July 2007

‘Sicko’ Inspires Healthy Debate About An Ailing System

by Sheila McCormick on July 25th, 2007

Is Michael Moore a genius, a troublemaker, a whistleblower, a crazed man, a brilliant filmmaker or all of the above? The opinions about Moore may vary but the premise of “Sicko” is considered universally legit: The American health care system is critically ill. Although there are 50 million Americans without health insurance, Moore’s film focuses primarily on the millions of people who dutifully pay their insurance premium each and every month, and when it comes time to draw upon the reserve, find themselves ensnarled in red tape. Moore takes aim at the insurance companies, health maintenance organizations and legislators who

Protect Your Pet From Summer Hazards

by Sheila McCormick on July 21st, 2007

Our pets love summer fun as much as we do. However, hot weather can create serious health hazards for our beloved pets. With a little planning and information, you can make this a fun, safe season for your four-legged friends. Bear in mind that dogs are not good at keeping themselves cool and they want to go everywhere you do, even if it’s too hot. It is up to you to use good judgment to protect your pet. Jogging is particularly dangerous in hot weather even if your dog is in good health. As the weather warms, humans alter the

Childhood Obesity: A Weighty Problem

by Sheila McCormick on July 18th, 2007

The epidemic of childhood obesity in this country is spiraling out of control at an alarming rate. During the past two decades, the number of overweight children in this country has more than doubled. More than 30% of children between the ages of six and 19 are overweight and 16% are clinically obese. The effects of childhood obesity can have repercussions that last into adulthood. Some of the effects are high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Type II Diabetes, which was previously thought to be an adult disease, is now showing up in teens. Overweight children have increased chances of

Flax Seed: New Dietary Supplement or Ancient Miracle Medicine?

by Sheila McCormick on July 14th, 2007

Flax seed is the richest plant form of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to reducing the risk of cancer. It is a grain much like oat and wheat, however, its nutritional value is far superior and it is also high in fiber. Most of the flax seed that you’ll find on the market is grown in Canada and although a lot of people don’t know much about it, it is considered one of the original “health” foods. Flax Seed has been used as a healing “medicine” dating back to as early as the Roman Empire. If flax seed

Regular ‘Brain Exercise’ May Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

by Sheila McCormick on July 11th, 2007

Can you imagine anything more heartbreaking than looking into your mother’s eyes and realizing that she doesn’t have clue who you are? How terrible it would be to wake up every day with a spouse that you adore who can’t remember your name or anything about your 40-year marriage. Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s and their families are all too familiar with the above scenarios. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common from of dementia among older people. Dementia is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. The disease typically surfaces after the

Don’t Let “Toxic Guests” Hang Out In Your Kitchen

by Sheila McCormick on July 8th, 2007

You’ve decided to eat only organic foods and to eliminate red meat from your diet. In the interest of good health and nutrition, you get up early every Saturday morning and hit the organic market for the best and freshest foods available. Then you prepare them in your kitchen. Unfortunately, you may have some uninvited toxic guests in your kitchen who are trying to foil your efforts to stay healthy. For example, check out your pots and pans. They may look innocent enough but many are made with substances that can be harmful. Aluminum pots and pans can react with

Don’t Let Swimmer’s Ear Dampen Your Summer Fun

by Sheila McCormick on July 5th, 2007

A cool dip in the water is a refreshing treat on a hot summer day. Unfortunately, for many people the benefits of the refreshing plunge are dampened (literally) by swimmer’s ear. The scientific name for the condition is otitis externa and it is typically caused by moisture in the ear from showers, shampooing or swimming. With frequent immersion, water swells the cells that line the ear canal. Eventually the cells pull apart far enough for the bacteria that are normally found on the surface of your ear canal to get underneath the skin, where the warm environment promotes bacteria growth.

Trust Your Health To The Pros With Probiotics

by Sheila McCormick on July 2nd, 2007

While most people are all too familiar with the term “antibiotics” there are still many people who do not understand the critical role that probiotics play in maintaining optimum health. The term stems for the Greek phrase meaning “for life.” They are live microbial substances which improve intestinal balance and boost the immune system. Probiotics are commonly found in cultured dairy products but they are also available in supplement form. Thousands of years before it was possible to see bacteria with a microscope, people used tiny organisms to produce cultured dairy products such as cheese, sour cream and yogurt. Fermented