Exercise For The Time-Crunched

We all know we are supposed to do it - for our body's sake, of course.

 But the amount of excuses we can come up with to get out of it, well, that list is still just so much longer than the excuses why we should. So, in keeping with the democratic process, yes, the "get out of it column does go and win again."

Does this sound like your way of thinking yourself out of any kind of structured exercise program? Sure, it's pure sarcasm. But to many people, I'm sure they can relate to it anyway.. Between the work schedule, the kid's school and sports/club programs, the babysitter problem, the needs of the aging or ailing parent(s), plus hundreds of other things which can and do get in the way everyday, exercise just got pushed out of the picture once again.

So, first a little motivation why you should be doing it anyway first. This list includes many of the common complaints that a doctor hears when he talks to a patient better than 83% of the time.

• increases your chances of gradual weight loss without the diet
• increased flexibility
• reduces existing muscle and joint pain
• reduces your dependency on current medications
• prevents the possibility of so many future difficulties like, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, osteoporosis, high cholesterol, high blood pressure plus many others

So, if restrictions and lack of time is a part of your daily routine, getting inventive at exercise is possible. No where is is written exercise has to be done in a gym, on the seat of a stationary bike or running/walking to nowhere on a treadmill. Just by changing your point of view about what is exercise you are going to find it's actually pretty easy to fit some in after all. Try some of these oddball solutions to start yourself back on the road to a body which doesn't mutiny every single time you try to make it move once again.

•  when you are just standing in one place (at the copier, brushing your teeth, combing your hair, doing the dishes, waiting in line at the store), use this time. Get a perky beat in your head and start marching right in place.
• sitting in a chair, sit on the front edge and give your feet and legs a workout - tap dance.
• when you and your secretary are in conference, sit on the edge of your twisty chair, arms to the front of you and start twisting back  and forth. Great for the waistline. To up the ante a little use your arms also by pushing one out in front of you at a time and then pulling it back, bend the elbow and bring it back to your body. Alternate arms as you twist. You've just slimmed your waist and your biceps/triceps at the same time.
• cordless phones or cell phones these days means you aren't stuck in one place anymore. Get moving. March to your own drummer and fit it one fantastic workout while you are stuck on that phone.
• put away the leaf blower and the lawn and garden tractor. Rough it occasionally. Get out the leaf rake, the push mower and a broom. See if you remember how they used to work for you.
• elevators, what are they for? Where there's elevators - there is stairs also. Never set foot in an elevator again.
• drive to work every day and it's just not possible to change that. Sure it is, park your car two blocks from your employment and you know you've just got in a 4 block walk every day.
• just got home in the evening from work, the store, the drive thru and you now have a car full of packages. You have two hands so from now on, you carry one thing in each, no more. If there is 12 things in the car to be unloaded, you've just got in 6 trips back and forth. This might not sound like very much, but multiply this by every day of the year and then you can be impressed by just how many times you have managed to take a walk every day.

You now get the idea. Look at all the little things you are doing every day and what can you do to combine two things at once into your daily schedule. You end up using absolutely no more time in most cases but that little bit of extra movement added up over time is eventually one great big fantastic boon to your daily health.  Have fun with it!

How Obesity Affects Children At School

Although obesity is not tagged as a disease at your doctor's office, it is termed as a condition which needs immediate attention to prevent a lifetime of complications as your child gets older. Usually, in most cases, childhood obesity is considered a condition of poor lifestyle choices. If you can get positive changes made early, the child will grow up under these positive reinforcements.

But at school, obesity in nothing but a visual handicap. Most kids are teased and taunted daily by the other kids and even sometimes by the adults. The problems the teachers, the kids and the administration themselves must contend with include:

• The obese child is usually the tallest or largest individual in body size in a classroom. The furniture itself was made for an individual smaller in size. Often a large child can not even sit comfortably all day.
• In gym class, ridicule is the norm because many of the activities are very difficult, some impossible for the obese child.
• The locker room, often the haven for the rest of the class, is a continuous case of friction for the obese child
• During the picking of teams during the class schedule itself, the obese child is always the last to be drawn. Often, the snide comments even get made by both team leaders or another individual that we don't want him/her on our team.
• Every class has a group of individuals which just seem to be the "troublemakers". Bullying an obese child is a quick high for this type of individual. Unfortunately, for the obese child, this attention only brings on greater feelings of shame and embarrassment, often curtailed by more food to release the depression.
• Socialization skills are grown and nurtured during the childhood years. Learning patience, sharing and the importance of being a "team player" are vital for knowing life's social skills. Often though, the obese child will not even attempt joining a sports team for fear of failure. If the attempt is made, the obese child is generally the first to be "cut from the roster".

So, obesity in school is often a condition of inconvenience, not only for the child but the school system itself. This particular child often gets caught up in a cycle of insecurity and self-destruction.  The original weight gain escalates to further problems as inferiority and self-loathing escalate. This leads to a destructive cycle of using food as an escape. From there, more weight gain.

Stopping this chain of events and leading this child back to a normal healthy life is a long, slow ,hard process but the value you can place on the chances for this child to lead a productive life in his/her future far outweigh the inconvenience of attempting the impossible in the here and now.

Allergic Reaction From Stretch Marks - Huh?

Most parents have a new baby enter the family and they are overjoyed, it is such a joyous occasion in their life. Even the second, third or fourth child also brings those same feelings of anticipation and excitement. The entire nine months before the actual birth itself is usually a time of planning and preparation for the big day.

After the birth though, the mother is usually left with a body which she doesn't even recognize as her own. Excess weight and fat deposits can be found in areas she never had before. Plus then there's those inevitable stretch marks and the scarring from the birth itself which have now become the mother's greatest concern.

But when checking out the selections available for remedies, what you are going to find is selection after selection, all based on chemically derived fragrances and a concoction straight out of what "might as well have been the glue factory". The ingredients list of names, if you can read and pronounce them, is horrible.

The problem here though, talk to your doctor, the pharmacist and the hospital you are using and each is going to pretty much give you the same answer. "Well, that's just what's out there and available. It doesn't matter anyway. They're all safe".

But I don't know about you, if I can't even pronounce it, how do I know it's safe for me and my baby?

There is actually some pretty darn good choices out there which are safe for both mother and the baby (yes, the baby is affected also if the mother is breastfeeding). So, if this is on your mind right now, or you're soon to be in this situation, check here for some ideas which might be just the solution you have been looking for.

Or if you have already been through this and have found a solution which worked for you, let us know. We all know we wanted that new bundle with all our hearts but why did it have to ruin our bodies?

Weight Loss Without The Diet

We all seem to reach that age eventually.

 Some of us, it started in the early years, teenage years or young adulthood. But the majority of people sail right through the first 40 or 50 years of their life with absolutely no problems with weight gain. Then the middle age years get here and all of a sudden the scale starts creeping up...and up.

But it's so hard to understand why, isn't it? After all, you're still pretty careful about your diet (you haven't changed anything really, have you). And then you still get exercise (maybe not quite as much but you try as often as you can). So, what's really going on?

The problem here, middle age equates to a slower metabolism. It has absolutely nothing to do with what you are, or are not doing. Your body has reached that stage it needs less calories to survive and yet you are still feeding it on the same schedule.

The result - weight gain! So start now to make a few serious - but easy - lifestyle changes and the results will soon be seen on the scale but more importantly felt in your wardrobe.

• Become a smarter snacker - we all love snacks. Many of us use them as mini meals actually. The problem is what you are still snacking on. Change up to a handful of raw nuts or seeds (almonds are the best nuts/pumpkin seeds in the seed category). Each of these are higher in calories but they are a powerhouse of nutrients for your body, fill you up quickly (so you eat less), and a great source of healthy fats (yes, your body must have fats) to keep your body running efficiently.
• If you need a drink, think water as the base. Forget everything else, whether it is natural or chemically sweetened. Take a glass of distilled, filtered water and add your own pureed fruits or a slice of lemon or lime for flavored waters. Even some vegetables (like cucumbers) are a popular variety. The amount of calories, sugars and fats you have just saved yourself is astronomical when you add this up over a year's time. If you prefer bubbles, start your drink with a seltzer water instead and build your own favorites instead.
• Get moving more! Many people say, but I already exercise. The trick here is take your "down times" and use them to your advantage. Brushing your teeth, combing your hair, folding the laundry, washing the dishes...whatever you are doing, if you are standing in one place, then walk in one place instead. Next,  if you drive to work, park two blocks away and walk the two blocks. If it's the bus, get off two blocks early. 
• Your body thrives on sunshine. Our bodies actually produce their own Vitamin D, all you have to do about it is stand in the sunshine. Ten to fifteen minutes every day will give you enough Vitamin D that you will never have to take a supplement.
• Play time - we all like some downtime also. So instead of sitting in a theater or going to a sports game, watching a play or going to a concert, change this up to something just as fun and exciting, just a little more movement is necessary. A walk on the beach, bicycling, flower or vegetable gardening, or get another job - a volunteer job that is. Volunteer at the local floral gardens, the train museum, the amusement park, the local dude ranch (where you can learn to be a cowboy) or the ski slope (how about a ski bunny). You can check out what is in your area and see what each of them needs. Pick something you would enjoy and go for it. Whether it is one day a week, a month or more, you have now made your mind and your body more efficient and healthy.
• Look to your diet. As I said, the metabolism is slowing down so there is some foods your digestive system is going to have a harder time processing. Avoid the white flours, potatoes, corn, pasta and cereals and change this up to fresh fruits and vegetables or some of the alternative grains. Use lean meats instead of the ground meats, sausages, hot dogs all filled with chemical fillers. Use low fat dairy products instead of whole milk products. Add some quality lean protein from free range chicken, turkeys or eggs.

So, instead of fretting over how you are going to lose those extra 10 pounds you have gained is just a waste of time and energy. Change up a few of the details in your current daily life and the 10 lbs. will take care of losing themselves and often a few extra more.

Hypertension: What Is It?

Hypertension, more commonly known as high blood pressure, has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. All over the world, as the western diet is becoming more popular, so do the rates of diagnosis on this disease. Common factors which leads to the increased incidences include:

• high-paced lifestyles full of unrelenting stress
• "eat and run syndrome" - never stopping for a nutritionally balance meal
• lack of exercise -the "couch potato complex"
• insulin resistance
• obesity
• diabetes, high cholesterol and high triglycerides
• dehydration which actually leads to a retention of sodium in your system (gives you that bloated puffy feeling)
• smoking
• excessive alcohol (more than two to three drinks per day)
• environmental toxins such as intorducing heavy metals into your system

Over 50 million people in the US alone are struggling with trying to reduce their blood pressure, usually through medications. This number though is considered considerably low since many undiagnosed cases are out there due to a lack of easily identifiable symptoms. If you notice any of these re-occuring on a continuous basis, check with your family physician and verify a diagnosis:

• headaches in the back of the head and neck area predominantly
• unusual sweating and clamminess of the skin
• fatigue
• blurry vision
• light dizziness

Continuous elevated blood pressure is a precursor to damaged heart and blood vessels. Eventually heart failure, a heart attack or a severe stroke is possible without medical treatment. Often, the lucky have a fatality. The unlucky can often have major medical complications for the rest of their life.

Although this all does sound like bad news, lifestyle changes can lead to a reduced set of signs and symptoms with some serious attempts. By starting slowly implementing a few changes, high blood pressure, often dubbed the "silent killer', can actually be reversed completely.

Net Carbs - What Does It Mean?

Sugar free products and net carbs often come up in the same conversation. Why? Because if you are diabetic and are counting your carbohydrate grams daily, net carbs is important to know so you can figure out EXACTLY how many carbs you are consuming with each meal and snack.

What Does Net Carbs Mean?
Late 1990's and early 2000's, the food industry itself came up with a new way to market sugar free products. It became known as counting net carbs in your daily totals (instead of total carbohydrates).

Research and testing had already determined, sugar alcohols, the sweetener of choice in sugar free products, did not raise blood sugar levels like regular sugar products. This is because regular sugar hits your blood stream and spikes immediately. Sugar alcohols though, pass through the digestive system differently causing minimal sugar spikes over a longer period of time.

Manufacturing firms eventually coined the phrase "net carbs" to signify the approximate amount of the sweetener which does actually get converted to glucose in the bloodstream. This number then is what is used to determine the carbs ratio for any carb counting program.

How Does It Work?
If you are on a daily carb counting program (many type 1 diabetics are) by your doctor or nutritionist, this information should be covered by them. If it is not, bring it up. You must understand it and how it fits into your daily diet.

                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Find the nutrition label and look for the line "total carbohydrates" and "sugar alcohols". First take the sugar alcohol number and divide it by 2. Then subtract this answer from the number on the total carbohydrate line.
 Total carbohydrates   10 grams
 Sugar Alcohols         10 grams  (on label) divided by 2 = 5 grams

Divide 5 grams (sugar alcohols) into 10 grams (total carbs) = 5 grams. 

This then is the number you will be using for your measurement for that meal so you can get the correct carbs to insulin ratio.
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

Exceptions To This Rule 
Several exceptions do exist to this rule. You must also always check this information:

• If the sugar alcohol level on the nutrition label already says 5 grams or less, do not cut this number in half. Subtract this number as is from your total carbohydrate line
• check the ingredient label for the kind of sugar alcohol which was used. If the name erythritol is on the ingredient label do not divide this number in half. Subtract all of this number from your total carbohydrates. This is because erythritol does not get digested in the digestive system at all so the entire total will count.

By consistently following this formula, even diabetics on a strict carb counting program can occasionally enjoy a sugar free treat.



 

Fluoridated Water - The Battle Rages On

The mandatory fluoridation of public water systems in the majority of the United States and many other parts of the world is the common practice of adding the chemical fluoride to the city's municipal water system. Controversy has surrounded this practice for many years.

Most of the scientific community seems to believe fluoridation is good for the teeth so they adamantly insist this process is necessary for the population's benefit. But many doctors, dentists, natural health advocates and now science and research itself has been suggesting this information is incorrect.

The benefits (which are reported to be little) and the detriments (which are founded to be many) just keeps stacking up against this practice. Toxicity levels over time in the human body are leading to a condition known as fluorosis. The condition especially seems to be detrimental to the younger child under 1 year of age.

Symptoms of Fluorosis Toxicity

The human body reaching toxic levels seems to be getting easier and easier, especially in the United States. Common reported problems which are occurring include:

• the breakdown of the enamel layer on teeth is causing premature damaged rotting teeth
• increased reports of damages localized in the nervous system
• reduced IQ levels caused by damage and inflammation of the brain from excess fluoride toxicity
• increased rates of bone cancer
• kidney damage or disease being caused by fluoride toxicity
• decreased thyroid function

What Are Your Chances Of Beating Fluoride Toxicity

If you live almost anywhere in the United States, your chances are pretty much none unless you have had a specialized water filtration system placed in your home. Also, any homes not serviced by the public water department, such as inground wells or natural springs, give you some protection from this condition.

But remember, if and when you go to school, visit friends,  take a vacation, take a shower, brush your teeth, go to work, buy your groceries (sodas, teas, bottled waters, pre-packaged foods etc.) drink from a public water fountain, wash your hands plus anytime you use water outside your home, all of these get made from the municipal water supply.

Recently, within the last few years, several towns and districts across this country are also taking the time to check and investigate the research. In many of those cases, the decision has been made to pull the plug on their local program and drop the mandatory addition of fluoride in their local water supply.

Why Does It Not Get Stopped

Progress is always slow when it comes to overturning an old ingrained policy but because of the efforts of concerned parties, the public is now learning to become wary and ask questions also. Recently, the American Dental Association, after many, many years of denial, they have determined through testing that detrimental effects are being observed, especially in babies and young infants.

But reversing a positioned and ingrained political practice takes a lot of legal maneuverings thus changes can be slow to be made. Public pressure is growing though to reverse this practice. Questions and concerns are mounting and many people do want the answers because they are getting leery of turning on their taps when it is now a known fact that the chemical toxicity of their water is now deliberately under question.

Antibacterial Soaps

A little over a decade ago, antibacterial soaps and antibiotic resistance became a new and upcoming concern to hit the daily news. Earlier, when the manufacturing industry released these products first to the open market,  many believed it would be the answer to their prayers for health and wellness, especially for their children. It was hoped this could be a road which could end some of the rising rates of colds, influenza and even some food allergies. Mothers, doctor's and dentist's offices, nursery schools, elementary schools and many more organizations let this item spread through their daily life like wildfire.

Now it's a decade later. During that time, anywhere the manufacturing industry found they could add this product, it was. Not only hand soaps anymore, it is also in lotions, dish soaps, laundry products, toothpaste, hand sanitizers plus more.

The press and media reporting in general built up this product as if it could be the answer to every little ailment in our daily lives. After all, what's the purpose of an antibacterial product? It's to kill! All of these new products have the capability of killing off germs, viruses and harmful bacteria which can be problematic to our general health.

Ten Years Later And The Truth Is Known

Antibacterials are chemicals - their job is too kill. As this product washes your hands it is also absorbed into your skin. From there it flows down your drain as you brush your teeth, clean your laundry or do the dirty dishes. All of this time, the chemical compounds are still doing their job - to kill! The run-off into your drains gets into the public water system which eventually connects to local lakes and streams, finally to open water, the oceans. All along that way, the residue is now settling into the land and the environment also, right along the paths where we grow our food.

And do you still remember what is it these compounds are doing all along the way?

Contraindications Of Antibacterial Products

All antibacterial products are predominantly made from 3 major compounds. These are the chemicals additives known as triclosan, triclocarbon and alcohol (usually from 60 to 90 proof). Continuous use of any of these compounds leads to antibiotic resistance because your body has already reached overdose levels. An antibiotic prescription from your doctor now is relatively useless for any new medical condition.

Most people, with extended use also eventually will notice some of these other common symptoms:

• your flesh will burn or become very sensitive on other parts of the body
• the cleansing effect itself will only last about 5 minutes and 20 seconds on your skin until you have lost it's therapeutic effect. To retain the benefits you must constantly keep repeating the hand-washing procedure every five and a half minutes.
• a hand sanitizer solution, if accidentally ingested by a young child, can kill a child because of the strength of the compounds

Science, now a decade later has proven our society's insistence on using these products has compromised not only our health but the health of our environment whether that be the land, sea or air.

So what should you do instead?

Plain old soap and water (castile soap is the best) is still the perfect solution for good health and vitality.

Hostess At A Party With Food Allergies Present

Are birthday parties for your kids up and coming?

Or is it the parent's anniversary, a graduation, bar/bat mitzvah, the 4th of July picnic/family reunion; you get the idea here. Celebrations in every family or circle of friends just keep coming as the months fly by.

Now, some people truly enjoy planning and executing a successful event. But what happens when you are the host/hostess and you find out one or more of your guests has a known food allergy?

This fact is not a reason to stop, cancel the event and recall all the invitations. It is a reason though for you as the hostess to get a quick education on how to throw a successful event for the food allergic and your usual guests also. So make the day easier, for yourself, and safer, for all your attendees, by following a few simple rules right from the start.

Mention on the invitation itself that you wish any guest with a food restriction should contact you immediately so arrangements can be made to accommodate them also. Most people will be thrilled you even had the courtesy to ask. If you need help devising a menu, use them - they are the expert in their care.

Often, if you are unsure or anxious, go ahead and mention you don't mind if they wish to bring a covered dish or two for their own safety if they seem nervous or anxious also. The two of you need to talk it out together and devise a plan which is effective for you both. Remember though, if you are doing the cooking, keep all the ingredient labels of EVERY single item which goes into any of your recipes for your guest to check them for his/her safety. Most people think of keeping the labels for the main components of a dish but the baking soda, baking powder, worcestershire sauce, bouillon cube, pat of butter, salt or spices and everything else counts too.

Check with them and be sure you understand the rules of cross-contamination. Take safety precautions to confirm their food stays safe. This includes during the cooking process itself and while your guests are serving themselves also. A guest can easily contaminate a food also just by using an unsafe utensil in a safe dish. Many times, it is easiest if the person with an allergy can serve their plate first before the food comes to the table or it is placed on the buffet.

Do not hover over your guest with an allergy the whole evening to confirm their safety. Set up the precautions, follow through on your plans and let the guest take the rest of the responsibility of keeping themselves safe. This way they have a good time at the party and so do you.

So, when you are the actual host of the party, with advance preparation and planning,  you can reduce the odds of an accident ever happening. In this way, everyone can still have a good time and most people in attendance will never even realize there may have been a problem.

Are You A Guest At A Party And You Have The Food Allergy?

After diagnosis, many people feel so anxious and depressed. They end up cutting themselves off completely from any inter-action in a social or business environment. All of this is just so they can avoid the dangers which are lurking out there which are out of their control.

But family and friends are still going to have parties, the occasional business luncheon or meeting (with its usual meals and snacks) is still going to pop up, the birthday or anniversary celebration dinner at a local restaurant is going to come around. Many times, for many reasons, an upcoming event will arrive which induces a list of "horrors" which could come up in your mind.

So instead of automatically saying No the next time you receive an invitation, try some of these tips to relieve some of the stress and anxiety before and during the event.

Always talk to your host in advance, whether this is a friend, a relative, your boss or even the restaurant's management themselves. Do not ever be so discourteous that you just show up and announce "I can't eat any of that. I have food allergies." Have the courtesy to explain your limitations in advance and have a list for them that you know are safe foods for your situation. If their menu does not coordinate with your allergies, then ask if it's OK if you bring a covered dish or two along with you. Even more important, if it's possible, make your offering something which coordinates to the theme of their event.

Pack your own small treats and goodies in a small unobtrusive bag and carry it along with you. Just in case something happens you can not eat what is provided, you are not left with nothing.

Mention to your host in advance you must see all the ingredient labels of each dish prepared and its ingredients. Do not ever expect a person unfamiliar with your allergy to be able to comprehend all those ingredient labels. Just remember what you felt like when you started reading labels after the diagnosis. This person is going to feel like that also, even intensified. That's because they know your very life may be in their hands. No other person wants to unwittingly cause harm to another party guest.

Remember, this occasion is a party, business meeting etc.. The purpose of the event was not just food. Enjoy the food, whatever you can, but also enjoy the company of the other guests without your sour mood. You can be in command of your having some nibbling treats and snacks just by diving into your own pre-packed nibble bag you brought along.

Therefore, with some advance preparation, you can enjoy the event just as much as anyone else which was there.

Now, next time, if you happen to be the host/hostess at an upcoming event where you know one or more of your guests will have a food allergy, I will help you defuse the situation, and your anxiety, by helping you make your day a little easier, safer and more enjoyable for both you and the food allergic guest.

Gluten Free Traveling And Safety

Being on a gluten free diet does take a whole lot of extra time and attention, especially if you are traveling. After all, in many places you can't just pop into a room, throw a steak on the grill or stovetop, prepare a baked potato and dinner gets served. What happens if there is no stovetop?

Travel by land, sea or air many times has it's reservations when you are on the road. Interruptions in the schedule can be a norm. You have to be prepared for any eventuality because there is never any way to know when your next "dead food zone area" may be just around your next corner. When and if you are on a gluten free diet, especially if you are a celiac, just one little bit of cheating for the night is not an option.

So for some travel hints and tips to try to make every trip a little easier and safer, give these a try:

• Get yourself a doctor's notice of diagnosis. Use this at restaurant's, the hotel, amusement parks, office parties/meetings, airports, ball parks or entertainment complexes. Anywhere you are questioned why you must carry your own food, the proof is right in your wallet.
• Wear a medical ID bracelet in case of emergency
• Purchase yourself a small cooler and some reusable ice packs which go into a freezer. Carry your own food with you in case you do hit one of those "dead food zone areas" where you are unsure if the premises have any selections which are safe for you.
• Always carry an updated food restrictions card on your possession. Anywhere you are it can be offered to explain your situation.
• Always call ahead and make reservations for your lodging. Let them know you require a refrigerator in your room and why. In case they can not accommodate you, call somewhere else.
• Carry your own emergency travel pack. Having your own wash cloths and towels, dish cloths and towels, toiletries and cosmetics etc. means there is no chance you get caught without.
• When shopping in a new area, sometimes you may not be able to find the brands you normally purchase. Be cautious about asking questions and then the answers. Most store employees will not be familiar with your condition so the answers, although well-meaning, that doesn't always make them correct.

Practice does make perfection but in this particular case, being prepared right up front will make your trip, and your health, a whole lot safer right from the minute you step out of your home until your safe return.

Downside Of Pharmaceuticals

Now I will be the first to admit I am not a big fan of prescription medicines.

Sure at times they are necessary. But every time you get a prescription during your latest visit to the doctor, chances are you've just increased your risk of possible side effects. The amount of people who in the double-digit millions that live through unexplained maladies every single day, so many often never really knowing why they seem to feel so lousy. Test after test and visit after visit to their doctor always seems to reveal no clues to any kind of problem. And yet, the medical society itself has actually gave this a "Pet Name". What do they call it? The drug cascade.

 The Drug Cascade: What Is It?

Prescription drugs can not always be relied on to correct some of the common concerns for every possible condition in all individuals. Each medication is a collection of different compounds, many often man-made. Many of these can lead to different symptoms in different patients. Why, you may ask?

The biggest reason for this inconsistency; not every patient is taking the same combination of drugs.
Trial and error therefore becomes the biggest deciding factor for many groups of medications and different therapy regimens. A doctor often doesn't even know whether it can produce the desired outcome without an entire list of serious side effects.

 Often, when some kind of unusual circumstance does arise, your doctor will prescribe another medication to attack the new side effects. This ever-growing cascade of drugs being used to offset another drug ends up having many patients taking up to 5 or more prescribed medications just to reduce the effects of another. Although side effects can be minimal for some people in certain situations, current statistics by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is estimating approximating 2 million times per year, in hospitals alone, a patient can be impacted by a negative drug side effect. To date, in the United States alone, accidental fatalities due to drug reactions is considered the fourth leading cause of death, following behind heart disease, cancer and stroke.

You must realize though, that figure is just a small blip on the radar screen considering it does not factor in the millions and millions of people who every day plan a visit to their personal physician with a list of unusual symptoms which may, or may not, end up being diagnosed as a medication side effect.

 How To Reduce Your Risk

Every patient must learn to speak up and become your own doctor. Most appointments last for just a few minutes. A doctor can not always decide in those few minutes of conversation an exact and correct diagnosis. If you are questioning some unusual symptoms after adding a new medication, take these observations to your doctor and ask for your own peace of mind.

To help insure your possible future health and to prevent major complications, incorporate these into your next visit to the doctor or pharmacy.

 Report the problem and your observations to the doctor.Give a detailed description, the time it started, length of time it lasts and anything else that was pertinent which you observed.

Prepare a list of all of your medications, supplements, herbs or homeopathic drugs and cross-check this information with either your doctor or a pharmacist. In many areas now and with some insurance companies, you can actually contact them and they have consulting firms that will check this information for you.

Remember though, this list must be all-inconclusive. Even those eyedrops, vitamins and supplements, cough or cold tablets, creams and rubs; each of these are a natural or chemically-derived compound. Therefore every one of them must be on your list.

Ask your doctor if he can recommend any lifestyle changes first before you accept another prescription. If he/she doesn't know, get a second opinion somewhere else.

Ask for a prescription for an older drug. Many of these have been around for a long time so they have already stood the test of safety and effectiveness. Many new medications, the reason for all the recalls, situations arise after the drugs approval and complications are found which weren't explored before release to the market.

Never stop a prescribed drug though without first talking to your doctor. Some drugs can actually be harmful to your health with complete withdrawal.

In recent years, especially the organizations, pharmacists and physicians which work closely with the elderly, they realize new side effects are probably a reaction and so this is their first priority. Trying to prove otherwise is the first line of defense before another new prescription is added to the patient's current regimen. 

So, before you accept that latest new prescription from your physician, use a little brain-power, open your mouth and ask questions. Let your physician know that one more drug is not necessarily your first choice for a new line of treatment. If you aren't satisfied with the response you get, it's time to get up and politely mention you would prefer to check if you have any other options as your first line of defense.

Myself, as I initially stated, my first move is to leave conventional medicine and check with an alternative practitioner. Holistic medicine has been very successful for me, often without the use of prescription medicines.

Yes, with alternative therapies, you are the master controller of your therapy. They do not believe in pharmaceuticals as the first line of defense in many situations unless emergency care is warranted. But an ultimate cure, over just a masking of symptoms which is common in conventional medicine, is worth its weight in gold to me. If I can cure the condition, I never have to worry about it again, hypothetically speaking.

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Alternative Therapy: Could It Be In Your Family's Future?

Currently, approximately 75% of today's world uses and believes in the effectiveness and the cure rate of alternative therapies. And yet, in the industrialized societies, almost all of these are dependent on conventional medicine, pharmaceutical drugs and many other controversial methods of treatment.

100 Years Later And This Trend Is Reversing

The existing conventional medical community generally shies away from alternative therapies. Lack of education and formal training seems to be the biggest stumbling block between these two forms of medicine.

Since most doctors have never had any kind of training, most do not even realize the power of common herbs, plants, flowers and leaves. With training, many of these could be used for healing and preventative care for almost all conditions which are not reliant on emergency medical care.

Also prevalent, today's society is showing alarming increases in the rising rates of Autism and ADHD in many more children around the world. To date, conventional medicine has been unable to stem this tide of newly diagnosed cases with ineffective results. So now alternative medicine has been stepping forward with information to try and forestall this ever-growing problem.

Many parents have learned not to trust their doctor's opinions as the only way anymore. These parents are also searching for other options, hopefully which can give them better results. Therefore the general public itself, often because of the skyrocketing costs in conventional medicine, are giving the alternative community a try as a new means of treatment. Word of mouth through family and friends plus their own research has led many of these people to try alternative therapies.

One of the biggest attributes of alternative therapies is the reliance on at-home care programs. After an initial consultation(s) with a licensed practitioner, treatment programs are generally staged so the patient themselves are responsible for following through with their care right from their own homes. This way, you end up becoming the primary party responsible for your own care and then the ultimate success of your own treatments.

So, if you currently feel you are not receiving a satisfactory level of care with your current provider, checking into alternative therapies may just have an answer which can shed a positive influence on your family's future life.

Corn Allergy - Your Whole World Is Now Shrinking!

Although a corn allergy is not one of the top eight major allergens in the United States, or any other part of the world, the effect it can have on a diagnosed patient is tremendous.

Why?

Because with most major allergens, although they can be difficult to always locate and avoid, the allergen itself usually centers around mostly food products, or at least items which are placed in the mouth itself. But with a corn allergy, you now have to become educated in so many other areas as well.

Just a short list of locations can include every day items like:

1. postage stamps and envelopes
2. paper plates, cups and picnic supplies
3. garden chemicals, garden hoses and weed killers 
4. aerosol sprays
5. plastic cups, bowls and dinnerware
6. breath sprays
7. dental fillings
8. cosmetics and toiletries
9. suntan lotions

As you can see, corn can show up in so many places, just the touch or smell can actually trigger a reaction in an individual with a corn allergy.

So what's the safest way to survive in a corn allergy minefield?

Concerning foods, get in the habit of cooking from scratch. After all, if you prepared it, you know exactly what went in it. Educate yourself about the safety of the ingredients you purchase themselves (items like baking powder, baking soda, etc) and then study the different types of ingredients which are available on the market which are safe to use. These can include 100% rice milk or flours, potato flour or starches, whole foods like fresh fruits, juices and fresh vegetables, preferably organic varieties. (This is necessary because remember non-organic farming uses pesticides, herbicides etc. From the list above, garden chemicals, weed killers etc. can include corn products). Pasture fed meats are also safe as long as corn was not an ingredient in their feed source.

When you step out of the world of foods though, because the inclusion of corn is not mandatory on any labels
(as it is with gluten, wheat dairy, eggs etc.), you yourself have got to learn to be your own detective. Reading, keeping yourself a journal (what's safe/what's not safe), talking to the manufacturers and becoming a dedicated member of a corn allergic support group is always your best defense to stay safe and healthy with a corn allergy.

Check here for your beginning road, or just a refresher course, along your way to living and dealing with a corn allergy safely.