Shocking Facts About the Pharmaceutical Industry

Big drug companies have been accused of putting profits above patients, spinning false PR campaigns and more. Here are some of the most shocking facts about the pharmaceutical industry.

The price of drugs is increasing faster than anything else a patient pays for: The prices of the most heavily prescribed drugs are routinely jacked up, sometimes several times a year. Some medications have a mark-up of 1,000 percent over the cost of their ingredients.

Your doctor may have an ulterior motive behind your prescription: Drug reps often give gifts to convince doctors to prescribe the medications that they represent. These drug reps usually have no medical or science education.

Pharmaceutical companies spend more on marketing than research: Almost twice as much!

Guilty of Medicare fraud: Pharmaceutical companies are being tried in federal courts as a result of their exploitation of Medicare. AstraZeneca had to pay more than $340 million in penalties for coaching doctors to cheat Medicare.

The combined wealth of the top 5 pharmaceutical companies outweigh GNP of sub-Saharan Africa: In fact, the combined worth of the world’s top five drug companies is twice the combined GNP of that entire region.

Americans pay more for prescription meds than anyone else in the world: $200 billion in 2002 alone.

"New" Drugs aren't really new: Two-thirds of “new” prescription drugs are identical to existing drugs or modified versions of them.

Drug companies are taking advantage of underdeveloped countries to perform clinical trials: In developing countries, government oversight is more lax.

For more shocking facts, click the link below.

Sources:
Nursing Online Education Database March 27, 2008

Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com

How to head off a heart attack

Power Up!
By Nancy Christie
MediZine's Healthy Living First Quarter 2008

Think of your heart as a fist-size engine that keeps your body moving along. Fail to fuel it properly or let it sit around for weeks on end, and you may well wind up with a sluggish system. Enough poor lifestyle habits can lead to heart disease, even heart attack.

While certain heart disease risk factors (age, sex and genes) can’t be avoided, others, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure and inactivity, are under your control.

When it comes to nutrition, picking the right mix of protein, carbs and fat ensures that your system is getting what it needs. But how do you choose wisely?

“There are a lot of terms being tossed around out there: phytochemicals, antioxidants, flavonoids and polyphenols,” says Beth Thayer, R.D., spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “But each fruit and vegetable has its own special properties. The important part is to eat the fruits and vegetables. It’s the same with grains: Choose whole grains rather than processed or refined grains.”

Legumes and beans are also heart-boosters, Thayer adds: “They are a great source of soluble fiber, which binds up cholesterol in your gut.” They also provide folic acid. That’s key, because a deficiency can lead to elevated homocysteine—a risk factor for heart disease. Aim for at least 25 grams of total fiber and 400 micrograms of folic acid daily.

For protein, it’s beans and legumes again, along with oily fish such as salmon, trout and herring, which are full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Add at least two 3-ounce servings of oily fish per week to your diet.

Reduce your intake of saturated fats (found in butter, solid shortening, lard) and trans fats (vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, cookies, snack foods). Both can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels; trans fat also decreases HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

How much is too much? The American Heart Association suggests that saturated fat be less than 7 percent and trans fat less than 1 percent of your daily calories.

Movement Musts

Exercising can combat stress, high blood pressure, obesity and other risks to your heart. But before you head to the gym, get your doctor’s okay. Then aim for least 30 minutes—continuous or incremental—of moderate-intensity activity five to seven days a week. (That’s what the surgeon general recommends.) A well-balanced routine will include cardiovascular exercise and resistance training.

Skimp on Salt

Too much sodium may increase your blood pressure. So forgo the salt shaker and read nutrition labels carefully--especially when purchasing processed, canned or frozen foods.

Courtesy: Health & Wellness REMEDY life.

HAPPY PASSOVER to all my Jewish Friends and Readers! Enjoy in Good Health! :o)

Jacques

French Women: Eating pleasure and portion control (Part II)

Guiliano also recommends eating a wide variety of healthy foods to be more satisfied without feeling deprived. "Eating the same foods is a bad habit," the author maintains, and she suggest trying new recipes, flavors, and herbs. There are no forbidden foods in the French Women Don't Get Fat plan, as long as the portions are kept in check.

Have a sweets craving? Satisfy it with a few bites or a small portion of the food you crave. Love wine? Enjoy it, Guiliano tells WebMD, but keep it to one glass. Slowly reduce portion sizes over time so you won't realize you are eating less.

It is inevitable that there will be splurges and when that happens, Guiliano recommends eating yogurt. "Yogurt is the perfect food, full of calcium, and French women eat 1-2 servings a day, especially after a night of too much, it is the perfect breakfast," she says. Guiliano includes a recipe for homemade yogurt and also recommends it as a great snack.

How It Works

The fundamental premise of the French Women Don't Get Fat non-diet plan is learning to enjoy the pleasure of eating delicious food in a relaxed environment.

Guiliano believes that American women would benefit if they slowed down, stopped speed eating and eating on the run, and took more pleasure in the dining experience, much like French women.

Eat with all of your senses and be more mindful of every bite so you taste and savor the food and recognize when you are full. "Three bites of food are all you need to really enjoy it," Guiliano says. Sit down, slow down, chew thoroughly, and eat without distractions – turn off the television, put down the book, and focus on eating.

With French Women Don't Get Fat, the aim is to forget our food guilt and substitute it with pleasure.

First of all, let's get one thing straight, French women do get fat and the obesity rate in France is growing quickly, says ADA spokeswoman Katherine Tallmadge. "French Women Don't Get Fat, like many other diet books, is a frustrating blend of real insight, shaky science, and sheer speculation."

Tallmadge, a weight loss counselor in Washington, D.C., points out that Guiliano is not a nutrition or weight loss professional and even though she doesn't claim to be, bases her advice on personal experiences and observations of life in France.

Some recommendations in French Women Don't Get Fat are right on target, like walking for exercise, weight training for women over 40, and eating vegetable soup. "Eating soup with lots of vegetables has been found to help reduce calorie intake naturally," says Tallmadge, author of the diet book Diet Simple. However, Tallmadge notes scientific evidence does not support the author's claim that leeks have a magical quality to cause weight loss, nor does chocolate contain serotonin, the feel-good neurotransmitter.

"I disagree with the recommendation to start dieting through a semi-fast of primarily leek soup because, while it will cause weight loss, it is not nutritionally adequate and it is not a solution to help people learn about habits that can be sustained long term," Tallmadge says.

Additionally, some experts suggest that the real reason many French women may be thin is because they smoke cigarettes to curb their appetite.

Food for Thought

French Women Don't Get Fat could be a helpful weight loss approach for women who love fine food, wine, and chocolate and want the flexibility and options to eat what they like.

With this plan, knowing that no food is off-limits could be very empowering to some as long as they can control portion sizes and the majority of food they choose is nutritionally sound, like vegetable soup and low-fat yogurt.

"People get bored on diets and go back to their eating habits, which are why diets don't work" says Guiliano. Her approach is simple: don't deny yourself favorite foods; simply learn -- over time -- to enjoy smaller portions.

Assuming that eating slower and more mindfully really will lead to recognition of satiety, weight loss with the French Women Don't Get Fat plan should occur slowly but surely. Becoming satisfied with smaller portions is the trick to making this plan work.

French Women: Eating for pleasure and portion control. (Part I)

The French Women Don't Get Fat Diet

It's a diet based on eating for pleasure and portion control. Experts explain how it works By Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson Mathis, MD

If you have ever wondered how the French manage to eat cheese, butter, baguettes, and drink wine while staying slim, then French Women Don't Get Fat: The Secret of Eating for Pleasure, by Frenchwoman Mireille Guiliano, may be the book for you.

French Women Don't Get Fat is actually a non-diet book, loaded with pearls of wisdom from the chic and fit Mireille Guiliano, also CEO of the champagne company, Veuve Clicquot.

As a teenager, the author came to the U.S. for school and returned home 20 pounds heavier than when she arrived, blaming large portions and too many sweets. Upon embracing the eating habits of French women, she restored her shape with a new understanding of food, drink, and lifestyle that she shares in her book.

The basic premise of French Women Don't Get Fat is that you should eat only good food of very high quality, eat it in small portions, and savor every bite.

From chocolate to champagne, eat slowly, with all your senses, and make every dining experience pleasurable so you will be satisfied with smaller portions of delicious food. No food is off limits, only large portions. No counting calories, no skipping meals -- just control what you eat.

Not a quick fix or fad diet

French Women Don't Get Fat is a three-month plan meant to reset your "body's dials" for a lifetime of healthy weight through slow, gradual weight loss.

Many will love the fact that this plan does not include fitness classes but instead just plenty of daily physical activity and lots of walking. The author shows how women can adopt the French style of eating, drinking and moving as the winning formula for weight control.

What You Can Eat

A two-day leek soup fast jump-starts the French Women Don't Get Fat plan, followed by meat or fish, vegetables, and a piece of fruit. During the initial phase, dieters are asked to evaluate their diets by keeping a food journal to identify where excess calories are coming from so they can make adjustments. "You can still have your favorite foods, but try to reduce how often or how much," says Guiliano.

After monitoring their eating habits, dieters are advised to make small healthy improvements, such as drinking more water all day long to stay hydrated and flush out toxins.

Throughout French Women Don't Get Fat, Guiliano describes the lifestyle of French women that leads to a trim waistline without denial or guilt. She offers a positive approach to weight control that includes wine, chocolate, and the oft-shunned white bread excluded in most diet books. She encourages readers to enjoy food and drink to the fullest while keeping portions in check. Fresh, wholesome, and seasonal ingredients are highly recommended.

(To Be Continued)

New Information on the Science of Sleep

Human beings sleep through one-third of their lives, yet why we sleep is one of the biggest unanswered questions of science. In the fascinating article from 60 Minutes, linked below, Lesley Stahl explores all of the latest scientific findings about the reasons for -- and functions of -- sleep.

Here is a sampling of what she found after talking with sleep researchers from across the United States:

You can die from sleep deprivation, just like you can die from being deprived of food.
Sleep can actually enhance your memories.
A single night of sleeping just four, five or even six hours can impact your ability to think clearly.
Sleep deprivation can cause changes in your brain activity similar to those experienced by people with psychiatric disorders.
Sleep deprivation puts your body into a pre-diabetic state, and makes you feel hungry, even if you’ve already eaten.
Sources:
CBS News March 16, 2008

Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com

Vitamin E Linked to Lung Cancer

Taking high doses of vitamin E supplements can actually increase the risk of lung cancer.

A study of 77,000 people found consuming 400 milligrams of vitamin E per day increased cancer risk by 28 percent. Smokers were at particular risk.

An expert writing in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine said that people should get their vitamins from fruit and vegetables rather than supplements.

Vitamin E is known to be an antioxidant that protects cells from molecules called free radicals. But in high doses, it may also act as a pro-oxidant, causing oxidation and damage to cells.

Sources:
BBC News February 29, 2008
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine March 1, 2008; 177(5):524-30

Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com

Feed Yourself This for a Flatter Belly

Zap Stress and Grow Younger with a Sniff of This
Berries for Your Blood Pressure
It’s the Least You Can Do
Get Sauced to Stay Healthy
See Only Food and Nutrition Tips »

Our Most Popular Tips
We've all got those pants in the back of the closet that we’re dying to fit into again. Did you know that whole grains might help get you there?

It's true. When dieters traded their usual refined-grain carbs (like white rice or plain bagels) for whole-grain products (like whole-wheat bread or spelt pasta), they lost even more belly fat.

Strive for Five
Dieters mistakenly believe they have to pass on carbs. But low-cal dieters in a recent study ate as many as five daily servings of whole grains -- and still lost weight.

Another Point for Whole Grains
The whole-grain lovers also scored a win on heart health. Their blood levels of C-reactive protein -- a plasma protein linked to heart disease -- dropped 38 percent compared with no change at all in the refined-grain group.

What's In a Grain?
The belly-blasting benefits are likely due to the fabulous fill-you-up-without-fattening-you-up fiber that most whole grains have. Whole grains also hook you up with important trace minerals, like magnesium, as well as phytoestrogens and antioxidants. Here’s some help with getting on the whole-grain train:

Check labels. This is what you should look for on the ingredients list. See if you're already getting enough. Be adventurous with new grains. Ever had barley and wild rice salad with pomegranate seeds? Here's the recipe.
Look up more whole-grain recipes in the RealAge Recipe Box. Or share your favorite family recipes on the RealAge Recipe-Swap Message Boards.

Courtesy: RealAge Newsletter

Former Drug Sales Rep Tells All

Shahram Ahari, who spent two years selling Prozac and Zypraxa for Eli Lily, told a Senate Aging Committee that his job involved "rewarding physicians with gifts and attention for their allegiance to your product and company despite what may be ethically appropriate."

Ahari claims that drug companies often hire former cheerleaders and ex-models, as well as former athletes and members of the military, even if they have no background in science.

During their five-week training class, Ahari says he was taught sales tactics such as:

How to exceed spending limits for important clients
How to be generous with free samples to leverage sales
How to use friendships and personal gifts to foster a "quid pro quo" relationship
How to exploit sexual tension
Ahari claims that he's even heard stories about sales reps helping to pay the cost of a doctor's swimming pool, or taking a doctor to a nightclub where a hostess was paid to keep him company.

For this work, sales reps often earned more than researchers. On top of a base salary of $50,000 for starting reps, Ahari says, "there were four quarterly bonuses, an annual bonus, stock options, a car, 401K, great health benefits, and a $60,000 expense account."

Sources:
ABC News March 12, 2008


Discover How You Can Keep Your Body “Dredged” of Toxic Impurities*…

Over time, toxins and other sludgy compounds build up in your digestive tract. So making a conscious commitment to cleansing and maintaining your healthy GI tract is necessary to propel you toward peak digestive and immune function. Luckily, this new simple 3-step program will do 3 great things for you: detoxify, maintain and support your digestive health.

Courtesy: Dr. Mercola.com/newsletter

Reducing Cholesterol Naturally

By Joseph McCaffrey, MD, FACS

We've all heard that high cholesterol can kill us. Most physicians react by reaching for their prescription pads. Drugs to lower cholesterol, especially the statin drugs like Mevacor and Lipitor, are among the most commonly prescribed drugs on the market. Unfortunately, like all drugs, they come with side affects. We'd be much better off if we took control of our cholesterol without resorting to drugs.

Fortunately, there are ways to do just that.

The first step is a healthy lifestyle. You already know it, but exercise is part of that.

Exercise has so many benefits -- maintaining function, controlling weight, lowering blood pressure, fighting depression, etc. -- that if it were a drug, it would be a blockbuster. Most people look for a pill instead of making healthy choices and taking action. Don't be like them. Exercise is the best way to raise your HDL (the "good" cholesterol).

Diet is next.

Reduce the saturated fat in your diet and absolutely avoid trans-fats. Nutritionists have vilified beef and other red meats because of their saturated fat content. That's a valid point for most beef, but grass-fed beef and bison are a different matter.

That's because in nature, cattle eat grass. Feed them grain, and their meat changes drastically. The total fat increases. Even worse, the ration of omega-6 to omega-3 (the healthy fat associated nowadays with fish) changes from 4:1 to 20:1! And that's not good.1

If you're a meat eater, switch to grass fed beef and bison.

Be sure your diet is high in fiber. Five to 10 grams of soluble fiber a day lowers LDL cholesterol by about 5%. Oatmeal is a good source of soluble fiber. Also, soluble fiber supplements are available now (Benefiber® is one brand).

As a bonus, soluble fiber can also be taken as a weight loss aid. People who take a serving of soluble fiber in 8 oz of a calorie-free liquid 30 minutes or so before every meal tend to eat less. They lose weight without changing anything else.2-3

After reducing the bad fats, the next step is to increase the good fats. Almonds and walnuts are a good way to do this -- they both lower cholesterol. Nuts are very calorie dense, but ideally, the saturated fat calories you eliminate from your diet will more than make up for adding them to your diet.

Other good fats include omega-3 fatty acids. These are the fats found in fish, as well as in flax seeds. Adding them to your diet helps lower triglycerides. I recommend using both. Eat fish such as salmon once a week and take a fish oil supplement daily (2-4 grams a day -- more if your doctor recommends it).

Also, grind up 2 tablespoons of flax seed every day and have it on cereal, mixed in yogurt, or any other way you enjoy it. Grind it fresh and don't heat it -- the oil spoils easily. I recommend the whole flax seed rather than just the oil because of the benefits of the fiber and other nutrients in the whole seed.

Garlic or garlic supplements are another cholesterol-lowering addition you can make to your diet. If using fresh garlic, let it sit for 5 minutes or so after chopping, before you cook with it. Heat destroys enzymes activated by chopping that form beneficial compounds in the garlic. If you use a supplement, take 600 to 1200 mg a day divided into 2 or 3 doses.

The plant sterols, beta-sitosterol and beta-sitostanol both lower cholesterol by blocking the absorption of ingested cholesterol. They are available as supplements, and also are included in spreads like Take Control or Benecol.4

Taken together, these recommendations will not only lower your cholesterol, they'll contribute to your overall heath and vitality. No statin drug can make that claim.

Finally, if you are taking a statin drug, I believe it's absolutely mandatory that you supplement with CoQ10. This compound supports cardiac function and statin drugs block its production. Take 100-200 mg a day.

References

Daley et al. A Literature Review of the Value-Added Nutrients found in Grass-fed Beef Products. http://www.csuchico.edu/agr/grassfedbeef/health-benefits/index.html.
Howarth, N.C. et al. (2001). Nutr Rev. 59, 129-139.
Yao, M. and Roberts, S.B. (2001). Nutr Rev, 59, 247-258.

Plat J, Mensink RP. Am J Cardiol. 2005;96(1A):15D-22D.
[Ed. Note: Joseph F. McCaffrey, MD, FACS is a board-certified surgeon with extensive experience in alternative medicine, including certification as a HeartMath Trainer. His areas of expertise include mind-body interaction and cognitive restructuring. Dr. McCaffrey strives to help people attain their optimum level of vitality through attention to all aspects of wellness. .]

Courtesy: Early To Rise/ Total Health Breakthroughs.