5 FAKE Health Foods to Avoid

Source:  Uploaded by UndergroundWellness on Feb 3, 2011 to YouTube

What’s the Deal with Organic Foods? Parts 1 and 2

Part 1

Source: Uploaded by psychetruth on May 7, 2007 to YouTube

Nutrition by Natalie

What is the difference between organic food and conventional food? Is organic really more healthy for you?

The USDA lays out certain guidelines that farms have to follow in order to be able to claim the food is organic. In this video Natalie discusses what each of those guidelines are.

What is surprising to learn is some of the growing practices of conventional farming and food processing. As an example, chemical plants and waste water treatment facilities will actually sell their toxic waist to conventional farms to use for fertilizer.

What you eat is an important part of health and nutrition.

Part 2

7 Nutrition Fundamentals for Losing Fat

Source: Uploaded by DrClayFitness on Mar 15, 2007 to YouTube

Dr. Clay shares 7 fundamental nutrition tips that serve as the foundation of any good diet.

The Best Core Pilates Workout Video

Source: Uploaded by diethealth on Aug 14, 2008 to YouTube

A free online exercise and fitness Pilates total abs and core workout video you can do in five minutes.

Beginner Pilates Workout

Source:  Uploaded by ErinHuggins on May 28, 2008 to YouTube

*CLICK HERE FOR A FREE WEIGHT LOSS WORKBOOK* http://www.erinhuggins.com/
*CLICK HERE FOR FULL LENGTH PILATES VIDEOS*
http://www.erinhuggins.com/erinondemand/

Erin Huggins gives a basic pilates workout for beginners or anyone wanting to ease back into their pilates routine!
Get your pilates workout started. This is a great beginner pilates routine. Beginners can learn the basic moves before doing more advanced pilates moves. Pilates is so great for strengthening your core, your back, your arms, your legs and your butt! Pilates is an amazing workout for your whole body. You can lose weight with pilates and tone and strengthen. Pilates is also so amazing for exercising your mind. You have to be really focused on building strength while you are working out. Please practice this great beginner routine. Remember we get really good at what we practice a lot! The more you do pilates the better and easier pilates will be for you!
http://www.erinhuggins.com

Good luck rock star!

Financial Help for Diabetes Care

 

Financial Help for Diabetes Care

On this page:
•Medicare
•Medicaid
•State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
•Health Insurance for Those Not Eligible for Medicare or Medicaid
•Health Insurance after Leaving a Job
•Health Care Services
•Hospital Care
•Kidney Disease: Resources for Dialysis and Transplantation
•Prescription Drugs and Medical Supplies
•Prosthetic Care
•Classroom Services
•Technological Assistance
•Food and Nutrition Assistance for Women with Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes
•Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
•Local Resources
•Acknowledgments
•National Diabetes Education Program

 

Diabetes treatment is expensive. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes spend an average of $11,744 a year on health care expenses—more than twice the amount spent by people without diabetes.

Many people who have diabetes need help paying for their care. For those who qualify, a variety of governmental and nongovernmental programs can help cover health care expenses. This publication is meant to help people with diabetes and their family members find and access such resources.

Medicare

Medicare is federal health insurance for the following groups:

• people 65 or older
• people younger than 65 with certain disabilities or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also called Lou Gehrig’s disease
• people of any age with end-stage renal disease—permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant

Medicare Health Plans

People with Medicare can choose how to get their health and prescription drug coverage. The following options are available:

• Original Medicare
• Medicare Advantage Plans—such as health maintenance organizations (HMOs) or preferred provider organizations (PPOs)
• other Medicare health plans

Original Medicare. Original Medicare, managed by the Federal Government, has two parts: Medicare Part A is hospital insurance and Medicare Part B is medical insurance. People in this plan usually pay a fee for each health care service or supply they receive.

People who are in Original Medicare can add prescription drug coverage—Medicare Part D—by joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. These plans are run by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare.

People can also choose to buy insurance to help fill the gaps in Part A and Part B coverage. This insurance is known as Medigap or Medicare Supplement Insurance.

Medicare Advantage Plans. Medicare Advantage Plans are health plan options, like an HMO or PPO, approved by Medicare and offered by private companies. These plans are part of Medicare and are sometimes called Part C or MA Plans. Medicare Advantage Plans provide Medicare Part A and Part B coverage and usually Medicare Part D coverage. The companies that run these plans must follow rules set by Medicare. Not all Medicare Advantage Plans work the same way. People considering one of these plans should find out the plan’s rules before joining.

Other Medicare Health Plans. Other Medicare health plans include Medicare Cost Plans, Demonstrations/Pilot Programs, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). These plans provide hospital and medical insurance coverage, and some also provide prescription drug coverage.

To get more information about Medicare coverage, see “More Information about Medicare.”

Medicare Covers Diabetes Services and Supplies

Original Medicare helps pay for the diabetes services, supplies, and equipment listed below. Coinsurance or deductibles may apply. In addition, Medicare covers some preventive services for people who are at risk for diabetes. A person must have Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D to receive these covered services and supplies.

Medicare Part B helps pay for

• diabetes screening tests for people at risk of developing diabetes
• diabetes self-management training
• diabetes supplies such as glucose monitors, test strips, and lancets
• insulin pumps and insulin if used with an insulin pump
• flu and pneumonia shots
• foot exams and treatment for people with diabetes
• eye exams to check for glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
• medical nutrition therapy services for people with diabetes or kidney disease, when referred by a doctor
• therapeutic shoes or inserts, in some cases

Medicare Part D helps pay for

• diabetes medicines
• insulin, but not insulin used with an insulin pump
• diabetes supplies like needles and syringes for injecting insulin

People who are in a Medicare Advantage Plan or other Medicare health plan should check their plan’s membership materials and call for details about how the plan provides the diabetes services, supplies, and medicines covered by Medicare.

More details are available by calling 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) and requesting the free booklet Medicare Coverage of Diabetes Supplies & Services. This booklet is also available at www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/11022.pdf (PDF, 4.7 MB) *.

More Information about Medicare

More information about Medicare is available at www.medicare.gov, the official U.S. Government website for people with Medicare. The website has a full range of information about Medicare including free publications like Medicare & You, the official Government handbook about Medicare, and Medicare Basics—A Guide for Families and Friends of People with Medicare. Through the Medicare website, people can also

• find out if they are eligible for Medicare and when they can enroll
• learn about their Medicare health plan options
• find out what Medicare covers
• find a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
• compare Medicare health plan options in their area
• find a doctor who participates in Medicare
• get information about the quality of care provided by nursing homes, hospitals, home health agencies, and dialysis facilities

Calling 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) is another way to get help with Medicare questions, order free publications, and more. Help is available 24 hours a day, every day, and is available in English, Spanish, and other languages. TTY users should call 1–877–486–2048.

Medicare information can also be obtained from the following agencies or programs:

• Each state has a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) that provides free health insurance counseling. A state’s SHIP may have a unique name. SHIP counselors can help people choose a Medicare health plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. The phone number for the SHIP in each state is available by by calling Medicare or visiting www.medicare.gov and selecting “Find Helpful Phone Numbers and Websites” under “Search Tools.”
• The Social Security Administration can provide information about eligibility for Medicare. People can contact the agency at 1–800–772–1213, visit its web-site at www.socialsecurity.gov, or check with their local Social Security office to learn if they are eligible for Medicare.
• State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) offices in each state can provide information about help for people with Medicare who have limited income and resources. The phone number for each state’s Medicaid office can be obtained by visiting www.medicare.gov or calling Medicare.

People who enroll in Medicare can register for MyMedicare.gov, a secure online service, and use the site to access their personal Medicare information at any time. People can view their claims, order forms and publications, and see a description of covered preventive services.

Help for People with Medicare Who Have Limited Income and Resources

People who have Medicare and have limited income and resources may qualify for help paying for some health care and prescription drug costs from one of the following programs:

• Extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage. Those who meet certain income requirements may qualify for extra help from Medicare to pay prescription drug costs. People can apply for this help by calling Social Security; visiting www.socialsecurity.gov to apply online; visiting their local Social Security office; or by contacting their State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office. Each state’s SHIP can provide information and answer questions about this program.
• State pharmacy assistance programs (SPAPs). Several states have SPAPs that help certain people pay for prescription drugs. Each SPAP makes its own rules about how to provide drug coverage to its members. Information about each state’s SPAP can be obtained by calling Medicare or the state’s SHIP.
• Medicaid programs for people with Medicare. State Medicaid programs help pay medical costs for some people with Medicare who have limited income and resources. People who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid may get coverage for services that aren’t fully covered by Medicare, such as nursing home and home health care. States also have programs called Medicare Savings Programs that pay Medicare premiums and, in some cases, may also pay Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles and coinsurance. More information is available at www.medicare.gov. The phone number for the State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office for each state can be obtained by calling Medicare. Each state’s SHIP can also provide more information.

Medicaid

Medicaid, also called Medical Assistance, is a joint federal and state government program that helps pay medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid programs and income limits for Medicaid vary from state to state. The State Medical Assistance (Medicaid) office can help people find out whether they qualify for Medicaid or provide more information about Medicaid programs. To contact a state Medicaid office, people can

• search for Medicaid information for a state at www.GovBenefits.gov
• visit www.medicare.gov and select “Find Helpful Phone Numbers and Websites” under “Search Tools,” or call 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) and say “Medicaid”
• check the government pages of the phone book for the local department of human services or department of social services, which can provide the needed information

 

State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

SCHIP is a federal and state government partnership to expand health coverage to uninsured children from families with income that is too low to afford private or employer-sponsored health insurance but too high to qualify for Medicaid. The free or low-cost coverage is available to eligible children younger than 19.

SCHIP provides an extensive package of benefits including doctor visits, hospital care, and more. Information about the program is available at www.insurekidsnow.gov or by calling 1–877–KIDS–NOW (1–877–543–7669). Callers to the toll-free, confidential hotline are automatically connected to their state’s program.

Health Insurance for Those Not Eligible for Medicare or Medicaid

People who are not eligible for Medicare or Medicaid may be able to purchase private health insurance. Many insurers consider diabetes that has already been diagnosed a pre-existing condition, so finding coverage may be difficult for people with diabetes. Insurance companies often have a specific waiting period during which they do not cover diabetes-related expenses for new enrollees, although they will cover other medical expenses that arise during this time.

Certain state and federal laws may help. Many states now require insurance companies to cover diabetes supplies and education. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), passed by Congress in 1996, limits insurance companies from denying coverage because of a pre-existing condition. Information about HIPAA is available at www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/portability.htm.

More information about these laws is available from each state’s insurance regulatory office. Some state offices may be called the state insurance department or commission. This office can also help identify an insurance company that offers individual coverage. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website, www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm, provides a membership list with contact information and a link to the website for each state’s insurance regulatory office.

The Georgetown University Health Policy Institute offers consumer guides on health insurance topics, including guides for each state about getting and keeping health insurance. The guides are available at www.healthinsuranceinfo.net.

Health Insurance after Leaving a Job

When leaving a job, a person may be able to continue the group health insurance provided by the employer for up to 18 months under a federal law called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. People pay more for group health insurance through COBRA than they did as employees, but group coverage is cheaper than individual coverage. People who have a disability before becoming eligible for COBRA or who are determined by the Social Security Administration to be disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA coverage may be able to extend COBRA coverage an additional 11 months, for up to 29 months of coverage. COBRA may also cover young people who were insured under a parent’s policy but have reached the age limit and are trying to obtain their own insurance.

More information is available by calling the U.S. Department of Labor at 1–866–4–USA–DOL (1–866–487–2365) or visiting www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm.

If a person doesn’t qualify for coverage or if COBRA coverage has expired, other options may be available:

• Some states require employers to offer conversion policies, in which people stay with their insurance company but buy individual coverage.
• Some professional and alumni organizations offer group coverage for members.
• Most states have a high-risk health insurance pool or other means for covering people otherwise unable to get health insurance. Information about high-risk pools is available at www.nahu.org/consumer/hrpguide.cfm.
• Some insurance companies also offer stopgap policies designed for people who are between jobs.

Each state insurance regulatory office can provide more information about these and other options. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website, www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm, provides a membership list with contact information and a link to the website for each state’s insurance regulatory office. Information about consumer health plans is also available at the U.S. Department of Labor’s website at www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/consumerinfhealth.htm.

Health Care Services

The Bureau of Primary Health Care, a service of the Health Resources and Services Administration, offers primary and preventive health care to medically underserved populations through community health centers. For people with no insurance, fees for care are based on family size and income. Information about local health centers is available by calling 1–888–ASK–HRSA (1–888–275–4772) and asking for a directory, or by visiting the Bureau’s website at www.bphc.hrsa.gov.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) runs hospitals and clinics that serve veterans who have service-related health problems or who simply need financial aid. Veterans who would like to find out more about VA health care can call 1–800–827–1000 or visit www1.va.gov/health.

Many local governments have public health departments that can help people who need medical care. The local county or city government’s health and human services office can provide further information.

Hospital Care

People who are uninsured and need hospital care may be able to get help from a program known as the Hill-Burton Act. Although the program originally provided hospitals with federal grants for modernization, today it provides free or reduced-fee medical services to people with low incomes. The Department of Health and Human Services administers the program. More information is available by calling 1–800–638–0742 (1–800–492–0359 in Maryland) or visiting www.hrsa.gov/hillburton.

Kidney Disease: Resources for Dialysis and Transplantation

Kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease, is a complication of diabetes. People of any age with kidney failure can get Medicare Part A—hospital insurance—if they meet certain criteria. To qualify for Medicare on the basis of kidney failure, a person must

• need regular dialysis

or

• have had a kidney transplant

and must

• have worked long enough—or be the dependent child or spouse of someone who has worked long enough—under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or as a government employee

or

• be receiving—or be the spouse or dependent child of a person who is receiving—Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Office of Personnel Management benefits

People with Medicare Part A can also get Medicare Part B. Enrolling in Part B is optional. However, a person needs to have both Part A and Part B for Medicare to cover certain dialysis and kidney transplant services.

Those who don’t qualify for Medicare may be able to get help from their state to pay for their dialysis treatments. More information about dialysis and transplantation is available by

• calling Social Security at 1–800–772–1213 or visiting www.socialsecurity.gov for information about the required amount of time needed under Social Security, the Railroad Retirement Board, or as a government employee to be eligible for Medicare based on kidney failure
• visiting www.medicare.gov to read or download the booklet Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services or calling 1–800–MEDICARE (1–800–633–4227) to request a free copy; TTY users should call 1–877–486–2048
• reading the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse’s publication Financial Help for Treatment of Kidney Failure, available at www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov or by calling 1–800–891–5390
• visiting Medicare’s “Dialysis Facility Compare” at www.medicare.gov/dialysis for important information about chronic kidney disease and dialysis, including choosing a dialysis facility

Information about financing an organ transplant is available from the following organization:

United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
P.O. Box 2484
Richmond, VA 23218
Phone: 1–888–894–6361 or 804–782–4800
Fax: 804–782–4817
Internet: www.unos.org

Prescription Drugs and Medical Supplies

Health care providers may be able to assist people who need help paying for their medicines and supplies by directing them to local programs or even providing free samples.

A free nylon filament—similar to a bristle on a hairbrush—is available to check feet for nerve damage. The filament, with instructions for use, can be obtained by calling 1–888–ASK–HRSA (1–888–275–4772) or by accessing www.hrsa.gov/leap.

Prescription drug coverage for those eligible for Medicare is available through Medicare’s Prescription Drug Plans and many Medicare Advantage Plans. More information is available at the Medicare website at www.medicare.gov.

Drug companies that sell insulin or diabetes medications usually have patient assistance programs. Such programs are available only through a physician. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and its member companies sponsor an interactive website with information about drug assistance programs at www.PPARx.org.

Also, because programs for the homeless sometimes provide aid, people can contact a local shelter for more information about how to obtain free medications and medical supplies. The number of the nearest shelter may be listed in the phone book under Human Service Organizations or Social Service Organizations.

Prosthetic Care

People who have had an amputation may be concerned about paying their rehabilitation expenses. The following organizations provide financial assistance or information about locating financial resources for people who need prosthetic care:

Amputee Coalition of America
900 East Hill Avenue, Suite 205
Knoxville, TN 37915–2566
Phone: 1–888–AMP–KNOW (1–888–267–5669)
Fax: 865–525–7917
Internet: www.amputee-coalition.org

Easter Seals
230 West Monroe Street, Suite 1800
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 1–800–221–6827
Fax: 312–726–1494
Internet: www.easterseals.com

Classroom Services

Public agencies and other organizations that provide services and assistance, such as providing special equipment, to children with diabetes and other disabilities and to their families are listed on the State Resource Sheets published by the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY). Each state’s resource sheet lists the names and addresses of agencies in the state. The free resource sheets are available at www.nichcy.org/states.htm or by contacting

NICHCY
P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
Phone: 1–800–695–0285
Fax: 202–884–8441
Email: nichcy@aed.org
Internet: www.nichcy.org

College-aged students who have diabetes-related disabilities may be faced not only with the costs of tuition, but also with additional expenses generally not incurred by other students. These costs may include special equipment and disability-related medical expenses not covered by insurance. Some special equipment and support services may be available at the educational institution, through community organizations, through the state vocational rehabilitation agency, or through specific disability organizations. The names and addresses of these and other agencies are also listed in the State Resource Sheets available from the NICHCY.

The HEATH Resource Center, an online clearinghouse on postsecondary education for individuals with disabilities, offers information about sources of financial aid and the education of students with a disability. Contact the clearinghouse at

The George Washington University
HEATH Resource Center
2134 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20052–0001
Phone: 202–973–0904
Fax: 202–994–3365
Email: AskHEATH@gwu.edu
Internet: www.heath.gwu.edu

Technological Assistance

Assistive technology, which can help people with disabilities function more effectively at home, at work, and in the community, can include computers, adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, bathroom modifications, and medical or corrective services. The following organizations provide information, awareness, and training in the use of technology to aid people with disabilities:

Alliance for Technology Access (ATA)
1304 Southpoint Boulevard, Suite 240
Petaluma, CA 94954
Phone: 707–778–3011
Fax: 707–765–2080
Email: ATAinfo@ATAccess.org
Internet: www.ATAccess.org

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
1660 L Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 1–800–872–5827 or 202–776–0406
Fax: 202–776–0414
Email: info@ucp.org
Internet: www.ucp.org/ucp_channelsub.cfm/1/14/86

Food and Nutrition Assistance for Women with Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes

Food, nutrition education, and access to health care services are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. The WIC program provides assistance to women during pregnancy or the period following childbirth and to infants and children up to age 5. Applicants must meet residential, financial need, and nutrition risk criteria to be eligible for assistance. Having diabetes or gestational diabetes is considered a medically based nutrition risk and would qualify a woman for assistance through the WIC program if she meets the financial need requirements and has lived in a particular state the required amount of time. The WIC website provides a page of contact information for each state and Indian tribe. Contact the WIC’s national headquarters at

Supplemental Food Programs Division
Food and Nutrition Service—USDA
3101 Park Center Drive
Alexandria, VA 22302
Phone: 703–305–2746
Fax: 703–305–2196
Email: wichq-web@fns.usda.gov
Internet: www.fns.usda.gov/wic

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits

The Social Security Administration pays disability benefits through the SSDI and SSI programs. These benefits are not the same as Social Security benefits. To receive SSDI benefits, a person must be unable to work and must have earned the required number of work credits. SSI is a monthly amount paid to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or age 65 or older and meet certain other conditions.

More information is available by calling Social Security at 1–800–772–1213 or contacting the local Social Security office for more information. TTY users should call 1–800–325–0778. A “Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool” is available at www.socialsecurity.gov to check whether a person is eligible for benefits.

Local Resources

Local resources such as the following charitable groups may offer financial help for some of the many expenses related to diabetes:

• Lions Clubs International can help with vision care. Visit www.lionsclubs.org.
• Rotary International clubs provide humanitarian and educational assistance. Visit www.rotary.org.
• Elks clubs provide charitable activities that benefit youth and veterans. Visit www.elks.org.
• Shriners of North America offer free treatment for children at Shriners hospitals throughout the country. Visit www.shrinershq.org.
• Kiwanis International clubs conduct service projects to help children and communities. Visit www.kiwanis.org.

In many areas, nonprofit or special-interest groups such as those listed above can sometimes provide financial assistance or help with fundraising. Religious organizations also may offer assistance. In addition, some local governments may have special trusts set up to help people in need. The local library or local city or county government’s health and human services office may provide more information about such groups.

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) gathered information from various agencies and organizations to try to provide the most comprehensive and helpful information possible. Changes may occur in these programs from the time this fact sheet is published. Please contact each organization directly for the most up-to-date information. The NDIC welcomes corrections and updates to the information in this fact sheet. Updates should be sent to ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov.

Source:

National Diabetes Education Program

1 Diabetes Way
Bethesda, MD 20814–9692
Phone: 1–888–693–NDEP (1–888–693–6337)
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: ndep@mail.nih.gov
Internet: www.ndep.nih.gov

The National Diabetes Education Program is a federally funded program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and includes over 200 partners at the federal, state, and local levels, working together to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes.

How to Start The Raw Foods Diet

This is a short and simple video that offers suggestions on how you can start to transition your diet from cooked foods to raw foods. Discover how you can change your life and level of health by consuming a 100% RAW FOOD DIET.

Source: letsgetraw on YouTube

2011 UN NCDs Summit: the European Story

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) – cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases -are Europe’s main killers and impact on all levels of society, particularly on the most disadvantaged groups.

Around 40 countries participated in the November 2010 UNDESA/WHO European Regional High-Level Consultation on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases in Oslo, Norway. The consultation described the health and developmental impacts of NCDs in Europe and planned the region’s role in the first-ever UN General Assembly High-level Meeting on NCDs being held 19-20 September, 2011.

Source: Uploaded by who on Feb 3, 2011 on YouTube (World Health Organization)

Superfoods, Raw Foods and Fighting Disease With Raw Food Author and Chef Paul Nison

By Kevin Gianni

This interview is an excerpt from Kevin Gianni’s Renegade Health Inner Circle, which can be found at http://www.RenegadeHealth.com. In this excerpt, Paul Nison shares on raw foods and super foods fighting disease.

 Paul Nison is a raw food chef and educator. He is also the author of seven books including “The Raw Life.” Kevin: I wanted to talk a little bit more about the Crohn’s Disease. What does someone do when the doctor says to them, “You can’t have fruit.” Or, this happened to me before, someone comes to me – I know what to say – and they say, “I have Crohn’s Disease so I can’t eat fruit or vegetables.” What do you do? Paul: It’s quite simple. With all disease we’re stressing something out, we’re overdoing something in our body. So we just have to figure out ways to reduce the stress.Only in severe cases do you completely need to stop everything. Crohn’s and colitis are severe cases of intestinal disorders. So for a temporary time we might have to stop doing certain things that are contributing tremendously to the issue.

Overeating is more of the problem than the actual thing that you’re eating many times. That’s the first thing we have to cut down. What I tell people, I don’t even tell people to eat raw, whole foods when they have an intestinal disorder because any time a disease ends in “itis” it means there’s inflammation somewhere in the body – colitis, proctitis, all these other illnesses. Inflammation is a later stage of disease but disease doesn’t start with these later stages. It means you’ve missed these beginning stages.

Two beginning signs of disease are laziness and constipation, which most people suffer from and all these things start from overeating, usually, or not getting enough rest. So those are the first things I would tell people – you have to look at how much you’re eating and how much you’re sleeping. If people neglect sleep too much, good quality sleep, that’s a big part of healing. But when it comes to someone saying they can’t eat fruit I tell people is if you sprain your ankle and you try to jump rope you’re going to make the problem worse.

You have to rest your body. You have to rest your body from food, your intestinal tract. I would put them on blended foods and give them probiotics to help their colon and intestine heal. Then after the bleeding stops and the inflammation goes down that’s when you would start introducing — first I would put them on juices, then I would introduce blended foods and then when they were ready for it I would introduce whole foods. Some people, depending how deep their wound is, it will take weeks and some people it’s months. Now most people don’t have the patience or support around them to go through that process. That’s why I would recommend a place like Hippocrates Health Institute or one of these other places because they’re filled with great support and information.

It’s really not that difficult to get better from colitis, Crohn’s Disease and all these other things, physically. Mentally and emotionally it is a big challenge. Then when you have something like cancer it’s a whole other story. In those cases you really need to get to one of these institutes. It’s not something you want to do on your own at home.

Kevin: What do you think of superfoods? What do you think about the buzz? Paul: I think the most important place to get our nutrients from is from whole sources of raw, ripe, fresh, organic foods, vegetables, nuts and seeds eaten in the right amount at the right time. That should take precedence over anything else out there. Those are the real superfoods. There are certain times and cases where people might need to take supplements. I think that’s where superfoods are, as supplements.

I don’t believe in synthetic supplements but I believe in whole foods in a supplement form when needed and used appropriately. They should never take the place of the whole food, number one. We just had the Raw Food Summit with the raw food leaders from around the world with 500 years of experience. They all agreed that there’s a place for these certain foods but they’re not to take precedence over the whole foods.

The problem with the superfoods is some of them are truly healing to the body. These green powders are excellent. E3Live, even though it’s a whole food it’s classified as a supplement or a superfood. These are wonderful but the problem today is there’s a lot of things mixed in there that are junk food that people are calling superfoods and they’re really not. This is the dangerous thing in the raw food movement. I’d rather everyone completely avoid every single superfood out there if they don’t know what’s truly good and truly bad.That’s the big problem today. There are a lot of people out there today promoting things as superfoods and they’re actually not even not-healthy, they’re actually harmful. So we really have to be careful and show discern and realize who is saying what, what claims are being made and why.

Some of the claims out there are just ridiculous. Unfortunately it the world today people follow crowds and they go with the most charismatic person out there. That’s the person that’s going to say things to get people to follow them. It’s a big problem. So superfoods are excellent if they’re true superfoods but if they’re these fake superfoods they’re not great. Let me tell you, you could stick a “raw” sticker on a piece of candy and call it healthy. That doesn’t make it healthy. There’s a lot of junk out there that people are sticking stickers on and saying it’s a healthy superfood. It certainly isn’t.

As for the super berries and all these other things, I think the best berries we can get for our bodies are locally grown produce that are fresh. Berries that have to be flown from halfway around the world and dried, that just became popular within the last ten years or so, they’re not needed for health. I know somebody that’s 107 years old. He never had one of these berries from halfway around the world. For example, goji berries. They taste great and they do have a lot of healing properties but I’ll tell you what, a fresh blueberry or mulberry, right off the tree, is healthier than any berry that’s dried and flown around the world. If anyone out there is going to do things like goji berries, soak them overnight and re-hydrate them. Most people don’t like it like that because it takes a lot of the sugar out of it. It doesn’t actually take the sugar out it just re-hydrates it to where it should be. But it’s going to be better off for you.

There are other superfoods out there. It would be a waste of my breath even talking about some of these things because it’s a joke what people are saying with these things. We really have to wake up and show discern with these things. I plead with everyone out there, look at what’s happening and who’s saying what and what claims are being made. Not only at the Raw Food Summit that we have our leaders at with over 500 years combined, but we have people with scientific information that backs up what we’re saying. We didn’t just have, “I’m going to wake up one day and want to make a lot of money so I’m going to slap this on some dried fruit or powder and call it an amazing superfood.”

So we really have to show discern and be careful. Kevin: One of the superfoods that I had personal experience with is cacao. I know that you’re not very favorable for it. Can you just tell us what your experience with it is? Paul: First of all, I call it crack-cao because it’s one of the most addicting things out there. Fred Bisci and everyone else confirms this but what happened to me was I used to be a big fan of it because I loved the way it tasted. I started noticing I didn’t feel that great when I took it. But even more concerning was I contacted Jeremy Saffron who is a good friend of mine and he told me that he too thought it was once good and he did more research and found out it really wasn’t. It’s high in caffeine, theobromine and has some other issues with it. The bad weighs out the good.

People started coming to my lectures literally shaking. I do a lot of lectures. They were often shaking and saying, “I can’t get off this. Help me. It’s really bad.” It’s basically a drug. I’m not one to say nobody can ever take it and you can’t use it, but I believe it should be used in the same way a person would use like vanilla extract. You use it as a flavoring in very small amount and that’s fine. But when you’re told you need it to be healthy and you have to take pounds and pounds of it every day, that’s a whole other story. That’s where the problem lies. So we really have to be careful. Nobody is going to buy a month’s worth of vanilla extract, tons and tons of it, so they can pour it down their throat the way they do this crack-cao.

It’s just really a marketing scheme here. It’s really dangerous. It is a drug and a lot of people out there feel great taking it because they don’t know the difference between stimulation and true energy. We really have to be careful out there. Yes, it tastes great but there are other things that taste great as well that don’t have the same problems. We need to realize what those are. Give it up. Realize, “I don’t need this. Why am I taking this? Is it as good as it claims to be?”

I got a book from the publisher that publishes Arnold Ehret’s books. If nobody out there has read Arnold Ehret’s books you have to read “Mucusless Diet Healing,” which is a classic. Anyway, the publisher had another book “Live Food Recipe Book.” It was probably one of the first ones that were out. They actually spoke about it and they said it was a bad food. It’s becoming more common sense and more knowledge and people need to wake up. I know half of you probably hung up the phone because you didn’t want hear it was bad, but I’m not here to become your friend. I’m here to tell you the truth. If you can deal with it great. If you can’t, you’ll come to me later when you’re sick. So that’s that.

To read the rest of this transcript as well as access Renegade Roundtable experts just like Paul Nison please click here! Kevin Gianni is an internationally recognized health advocate, author & film consultant. He has helped thousands of people take control of their own health naturally. For more information visit raw food diets and holistic nutrition.

Source:www.isnare.com

Gestational Diabetes

Cathy Moulton, a Diabetes UK care adviser, explains how gestational diabetes affects pregnant women. Kimberly, who was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, talks about the symptoms she experienced and how she dealt with the condition. Find out about complications of gestational diabetes http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/gestational-diabetes/Pages/Complications.aspx

Source: NHSChoices on YouTube

Our Daily Bread “…Nuestra pan de cada dia…”

Faith and community leaders discuss the health disparities that exist within LA, with a specific focus on the lack of access to quality foods and good jobs in low income communities due to the paucity of quality grocery stores (particularly South LA).

 The community calls on the grocery industry to reinvest in low income communities like South LA, East LA and the Northeast Valley, in an effort to create good jobs and increase access to quality food and produce in such communities, where health inequities are prevalent.

Source: ClueLosAngeles1 on YouTube
http://cluela.org and http://www.clueca.org

Foot Health Critical for People With Diabetes

 

Foot Health Critical for People With Diabetes

April is Foot Health Month. Remember: Don’t take foot health for granted—especially if you have diabetes. Prevent foot problems by controlling diabetes and practicing good foot health.

Diabetes and Foot Health

Almost 26 million people in the United States have diabetes and many more are at high risk for developing diabetes. Problems with the legs and feet caused by diabetes are common and can be severe. These problems cause suffering and reduce one’s quality of life. In recognition of Foot Health Month, April 2011, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Diabetes Translation (CDC/DDT) wants to make sure that you are aware that people with diabetes can develop many different foot problems and to remind you that foot health should not be taken for granted.

In 2006 alone, about 65,700 people with diabetes had a leg or foot amputated. This is more than 60% of the amputations of legs and feet not resulting from an injury, such as from a car crash. Many of these amputations could be prevented by taking good care of your feet and your health:

• Learning to manage your diabetes
• Making healthy food choices
• Staying at a healthy weight
• Being physically active every day
• Taking your medicines even when you feel good
• Having your doctor give you a comprehensive foot exam every time you visit (but at least four times a year)
• Checking your feet for sores and other injuries every day
• Wearing shoes that fit right and do not rub or pinch your feet, or cause blisters. Never walking barefoot or while wearing just socks.

Links to Foot Health Resources

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), jointly led by CDC/DDT and the National Institutes of Health, provides several web pages and publications with helpful information on foot care and diabetes care. Click on the web links below and see the Foot Health Facts section of this feature for important information on diabetes prevention and control, foot health, and what you can do to maximize your likelihood for good health in the future.

Take Care of Your Feet for a Lifetime is a booklet from NDEP with information on foot care and how to avoid foot problems.

Cuide sus pies durante toda su vida es un folleto ilustrado de NDEP que le ayuda a cuidar sus pies y ofrece consejos para evitar problemas graves de los pies.

4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes. For Life.  [PDF - 2.87MB] These four steps help people with diabetes understand, monitor, and manage their diabetes to help them stay healthy. This publication, available in English, Spanish, and other languages, is excellent for people newly diagnosed with diabetes or for those who want to learn more about controlling the disease. It has information on the importance of getting routine care to avoid diabetes complications.

Feet Can Last a Lifetime: A Health Care Provider’s Guide to Preventing Diabetes Foot Problems is a foot care guide from NDEP targeted to health care professionals.

What should I do on a regular basis to take care of my feet?is a CDC diabetes web page with a list of simple ways to care for and avoid potential problems with your feet.

Chapter 9. Foot Problemsin DDT’s Take Charge of Your Diabetespublication compiles tips for diabetes control and care along with information on diabetes and its health complications.

Foot Health Facts

• 
• These are some of the ways that diabetes can harm your feet:  
  • Diabetes slows blood flow to certain areas of the body, especially limbs such as the legs, which impairs your body’s ability to heal injuries.
  • Diabetes nerve damage may cause you to no longer feel pain in your feet, and you may not realize you have a wound or injury that needs care.
• Diabetic nerve damage appears to be more common in people who have had problems controlling their blood glucose (sugar) levels, in those with high cholesterol or high blood pressure, in overweight people, and in people older than 40 years.
• These are some signs of problems with your feet or legs. If you experience any of these symptoms, you need to contact your health care provider or a podiatrist (foot doctor) right away.
  • You may feel pain in your legs or cramping in your buttocks, thighs, or calves during physical activity.
  • Your feet may tingle, burn, or hurt.
  • You may lose the sense of touch or not be able to feel heat or cold very well.
  • The shape of your feet may change over time.
  • The color and temperature of your feet may change.
  • You may lose hair on your toes, feet, and lower legs.
  • The skin on your feet may become dry and cracked.
  • Your toenails may turn thick and yellow.
  • Fungus infections may appear between your toes.
  • You may experience blisters, sores, ulcers, infected corns, and ingrown toenails.

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Contact Us:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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  Atlanta, GA 30333
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Content source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day – cdcinfo@cdc.gov

The Many Health Benefits of Ground Flax Seed

By Rich Fuller

Controlling blood sugar levels is very important for people who suffer diabetes and also those who may be at risk of developing it. Flax seed and flax seed oil both contain omega 3, an essential fatty acid and also a mucilage.

In the past twenty or so years it has been encouraged by health professionals to keep fat intake to a minimum in our diets. This has driven more people towards a diet high in carbohydrates, which serve to increase blood sugar levels. The result is extra insulin being produced, causing the blood sugar to dip down low. Having these peaks and drops in the levels of sugar in your blood causes weight gain through food cravings and hunger pains. The increased weight along with the continued ups and downs of the sugar levels is what causes type two diabetes to begin its attack.

Studies have shown that essential fatty acids can suppress hunger without causing changes in blood sugar. A combination of these two effects can result in prevention or control of diabetes.

The mucilage properties to flax seed also contributes to controlling the blood sugar levels. It lines the digestive tract, slowing absorption of carbohydrates which can otherwise be processed too quickly, flooding the bloodstream in excess. When they are absorbed slowly through a healthy lined digestive tract they are treated the same as a good carbohydrates, leaving no residue or sugar over-doses.

If you are interested in taking a flax seed supplement for blood sugar control, consider having both the seed and oil form. You can sprinkle the powder on your cereal, salads or in smoothies. The oil can be used in the same ways or taken in capsules and on a daily basis is best for maximum benefits to be seen. Using both forms as a dietary supplement of essential 3 fatty acids, omega 3 can certainly fix mild to moderate blood sugar level problems.

Being an appetite suppressant, preventing blood sugar rises and drops and slowing carbohydrate absorption all contribute to why flax seed and flax seed oil is fantastic as a dietary supplement for diabetics. If someone in your family suffers, consider taking it daily as well to prevent having the same problems. You could be saving yourself a lot of health problems, and will no doubt experience many other benefits it provides as well.

Learn more about the benefits of flax seed and cancer on our site. You’ll also find other information such as flax seed grindersand flax seed oil is good for heart.  OmegaFlaxSeedOil.comis a comprehensive resource to help individuals gain the benefits of essential nutrition such as flax seed oil, omega 3 and vitamin B12.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Fuller

What is Overweight and Obesity?

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What is Overweight and Obesity

U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health

• What are overweight and obesity?
• How are weight-related health risks determined?
• Body Mass Index Table
• Why do statistics about overweight and obesity differ?
• Prevalence Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
• Economic Costs Related to Overweight and Obesity
• Other Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity

 

About two-thirds of adults in the United States are overweight, and almost one-third are obese, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2004. This fact sheet presents statistics on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States, as well as the health risks, mortality rates, and economic costs associated with these conditions. To understand these statistics, it is necessary to know how overweight and obesity are defined and measured, something this publication addresses. This fact sheet also explains why statistics from different sources may not match.

Overweight and obesity are known risk factors for:

■diabetes
■coronary heart disease
■high blood cholesterol
■stroke
■hypertension
■gallbladder disease
■osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints)
■sleep apnea and other breathing problems
■some forms of cancer (breast, colorectal, endometrial, and kidney)

Obesity is also associated with:

■complications of pregnancy
■menstrual irregularities
■hirsutism (presence of excess body and facial hair)
■stress incontinence (urine leakage caused by weak pelvic floor muscles)
■psychological disorders, such as depression
■increased surgical risk
■increased mortality

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What is overweight and obesity?

Overweight refers to an excess of body weight compared to set standards. The excess weight may come from muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to having an abnormally high proportion of body fat.[1] A person can be overweight without being obese, as in the example of a bodybuilder or other athlete who has a lot of muscle. However, many people who are overweight are also obese.

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How are weight-related health risks determined?

Various methods are used to determine if someone’s weight has increased his or her health risks. Some are based on the relationship between height and weight; others are based on measurements of body fat. The most commonly used method today is the body mass index (BMI). BMI is an index of weight adjusted for the height of an individual.

BMI can be used to screen for both overweight and obesity in adults. It is the measurement of choice for many obesity researchers and other health professionals, as well as the definition used in most published information on overweight and obesity. BMI is a calculation based on height and weight, and it is not gender-specific in adults. BMI does not directly measure percentage of body fat, but it is a more accurate indicator of overweight and obesity than relying on weight alone.

BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight in kilograms by height in meters squared. The mathematical formula is “weight (kg)/height (m²).”

To determine BMI using pounds and inches, multiply weight in pounds by 704.5,* divide the result by height in inches, and then divide that result by height in inches a second time. (You can also use the BMI calculator at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi or check the chart below.)

* The multiplier 704.5 is used by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Other organizations may use a slightly different multiplier; for example, the American Dietetic Association suggests multiplying by 700. The variation in outcome (a few tenths) is insignificant.

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Body Mass Index Table

To use the table, find the appropriate height in the left-hand column and then move across to a given weight. The number at the top of the column is the BMI at that height and weight. Pounds have been rounded off.

Source: Clinical Guidelines on Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults, NHLBI, September 1998

An expert panel convened by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in cooperation with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), both part of NIH, identified overweight as a BMI of 25 to 29.9 kg/m², and obesity as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater. However, overweight and obesity are not mutually exclusive, since people who are obese are also overweight.[1] Defining overweight as a BMI of 25 or greater is consistent with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO)[2] and most other countries.

Calculating BMI is simple, quick, and inexpensive—but it does have limitations. One problem with using BMI as a measurement tool is that very muscular people may fall into the “overweight” category when they are actually healthy and fit. Another problem with using BMI is that people who have lost muscle mass, such as the elderly, may be in the “healthy weight” BMI category (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) when they actually have reduced nutritional reserves. BMI, therefore, is useful as a screening tool for individuals and as a general guideline to monitor trends in the population, but by itself is not diagnostic of an individual patient’s health status. Further assessment of patients should be performed to evaluate their weight status and associated health risks.

For more information on measuring overweight and obesity, see Weight and Waist Measurement: Tools for Adults.

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Why do statistics about overweight and obesity differ?

The definitions or measurement characteristics for overweight and obesity have varied over time, from study to study, and from one part of the world to another. The varied definitions affect prevalence statistics and make it difficult to compare data from different studies. Prevalence refers to the total number of existing cases of a disease or condition in a given population at a given time. Some overweight- and obesity-related prevalence rates are presented as crude or unadjusted estimates, while others are age-adjusted estimates. Unadjusted prevalence estimates are used to present cross-sectional data for population groups at a given point or time period, without accounting for the effect of different age variations among groups. For age-adjusted rates, statistical procedures are used to remove the effect of age differences when comparing two or more populations at one point in time, or one population at two or more points in time. Unadjusted estimates and age-adjusted estimates will yield slightly different values.

Previous studies in the United States have used the 1959 or the 1983 Metropolitan Life Insurance tables of desirable weight-for-height as the reference for overweight.[3] More recently, many Government agencies and scientific health organizations have estimated overweight using data from a series of cross-sectional surveys called the National Health Examination Surveys (NHES) and NHANES. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted these surveys. Each had three cycles: NHES I, II, and III spanned the period from 1960 to 1970, and NHANES I, II, and III were conducted in the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s. Since 1999, NHANES has become a continuous survey.

Many earlier reports use a statistically derived definition of overweight from NHANES II (1976 to 1980). This definition (based on the gender-specific 85th percentile values of BMI for 20- to 29-year-olds) is a BMI greater than or equal to (>) 27.3 for women and 27.8 for men. NHANES II further defines “severe overweight” (based on 95th percentile values) as a BMI > 31.1 for men and a BMI > 32.2 for women.[4] Some studies round these numbers to a whole number, which affects the statistical prevalence. In 1995, WHO recommended a classification for three “grades” of overweight using BMI cutoff points of 25, 30, and 40.[5] WHO suggested an additional cutoff point of 35 and slightly different terminology in 1998.[2]

The expert panel convened by NHLBI and NIDDK released a report in September 1998 that provided definitions for overweight and obesity similar to those used by WHO. The panel identified overweight as a BMI > 25 to less than (<) 30, and obesity as a BMI > 30. These definitions, widely used by the Federal Government and more frequently by the broader medical and scientific communities, are based on evidence that health risks increase in individuals with a BMI > 25.

BMI cutoff points are a guide for definitions of overweight and obesity and are useful for comparative purposes across populations and over time; however, the health risks associated with overweight and obesity are on a continuum and do not necessarily correspond to rigid cutoff points. For example, an overweight individual with a BMI of 29 does not acquire additional health consequences associated with obesity simply by crossing the BMI threshold of > 30. However, health risks generally increase with increasing BMI.

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Overweight and obesity are found worldwide, and the prevalence of these conditions in the United States ranks high along with other developed nations.

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about overweight and obesity statistics. Data are based on NHANES 2001 to 2004. Unless otherwise specified, the figures given represent age-adjusted estimates. Age-adjusted estimates are used in order to account for the age variations among the groups being compared. Population numbers are based on estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.

Q: How many adults age 20 and older are overweight or obese (BMI > 25)?

A: About two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.[6]

All adults: 133.6 million (66 percent)
Women: 65 million (61.6 percent)
Men: 68.3 million (70.5 percent)

* The statistics presented here are based on the following definitions unless otherwise specified: healthy weight = BMI > 18.5 to < 25; overweight = BMI > 25 to < 30; obesity = BMI > 30; and extreme obesity = BMI > 40.

Q: How many adults age 20 and older are obese (BMI > 30)?

A: Nearly one-third of U.S. adults are obese.[6]

All adults: 63.6 million (31.4 percent)
Women: 35 million (33.2 percent)
Men: 28.6 million (29.5 percent)

Q: How many adults age 20 and older are at a healthy weight (BMI > 18.5 through 24.9)?

A: Less than one-third of U.S. adults are at a healthy weight.[6]

All adults: 65.4 million (32.3 percent)
Women: 38.1 million (36.1 percent)
Men: 27.4 million (28.3 percent)

Q: How has the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults changed over the years?

A: The prevalence has steadily increased over the years among both genders, all ages, all racial and ethnic groups, all educational levels, and all smoking levels.[7] From 1960 to 2004, the prevalence of overweight increased from 44.8 to 66 percent in U.S. adults age 20 to 74.[6] The prevalence of obesity during this same time period more than doubled among adults age 20 to 74 from 13.3 to 32.1 percent, with most of this rise occurring since 1980.[6]

Q: What is the prevalence of overweight or obesity in minorities?

A: Among women, the age-adjusted prevalence of overweight or obesity (BMI > 25) in racial and ethnic minorities is higher among non-Hispanic Black and Mexican-American women than among non-Hispanic White women. Among men, there is little difference in prevalence among these three groups [6]. Sufficient data for other racial and ethnic minorities has not yet been collected.

Non-Hispanic Black Women: 79.6 percent
Mexican-American Women: 73 percent
Non-Hispanic White Women: 57.6 percent

Non-Hispanic Black Men: 67 percent
Mexican-American Men: 74.6 percent
Non-Hispanic White Men: 71 percent
(Statistics are for populations age 20 and older.)

Studies using this definition of overweight and obesity provide ethnicity-specific data only for these three racial and ethnic groups. Studies using different BMI cutoff points derived from NHANES II data to define overweight and obesity have reported a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among Hispanics and American Indians. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Asian Americans is lower than in the population as a whole.[1]

Q: What is the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adolescents?

A: While there is no generally accepted definition for obesity as distinct from overweight in children and adolescents, the prevalence of overweight* is increasing for children and adolescents in the United States. Approximately 17.5 percent of children (age 6 to 11) and 17 percent of adolescents (age 12 to 19) were overweight in 2001 to 2004.[6]

* Overweight is defined by the sex- and age-specific 95th percentile cutoff points of the 2000 CDC growth charts. These revised growth charts incorporate smoothed BMI percentiles and are based on data from NHES II (1963 to 1965) and III (1966 to 1970), and NHANES I (1971 to 1974), II (1976 to 1980), and III (1988 to 1994). The CDC BMI growth charts specifically excluded NHANES III data for children older than 6 years.[8]

Figure 1. Overweight and Obesity, by Age: United States, 1960-2004

Source: CDC/NCHS, Health, United States, 2006

Q: What is the mortality rate associated with obesity?

A: Most studies show an increase in mortality rates associated with obesity. Individuals who are obese have a 10- to 50-percent increased risk of death from all causes, compared with healthy weight individuals (BMI 18.5 to 24.9). Most of the increased risk is due to cardiovascular causes.[1] Obesity is associated with about 112,000 excess deaths per year in the U.S. population relative to healthy weight individuals.[9]

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Economic Costs Related to Overweight and Obesity

As the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased in the United States, so have related health care costs—both direct and indirect. Direct health care costs refer to preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services such as physician visits, medications, and hospital and nursing home care. Indirect costs are the value of wages lost by people unable to work because of illness or disability, as well as the value of future earnings lost by premature death.

Most of the statistics presented here represent the economic cost of overweight and obesity in the United States in 1995, updated to 2001 dollars.[10] Unless otherwise noted, these statistics are adapted from Wolf and Colditz,[11] who based their data on existing epidemiological studies that defined overweight and obesity as a BMI > 29. Because the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased since 1995, the costs today are higher than the figures given here.

Q: What is the cost of overweight and obesity?

A: Total Cost: $117 billion
Direct Cost: $61 billion*
Indirect Cost: $56 billion

*A recent study estimated annual medical spending due to overweight and obesity (BMI >25) to be as much as $92.6 billion in 2002 dollars—9.1 percent of U.S. health expenditures.[12]

Q: What is the cost of lost productivity related to overweight and obesity?

A: The cost of lost productivity related to obesity among Americans age 17 to 64 is $3.9 billion. This value considers the following annual numbers (for 1994):

Workdays lost: $39.3 million
Physician office visits: $62.7 million
Restricted-activity days: $239 million
Bed-days: $89.5 million

——————————————————————————–

Other Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity

Q: How physically active is the U.S. population?
A: Only 26 percent of U.S. adults engage in vigorous leisure-time physical activity three or more times per week (defined as periods of vigorous physical activity lasting 10 minutes or more). About 59 percent of adults do no vigorous physical activity at all in their leisure time.[13]

About 25 percent of young people (age 12 to 21) participate in light-to-moderate activity (e.g., walking, bicycling) nearly every day. About 50 percent regularly engage in vigorous physical activity. Approximately 25 percent report no vigorous physical activity, and 14 percent report no recent vigorous or light-to-moderate physical activity.[14]

Q: What is the cost of physical inactivity?

A: The direct cost of physical inactivity may be as high as $24.3 billion.[15]

Q: What are the benefits of physical activity?

A: In addition to helping control weight, physical activity decreases the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and reduces the risk of developing diabetes, hypertension, and colon cancer.[14]

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References [1] Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults—The Evidence Report. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. September 1998. Available at www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/ob_gdlns.htm.
[2] World Health Organization. Obesity: Preventing and managing the global epidemic. Report of a World Health Organization Consultation on Obesity, Geneva, 3–5 June, 1997. World Health Organization. Geneva, 1998.

[3] Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Kuczmarski RJ, Johnson CL. Overweight and obesity in the United States: Prevalence and trends, 1960–1994. International Journal of Obesity. 1998; 22:39–47.

[4] Kuczmarski RJ, Flegal KM. Criteria for definition of overweight in transition: Background and recommendations for the United States. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2000; 72:1074–1081.

[5] Physical status: The use and interpretation of anthropometry. Report of a World Health Organization Expert Committee. World Health Organization: Geneva, 1995 (World Health Organization Technical Report Series; 854).

[6] National Center for Health Statistics. Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. Health, United States, 2006. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service. 2006.

[7] Mokdad AH, Ford ES, Bowman BA, Dietz WH, Vinicor F, Bales VS, Marks JS. Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors, 2001. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003; 289(1):76–79.

[8] Kuczmarski RJ, Ogden CL, Guo SS, et al. 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for the United States: Methods and development. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 11(246). 2002.

[9] Flegal KM, Graubard BI, Williamson, DF, Gail MH. Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2005; 293(15):1861–7.

[10] Wolf AM, Manson JE, Colditz GA. The Economic Impact of Overweight, Obesity and Weight Loss. In: Eckel R, ed. Obesity: Mechanisms and Clinical Management. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2002.

[11] Wolf AM, Colditz GA. Current estimates of the economic cost of obesity in the United States. Obesity Research. March 1998; 6(2):97–106.

[12] Finkelstein EA, Fiebelkorn IC, Wang G. National medical spending attributable to overweight and obesity: How much, and who’s paying? Health Affairs Web Exclusive. 2003; W3:219-226.

[13] Lethbridge-Çejku M, Vickerie J. Summary health statistics for U.S. adults: National Health Interview Survey, 2003. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 10(225). 2005.

[14] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1996.

[15] Colditz GA. Economic costs of obesity and inactivity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 1999; S663–S667.

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Weight-control Information Network 1 WIN Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3665
Phone: (202) 828–1025
Toll-free number: 1–877–946–4627
Fax: (202) 828–1028
Email: WIN@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.win.niddk.nih.gov

The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is the Federal Government’s lead agency responsible for biomedical research on nutrition and obesity. Authorized by Congress (Public Law 103–43), WIN provides the general public, health professionals, the media, and Congress with up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues.

Publications produced by WIN are reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This fact sheet was also reviewed by David F. Williamson, Ph.D., CAPT U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Diabetes Translation; Katherine Flegal, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC; and Rachel Ballard-Barbash, M.D., M.P.H., Associate Director, Applied Research Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH.

This publication is not copyrighted. WIN encourages users of this fact sheet to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. This fact sheet is also available at www.win.niddk.nih.gov.

Updated May 2007

Contact Us

Toll free: 1-877-946-4627 Fax: (202) 828-1028 E-mail: win@info.niddk.nih.gov
Weight-control Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3665

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Note From FoodSpook: This post is a little dated (2007), but it is still very relevant. Obesity is now responsible for more 400,000 deaths per year in the United States.

Diabetes – The Perfect Storm

 

By Caleb Hellerman

 

(CNN) — The number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double in the next 25 years, and the costs of treating them will triple, according to a new report.

The figures, in a University of Chicago report released Friday, add fuel to the congressional debate regarding reining in the cost of health care.

By 2034, 44.1 million Americans will be living with diabetes — nearly twice the current number of 23.7 million, according to the report, published in the December issue of the journal Diabetes Care. About 90 percent of those with diabetes have type 2, a version of the condition that develops over time.

Accounting for inflation, the direct medical cost of treating them will rise from $113 billion annually to $336 billion, the report says.

Current health care proposals in Congress attempt to slow the growth of spending on chronic diseases such as diabetes by funding programs to prevent disease in the first place, and by offering incentives for insurers and medical providers to encourage early treatment through so-called “accountable care organizations.”

In those organizations, doctors might be paid a flat fee to treat a diabetes patient for a year, with bonuses if they meet certain benchmarks of patient health.

The staggering numbers in the new paper dwarf potential savings that have lately been discussed. For example, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius earlier this month released a report urging improvements in diabetes care. If the most successful statewide programs for controlling diabetes could be duplicated nationwide, it estimates, annual savings from reducing hospitalizations and treatment for various complications would total $216 million.

The numbers are disturbing, said Dr. Elbert Huang, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago. He said he considers the predictions “very conservative” because they don’t account for the growing proportion of overweight children and teenagers, who are at higher risk for developing diabetes.

The estimates also don’t factor in immigration, or the rising population of ethnic minorities. Latinos and African-Americans suffer diabetes at higher rates than the U.S. population as a whole.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which a person loses the ability to break down glucose in the blood and turn food into energy. The condition often develops when people are young.

In type 2 diabetes, the condition develops over time. The process is complex, but aside from ethnic background, risk factors include having a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease. The most common risk factor is simply being overweight.

Even modest weight loss will reduce the chance of developing type 2 diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More ambitious lifestyle changes, such as diet, regular exercise and assistance through counseling lowered the risk of diabetes by 58 percent, even without medication, in a major federally funded study.

The model used by Huang and his colleagues assumes that the prevalence of diabetes in each age group will stay constant, but that the number of cases will grow as the population gets older. For the Medicare-eligible population alone, the paper predicts the diabetes caseload will rise from 8.2 million people to 14.6 million, and that the total annual cost of treatment will go from $45 billion to $171 billion.

To estimate cost, the researchers assumed that the standard progression of the disease, and mix of therapies used to treat it, will remain constant. According to a 2005 federal report, nearly three in four adults with diabetes uses oral medication to control the disease. About one in four takes insulin.

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, according to the American Diabetes Association, and nerve damage and damaged blood vessels are also common. About 15 percent of diabetics require amputation of a lower extremity at some point in their life, according to a 1998 paper in Diabetes Care.

It’s certainly possible that medical breakthroughs will improve care, but it’s unlikely to lead to lower costs, Huang said. “In the past, in general, medical discoveries have driven costs up, not down.”

The study was funded by the company Novo Nordisk, which makes insulin delivery systems to treat diabetics. Novo Nordisk approved the final manuscript, but the authors say the company did not play a role in designing the study or collecting data.

“Without significant changes in public or private strategies, this population and cost growth are expected to add a significant strain to an overburdened health care system,” the report concludes.

The new report is concerning, but doesn’t change the big picture of health care spending, said Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economist who has schooled many politicians about the intricacies of health care.

“Even without this change, over the next 75 years we’ve made promises that exceed the revenues we have to pay for them,” he said.

There’s no compelling evidence that better preventive care can significantly reduce the cost of treating diabetes, Gruber said, but he believes accountable care organizations could make a big impact. He also likes the idea of allowing insurers to charge higher premiums to people who don’t meet certain health benchmarks, such as losing weight if they’re obese.

“The thing about diabetes, it’s among the most preventable of major illnesses,” Gruber said. “We need to put patient financial incentives at stake.”

Huang said he won’t be surprised if the surge in diabetes turns out to be even worse than he projects.

“Prior estimates have all said there would be a dramatic rise in the diabetes type 2 population,” he said, but in every case “the actual [diabetic] population has ended up being larger than the estimates.”

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We recommend “Reversing Diabetes is Possible”.

Source: CNN by Caleb Hellerman, (published November 27, 2009).
Caleb Hellerman is CNN Medical News senior producer.
Photo By FoodSpook

Dehydration

 

Dehydration Can Cause Obesity, Headaches, Mood Swings, Lethargy and More

By Paul Fitzgerald
Published July 12, 2008

 

Alkalized water can Flush Toxins and Neutralize Acidity in your body. It has gone through a Special Electrolysis process that changes pH of the water to ALKALINE. It is returned to the state in which water was often found in nature before the earth became polluted http://www.WaterHealstheWorld.com

The human body is composed of about two-thirds water. Water is in our blood, muscle tissue, bone marrow, lower layers of our skin, in our fatty tissues, as well in our stomachs. Water is the body’s lubrication and helps in its movement and function. Without water we’d be nothing more than dried bones and skin, and wouldn’t even exist.

Dehydration is the result of not having enough water in the body so that it can perform as it was designed to perform. The initial symptoms of dehydration are fairly easy to identify. A person who is dehydrated can experience headaches and mood changes, be lethargic and tired, have trouble concentrating, and has a slower response to external stimulus.

Unfortunately, many people don’t recognize the onset of dehydration and fail to take the necessary steps to prevent it and its results. In fact, many people think that when they are thirsty, with dehydration possibly setting in, that a soft drink or alcoholic beverage will cure the problem. There is nothing further from the truth in this kind of thinking. The dehydrating body needs water, not just any fluid, but only pure water. Fluids with caffeine, alcohol, or sugar will only make dehydration worse because these substances tend to cause even more water to be eliminated from the body.

Not treating dehydration correctly or further ignoring it can lead to more complicated mental and physical symptoms. Physically speaking the lips will dry and begin to crack, the urine will become dark, and the skin will become dry and papery and lose its elasticity. At this point there is danger that the internal organs can be damaged and treatment is of essential importance and the consumption of water is the cure.

However, the person dehydrated must also be careful about how fast they drink the water. A dehydrated person should not gulp down water as this could put the body into a state of temporary shock thus preventing it from the acceptance of further hydration. Instead, the dehydrated person must only sip the water initially, allowing the mouth and the throat to become moist and then slowly allowing the water down into the stomach area. This sipping should continue until the effects of dehydration have diminished substantially. And even then, gulping down water to cure the thirst should always be avoided, as too much water in too short of a time can in itself be dangerous.

Like with any other health issue, prevention is always the best medicine. If you are working out, out and about on a hot day, have young children or elderly in a hot climate, or are starting to feel a little less energetic than normal, especially in warm weather, it is wise to take frequent sips of water. The average adult needs approximately one quart of water per day to prevent the onset of dehydration.

Type 2 Diabetes: What Doctors Don’t Tell You

 

 

 

 

By Emily Saar

 

Original published October 12, 2007. Reprinted here November 10, 2009.

Emily Saar is a recovered type 2 diabetic as a result of using Eleotin and the owner of http://www.BetaTherapy.com. Visit to learn more about Eleotin and the truth about diabetes.

http://www.BetaTherapy.com

View all articles by Emily Saar Type 2 Diabetes: What Doctors Don’t Tell You
According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) type 2 diabetes is an epidemic that affects more than 18,000,000 people in the U.S alone. Statistics prove that more than 2,500 people daily are diagnosed with this disease. Almost everyone knows someone who has it. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Americans have type 2 diabetes, many do not know they have it.

Type 2 diabetes is a silent killer of thousands every year. It doesn’t come on overnight and it isn’t painful (at first). In fact, a majority of people who are newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are usually being treated for another problem. Many do not take this disease seriously enough to do anything about it until complications begin to surface.

Complications vary from person to person, but the first signs of type 2 diabetes usually include: extreme thirst, dry itchy skin, tingling in the hands and feet, increased urination, increased hunger and blurry vision. Untreated, it can eventually lead to: poor circulation, nerve damage, blindness, amputations, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, dialysis and death. Pretty serious complications.

Twenty years ago, type 2 diabetes was a disease most commonly diagnosed in people over 50. Today, our children are being diagnosed. What a sad future they have to look forward to. Life expectancy is shortened by at least 12 years along with a lifetime of insulin shots, medications and eventually dialysis.

Healthcare professionals deal with this epidemic by prescribing medications. Many of these drugs are very harmful and even deadly. Most have to be taken for life and lose their effectiveness over time, meaning the doses will have to be increased or other drugs added to the original prescription. Considering the complications associated with type 2 diabetes, our healthcare system profits quite nicely from this disease.

Avandia, a very common diabetes medication, was once thought to be a very effective drug in treating type 2 diabetes. Until it started killing
people. Now known as a drug that increases risk of heart attack by 70%, many patients went scrambling to their doctors to change their meds, not knowing the amount of damage already done by this drug. This FDA approved drug. Avandia is not the only one. Almost all diabetes drugs carry some type of harmful side-effects from headaches and vomiting to heart and liver failure.

Knowing the amount of money the pharmeceutical companies make from type 2 diabetes and all of it’s complications, it’s no wonder a cure has never been found. Think carefully about what would happen if an FDA approved cure was made available. Entire wings of hospitals would shut down, doctors that specialize in diabetes would be out of work and dialysis clinics would fold. This is a very small part of the revenue made by other complications such as blindness, physical therapy due to amputations, heart institutes would lose hundreds of millions. There is just too much money to lose in making a cure available.

Canada has had a natural type 2 diabetes herbal remedy available to the public since 1999 called Eleotin. Researched for more than 20 years, Eleotin works on a metabolic level to lower blood sugars naturally and reverse type 2 diabetes by correcting the causes.

Type 2 diabetes has two main causes. Insufficient insulin produced by the pancreas (beta cell damage) or insulin resistance, when cells in the body resist insulin that is made. Eleotin restores beta cell function, restores the health of the pancreas and strengthens insulin receptors to make them more sensitive to the insulin naturally made by the body. Eleotin has no harmful side-effects, is made entirely from herbs used as foods in many countries. It is even safe for children.

Eleotin is sweeping the globe. Almost 100,000 people worldwide have used Eleotin. Many have reversed their type 2 diabetes completely. It’s time we take this disease more seriously and stop waiting for the FDA approved cure that will never appear. How many years have we dumped money into diabetes research? Where is their cure? For many thousands of people who have used Eleotin, they have already found theirs.

Source: Emily Saar

Dr. Sebi-The Healer, Part 1 of 4

There is something about the information from Dr. Sebi that I find fascinating. In this four video series Dr. Sebi makes some compelling statements about his views on our health. You be the judge.

FoodSpook

Source: WestPhillyGurl on YouTube

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