deception.

Attorney General Madrid could roll over and capitulate to the corporate interests, as if it were the FDA itself that is making the preemption arguments, which is not the case. From a bureaucratic point of view, this might be the easiest thing to do. However, real consumer protection is not about the easiest path. Corporate interests need to be held in check and admonished and rebuked when it is necessary - not after the fact in huge lawsuits for damages like we just saw resolved in the Vioxx case in Texas.As part of the attorney general's statutory duties and powers, it is her job to protect New Mexicans from further neurotoxic exposure. Therefore, we strongly encourage Madrid to say no to the corporate clamor insisting that the Board of Pharmacy and the Environmental Improvement Board remain silent on this issue, and instead affirm their right to move forward with aspartame hearings.

In the past, when local laws have threatened corporate bottom lines, big business has hauled out the Constitution's supremacy and commerce clauses to support their profits-over-people argument. This tactic has usually proved successful. However, let us not forget the tobacco suits of the 1990s, which stunningly affirmed, in effect, that those corporations that knowingly sell products potentially harmful to the public risk paying billions in reparations to those states that take seriously the obligation of protecting the health and safety of their citizens.

The aspartame industry represents billions of dollars annually, and we understand the courage needed by the attorney general to stand tall at this critical juncture for the health and safety of the people of New Mexico. As with the aforementioned tobacco suits, her decision may potentially affect the actions of other attorneys general throughout the country and, therefore, affect millions of Americans and even more millions of consumers worldwide. However, for Madrid to now surrender to the industry's legal saber rattling will be nothing less than a complete abnegation of the powers of her office and a further descent into the growing corporate control of all government processes.

To voice your input regarding this matter of consumer protection to the attorney general's office, call (505) 827-6000 and 827-6004, and ask to leave a message for the Attorney General and for the Deputy Attorney General, Stuart Bluestone.

The quoted article ends above. If you can make the requested phone call, please do.

Alexa Ranking Update for 19 Dec 05

2005-12-19T20:39:00.000+11:00

Just to keep me guessing, Alexa have already released the next rankings update.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 71,713 to: 72,108 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 85,577 to: 86,281 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 87,555 to: 89,223 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 161,115 to: 155,522*

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 107,918 to: 105,672 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 215,945 to: 219,230 (215,945)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

The picture remains mixed. The pattern I saw developing last time is basically continuing.

Time will tell how this unfolds.

Alexa Ranking Update for 16 Dec 05

2005-12-16T11:52:00.000+11:00

It has been a little longer this time, but the rankings are in again. The actual update schedule appears to be flexible, which is quite fine by me, though it does catch me out sometimes as I think it may take longer than it does. This time has been longer than lately.

Anyway, here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 65,914 to: 71,713 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 83,577 to: 85,577 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 86,363 to: 87,555 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 174,415 to: 161,115*

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 122,007 to: 107,918 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 250,944 to: 215,945*

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

The picture remains mixed. The pattern I saw emerging last time appears more established now. Three sites have made continual declines while three have improved. Overall it may be a consolidation if a broader view is taken, but at the microlevel we appear to have two small, opposing trends for now.

When I have some time next year to pay attention to the declining sites I hope they will significantly improve. For now, I am pleased that the decliners retain their sub 100k rankings.

Empirically Based, Individualized, Micronutrition - Soon!

2005-12-13T18:28:00.000+11:00

Clinics that can test for consumers' genotypes and give out dietary advice based on findings could be set up in the near future, according to an Australian scientist speaking at Asia’s first major nutrigenomics conference last week.

Dr Michael Fenech, head of the Nutrigenomics and Genome Health project funded by Australia’s research body CSIRO, told those attending the meeting in Singapore that 'genome health clinics' will soon be possible as knowledge on gene-diet interactions grows.

"There is good evidence that genome and epigenome damage 'markers' are sensitive indicators of deficiency or excess in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) which are needed as components of DNA repair enzymes and/or to make new copies of DNA," he said.

"We now know that moderate micronutrient deficiency can cause as much genome damage as significant doses of radiation and increases the risk of developmental and degenerative disease."

A deficiency of micronutrients can limit the DNA’s ability to replicate itself properly and thus reduce the body’s ability to fight diseases. Growing work in this area is creating a new opportunity in disease prevention based on the fact that genome damage caused by micronutrient deficiency is preventable.

"Specific micronutrient deficiencies that cause genome damage may themselves cause developmental defects in the foetus or increased risk of cancer later in life. Supplementation of diet with appropriate vitamins, such as folate and B12, at the correct dose for each individual could help our DNA to remain healthy, and in some cases, actually help to repair damaged DNA," said Fenech.

According to Dr Fenech, in the future consumers could take a simple blood test at a special clinic and have the damage to their DNA assessed as well as their genotype determined. From there, they would be offered a micronutrient supplement and diet plan tailored to optimise their health.

Wow, what can I say?

I find these developments and the research and funding attention being invested to be very refreshing, even exciting. It demonstrates clear recognition of the importance of micronutrition with vitamins and minerals, including the absolutely foundational role this area plays in health. It also strongly supports the notion that I and many others have been saying for many years; beyond certain basics everyone's individual nutritional needs can vary markedly from person to person.

It is good to see high quality, government funded research attention being focussed on the importance of individual nutrition. What a pleasant change from all the money driven nonsense promoting toxic pharmaceutical drugs. There will of course be howls of despair from drug companies and MDs. Tough!

About that Bird Flu Profiteering

2005-12-07T14:23:00.000+11:00

I said here that bird flu profiteering was alive and well. Yes, I was right so now I get to say I told you so. I also pointed out that what the world was hysterically carrying on with was merely a lot of bird flu hype, not a sensible description or even intelligent model of reality. Again - oh yes, this feels good - I told you so!

Now back to following the money. Here is a very interesting account of really pretty disturbing money flow. Frankly, all things considered, profiteering, war deaths in Iraq, and plenty of other wickedness, I reckon Rumsfeld should be in jail.

Anyway, here's the scoop.

THE MONEY BEHIND AVIAN FLU

As with the marketing of smallpox vaccine in 2002 [8] and the marketing of SARS in 2003 [6], it's a fairly safe bet the threat of avian flu will disappear as soon as the money has been spent stockpiling the drugs and vaccines. That's the usual pattern. Count on it.

The two remedies for avian flu being hawked daily from every quarter are Tamiflu and a new flu vaccine.

Let's look behind the scenes a little and see whose money is on the line here, and who would benefit from the sale of enough of these drugs for the entire world.

First Tamiflu.

In 1996 two drug giants - Hoffman LaRoche and Gilead Sciences agreed to split the world between them. Gilead had invented a new type of flu drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors, which included Tamiflu. [9] The deal was that LaRoche could research and market the drug worldwide, and Gilead would be paid residuals. Forever.

Gilead Sciences, located in Foster City, California, joined the NASDAQ 100 in 2001. Its 2004 revenues were only $1.3 billion, [9] but that's about to change.

From 1997 until the time he was sworn in as Secretary of Defense in 2001, guess who had been Chairman of the Board of Gilead Sciences. Donald Rumsfeld. Don't believe it? Good. Look at the Dept of Defense website. [10] At present Rumsfeld continues to receive stock and benefits from Gilead, and is a major shareholder. [11]

Another member of Gilead's Board of Directors is George Schultz, whom you may remember as Secretary of Treasury under Nixon. [9] One of the financial directors of the Vietnam war, Schultz is still technically alive.

So. How does the financial future of Gilead appear, with sales of Tamiflu?

Best estimates at present: between $1 - 1.8 billion. And that's just for the US market. [12, 13] Such a figure would double Gilead's total income for 2004. Just for one drug.

Taking the global market into consideration, sales revenue from Tamiflu is virtually "unlimited." [13] A sacred word for investors.

The US Senate approved $3.9 billion for Tamiflu purchase back in Sept 2005 with virtually no discussion. [13] And Gilead smiled.

But the best news for investors is that the Tamiflu windfall will be around for a long time. Again, from the WHO FAQ sheet:

"At present manufacturing capacity, which has recently quadrupled, it will take a decade to produce enough oseltamivir to treat 20% of the world's population." [5]
Oseltamivir - that's Tamiflu.

Keep asking yourself: who would benefit from the threat of pandemic?

Well Tim, good point. So as Tim and I both suggest, if you want to know what's really going on with this bird flu nonsense just ask who benefits from the hype.

You can see Dr O'Shea's whole article at his website. There you'll find all of the sources he cites, such as those indicated in the excerpt above by the numbers (eg. shown like this [5] ). I encourage you to read the whole article because it articulates quite clearly just what a nonsense this so-called bird flu pandemic really is.

Keeping Up with Alexa Updates

2005-12-05T16:53:00.000+11:00

Yes, I'm making a special effort to keep up with these Alexa ranking updates. They seem to be coming along at a fast pace again.

So here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 64,618 to: 65,914 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 80,579 to: 83,577 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 85,391 to: 86,363 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 178,319 to: 174,415 (164,751)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 125,092 to: 122,007 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 260,186 to: 250,944*

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

The picture is really just a little mixed. I can't really say it remains one of consolidation as there is a pattern establishing here.

Education4Skills.com is certainly within its well established consolidation zone. However, the vitamins, herbs and gazette sites are all slowly declining. HealthProductsSite.com continues to rise, if ever so slightly, and even HealthArticleBank.com appears to still be generally heading upwards.

Alexa Ranking Update for 2 Dec 05

2005-12-02T15:35:00.000+11:00

Just as well I managed to get that last post in yesterday about the Alexa rankings. Why? Well, Alexa have updated again already so I almost got caught out, being a whole update behind. Just when I thought the updates were only occurring weekly, they kinda snuk one in on me!

Anyway, not wanting to be one who only sticks with traditions when they are very positive, I am hanging in here with my reports.

So here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 61,975 to: 64,618 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 77,151 to: 80,579 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 82,549 to: 85,391 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 175,982 to: 178,319 (164,751)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 126,161 to: 125,092 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 259,635 to: 260,186 (259,635)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

The picture remains one of consolidation, however there has been a general decline if just one site is excluded.

There isn't much I can do about these figures at this time. I remain too busy with other projects to concentrate on further development here and I have done absolutely no promotion.

Alexa Ranking Update for Late November 2005

2005-12-02T00:52:00.000+11:00

Well I've been so busy lately I havn't been able to keep this tradition up to date. Shame eh?

So these are actually the results for a few days ago.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 59,145 to: 61,975 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 77,150 to: 77,151 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 82,072 to: 82,549 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 187,977 to: 175,982 (164,751)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 138,209 to: 126,161 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 268,277 to: 259,635*

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

As I concluded previously, the picture is one of consolidation.

That's all I have time for right now. Bye...

Canon A610 is Loads of Fun

2005-11-24T22:14:00.000+11:00

Well our new Canon digital camera is quite a treat. We are having tons of fun with it. Somehow, for the first time ever, we seem to be remembering to take it everywhere we go. Amazing!

Maybe it's the size, the thing is just so portable. I went shopping with my daughter who bought me a camera bag that should be ideal. It is large enough to comfortably hold the camera without being so big it can move around too much. There's also plenty of room for spare batteries (4 x AAs) and a spare card holder, not that I expect we'll need it.

The bag is padded enough to protect the camera from bumps but not so padded that it looks or feels bulky. The opening is large enough so the camera goes in and out easily, without taking the skin off my fingers and it has no sharp edges to sratch anything in the process. Nice that. It attaches to a belt and also has a shoulder strap that quickly clips on if wanted.

The issue of scratching things in the process of putting the camera in the bag and taking it out seems to be quite important. Fortunately, with the Canon A610 there needn't be any concern. The lens retracts behind a secure cover automatically when powering down so it is quite safe and the LCD screen on the back can be turned inwards facing so it can't possibly be scratched on the screen surface either. Pretty smart design I'd say.

Unfortunately I can't use the camera bag yet because it is to be a gift for Christmas and my daughter just loves to have wrapped gifts under the tree. Not to worry, I'm happy to wait.

We have taken the camera on a few outings already and seem to learn some new features each time. Mind you, there's plenty to learn. This camera does so many things!

On a picnic by the local lake we fed some of Jenny's delicious gourmet omlet to the resident magpies. They loved it and we quickly had quite a tribe of birds around us. It was really very noisy because it was a collection of magpie families, with plenty of demanding juveniles wanting their parents to feed them.

Suddenly...ah!, the camera. After some fumbling we managed to get a couple of quick shots in and then decided to grab a short video of this spontaneous performance. We just love the ability of a 'still' camera to change into a video camera so we can record short movies, complete with sound. Fantastic!

I can't get over just how well documented this camera is too. There's a quick start guide that is quite short. It helps you get the camera operational and coveres a few basic uses. With quickly built confidence I was into the advanced guide, and it is a much thicker booklet. Fortunately, the documentation is both thorough and actually useful. Even I can understand it ;-)

Happily I will be spending some hours watching cricket over the next week so I'll do two things at once and also read the documentation. There is just so much in there to learn.

So, for this very early report on my experiences with the Canon A610 I'd conclude by saying we are completely delighted with the purchase and we're pretty excited about all the places we plan on taking it!

By the way, we bought the camera from an online store in Forest Lake, a suburb of Brisbane. They are called White Knight Computers and if you are looking for ultra low prices and the best service I have encountered anywhere in many years, I highly recommend them to you. The camera was $499 at our local camera store and we bought it for $401.95 delivered to our door.

We also bought an SD memory card. We bought that from an eBay Powerseller. The local store wanted $149.95 for the 1 GB card and we got ours for $88.95 delivered. It is the same brand, sold in the same pack, with the same 5 year warranty, complete with Aussie tax invoice so why pay more?

Our next little camera related adventure will be sourcing and setting up some sort of album software. Our daughter-in-law advised us to start indexing and setting them up in some form of software albumn right from the start so it doesn't ever become a huge task down the track. That makes a lot of sense to us so that will be our next task. It will have to be, we are taking plenty of photos with this beaut little camera and we intend to take many thousands more!

Another Alexa Update (from a real slacker!)

2005-11-21T12:34:00.000+11:00

I suppose I could have updated this site with a little bit more content over the past week, but the fact is I've been taking it just a little bit easier. Sometimes, I do take my own advice!

What have I been doing you ask? Well, I've been on a couple of pinics with my wife, to a lovely lakeside spot called Bowna Waters, just a short country drive north from our home, on Lake Hume. It has been very enjoyable and we've been sharing our lunches with the magpies who seem to own the place and exact a certain "rent" from visitors. What amazing birds they are!

The other pastime has been watching cricket. OK, yes, I do have this one vice, I just love cricket. The Australian team has just won two test matches in a row against the West Indies to retain the Frank Worrel trophy. While the teams were not very well matched (really, the Aussies are peerless) there was neverthless some very fine cricket to watch.

So, back to the traditional task in hand - the Alexa Report.

Here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved down from: 59,117 to: 59,145 (59,117)

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved up from: 78,365 to: 77,150 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved up from: 82,876 to: 82,072 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved up from: 189,854 to: 187,977 (164,751)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 144,586 to: 138,209 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 277,452 to: 268,277*

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

As I concluded previously, the picture is one of consolidation. More must be done of course, but not immediately. Stay tuned for further updates when provided by Alexa.

Alexa Ranking Update 18 November 2005

2005-11-18T16:32:00.000+11:00

Well it appears that consolidation has indeed set in. There's not much I can do about that for now. Perhaps we'll see some more activity in the new year, or even later this year if I'm lucky.

So, here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 61,450 to: 59,117 *

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved down from: 75,943 to: 78,365 (75,943)

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved down from: 82,035 to: 82,876 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 183,608 to: 189,854 (164,751)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 158,444 to: 144,586 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved down from: 277,271 to: 277,452 (277,271)

* indicates a new highest high
( ) indicates highest high to date

That's it for now, just a quick update to keep up the tradition.

Alexa Ranking Update 14 November 2005 with Innovation

2005-11-14T14:14:00.000+11:00

Again, what we see in these figures is classic consolidation. Nothing to worry about and nothing to get excited about either. I can live with that for now, since I'm really rather busy.

So, here are the results for today.

www.The-Health-Gazette.com moved up from: 62,460 to: 61,450 *

www.Healthy-Vitamin-Choice.com moved up from: 76,379 to: 75,943 *

www.Herb-Health-Guide.com moved up from: 82,043 to: 82,035 (78,462)

www.Education4Skills.com moved down from: 173,329 to: 183,608 (164,751)

www.HealthProductsSite.com moved up from: 167,755 to: 158,444 *

www.HealthArticleBank.com moved up from: 290,305 to: 277,271 *

One piece of data that hasn't been shown before is whether the moves upwards are to new highs or have failed to break a previously set ranking high for the site concerned. So, at this stage of the tradition it is time to innovate!

When the move represents a new high I will place an * after the new ranking. So if the result says up but there is no * we'll know that it remains below a previously set higher ranking.

Actually, to make things even clearer, I will also place the previous best ranking for each site in these things: (previous high here), unless, of course, the * indicates that the ranking shown is a new high. That way we can easily monitor how far from the high a site may fall and perhaps over time see the boundaries of consolidation zones.

So, that's that for now. The tradition lives on and even develops!

Digital Camera Choice - Finally

2005-11-10T22:00:00.000+11:00

Gosh this has been a long time coming hasn't it? It was months ago that I did my research and posted excitedly about narrowing the choice down to two candidates.

When I say "months" let me be a bit clearer about that. It was 19 June 2005 when I last mentioned my digital camera hunt. That's just under 5 months. Not a long time really I suppose, it just feels like a long time because I've been so very busy.

My final choice at that time was between the:

Canon PowerShot A95 Digital Camera

and the

Kodak EasyShare DX7630 Digital Camera.

Yep, they were the big two. In the end I decided to go with Canon rather than Kodak, mainly because I have seen so many fantastic quality pictures taken with a Canon A85 . Then, more recently, I heard that the once great Kodak empire is not doing well, in spite of its digital reinvention of itself, and may not be around for long into the future. True or not, it had an effect.

So, when I went to buy my Canon I discovered that it has already been made obsolete! The upgrade has many improved features and is called the A610 (and its big brother, the A620).

I won't list all of the great features here because it is very easy to find by doing a Google or other brand web search. If you are looking for a digital camera of the non-SLR variety go and take a look at the Canon PowerShot A610. You too may be impressed.

Maybe I'll update this when it arrives to share some more excitement! ;-)