Archive for Health
Shirataki Noodles – Miracle Noodles
Posted by: | CommentsThe Rachel Ray Show is giving the Shirataki Noodles the spotlight. Shirataki Noodles has been labeled as ‘healthy’ as the noodles are made from yam, with no calories and no carbs.
Chef Rocco DiSpirito said on the show that the noodles are ready out of the bag with hot water or broth. No need to cook!
Shirataki (白滝?, often written with the hiragana しらたき) are very low carbohydrate, low calorie, thin, translucent, gelatinous traditional Japanese noodles made from the konjac plant. The word “shirataki” means “white waterfall”, describing the appearance of these noodles. Largely composed of water and glucomannan, a water-soluble dietary fiber, they have little flavor of their own.
Shirataki noodles can be found both in dry and soft “wet” forms in Asian markets and some supermarkets. When wet, they are purchased pre-packaged in liquid. They normally have a shelf life of up to one year. Some brands may require rinsing or par-boiling as the water they are packaged in has an odor that may be unpleasant to those not accustomed to it.
There are two types of shirataki noodles sold in the United States. Traditional shirataki noodles have zero net carbohydrates, zero calories, no gluten, and are useful for those on low-carbohydrate diets.[1] Tofu-based shirataki-style noodles are becoming increasingly popular in U.S. supermarkets and health food stores. They have a much shorter shelf life and require refrigeration even before opening. Tofu-based noodles contain a minimal amount of carbohydrates.
Smoking cessation may increase risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Posted by: | CommentsCigarette smoking is a well-known risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but new research from Johns Hopkins University suggests that quitting the habit may actually raise diabetes risk in the short term.
The researchers suspect the elevated diabetes risk is related to the extra pounds people typically put on after renouncing cigarettes and caution that no one should use the study’s results as an excuse to keep smoking, which is also a risk factor for lung disease, heart disease, strokes and many types of cancer.
“The message is: Don’t even start to smoke,” says study leader Hsin-Chieh “Jessica” Yeh, an assistant professor of general internal medicine and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
“If you smoke, give it up. That’s the right thing to do. But people have to also watch their weight,” she adds.
In the study, to be published in the Jan. 5 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that people who quit smoking have a 70 percent increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the first six years without cigarettes as compared to people who never smoked.
The risks were highest in the first three years after quitting and returned to normal after 10 years.
Among those who continued smoking over that period, the risk was lower, but the chance of developing diabetes was still 30 percent higher compared with those who never smoked.
The study enrolled 10,892 middle-aged adults who did not yet have diabetes from 1987 to 1989. The patients were followed for up to 17 years and data about diabetes status, glucose levels, weight and more were collected at regular intervals.
Type 2 diabetes is a common disease that interferes with the body’s ability to properly use sugar, and to regulate and properly use insulin, a substance produced by the pancreas which normally lowers blood sugar during and after eating.
In type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, the pancreas makes plenty of insulin to help the body when food is eaten, but the body cannot use it normally.
The result is excess levels of blood sugar, which over time, can lead to blindness, kidney failure, nerve damage and heart disease. Overweight people and those with a family history of the disease have an increased risk for developing it, as do smokers, though the causal relationship is unclear.
According to the study, those who smoked the most and those who gained the most weight had the highest likelihood for developing diabetes after they quit.
On average, over the first three years of the study, quitters gained about 8.4 pounds and saw their waist circumferences grow by approximately 1.25 inches.
Yeh and her colleagues want physicians to keep these findings in mind when they are consulting with patients who are giving up cigarettes, especially the heaviest smokers. They recommend considering countermeasures such as lifestyle counseling, aggressive weight management and the use of nicotine-replacement therapy, which seems to blunt the weight gain related to quitting.
Another key step is more frequent blood glucose screening to assure the earliest detection of diabetes.
What a disgusting diet method, Tyra Banks talks Tapeworm Diet
Posted by: | CommentsAmericans are known to have a, somtimes unhealthy, obsession with weight and weight loss. They will try anything that promises weight loss espeially if it is fast acting with little regard to its effects on their health.
Tyra Banks discussed the controversial “Tapeworm Diet” on her daytime talk show. In this diet a peron ingests the parasite, tapeworm, and loses weight quickly without eating less.
Diet Review says concerning the “Tapeworm Diet”, “[The Tapeworm] secretes proteins in our intestinal tract that make our digestion of food much less efficient. A less efficient digestive systems means that you can consume more calories through your food since your “body guest” is also noshing on them for his own growth purposes. Some scientists estimate that those infected with a single tapeworm can lose up to one or two pounds each week.”
Banks actually found people willing to try this extreme diet, despite harmful side effects that it could have on ones health.
J&J expands recall of Tylenol arthritis caplets
Posted by: | CommentsWASHINGTON (Reuters) – A voluntary recall of Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplets is being expanded because of consumer reports of an unusual moldy odor with the 100-count bottles, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said late on Monday.
U.S. | Health
The FDA said it and Johnson & Johnson were expanding the recall to all available product lots of the pain caplets with the distinctive red EZ-open cap.
The initial recall involved five lots of the product in November after reports of an unusual musty or mildew-like odor that was associated with nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, the FDA said.
The agency said the odor was believed to have been caused by the breakdown of a chemical used to treat wooden pallets that transport and store packaging materials.
It said the health effects of the compound have not been well studied, but the events reported to the company have been temporary and not serious.
The FDA said consumers who bought Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100-count bottles with the red cap from the lots included in the recall should stop using the product and contact McNeil Consumer Healthcare for a refund or replacement.
TYLENOL RECALL: There is a new nationwide recall of a Tylenol product. All bottles that contain 100 Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplets and have the red EZ Open cap are being recalled. Last month, five lots of this product were recalled after reports by consumers of a moldy, musty smell and symptoms of nausea and stomach pain. As a preventative measure, all Tylenol Arthritis Pain Caplet 100 count bottles are being recalled. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO RETURN OR DISPOSE OF RECALLED TYLENOL
NEW YEAR’S DAY DANGER: New Year’s is just around the corner. Beware of the walk home after the party– especially if you’ve been drinking. Studies show that more pedestrians are killed on the first day of the year than on any other day and many of those killed have elevated blood alcohol levels. The researchers say if you’re walking you should also be cautious of drivers who may have also been drinking.
WORKOUT RESOLUTIONS: It’s time to make resolutions. For many people the resolution to exercise and get fit doesn’t stick. There is a new study out– it shows the top reason why people give up is because they feel self-conscious at the gym. The researchers from George Washington University Medical Center surveyed more than 1,500 overweight men and women. Many reported feeling embarrassed about sweating it out in front of others who are in better shape.
Eclampsia- a serious medical disorder during pregnancy
Posted by: | CommentsEclampsia (Greek, “shining forth”), an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy, is characterized by the appearance of tonic-clonic seizures, usually in a patient who had developed preeclampsia. (According to the explanation of Wikipedia). It is often marked by an increase in blood pressure and excretion of excess protein the urine. The disorder typically starts in the second trimester of pregnancy around 20-22 weeks. When untreated or the diagnosis is missed, it can be fatal for both the mother and the baby.
Research suggests that women who are pregnant with the potentially dangerous condition pre-eclampsia have a higher chance of suffering more from hypothyroidism.
Teams from the US and Norway discovered that those with the condition had a increased risk of an under-active thyroid, which can cause fatigue and depression.
The cause of pre-eclampsia is not clear but the condition has been attached to increased levels of certain proteins during the later months of the pregnancy.
symptoms of a sociopath
Posted by: | CommentsSymptoms Of A Sociopath,Sociopathic Symptoms:Symptoms of a sociopath are important to know so you recognize one in your world. Recently a friend and I were talking about sociopaths and the symptoms of a sociopath. In light of my recent article, Taking Advantage of Good Will Online, let’s review the symptoms of a sociopath.
We’ll begin with the simple definition of a sociopath from Dictionary.com. Sociopath is a psychiatry noun that refers to “a person, as a psychopathic personality, whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience.”
For more clarification of the symptoms of a sociopath, I turned to the WiseGeek. I discovered it might be politically incorrect to refer to a person as a sociopath.
Here is what the WiseGeek has to say, “The term sociopath is no longer used to describe this disorder. The sociopath is now described as someone with antisocial personality disorder. The main characteristic of a sociopath is a disregard for the rights of others. Sociopaths are also unable to conform to what society defines as a normal personality. Antisocial tendencies are a big part of thesociopath ’s personality. This pattern usually comes into evidence around the age of 15. If it is not treated, it can develop into adulthood.”
To find out more about the actual symptoms of a sociopath, I referred to WikiAnswers. I encourage you to click on the symptoms of a sociopath to see their list from “Profile of a Sociopath.” It gives you a complete overview of the symptoms of a sociopath and some of the characteristics are surprising.
Here is a brief excerpt from what WikiAnswers has to say about the characteristics and symptoms of a sociopath: “(1) having no conscience, (2) inability to treat others as human beings, with feelings and rights and (3) inability to learn from experience, from life. One result of this last is gross immaturity, though it may be hidden unless one knows the person well. Asociopath behaves as if he/she were the only person in the whole world and as if everyone else just existed for their benefit and had no existence in their own right. (4) Sociopaths treat other people as toys and hanker after the power to control and hurt their ‘nearest and dearest’. (5) Many are monumentally self-important: they may pretend to be millionaires when in reality they are sliding towards financial disaster. (6) Habitual dishonesty.”
Do the symptoms of a sociopath look familiar to you? Have you known or gotten inadvertantly involved with a sociopath? You’re not alone. Sociopaths are typically manipulative and charming so often you don’t see them coming. Once you recognize the pattern, it’s time to end the “relationship.”
During the holiday season, our defenses might be down. We are caught up in good will and doing for others. This is a time when sociopaths try to take advantage of people both personally and online.
I encourage you to click the link above to read my article about taking advantage of good will online. The nameless, faceless nature of the Internet can make it a playground for sociopaths.
I also direct you to my article, “Are You The Victim of Domestic Abuse?” Being a survivor of domestic abuse, I know how you tend to rationalize your relationship around the holidays. After all, isn’t everyone supposed to be happy? You may find out you’re living with asociopath. The article is an eye-opener and could help you start on a better way of life for the new year.
If you review the symptoms of a sociopath and see yourself, I encourage you to talk to a medical professional or counselor. There is help available and all you need to do is reach out and get it.
Here is an eye-opening video from YouTube about the symptoms of a sociopath. They refer to sociopaths as “emotional vampires” and define the major difference between a sociopath and a psychopath. Check out “Sociopath? What Is It?
Ukraine H1N1 Outbreaks
Posted by: | CommentsA local doctor says lessons can be learned from Ukraine’s experience with the swine, or H1N1, flu virus.
According to the World Health Organization, Ukraine’s Health Ministry has recorded 250,000 flu-like cases of illness as of Nov. 2, with 70 deaths due to respiratory illness. WHO researchers have identified H1N1 as the main virus causing the high rates of illness in the country.
The group also noted this week the virus has not mutated, and it is “similar to the virus used for production of” the swine flu vaccine.
Dr. William Mercer, Wheeling-Ohio County health officer, said there may be some lessons learned from the Ukraine. The country only has the seasonal flu vaccine available for its people, which is not effective against the H1N1 virus.
“They have no swine flu vaccine. It may show what can happen. … Our health care system is much better here,” Mercer said.
He noted the more people who are vaccinated, the better, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is estimating half of the United States’ population will become infected with H1N1. To date, about 22 million have had the disease, he added.
“That’s still a lot of people to get sick,” Mercer said, estimating the swine flu will be around for the next one to two years.
The CDC said during the first week of November, the number of people seeking a doctor’s care for flu-like illnesses decreased. Whether inoculating people has already had an impact on the number of illnesses would be difficult to determine, as during any flu season there are often peaks of illness, Mercer said.
“This is the second week of national decreases in influenza-like illness after four consecutive weeks of sharp increases. … While influenza-like illness declined overall nationally, visits to doctors for influenza-like illness remain higher than what is seen during the peak of many regular flu seasons,” the CDC states.
WHO Team to Investigate Ukraine H1N1 Outbreaks
Gregory Hartl said the team was being pulled together by the WHO’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, which goes by the acronym GOARN.
The team will travel early next week to the eastern European country, which has closed schools and banned public meetings in response to a spike in cases of acute respiratory illness believed to be H1N1.
“This is something that certainly needs investigating,” Hartl said from Geneva.
He said the government of Ukraine is being forthcoming with information on the outbreak, which is said to centre on three regions in the western part of the country.
bone marrow donation
Posted by: | CommentsAn Elmira resident is organizing a bone marrow drive in honor of her young cousin who passed away from leukemia.
The first step of the drive is to find bone marrow matches for those in need.
The registry is scheduled for this Thursday at the Chemung County YMCA from three-to-seven.
At the event, you can register to be a bone marrow donor by bringing in a photo id and getting a mouth swab.
The organizer says this drive means a lot to her.
“It will mean the world to me, it will mean a lot to know that we couldn’t save Nina but we can save somebody else’s cousin, it would mean a lot.” said Suki Crespo-Vega.
Vega says donors with diverse racial or ethnic backgrounds are needed the most.
Patients in need of a transplant usually match someone of their own race and ethnicity.
Flu Shot Finder Is Now Available On Google
Posted by: | CommentsGoogle, which has over the years launched several features and tools for web browsing, now has come up with a new application called “Flu Shot Finder“. It has come to the news that the Health & Human Services department has collaborated with Google for launching the new application and fight flu in a better manner.
On Tuesday, the search engine company launched the site, where one can find the “flu shot finder” application. Though they have launched the site, in a recent press release they indicated that they are just starting the project. In the press release they also stated, “We launched this service now in order to help disseminate information about locations where vaccines are available, and also to make more vaccine providers aware of the project so that they can contribute.”
Sources stated that Google does not have information about flu shot clinics of all the locations and it is expected that they would receive more information as their work on this application starts progressing. Google is conducting several researches on flu so that they can help people in a better way. They will not only help people to remain informed about the flu vaccine but also will help them learn about the flu trends of different states. The search engine now marked “Arizona” with high flu rankings.
World Health Organization have declared H1N1 virus as a global pandemic and have suggested different measures to check the spread of flu. Noticing the spread of H1N1 virus, Google has launched the new application “flu-shot finder”, which at present is available at google.com/flushot . It has been stated by the sources that the flu.gov website will also feature this application soon.
Biggest Loser Shay Sorrells
Posted by: | CommentsBiggest Loser Shay Sorrells grew up the youngest of three girls. She was in the foster care system from age five to 18. As far as Shay can remember, she has been overweight. In the last 10 years Shay has found that stress, emotions and learned eating habits have continued to increase her weight. Both of Shay’s older sisters are overweight, and nearly all of her extended family.
Biggest Loser Shay Sorrells
Family celebrations were always centered around food. Meals at home included fried chicken, biscuits, jambalaya, gumbo, fried fish, macaroni and cheese, cakes, pies, cobblers and anything else filled with starch! At a young age, Shay was expected to learn to cook and help make these meals for the family. In the family it was considered an honor to cook well.
Biggest Loser Shay is a social worker and is always willing to do what it takes to help a client find their motivation and strength. Currently Shay holds a 4.0 in her Master’s in Social Work program, which is full-time, meanwhile she works three part time jobs and holds down an internship.
Lastly, Shay’s weight affects her career as she works with people for whom she is attempting to motivate, and her clients look to her as an example. Shay is eager to once and for all get into shape so she can live a long and healthy life with her husband and stepsons.
