On today’s show, I had the privilege of talking to Rosie O’Donnell about her recent heart attack. This experience forced her to recognize the signs of having a heart attack and to start protecting herself from the heart-attack risk factors that every woman needs to know.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Eating Clean: The Tony Horton Diet
My friend and fitness guru Tony Horton has shown us so much about healthy living, exercising and eating well. Within his breakthrough plan to reshape your body, one of my favorite Tony Horton methods of losing weight and staying healthy is his plan to eat “clean.”
Hurricane Sandy: Your Health and the Rough Times Ahead
This past week has been a stressful one for my fellow East Coast residents. During the storm, our home in New Jersey lost power, but my family and I fortunately got through Hurricane Sandy with little damage to the house and, most importantly, with our health.
Fit Fall Foods
It’s that time of year again: Fall. The leaves are changing, the air is getting cooler, and you and your family are getting ready for the busy holiday season ahead. However, autumn is also a time to enjoy some seasonal foods that are super-good for you. Introduce your palate to these flavors today:
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Genetically Modified Foods: Good or Bad?
A new report claims that genetically modified foods (or organisms) can damage your health and even cause cancer, but some experts say they’re an inexpensive and healthy way to put dinner on your table. We’re going to be discussing both sides of the issue on our show today. This GMO debate got so hot, our expert guests couldn’t even be on our stage at the same time to discuss their points of view.
Modifying the genetic structure of food is not a new concept. For centuries, farmers have improved our food supply by cross-breeding different types of plants or animals to come up with new organisms that would taste better, yield more, and grow in more difficult conditions. The result is thousands of different crops that feed billions of people.
These practices were once limited to combining the traits of organisms only within the same species. Today, due to advances in biotechnology, that is no longer the case. Scientists can now genetically engineer different species so that they share the same genetic material. For example, they can breed corn with a built-in pesticide that can kill bugs or survive chemical sprays. Or they can move the gene from a fish that lives in cold water into a tomato so it can survive in cold weather. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize how we produce food to feed a growing population – but at what cost?
These advancements have concerned consumers and activists. Though the intentions may be for good, the effects of these foods are controversial. Is this new form of genetic modification safe?
A new French study says no. Why? This is what they found: NK603 is a type of corn that has been genetically modified to be tolerant of a commonly used herbicide, which would eliminate surrounding weeds, but it would also be present in small quantities in the foods we eat. The scientists fed rats NK603 that contained levels of the herbicide. They found the rats eventually developed massive tumors after seven months and died earlier than animals fed a “regular” diet.
However, scientists who are in support of genetically modified foods say the research is flawed – even accusing the authors of going on a “statistical fishing trip” and selecting numbers that suited their study while throwing out the unsuitable data. The opposing scientists also claimed the authors used a breed of rats who were bred to develop tumors as they aged anyway. The authors failed to mention the amount of food given in the article, which is important since high amounts of food, GMO or normal, can increase the risk of tumors. Not to mention, they also had a very small control group (fed non-GMO food) of 20 rats that also developed tumors.
Despite the results of the contested study, more research needs to be done on the long-term effects of genetically modified foods on humans. Until that happens, many European countries, like Russia and the UK, have already banned certain types of GMOs for human consumption.
Amidst this controversy, California voters will decide if food companies should label genetically modified food products. Proposition 37 will be on the ballot on November 6 this year. If passed, California will “require labeling on raw or processed food offered for sale to consumers if the food is made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways.” Furthermore, those companies will be prohibited from labeling or advertising such food as “natural.”
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical Association support voluntary labels, while recognizing that “there currently is no evidence that there are material differences or safety concerns in available bioengineered foods.” Read this statement provided by the FDA.
I will be keeping an eye on this California proposition in November to see what happens. Find out what foods to avoid for your safety until more research comes out.
View the original article here
Modifying the genetic structure of food is not a new concept. For centuries, farmers have improved our food supply by cross-breeding different types of plants or animals to come up with new organisms that would taste better, yield more, and grow in more difficult conditions. The result is thousands of different crops that feed billions of people.
These practices were once limited to combining the traits of organisms only within the same species. Today, due to advances in biotechnology, that is no longer the case. Scientists can now genetically engineer different species so that they share the same genetic material. For example, they can breed corn with a built-in pesticide that can kill bugs or survive chemical sprays. Or they can move the gene from a fish that lives in cold water into a tomato so it can survive in cold weather. This new technology has the potential to revolutionize how we produce food to feed a growing population – but at what cost?
These advancements have concerned consumers and activists. Though the intentions may be for good, the effects of these foods are controversial. Is this new form of genetic modification safe?
A new French study says no. Why? This is what they found: NK603 is a type of corn that has been genetically modified to be tolerant of a commonly used herbicide, which would eliminate surrounding weeds, but it would also be present in small quantities in the foods we eat. The scientists fed rats NK603 that contained levels of the herbicide. They found the rats eventually developed massive tumors after seven months and died earlier than animals fed a “regular” diet.
However, scientists who are in support of genetically modified foods say the research is flawed – even accusing the authors of going on a “statistical fishing trip” and selecting numbers that suited their study while throwing out the unsuitable data. The opposing scientists also claimed the authors used a breed of rats who were bred to develop tumors as they aged anyway. The authors failed to mention the amount of food given in the article, which is important since high amounts of food, GMO or normal, can increase the risk of tumors. Not to mention, they also had a very small control group (fed non-GMO food) of 20 rats that also developed tumors.
Despite the results of the contested study, more research needs to be done on the long-term effects of genetically modified foods on humans. Until that happens, many European countries, like Russia and the UK, have already banned certain types of GMOs for human consumption.
Amidst this controversy, California voters will decide if food companies should label genetically modified food products. Proposition 37 will be on the ballot on November 6 this year. If passed, California will “require labeling on raw or processed food offered for sale to consumers if the food is made from plants or animals with genetic material changed in specified ways.” Furthermore, those companies will be prohibited from labeling or advertising such food as “natural.”
Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the American Medical Association support voluntary labels, while recognizing that “there currently is no evidence that there are material differences or safety concerns in available bioengineered foods.” Read this statement provided by the FDA.
I will be keeping an eye on this California proposition in November to see what happens. Find out what foods to avoid for your safety until more research comes out.
View the original article here
No Link: HPV Vaccine and Sexual Behavior
After last week’s show and live chat on HPV, I’ve been having a lot of conversations about HPV, cervical cancer and the vaccine. Many professionals, parents and patients have different views: Should young men and women get the vaccine? When should they get it? Is it safe?
Modern Miracles: The Flu Shot
Modern medicine is full of miracles, from germ-killing antibiotics that have literally saved millions of lives to the miracle of open-heart surgery.
One miracle I want to expand on is a controversial one: Vaccines. Like antibiotics, I believe that vaccines have also saved millions of lives by protecting us and our children from once-deadly afflictions that blighted both our life expectancy and our children’s survival expectancy. Because of vaccines, once-deadly diseases like smallpox, polio, measles and rubella have become a thing of the past.
One miracle I want to expand on is a controversial one: Vaccines. Like antibiotics, I believe that vaccines have also saved millions of lives by protecting us and our children from once-deadly afflictions that blighted both our life expectancy and our children’s survival expectancy. Because of vaccines, once-deadly diseases like smallpox, polio, measles and rubella have become a thing of the past.
What's Wrong With Trans Fats?
When a product claims it is has zero trans fats, did you know that it could still contain up to .5 grams of trans fats per serving? That’s right, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, processed foods can claim they have no trans fats as long as it does not exceed .5 grams per serving.
That is important information to know because trans fats are the worst kind of fat for your health. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend a limit of 1 gram or less per day.
That is important information to know because trans fats are the worst kind of fat for your health. The 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend a limit of 1 gram or less per day.
Does Eating Healthy Need to be More Expensive?
The short answer is absolutely not.
While some fresh fruit, vegetables and top-of-the-line meats and fish can be pricey, there are plenty of options in the grocery store that are healthy and affordable.
While some fresh fruit, vegetables and top-of-the-line meats and fish can be pricey, there are plenty of options in the grocery store that are healthy and affordable.
Staying Safe and Healthy on New Year’s Eve
Whether you like to “party” on New Year’s eve or not, here are some tips to keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy as you ring in 2013.
On New Year’s Eve:
Stay off the roads if possible – even if you’re sober. To some folks New Year’s Eve – day and night – is an excuse to imbibe starting at daytime office parties, with neighbors, at home and so on. When I worked in the ER, we would start treating victims of auto accidents involving intoxicated drivers early in the morning on New Year’s Eve and continued throughout the daytime into the night.
On New Year’s Eve:
Stay off the roads if possible – even if you’re sober. To some folks New Year’s Eve – day and night – is an excuse to imbibe starting at daytime office parties, with neighbors, at home and so on. When I worked in the ER, we would start treating victims of auto accidents involving intoxicated drivers early in the morning on New Year’s Eve and continued throughout the daytime into the night.
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