Doctors Required to Report Payments from Drug and Device Firms

UPDATE: 26 January
Dialing for Doctors - 

Financial Ties Bind Medical Societies to Drug and Device Makers

18 January

To head off medical conflicts of interest, the Obama administration is poised to require drug companies to disclose the payments they make to doctors for research, consulting, speaking, travel and entertainment.

Many researchers have found evidence that such payments can influence doctors’ treatment decisions and contribute to higher costs by encouraging the use of more expensive drugs and medical devices.

Consumer advocates and members of Congress say patients may benefit from the new standards, being issued by the government under the new health care law. Officials said the disclosures increased the likelihood that doctors would make decisions in the best interests of patients, without regard to the doctors’ financial interests.  

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Energy Drinks

UPDATE:15 January 2012

Once again energy drinks are in the news and it appears that it isn't good (no surprise!).
Agence France-Presse reports that "Australia experts call for energy drink warnings".


We encourage you to check out the almost two dozen articles we have posted on Natural Health News about this subject .  We also invite you to consider our organic natural herbal blend, herbalYODA's sportZtea, in place of these drinks over loaded with caffeine, artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, and worst of all artificial sweeteners like aspartame, acesulfame K, and Splenda.  The sports food bars are not far off with too much sugar and too many GMO ingredients.

Learn more here and here.

Researchers in Australia called for health warnings on caffeine-loaded energy drinks following a spike in the number of people reporting medical problems after drinking them.
Health professionals from the University of Sydney's Medical School and the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre said reports of adverse reactions to drinks like Red Bull and V jumped from just 12 in 2004 to 65 in 2010.
Over the seven years to 2010, 297 calls for assistance were recorded with at least 128 people hospitalised with symptoms including heart palpitations, agitation and stomach upsets.
Of these, 20 people had more serious issues, such as seizures and hallucinations.
The study, published in the Medical Journal of Australia on Monday, said the average person affected was 17 years old and that they often mixed energy drinks with alcohol.
"Our study demonstrates the extent of the growing problem in Australia with energy drink consumption and toxicity, particularly among adolescents," the study's authors wrote.
"Given the clear evidence of toxicity and the growing number of hospitalisations associated with consumption of energy drinks... health authorities should increase awareness of the problem, improve package labelling and regulate caffeine content."
They recommended that "labelling and any marketing of these products should include appropriate health warnings and the national poisons hotline number". A can of energy drink may contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine -- compared to an average 65-120mg for a cup of drip coffee -- and Poisons Centre medical director Naren Gunja called for more thorough regulation.
"Things to look at would be... how much caffeine do these drinks contain, how many can you buy at once, what age should you be when you buy them, should there be an age limit to being sold the drinks," he said.

Originally posted September 2008


Five years ago I released one of my long used herbal formulas on two college campuses to try to provide help to reduce college binge drinking. My formula makes it so you just don't drink too much, and certainly not enough to get drunk.

Learning that many people mix energy drinks with alcohol is also a concern to me.

In addition to the herbs to help stem the tide of drinking, and in relation to developing my sports enhancement formula (ADVENTURX), I revived the sports drink herbal blend I used to mix up for my kids and others years ago.

You can use my organic, herbal 'sportZtea' blend as the basis for your sports drinks while saving money and avoiding stimulants and caffeine. Using the 'tea' with ADVENTURX makes a lot more sense.

Energy drinks: What you need to know
By David Liu, Ph.D.
Sep 28, 2008
Editor's note: Please note that the statement "Energy drinks are soft drinks (meaning with alcohol) that ---" is incorrect. The author meant to say "Energy drinks are soft drinks (meaning without alcohol) that ---." By definition, soft drinks are non-alcoholic beverages! We apologize for the error.
Common Questions and Answers about energy drinks

What are energy drinks?

Energy drinks are soft drinks (meaning without alcohol) that contain caffeine and other stimulants such as ephedrine, guarana, and ginseng. The beverages may not contain more calories than normal soft drinks, but they are often believed to help enhance performance and boost alertness as some studies showed. Energy drinks are often marketed to people under 30, particularly to college students.

Is it true that energy drinks boost alertness and enhance performance?

At least two studies showed significantly improvements in mental and cognitive performance and increase subjective alertness in those who drank an energy drink. In repeated cycling tests in young healthy adults, an energy drink drastically increased upper body muscle endurance.

Are there any dangers to drinking energy drinks?

High doses of caffeine are known to pose a range of short-term side effects. The problem with energy drinks is probably that there is no regulation in the US about caffeine, which is a natural stimulant. Energy drinks may contain caffeine at a level anywhere between from 50 mg to 505 mg per can or bottle, according to a recent Johns Hopkins study. Without paying attention, people may over-ingest caffeine leading to unintentional caffeine intoxication. Normal adverse reactions induced by high doses of caffeine, particularly in those who are sensitive to the compound, include increased heart rate and blood pressure, in severe cases dehydration, and inability of falling into sleep.

One study showed side effects associated with caffeine in energy drinks include insomnia, nervousness, headache, and tachycardia. Four caffeine-related deaths and four seizures have been reported.

When should energy drinks not be used?

Energy drinks should not be used when exercising as fluid loss from sweating and the diuretic activity of caffeine can cause severe dehydration. Energy drinks should not be used in an attempt to offset the effect of alcohol on one's capability of operating a vehicle.

What would happen when energy drinks are combined with alcoholic drinks?

The real danger of caffeine to someone who is drinking is that caffeine could mislead him to believe that he is drinking the right amount of alcohol without realizing that actually he could have been drinking too much.

It is true that caffeine provide alertness. But it does not change the level of alcohol in the blood. Once the stimulant disappears, the depressant effect of the blood alcohol at high concentration would manifest leading to vomiting in one's sleep or respiratory depression.

Both energy drinks and alcohol can be very dehydrating and thus inhibiting the body's ability to metabolize alcohol and boosting the toxicity of alcohol and the hangover.

How safe is it to use energy drinks?

Energy drinks in itself are relatively safe. Most ingredients including ginseng, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine, ginkgo biloba, taurine, vitamins and herbs appear to be safe. The only concern is probably caffeine, which varies in its content greatly from brand to brand.

A recent report authored by Reissig CJ, Strain EC, and Griffiths RR at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and published in the Sep 20, 2008 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence calls for warning labels for energy drinks.

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OJ? No Way

In the past few months there has been more flurry over commercially prepared orange juice on the tails of Dr Oz raising the arsenic flag for apple juice.


In this article by Alyssa Hamilton from 2009 she makes the case against OJ in the box.

It’s orange juice season. More precisely, it’s the season of the Florida Valencia, considered the “Cadillac of oranges” within the orange juice industry for its deep orange color, high juice content and rich orange flavor.
We’re so used to getting orange juice 365 days of the year that it may come as news that even Tropicana Pure Premium has a season. But it does.From March until June the Valencia is in its prime in Florida, and even Californians will admit that Florida grows a superior Valencia. The state produces a few other varieties for juicing. The Hamlin, which peaks in late fall, is the most heavily planted. But anyone who has anything to do with the manufacture of commercial orange juice knows that nothing compares to Florida Valencia juice.
The leading orange juice companies such as Tropicana (owned by PepsiCo), Minute Maid and Simply Orange (owned by Coca-Cola), and Florida’s Natural tell us many stories about orange juice: it’s natural, it’s pure and simple, it’s squeezed from oranges grown on pristine looking trees in Florida. But they leave out the details about how most commercial orange juice is produced and processed. SOURCE

Now we have the FDA ringing in on this issue over their 'concern' for fungicide in OJ coming from Mexico, Central and South America. (We warned you years ago about the problems with CAFTA.)

FDA steps up testing for fungicide in orange juice

By Mary Clare Jalonick

WASHINGTON - The Food and Drug Administration says it will step up testing for a fungicide that has been found in low levels in orange juice.
FDA officials said they aren't concerned about the safety of the juice but will increase testing to make sure the contamination isn't a problem. In a letter to the juice industry Monday, the agency said that an unnamed juice company contacted FDA in late December and said it had detected low levels of the fungicide carbendazim in the company's own orange juice and also in its competitors' juice. Fungicides are used to control fungi or fungal spores in agriculture.
Carbendazim is not currently approved for use on citrus in the United States, but is used in Brazil, which exports orange juice to the United States. An FDA spokeswoman said the company's testing found levels up to 35 parts per billion of the fungicide, far below the European Union's maximum residue level of 200 parts per billion. The United States has not established a maximum residue level for carbendazim in oranges.
In the letter to the Juice Products Association, FDA official Nega Beru said the agency will begin testing shipments of orange juice at the border and will detain any that contain traces of the chemical. Because it is not approved for use in the United States, any amount found in food is illegal.
Beru said that because the FDA doesn't believe the levels of residue are harmful, the agency won't remove any juice currently on store shelves. But he asked the industry to ensure that suppliers in Brazil and elsewhere stop using the fungicide.
"If the agency identifies orange juice with carbendazim at levels that present a public health risk, it will alert the public and take the necessary action to ensure that the product is removed from the market," he said.
The discovery comes after the agency said it would also step up testing for arsenic in apple juice. FDA officials said last year that the agency is considering tightening restrictions for the levels of arsenic allowed in the juice after consumer groups pushed the agency to crack down on the contaminant.
Studies show that apple juice has generally low levels of arsenic, and the government says it is safe to drink. But consumer advocates say the FDA is allowing too much of the chemical, which is sometimes natural, sometimes man made, into apple juices favored by thirsty kids.
Patty Lovera of the consumer group Food and Water Watch said the federal government needs to rely on its own testing, not that of the companies.
"The federal government needs to set consistent, meaningful, enforceable standards for all toxins," she said.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/washington/20120109_ap_fdastepsuptestingforfungicideinorangejuice.html?c=r#ixzz1j4wTMrqo

If you go in the archives at www.leaflady.org, you'll note that we reported on fungicides in agriculture along with food wax and related topics well over a decade ago.


Little seems to change. 


Just better to juice your own, my dears.




Selections from Natural Health News


Natural Health News: GMO Coming to your Liquid Sunshine: OJ Alert

Dec 04, 2010

As former beauty queen Anita Bryant chirped more than four decades ago, in what remains a fondly remembered tagline: "A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine." She wasn't talking about green oranges or ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: A Fun Food

Dec 13, 2008

And I am just lucky enough to have some fresh squeezed organic Valencia orange juice that makes it much more delightful, as are the strawberries, lecithin and hemp, et al. I hope you enjoy yours! And now if you'd like to try ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Selecting Fruits and Vegetables for Your Best ...

Apr 28, 2010

Carrots were the most common source of beta-carotene, oranges and orange juice the most common source of beta-cryptoxanthin, spinach the most common source of lutein/zeaxanthin, strawberries the most common source ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Yes, you do need more D

Aug 16, 2010

Vitamin D fortifies a lot of foods, including milk, cereal and orange juice. And it's naturally found in wild-caught oily fish such as salmon and tuna. That suggests that most people get plenty of Vitamin D. But that's wrong. ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

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Study links statins to higher diabetes again

For years, more than a dozen at least, I have been covering the statin drug issue. My focus has been to educate people about the serious risks of this drug class and to help them realize that what they are being told is not always correct.


Now, again, we have a new report on the fact that statins can raise your risk of getting diabetes.


In light of all the serious risks from this drug class perhaps you might wish to consider natural care approaches to the cholesterol conundrum.

Health Forensics

An increased risk of diabetes among statin users was first seen in 2008, in a randomized controlled trial of the drug Crestor, says Vivian Fonseca, the American Diabetes' Association's president for medicine and science. A 2011 analysis in the Journal of the American Medical Association and a 2010 analysis in The Lancet also found an increased risk of diabetes among statin users.Complete article

Related Article and good interview


Find over 20 articles on this topic here at Natural Health News

In a related Atlantic article the writer says: "Long prescribed to reduce levels of cholesterol in the blood, high doses of statins might even end plaque build-up, according to researchers."  


Why would you want the risk and expense of a drug when natural health approaches will do the job for you.  Remember that arteriosclerosis did not appear on the scene until the beginning of the use of homogenization of milk in the 1950s.


Selections from Natural Health News

Natural Health News: Statins appear to harm about as many people ...

Nov 11, 2011

In the past, statins have said to help prevent pneumonia (infection in the lung) on the basis of epidemiological studies. However, it is generally the case that frail, elderly individuals, with perhaps complicated health histories ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Statins 'without known benefit but with definite ...

Sep 30, 2011

If you want to balance out your cholesterol, first check your thyroid, then evaluate triglycerides that are the real danger to your health, and get nutritional and lifestyle support. Health Forensics can help. Posted by herbalYODA ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: New-Onset Diabetes With Statins

Mar 28, 2011

Now more studies shoe increased risk of diabetes among other health problems from statins. And the cookie cutter medicine machine wants YOU to take this drug if you have diabetes. Its doing the same as aspartame. ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

Natural Health News: Again: Statins Not Effective

Nov 21, 2010

Again: Statins Not Effective. Statin drugs may be over-prescribed. So tell me what is new! Not only are they over-prescribed, they have heart-risky side effects and many more problems like kidney failure secondary to ...

http://naturalhealthnews.blogspot.com/

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Quick Beauty Tips On The Go

It's hard to admit but planning and preparing for travel can be a little stressful. On top of that, looking good while traveling also causes us a great deal of stress. This may be a little daunting, but there are easy ways that can help you achieve the same results as having to spend all your time prepping in front of the mirror.

QUICK BEAUTY TIPS ON THE GO

1. Moisturize!

Traveling can wreak havoc on your skin and cause it to get dry. This is especially true when you are flying on a plane. Always pack a lot of moisturizer and apply it on your face. Use one that goes well with your skin type.

2. Blotting Papers

If you feel that your face has gone a little shiny, always pack some blotting paper inside your purse. These are essential for quick touch ups. Who would want to look greasy when they suddenly meet a really cute guy?

3. Lip Stains

If you find it a bit drying to use long lasting lipsticks, a lip stain is your best bet. Before leaving, apply a dab of your favorite lip stain. Allow the color to seep into your lips for a little bit and then apply clear gloss on top of it. You will have fresh looking lips all day. Make sure that you have already exfoliated your lips beforehand, so that your lips will be smooth for application.

4. Minimize Puffy Eyes

If you are in for a really long trip, a great way to minimize puffy eyes is to use a cold compress. You can also use a fresh towel and place some ice cubes inside. Wrap it up and place it on your eyes for a couple of minutes. You will instantly feel refreshed. A cold compress helps in removing puffy eyes by contracting dilated vessels.

5. Skip the Mascara

Leave your lashes bare when you are traveling. The long hours of travel can make your eyes tired. You wouldn't want to have raccoon eyes when you step out of a plane or any form of transportation. Instead, leave your face make up free (or at least apply some tinted moisturizer and a bit of gloss). If you are not used to show your tired eyes, wear big sunglasses. They always come in handy.

You don't have to look oh-so distressed when you are traveling. These wonderful tips will keep you looking fresh and clean no matter where you may go.

Reena Mariel, author of Beauty Is My Duty, your online resource for beauty tips and tricks for the average girl.

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Beauty Benefits of Olive Oil

Making use of olive oil with face masks is among the numerous beauty secrets of mother nature that we have been monitoring during the last decade. While popularly renowned for the astonishing health advantages it gives you together with a well-balanced diet, it may also be used to keep the physical appearance beautiful and vibrant.

The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Phoenicians all identified the beauty components associated with olive oil for skin, face, hair, nails as well as fresh breath.

Clinical research within the last century has stated that it's abundant with vitamin supplements A, D, K and also vitamin E, which are guarding antioxidants that reduce damage brought on by "free radicals" (volatile atoms and substances) that create cell oxidation and also aging.

Here are 5 easy tips you may use to integrate olive oil to your beauty plan.

1. Make use of olive oil with face masks in order to smooth the skin tone and keep the skin's elasticity. Blend honey, oil and a single egg yolk until well blended. Implement mask to facial area and then leave on for 15 minutes. Apply warm water to wash.

2. Avoid stretch-marks, treat dried-out skin, skin psoriasis and eczema by rubbing oil into affected region straight from the bottle.

3. Add to your bathtub water and get a moisturising soak.

4. Rub on your feet and hands at night and then cover with pure cotton gloves and socks in order to soften calluses, dried-out and damaged skin.

5. Pat on the lips at night to heal and stop chapping.

Regarding Hair

Create a hot oil remedy in order to cure dried out or impaired hair by combining 2/3 container of oil and also 1 TBSP of honey inside a re-sealable plastic material bag. Fill up a bowl with very hot water and put the sealed bag within the water until it is warm. (Do not let the oil to get hot.) Implement oil blend to the roots and push it right through to the tips of the hair. Protect using a shower cap and then wrap inside a warm bath towel. Leave it on for around 20 minutes. Then shampoo and also condition normally.

Use as a conditioner by applying straight to the hair for around half an hour to lessen frizz and static, mend split-ends, treat dandruff, stabilize overproduction with the oil and stop the attraction of harmful bacteria.

For Fingernails

Heat oil along with 1 TBSP of fresh lemon juice inside a dish. (Don't allow the oil to get hot.) Bathe tips of the fingers for 5-10 minutes to bolster nails and alleviate cuticles.

For Smelly Breath

Drink the oil to treat smelly breath with a pleasingly fairly sweet odor. Additionally, it helps with digestion, therefore is very easy on the stomach area when consumed immediately.

Because it is by far the most nutrient-rich form, you'll reap the very best advantages from this beauty advice when you decide to make use of extra virgin olive oil with regard to the facial area, hair as well as nail care.

I do hope you enjoyed reading this article, and have some fun with all your beauty treatments!

Amy Nickerson is a writer who specializes in beauty and health care. You can check out her latest website at Olive Oil Uses, where she provides unbiased reviews and buying advice on using Olive Oil for Skin, face, hair and much more.

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Organic Beauty

There are many organic beauty products available in the market today. You can see them almost everywhere! But why the sudden rise in popularity? What are these products anyway? Are they better than the non-organic beauty items we use today?

Let's answer these questions by first defining what organic beauty products are. These are very simple products such as moisturizers, creams, and even make-up that are entirely or mostly made out of organic or natural compounds. Given this definition, we realize these three factors that make organic products better than the non-organic, commercial beauty items we have today:

1. They simply work better - You can compare beauty products with food. The best food tastes better if the ingredients used to cook them are real or natural. Artificial ingredients won't make food tastes as good as natural ingredients do. Real and organic compounds react better with us because we are, of course, real ourselves. We are not chemicals and we react better with the compounds provided to us by nature.

2. They are safer and better for our body - When you apply something on your skin, its effect will not be limited to your skin alone. Your body absorbs it, too. So whatever you apply on your skin will affect your whole body as well. Non-organic products usually have parabens, phthalates, SLS/SLES, formaldehyde and other toxic substances that are sure to harm our body later on. Organic beauty products, more specifically 100% organic products are free of harmful chemicals. Thus, they are safer and would benefit our skin and body much better than synthetic alternatives.

3. They are environment-friendly - The production of these organic products also benefits us. Harmful chemicals and fertilizers are not used in the production process so we can be sure that our environment-our waters, our soil and our wildlife-is not negatively affected by the manufacturing of these beauty products. Most organic beauty products also like to take it to a higher level and make their containers biodegradable. In these cases, these products help us and our environment from the product to the container! Every bit of these products is beneficial to us.

Given these three factors, we can see how better organic beauty products are. Yet not everybody is convinced of their greatness. If everyone were to use organic beauty products, we would be much healthier and we could even help the environment out.

Organic beauty products are highly recommended because they do not contain any harsh chemicals that may harm us in the long run. However, it's hard to find an organic way to get rid of unwanted hair. The best alternative is no no hair removal. Many people have raved about this product through no no hair removal reviews. Check it out now and say goodbye to those pesky unwanted hairs!

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