Cell Phones and Health

One of the most common sights we see these days, is that of people with their mobile phones next to their ears. A boon for better communication, cell phone usage nonetheless has many health hazards. Various studies indicate that the emissions from a cell phone can be extremely harmful, causing genetic damage, tumors, memory loss, and increased blood pressure and weakening of the immune system. This is alarming information, and one has to take into account all these factors..

CELL PHONES AND HEALTH
Though there is no evidence of cell phones causing cancer or any such illness, but the suspicion, or fear of the same is not baseless either. The electromagnetic radiation from cell phones does have a potential link to cancer. The fact that this radiation is invisible, intangible, and enters and leaves our bodies without our knowledge makes it even more intimidating.


Possible hazards:
* Two minutes of exposure to emissions from mobile phones can disable a safety barrier in blood causing proteins and toxins to leak into the brain, could increase chances of developing Alzheimers multiple sclerosis and Parkinsons. (Scientists at Swedens Lund University)
* Scientists say exposure to the phones low-level radiation causes red blood cells to leak hemoglobin and can lead to heart disease and kidney stones.
* Recent studies suggesting a link between cell-phone use and brain tumors, and the possibility that the microwaves could ignite petroleum fumes at gas stations.
* A cell phone unit, or communications tower, has so many of thee radiation emanating gadgets. This can be a problem for its immediate environment.
SPECIFIC HEALTH CONCERNS

Cancer / Tumors
Studies have been conducted suggesting that rats that have been exposed to microwaves similar to the sort generated by mobile phones but more powerful, showed breaks in their DNA which could indicate an adverse effect. Also, mice exposed to radiation for 18 months developed brain tumors. Though of course, these studies are not concrete proof.

Blood Pressure
It was observed that people using cell phones were prone to high blood pressure. Again, there isnt any concrete evidence of the same.

Pregnancy
A study at the University of Montpellier in France was carried out on 6000 chick embryos and suggested that the heavily exposed chick eggs were five times less likely to survive than the control group. This study raised questions about possible effects on pregnant women but it has not yet appeared in peer-reviewed scientific literature or been reproduced, so its findings are difficult to assess.

Headaches, Heating Effects, Fatigue
A study brought out that longer the people used mobile phones, the more likely they were to report symptoms such as hot ears, burning skin, headaches and fatigue.
The study did not include a control group (that is people who do not use mobile phones, to make a comparison); theore the symptoms reported could have been caused by any number of other factors in the mobile phones users environment, such as working with computers, stress, driving or reading.

Memory
There have been various studies into the connection between mobile phones and memory loss. A study looked into the effect of radiofrequency (RF) on the section of rats brains that is linked with the memory. The results showed that RF could modify signals in the cells in a part of the brain that is responsible for learning and short term memory.

Posture (holding phone between raised shoulder and ear)
Some researchers claim that holding a mobile phone between the raised shoulder and the ear could have a damaging effect on muscles, bones, tendons and discs. These problems would apply equally to a cordless phone or a landline phone as to a mobile phone and are the effect of bad posture.

Mobile Phones and Children
Because of their smaller heads, thinner skulls and higher tissue conductivity, children may absorb more energy from a given phone than adults.
PREVENTION TIPS

* Cell phones should be used for emergencies, and not for long conversations.
* A small chip-like cell phone microwave radiation protection device is available, which has the ability to absorb electromagnetic energy waves from your mobile phone. It helps in reducing the potential harmful effects of these emissions to the human body.
* Using a mobile headset is a good idea, you dont have to hold phones next to your ears all the time
* Use a hands free mobile car kit while driving, without taking your hands off the steering wheel

THE WHO (World Health Organisation) RULES

* Mobile phone users should limit their exposure to harmful radio frequencies by cutting the length of calls.
* Hands-free devices cut exposure by keeping the instrument away from the head and body.
* Driving cum mobile phone talking should be banned.
* Mobile phones should not be used in Intensive Care Units of hospitals as they can pose a danger to patients by interfering with the working of pacemakers and defibrillators.
* People with hearing aids should not use mobile phones.
* Base stations, which have low powered antennae on their terrace to communicate with cell phones, should not be located near childrens schools and playgrounds.

CELL PHONES WHILE DRIVING
Studies indicate that a lot of car accidents have happened, while the driver was on the phone. This is because while driving, one obviously needs to concentrate, and talking on a phone doesnt help. Some countries like Portugal have banned the use of cell phones, which may not be very practical, as their main use is to be reachable while you are on the move. Thus, it is important to take certain precautions while driving:

* Position your phone within easy reach so that you dont have to take your eyes off the road.
* Get to know the features of your cell phone - speed dial, redial, voice mail, they can be your lifesaver. But dont dial and drive at the same time. Use a hands free kit.
* Avoid using a phone when road conditions are hazardous or traffic is heavy. You can let your voice mail take messages and then call back later.
* Dont engage in stressful conversations that may distract your attention from the road.
* Dont take notes or look up phone numbers whilst driving, wait till you can pull over.
* User abbreviated speed dialing. In fact, voice activated dialing is even better. It leaves both hands free. Frequently called numbers can be programmed.
* Have an answering machine installed that could take messages until you can return the calls. Let your co-passenger handle the calls if you are not traveling alone.

Three Population Health Management Principles for Reconciling Quality Based Pay for Performance and the Doctor Patient Relationship

Writing in the New England Journal, Robert Berenson and Deborah Kay of the Urban Institute say a linchpin of Washington DCs pursuit of quality is a "policy overreach [that] could undermine the quest for higher-value health care."

Yikes.  The Disease Management Care Blog turns to population health management to ponder their unhappiness.

The authors concern is over Medicares "Physician Quality Reporting System" or "PQRS."  As the DMCB understands it, PQRS rewards (and penalizes) physicians for outcomes that are calculated from a set of quality "modifiers" that are submitted as part of the Medicare billing statement (an example can be found here).  The amount of money at stake is in the range of 1%-2% of the Medicare reimbursements.

Berensen and Kay point out that while the system has been ramping up over 6 years, 70% of Medicare participating physicians do not submit any modifiers.  In their opinion, thats because:

1) the loss of 1% of any payment is practically meaningless,

2) physicians distrust the metrics and

3) there is a fundamental disconnect between the modifiers and the complex world of clinical practice. 

As examples, radiologists are being dinged for total x-ray exposure while surgeons are being held accountable for pre-op antibiotic administration. While these and other quality measures are important, they fall far short of recognizing what keeps docs up at night, like reading the x-ray correctly and getting a patient through surgery and out of the hospital.

"Hear hear!" says the Disease Management Care Blog.  In the course of a normal day, it is job of doctors to do "doctor stuff" involving one patient at a time. 

But, you ask, isnt that contrary to being accountable to the health of populations? 

The DMCB doesnt think so, because state-of-the-art population health management (PHM) agrees that:

A. Physicians need to be immunized from disruptions their "customer facing" (i.e., the patient) activities.  Otherwise known as the doctor-patient relationship, thats the part of the health care system that relies on the seven or more years of undergraduate and graduate training that turns smart people into exquisitely trained physicians.  Let the doctors be doctors, says the DMCB, and let them worry about their patients.

B. High performing systems - as much as possible - need to be configured around those customer-facing activities, further enabling the doc to focus on the patient who is right here and right now. 

From time to time, PHM might have to intrude.  When it does, the DMCB suggests policymakers recognize that they should proceed:

1) only when its really important

2) only infrequently and

3) whenever possible, when it reduces physician work by outsourcing (an example in primary care can be found here) those things that dont require the personal involvement of a doc.

It would seem that Medicares PQRS failed to recognize the fundamentals.

Image fromWikipedia

Veggie Might Sprouted Quinoa and Mango Tabouleh

Written by the fabulous Leigh, Veggie Might is a weekly Thursday column about all things Vegetarian. She continues CHGs No-Cook Month.

Remember last week when we sprouted quinoa in glass jars with only water, cheese cloth, rubber bands, and our devotion to Not Cooking? Oh, those were giddy days. Well, this Dear Readers, is the joyous, hip-shaking result.

Quinoa sprouts are quite tasty on their own: fresh, crunchy, and a bit nutty. They have the essence of alfalfa or mung bean sprouts but retain their recognizable quinoa flavor. You can use the sprouts to top sandwiches or salads, grind them into flour for baking, cook them like any other grain recipe, or make a fabulous grain salad, like tabouleh. (Though, yes, quinoa is technically a seed.)

Tabouleh is the original no-cook grain salad, traditionally made from bulgur, which only requires a little soak before chow time. Ubiquitous in Middle Eastern cuisine, tabouleh combines parsley, mint, tomatoes, and lemon juice with the wheat. Perfect for a hot summer… time.

Using my favorite tabouleh recipe from my very first vegetarian cookbook, the Vegetarian Times Cookbook, as a jumping off point, I added a mango, tossed in a red pepper, made a couple of last minute substitutions (cilantro for mint; yellow onion for scallion). Before long, I had a colorful, vibrant dance party in a bowl.

I took the celebration on the road to share it with my good pal Miss T after our weekly gym date. (Caution: Travel with a tight-sealing container, or you too could enjoy wearing Eau de Onion et Mango to cardio class.) After one bite she said, “You better take what you want, because I will finish this when you’re not looking.”

This is another salad combo that has everything: sweet, tangy, savory, and salty. It’s light enough for a side dish and hearty enough to be a small meal. And it’s equally good using the traditional bulgur base. So if you’re intimidated by sprouting, just soak some bulgur and crank up the house music. Try it on; it’s very you.

~~~

If this recipe tipped your canoe, swim on over to

• Peach, Tomato, and Basil Salad
• Chopped Salad Rules
• Israeli Couscous Salad

~~~

Sprouted Quinoa and Mango Salad
Adapted from the Vegetarian Times Cookbook
yields 4 servings

8.5 oz (about 2 cups) sprouted quinoa*
1/2 cup parsley, minced
1/4 cup cilantro, minced
1/4 cup yellow onion, minced
1 medium tomato, diced
1 small red bell pepper, diced
1 ripe mango, peeled and chopped
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
freshly ground pepper to taste

* You can easily substitute traditional bulgur wheat for sprouted quinoa. Simply soak 4 oz (a little more than1/2 cup) bulgur in 1 cup warm water for about 30 minutes. The bulgur will absorb the water, becoming light, fluffy, and ready-to-eat. (Seen below.)

1) Rinse and drain the quinoa sprouts, and place in a large mixing bowl.

2) Add parsley, cilantro, onion, tomato, red pepper, and mango to quinoa sprouts.

3) Drizzle in olive oil and lemon juice, stirring gently.

4) Add salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

5) Chill for 20–30 minutes.

6) Serve as a side or green salad topping.

7) Get a good look because it’ll be gone in a flash.

Approximate Calories, Fat, Fiber, Protein, and Price per Serving
170.8 calories, 5.7g fat, 4.3g fiber, 2.25g protein, $.79
Bulgur Alternative
127.6 calories, 3.9g fat, 2.4g fiber, 3.5g protein, $.74

Calculations
8.5 oz sprouted quinoa: 412 calories, 8g fat, 16g fiber, 8g protein, $0.96
1/2 cup parsley: 11 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.25
1/4 cup cilantro: 5.5 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.12
1/4 cup yellow onion: 10 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.12
1 medium tomato: 22 calories, 0g fat, 1g fiber, 1g protein, $0.50
1 small red bell pepper: 5.75 calories, 0g fat, 0.25g fiber, 0.5g protein, $0.37
1 ripe mango: 85 calories, 0.6g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.50
1 tbsp olive oil: 120 calories, 14g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.08
2 tbsp lemon juice: 12 calories, 0g fat, 0g fiber, 0g protein, $0.25
1 tsp sea salt: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.02
freshly ground pepper: negligible calories, fat, fiber, protein, $0.02
Totals: 683.25 calories, 22.6g fat, 17.25g fiber, 9g protein, $3.19
Per Serving (totals/4): 170.8 calories, 5.7g fat, 4.3g fiber, 2.25g protein, $.79

Bulgur Alternative (quinoa replaced with bulgur + other stats)
1/2 cup bulgur wheat: 239.5 calories, 1g fat, 8.5g fiber, 13g protein, $0.74
Totals: 510.25 calories, 15.6g fat, 9.75g fiber, 14g protein, $2.97
Per Serving (totals/4): 127.6 calories, 3.9g fat, 2.4g fiber, 3.5g protein, $.74

High Fructose Corn Syrup HFCS Promotes Obesity and Poor Health

Fructose has been implicated as a driving force behind a number of chronic illnesses including metabolic syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Scientists have theorized that the fruit-based sweetener derived most commonly from corn is a primary mechanism that has fueled the obesity epidemic.

Fructose and its evil twin high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) are used as inexpensive sweeteners in many processed foods, condiments, baked goods and snacks. Researchers at the Oregon Health & Science University publishing in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism demonstrate that fructose reacts differently than glucose in the brain causing chemical alterations that lead to increased body weight and obesity.

Brain Response to Fructose is Different Than Glucose

Researchers working with animal models know that the brain responds differently to a variety of different foods consumed, and that these responses have a strong influence on total calories eaten at each meal. Using new functional MRI technologies, scientists are able to examine electrical and chemical brain patterns that occur in response to consumption of different food groups (macronutrients such as fats, carbohydrates and proteins) and nutrients (from vitamins, minerals and antioxidant-rich polyphenol compounds).

The study involved pre and post meal MRI scans of nine individuals receiving an infusion of fructose, glucose or a saline solution. Researchers found no difference in brain activity in the hypothalamus, an area known to regulate food intake. Activity in the cortical brain control areas showed the opposite response from the sugar infusions. Activity was inhibited with the fructose solution and activated in the presence of glucose.

Fructose Does Not Cause Satiety Similar to Other Macronutrients

The cortical areas activated are important to determine how we respond to food taste and smell. The study showed that when glucose is consumed, a normal satiety response is triggered in the brain so we register caloric intake and can react with a satiety response. Fructose has virtually no effect on this automated feedback system we rely on to provide the `full` signal so we stop eating before over consuming.

The study authors found this to be conclusive evidence that fructose and its derivatives are a significant causative agent responsible for the rampant obesity plague affecting people around the world. In conclusion they write "For consumers, our findings support current recommendations that people be conscious of sweeteners added to their drinks and meals and not overindulge on high-fructose, processed foods."

HFCS has been slowly creeping into the processed food supply over the past 40 years. Health-minded consumers and scientists have theorized that it should be blamed for a contributing role in overweight, morbidity and chronic disease. The best way to avoid high fructose corn syrup is to avoid all processed foods in favor of a raw, natural diet focused on vegetables, lean protein and healthy monounsaturated fats. Your reward will be a healthy, sustainable weight and dramatically lower risk of metabolic disease.

Grape Seed Resveratrol and Pomegranate Significantly Lower Blood Pressure

Adults aged 55 and older face a lifetime risk of developing elevated blood pressure greater than 90%, accounting for more than 40 million doctor visits each year and taxing an already overburdened healthcare system. Uncontrolled blood pressure slowly degrades the vascular system throughout the body and takes a particular toll on the kidneys, eyes and delicate arteries around the heart and in the brain.

Small increases in blood pressure place an individual at dramatically increased risk from heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and blindness. Researchers focusing on the antioxidant capacity of grape seed, resveratrol and pomegranate found that regular consumption of these foods can effectively reduce blood pressure without the need for dangerous prescription drugs.

Natural Fruit Polyphenols Lower Cellular Stress and Blood Pressure

Oxidative stress is a significant factor leading to accelerated damage from hypertension. Excess stress prompts changes to the hormone angiotensin that is known to impact blood pressure through an intricate mechanism of vessel and arterial constriction. Natural agents that can lower dangerous levels of cellular oxidative stress are considered paramount to lowering blood pressure in susceptible individuals.

ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme)-inhibitors are among the most popular prescription medications prescribed to negate the effect of the angiotensin hormone, and create a life of misery for many due to the myriad of side effects inherent with this class of drug. Recent research shows that artificially lowering blood pressure with drugs has virtually no effect on cardiovascular disease risk, compared to lowering readings with natural fruit polyphenols, diet and physical activity.

Study Shows That Grape Seed Extract and Resveratrol Can Effectively Lower Blood Pressure

Writing in the journal Metabolism, nutritional scientists compared the effect of grape seed extract and resveratrol on subjects with metabolic syndrome. Three groups were divided to receive either grape seed extract (GSE) at a dose of 150 mg per day, GSE at 300 mg per day or a placebo. After 4 weeks, both GSE supplemented groups experienced systolic blood pressure drops of 5 to 7 percent. This change was considered significant as no other dietary or lifestyle interventions were followed. Researchers believe that GSE and grape-derived compounds including resveratrol can be used to prevent and treat hypertension based on the potent antioxidant load delivered by the fruit extracts.

Pomegranates effectively lower blower blood pressure in a manner similar to GSE and resveratrol as the juice and extracts contain powerful polyphenols that counteract oxidative stress. This magical fruit also is found to lower circulating levels of the angiotensin hormone that can help blood vessels to relax. The result of a study published in the journal Atherosclerosis demonstrated that consumption of pomegranate juice (50 ml per day for 2 weeks) lowered ACE activity by 36%, leading to a 5% drop in systolic blood pressure.

It should come as no surprise to those following a natural health lifestyle that the key to controlling blood pressure and reducing the risk factors that promote cardiovascular disease are not found in a prescription bottle. Fruits such as the pomegranate and formulated natural extracts from red grape skins and seeds deliver powerful health benefits without any of the associated side effects of synthesized pharmaceuticals.

Beware alcohol can damage the eyes and skin

Beware, alcohol can damage the eyes and skin - Alcohol is not only dangerous for your health but can also damage your skin and beauty. Alcohol makes the kidneys work harder all the time to remove toxins from the body. Not only that, alcohol also reduces the amount of vitamin A in the body.

Alcohol can accelerate the aging process by making skin dry. This is because alcohol makes the skin hydrated, while robbed of vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is needed by the body to renew skin cells. When the body does not have enough vitamin A, skin becomes dry and wrinkled easily.

"The skin is dry and less susceptible to alcohol-induced fluid free radicals that cause many problems such as dark circles, dull skin, dark spots, rough skin texture, and wrinkles," says dermatologist Dr. Rickon Perreira of Mumbai, as reported by the Health Me Up.

Alcohol damage the skin beauty

Consuming too much alcohol can have a bad effect on the skin. If drinking alcohol is still being done, the adverse effects on the skin can become permanent. Alcohol can cause red skin, and easily irritated. In addition, alcohol can also affect the capillaries and blood vessels in the skin.

Addiction to alcohol can damage the capillaries and blood vessels. Causes the blood vessels in the skin and prominent red looks like webs spiders that look beautiful on the skin. Red vessels can also be seen in the eye, so many alcoholics who have red eyes and dry.

In addition, alcohol can also cause bloating and weight gain, and cause the appearance of cellulite. Alcohol makes you hard to get into a deep sleep and REM sleep stages, so it will cause your eyes have dark circles and puffiness. In other words, the alcohol will ruin your beauty.

Alcohol can cause blindness

In addition to affecting the health of skin and body, alcohol also has a very bad effect for eye health. In fact, addiction to alcohol can cause a loss of vision. Too much alcohol can suck all the nutrients out of the body necessary to maintain the health of organs, including the eyes.

Abnormalities caused by alcohol in the eye called alcoholic optic neuritis. This disorder causes damage to the eye that can eventually lead to blindness. Not only the eyes, the hair is also affected by alcohol. Because alcohol reduces the intake of zinc in the body, it causes the hair to become dry and easily damaged, such as branching and broken.

Experts also warn that women are more easily influenced adverse effects of alcohol. alcohol metabolism in women different from men. Process fast metabolism makes women process alcohol faster on their blood flow, so that women also feel the ill effects of alcohol more quickly than men.

After knowing the adverse effects of alcohol on the beauty and health of your eyes above, you should think twice before consuming the drink.

Link Found Between High Fat High Calorie Diet and Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers at UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC) have found that mice made obese by being given high-calorie, high-fat diets (HFCD) developed abnormally high numbers of lesions known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs), which are known to be precursors to pancreas cancer. This is the first study to show a direct causative link in an animal model between obesity and risk of this deadly cancer.

The study was led by Dr. Guido Eibl, JCCC member and professor -in-residence in the department of surgery at David Geffen School of Medicine. It was published today in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

Cancer of the pancreas (scientifically known as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or PaCa) is one of the most deadly forms of the disease in humans. Overall five-year survival rates are approximately three to five percent and the average survival period after diagnosis is just four to six months. It is a particularly aggressive disease and often beyond the point of effective treatment by the time symptoms appear. Current treatments are limited in number and effectiveness, thus researchers are turning to prevention strategies to try to make headway against the disease before it reaches advanced stages. Previous research in the study of the disease in large populations has strongly supported a positive association between obesity and increased risk of PaCa, but no studies recapitulated human PaCa in animals. The availability of genetically engineered model mice that have the same genetic mutation found in human pancreas cancer patients (the KR as mutation) has made study of the possible causes more feasible, because changes in the mouse metabolism caused by obesity are similar to those in humans.

Dr. Eibl and colleagues set out to develop diet-induced obesity and development of pancreas cancer in a set of mice and then compare them to another set of mice that are genetically identical but not given a high-fat, high-calorie diet. Obesity in these mice resembles several important clinical features of human obesity such as weight gain and disturbance of metabolism, and this mouse model was ideal for unraveling any underlying biological mechanisms of pancreas cancer that are put in motion by obesity.

The researchers also set parameters to assess the impact of the effects of the high-fat, high-calorie diet on mouse pancreas tissue, such as increased inflammation and other biological signs that indicate pancreas problems. These indicators were measured and used to create an overall score (pancreatitis score) to indicate negative effects on the pancreas. They then conducted pathology tests on mouse pancreas tissue to determine how many PanIN precursor lesions had developed.

Mice that ate the normal diet gained an average of approximately 7.2 grams, plus or minus approximately 2.8 grams over 14 months. Mice that ate the high-fat, high-calorie diet gained an average of 15.9 grams, plus or minus 3.2 grams. Mice fed the normal diet had mostly normal pancreases with very few scattered PanIN lesions. Mice fed the high-fat, high-calorie diet had significantly more PanIN lesions and fewer overall healthy pancreases.

The study showed that the mice fed a diet high in fats and calories gained significantly more weight, had abnormalities of their metabolism and increased insulin levels, and had marked pancreatic tissue inflammation and development of PanIN lesions. These observations strongly suggest that such a diet leads to weight gain, metabolism disturbances, can cause pancreas inflammation and promotes pancreas lesions that are precursors to cancer.

“The development of these lesions in mice is very similar to what happens in humans,” Dr. Eibl said. “These lesions take a long time to develop into cancer, so there is enough time for cancer preventive strategies, such as changing to a lower fat, lower calorie diet, to have a positive effect.”

Memory Affected By Weight and Belly Fat

(Article first published as Lose Weight to Improve Memory, Burn Belly Fat on Technorati.)
The extra weight carried by nearly three-quarters of the American adult population increases the risk of many diseases ranging from heart disease and stroke to metabolic disorders such as diabetes. New research indicates that memory loss and dementia should be added to the long list of health afflictions exacerbated by excess weight.

A study assembled with data from the Woman’s Health Initiative indicates that the memory of woman as they age declines by approximately 1% for every single-point increase in Body Mass Index, a statistical indicator used to determine normal and excess weight.

Researchers believe that excess weight around the hips increases inflammation in the body which is known to be detrimental to the normal function of many organ systems, including the brain.

Reversing Memory Loss and Belly Fat

Excess weight, especially when stored as abdominal fat causes high levels of cortisol to be released which creates metabolic disturbance, increased blood pressure and weight gain. It’s essential to control your metabolism through dietary and lifestyle changes that will reduce your risk of memory loss and lead to natural weight loss. Fortunately, there are important steps you can follow which will specifically target belly fat and lead to improved health and reduced risk of illness.

Proper Diet is Key to Burning Belly Fat

Abdominal fat is caused by a poorly balanced diet and lack of physical activity leading to metabolic disruptions in the body. The food you eat is the single most important signal you send to your body, and the composition of every calorie instructs your metabolism to either burn or store fat.

Consuming a diet full of ined junk food causes a surge of excess sugar in the blood. This is interpreted by your body as a sign that food is plentiful and the excess energy should be stored as fat. Your belly is the primary target for fat storage, and this is the most dangerous type of fat as it forces the release of cortisol and other hormonal and chemical messengers throughout the body.

Read Nutrition Labels and Make Smart Food Substitutions
You can break this fat storage cycle and release belly fat from storage by modifying the type of foods you eat. Begin by replacing high calorie junk foods and snacks with healthier choices such as nuts, seeds and limited amounts of fruit. Read the nutrition labels, and avoid any food which has more than 10% of calories in the form of sugar, or 20% of calories from carbohydrates. This provides a general guideline of foods which will cause an excessive blood sugar spike.

Compliment Diet with Exercise
Exercise is a natural component to any lifestyle modification to reduce abdominal fat. It’s important to note that while exercise will provide toning and re-shaping benefits, it has less effect on directly removing belly fat. Stick to moderate physical activity for 20 to 30 minutes on most days of the week. Excessive exercise will lead to higher food intake and work against your weight loss goal.

Less Stress, Less Fat
Continual stress causes the release of cortisol, which leads to abdominal fat storage. It’s critical to determine the cause of your stress and resolve the problem quickly. Many people find that aerobic exercise and yoga techniques are helpful in reducing stress levels.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep to Increase Metabolism
Studies show that people who receive less than 4 hours of sleep each night are 70% more likely to be overweight or obese. Sleep affects hormone levels in the blood which control the effectiveness of insulin. Too much insulin signals the storage of fat, especially when you sleep. Always be caul not to eat at least 3 hours before going to sleep to improve your metabolic efficiency and fat burning ability.

It’s not surprising to find a link between belly fat and a decrease in memory. Excess abdominal fat causes a cascade of chemical and hormonal alterations in the body which have a broad reaching impact on all key organs, including the brain. Develop a plan to improve your diet, drop the ined junk foods and make the necessary lifestyle changes which will improve your life, burn belly fat and lead to natural weight loss.

Exercise Lowers Risk Of Lung And Colorectal Cancer Among Middle Aged Men

New research conducted by researchers at the University of Vermont reveals that middle-aged men who engage in a lot of cardiovascular exercise are at a reduced risk of suffering from lung and colorectal cancer. In addition, those who exercise are less likely to die from prostate cancer (although their risk of contracting the disease remained the same).

According to the lead author of the study, Susan Lakoski, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Vermont: "While poor fitness is already known to predict future cardiovascular disease, this is the first study to explore fitness as a marker of future cancer risk prognosis.

This finding makes it clear that patients should be advised that they need to achieve a certain fitness level, and not just be told that they need to exercise. And unlike exercise behavior, which relies on patient self-reporting, fitness can be objectively and accurately measured in a clinical setting."

A total of 17,049 men participated in the study. They each received a cardiovascular fitness assessment from the Cooper Institute at a median age of 50. The test involved walking on a treadmill with a variation of different speeds and elevations. They recorded the mens performance with the ratio of metabolic rate (the rate of energy consumption), known as metabolic equivalents or METs.

The team divided the participants into different groups based on their level of fitness. The researchers then analyzed their medical histories to determine whether they had developed either lung, colorectal, or prostate cancer.

In this study, men who were in their 40s who achieved 13.5 minutes in the fitness test belonged to the lowest quintile for fitness as well as men in their 50s who achieved less than 11 minutes.

During the follow-up period of 20 to 25 years, a total of 2,332 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, 277 were diagnosed with lung cancer and 276 were diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

They adjusted the results of the study for factors such as BMI, smoking habits and age.

The risk of lung or colorectal cancer decreased by 68 and 38 percent among men who were the most physically fit and active compared to those who were not active at all.

The researchers found that physical activity did not have any effect on the rate of prostate cancer diagnosis.

Although its been shown that exercise can reduce the risk of dying from prostate cancer. Previous research has indicated that men with prostate cancer who exercise vigorously have a notably reduced risk of dying from the disease compared to other diagnosed men.

Men who were physically fit at the time they developed cancer had a much higher survival rate and lower risk of dying from the cancers compared to men who were not fit. In fact, a 1MET increase in fitness was associated with a 14 percent reduced risk of dying from the cancer, as well as a 23 percent reduced risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.

In addition, the researchers noted that patients who werent fit yet not obese were still at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), suggesting that people should be aware that fitness also impacts risk.

Exercise has been shown to have huge beneficial effects on people diagnosed with cancer and its also been found to help minimize the risk recurrence, or another cancer developing.

The Underestimated Power of Online Relationships and the Implications for Population Health Management

Health care in a box?

Macis very upset.  Dopey Kyle, who otherwise seems like a nice guy, has been hot-chatting it up with online girlfriends.  Good thing pop psychologist Dr. Drew can come to the emotional rescue on MTVs "Teen Mom."

The Disease Management Care Blogs response?  Mute and quickly change the channel before the DMCB spouse has one more reason to doubt the intelligence of the male species.

Yet, only the perspicacious DMCB can use this sordid tale to extract an important lesson for the population health management (PHM) community.

Thats because it listened caully to TedMeds Jay Walker, who spoke at the closing plenary session at the Care Continuum Alliances Forum12.  Mr. Walker observed that handheld devices with texting are blurring the lines that separate in-person and virtual relationships.  While 3-D, face-to-face "analog" interactions still count, people are also going online to achieve an astonishing level of digital familiarity and even intimacy with each other.

While regular readers already know that persons turn to trusted in-person as well as virtual "friends" and "communities" for health care advice (past DMCB posts on the topic are here and here), the DMCB may have underestimated the full implications of just how real and behavior-changing an on-line relationship can be. 

No, the DMCB is not suggesting that PHM vendors start hot chatting with clients. 

But it is saying that vendors as well as buyers who discount "remote" web-enabled and text coaching versus in-person services may need to take another look at their future business plans and underlying value propositions. Maci and Kyles dysfunction are teaching us that remote texting has far more "connectedness" potential than generally appreciated. If a social-media-based relationships downsides can capture Maci and Kyles attention, why cant the upsides also be harnessed to change behavior?

We have a lot more to learn about the determinants of on-line relationship building.  Companies that figure it out will win.

Image from Wikipedia

A Definition of Big Data for Health Care Providers and Five Useful Caveats

And you thought its only
function was to be an EHR?

Regular readers of the Wall Street Journal probably saw the Monday March 11 "big data" section that was filled with articles like this.

Written from a "business intelligence" perspective, there were precious few insights for the population and care management community. Were aware of the concept, but how, asks the Disease Management Care Blog, does it apply to our corner of the health care delivery system?

Unable to resist, the DMCB donned its snorkle and flippers and took a deep dive at the topic.

First off, when the DMCB performed a classic medical literature search using the key words "big data," it found that that the term has not entered the health care lexicon in a big way. Academics instead per to write about "registries," "data warehousing" and "predictive modeling." The DMCB also looked for a standard health care definition of "big data" and could find none in the published medical literature.

So, the DMCB offers up its own definition, culled from papers like this and this:

Health care "big data" is a branch of health care informatics that pools large and disparate data sets and applies a suite of mathematical approaches that derives associations, facilitates comparisons and generates insights that are otherwise not possible using standard mono-source analytics. It includes, but is not limited to, reporting, dashboards, ad-hoc queries, graphical displays, scorecards, predictive modeling, data mining and business intelligence. The data sets can be comprised of EHR data, insurance claims, pharmacy utilization, care management systems, consumer as well as government information, public health, surveys, point-of-contact information and web-usage.

The DMCBs simplistic off-the-cuff examples of big data queries include examining 1) the association between "hits" from a cluster of ISPs on an emergency rooms web page and ER utilization, 2) complaints about a hospitals food service from family and the likelihood of being named in a malpractice suit, 3) looking for rare side effects among persons with a cluster of medical diagnoses who are using a just-released drug and 4) whether the number of household flat screens is a useful predictor of obesity.

Five DMCB caveats:

1. One data integrity trumps five Ph.Ds: The chief challenge is not the mathematics but combining and aligning the various databases.  Once the information is teed up, its amazing how much can be done by a masters-level statistician and a desktop PC.

2. Associations, not causality. Whether a web page leads to ER visits or whether bad food fuels dissatisfaction is a different question.  Its possible that ER visits prompt web usage or that already dissatisfied patients find overcooked string beans icky. All the possibilities are still useful insights.

3. Not a panacea: Its "a" tool, not "the" tool.  Users will still need to also invest in faster, better and cheaper mundane data tasks (like admissions per thousand) while they simultaneously understand how big datas associations, comparisons and insights generate additional patient value.

4. Journey, not destination: Theres a potent mix of art, science and wizardry in the evolving science of "big data."  There are no standard methodologies or best practices.  Get used to it.

5. Skepticism abounds: Data stakeholders who are used to standard analytics will er, as the DMCB found out, to "big data" as "voodoo," and resist buy-in.  If a critical mass of an organizations leadership comes to believe its useful, the rest will follow... eventually.

Image from Wikipedia

Consuming Omega 3 Fats from Fish and Supplements Lowers Mortality by One Third

Health researchers have known for some time that eating fish regularly provides health benefits to help protect against cardiovascular disease, stroke and overall mortality. The primary long-chain fats, DHA and EPA have been shown to improve innate immune response by stimulating the effectiveness of B cells to lower systemic inflammation. Until recently, scientists have not been able to determine the impact of omega-3 fats on risk reduction for specific diseases or decline in mortality.

Researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington, publishing the results of a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine have found that older adults who have higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids, commonly found in fatty fish and seafood, may be able to lower their overall mortality risk by as much as 27 percent and their risk of dying from heart disease by about 35 percent. Older individuals with the highest levels of omega-3 fats in their blood lived an average of 2.2 years longer than those with lower levels.

Eating Fatty Fish or Fish Oil Supplements Dramatically Lowers Risk from a Fatal Heart Attack

The study is regarded as the first to assess how serum blood levels of DHA and EPA omega-3 fats relate to total mortality and specific causes of mortality in a general population. Study author, Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian commented “Although eating fish has long been considered part of a healthy diet, few studies have assessed blood omega-3 levels and total deaths in older adults… our findings support the importance of adequate blood omega-3 levels for cardiovascular health, and suggest that later in life these benefits could actually extend the years of remaining life.”

To conduct their study, researchers examined sixteen years of data from about 2,700 U.S. adults, aged 65 or older, who participated in the Cardiovascular Health Study. All participants were healthy at the start of the study, and during follow up each had blood drawn, underwent physical exams and diagnostic testing, and were questioned about their health status, medical history, and lifestyle. Blood samples were tested for all omega-3 components (DHA, EPA and DPA) at the study outset and during follow up.

Eat Fatty Fish Three Times a Week or Supplement Daily to Slash Hear Disease Risk Factors

After adjusting for demographic, cardiovascular, lifestyle, and dietary factors, the scientists found that all three fatty acids combined were associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality (27 percent). When broken down by type, the researchers found that high DHA blood levels were associated with a 40 percent reduction in death from coronary heart disease. EPA and DPA were most strongly linked with lowered risk for stroke death and EPA significantly reduced non-fatal heart attack risk.

The team determined that the largest benefit was increasing omega-3 fat intake from a very low level to 400 mg per day. Dr. Mozaffarian concluded “The findings suggest that the biggest bang-for-your-buck is for going from no intake to modest intake, or about two servings of fatty fish per week.”Past research studies have determined that all individuals with no risk factors for heart disease should consume fatty fish three times per week or supplement with 1,200 mg fish oil daily. Those with multiple risk factors should increase intake to 2,400 mg combined EPA/DHA daily to minimize heart disease risk and extend lifespan.

Saturday Throwback Dr Veg Love or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Seasonal Produce

Every Saturday we post an older piece from CHG’s archives. Today’s article comes from August 2007. Thems was good times.

I’ll be honest: when I started researching this article, I assumed 90% of it would focus on cash. Specifically, I thought the money saved from buying in-season fruits and vegetables would far outweigh any other benefit.

Man alive, was I wrong.

Between Google and Nexis, it took approximately 2.2 seconds to discover that snagging chronologically-appropriate produce has massive political, nutritional, emotional, and environmental perks. What’s more, it tastes better. And that’s gotta count for something.

So, without further ado, nine reasons you should raid crops from the seasonal section:

It costs WAY less. Simple economics here: an abundance of anything lowers its price. Plus, because in-season produce is often grown domestically, overseas transportation costs are cut. All told, this means you can save between 10% and 50% on beans, greens, and all the in-betweens. Need proof? Check your berry section, where writer Briony Harmer notes, “strawberries in November … will cost nearly three times more than what you would have paid in June."

It tastes better. When fruits and vegetables are imported off-season, they’re often harvested prematurely, because that way they hold up better in transit. Once the food arrives here, it’s then sprayed with ethylene gas to ripen it artificially. By the time it reaches grocery stores, you’ll see decent color, but the flavor blows. See for yourself: eat a plum tomato in winter, and write down your thoughts. Try another one at the end of the summer. Odds are, the winter tomato will taste like air in comparison.

It’s better for the Earth (probably). The expert consensus is that an average pound of produce travels about 1500 miles. Imported off-season crops can raise that number significantly since they’re coming from all over the world. That scrumptiousness has to be shipped somehow, and it’s usually via truck, train, plane, or boat, all of which consume energy and add to pollution. To give some perspective, in England, “importing just a kilogram of strawberries from America is the equivalent of running a 100 watt light bulb for a week.” Buying seasonal produce can help offset the waste.

(That is, unless you buy this alarmingly convincing article from the New York Times, which pokes some pretty big holes in the transportation argument. Still, it concedes, “the connection between lowering food miles and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions is a no-brainer.”)

It’s healthier. Off-season fruits and veggies tend to lose their nutritional punch over time, since they’re shipped long-distance for weeks and months. As the London Observer reports, “freshly dug potatoes have about 21mg vitamin C per 100g which falls to 9mg after three months of storage.”

What’s more, that produce may not have started out on equal footing to begin with. A 2002 Japanese study found that Vitamin C and carotene are “significantly influenced by the cropping season,” meaning that a carrot grown in winter is missing half the carotene it would have had in the summer. For some reason, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and broccoli are particularly affected by this, while “sweet peppers, celery, and kiwifruit [are] fairly stable.”

It’s less poisonous. You probably won’t croak eating off-season produce from abroad, but there’s a good chance it harbors more toxins than its in-season counterparts. Why? Well, according to the BioDiversity Project, “Many countries have neither the pesticide regulations nor the labor safety practices that are the law in the U.S., so theres no telling what is on or in your imported fruits and vegetables.” That added flavor you detect? It’s the bitter taste of uncertainty.

It’s in better condition. “Handling and storage … is one of the main problems in the deterioration of produce. From the way the grower packs it, to the loading and off-loading in the truck yard, to the handling in the markets, it all contributes to knocks and bruises that will quickly affect the quality of the produce,” says the Canberra Times. If you’ve ever flown cross-country, you can relate: the further something travels, the worse shape it’s in when it arrives at its destination.

It can be frozen or canned for future use. Imagine having a sweet, delicious blueberry in the middle of March. Now imagine that same piece of fruit hasn’t lost an iota of vitamins, minerals, or flavor because it was iced right after being picked. NOW imagine you’re not spending $6 on a pint of blueberries from the farthest corners of the planet, because you bought it for $2 six months ago and had the forethought to shove it in your freezer. Okay, you’re done imagining. Pat yourself on the back and eat a blueberry.

It’s politically correct (and not in an annoying way). This is a bit difficult to summarize, but I’ll give it a shot: essentially, Third World farmers make more (but not a lot of) money importing specialized off-season produce to richer countries than by growing food for themselves. According to Briarpatch, this not only “threatens the extinction of [their] local crops,” but leads to hunger and “[slavery] to international commodity prices.” Meanwhile, local farmers are hosed by big-name suppliers who purchase cheaper goods from abroad. Buying seasonally benefits everyone more in the long-run.

It’s a mental trigger for the good times. BabyFit.com’s Rebecca Pratt makes a fabulous point: “[Food is] tied to the special days and seasons of our lives: sweet, luscious watermelon paired with the memory of filies and fireworks; fragrant hearty soups that temper winter’s chill; sweet young vegetables that accompany spring’s first warm day.” Think about it: on Christmas, do you crave gazpacho? When Easter rolls around, do you drool over the light, airy taste of parsnips? Food is key to socialization, and in-season fruits and veggies can play major parts in our memories.

Of course, none of this information is any good unless you know what produce is ripe at which times. The guides at Food Network, Nutritiously Gourmet, and Cornell University are all good places to start. Consumo felice!

Sources:

• “Buy Organic and Locally Produced Foods,” BioDiversityProject.org.
• Dowden, Angela. “The food thats travelled 35,000 miles to reach your plate,” The Daily Mail (London). September 2005.
• Harmer, Briony. “How to become a vegetarian without increasing grocery bills,” Essortment.com. 2002. essortment.com/food/vegetarianincre_skfk.htm.
• “How Food Finds its Way to Your Plate,” Talk of the Nation. NPR Radio. November 2006.
• Lempert, Phil. “The squeeze and sniff test: Tips on how you can pick out fresh fruits and vegetables,” SupermarketGuru.com. April 2002. supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/287.
• McWilliams, James E. “Food That Travels Well,” New York Times. August 2007.
• Monks, Helen. “How to buy food that doesnt cost the Earth,” The Independent (London). April 2006.
• “Pass the fresh test,” Canberra Times (Australia). August 2006.
• Pratt, Rebecca. “Seasonal Foods Exceptional Flavor & Nutrition that Fits in Your Budget,” Babyfit.com. babyfit.sparkpeople.com/articles.asp?id=669.
• Ross, Alicia and Beverly Mills. “Save Money: Buy in Season.” Dallas Morning News. July 2007.
• “Seasonal Vegetables in Temperate Countries,” Food & Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region. January 2001. agnet.org/library/pt/2001002/
• Watson, Julia, “Eat To Live: Buy seasonally, eat healthily,” UPI. Jaunary 2006.
• Wiebe, Nettie. “Whos cooking the food system? Globalization & the struggle for food sovereignty,” Briarpatch. February 2007.

Questions Surrounding Avandia� and its Effect on Bone

A small study to be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism found that postmenopausal women who took Avandia^® (rosiglitazone) at 8mg/day for 14 weeks had greater reductions in hip bone density than women in a control group:

• - Total hip bone density fell in the Avandia group by 1.9%
  
• - Total hip bone density fell in the placebo group by 0.2%

Leading authors to conclude:

"Short-term therapy with rosiglitazone exerts detrimental skeletal effects, by inhibiting bone formation."

A reduction in bone density could increase the risk of fractures. That wont be welcome news to women with diabetes who already experience an increased risk of fractures - a finding reported by this journal last year.

Reuters reported:

"Morgan Stanley said in a note that an osteoporosis warning was now "very likely" to be added to the drugs label."

________
Avandia study, free author manuscript (pdf):
The peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist rosiglitazone decreases bone formation and one mineral density in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled trial

Avandia study, abstract:
The peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonist rosiglitazone decreases bone formation and bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal women: a randomized, controlled trial

Reuters news summary:
New study fuels bone fears over Glaxos Avandia

JCEMs diabetes and bone fracture study, abstract:
Risk of Fracture in Women with Type 2 Diabetes: the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study

Link Between Sleep and Diabetes

Researchers at Boston University find that too little sleep, less than 7 or 8 hours a night, could increase the risk for diabetes:
Too Little Sleep Could Cause Diabetes

Three Models of Primary Care Teaming TL CC and ET An Unexplored Feature of the Medical Home

What defines optimal outpatient primary care "teaming?"

The Disease Management Care Blog just assumed that if it took equal scoops of adaptable physicians, dedicated nurses and supportive culture and baked with a dollop of accountability, "teaming" would just.... happen.

It turns out that what may come out of that clinical practice oven is a lot more complicated than that. 

Which is why medical home advocates should pay attention to this article by George Washington Universitys Debra Goetz Goldberg and colleagues.  Interested in finding out more about primary care "teaming," they interviewed, reviewed and observed three different Virginia clinics that had embarked on transformative quality improvement programs.

Each clinic came up with a different version of "teaming":

1."Top of License" - nurses interviewed the patients, presented the problems to the docs and then documented the care plan.  They were also responsible for the patient education.  Thanks to using this model, the physicians almost doubled the number of patients they were seeing per day.

2. "Care Coordinator" - nurses focused on helping patients undergoing care "transitions" (typically out of the hospital) and provided self-management and health education to high-risk, high complexity patients.  Interestingly, unsatisfactory reimbursement levels forced the practice to cut back, but they still doubled mammography and blood pressure control rates among persons with diabetes mellitus.

3. "Enhanced Traditional" - the physicians still performed the bulk of the patient care but the researchers observed that the other clinic personnel benefited from increased trust, communication and hand-offs that translated into patient centered care, shared responsibility and heightened volunteerism.  The practice was unable to measure any outcomes.

"Very interesting!" says the DMCB. Authoritative web-sites like this or this and peer-reviewed articles like this er to "teaming," but fail to precisely define it.  Assuming the three categories described by Goetz-Goldberg (in shorthand, "TL," "CC" and "ET") hold up in future studies, the DMCB looks forward to learning which approach results in the greatest quality or cost-savings.

Coda: As a reader bonus, the authors offer up a definition of "team-based care" that seems to span all three models and can be used for the DMCB readers quoting pleasure:

"A group of diverse clinicians who participate in and communicate with each other regularly about the care of a defined group or panel of patients."

Alcohol and Fasting Glucose

Your morning fasting blood glucose reading is good. Your postprandial reading - not so good. That discrepancy might be explained, at least in part, by your alcohol intake.

A small, randomized controlled trial found that those with type 2 diabetes who consumed moderate amounts of alcohol daily had reductions in fasting glucose, but not postprandial glucose, when compared to their teetotaling days prior to the study.

Participants received either 150 ml (about 5 ounces) of wine, or non-alcoholic diet beer (control group), daily for three months. Beverages were consumed at dinner time.

The wine drinkers experienced an average reduction in fasting plasma glucose from 139.6 mg/dl before the study to 118.0 mg/dl after. Those with the highest HbA1c levels had the greatest reductions. Those in the control group experienced no change (136.7 to 138.6 mg/dl).

No notable adverse effects were reported, although those in the alcohol group did note an improved ability to fall asleep.

This was a short, small (n = 91 completed) trial with a fairly high dropout rate (17%). It supports hypotheses drawn from previous observational studies but its findings need, in turn, to be supported in further trials.

These results were reported in a Diabetes Care online, ahead of print article:

Glycemic effects of moderate alcohol intake among patients with type 2 diabetes: A Multi-center, randomized clinical intervention trial

________
Note: Alcohol is known to inhibit production of glucose in the liver, i.e. ethanol inhibits gluconeogenesis. Gluconeogenesis is one process the body uses to supply glucose to tissues during a fast, such as overnight.

Importance of Diabetes Diet and Blood Sugar Testing Strips in a Diabetic’s Life

Diet plays an important role in a diabetic’s life. Since all that we eat can affect the level of glucose in our body, it is important to take care of all that is included in daily diet. Here is a sample Diabetes Diet plan for a diabetic patient:

Diabetes Diet Plan

Morning

6 a.m. – Take ½ teaspoon fenugreek powder + water.

7 a.m. – A cup of sugar free tea and a mary biscuit.

8.30 a.m. A plate upma or oatmeal and half bowl sprouted grains. Have a cup of low fat milk without sugar

10.30 a.m. A fruit or low fat buttermilk, or lemon water

Afternoon

1 p.m. - 2 roti of mixed flour, a bowl of lentil, a bowl of yogurt, a bowl of vegetable, and a plate of salad.

Evening

4 pm - A cup of tea without sugar and a toast or a biscuit.

6 pm – A cup of soup

Night

8.30 pm - 2 roti of mixed flour, a bowl pulse, half bowl green vegetable, and a plate of salad.

10.30 pm – A cup of milk without sugar.

It is important to strictly avoid sugar, molasses, honey, sweets, and dry fruits. It is important to include a light exercise regime daily. For instance, you can go for 35-40 minute brisk walk daily. Also avoid oily food and increase the intake of fiber foods in meals.

Apart from following a strict diet, it is important that a diabetic patient checks his glucose levels daily at regular intervals. This is easy via using Diabetes Blood Sugar Test Strips.

Diabetes Blood Sugar Test Strips

Glucose testing is an imperative component of a diabetic’s daily health care. Without testing, a diabetic can easily become ill as his glucose levels may not be healthy. The test is conducted via using a glucose testing meter that uses diabetes blood sugar test strips.

The Blood Sugar Testing Strips are one of the major components of any diabetes monitoring system. A wide range of diabetes test strips are accessible these days on the market. These test strips are used in combination with a blood glucose monitor. The patient needs to prick himself to draw blood and apply to the test strip. The blood glucose monitor will detect the accurate amount of blood glucose present in the body.

Read more info about Diabetes Diet and Blood Sugar Testing Strips .

Of Antifragile and Accountable Care Organizations ACOs

Emboldened by yesterdays economics post on the U.S. "headwinds" that are marginalizing the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, the Disease Management Care Blog now turns its attention to a magnificent new word:

"Antifragile."

Thats the term invented by Nassim Taleb in his latest book. In it, he counterintuitively suggests that political, business and economic systems can benefit from recurring and unexpected mishaps. The sucess of antifragile systems is based on their fragile constituents that rise and fall on their own merits. One "antifragile" example is the local restaurant industry in many large cities. It may be beset by recurring single unit bankruptcies but it ultimately provides the marketplace with a dependable set of gustatory options every Saturday night. 

The converse are "fragile" systems that are ironically made up of highly stable individual units. An example is the highly regulated U.S. banking industry, which amply demonstrated its collective vulnerabilities in the 2008 crash.

The terms "antifragile" and "fragile" speak to the threat of unknown and potentially catastrophic "Black Swan" risks, such as torrential superstorms and toxic mortgage assets.  Many New York restaurants rebounded (by candlelight), while the banking industry almost took down the entire U.S. economy.

The erudite Dr. Taleb often turns to mythology, molecular biology, physics, history and more to make his points, but the DMCB is naturally thinking cinema.

In The Godfather, after the Corleone family goes to the mattresses, Clemenza explains periodic war between the New York families is a good thing because it gets rid of a lot of "bad blood" (the Mafia is antifragile).

In the silly Underworld vampire movies, chief bloodsucker Viktor condemns the successful liaison between his race and the werewolf "Lycans" as an "abomination" that upsets centuries of rigidly enforced stability (vamps are fragile).

In one of the Star Trek movies, engineer Montgomery Scott deftly disables a new star ship after pointing out "that the more they overthink the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain" (warp drive-enabled space ships are fragile). 

And finally, Pandoras ecosystem in the movie Avatar may be teeming with all manner of scary survival of the fittest, but its antfragility is what ultimately prevails against the despicably avaricious humans.

Which makes the DMCB naturally worry about fragility of accountable care organizations, which are arguably comprised of highly stable hospitals and clinics in an intensely regulated environment.    While you may be tempted to tut-tut the DMCBs antifragile infatuations, recall AHERFs spectacular failure and the Medicare Health Support Demonstration disaster.  When they started out, both were the darlings of health policy makers and both were torpedoed by large and unexpected catastrophes that were only identified in retrospect.

What Black Swans could take some ACOs down?

Many savvy DMCB readers may disagree about ACOs, but you have to admit, "antifragile" will be a great word guaranteed to impress colleagues, co-workers and bosses.  For example

"Broadening our provider network to those three new counties may be risky, but itll make our managed care organization more antifragile!"

"Buying a single source electronic record will reduce our health systems antifragile competitive advantage!"

"By limiting my access to modern electronic gadgetry, the DMCB spouse is risking a system-wide entertainment failure of epic antifragile proportions!"

And so it goes......



 

Curcumin Garlic and Green Tea Lower Risk of Chronic Disease

(Article first published as Powerful Nutrient Trio Protects the Brain and Heart on Technorati.)

Humans have relied on natural extracts and powerful nutrients to prevent disease and maintain health for countless generations. The typical diet consists mostly of foods that have been heavily processed so that most of the vitamins and minerals we need to sustain optimal health have been eliminated. 

Estimates are that only 1 in 20 people consumes the minimum daily recommendation of 5 servings of vegetables and fruits. Most individuals are theore deficient in a wide array of phytonutrients supplied by fresh produce that are essential for disease prevention. You can improve your health by adding these natural nutrients to your diet or supplemental arsenal.

Curcumin Shown to Protect the Brain and Liver

Curcumin is the active component of the Indian spice, tumeric that gives curry its deep yellow color. This potent antiviral is known to provide critical protection to the brain as it can easily cross the blood-brain barrier. Researchers have shown that the spice extract can effectively inhibit the formation of brain plaque that is associated with Alzheimer`s disease and other neurological disorders such as Parkinsons.

New research published in the journal Endocrinology confirms how curcumin can help prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver. Fatty liver disease is a potentially fatal affliction that worsens with excess body weight and obesity. The liver is our primary organ responsible for filtering toxins from the blood as well as hundreds of other important metabolic functions within our body. Any natural nutrient that can help keep fat from clogging the normal activity of our liver is critical to our health.

Garlic Dramatically Lowers Risk from Many Cancer Lines

Sulfur is the active compound that makes garlic difficult for many to eat raw and also contributes to its long list of health benefits. Our body uses the breakdown of sulfur to power a process known as methylation. Through this chain of chemical reactions our body is able to perform many critical functions that promote healthy immune response and clear waste products from our cells.

The result of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition demonstrates that a diet including garlic (and onions) was inversely related to the risk of many forms of cancer. Pancreatic cancer risk was lowered by 54%, prostate cancer by 51% and colon cancer rates were cut in half. Researchers believe that an improved immune response is behind the cancer fighting ability associated with garlic.

Green Tea in the Fight Against Obesity and Heart Disease

The catechins in green tea (EGCG) have been known for their ability to fight diseases ranging from cancer to dementia and heart disease. Extensive research has shown that EGCG can effectively inhibit the blood supply required for the development and proliferation of cancer cells. Risk for developing deadly lung cancer was reduced by 66% in participants taking a concentrated form of green tea extract.

Green tea is also a powerful tool in the fight against heart disease. Information published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition explains how EGCG increases the oxidation of fat by boosting metabolism. This action assists in weight loss by increasing base metabolic rate. Green tea also lowers the risk of coronary artery disease by limiting oxidized LDL cholesterol that causes arterial plaque.

Natural antiviral nutrients are vital to our health. Those interested in lowering their risk of cancer, heart disease, dementia and liver dysfunction should be certain to include these powerful compounds through diet or supplementation.