Anti suicide watch

  

 

Let’s first be fair to ourselves and others and note that no one thing specifically causes all the cancers, diabetic sick persons, heart problems in the world, rather it is a combination of several different factors starting with our personal ignorance, and the false neglect of the our Bodies.

 

While clearly the medical advances against even the more serious sickness have taken gigantic leaps now these days, I sadly too often these  days have to tell the truth to the sick persons that next the patients themselves are now more often to blame for their sudden deaths,  their illness degenerating mostly too even by reaping what they sowed, by their own neglect of basic laws reaping relating to the to human anatomy too, a) by their own failure to insure  healthy eating, b) their own  failure to get  proper sleep, c) and their own failure to handle, resolve unbeneficial stress adequately.

 

Majority of patients still lie to themselves when they do now falsely think they will not reap what they have personally sowed and thus they are committing personal suicide as a result. Lack of sleep is still a killer.. so is not eating properly.. so is unresolved stress…

see also http://stayinhealth.wordpress.com/2008/12/10/the-important-issue-of-our-personal-health/

 

 

A need for the Serious Anti suicide watch..

 

1: Not personally getting enough qualitative sleep.. it is not just how much sleep you get, minimum 8 hours, but how well you sleep that also counts. Valid Experts recommend that adults get between seven and eight hours of sleep each night to maintain good health and optimum performance.

   
2: Not personally now getting proper food intake can also lead to severe depression and very poor health next, severe health problems.. skipping out on meals..

 
3: Activity rut.. many people who have now set into  a none changing activities, environments, a habitual routine, are  next prone to be seriously depressed and they do not even know why?  Taking a new,  totally different activity, or making a personal life schedule change is often the same as a beneficial vacation for some persons.. even many professionals, college professors..

 

4: Many college students show clear classical sign of depression after being in school for a long period of time, working hard. 

 

5: Many people get depressed when they get older, and lose a lot of friends, and have no one to talk to , just listening to them for a few minutes a day will really help them too

 

6: Many people get depressed because they are being falsely enslaved, oppressed, bullied by the bad persons.  Or they have too often listened to the bad advice  of others.

  

7: Poverty or even the opposite of having too much wealth can lead to thoughts of suicide, because of one’s inability to deal with the present circumstances effectively. Often brought on by too much self reliance.

 

 8: Persons who are overly lazy, unrealistic, have or follow a wrong value system, ill advised goals, continue to  do bad things,they will next be easily depressed too. Ironically they will next often  blame others for their depressions, bash others for it too. 

 

I have often helped many a poor, depressed person, not by any medications, but by  simply by changing their daily normal activity routine, and next by taking them for a drive into the country, or taking them to see a good film, a comedy, or Giving them some good movies to watch, or by me taking them to a fine food restaurant, or by me taking them for a long  walk through unfamiliar surroundings.. and it worked.. it actually next had broke them out of their long term depression.

 

Can’t change positively   the person? try first changing their surroundings, environment temporarily?

 

Most depressed persons,  about 75 percent,  can be helped with out more serious medical consultations it seem.

 

 Do now also read the many other helpful posts, links here as well..

Did you yourself now know the major cause of depressions and suicides., despair include.. you might be depressed seriously and not even know it too… 

  Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life. But when sadness takes hold and won’t go away, it may be depression. More than just the temporary “blues,” the lows of depression make it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. A person with severe depression has little or no interest in work or hobbies, and may even have trouble getting out of bed.  With treatment and help, you can feel better. Learning how to understand depression – including its signs, symptoms, and causes – is the first step towards next honestly,  realistically recognizing and overcoming the root main problem, causes and not just trying suppress or to deal with the symptoms..

 Why Do People Get Depressed? Understanding Depression

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm

I am too busy to have time to have a depression or to deal with my depression is not a realistic  approach as well.  

 There’s a vast difference between “feeling depressed” and suffering from clinical depression. The despondency of clinical depression is unrelenting and overwhelming. Some people describe it as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. They can’t escape their unhappiness and despair. However, some people with depression don’t feel sad at all. Instead, they feel lifeless and empty. In this apathetic state, they are unable to experience pleasure. Even when participating in activities they used to enjoy, they feel as if they’re just going through the motions. The signs and symptoms vary from person to person, and they may wax and wane in severity over time. Doing nothing about it generally makes it worse next.   

While DEPRESSION is one of the most common mental illnesses even caused often mostly by external factors,  it  often can easily be cured, dealt with if not neglected, and it is rarely fatal thus. 

RESULTING PERSONAL DEPRESSION ITSELF IS basically CAUSED by biochemical imbalances in the brain involving the hormone cortisol and the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. The tendency toward this chemical imbalance can be inherited, causing depression to run in families. A deep emotional loss may also trigger biochemical changes that cause depression. Or the brain chemistry can change for no apparent reason.

Other diseases, including thyroid conditions, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, hormonal imbalances, multiple sclerosis and some forms of cancer, can cause depression. Usually, treating the underlying diseases relieves the depression?

People suffering from chronic illnesses such as arthritis or heart disease may develop depression. For them, treating the depression often makes it easier to cope with the other chronic illness?

While virtually anyone can develop depression, the people most likely to do so include—

• Relatives of depressed people, who are about twice as likely as average to become seriously depressed themselves

• Women, who suffer depression about twice as often as men

• The baby boom seniors,  generation, currently considered at greatest risk of all age groups

• The elderly, often as a reaction to physical deterioration and the loss of friends, families and rewarding activities

• Children who have suffered abuse or losses or who have a seriously depressed parent

• Chronically ill people

• Drug and alcohol abusers

TREATMENTS FOR DEPRESSION typically have high success rates, especially when recognized, admitted, PROPERLY DIAGNOSED.  While only a third of people suffering from depression seek treatment, about 85 percent of those who receive adequate treatment have good results. It is ironic many people who too often mainly see others as  being the sole cause of their own problems fail to see their own effective, proper solutions to it. We need not to lose a proper self perspective, solution now as well.

Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. There is a slow suicide approach as well, even brought on by ongoing  problems, self pity, guilt, persecutions, oppressions Recognition of the problem can immediately  lead to 90 percent of the solution.  http://pbulow.tripod.com/     

Britain has one of the highest suicide rates in Europe. Each year in the UK over 5000 people take their life. The Samaritans estimate that in the UK there is a suicide every 82 minutes. The charity Depression Alliance estimates that each year there are around 19,000 suicide attempts by UK adolescents whilst more than 2 million children attend GP’s surgeries with some kind of psychological or emotional problem.Each day, two people under the age of 24 commit suicide. 

People kill themselves for a variety of reasons. Sometimes drugs and alcohol are a factor, as are social factors, poverty, deprivation, mental illness,  or  ”psychiatric injury”. The difference is important because injury has an external cause – in other words, something – or someone – is liable. The differences between mental illness and psychiatric injury are often not recognized; understanding the differences could alter the verdict, perhaps from suicide to manslaughter. To see the differences between mental illness and psychiatric injury.  Psychiatric injury- Bullying, harassment and abuse cause injury to health, which is often diagnosed as stress and anxiety but may also include severe depression. http://www.bullyonline.org/stress/suicide.htm

We also all do need to learn to deal effectively and not by an ostrich approach with unresolved stress, life’s problems, Bullies and much more..  http://thefocusonthefamily.wordpress.com/

There is no single cause for depression. Many factors play a role including genetics, environment, life events, medical conditions, and the way people react to things that happen in their lives.

How Is Depression Different From Regular Sadness?

Everyone has some ups and downs, and sadness is a natural emotion. The normal stresses of life can lead anyone to feel sad every once in a while. Things like an argument with a friend, a breakup, doing poorly on a test, not being chosen for a team, or a best friend moving out of town can lead to feelings of sadness, hurt, disappointment, or grief. These reactions are usually brief and go away with a little time and care.

Take the time to read all of  the pages here, it will help you or someone else. Life requires our personal positive continual adaptation to the ongoing, changing events that surround our life.

Now read more here on this site  as well.. it will help you.. 

 

Cancer: By 2010, cancer will be the leading killer in the world, surpassing heart disease, causing more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Cancer rates are growing in developing countries as people adopt western lifestyles, including smoking, high-fat diets, fast food and less physical activity.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/09/AR2008120901814.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selenium, vitamin E and vitamin C won’t prevent men from getting prostate cancer. In findings that were released early because of the public health implications, the results of two large randomized, controlled clinical trials showed the supplements failed to provide a cancer-prevention benefit. Journal of the American Medical Association.

 

More Home remedies for over Gastro-Intestinal diseases and disorders. Saliva Problems

• Without proper saliva, you cannot absorb your food properly, for food digestion begins in the mouth. Always chew carbohydrate (“starchy”) foods especially well. This includes such things as bread and all grain products, potatoes, etc. If you do not digest your food properly you can get acid reflux too.. get a heart tack and/or cancer

• If you have a dry mouth, take a little lemon juice or honey before the meal to stimulate the flow of saliva.

Vitamin A If you are not obtaining enough vitamin A, your saliva flow may be inadequate.

Vitamin A is an important nutrient. It is especially helpful in the bodies of infants and toddlers for fighting off the effects of viral infection. It helps maintain the immune system in both children and adults. It plays a critical role in the creation of thyroid hormones and is absolutely necessary for creating the pigments that allow you to see at night. You have to get your vitamin A to have healthy skin. Preserve and improve your eyesight with Vitamin A

If you get your vitamin A from food rather than supplements, what are the foods you need. Here’s the rather short list:

Food	Serving	Vitamin A, measured as retinol equivalents	Vitamin A, IU	Retinol, measured in micrograms	Retinol, measured in IU
Cod liver oil	1 teaspoon	1,350 mcg	4,500 IU	1,350 mcg	4,500 IU
Egg	1 large	91 mcg	303 IU	89 mcg	296 IU
Butter	1 tablespoon	97 mcg	323 IU	95 mcg	317 IU
Whole milk	1 cup (8 fl ounces)	68 mcg	227 IU	68 mcg	227 IU

(Source: The Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, 2005.)

To this list, you could add skim milk, usually packaged with the artificial analog of the best natural vitamin A.

Note too many people develop allergic reaction to milk, as they get older, so cheese, milk products for them are unacceptable..

There’s also vitamin A in many breakfast cereals, and, were you inclined to use it as health food, caviar. Any natural food that’s rich in vitamin A is high in fat and cholesterol.

Although vitamin A is found only in foods of animal origin, some fruits and vegetables contain compounds, called cartenoids, that can be converted into vitamin A by your body. 

It is important for you to regularly eat foods that provide high vitamin A or beta-carotene even though it is stored in the liver. Stored vitamin A will help meet needs when intake of provitamin A carotenoids or preformed vitamin A is low.

 

Vitamin A Foods from Animal Sources

Animal Sources provide the best absorbed form of this vitamin.

Foods	IU / International Units	%DV *
Liver, beef, cooked, 3 oz	30,325	610
Liver, chicken, cooked, 3 oz	13,920	280
Egg substitute, fortified, 1/4 cup	1355	25
Fat free milk, fortified with vitamin A, 1 cup	500	10
Cheese pizza, 1/8 of a 12″ diameter pie	380	8
Milk, whole, 3.25% fat, 1 cup	305	6
Cheddar cheese, 1 ounce	300	6
Whole egg, 1 medium	280	6
% DV = Daily Value. DVs are reference numbers based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). They were developed to help consumers determine if a food contains a lot or a little of a specific nutrient. The DV for vitamin A is 5,000 IU (1,500 micrograms retinol). Most food labels do not list a food’s vitamin A content.

Vitamin A Foods from Plant Sources of Beta Carotene

Plant food sources of beta carotene are not as well absorbed as animal sources of vitamin A, especially when they are consumed whole and raw. However, they are still a valuable source.

Foods	IUs	%DV *
Carrot, 1 raw (7 1/2 inches long)	20,250	410
Carrots, boiled, 1/2 cup slices	19,150	380
Carrot juice, canned, 1/2 cup	12,915	260
Sweet potatoes, canned , drained solids, 1/2 cup	7,015	140
Spinach, frozen, boiled, 1/2 cup	7,395	150
Mango, raw, 1 cup sliced	6,425	130
Vegetable soup, canned, chunky, ready-to-serve, 1 cup	5,880	115
Cantaloupe, raw, 1 cup	5,160	100
Kale, frozen, boiled, 1/2 cup	4,130	80
Spinach, raw, 1 cup	2,015	40
Apricot nectar, canned, 1/2 cup	1,650	35
Oatmeal, instant, fortified, plain, prepared with water, 1 packet	1,510	30
Tomato juice, canned, 6 ounces	1,010	20
Apricots, with skin, juice pack, 2 halves	610	10
Pepper, sweet, red, raw, 1 ring, 3 inches in diameter by 1/4-inch thick	570	10
Peas, frozen, boiled, 1/2 cup	535	10
Peach, raw, 1 medium	525	10
Peaches, canned, water pack, 1/2 cup halves or slices	470	10
Papaya, raw, 1 cup cubes	400	8
*DV = Daily Value. DVs are reference numbers based on the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). They were developed to help consumers determine if a food contains a lot or a little of a specific nutrient. The DV for vitamin A is 5,000 IU (1,500 micrograms retinol).

• If you seem to have too much saliva, drink a tea of one of the following: white oak bark, goldenseal root, or bayberry.

• A chewing gum habit is not good. It overworks your salivary glands when they should be resting.

 You have to look after yourself as well.

 

 

  

PS:

Study: Smoke-free laws may cut heart attack hospitalizations
CNN - 14 hours ago
By Miriam Falco ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — Implementing smoke-free policies can lead to a fewer hospitalizations resulting from heart attacks, according to a new study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Study links smoking bans, heart attack rate Greeley Tribune
Our View: Smoking ban, one year later Northwest Herald
KKTV 11 News - The Associated Press - KDRV - Norman Transcript
all 460 news articles »

see also http://stayinhealth.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/anti-suicide-watch/

 

 

 

Spices

  

Some people consider spices as a luxury, or merely adding flavor to the taste buds, but did you know that certain foods and spices will help to control your body odors as well?

 

“Q: How to reduce the unpleasant odour of sweat, drink more water? Or what?  

Google Answers How to reduce the unpleasant odour of sweat,  

 
Intro: Ever since I was a teenager, it seems that when I don’t use anti-perspirant, under my arms, it smells, and its an un pleasant smell! I know that sweat is normal, but the smell comes from a combination of bacteria and the compounds in the sweat, secreted depending on what one eats. Is there a way I can improve the smell of my sweat, as when I don’t have deodorant near me, or I forget to use it, its quite embarrassing as its not a nice smell at all! Can you suggest what I should do?  More water to drink? or something else? Thanks
 
“General tips on reducing body odor, naturally.
 
Always, use cotton or natural fibers for your clothes during the hot months. Keep the clothes loose and the fabric light to help the sweat to evaporate faster.
 
Knitted or handloom fabrics are better than machine made fabrics, as they are slightly loose in their weaving and this lets more air to circulate around your body aiding the drying of sweat.
 
Shoes and socks also trap sweat causing the bad odor to emanate from your feet. Wear cotton socks, and wear strappy, open shoes to keep your feet dry. If you can’t avoid wearing shoes, dust your feet with pure sandalwood powder, which keeps your feet cool and infection free.
 
Dusting cornstarch on the feet before getting into socks and shoes helps to keep them dry (moisture encourages bacteria to grow and flourish), or one can try soaking them daily in warm water with white vinegar or Epsom salts added.
 
Positive  meditation keeps your mind and body under control, thus controlling the hormonal secretions in your body. The more relaxed you are, the less you have to get stressed about body odor.
 
Drink plenty of fluids. This will Keep the body cool inside and slow the metabolic rate, there by slowing down the rate of perspiration.
 
Go light on hot spices, onion and garlic, as these aggravate the body odor. Drink curd and coconut water to keep your system cool. Fruits like lemon, oranges and watermelon can be used for the same purpose.
 
Shower with an antiseptic soap after strenuous activities. This gets rid of the harmful bacteria. Last rinse can, with a few drops of sandalwood or lavender oil added to it, keep your body smelling fresh for a longer time than most deodorants.
 
Sweat glands are generally found under the hair follicles. These hairs trap the sweat and become a breeding ground for bacteria, causing bad odor. So, hair in the pubic area and armpits should be removed or trimmed to ensure personal hygiene. Scalp hair should kept clean with regular shampoos to avoid bad odor and infections of the scalp.
 
The armpits and the pubic area are the main area of concern when it comes to body odor. The reason being that these areas is generally covered, and the sweat does not dry soon enough causing the bacteria to decompose it. So wear loose, Cotton undergarments and avoid wearing tight clothes in warm weather.”
 
“In addition to deodorant, wash daily with antibacterial soaps, such as chlorhexidine.
 
Use solutions such as povidone-iodine that can also help in reducing body odor.
 
Application of topical antibiotic cream or ointment on the underarms might also help.
 
Prescription drugs that supposedly reduce sweating, such as those that contain aluminum chloride, whether applied to the skin or taken by mouth, may help some people. But, this has to be done under medical supervision.”
  
 WEIL Andrew Weil, M.D. -Reducing Odor-causing Bacteria http://www.drweil.com/u/Page/General420/

 

“- An easy solution to reducing bacteria is to splash on rubbing alcohol. 
  
- Stimulant drugs, including coffee and tea, contribute to body odor by increasing the activity of apocrine sweat glands, special glands in hairy parts of the body that produce strong-smelling, musky secretions. Try eliminating caffeine if body odor continues to be a problem.”
 
Body odor can be eliminated through a change in diet
http://www.newstarget.com/004417.html

 

“Foods that make you stink
 
Let’s take a closer look at the causes of body odor. What foods really cause body odor in the first place?
 
Red meat is the number one cause of body odor. Red meat causes stagnation in the body; it putrefies in the digestive tract and releases all sorts of toxins into the bloodstream through the large intestine. I’ve noticed that people who consume a large quantity of red meat on a regular basis tend to have much stronger body odor than those who avoid it. Some people tell me just the opposite — they say it’s vegetarians who stink because they run around wearing no deodorant whatsoever. But my experience is that if a vegetarian stinks, they aren’t following a healthy diet even though they are avoiding meat. (You can be vegetarian and extremely unhealthy if you consume a lot of processed foods.) Overall, though, if you find a healthful vegetarian and put them side by side with a heavy meat eater in a sniff test, I’m confident your nose will lead you to the conclusion that the meat eater is the most offensive of the two. It’s weird science, yes, but we are talking about a strange subject to begin with.
 
As far as other foods that cause body odor, manufactured foods — those lacking fiber and made with refined white flour, added sugars, hydrogenated oils and other processed ingredients — are the big culprits. When you eliminate these from your diet and shift to a 100% healthful diet made of whole grains, massive quantities of leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, soy products, supergreens, lots of sprouts, raw nuts and seeds, healthy oils and other similar healthful ingredients, your body odor will all but disappear in a matter of weeks.
  
Experts have plenty of suggestions for fighting smelly feet and armpits   That’s because a plant-based diet is an internal deodorizer. It’s true: the chlorophyll and other phytonutrients will cleanse you from the inside out. Some of the best foods for that include parsley, cilantro, celery and all mint species. The aromatic herbs are also excellent: sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, and so on.”
 
An excellent article can be found at the following site:  Experts have plenty of suggestions for fighting smelly feet and armpits
http://www.newstarget.com/007699.html

Herbal Powders and Deodorants
http://allnaturalbeauty.us/herbal_powders_deodorants.htm

 
“Could it be that there are actually herbal deodorants?  It seems so for cattle, and, fortunately, there are herbal deodorants for humans too.  Some of these natural deodorants are eaten to improve one’s personal scent, and some of them are used externally to mask the natural body odors; some used externally seem to combine with one’s odor to complement rather than mask it – usually by not allowing the formation of offensive bacteria.  Of course, the easiest deodorizing agent is the daily bath or shower, especially with herbs that sweeten the body scent and improve the texture of the skin.”
    
“Experiment with what you eat and maybe you too will find that some foods make you smell better than other foods, just as the scientists discovered with the Sagebrush.
 
As a matter of fact, Sage (a different genus than Sagebrush) has an historical use as a deodorizing tea.  And the Mints, especially Peppermint, are especially useful when you are flatulent (use 2 drops in an ounce of water and drink every hour or so).
 
1. Witch Hazel leaf or bark decoction or Witch Hazel extract as an underarm splash to remove odor.
2. White Willow bark.  An infusion of White Willow bark mixed with borax acts as a deodorant wash for offensive-smelling perspiration.
Mix a few drops of oil of Patchouli with the infusion…Herbs & Things, 1972.
3. Orange peel mixed with Lemon peel and powdered is a nice underarm deodorizer.
4. Thyme decoction as an after bath splash.
5. Wearing cotton garments is helpful as well as a diet as natural as possible.
6. Chaparral (creosote) decoction externally applied is a natural deodorizer.
7. *Rose Astringent Lotion is an excellent underarm deodorant that I use daily.”

Quick and Affordable Tips to Look and Smell Radiant
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=16139&pageIndex=0

 
5. If you have no time for a shower but need to be at your freshest, fill your sink with water and add 4 tablespoons baking soda. Then dip a sponge or washcloth in the sink and rub yourself down, recommends Susie Galvez, owner of Face Works Day Spa in Richmond, Virginia, and author of Hello Beautiful: 365 Ways to Be Even More Beautiful.
 
6. Ward off smelly feet with odor-absorbing insoles. Foot odor is a very common problem. Keep your feet smelling fresh by scrubbing them daily and drying them completely when you get out of the shower. Then insert odor-absorbing insoles, such as Odor-Eaters, into your shoes.
 
Reduce Odor
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=16139&pageIndex=1

 
8. Wear loose-fitting clothes to allow air to circulate around your body and perspiration to evaporate. Tight-fitting clothes cause sweat to be trapped in a film on your skin, which can result in body odor or noticeable embarrassing perspiration stains.
 
9. Buy clothes made from natural fibers like cotton. They allow skin to breathe, reducing body odor, says David Bank, M.D., dermatologist and director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic, and Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco, New York. Avoid synthetic, man-made fibers,  such as nylon or spandex, which tend to limit ventilation.
 
10. Apply antiperspirant when your underarms are a little moist and wet, like right after a warm shower or bath. It enables active ingredients to enter the sweat glands more readily.
 
11. Avoid sitting in direct sunlight. It heats your body and causes perspiration, especially in warmer weather.
 
12. Apply a cornstarch-based body powder in the morning to help skin stay drier throughout the day and reduce odor.
 
13. . The education you get in stress management will help you better control perspiration and body odor. After heat, stress is probably the top cause of sweating.
 
14. Wipe a cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol, vinegar, or hydrogen peroxide onto your underarms during the day to cut down on odor-causing bacteria. Or try witch hazel or tea tree oil, both of which help keep you dry, kill bacteria, and deodorize.
 
15. Fix some greens for dinner each night. Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, chard, parsley, and kale are rich in chlorophyll, which has a powerful deodorizing effect on your body.
 
For men:
http://www.rd.com/content/openContent.do?contentId=16139&pageIndex=3
 
31. When the weather gets warmer, trim your armpit hair. There will be less hair to trap bacteria and hence, less odor.

There are other medical conditions such as diabetes, gland problems that can be the cause of the sweat too…

keyword search:
eliminate body odor naturally -deodorant
reduce body odor
eat foods to eliminate body odor
how to eliminate body odor

 http://www.diagnose-me.com/cond/C105680.html

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 http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/603577.html

A few extra pounds

 

A few extra pounds helps you live longer, study finds  Telegraph.co.uk - 

 Carrying a few extra pounds may actually be good for you, according to a new study which found overweight people live longer than their more slender peers. While the obese or underweight are at greater risk of death, people marginally overweight have longer life spans than those considered to be of “healthy” weight, researchers claim. The findings defy the commonly held belief that staying slim is the secret to healthy and long life.  Scientists examined the relationship between body mass index and death among 11,326 adults in Canada over a 12-year period. They discovered that underweight people were 70 per cent more likely than people of normal weight to die, and extremely obese people were 36 per cent more likely to die. However, modestly overweight individuals were 17 per cent less likely to die, the study showed.  The relative risk for obese people was nearly the same as for people of normal weight, the report concluded. The research was conducted by experts at Statistics Canada, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and McGill University. Commenting on the findings, David Feeny from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, said: “It’s not surprising that extreme underweight and extreme obesity increase the risk of dying. “But it is surprising that carrying a little extra weight may give people a longevity advantage.” However, the researchers also warned people of normal weight not to try to put on extra pounds in the hope of improving their health.” I would not interpret our results as suggesting that if you are normal you should gain weight and get into the overweight category,” Mr Feeny said. Fellow researcher Mark Kaplan, professor of Community Health at Portland State University, added: “Our study only looked at mortality, not at quality of life. “There are many negative health consequences associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.” The researches said carrying slightly more weight than normal may be beneficial in later life because it prevents people from becoming dangerously underweight when faced with health problems.

Excess Pounds, but Not Too Many, May Lead to Longer Life New York Times

Study: Overweight People Live Longer WebMD

The Canadian Press - Reuters - CBC.ca - Ontario Now

all 85 news articles »

 

A few extra pounds after 45 years of age now tends to help  you live longer, maintain your health, and I happened to know that this is really true even due to a recent experience of one of my relatives, who was in the 80’s  and they had a sudden large loss of weight due to unexplained blood loss, anemic and they next were unable to regain quickly their strength, weight and faced more health difficulties as a result.

 

Irrespective all persons should still watch what they eat,  cut back on their salt and sugar intake, and use salt,  sugar substitutes now as well

 

Healthy living – Heart, atrial fibrillation

 

Many Canadians pose severe health risks  Edmonton Sun -    OTTAWA — Ninety per cent of Canadians over the age of 20 have at least one “risk factor” associated with heart disease and stroke, the Public Health Agency of Canada warns in a comprehensive study of cardiovascular illness.

The document, which distils data from several scientific sources about all areas of heart and stroke illness, says that in terms of risky behaviour:

- more than 56% of adults don’t eat enough fruit and vegetables;

- almost 50% don’t get enough exercise;

- almost one-quarter feel high stress levels;

- more than 15% are daily smokers;

- between 60% and 85% eat too much sodium (salt).

High percentages of adults also have underlying health conditions that add to their risk, including high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes.

 

Irregular heartbeat quintuples stroke risk CTV.ca

Study Shows Prevalence Of Dangerous Irregular Heartbeats In Canadians CityNews

Vancouver Sun - Gravenhurst Banner - BCLocalNews - The Canadian Press

all 32 news articles »

    

A new report out from the Heart and Stroke Foundation says a quarter million Canadians have a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. They’re also concerned that not enough patients are getting the right care, and may be at risk of dying. The foundation says doctors also need to be aware of the increased stroke risk linked to atrial fibrillation and ensure patients are properly treated.  “Most patients with atrial fibrillation are treated with medications to either slow down the heartbeat or to stop the irregular beat from happening, or with a procedure called ablation,” notes Dr. paul Dorian of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.  “As a separate matter, most patients with atrial fibrillation are at some risk for stroke and need a blood thinner of some type to reduce the risk of stroke…”HEALTHY LIVING  Canadians who have an irregular heartbeat problem called atrial fibrillation are at least five times more likely to have a stroke, and twice as likely to die from one — and most don’t realize it, reports the Heart and Stroke

 

Just a quivering heartbeat away from stroke When walking up the stairs at home to get ready to go run some errands, Gordon MacKay noticed he was out of breath and a little weak, which was unusual for the healthy 54-year old. Then, just as he was pulling on his boots to go out the door, the strength drained right out of him − so much so that he could barely sit up. He felt his heart beating out of control. “It was very scary,” Gordon says. His wife Claudette called an ambulance. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Gordon with atrial fibrillation, a condition involving an irregular heartbeat, also known as arrhythmia. Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, affecting approximately 250,000 Canadians. While it is rare in people under 40, its prevalence increases with age. About 3% of the population over the age of 45 and 6% over age 65 have atrial fibrillation. During atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart known as the atria contract chaotically and in a disorganized manner. Instead of beating normally and efficiently, the atria quiver. Because the atria can’t move blood properly, blood pools and gets stuck in the grooves of the heart. Clots can form in this pooled blood, which may get pumped up to the brain and cause a stroke. It is estimated that up to 15% of all strokes are due to atrial fibrillation (AF). This risk increases with age, so that after age 60, one-third of 50,000 strokes that occur in Canada are due to AF. Gordon has been lucky that his condition has not led to a stroke. Foundation researcher, Dr. Michael Gollob, says that this is partially because Gordon was able to recognize something was wrong before the problem got worse. “Some people with AF never notice any symptoms. Sometimes the heartbeat is irregular, but not excessively fast. People who get a more rapid heart rate are more likely to notice symptoms and get help. But whether or not that person notices the symptoms, the risk of stroke is always there,” says Dr. Gollob. The good news is that once it is diagnosed, there are treatments that can help. The shortness of breath and weakness some people experience are usually caused by a racing heartbeat (also called tachycardia) that occurs in some people with AF, he says. Also, that kind of heartbeat feels different:  “Usually, the elevated heart rate is very noticeable,” Dr. Gollob says. It’s not like what happens after drinking too much coffee or during stressful periods, he explains. “ It’s quite rapid and the symptoms occur at rest when they haven’t been exerting themselves very much, if at all.” However, in some people, heart rate may fall within normal range. It may even be slower than normal. For some, there are no symptoms. But others with AF may experience: irregular and fast heartbeat heart palpitations or a rapid thumping in the chest chest discomfort, chest pain or pressure shortness of breath, particularly with exertion, or anxiety fatigue dizziness, sweating, nausea lightheadedness or fainting Once a diagnosis of AF has been made, there are ways to control the condition and reduce the risk of stroke. Medication is usually the first approach. In Gordon’s case, he was immediately put on a drug in hospital to try to slow his heartbeat, but it didn’t have the desired effect.  So, the doctors performed a cardioversion procedure, in which the heart is shocked back into its normal rhythm. “When it was over,” says Gordon, “I felt right as rain and I walked out of the hospital, happy to see the blue sky again.” Eight years later, Gordon continues to take medication to control his heart’s rhythm and a blood thinner to prevent blood clots. “My physician is very aware that my mother had a stroke and has helped me manage the atrial fibrillation between visits to my heart specialist.” Gordon has also made some healthy changes to his lifestyle to manage his atrial fibrillation as well, including taking his dog Maggie for long walks twice a day. “I am extremely grateful for our health-care system. I have an enormous appreciation for all that the doctors and nurses did to save my life.” Dr. Gollob says that although some people don’t notice any symptoms, regular visits to the doctor can help in identifying the condition to avoid a stroke. “This is just one of many reasons why it is so important to get regular check-ups at the doctor – even when you feel fine. For some people who have no symptoms, the doctor will be able to listen for irregular heartbeats with a stethoscope and then can do other tests to confirm the cause and help get you treatment early on.” Read more about atrial fibrillation. Heart disease – atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation is a condition involving an irregular heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia. It is the most common type of arrhythmia, affecting approximately 250,000 Canadians. While it is rare in people under 40, its prevalence increases with age. About 3% of the population over the age of 45 and 6% over age 65 have atrial fibrillation. After the age of 55, the incidence of AF doubles with each decade of life. Generally the risk of developing AF increases with age and with other risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and underlying heart disease. One of the main complications of atrial fibrillation is that it may result in a stroke. Individuals with atrial fibrillation have 3 to 5 times greater risk for stroke than those without AF. Atrial fibrillation and stroke AF increases your risk of stroke and it is estimated that up to 15% of all strokes are due to atrial fibrillation. This risk increases with age, so that after age 60, one-third of strokes are due to AF. It is estimated that individuals with atrial fibrillation have 3 to 5 times greater risk for ischemic stroke (see here for more information). Here’s what can happen: Normally the heart receives electrical signals from the brain via the sinoatrial (SA) node, which regulates heart rhythm. The SA node sends impulses through the atria to tell them to beat. The impulses then makes their  way to the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles, which pump blood to the rest of the body. During atrial fibrillation, the atria contract chaotically and in a disorganized manner. Instead of beating normally and efficiently, the atria quiver. Because the atria don’t move blood properly, blood pools and gets stuck in the grooves of the heart. Clots can form from this pooled blood, which may finally get pumped up to the brain and result in a stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a clot in one of the blood vessels leading to or in the brain. Studies show that long-term use of the blood thinner warfarin in patients with AF can reduce the risk of stroke by 70% to 80% Atrial fibrillation Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a condition involving an irregular heart rhythm, known as an arrhythmia. It is the most common type of arrhythmia, affecting approximately 250,000 Canadians. While it is rare in people under 40, its prevalence increases with age. About 3% of the population over the age of 45 and 6% over age 65 have atrial fibrillation. After the age of 55, the incidence of AF doubles with each decade of life. Generally, the risk of developing AF increases with age and with other risk factors such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and underlying heart disease. One of the main complications of atrial fibrillation is that it may result in a stroke. Individuals with atrial fibrillation have 3 to 5 times greater risk for stroke than those without AF. What is atrial fibrillation? It is called “atrial” fibrillation because the irregularity originates in the atria, the top two chambers of the heart. Atrial fibrillation falls under a larger category of illnesses called arrhythmias, which are electrical disturbances of the heart. Arrhythmias can also occur in the ventricles, the two chambers below the atria, and these tend to be more serious than arrhythmias affecting the atria. Through regular electrical signals, the atria (the heart’s “collecting chambers”) are designed to send blood efficiently and rhythmically into the ventricles (the “pumping chambers”), and from there blood is pumped to the rest of the body. But in atrial fibrillation, the electrical signals are rapid, irregular and disorganized and the heart may not pump as efficiently. Atrial fibrillation can cause the heart to beat very fast, sometimes more than 150 beats per minute. When the heart beats faster than normal, it is called tachycardia. Read more about the anatomy of the heart. Although untreated atrial fibrillation can cause considerable impairment of quality of life, the majority of patients with AF lead active, normal lives with treatment. Be sure to consult your doctor if you have atrial fibrillation but continue to feel unwell. Atrial fibrillation (AF) has different forms: Paroxysmal: Paroxysmal AF is a temporary, sometimes recurrent condition. It can start suddenly and then the heart returns to a normal beat on its own, usually within 24 hours, without medical assistance. Persistent: If you have had atrial fibrillation for more than seven days, this is considered persistent AF. With this type of AF, the heart continues to beat irregularly, and will require either medical or electrical intervention to return the heart to a normal rhythm. Permanent: In permanent AF, the irregular beating of the heart lasts for more than a year when medications and other treatments have failed. Some patients with permanent AF do not feel any symptoms nor do they require any medications. What causes atrial fibrillation? Quite often, the cause of atrial fibrillation is not known. Here are a few conditions that might lead to AF:   high blood pressure, the most common cause abnormal structure of the heart infection or inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or pericarditis) diseases that damage the valves of the heart overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism) congenital heart disease excessive use of alcohol How do I know if I have atrial fibrillation? Some people with atrial fibrillation may feel perfectly fine, and not know that they have the condition until they have a routine test called an electrocardiogram (described below). Others with atrial fibrillation may experience various symptoms including: irregular and fast heartbeat heart palpitations or a rapid thumping in the chest chest discomfort, chest pain or pressure shortness of breath, particularly with exertion, or anxiety fatigue dizziness, sweating, nausea lightheadedness or fainting How is atrial fibrillation diagnosed? If your pulse is fast and your heartbeat is irregular, your doctor may have you checked for atrial fibrillation. First, your doctor will take your medical history. Your doctor will ask you details about your condition and risk factors: How long have you had it? What does it feel like? Does it come and go? Do you have other medical conditions? How much alcohol do you drink? Your doctor will also ask you whether anyone in your family has atrial fibrillation, if you have heart disease or a thyroid condition. Your age is also a factor to take into consideration, as AF is much more common in older people. Stethoscope: Using a stethoscope, your doctor will listen for fast, irregular beats. Your doctor will also check your pulse and assess the regularity of it. To hear what atrial fibrillation sounds like, listen to this sound file.   Electrocardiogram: The main diagnostic test is an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is a painless procedure done in a clinic setting. Small electrodes are attached to your arms, legs, and chest, and the machine charts the electrical activity of your heart. Your doctor can tell from the printout what type of arrhythmia is causing the irregular beats. Read more about electrocardiogram. Echocardiogram: A painless procedure, an echocardiogram uses sound waves to make a picture of your heart. Read more about echocardiogram. Holter monitor: To test the rhythm of your heart while you do regular daily activities, you may be asked to wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours. This is a small, portable device that is strapped to your body. It records the electrical activity of your heart at rest and during activity. Event monitor: This electrical device, which is strapped to your body, monitors your heartbeat only when you turn it on to record your symptoms. It is generally worn for one or two weeks at a time. Read more about holter and event monitoring. Blood tests: Your doctor may also order blood tests to rule out thyroid disease or other blood chemistry abnormalities. Read more about blood tests. Treatments for atrial fibrillation Your physician will help decide what is the best approach to treat your atrial fibrillation. Your doctor will customize the treatment to your needs, based upon your risks, medical profile and how much the symptoms are interfering with your quality of life. Most patients with atrial fibrillation will likely need to be on some form of blood thinner in order to reduce the risk of stroke. The risk of stroke depends on several other risk factors, including the presence of heart muscle weakness, having high blood pressure or diabetes, being over 75 years of age, or having had a previous stroke or a mini stroke (TIA). Accordingly, your doctor may prescribe blood thinners such as an antiplatelet like ASA (Aspirin®) or an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin) so that clots won’t form in the heart and travel to the brain. With respect to specific treatment for atrial fibrillation, there are two general strategies – one is called rhythm control and the other is rate control. Your doctor will decide which strategy is best for you based on your symptoms and other factors.   Rate control: Almost every patient with atrial fibrillation will be prescribed a medication that is designed to slow the heart rate during atrial fibrillation. For some, this type of medication is enough to control the symptoms related to atrial fibrillation.  Rhythm control: These treatments attempt to prevent the irregularity of the heartbeat in an effort to restore and maintain a normal, regular heartbeat. Generally, the first approach to rhythm control involves taking medications that will attempt to prevent the atrial fibrillation from occurring. Occasionally, some patients will require a controlled electric shock to the heart (called electrical cardioversion) to restore a normal rhythm. In some cases, if medications fail, or are not well tolerated, your doctor may refer you to a specialist for consideration of an electrophysiologic study (see below).    When taking medications of any type, it is important to follow your doctor’s or pharmacist’s instructions. Establish a routine for taking your pills, and keep to the daily schedule. Don’t share medications with others. Don’t stop taking your medications without consulting your doctor. Report any side effects to your doctor, who may decide to change the dosage or type of medication to make it work better for you. Electrophysiology Studies (EPS) and Catheter Ablation: Very rarely, some patients with atrial fibrillation may be candidates for an EPS in order to try to stop atrial fibrillation from recurring, especially when medications and electric cardioversion have not helped to keep atrial fibrillation under control. The objective of EPS testing is to locate the problem that is causing the electrical impulses in the heart to be irregular. Catheter ablation can then be done at the same time to destroy, through tiny burns, the electrically chaotic tissue in the heart.  During EPS and catheter ablation, thin wires (or catheters) are introduced to the heart through veins in the leg and neck. Radiofrequency energy is sent through the catheters to the parts of the heart where the electrical impulses are thought to be malfunctioning. Ablation essentially creates scars in the heart that stabilize the electrical short circuits. Read more about electrophysiology studies.  Read more about heart treatments. Atrial fibrillation in people under 60 If you develop atrial fibrillation and do not have any structural heart disease, this is considered idiopathic (or lone) AF. This usually occurs before the age of 60. Researchers have so far identified a handful of genes that predispose families to atrial fibrillation. Once all the genes are identified, researchers may be able to begin to develop new treatments. Those who have the genetic predisposition may develop the disease in their 30s and 40s. It is also possible for young people who do not have AF in their family to develop the disease. What can you do? Healthy lifestyle change is always a good idea. Your risk for many different diseases is reduced if you eat nutritious food that is lower in saturated and trans fats and includes plenty of vegetables and fruit, fibre and lean protein. In study after study, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake and reducing stress as much as possible have been shown to increase good health. Any lifestyle changes that lower blood pressure (such as maintaining a normal weight) are likely to reduce the chances of developing AF. It may be possible to prevent atrial fibrillation by staying physically active. A large study of people over the age of 65 found that participating in light- to moderate-physical activities, particularly leisure-time activity such as gardening and walking, were associated with significantly lower AF incidence. Doctors say that even if you have AF, physical activity is probably good for you because it increases overall health. Again, each case is different. Consult your doctor before becoming physically active. Visit your doctor regularly. Your physician is the best person to monitor your atrial fibrillation. You may notice international websites selling high-tech, expensive equipment to monitor your own heart rhythm. Doctors don’t recommend this because it may unnecessarily elevate stress. If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor how to monitor your own blood pressure at home. Atrial fibrillation and stroke AF increases your risk of stroke and it is estimated that up to 15% of all strokes are due to atrial fibrillation. This risk increases with age, so that after age 60, one-third of strokes are due to AF. It is estimated that individuals with atrial fibrillation have 3 to 5 times greater risk for ischemic stroke. Here’s what can happen: Normally the heart receives electrical signals from the brain via the sinoatrial (SA) node, which regulates heart rhythm. The SA node sends impulses through the atria to tell them to beat. The impulses then makes their way to the lower chambers of the heart, the ventricles, which pump blood to the rest of the body. During atrial fibrillation, the atria contract chaotically and in a disorganized manner. Instead of beating normally and efficiently, the atria quiver. Because the atria don’t move blood properly, blood pools and gets stuck in the grooves of the heart. Clots can form from this pooled blood, which may finally get pumped up to the brain and result in an ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke is caused when blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a clot in one of the blood vessels leading to or in the brain. Studies show that long-term use of the blood thinner warfarin in patients with AF can reduce the risk of stroke by 70% to 80%. Learn about the warning signs of stroke.   Watch an animated illustration on how the heart works. Posted: June 2009

 

http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=ikIQLcMWJtE&b=4016859&ct=7021725&src=home

US States with the highest diabetes prevalence in the analysis also have the highest levels of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk, cancer risk, and none of this surprising since diabetes is   often related to the type of food they eat too.. and poorer people tend to eat junkier foods..   U.S. scientists also say they’ve found that in human breast cancer cell tumors in mice, a diabetes drug worked better than chemotherapy in prolonging remission. It is interesting that diabetes medicine already has also been found to help 30 percent of heart patients get better too. The drug, metformin, appears to selectively kill cancer stem cells in culture dishes and in mice. Health Ministers and Health Canada should seriously be looking into this too

 http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2009/09/14/Diabetes-drug-also-kills-cancer-stem-cells/UPI-80291252943811/

 

influenza A (H1N1) -swine flu –

   

“ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE, Alta. — Arnold Van Ginkel says his flu-stricken Alberta hog farm and his livelihood are hanging in limbo while the government dithers over what to do with his 2,200 pigs. For the 37-year-old farmer, a Dutch immigrant, the solution is simple: destroy all the animals and compensate him for his loss. “I think they should depopulate the herd as soon as possible and give me compensation for the animals, give me compensation for the loss of income and everybody can go back to normal life,” Van Ginkel said Monday.” Money from a stingy, cheap Albertan Government? dream on.. they will sell the sick pigs first likely instead.

 

Pregnant women are at higher risk for A/H1N1 flu because pregnancy weakens a woman’s immune system, according to doctors at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    

OTTAWA — The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed 31 new cases of H1N1 virus or human swine flu Wednesday. That brings the national number to 389 cases, the agency said.  B.C. reported nine new cases for a total of 92, while Alberta revealed eight new cases which brings its number to 61.  Saskatchewan reported four new H1N1 cases for a total of 16, Manitoba cited two more for a total of four, and Ontario now has a 119 cases after six more were confirmed Wednesday.  Quebec has one more case bringing its number to 26, while Nova Scotia reported one new case for a total of 65.  Prince Edward Island still has only three confirmed cases of H1N1, the Yukon is reporting one case while Newfoundland and Labrador have no confirmed cases of the virus. Alberta has had the only two serious cases of the H1N1 flu. A 49-year-old woman from the Gift Lake Metis Settlement died in hospital after catching the virus from unknown sources. The investigation continues into whether the flu caused her death. A girl with the H1N1 virus is still recovering in an Edmonton-area hospital. There’s still no word on when she’ll be discharged. May 12, 2009

 

WE ALL  CANNOT TRUST THE RCMP, or Stephen Harper, Lawyers, our politicians   ‘OTTAWA, CALGARY, TORONTO — Farmers debated culls and Canadian politicians dished out pork yesterday as pig producers faced a consumer-confidence crisis brought on by a new flu strain that has passed from swine to humans and back again.

 

 “What is clear is that there is no concern about the safety of pork,” Jurgen Preugschas, chair of the Canadian Pork Council, said as MPs and staffers wolfed down pulled-pork sandwiches served by federal cabinet ministers in a courtyard of Parliament Hill’s East Block. Mr. Preugschas urged Canadian families to eat pork and help pig farmers who have seen their meagre profits whittled away by fears that the A/H1N1 virus could somehow be passed through the food chain. But the public-relations gesture that filled political bellies was undermined when a World Health Organization official was quoted by Reuters yesterday saying that meat from pigs infected with the new virus shouldn’t be consumed.’

In an e-mail exchange with The Globe and Mail, the director of WHO’s Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases cautioned consumers against eating meat from sick or dead pigs infected with swine flu because the virus may survive the freezing process. “Almost all microorganisms, including most viruses, can to some degree survive freezing,” Jorgen Schlundt said. But Dr. Schlundt stressed that influenza viruses are not known to be transmissible to people through eating COOKED pork. “Heat treatments commonly used in cooking meat will readily inactivate any viruses potentially present in raw meat products,” he added.  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/

   

Jorgen Schlundt, director of the World Health Organisation’s Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases, said care must be taken to ensure that pigs and their meat were checked for all diseases, including the H1N1 virus that may be present in the blood of infected animals.

“Meat from sick pigs or pigs found dead should not be processed or used for human consumption under any circumstances,” he told Reuters.  It is possible for flu viruses such as the new H1N1 strain to survive the freezing process and be present in thawed meat, as well as in blood, the expert said. But he stressed that there was no risk of infection from eating or handling pork so long as normal precautions were adhered to.  “While it is possible for influenza viruses to survive the freezing process and be present on thawed meat, there are no data available on the survival of Influenza A/H1N1 on meat nor any data on the infectious dose for people,” he wrote in an email reply to questions from Reuters about risks from the respiratory secretions and blood of infected pigs.  Schlundt said it was still unclear whether and how long the virus, which is commonly known as swine flu but also contains human and avian flu pieces, would be present in the blood and meat-juices of animals which contracted it. “The likelihood of influenza viruses to be in the blood of an infected animal depends on the specific virus. Blood (and meat-juice) from influenza H1N1-infected pigs may potentially contain virus, but at present, this has not been established,” he said. The WHO has urged veterinarians, farm hands and slaughterhouse workers to exercise caution in their contact with pigs to avoid contamination until more is known about how it manifests in the animals.  “In general, we recommend that persons involved in activities where they could come in contact with large amounts of blood and secretions, such as those slaughtering/eviscerating pigs, wear appropriate protective equipment,” Schlundt said.

World Health Organization announced that it will henceforth refer to this flu as influenza A (H1N1)   Canadian health officials  American officials changed their nomenclature  too. 

 Simple Ways to Stay Healthy
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advice on protecting yourself against swine flu:
– Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and then throw the tissue in the trash.
– Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are also effective.
– Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. That’s a major route of entry into your body.
–Try to avoid close contact with sick people or those in close contact with sick people.
–The virus can remain on objects previously touched by infected people, so regular hand washing is very important.
– Influenza is thought to spread from the coughing or sneezing of infected people.
– If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them

http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/2009/04/27/swine-flu/

 

HUSBAND SUES PIG FARM USD 1 BILLION OVER WIFE’S H1N1 RELATED DEATH

Trunnell and his lawyer, Marc Rosenthal, do not claim that Smithfield purposely bred the virus, but rather that its Perote operation, which raises some 1 million pigs annually in close quarters, established the necessary conditions for the virus to arise. If Smithfield had taken better care of its farm, the petition claims, H1N1 might never have been introduced to the world.

“We think that the conditions down there are a recipe for disaster,” says Rosenthal. “This type of virus is more likely to evolve and mutate in this much filth and putrescence. It’s more than a mere coincidence that the first cases emerged right there in La Gloria, Mexico.”

H1N1 Virus: The First Legal Action Targets a Pig Farm

In an initial step toward what could be the first wrongful-death suit of its kind, Texas resident Steven Trunnell has filed a petition against Smithfield Foods, the world’s largest pork producer, based in Virginia, and the owner of a massive pig farm in Perote, Mexico, near the village of La Gloria, where the earliest cases of the new H1N1 flu were detected.

Trunnell filed the petition in his home state on behalf of his late wife, Judy Dominguez Trunnell, the 33-year-old special-education teacher who on May 4 became the first U.S. resident to die of H1N1 flu. New viruses have emerged from animals to infect and kill humans for thousands of years, and while today’s factory-farming conditions may raise that risk,

 

http://drhalimahali.wordpress.com/2009/05/16/husband-sues-pig-farm-usd-1-billion-over-wifes-h1n1-related-death/

UNDENIABLE

 

 Recognition of the problems is the first start..

 

IT IS UNDENIABLE THAT A DIET ALONE DOES NOT HELP TO DEAL WITH IMPROVING ONE’S HEALTH, THAT IS ONE EATING PROPERLY, RATHER IT TAKES ALSO A DEFINITE CHANGE IN ONE LIFESTYLE ALL TOGETHER.. THUS RECOGNIZING ALSO WHAT FOODS, OTHER ITEMS ARE GOOD AND THOSE THAT ARE BAD  AS WELL. Pressure and Stress included.

What we eat, proper sleep, proper exercise, personal stress reduction  are all important as well.  While it is well known that we all thrive on a certain amount of pressure and in fact in life, for  it seems we all need some incentive pressure to do our best. However, if this pressure next becomes continual, or excessive it can be mostly be counter productive and lead to serious, unbeneficial stress.

 

At first, we may next  just be irritable, snappy, unable to think clearly, and make more than a few silly mistakes. However, if the now rather  bad stress, pressure continues, and we fail to do anything about it, our personal performance and even our health will signifcantly drop. We may develop serious physical, health  symptoms or mental symptoms, problems such as anxiety and eventually a serious depression. We need to face realities firstly, always.
 
Dramatic stress reduction also still is a real NEED in reality for many persons.  Most people still do take an ostrich approach to their fears, problems in life, rather than firstly recognizing, and  admitting the problems that  they are facing  and next researching, learning how to deal with them effectively, for example what is causing you to get a loss of sleep in reality..    

 
Do you also want daily, simple techniques you can use to reduce your daily stress? Do you have difficulty sleeping at night? Worried about your job, life, future? In reality there is no miracle, instant simple cure even if many will lie to you, take your money and say there is.. you have to face life, with real work, real effort to resolve your problems still generally too… including
- Overall lifestyle, personal values  review and evaluation
- Identification of major, minor stressors
- Education and evaluation of root causes of stress, Breathing exercises
- Learn to respond to your life  in a more positive and healthy way
- Support and resources for stress reduction
- Simple but very effective goal setting to help drop unnecessary behaviors and develop new and helpful behaviors

 - learning to use Stress reduction techniques that are easy , useful – such as turning off your TV
 

 TOO MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN AN UNREALISTIC WORLD OF FANTASIES, ARE LIVING BEYOND THEIR FINANCIAL MEANS AND NEED TO GET BACK TO EARTH AND ADJUST TO THEIR ACTUAL CAPABILITIES, EXPECTATIONS TOO. Not everything that we want, desire is what we need now as well..  

 
   Employers should provide a stress-free work environment, recognize where stress is becoming a problem for staff, and take action to reduce stress. If you believe this crap than you are really gullible and unrealistic.. It is not the employers who need to take personal responsibility firstly for dealing with the stress in your life but you yourself. Don’t falsely expect any others to look after your good welfare, that is always still your own duties, job too. 

 
So what can we do ?

 
Try to manage your balance between too little and too much pressure by adapting your behaviour and thinking. Also make sure you take time out to recover from the pressures you find yourself under. Exercise and relaxation are paramount.

 
Tips for preventing life’s pressure turning to stress
  
1. Adopt a healthy lifestyle – If we eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and ensure we get adequate rest our body is better able to cope with stress should it occur.
 
2. Know your limitations and do not take on too much. We cause ourselves a great deal of stress because we do not like to say no to people. We like people to like us and do not want to let people down. We then end up doing more than we should. Learn to be assertive and how to say no without upsetting or offending people. Practice saying “No” without feeling guilty.
 
3. Determine what causes you stress and try to change your behaviour to reduce it.
 
4. Avoid unnecessary conflict. Don’t be too argumentative. Is it really worth the stress? Look for win – win situations. Look for a solution to a dispute where both parties can achieve a positive outcome.
 
5. Learn to manage your time more effectively – We waste a lot of time doing unimportant tasks. Prioritise your day and do the important jobs first. The unimportant ones can wait, and often they will disappear completely leaving you time to do other things. Also do not put off the unpleasant tasks. Every time we think about them we cause ourselves stress. Give an unpleasant task a high priority and do it first.
 
6. Take time out to relax and recharge your batteries – You will perform much better after a break and easily make up the time you used relaxing.
 
7. Try to see things differently – If something is bothering you try to see it differently. Talk over your problem with somebody before it gets out of proportion. Often, talking to somebody else will help you see things from a different and less stressful perspective. Try to see the funny side of a situation. Laughter is a great stress reducer. When things cause you stress, try to change the situation. Sometimes however, this is not possible. If this proves to be the case recognise this and accept things as they are.
 
8. Find time to meet good and not bad friends. Good Friends help us see things in a different way. Bad friends will make life worse for us The activities we engage in with friends usually help us relax and we will often have a good laugh. Laughter is a great stress reducer. It boosts the immune system, which is often depleted during stress.
 
9 .Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine as coping mechanisms. – Long term, these faulty coping mechanisms will just add to the problem. For example, caffeine is a stimulant and our body reacts to this with the stress response.
 
10 .If you do become stressed, engage in some form of physical activity and try a relaxation technique. Physical activity will work off the biochemical and physical changes that occur within your body due to stress. Relaxation helps your body return to its normal healthy state. Good relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, massage and a variety of complimentary therapies.  http://www.andersonpeakperformance.co.uk/personalstresstips.htm
.

 

Possible quick stress reduction techniques 

 
If you are stressed, do one or all of these things, The key to de-stressing in the moment is getting away from or removing yourself from the stressor. In this modern world it is difficult if not impossible to immediately change some stressful situations. What we all maybe can do however is change and reduce our exposure,  enable you to change your reaction and relationship to the stressful situations.

 

1 stress reduction idea  – humour
Humour is one of the greatest and quickest devices for reducing stress.
 
2 stress reduction idea  – brisk walk and self-talk
Go for a short quick really brisk walk outside.
 
3 stress reduction idea   - rehydrate
Go get a cup or a bottle of water.
 stress reduction technique 4 – catnap or powernap
(Not so easy but still perfectly possible)

 

4 Take a quick nap. It is nature’s way of recharging and re-energising.
A quick 10-30 minutes’ sleep is very helpful to reduce stress.
 
 
Stress is caused by various factors – not all of which are work-related of course  Various US studies have demonstrated that removing stress improves specific aspects of health: stress management was shown to be capable of reducing the risk of heart attack by up to 75% in people with heart disease; stress management techniques, along with methods for coping with anger, contributed to a reduction of high blood pressure, and; for chronic tension headache sufferers it was found that stress management techniques increased the effectiveness of prescribed drugs, and after six months actually equalled the effectiveness of anti-depressants. The clear implication for these ailments is that stress makes them worse.
 
Stress significantly reduces brain functions such as memory, concentration, and learning, all of which are central to effective performance at work.

These are some typical causes of stress at work:
-bullying or harassment, by anyone, not necessarily a person’s manager
-feeling powerless and uninvolved in determining one’s own responsibilities
-continuous unreasonable performance demands
-lack of effective communication and conflict resolution
-lack of job security
-long working hours
-excessive time away from home and family
-office politics and conflict among staff
-a feeling that one’s reward reward is not commensurate with one’s responsibility working hours, responsibilities and pressures disrupting life-balance (diet, exercise, sleep and rest, play, family-time, etc)

Some factors influencing the effects of stress and stress susceptibility
A person’s susceptibility to stress can be affected by any or all of these factors, which means that everyone has a different tolerance to stressors. And in respect of certain of these factors, stress susceptibility is not fixed, so each person’s stress tolerance level changes over time:
-childhood experience (abuse can increase stress susceptibility)
-personality (certain personalities are more stress-prone than others)
-genetics (particularly inherited ‘relaxation response’, connected with serotonin levels, the brain’s ‘well-being chemical’)
-immunity abnormality (as might cause certain diseases such as arthritis and eczema, which weaken stress resilience)
-lifestyle (principally poor diet and lack of exercise)
-duration and intensity of stressors (obviously…)

Some signs of stress
-sleep difficulties
-loss of appetite
-poor concentration or poor memory retention
-performance dip
-uncharacteristic errors or missed deadlines
-anger or tantrums
-violent or anti-social behaviour
-emotional outbursts
-alcohol or drug abuse
-nervous habits

 Here are some simple pointers for reducing stress susceptibility and stress itself, for yourself or to help others:
-think really seriously about and talk with others, to identify the causes of the stress and take steps to remove, reduce them or remove yourself (the stressed person) from the situation that causes the stress.
-Understand the type(s) of stressors affecting you (or the stressed person), and the contributors to the stress susceptibility – knowing what you’re dealing with is essential to developing the stress management approach.
-improve diet – group B vitamins and magnesium are important, but potentially so are all the other vitamins and minerals: a balanced healthy diet is essential. Assess the current diet and identify where improvements should be made and commit to those improvements.
-reduce toxin intake – obviously tobacco, alcohol especially – they might seem to provide temporary relief but they are working against the balance of the body and contributing to stress susceptibility, and therefore increasing stress itself.
-take more exercise – generally, and at times when feeling very stressed – exercise burns up adrenaline and produces helpful chemicals and positive feelings.
-stressed people must try to be detached, step back, look from the outside at the issues that cause the stress.
-don’t try to control things that are uncontrollable – instead adjust response, adapt.
-share worries – talk to someone else – off-load, loneliness is a big ally of stress, so sharing the burden is essential.
-increase self-awareness of personal moods and feelings – anticipate and take steps to avoid stress build-up before it becomes more serious.
-explore and use relaxation methods -
- Counselling may be necessary to identify the cause(s), particularly if the sufferer has any tendency to deny or ignore the stress problem.
- Acceptance, cognisance and commitment on the part of the stressed person are essential.
 
The two simplest ways to reduce stress susceptibility, and in many situations alleviate stress itself (although not removing the direct causes of stress itself) are available to everyone, cost nothing, and are guaranteed to produce virtually immediate improvements. They are diet , exercise,  Sleep and rest are essential for a healthy life-balance.  Physical exercise also is immensely beneficial in managing stress. This is for several reasons:
-Exercise releases helpful chemicals in our brain and body that are good for us.
-Exercise distracts us from the causes of stress.
-Exercise warms and relaxes cold, tight muscles and tissues which contribute to stress feelings.
-Exercise develops and maintains a healthy body which directly reduces stress susceptibility.
-Exercise increases blood flow to the brain which is good for us. Exercises also releases hormones, and stimulates the nervous system in ways that are good for us.
 
And a final point about ‘anger management’…. anger management and stress
The term ‘anger management’ is widely use now as if the subject stands alone. However, ‘anger management’ is simply an aspect of managing stress, since anger in the workplace is a symptom of stress. Anger is often stress in denial, and as such is best approached via one-to-one counselling. Training courses can convey anger management and stress reduction theory and ideas, but one-to-one counselling is necessary to turn theory into practice. Management of anger (and any other unreasonable emotional behaviour for that matter) and the stress that causes it, can only be improved if the person wants to change – acceptance, cognisance, commitment – so awareness is the first requirement. Some angry people take pride in their anger and don’t want to change; others fail to appreciate the effect on self and others. Without a commitment to change there’s not a lot that a manager or employer can do to help; anger management is only possible when the angry person accepts and commits to the need to change.

http://www.businessballs.com/stressmanagement.htm

  The important key also now to personal de-stressing  is getting away temporary from or removing yourself permanently from the stressor. Plus  Developing new habits which regularly remove you and distract you from stressors and stressful situations, pressures is essentially now the basis as to how to manage stress on a more permanent basis. Unresolved negative Stress is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses.

 

funnies, cartoons

Heavy drinking-prostate cancer link

 

Heavy drinking-prostate cancer link confirmed  Men who drink 14 or more drinks a week are 20 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer, according to an international review co-authored by a University of Victoria researcher.

 -  -  - Health Newstrack

all 78 news articles »

 

Boozing men risk prostate cancer: Study Calgary Herald

Study links heavier drinking to increase prevalence for prostate … The Canadian Press

  

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Guard Against Advanced Prostate Cancer U.S. News & World Report -  TUESDAY, March 24 (HealthDay News) — Omega-3 fatty acids could help protect men against advanced prostate cancer, researchers report.

Cancer rates rise, statscan reports Calgary Herald

Omega 3 & Prostate Cancer News/Talk 750 WSB

The Mercury (subscription)  - Total Health Breakthroughs  - Cancer Consultants  - Food Product Design

all 15 news articles »

Telegraph.co.uk

The Money Times

National Business Review

diabetes danger, study suggests DUE TO LACK OF SLEEP

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/03/12/sleep.html

Need 8 hours of shuteye? Even 6 can cut diabetes danger, study suggests

Last Updated: Thursday, March 12, 2009 | 11:17 AM ET

CBC News

People who sleep less than six hours a night are nearly five times more likely than longer sleepers to develop a blood-sugar condition that could lead to diabetes, new U.S. research suggests.

Scientists at the University at Buffalo in New York found “short-sleeper” participants were at higher risk of developing impaired fasting glucose, which can precede Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease, and appears most often in middle-aged adults, although adolescents and young adults are developing it at an alarming rate.

Type 2 is the result of the body making too much insulin and not using it effectively, leading to insulin resistance. Insulin helps the body control blood sugar levels.

“This study supports growing evidence of the association of inadequate sleep with adverse health issues. Sleep should be assessed in the clinical setting as part of well-care visits throughout the life cycle,” lead author and research assistant professor Lisa Rafalson said in a news release.

The study was presented Wednesday at the American Heart Association’s 49th Annual Conference in Florida.

It is not the first study to point to sleep as a culprit in diabetes.

Lack of sleep poses other risks

Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center reported earlier this year that disrupting sleep damages the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar levels, potentially raising the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Out of an original group of 1,455 participants, the team identified 91 whose fasting blood glucose levels of less than 100 milligrams per deciliter during initial exams in 1996-2001 had risen to between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL at followup exams in 2003-2004.

The 91 were then matched with 273 participants whose glucose levels were below 100 mg/dL during initial exams and at followup. Researchers also matched the groups according to gender, race/ethnicity and year of study enrolment.

After adjusting for age, body mass index, glucose and insulin concentrations, heart rate, high blood pressure, family history of diabetes and symptoms of depression, there was an increased risk of developing impaired fasting glucose among short-sleepers compared to the mid-sleepers — those who slept six to eight hours a night during the work week.

Watch what you eat and drink

 

 

BAD FOOD, ALCOHOL, DRUGS KILL

Heart disease can catch up to you if you don’t watch what you eat

Southwestern Ontario -  By Leslie Beck, RD (NC)-Cardiovascular disease accounts for more deaths than any other disease in Canada.( BUT DON’T FORGET THE NUMBER OF DEATHS CAUSED BY VEHICLE ACCIDENTS DUE TO DRUNK DIVERS TOO)  According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, someone dies every seven minutes from heart disease or stroke in this country.

Heart smarts London Free Press

The Heart Truth Highlights Women’s Heart Health at LG Fashion Week MSNBC

Chillicothe Gazette  - Chipley Florida Online Newspaper - Foster Folly News  - Telegraph-Journal  - Irish Independent

all 16 news articles »

 

Heart attack is directly responsible for about 11% of all deaths in Canada every year. This represents half of all deaths due to coronary artery disease.
In 2003, heart attack was the leading cause of death from circulatory diseases, at 48 deaths per 100,000 Canadians. Lung cancer was the leading cause of death from cancer, at 47 deaths per 100,000. Mortality for heart attack, stroke, and prostate cancer decreased between 2000 and 2003. Heart attack mortality decreased from 56 deaths per 100,000 Canadians in 2000 to 48 in 2003. Stroke mortality fell from 35 to 32 deaths per 100,000 Canadians. Prostate cancer mortality decreased from 27 to 24 deaths per 100,000 men.

DRIVING AT AN UNSAFE SPEED ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT 14.5 PERCENT OF  VEHICLE ACCIDENT’S DEATHS AS OPPOSED TO IMPAIRED DRIVING AT 45 PERCENT!

IN ONE YEAR 60% of fatally injured drivers in Canada had a positive reading for blood alcohol and 160,000 people were convicted of impaired   driving .  IMPAIRED DRIVING CONVICTIONS ARE MAINLY ENFORCED 2 MONTHS OF THE YEAR FIRSTLY, AND ARE NOT DONE THE WHOLE YEAR.  gENERALLY alcohol-related driving offences account for approximately 25% of all Criminal Code prosecutions. ” If you drink and drive, it’s everybody’s business”
A  survey of Ontario policing  found that, on average, a police officer laid 2.5 drinking driving charges per year. The study suggests several reasons for low enforcement rates:
not enough personnel (small towns only have one patrol unit that has to be available for emergencies and cannot be sidetracked by an impaired driving situation)
- time-consuming arrest proceedings (including the availability of a technician for BAC  testing)
-attitudes of officers and administrators (not a serious crime, too time-consuming)
- the court system (many forms to process the charge, mistakes lead to acquittals)
-amount of paperwork required (2 hour average to do paperwork) (Vingilis, 1991, 202)

Research ALSO found a significant divergence in the punishments given to impaired drivers BY THE POLICE AND THE COURTS.

In an average year in Canada, impaired driving killed 1,212 persons, injured 71,532, and caused damage to 236,375 vehicles, translating into 1,010 fatal crashes, 48,890 injury-only crashes and 155,510 property-damage only (PDO) crashes, totaling an average of 205,410 crashes in all. In turn, on average, this cost Canadians between $1.90 billion (Real Dollar Estimate model) and $11.28 billion (Willingness to Pay model) dollars, depending on the costing model and assumptions used. To put this another way, that represents a cost of between about $59.00 and $341.00 per Canadian. EXCLUDING THE EXTRA COSTS FOR INSURANCE NOW TOO..

Jurisdiction   Estimated Fatalities,   2006 IMPAIRED DRIVING
British Columbia 458
Alberta 477 
Saskatchewan 157 
Manitoba 144 
Ontario 885 
Quebec 692 
New Brunswick 
Nova Scotia 93 
Prince Edward Island 28 
Newfoundland & Labrador 48 
Yukon, NW Territory & Nunavut 27 
Canada 3,122

Jurisdiction  Estimated % Alcohol-Involved – Fatalities,  2006
British Columbia 36.70% 
Alberta 43.40% 
Saskatchewan 47.90% 
Manitoba 44.60% 
Ontario 34.30% 

In 2006, it was estimated that about 368,396 individuals were injured in motor vehicle crashes. MADD Canada estimates that approximately 75,374 of these individuals were injured in impaired driving crashes (207 per day). Note that this figure does not include impaired crash injuries occurring on the water.

Changes in the way people eat and exercise and

WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT THE CITIZEN’S GOOD WELFARE? 

    

Thousands of cancer cases caused by diet, alcohol and obesity …   Over 40% of breast and bowel cancer cases in rich countries are preventable through diet, physical activity and weight control alone, experts say. Simple measures like cycling to work and swapping fatty foods for fruit can make all the difference, a Clean living way to beat cancer.   1 in 3 Common Cancers May Be Preventable.  Diet, exercise could cut cancer rates by third .Diet is key to staying cancer free

Shun fats, smokes, get out and about for a healthy heart OTTAWA – Changes in the way people eat and exercise and improvements to health care could sharply reduce the death toll from heart attacks and strokes and save billions of dollars, a federal panel said Tuesday. and what is so new about all of that for  I myself have been posting that facts, details truths  on the net for years.. and so I still do  often   wonder why the people in the governments, federal, provincial governments, now  take so long to respond, deal with it positively too..  or they really do not care about the good welfare of the sheep.. all Canadians? they are merely self serving, selfish oriented? 

 

 

Some of the world’s leading experts in nutrition epidemiology have cast a resounding vote in the decades-long debate between treating or preventing cancer: Prevention wins.  Their report, being released today, argues strenuously for diet and exercise as the keys to fighting cancer. It calls research and spending on the treatment of cancer “necessary but not sufficient,” and contends that a far better strategy for reducing the world’s annual tally of 11 million cancer cases would be to develop a public-health policy aimed at preventing people from getting the disease in the first place. The report, issued by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research, is based on an exhaustive review of nearly 7,000 scientific studies into whether cancer rates are influenced by diet, obesity and exercise.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090226.wcancer26/BNStory/specialScienceandHealth/home

    
How many times have we now experienced he fact that the selected leaders, cabinet was not like what they had promised they would be, certainly now not like we had expected them rightfully to be as well? Clearly many many  Canadians are still often now really angry at, or disappointed with   the results of the various governments acts,    the selected candidates,  but  now when will we all deal with the root  issue that is the cause of the problems firstly and it is the immoral type of candidates being firstly nominated?  the liars and alcoholics mostly it seems.. and these type of brain damaged people will never do us much good even now as well.
 
We all need to care about the unemployed and the poor people, Elected officials now included. It also  seems even  the governments and it’s managers are too often rather still just for sale to the highest bidder… and it doesn’t care who they are involved with or what they are up to or what it looks like as long as they are rewarding themselves or  their friends, and thus they wrongfully and too tend  not too  really look after all of the good ordinary citizens welfare..  this is still never acceptable. They all Civil and public servants, politicians, need to be regularly supervised too. That is why we need and have the auditors, News media, Opposition parties, concerned citizens to do this too.. and it still generally is not enough as we can see.

Can you believe it that the already rich doctors as well complain they are underpaid, demand more money, and yet these very same doctors only  work 9 to 5, have the holidays and weekend off, even though people get sick all the time now too..

THE DOCTORS AND NURSES NEED TO GET BACK TO CARING AFTER THE SICK PEOPLE.

Many weight loss products like pills, herbs and some private clinics fail to deliver on their promises and governments should be regulating scientifically unproven therapies, obesity doctors say.  I said the same thing in writing to the federal government, health ministers the last 2 decades too.
 
In addition to a doctor the second best thing I discovered was a dietician..
 
Now on top of all that add to that how food manufacturers, drug stores do also make big  profits on health related items
 
 
There is always the obligations to spend the taxpayer’s money  money wisely, free from politics and free from personal agendas. That now still applies to   anybody that   takes part in any amount of this funding.  On this there is no compromise or  shortcuts. Full, real, active  Vigilance by all persons here is still always required in reality. There are still too few cost, money controls — and too many opportunities for fraud and abuse — associated with the biggest outlay of federal money in our own government’s history.
 
 
TWO OF MY PAST NEIGHBORS, MANAGERS,  WHO WORKED FOR CITY HALL OPENLY BOASTED TO ME, AND DEMONSTRATED TO ME FOR YEARS THE COMMON CORRUPTION IN THE LOCAL CITY HALL, DONE BY THEM AND MANY OF THEIR COLLEAGUES. This included their unnecessary out of town trips, their taking stuff, computer accessories,  home from the office for their own personal use, boasted of  their lavish expense accounts, of their doing personal work at the office, and much more. Why did they think that me a tax payer would approve any of such wrong doings was their error. I reported their wrong doings rightfully rather. OTHER MANAGERS OF CROWN CORORATIONS HAD ALSO OFTEN BOASTED TO ME OF THEM DOING SIMILAR THEFTS  AS WELL..
 
Now we had elected the new Conservatives , a new government and a leader that was supposed to be much better, different from all the so called past bad governments. A government that would be reliable, , it will be open, transparent, accountable, better managed, honest, and it would keep it’s pre-election  promises,  would not lie to us too, And next was that so in reality? NO!!! Unacceptable
 
Do first  stop electing, hiring  liars, alcoholics, incompetents, and pretenders mostly.. instead fire all of them
 
actions speak louder than mere words, http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/
 
Now we all know that prices can vary, even significantly from one  retail store to another, and that price fixings also do exist something the consumer affairs ministers need to supervise with more vigilance than they tend to do so as well now..  DO FORWARD THEM THIS NOTE, REMINDER NOW TOO.
 
Still Shopping in one sole store is a dangerous way to try to save on essential good and health costs, but what do you do when there is not much choice, you are at the mercy of the seller, distributor, who often wrongfully do not hesitate to take advantage of it and to price gouge you. Simple old fashion greed is the basis of the high prices everywhere it seems. Take  for instance 1 in 8 persons is diabetic, but yet   the price of sugar free products is often 300 percent higher or even much more for a start.. the same applies to Margarine, etc
 
NOTE  THE fresh, healthy food IS EXPENSIVE FIRSTLY CAUSE THE RETAILERS HAVE A HIGH PRICE MARK UP ON IT. NOW THAT INCLUDES NOT ONLY FRUITS, AND VEGETABLES but other supposedly more healthier products.. YES THE SHIPPING COSTS FROM CALIFORNIA HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT, BUT CALIFORNIA IS IN DRASTIC RECESSION SO YOU WOULD THINK THE PRICES THERE OF THEIR GOODS WOULD BE CHEAPER NOW AS WELL? The old excuse of the price of high rising cost of fuel is no longer valid as well.
  
Toronto Medical Officer calls for $100 food supplement in … The Canadian Press – TORONTO – A Toronto woman says an extra $100 a month in social assistance would be the difference between eating nutritious food and eating whatever is on sale.
Medical community urges health food supplement CTV.ca
HEALTH: Campaign aims to ‘put food in the budget’ Inside Toronto
CityNews
  
 http://thenonconformer.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Based on this review, it concludes that cancer “is mostly preventable,” estimating that about one-third of all cases in advanced countries like Canada could be eliminated by diets that aren’t loaded with fatty, sugary foods, by people exercising regularly and, if they are obese, by slimming down to an appropriate weight. Among the cancers with links to these factors are those of the breast, prostate, mouth and colon.

Another third of cancers are due to smoking, indicating that well over half the cases of the disease could easily be prevented.

“It’s a very compelling case” that cancer incidence could be cut dramatically through prevention, said Shiriki Kumanyika, an epidemiologist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a member of an expert panel that oversaw the writing of the report. Also on the panel were such nutrition luminaries as the Harvard School of Public Health’s Walter Willett.

Dr. Kumanyika said scientific evidence strongly supports the estimate that poor diet, obesity and lack of exercise cause one out of three cancers. “I definitely feel confident that it’s at least that much,” she said.

Much of the medical research into the causes of cancer has looked at factors such as genetic susceptibility. But Dr. Kumanyika said studies tracking immigrants and their children who move from areas of low cancer incidence, such as Asia, to countries with high rates, such as the United States, suggest the genetic factor may be overrated. Over time, cancer rates among migrants and their children rise toward the levels prevalent in their adopted countries, suggesting that something common to everyone in the new environment is the cause.    

Although individuals can make decisions to get more exercise or eat better food, thereby reducing their chances of developing cancer, the report says that entities ranging from governments to schools need to develop public-health strategies to reduce the incidence of the disease.

Among the steps it recommends are banning advertising of sugary drinks and unhealthy foods directed at children, a step Quebec has already taken. The report says the Quebec action has led to a decrease in the amount of sugary cereals purchased, particularly among francophones.

It also calls for vending machines that dispense high-fat, sugary sweets or drinks to be moved out of schools and workplace cafeterias.

Another approach that should be considered is having processed meals, snacks and food reformulated to contain less sugar, refined starches, fat and salt, the report says.

To encourage more physical activity, it says society should place less emphasis on elite professional sports that lead people to be sedentary spectators, and instead develop entertainment that inspires everyone to be physically active.

It says cities should be designed for walking and cycling, rather than the current practice of promoting automobile use through road expansion.

Canadians say fresh, healthy food too expensive: Poll

TORONTO — Almost half of Canadians say they are going without fresh, healthy food because it is too expensive, according to a national poll released Monday by the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/Health/Canadians+fresh+healthy+food+expensive+Poll/1269731/story.html

The poll showed 47 per cent of Canadians don’t buy fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and whole grain products, lean meat or fish because of the cost.

The foundation’s annual report on Canadians’ Health also revealed what it called “startling discrepancies” in the cost and availability of basic healthy food from province to province.

“Depending on where you live, some Canadians are often paying more than double to almost six times the price for the same basic healthy food,” the report said.

The foundation said governments need to “create a level playing field” for consumers.

“Many provincial governments regulate the price of alcohol across provinces, but healthy food is subject to significant price variations from one community to the next,” said foundation spokesman Stephen Samis.

“You have to wonder why we control the price of alcohol but allow such price inconsistencies for healthy food — and not just in remote regions of the country — but even between larger metropolitan areas.”

For example, the poll found the cost of six apples ranged from $1.71 in Edmonton to $5.02 in Calgary. In Ontario, where apples are grown regionally, the cost varied from 90 cents in Peterborough to $5.49 in Dryden. A 2.7 kg bag of potatoes ranged from $1.50 in Toronto to $2.15 in Whitehorse, to $6.95 in Yellowknife, N.W.T.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation said the wide variation in the cost of healthy food is even more disturbing when compared to the relatively stable price of pop, chips and cookies.

“Healthy eating is a key factor in preventing heart disease,” cardiologist Dr. Beth Abramson, said Monday. “This report should serve as a wake-up call that healthy eating is in danger of being out of reach for many Canadians, a problem which may only get worse given the current downturn in the economy.”

Last October, the Heart and Stroke Foundation had volunteer shoppers in 66 communities across Canada purchase a list of healthy foods for a family of four for one week.

It found some of the most “disturbing” data was reflected in the price variations of grain products. For example, a package of whole-wheat pasta that cost $2 in Barrie, Ont., was $7.90 in Regina, Sask., and $11.37 in Dawson City, Yukon. A bag of brown rice ranged from $2.19 in Toronto to $7.76 in Winnipeg, to $11.99 in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut.

In the case of both milk and cheese, the survey found prices could be more than double depending on where you live.

A pound of lean ground beef could range from $13.21 in Ottawa to $4.99 in Peterborough, Ont. and the Yukon.

The foundation said these price variations may explain why almost half of adults and 70 per cent children in Canada don’t consume the minimum recommended servings of vegetables and fruit established by Canada’s Food Guide.

“This can only encourage unhealthy eating behaviour that will ultimately lead to obesity and risk factors for heart disease,” Abramson said.

 The situation was found to be even worse for First Nations people and Inuit, many of whom live in isolated communities.

In northern Ontario, four litres of milk was $15.70 in Bearskin Lake, compared to $3.49 in Vancouver. A package of whole-wheat pasta was $8.68, compared to $2.00 in Barrie, Ont. Other high cost items included: $10.99 for six oranges; $7.45 for six apples; and $10.88 for a 2.7 kg. bag of carrots. Survey shoppers also found that many healthy foods including chicken legs, frozen fish, fresh tomatoes, fresh broccoli, canned corn, canned peas, frozen mixed vegetables, potatoes and brown rice weren’t available at all in Bearskin Lake.

The study also found that healthy foods such as dried beans and frozen spinach were unavailable in almost one in three grocery stores where the foundation shopped.

The only items that showed little price variation and accessibility from one community to the next were pop, chips and cookies, which Canada’s Food Guide recommends be consumed less frequently.

  Canwest News Service

Now on top of all that add to that how food manufacturers, drug stores do also make big  profits on health related items

-**